The Ultimate Computer

This is a rather complex episode. It has the classic question as to whether complete mechanization (including a master computer) is preferable to a human (or non-human) crew. A man named Dr. Daystrom is one of the pioneers in the development of space technology. He was once lauded but, like so many pioneers, has become the object of the public's malaise over past accomplishments. He uses the Enterprise as his Guinea pig, installing his ultimate computer and putting the crew in menial positions. To test out his baby, Daystrom has arranged war games with other starships. The computer does a masterful job of running the ship, but because artificial intelligence lacks imagination, when the games commence, the thing can't distinguish the game from reality. It believes these ships are actually attacking it. Daystrom goes mad when efforts are made to stop his creation. Another issue is if Daystrom has his way, there will be no more crews, no more explorations. Would it spell the end of the need for looking into the unknown.

Season 2, episode 24. By Federation orders, the Enterprise is ordered to participate in computer wargames. Kirk is forced to a very minimal skeleton crew, the M5 computer is installed on board the Enterprise by it's inventor Dr. Richard Daystrom while Starfleet is very optimistic the M5 work - in the name of progress. M5 does what it's designed to do in a test drill which leaves Kirk and the skeleton crew more nervous but when an oil freighter passes by M5 chases it down and fires at it, causing it to explode. Kirk orders the M5 to be stopped but the M5 has learned to defend itself and will not allow humans to shut if off. Dr. Daystrom invented M5 to help save lives but when he sees everything going wrong and even killing a crewman he and his M5 tries to stop Kirk and his skeleton crew from disabling the computer and taking back their ship. M5 has taken over everything from communications to warp drive to weapons. Dr. Daystrom loves his "child", the M5, while Kirk and crew are having trouble waking him up from his M5 dream of helping humanity.

A fantastic episode that entertains the idea of computers/machines getting smarter and taking over to help humans. But, what happens when the computer goes wrong? 9/10

Excellent episode that shows the character development. I want to point out first this is an episode where the captain doesn't punch anyone. I also did not see any women treated like second class citizens. The story of the show has a plot unlike many of the earlier monster alien shows. Certainly it's still something from the 1960s but it shows how the show became a very intelligent program. One little contradiction is that it states there is a death penalty for murder which I don't think is the normal Star Trek ideology. I just like it because it's a good little sci-fi story and the characters are well developed.

The M5 computer is running the ship, but there's a bit of a problem, a binary blip, it's taken control and it won't give it back, it's primed and alert and ready for attack - whoever you are.

A portent of things to come perhaps, as a not so intelligent designer fails to implement a suitable failsafe in a computer made in his metaphorical image.

Great exciting episode, presenting issues very much with us today. ANY of us in our professions in the 2010's could end up as "Capt. Dunsels." As in the best episodes, the action keeps coming and character expression is good. It's neat that Roddenberry, in line with his (very appropriate) dedication to racial equality, cast Dr. Daystrom as a very capable, intellectual (if seriously unbalanced) black scientist. Also very engaging to take the action inside ANOTHER Federation starship, that of Wesley. Now there's a key difference between the M5 System and HAL, the evil AI which appeared almost simultaneously: they both end up being homicidal, but only the M5 can vaporize anyone who tries to disconnect it.