History Recap / StarTrekS2E4MirrorMirror

* KlingonPromotion: Apparently the ''only'' way promotion happens in the Imperial Starfleet. Mirror Kirk himself was promoted by assassinating Mirror Captain Pike. Mirror Sulu and Mirror Chekov ''both'' attempt this maneuver in the episode itself, impressive considering it takes place over a few ''hours''!

* OhCrap: Mirror Sulu's reaction that Mirror Spock has Vulcans in his crew who would avenge him should he "disappear".

As for what Mirror Spock does after hearing our Kirk's inspiring speech, see the ''WebVideo/StarTrekContinues'' episode ''[[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dJf2ovQtI6w Fairest Of Them All]]''.

* YouCalledMeXItMustBeSerious: This is the only time in both the series and the original movies that Scotty calls Captain Kirk "Jim", when he begs him not to stay behind to operate the transporter. It's not lost on Kirk either, who gently but firmly reaffirms his order.

* BeardOfEvil: The {{Trope Maker|s}} and the {{Trope Namer|s}}. Ironically, Mirror Spock is just about the ''least'' evil person in the Mirror Universe, though his logical mindset still masks a sociopathic indifference to human emotion.

[[caption-width-right:350:Now ''here's'' a particularly famous one, and not just for Mirror!Spock's BeardOfEvil. (Although that's up there).]]

Our crew put their plan into action. While Lieutenant Uhura distracts Evil Sulu from his security monitoring board, Scotty shorts out the main phaser couplings and siphons power off to the transporter. Kirk, in the meantime, has to deal with an [[KlingonPromotion assassination attempt]] by Evil Chekov, and another possible attempt from Evil Spock. In the sickbay, a fight breaks out between the crew and Evil Sulu's gang of thugs. Marlena Moreau evens the odds by using the Tantalus field to [[UnPerson remove]] Evil Sulu's gang, and our crew triumph. But Evil Spock arrives on the scene. His curiosity about the crew's bizarre behaviour since returning from the surface has been piqued, and he performs a MindRape on the doctor to get the full story.

Moreau [[EscortMission guides Kirk to the transporter room]], but then performs a HeelFaceTurn, deciding that she would rather come back to the prime universe alongside Kirk. To this end she pulls a phaser on him and starts making demands. Captain Kirk WouldntHitAGirl, but thankfully he's not required to, because Lieutenant Uhura sneaks up behind Moreau and instigates a DesignatedGirlFight (which she wins). One further obstacle comes in the form of Evil Spock, who arrives on the scene alongside the crew...

... but he too has performed a HeelFaceTurn, and receives AnAesop from Captain Kirk:

--> '''Kirk''': You're a man of integrity in both universes, Mister Spock.\\
'''Mirror!Spock''': You must return to your universe. I must have my captain back. I shall operate the transporter. [[RaceAgainstTheClock You have two minutes and ten seconds.]]\\
'''Kirk''': In that time I have [[AnAesop something to say]]. How long before the Halkan prediction of galactic revolt is realised?\\
'''Mirror!Spock''': Approximately two hundred and forty years.\\

'''Mirror!Spock''': The Empire shall be overthrown, of course.\\

'''Mirror!Spock''': You have one minute and twenty three seconds.\\
'''Kirk''': If [[GrowingTheBeard change is inevitable, predictable, beneficial]], doesn't logic demand that you be a part of it?\\
'''Mirror!Spock''': One man cannot summon the future.\\
'''Kirk''': But one man can change the present. Be the captain of this Enterprise, Mister Spock. Find a logical reason for [[AdoptTheDog sparing the Halkans]] and make it stick. Push till it gives. You can defend yourself better than any man in the fleet.\\
'''Scotty''': Captain, get in the chamber!\\
'''Kirk''': What about it, Spock?\\
'''Mirror!Spock''': A man must also have the power.\\
'''Kirk''': In my cabin is a device that will make you invincible.\\
'''Mirror!Spock''': [[FascinatingEyebrow Indeed?]]\\
'''Kirk''': What will it be? Past or future? [[GiveMeLibertyOrGiveMeDeath Tyranny or freedom?]] [[TheOnlyOne It's up to you.]]\\
'''Mirror!Spock''': It is time.\\
'''Kirk''': In every revolution, there's [[MessianicArchetype one man with a vision]].\\
'''Mirror!Spock''': Captain Kirk, I shall consider it.

Evil Spock activates the transporter and sends them home. Back in the prime universe, Captain Kirk goes over the events they have experienced, and is then surprised to discover that a new Lieutenant named Marlena Moreau is among his crew. But he stops just short of telling her "AndYouWereThere".

--> '''Mirror!Kirk:''' '''[[PunctuatedForEmphasis I...ORDER YOU...LET ME GO!]]'''

The ''USS Enterprise'' is in orbit of a planet ruled by [[PlanetOfHats the peaceful Halkans]]. A landing party consisting of [[TheKirk Captain Kirk]], [[TheMcCoy Doctor McCoy]], [[BridgeBunny Lieutenant Uhura]] [[AndZoidberg and Scotty]] are on the planet to convince the Halkans to allow the Federation mining rights. The inhabitants of the planet, however, are convinced that HumansAreTheRealMonsters, and despite Kirk's assertion that if the answer is "no" then they will simply be on their way without troubling the Halkans further, the aliens remain entirely unconvinced.

In his quarters, Captain Kirk meets [[GirlOfTheWeek Marlena Moreau]], who introduces herself as "the Captain's woman". He resists the temptation to [[BoldlyComing Boldly Come]], instead subtly pressing her for information. Moreau introduces Kirk to the real source of his evil counterpart's power: [[NewPowersAsThePlotDemands the Tantalus field]], a device which he stole from an alien planet, and which allows him to [[OneHitKill evaporate people]] [[BigRedButton at the touch of a button]]. Kirk, naturally, [[WhatDoesThisButtonDo resists the temptation]] [[DontTouchItYouIdiot to push it and see what happens]].

'''Mirror!Spock''': [[FascinatingEyebrow Indeed]]?\\
'''Kirk''': What will it be? Past or future? [[GiveMeLibertyOrGiveMeDeath Tyranny or freedom]]? [[TheOnlyOne It's up to you]].\\

* BeardOfEvil: The TropeMaker and the TropeNamer. Ironically, Mirror Spock is just about the ''least'' evil person in the Mirror Universe, though his logical mindset still masks a sociopathic indifference to human emotion.

* FanService: Of both [[MrFanservice male]] and [[MsFanservice female]] varieties. Most notable are Uhura and Marlena in their [[{{Stripperiffic}} barely there]] uniforms, but '60s Shatner had some nice arms.

* ImADoctorNotAPlaceholder: As Scotty needs help, [=McCoy=] says "I'm a doctor, not an engineer.", but Scotty retorts "''Now'', you're an engineer."

* MirrorUniverse: Again, the TropeNamer, as well as the TropeCodifier.

* DisintegratorRay: The Tantalus Field.

* HumanAliens: The only thing that differentiates the Halkans from humans is a blue spot on their foreheads
* HumansAreTheRealMonsters: In the Mirror Universe, anyway. Spock has his own take on that subject, of course.

** UnbuiltTrope: This story helped to popularize the MirrorUniverse trope, but showed that [[InSpiteOfANail the universes weren't really that different]] as the later Mirror Universe episodes on ''Series/StarTrekDeepSpaceNine'' and ''Series/StarTrekEnterprise'' would show them to be. Even though his mirror counterpart had a BeardOfEvil, Spock was, as the show put it, "A man of honor in both universes", [[AntiVillain and not strictly evil in the mirror universe]] despite clearly being on the side of the angels in the primary reality. Also, the Aliens of the Week, the Halkans, were {{Actual Pacifist}}s in both the 'real' universe and in the Mirror Universe.
* MoreDeadlyThanTheMale: Marlena doesn't need a knife or a phaser when she can use the Tantalus Field to kill anyone long-distance.

* EvilCannotComprehendGood: While the crew from our universe are able to blend in fairly successfully, the Mirror crew who were brought over to the Prime universe were immediately caught.
* Mirror Spocks complete lack of understanding why Kirk left him alive is the reason behind him forcing a MindRape on McCoy.

[floatboxright:
Series: Series/{{Star Trek The Original Series}}\\
Episode: Season 2, Episode 4\\
Title: "Mirror, Mirror"\\
Previous: The Changeling\\
Next: The Apple\\
Recapper: Insert Witty Name Here]

* LargeHam: Most of the Mirror Universe inhabitants but in his brief appearance, Mirror Kirk takes the cake (surprise, surprise...)

--> '''Evil Spock''': You must return to your universe. I must have my captain back. I shall operate the transporter. [[RaceAgainstTheClock You have two minutes and ten seconds.]]
--> '''Kirk''': In that time [[AnAesop I have something to say]]. How long before the Halkan prediction of galactic revolt is realised?
--> '''Evil Spock''': Approximately two hundred and forty years.
--> '''Kirk''': The inevitable outcome?
--> '''Evil Spock''': The Empire shall be overthrown.
--> '''Kirk''': [[KirkSummation The illogic of waste, Mister Spock. The waste of lives, potential, resources, time. I submit to you that your Empire is illogical because it cannot endure. I submit that you are illogical to be a willing part of it.]]
--> '''Evil Spock''': You have one minute and twenty three seconds.
--> '''Kirk''': If [[GrowingTheBeard change is inevitable, predictable, beneficial]], doesn't logic demand that you be a part of it?
--> '''Evil Spock''': One man cannot summon the future.
--> '''Kirk''': But one man can change the present. Be TheCaptain of this Enterprise, Mister Spock. Find a logical reason for [[AdoptTheDog sparing the Halkans]] and make it stick. Push till it gives. You can defend yourself better than any man in the fleet.
--> '''Scotty''': Captain, get in the transporter!
--> '''Kirk''': What will it be? Past or future? [[GiveMeLibertyOrGiveMeDeath Tyranny or freedom]]? [[TheOnlyOne It's up to you]].
--> '''Evil Spock''': It is time.
--> '''Kirk''': In every revolution, there's [[MessianicArchetype one man with a vision]].
--> '''Evil Spock''': Captain Kirk, I shall consider it.\\

* TapOnTheHead: Subverted, hitting Spoke over the head with a vase is noted to be fatal without quick medical intervention.

** UnbuiltTrope: This story helped to popularize the MirrorUniverse trope, but showed that the universes weren't really that different as the later Mirror Universe episodes on ''Series/StarTrekDeepSpaceNine'' and ''Series/StarTrekEnterprise'' would show them to be. Even though his mirror counterpart had a BeardOfEvil, Spock was, as the show put it, "A man of honor in both universes", [[AntiVillain and not strictly evil in the mirror universe]] despite clearly being on the side of the angels in the primary reality. Also, the Aliens of the Week, the Halkans, were {{Actual Pacifist}}s in both the 'real' universe and in the Mirror Universe.

* FanService: Of both [[MrFanservice male]] and [[MsFanservice female]] varieties. Most notable are Uhura and Marlena in their [[TheissTitillationTheory barely there]] uniforms, but '60s Shatner had some nice arms.

* GilliganCut: Bones and Kirk worry about what havoc their evil counterparts are wreaking in their universe. Turns out Spock had them figured out right away and tossed them in the brig.

Finally finding a moment to take refuge alone, our four man crew [[HuddlePower attempt to figure out what happened]]. They reason that an ion storm around the planet distrupted the transporter and sent them to a MirrorUniverse by accident, swapping them with their own counterparts from this universe. They make a plan to return home, replicating the unique situation that brought them here. But until then they will need to [[FishOutOfWater try and blend in]] as best they can. As for the unsettling thought of what their counterparts are doing, it turns out that Spock back in their own dimension has it under control; their barbaric character was immediately obvious to him and he had them hauled to the brig right away.