History Recap / StarTrekS3E12TheEmpath

* ThirdActStupidity: Once Kirk, Spock and Gem reach the Vians' lab and [=McCoy=] is released from his restraints, Kirk and Spock stand around for quite a while talking about [=McCoy=]'s imminent death and other things. Either Kirk should have ordered Spock to use the Vians' device to transport all four of them to the Enterprise so [=McCoy=] could get emergency medical attention in sickbay, or (since Spock is more intelligent than Kirk), Spock should either have done so on his own or at least suggested to Kirk that they do so. If Spock had tried and failed, that would have been acceptable since he had already suggested it could happen. Of course, if they had tried to do so, either the device would have failed or the Vians would have shown up to stop the attempt, but for them both to not even try to do so was extremely foolish and thoughtless.

* SecretTestOfCharacter: The Vians can save only one planet when the sun goes supernova and wanted to see if Gem's people were worth saving, all based on her decision to save another's life.

* TheEmpath: Well, duh! Look at the title!

The PowerTrio beams down to a planet in the Minaran system to rescue a pair of Federation doctors before the sun goes supernova. The doctors are nowhere to be found, but an audio/visual record they left behind reveals they seem to have vanished into thin air accompanied by an earthquake and an ear splitting buzz. Soon, our heroes are experiencing the same thing.

* NeverMyFault: When accused of killing the two doctors, the Vians insist it was their own physical weaknesses that killed them. It was their fault for not being immortal!

* SecretTestOfCharacter: The Vians can only save one planet when the sun goes supernova and wanted to see if Gem's people were worth saving, all based on her decision to save another's life.

* AbsenteeActor: Uhura and Chekov don't appear.

* ThirdActStupidity: Once Kirk, Spock and Gem reach the Vians' lab and McCoy is released from his restraints, Kirk and Spock stand around for quite a while talking about McCoy's imminent death and other things. Why didn't Kirk order Spock to use the Vians' device to transport all four of them to the Enterprise so McCoy could get emergency medical attention in the ship's sickbay? Or (since Spock is more intelligent than Kirk), why didn't Spock either do so or at least suggest to Kirk that they do so? If Spock had tried and failed, that would have been acceptable since he had already suggested it could happen. Of course, if they had tried to do so, either the device would have failed or the Vians would have shown up to stop the attempt, but for them both to not even try to do so was extremely foolish.

* ThirdActStuidity: Once Kirk, Spock and Gem reach the Vians' lab and McCoy is released from his restraints, Kirk and Spock stand around for quite a while talking about McCoy's imminent death and other things. Why didn't Kirk order Spock to use the Vians' device to transport all four of them to the Enterprise so McCoy could get emergency medical attention in the ship's sickbay? Or (since Spock is more intelligent than Kirk), why didn't Spock either do so or at least suggest to Kirk that they do so? If Spock had tried and failed, that would have been acceptable since he had already suggested it could happen.

* PrematurelyMarkedGrave: The PowerTrio find two scientists dead in experiment cases and three more cases with their names.

!!Tropes from this episode include:

* MoralMyopia: Gem has to ''die'' to prove she's worthy of life?! Well, to prove her people is worthy of it, but still...

* MoralMyopia: Gem [[spoiler: has to ''die'']] to prove she's [[spoiler: worthy of life]]?! Well, to prove her people [[spoiler:is worthy of it]], but still...

* MoralMyopia: Gem [[spoiler: has to ''die'']] to prove she's [[spoiler: worthy of life]]?!

* CuteMute: Gem, with her pixie cut and modest if diaphanous outfit, is more cute than sultry. Her constantly startled expression adds to her cuteness. She has no vocal chords and never utters a sound, even her weeping being silent.

* HumansAreSpecial: That's what the Vians learn from their "experiments".

* MakingTheChoiceForYou: The Vians give Captain Kirk a Sadistic Choice: which of his officers will be subjected to torture. If Dr. McCoy is chosen there's an 87% chance he will die, but if Mr. Spock is chosen there's a 93% chance he will suffer permanent insanity. Dr. McCoy makes the decision for Kirk by injecting him with a sedative, then injects Spock with a sedative when he decides to sacrifice himself and go.

[[YouWakeUpInARoom Fade from black]]. Spock's reading indicates that they are either on the set of a minimalist avant-garde play, or they're several miles below the planet's crust. They find a lovely brunette with a pixie cut and a diaphanous gown taking a nap. They wake her up to find that she is mute. Bones decides to call her Gem. (No relation to a [[{{WesternAnimation/Jem}} truly outrageous pop star]] or a young character from ''Literature/ToKillAMockingbird'' or a [[Series/PowerRangersRPM hyper active and immature power ranger]]). Soon after, they are introduced to their hosts, a pair of SufficientlyAdvancedAliens named Thann and Lal. (No relation to [[Recap/StarTrekTheNextGenerationS3E16TheOffspring a certain android who learned to feel]])

* SecretTestOfCharacter: The Vians can only save one planet when the sun goes supernova and wanted to see if Gem's people were worth saving, all based on her decision to save another's life.

** Discussed in the episode. Kirk actually suggests to the Vians that Gem could heal Bones just enough to keep the injuries from being fatal, and that would be sufficient. They reply back that it's not enough to just heal him—she must be willing to sacrifice her life to do so, to reveal the depth of her (and her species') capacity for compassion. The Vians just ain't gonna be happy unless SOMEONE dies in the process... They do finally take Kirk's point that she's already shown herself more than ''willing'' to do it, and they heal [=McCoy=], pick her up and leave.