History Recap / StarTrekS3E12TheEmpath

* CobwebOfDisuse: The research station has dust and cobwebs everywhere to show how long it's been since the scientists disappeared. One of the away team does the traditional pick-up-an-object-and-blow-dust-off-it to emphasize the point.

* ActOfTrueLove: [=McCoy=] sacrifices himself to protect [[HeterosexualLifePartners Kirk]] and [[VitriolicBestBuds Spock.]] He lives, thanks to outside interference, but he did not know that that would happen.

* DeadpanSnarker: The values of emotion are discussed in the epilogue. Spock is told that perhaps Vulcans could learn something about the importance of emotion. "I shall give the thought all the consideration it is due." Spock replies. Bones' complement of Spock's bedside manner could count as a deadpan snark as well.

The PowerTrio beams down to a planet in the Minarvan 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.

* HomeworldEvacuation: The star of the Minarva system is about to go nova. A group of highly advanced aliens known as the Vians can save the population of only one of the planets in the system. They decide to determine which planet's population will be saved by putting a member of each population through a SecretTest.

** 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...

[[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 [[{{Jem}} truly outrageous pop star]] or a young character from ''Literature/ToKillAMockingbird'' or a [[{{Power Rangers RPM}}one 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]])

* ImADoctorNotAPlaceholder: Bones would like to remind you that he is neither a coal miner nor a mechanic.

* ActOfTrueLove: [=McCoy=] sacrifices himself to protect Kirk and [[VitriolicBestBuds Spock.]]

[[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 [[{{Jem}} truly outrageous pop star]] or a young character from ''Literature/ToKillAMockingbird'') or [[{{Power Rangers RPM}}one 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]])

[[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 [[{{Jem}} truly outrageous pop star]] or a young character from ''Literature/ToKillAMockingbird'') 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]])

[[YouWakeUpInARoom Fade from black]]. Spock's reading indicates that they are either on the set of a minimalist avant-guard 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 [[{{Jem}} truly outrageous pop star]] or a young character from ''Literature/ToKillAMockingbird'') 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]])

* PrematurelyMarkedGrave: a variation; the PowerTrio find two scientists dead in experiment cases and three more cases with their names.

* YouSaidYouWouldLetThemGo: Said by Kirk after he offers himself up to the Vians. Bones and Spock are, as they say, safe. For now.

* PlotHole: Gem has no problem absorbing, then aparently instantly healing Kirk's wounds. Why can't she absorb just part of [=McCoy=]'s injuries and heal him in stages?

* NightmareFuel: Bones after being tortured looks like he went 10 rounds with MuhammadAli.

* ActOfTrueLove: [=McCoy=] sacrifices himself to protect Kirk and [[VitriolicBestBuds Spoc.]]

* BookEnds: The scientists quote a Bible passage during the teaser, while Scotty recounts the story of the Pearl of Great Value, which while not identified as such, originates as another passage.

* PlotHole: Gem has no problem absorbing, then aparently instantly healing Kirk's wounds. Why can't she absorb just part of McCoy's injuries and heal him in stages?

Tropes from this episode include:

[[YouWakeUpInARoom Fade from black]]. Spock's reading indicates that they are either on the set of a minimalist avant-guard 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 [[{{Jem}} truly outrageous pop star]] or a young character from ToKillAMockingbird) 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]])

* DeadpanSnarker: The values of emotion are discussed in the KirkSummation. Spock is told that perhaps Vulcans could learn something about the importance of emotion. "I shall give the thought all the consideration it is due." Spock replies. Bones' complement of Spock's bedside manner could count as a deadpan snark as well.

* ScrewYouElves: Kirk gives Lal and Thann a good piece of his mind when the "experiment" is finally over.

[[YouWakeUpInARoom Fade from black]]. Spock's reading indicates that they are either on the set of a minimalist avant-guard play, or they're several miles below the center of 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 [[{{Jem}} truly outrageous pop star]] or a young character from ToKillAMockingbird) 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]])

* ColdBloodedTorture: The Vians call it an [[InsistantTerminology "experiment".]]

* MoreExpendableThanYou: The Vians intend to use either Spock or McCoy for an experiment that is highly likely to cause death or permanent insanity. Spock declares that he is volunteering; McCoy overrules that decision with a sneak knockout shot.

* SomeSortOfForceField: Prevents our heroes from interfering with the "experiment".

* HeyYou: Name dropped when Bones defends his idea of calling the female alien Gem with "It's a lot better than 'Hey you'."

* 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.

Fade from black. Spock's reading indicates that they are either on the set of a minimalist avant-guard play, or they're several miles below the center of 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 [[{{Jem}} truly outrageous pop star]] or a young character from ToKillAMockingbird) 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]])

* EmpathicHealer: Gem, and her decision of whether to risk her life to save Dr. McCoy is a major plot point.

* ScrewYouElves: Kirk gives Lal and Thann a good piece of his mind when the "experiment" is finally over.

Tropes from this episode include:

Fade from black. Spock's reading indicates that they are either on the set of a minimalist avant-guard play, or they're several miles below the center of 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. (NoRelation to a [[{{Jem}} truly outrageous pop star]] or a young character from ToKillAMockingbird) Soon after, they are introduced to their hosts, a pair of SufficientlyAdvancedAliens named Thann and Lal. (NoRelation to [[StarTrekTheNextGenerationS3E16TheOffspring a certain android who learned to feel]])