History Recap / StarTrekS2E24TheUltimateComputer

After a series of tests including a great scare in which M-5 (in control of the ''Enterprise'' and activated by a simple flip-switch toggle on the Captain's chair) destroys an unmanned freighter, Kirk is severely concerned that the M-5 is becoming self-aware and possessed of a (severely misdirected) survivor instinct, a point which is driven home when it makes a RedShirt who tries to unplug him live up to his title.

** The casting for Daystrom may be the best example of how forward-thinking TOS was for its day (the original script - as evidenced by the James Blish novelization of this episode - describes Daystrom as a mousy little man with a pipe). Actor William Marshall has stated in interviews how significant it was when Captain Kirk addresses a Black man in this episode as "sir."

** Spock:
-->Computers are useful servants, but I do not wish to serve under one. Captain, a starship also runs on loyalty to one man, and nothing can replace it, or him.

* BrainUploading: How Daystrom created M5's AI. Spock sarcastically suggests Bones do the same thing.

Dr. Richard Daystrom (William Marshall[[note]]better known as Film/{{Blacula}} and the King of Cartoons from ''Series/PeeWeesPlayhouse'[[/note]]'), creator of computer systems that ships all over Starfleet use, comes aboard to supervise a test of his new M-5 multitronic (?) computer. This computer would obsolete human crew, and cause marked improvements in efficiency among vessels in which it's installed.

Dr. Richard Daystrom (William Marshall, better known as the King of Cartoons from ''Series/PeeWeesPlayhouse''), creator of computer systems that ships all over Starfleet use, comes aboard to supervise a test of his new M-5 multitronic (?) computer. This computer would obsolete human crew, and cause marked improvements in efficiency among vessels in which it's installed.

!!Tropes for this episode include:

* UnseenPrototype: M1 through M4
* VitriolicBestBuds: Spock and Bones snipe each other at every opportunity.

** RedShirtArmy: The crews of the other ''Constiution''-class ships. We only meet Commodore Wesley, and the ''Excalibur'''s captain is the only other one given a name (when he dies).

* FriendshipMoment: The other two members of the PowerTrio each try to support their captain and friend as he faces the possibility of losing his ship.

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Tropes for this episode include:
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-->'''[=McCoy=]: To James Kirk, Captain of the ''Enterprise''.

* {{Redshirt}}: When M5 vaporizes one, Daystrom says "M5 needed more power...the Ensign, mearly got in the way". At that, Kirk growls "And how long before we ''all'' 'just get in the way'?"

* AIIsACrapshoot: And the dice were loaded.

* CrowningMomentOfHeartwarming: When Spock tells Kirk that he couldn't possibly be replaced.

* FutureSlang: A "dunsal" is a thing that serves no purpose.

* {{Redshirt}}: When M5 vaporizes one, Daystrom says "M5 needed more power...the Ensign, mearly got in the way".

* HeyItsThatGuy: Daystrom looks a lot like {{Blacula}} and [[PeeWeesPlayhouse The King Of Cartoons]]. Oh, and he once played some guy called {{Othello}} too.

Dr. Richard Daystrom (William Marshall, better known as the King of Cartoons from PeeWeesPlayhouse), creator of computer systems that ships all over Starfleet use, comes aboard to supervise a test of his new M-5 multitronic (?) computer. This computer would obsolete human crew, and cause marked improvements in efficiency among vessels in which it's installed.

After a series of tests including a great scare in which M-5 (in control of the Enterprise and activated by a simple flip-switch toggle on the Captain's chair) destroys an unmanned freighter, Kirk is severely concerned that the M-5 is becoming self-aware and possessed of a (severely misdirected) survivor instinct, a point which is driven home when it makes a RedShirt who tries to unplug him live up to his title.

It's then revealed that Daystrom actually imprinted his own memory engrams on the M-5, giving it his human instincts and strategies; but, it turns out, none of his self-control or good sense. Soon the afore-planned wargames start, and M-5, tied into the Enterprise, fatally cripples a manned starship.

The head of the games and Kirk's superior, Commodore Wesley, is unable to contact Kirk because of the radio silence rule of the games, and assumes Kirk is on a rogue bent. He prepares to fire on the Enterprise even as Daystrom and Kirk are talking to M-5, trying to find out why it did what it did; then [=McCoy=] notices that while Kirk is accusing Daystrom of not being thorough enough in transferring his experiences to the M-5, Daystrom is becoming, first arrogant, then quite insane, that his own creation, powered by his own thoughts, could kill people when he himself was a sworn pacifist.

Just as the threads of poor Daystrom's psyche begin to unravel, he's treated to a Vulcan neck pinch, then Kirk explains to M-5 that what it's done is murder, and the penalty for murder, as M-5 agrees, is death. M-5 shuts itself down, leaving itself, and the Enterprise, open for attack.

Commodore Wesley is just about to give orders to destroy the Enterprise when he notices her shields are down... Hesitating long enough to wonder what's wrong with the Enterprise was what caused our beloved crew to survive. The M-5 is sent back to the drawing board, Daystrom's sent to an asylum and the Enterprise goes on its way, just as inefficient (and just as entertaining) as ever.

* LogicBomb: This should just be called The Kirk Maneuver considering how many times Kirk has used this to take out out of control computers.

* HeyItsThatGuy: Daystrom looks a lot like {{Blacula}} and [[PeeWeesPlayhouse The King Of Cartoons]].

* ForgetsToEat: At first, it looks like Bones is reminding Kirk to eat when he brings in a covered dish. Turns out, he just figured Kirk [[INeedAFrickinDrink needed a frickin drink]] after all that happened.
* GloryDays: Daystrom's FreudianExcuse for being so obsessed with the success of the M5 is that he doesn't want anyone to think he's a KidGenius who fizzled out.

* LudditeWasRight: Kirk does not like the idea of his job being taken over by a computer.

* VitrolicBestBuds: Spock and Bones snipe each other at every opportunity.

NeedsWikiMagicLove!

It's then revealed that Daystrom actually imprinted his own memory ingrams on the M-5, giving it his human instincts and strategies; but, it turns out, none of his self-control or good sense. Soon the afore-planned wargames start, and M-5, tied into the Enterprise, fatally cripples a manned starship.

The head of the games and Kirk's superior, Commodore Wesley, is unable to contact Kirk because of the radio silence rule of the games, and assumes Kirk is on a rogue bent. He prepares to fire on the Enterprise even as Daystrom and Kirk are talking to M-5, trying to find out why it did what it did; then McCoy notices that while Kirk is accusing Daystrom of not being thorough enough in transferring his experiences to the M-5, Daystrom is becoming, first arrogant, then quite insane, that his own creation, powered by his own thoughts, could kill people when he himself was a sworn pacifist.