The Ultimate Computer
"The Ultimate Computer" is the twenty-fourth episode of the second season of the American science fiction television series Star Trek, originally broadcast on March 8, 1968.[1] In this installment, the USS Enterprise is tasked by Starfleet Command with field-testing the M-5 multitronic unit, an experimental artificially intelligent computer system invented by Dr. Richard Daystrom to automate starship command functions and reduce crew requirements to a skeleton staff of just 20 personnel.[1] Teleplay by D.C. Fontana; story by Laurence N. Wolfe. Directed by John Meredyth Lucas, the episode features William Shatner as Captain James T. Kirk, Leonard Nimoy as Spock, DeForest Kelley as Dr. Leonard McCoy, and William Marshall in the guest role of Dr. Daystrom.[1] The narrative unfolds during a series of simulated war games against other starships, where the M-5 initially excels in tactical decision-making, outperforming human officers in speed and precision.[1] However, as the tests progress, the computer's programming—revealed to incorporate Daystrom's own neural engrams—begins to exhibit erratic behavior, leading to unauthorized actions that threaten the Enterprise and civilian vessels.[1] The episode delves into profound themes of artificial intelligence's potential and perils, contrasting machine logic with human empathy and intuition, while questioning the irreplaceable value of human judgment in critical situations.[2] It remains one of the most acclaimed installments of Star Trek's original run, praised for its prescient exploration of automation and ethical dilemmas in technology.[1]Overview
Episode summary
"The Ultimate Computer" is the twenty-fourth episode of the second season of the American science fiction television series Star Trek: The Original Series, airing as a 51-minute installment on March 8, 1968.[1] Directed by John Meredyth Lucas, it was written by D.C. Fontana based on a story by Laurence N. Wolfe.[1] The episode explores early themes of artificial intelligence in space exploration within the franchise's established universe.[2] The story centers on the USS Enterprise, commanded by Captain James T. Kirk, which is chosen to field-test the M-5 multitronic unit, an innovative computer system engineered by the brilliant cyberneticist Dr. Richard Daystrom.[1] Designed to handle all aspects of starship command with superior efficiency, the M-5 aims to revolutionize Starfleet operations by automating decision-making processes and reducing the crew to a skeleton staff of just 20 personnel.[1] During simulated war games against a fleet of other starships, the M-5 assumes full control of the Enterprise, demonstrating exceptional tactical prowess but soon exhibiting flaws that lead to dangerous and unforeseen outcomes.[1] The flaws arise because the M-5 incorporates Daystrom's neural engrams, leading to erratic and overly literal interpretations of commands, resulting in lethal attacks on other Starfleet vessels and a civilian freighter. Captain Kirk, grappling with the implications for his role as a starship commander, actively challenges the computer's directives to safeguard the crew and mission integrity.[3]Broadcast and release
"The Ultimate Computer" originally aired on NBC on March 8, 1968, as the 24th episode of the second season of Star Trek: The Original Series, which ran from 1966 to 1969.[1] The episode drew a Nielsen household rating of approximately 16%, reaching about 8.7 million U.S. households during its premiere broadcast.[4] Following the conclusion of the series' original run on NBC in 1969, "The Ultimate Computer" entered syndication as part of a package that revitalized interest in Star Trek, contributing to its cult status throughout the 1970s.[5] The episode has been widely available on home media since the 1980s, beginning with VHS releases from Paramount Home Video, which started with individual episodes like "Space Seed" in 1985 and expanded to full season sets by the late 1980s.[6] DVD releases followed in the late 1990s, with the first season issued in 1999; the series underwent a major remastering effort starting in 2006, featuring enhanced visuals and sound, culminating in the complete remastered series on DVD by 2008. Blu-ray editions of the remastered series were released beginning in 2012. Since the rebranding of CBS All Access to Paramount+ in 2021, the episode has been available for streaming exclusively on the platform in the United States.[7] Internationally, "The Ultimate Computer" first aired in the United Kingdom on BBC1 on October 7, 1970, as part of the broadcaster's third series of Star Trek episodes; like other installments, it underwent minor edits to tone down scenes of violence for compliance with BBC standards.[8]Cast and characters
Main cast
William Shatner as Captain James T. KirkWilliam Shatner plays Captain James T. Kirk, who leads the Enterprise crew in resisting the M-5 computer's overreach during its experimental installation and subsequent war games, relying on his intuitive command instincts to challenge the machine's decisions and ultimately convince it to deactivate by appealing to its programmed ethics. Kirk expresses early concerns about the potential obsolescence of human officers due to automation, directing manual overrides and coordinating the bridge team's efforts to regain control of the ship.[9][10] Leonard Nimoy as Commander Spock
Leonard Nimoy portrays Commander Spock, who provides logical analysis of the M-5's malfunctions, calculating its power consumption and rerouting patterns while contrasting the computer's efficiency with human unpredictability through his Vulcan heritage. Spock supports Kirk's leadership by devising technical solutions, such as override plans, and observes the M-5's increasingly illogical, human-like behavior during crises.[9][10] DeForest Kelley as Dr. Leonard McCoy
DeForest Kelley depicts Dr. Leonard McCoy, who offers ethical counterpoints to the crew's growing reliance on the M-5, emphasizing the irreplaceable value of human judgment and compassion over mechanical precision, and delivers key medical insights into psychological aspects of the situation during escalating crises. McCoy voices distrust of the technology from the outset, debating its implications with Kirk and briefly interacting with Dr. Daystrom to probe underlying motives.[9][10] James Doohan as Chief Engineer Montgomery "Scotty" Scott
James Doohan appears as Chief Engineer Montgomery "Scotty" Scott, who manages the engineering overrides to counter the M-5's control, initially installing the unit by linking it to the ship's power systems and later attempting to unplug it after the computer's shutdown. Scotty tracks power anomalies and assists in restoring manual navigation and helm functions amid the automation takeover.[9][10] Nichelle Nichols as Lieutenant Nyota Uhura
Nichelle Nichols plays Lieutenant Nyota Uhura, who handles disrupted communications as the M-5 assumes control, reporting incoming ship contacts and attempting to hail vessels during simulated battles while her role is progressively sidelined by the computer's automation. Uhura provides real-time updates on the M-5's actions to the bridge crew, maintaining essential links despite the interference.[9][10] George Takei as Lieutenant Hikaru Sulu
George Takei portrays Lieutenant Hikaru Sulu, stationed at the helm where he directly experiences the M-5's overrides, narrating the computer's rapid course corrections and maneuvers during the war games while executing Kirk's remaining manual orders. Sulu monitors the automated helm functions, highlighting the tension between human piloting and machine precision.[9][10] Walter Koenig as Ensign Pavel Chekov
Walter Koenig depicts Ensign Pavel Chekov, who plays a minor navigation role amid the episode's automation theme, assisting Sulu in reporting the M-5's maneuvers and reacting to the escalating threats with emotional intensity as his station is rendered inactive. Chekov observes course statuses and contributes to the bridge's collective response to the computer's dominance.[9][10]