1x27 The Alternative Factor - Star Trek: The Original Series Episode Guide

Star Trek: The Original Series

- Episode 01x27

Episode: 01x27
Title: The Alternative Factor
Type: Regular Episode
Production Code: 6149-20
First Aired: Mar. 30, 1967

Season 1 » Episode #27 - The Alternative Factor

Star Trek: The Original Series - 01x27 The Alternative Factor

Summary: After a dimensional disruption shakes the known galaxy to its very core, the Enterprise is sent to investigate the planet of origin and find a man named Lazarus who claims ignorance. But Lazarus displays strange personality shifts from good to evil and it soon becomes clear that Kirk is not dealing with just one Lazarus... but two. And the second one is a psychopathic killer who means to destroy everything to eliminate his counterpart.

Who appeared in this episode?

Mr. Spock

Guest Stars:

Captain James T. Kirk	played by William Shatner
Lazarus	played by Robert Brown (XI)
Dr. McCoy	played by DeForest Kelley
Charlene Masters	played by Janet MacLachlan
Uhura	played by Nichelle Nichols
Barstow	played by Richard Derr
Assistant Engineer	played by Arch Whiting
Transporter Chief	played by Christian Patrick
Lesley	played by Eddie Paskey

	Season 1 / Episode 27: - The Alternative Factor Dr. McCoy: He's in a lot of pain! Capt. Kirk: Sometimes pain can drive a man harder than pleasure, I'm sure you know that, Doctor!
	Season 1 / Episode 27: - The Alternative Factor Lazarus: He'll kill us all if you don't kill him first! Kill! Kill! Kill! Kill!

[More Quotes]

MISTAKES/GOOFS

PLOT: SPOILER: There are two separate thefts of dilithium crystals. Each theft takes two crystals for one of the two timeships - one of which is in a different parallel universe. The crystals in "our" universe are recovered after Kirk's return. The question is: How did they recover the crystals in the other timeship, in the parallel universe?
CONT: Lazarus' goatee changes several times.
CONT: Charlene Masters is addressed as "Lieutenant" several times, but her tunic has the braidless sleeves of an Ensign. Moreover, she wears a blue sciences tunic, but she works in engineering, which involves ship's services (red tunic) personnel.
DATE: When Lazarus sabotages the Engineering Panel, the electrical plugs he switches around are actually Dual Binding Post Plugs, very common when this show was made in the 1960s and still in use today.

TRIVIA

Lazarus manipulates several components in a "high voltage" access tray in order to create an overload, and eventually steal several dilithium crystals. These objects are simply dual banana plugs often used by electronics technicians.
John Drew Barrymore was originally cast as Lazarus, but failed to show up for shooting and had to be replaced by Robert Brown (XI), causing the episode to go two days over schedule. Star Trek's producers subsequently filed and won a grievance with the Screen Actors Guild, which suspended Barrymore's SAG membership for 6 months.
The glass dome on Lazarus' ship later turns up over the abode of the three "Gamesters of Triskelion".