2x06 The Doomsday Machine - Star Trek: The Original Series Episode Guide

Star Trek: The Original Series

- Episode 02x06

Episode: 02x06
Title: The Doomsday Machine
Type: Regular Episode
Production Code: 60335
First Aired: Oct. 20, 1967

Season 2 » Episode #06 - The Doomsday Machine

Star Trek: The Original Series - 02x06 The Doomsday Machine

Summary: The Enterprise responds to a distress call in the L370 system and discovers that something has destroyed almost every planet in the system. They also find its sister ship the U.S.S. Constellation, which has been badly damaged. The captain of the Constellation, Commodore Matt Decker, says that his crew evacuated to one of the pulverized planets and was lost, and the attacker was a giant robot "doomsday machine." Kirk is stranded on the Constellation when the doomsday machine attacks again, and the shell-shocked Decker tries to take command of the Enterprise to lead a futile attack.

Who appeared in this episode?

Mr. Spock

Guest Stars:

Captain James T. Kirk	played by William Shatner
Dr. McCoy	played by DeForest Kelley
Commodore Decker	played by William Windom
Scott	played by James Doohan
Sulu	played by George Takei
Lt. Palmer	played by Elizabeth Rogers
Lt. Kyle	played by John Winston
Washburn	played by Richard Compton
Elliott	played by John Copage

Season 2 / Episode 6: - The Doomsday Machine

Mr. Spock: [Decker has taken a shuttlecraft] Commodore, I must insist that you return to the ship.
Matt Decker: You said it yourself, Spock - There is no way to blast through the hull of that machine, so I'm gonna take this thing right down its throat.
Capt. Kirk: This is Kirk. Matt, you'll be killed!
Matt Decker: I've been prepared for death ever since I - ever since I killed my crew.
Capt. Kirk: No one expects you to die for an error in judgment!
Matt Decker: [final words] A commander is responsible for the lives of his crew, and for their deaths. Well... I should have died with mine.

Season 2 / Episode 6: - The Doomsday Machine

Capt. Kirk: Matt, where's your crew?
Matt Decker: On the third planet.
Capt. Kirk: There IS no third planet!
Matt Decker: Don't you think I know that? There was, but not anymore! Th-they called me; they BEGGED me for help, four hundred of them! I couldn't... I-I couldn't... [begins sobbing]

[More Quotes]

MISTAKES/GOOFS

FAKE: The scale of the planet killer device compared to the Enterprise and her shuttle craft varies.
CONT: When Commodore Decker's shuttle leaves the bay, the star field in the background changes mid scene.
FACT: Scotty was supposed to rig up a 30 second timer, but after Kirk activates it, a little over 2 minutes passes before the Constellation explodes.
FAKE: When Commodore Decker and the security guard fight during Decker's escort to sickbay, it's easily seen that a stunt double is portraying Decker.
CONT: When Mr. Spock demands from Dr. McCoy evidence to support his deeming Commodore Decker unfit for command. Decker had shown instability in the opening when he was found by the doctor and others in a traumatized state from an emotional breakdown.

TRIVIA

In Norman Spinrad's original version, Spock makes an unusual comment after the machine has been destroyed. He calls the weapon "not very efficient", pointing out that a fusion bomb disguised as space rubble could be easily fed to another version of the machine, should one appear.
In the Star Trek novel, Vendetta, author Peter David related that the planet-killer was actually a prototype for a much larger version. The weapon had been built by a race called The Preservers, who were fighting (and losing) a war with the Borg.
This was one of several episodes produced solely to use preexisting sets in an effort to save money.
The Constellation's registration number has the same numbers as the Enterprise, just in a different order.
The prop which is the U.S.S. Constellation is the prop used for the Enterprise in the first season. A larger model was built to represent the Enterprise for the second season.