The Immunity Syndrome

Season 2, Episode 18, Aired
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Episode Summary

The Enterprise must destroy an enormous space amoeba before it reproduces and threatens known space.
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Fan Episode Reviews (6)

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  • When Giant Amoebas Attack!

    1.0
    "Abysmal"
    By storme773, Nov 14, 2011 Report Abuse
    Sorry guys I just can't agree on this one. Perhaps the worst of the star trek clunker episodes ever done. The story was hoaky. The effects terrible and the science non existent. If not for the great chemistry between DeForest Kelly and Leonard Nimoy this episode would be completely sunk.

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    0 7

  • The Enterprise encounters a space amoeba cutting a destructive swath through the universe.

    8.0
    "Great"
    By Celedorian, Dec 06, 2010 Report Abuse
    This is an unusual Star Trek episode, because there's no planet of the week and no guest stars. The action happens aboard the Enterprise and its shuttlecraft and the drama centers around Kirk, Spock, and McCoy. (In fact, this is one of the defining episodes in the Kirk/Spock/McCoy relationship.) What makes the show great is a magnificent script, along with incredible performances by Leonard Nimoy and DeForest Kelly and their chemistry together. On the down side, the episode is basically a rehash of "The Doomsday Machine" from earlier in the season. (In fact, much of the music here comes from that episode.) Still, for a budget saving episode, it's quite fun.moreless

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    1 0

  • Attack of the Giant Germ!

    7.5
    "Good"
    By ac4aq, Dec 06, 2010 Report Abuse
    Attack of the Giant Germ sounds like the title of a Powerpuff Girls short subject but it's the plot synopsis of Immunity Syndrome, an episode of the original Star Trek TV series. This slightly ludicrous premise actually turns out better than one might reasonably expect.

    The story: a protozoan of planetary size and capable of interstellar flight destroys wherever it goes, its negative energy field draining the power of both machines and things living. Kirk's orders from Starfleet Command: Destroy it!

    It's a weary crew aboard USS Enterprise and this motive seems to be projected a bit too effectively, exhausting the viewer as well. Just as well, then you won't worry how the ship and shuttlecraft manage to manoeuvre in a colloidal mass. Or why the ship doesn't turn about while on the retreat. A few maudlin scenes in Act II, culminating in the plan, daringly executed as always, to strike the nucleus with a ballistic missile with an anti-matter warhead. A fair conclusion, I suppose, but I would have enjoyed it more if Bones had quickly synthesized a super-antibiotic and Spock flew a shuttlecraft with a huge needle attached to the bow into the nucleus.

    No new sets, no guest stars, no new wardrobe, no new miniature shots, incidental music largely recycled from The Doomsday Machine are factors likely to have been critical in the selection of this script as it helped Desilu Studios recoup budget overages on certain previous episodes.

    Of the original 79 episodes, I would rank Immunity Syndrome around number 40.

    jHhmoreless

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    1 1

  • The Starship Enterprise is threatened by an enormous, energy-draining space amoeba when it becomes trapped in a 'void of nothing'. A surprisingly good episode…

    9.0
    "Superb"
    By Jay-Spacedust, Sep 05, 2010 Report Abuse
    I wasn't expecting much from this episode, but it turned out to be a very good instalment.

    In many respects, this story is rather like the first season's "The Corbomite Maneuver", and "The Doomsday Machine" earlier this season, in that instead of a new planet to beam down to, and / or a new space creature to tackle, instead the Enterprise is threatened by a giant space entity.

    The episode is captivating as the amoeba just seems too vast and too powerful for the Enterprise to escape. Of course, we all know they'll survive in the end, but HOW...?

    Kirk being forced to choose between McCoy or Spock going on the shuttlecraft mission into the amoeba is great, and one of the best sequences of the second season in my opinion. Both the writing and acting of it are of a very high quality.

    The moments when Spock is assumed to be dead as a result of his exploration are also of a high standard, and play out excellently.

    Then there is one of my favourite pieces of dialogue McCoy "Shut up Spock! We're rescuing you!", to which Spock replies "Why thank you, CAPTAIN McCoy".

    On hindsight, this may actually be one of the best episodes of the second season. It's certainly amongst the best down the latter end of the season.moreless

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    2 0

  • Kirk gets hooked on uppers and can’t pronounce Lt. Kyle’s name

    9.2
    "Superb"
    By hrtonslv, Sep 05, 2010 Report Abuse
    Top ten episode, folks. Fantastic piece of writing. The intensity of this episode is one of the best in the whole series right up there with "The Doomsday Machine". The remarkable thing is that there is no planet to beam down to or special guest alien or crew member to bring a refreshing element to the script. It's all done with the regular crew. I get all choked up when Kirk agonizes over who to send into the giant amoeba via the shuttlecraft, McCoy or Spock.moreless

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Trivia, Notes, Quotes and Allusions

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  • Trivia

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    • During the teaser, Lt. Kyle is wearing a red tunic. After the credits, he's wearing a gold tunic. Edit
    • When the telemetry probe is launched, the bridge crew cover their ears. Spock, however, does not. Spock is supposed to have more sensitive hearing than humans, so why doesn't he clutch his head in pain? Edit
    • Spock refers to the organism's size in miles, but Kirk talks about "thousands of kilometers". Not only do they still mix the two types of measurements, but you'd think Spock would be the one that uses "kilometers." Edit

  • Notes

    ADD NOTES
    • Desilu No: 5149-48. Edit

  • Quotes

    ADD QUOTES
    • Kirk: Insufficient data is not sufficient, Mr. Spock. You're the science officer, you're supposed to have sufficient data all the time. Edit
    • Kirk: Recommendations? McCoy: I have one. I recommend survival. Let's get out of here. Edit
    • Kirk: It's a suicide mission. Spock: You have a martyr complex, Doctor. I submit that it disqualifies you. McCoy: You think that I intend to pass up the great living laboratory since… Spock: Vulcans saw it first… and died. McCoy: Just because the Vulcans failed… Spock: I am more capable. Edit

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