Tag Archives: the doomsday machine

“The Doomsday Machine” (1967) – War Machine From Out Of Time

A very suspenseful episode from “Star Trek” – The Original Series. The starship Enterprise investigates a collection of ravaged planetary systems and is alerted by the critically damaged USS Constellation. The Enterprise locates the bombed out vessel and an Away Team is assigned to investigate the immobile hulk. Kirk and his party find only one person aboard: the incoherent, nearly mad Captain Decker of the Constellation.

Decker recounts confronting a huge, “evil” in appearance roving ship which attacked and pulverized planets in the destroyed star systems and opened fire on his ship.

What ensues is a tense cat and mouse standoff between the Star Trek federation ships and what can only be surmised to be a weapon of mass destruction from some long forgotten conflict has been freely roaming the universe and smashing planets and space vehicles to rubble in order to supply itself with fuel to continue its indeterminate objective.

Great episode.

“THE DOOMSDAY MACHINE” – STAR TREK – THE ORIGINAL SERIES

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My favorite episode from “Star Trek” – The Original Series.  A marauding super weapon of ancient origins plummets through space destroying astral bodies in its wake to provide fuel for its continuing existence.  The Enterprise, commanded by Captain James Kirk, attempts to put a stop to the machine’s path of destruction before any more lives are lost.  Very well paced, exciting episode that provides plenty of action and suspense.  Going back and watching “The Original Series” today, I am struck by the rather talkative, slow paced nature of a lot of the episodes.  This segment provided a welcome alternative to that trend.  The musical score is also well matched to the action.  “The Doomsday Machine” is well worth watching over again.  Not so with a great many of the other episodes.  Nice acting turn by William Windom as the doomed Captain Decker.