Star Trek Review: TURNABOUT INTRUDER

Director Herb Wallerstein's, TURNABOUT INTRUDER, is a clever Sci-Fi yarn. Wallerstein also directed other classic Trek episodes, including: "The Tholian Web" and "Whom Gods Destroy".

TURNABOUT INTRUDER earned a historic place in TV history, by being the last classic "Star Trek" aired. While Roddenberry and company did not necessarily leave the best for last, it is a decent episode.

It is fitting that the last "Star Trek" should be one that focuses on Kirk/Shatner. Although some fans prefer Spock (Leonard Nimoy) or Scotty (James Doohan) or even "Bones" McCoy (DeForest Kelley) Shatner's Kirk, hammy and speech spouting though he sometimes tended to be, was the glue that held "Star Trek" together.

Shatner, under Wallerstein's indulgent direction, has fun with the scenes where Janice Lester's consciousness inhabits his body. Initially subtle, it all gets rather broad, (no pun intended), when Lester becomes desperate and emotional. Janice Lester, (Sandra Smith), is only on camera, as herself at the start and end of the episode. Smith, who is good in a small role, also appeared on the TV shows, "The Interns" and "Iron Horse".

The episode's chief FX is a negative image effect when Dr. Janice Lester and Captain Kirk swap brains. While not state-of-the-art for the time, it's okay.

TURNABOUT INTRUDER will be fairly watchable for most Sci-Fi viewers. Kirk/Shatner fans will definitely dig this one.

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