In this episode of Trekking Through Compliance, we consider the episode Wink of an Eye, which aired on November 29, 1968, and occurred on Star Date 5710.5
While exploring an outer quadrant of the Galaxy, the Enterprise receives a distress call from the planet Scalos. However, a landing party needs help locating the transmission’s source. Kirk thinks he detects the buzzing of insects, but the tricorder does not register them. Queer goings-on follows when Compton disappears right in front of McCoy.
After their return to the Enterprise, malfunctions occur aboard the ship, which cannot be explained. Kirk correctly concludes that aliens have been beamed aboard. Spock detects an alien machine being installed into the environmental control, but when Spock attempts to disconnect the machine, he is prevented by a force field. Kirk then disappears.
Kirk makes a tape for Spock, and he explains all this. McCoy discovers the tape, and Spock reads it by considerably slowing it down. Spock then speeds himself up, and the Scalosians are returned to their planet to live out the rest of their lives, recognizing that the Federation will not permit any more Starships to enter the area.
Commentary
The storyline follows the Enterprise responding to a distress call from Scalos, where they encounter the rapidly accelerated Scalosians. Captain Kirk and his crew grapple with malfunctions, an accelerated metabolism, and a plot to use Enterprise crew members for propagation. The episode highlights key compliance lessons, such as understanding time perception, considering alternative perspectives, gathering comprehensive evidence, and maintaining investigation adaptability. Fun facts about the episode’s production and approach to 1960s television standards regarding sex are also shared.
Key Highlights
- Story Synopsis
- Key Plot Points and Developments
- Fun Facts and Continuity
- Investigative Lessons from ‘Wink of an Eye’
Resources
Excruciatingly Detailed Plot Summary by Eric W. Weisstein
