Title :
Subspace Rhapsody
Series :
Rating :
Overall Ep :
19
First Aired :
3 Aug 2023
Stardate :
2398.3
Director :
Year :
Writers :
Season Ep :
Factoid :
This episode is a nominee for the DITL "
Best of Trek" award.
Plotline
James Kirk, recently promoted to executive officer of the Farragut, visits the Enterprise to shadow Number One.
While conducting communications experiments she hopes will greatly improve the speed of Federation communications systems, Uhura broadcasts a recording of "Anything Goes" into a mysterious "subspace fold". It produces an "improbability field" which causes the crew of the USS Enterprise to begin singing. Eventually, they dicover that the songs are triggered during times of hightened emotions, like characters in a stage musical.
The effect starts to spread though the subspace communications system. During a call Pike has an argument with Batel and it starts a song, in front of the crew. Face is saved by speedy action of La'an who severs communication before it goes too far.
Chapel wins a prestigious research fellowship with Dr. Roger Korby. She reveals in song that she prioritises this opportunity over her relationship with Spock, which he witnesses.
La'an confesses her feelings for Kirk before the musical can force her to, but he admits that he is already in a relationship with Carol Marcus.
As the effect propagates it starts to affect other races. An affected Klingon ship contacts the Enterprise and informs them of his intent to blow up the fold. Experiments reveal that this will destroy all starships in the vicinity.
Uhura determines that each song is accompanied by an increase in energy within the fold. She surmises that singing an upbeat grand finale, involving the entire crew, will provide enough energy to close the improbability field before the Klingons arrive. Under orders from Pike, she encourages the Enterprise crew to sing about the fulfilment they find in working together and exploring space, and when the song concludes the improbability field dissipates.
Analysis
A remarkably silly episode, but a great one none the less. Pretty much everyone does a good job with the singing and the end number of quite something.
