TOS - Turnabout Intruder

An above average entertaining TOS episode, with the following:

• Great acting by Shatner. He brilliantly plays a woman pretending to be Kirk. This was a perfect chance for Shatner to "Shat it up" and yet except for a few scenes during the "Transferances" he is quite in control. And quite convincing.
• Great acting by Sandra Smith as Janice Lester. She not ony is good as the Homicidal Dr. Lester, she's superb as Kirk trapped in Lester's body. Like Shatner, she's able to make Kirk-Lester masculine without going over the top.
• Excellent Court-martial scene. McCoy, Scotty, and Spock at their best.
• Sulu-Chekov to the rescue. They refuse to support Kirk-Lester's sentence of death on McCoy, Scotty, and Spock for "Mutiny".

Best Quote: 

Spock: No, sir, I shall not withdraw a single charge that I have made. You are NOT Captain Kirk. You have ruthlessly appropriated his body, but the life entity within you is not that of Captain Kirk. You do NOT belong in charge of the Enterprise, and I shall do everything in my power against you.

Cons:   Dr. Arthur Coleman.  The character is well played by Harry Landers. But, and its a big but, his character makes zero sense. He loves Janice Lester,  He lets the other members of the expdition die so she can  carry out her crazy homicidal plan, And he later agrees to Kill Kirk.  And for what? So she can turn into a man? And be Jim Kirk.  I know some people are bi-sexual, but this is carrying it too far! Seriously, imagine being in love with Marilyn Monroe, she's your lover and then being A-ok with her turning into Van Heflin. Really? Of course, maybe Dr. Coleman was just as crazy as Dr. Lester.

The Real Sexism: I've covered the episode's so-called "Sexism" in more detail (see my rant below). But y'know the REAL sexism in Turnabout Intruder? It comes at the end. Dr. Lester has let the other members of he Expedition die. She's attempted to murder Kirk, Spock, Bones, and Scotty. God knows how many more would've died if her plan had succeeded.  Yet at the end what does Kirk say? "Gosh, I never meant to hurt her." And "Her life could have been as rich as any woman's, if only... if only...".

Yeah, poor Janice.  Imagine Kirk saying "Oh, poor Ben Finney, Poor Captain Kor, Poor Lizard Captain Gorn,  Poor Squire Trelayn, Poor Jack the Ripper,  and Poor, Poor Khan." 

Reviewing the Reviewers:   Good God, I'm beginning to doubt the intelligence of those who review TOS on Youtube, IMDB, and show up first on a Google Search.  To all these "Internet Big Dog" reviewers, this episode is Trash.  Why? Its....wait for it... SEXIST.  Just as in "Elaan of Troyus" they don't care what's actually on the screen, they just hate it because  Dr. Lester is hysterical and incompetent. Every woman character on TV, no matter how crazy MUST BE "strong" and "cool headed". 

You would think that any character that obsesses for years about being a Star Ship Captain, without desiring to work their way through the ranks, and is willing to kill numerous people to get her way, would be a touch -ah -- unstable. 

But Hey Dr. lester is a chick, and we know ALL Women are strong stable and cool as cumbers under pressure.  All that stuff about SOME women being emotional is just male propaganda which they made up because... ah...  yeah.  Anyway, women are just as strong as men. And just as tough. And if that's NOT been shown by all of human History its because MEN are writing the history.  So there!

As for Women not being Star ship captains.  Isn't that correct?   How many times has Kirk saved the situation by romancing an Alien babe or engaging in  physical struggle or fist fight? Lets see some 110 lbs.  Female Starship Captain battle "Col Greene",  take down the Big Lizard in "Arena" or overpower the Guards in "A Piece of the Action".