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AI / LLM reviews of Star Trek - Obsession

Google Gemini

"Obsession" is a Star Trek episode that
explores themes of guilt, trauma,
and the dangers of unchecked obsession.
Here's a review:

**Strengths:**

* **Intriguing Premise:** The episode presents
a compelling narrative: Kirk becomes obsessed
with hunting down a creature that he encountered
years earlier, a creature that caused
the death of many of his crewmates.

* **Character Development:** The episode delves
deeply into Kirk's character, revealing his past
trauma and his struggle with guilt and responsibility.

* **Suspenseful Narrative:** The episode maintains
a sense of suspense throughout, as Kirk's obsession
threatens to endanger the Enterprise and its crew.

* **Exploration of Themes:** The episode explores
the destructive nature of obsession
and the importance of confronting past traumas.

**Possible Weaknesses:**

* **Dated Special Effects:** As with many episodes
from the original series, the special effects
are noticeably dated.

* **Pacing:** The pacing might feel uneven
to some modern viewers.

* **Similarity to Moby Dick:** The plot bears
a strong resemblance to *Moby Dick*,
which some viewers may find unoriginal.

**Overall Impression:**

"Obsession" is a thought-provoking
and suspenseful Star Trek episode
that offers a compelling exploration
of Kirk's character and the dangers
of unchecked obsession. Its strong
performances and intriguing premise
make it a memorable entry in the series.

**Rating:**

Considering its strengths and weaknesses,
I'd rate "Obsession" an **83/100**.
It's a solid episode with some notable flaws.

**Breakdown for viewers:**

* **For Star Trek fans, viewers who appreciate
character-driven stories, and those interested
in themes of guilt and obsession:** 87/100

* **For viewers seeking modern special effects
and completely original plots:** 77/100

ChatGPT

### **Review of *Star Trek: Obsession***

#### **Overview**
Aired on December 15, 1967, *"Obsession"*
is a tense and psychological *Star Trek*
episode that delves into Captain Kirk’s
haunted past. It’s a strong character-driven
story that explores guilt, redemption,
and leadership under the strain of personal trauma.

#### **Plot Summary**
While investigating a planet, Kirk encounters
a deadly cloud-like entity that drains
the red blood cells from its victims.
This creature is eerily similar to one that
killed many of his crewmates during his early
years in Starfleet. Convinced it’s the same being,
Kirk becomes obsessed with hunting it down,
even when logic and protocol suggest moving on.

Spock and McCoy question Kirk’s judgment,
while Ensign Garrovick, the son of Kirk’s
former captain, struggles with his own guilt
over hesitating in battle. Eventually, Kirk
proves his instincts were correct—the creature
is real and still a major threat. In a climactic
showdown, he and Garrovick set a trap,
finally destroying the entity
and resolving their shared burden of guilt.

#### **Strengths**
✅ **Deep Character Exploration** – Kirk’s
inner conflict makes this one of his more
layered performances. His struggle with
past failure gives real emotional weight
to the episode.

✅ **A Strong Sci-Fi Horror Vibe** – The vampiric
cloud is an eerie, unpredictable antagonist,
reminiscent of *The Doomsday Machine* but more ghostly.

✅ **Great Use of Secondary Characters** – Ensign
Garrovick has a meaningful character
arc that parallels Kirk’s own.

✅ **Suspenseful and Well-Paced** – The episode
maintains strong tension, balancing action
with psychological depth.

#### **Weaknesses**
❌ **Repetitive Themes** – This story is similar
to *Moby-Dick*-style obsession tales already
explored in *Star Trek*, particularly with
Commodore Decker in *The Doomsday Machine*.

❌ **Limited Alien Threat** – While the cloud
is interesting conceptually, it’s not the most
compelling or visually engaging *Star Trek* villain.

❌ **McCoy and Spock Feel Sidetracked** – Their usual
logical/emotional debate takes a backseat
to Kirk’s internal struggle.

#### **Final Rating: 80/100**
*"Obsession"* is a gripping, suspenseful episode
that offers a deep dive into Kirk’s past and psyche.
Though it treads familiar narrative ground,
its strong character moments and eerie atmosphere
make it a standout entry in *TOS*.
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