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AI/LLM reviews of Star Trek - That which survives

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### **Review of *Star Trek: That Which Survives***  
**Rating: 60/100**

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**“That Which Survives”** is a mid-tier episode 
of *Star Trek: The Original Series* that delivers 
an intriguing premise—a deadly, mysterious woman 
appearing out of nowhere and killing with a
 touch—but ultimately doesn’t live up 
 to the potential of its setup.

---

### **🌀 The Premise:**

The Enterprise discovers a strange planet that 
seems to shift out of existence. Just before a 
landing party beams down, a beautiful but 
emotionless woman (Losira) appears and kills a 
crew member with a touch. The rest of the 
episode splits between the crew stranded on 
the planet and the Enterprise trying to regain 
control after being h
urled 990.7 light years away (!).

The sci-fi angle is strong: a planet governed 
by a long-dead alien computer that creates a 
defense mechanism in the form of a deadly 
guardian. It’s a cool idea, but the plot 
follows a very predictable path without 
offering much new.

---

### **✨ Highlights:**

- **Losira (Lee Meriwether):** She’s the 
episode’s most memorable element. The 
character's combination of ethereal beauty, 
robotic menace, and inexplicable emotional 
depth adds a creepy vibe. The fact that 
she says the victim’s name before killing 
them adds to the uncanny tension.

- **Mysterious Setting:** The empty, lifeless
outpost is atmospheric, and the sense of being 
cut off from the ship creates a nice feeling 
of isolation for the landing party.

- **Enterprise Crisis:** Meanwhile, the Enterprise
scenes offer a ticking-clock scenario, which adds 
stakes—although much of the dialog here feels 
like filler.

---

### **🧱 Weaknesses:**

- **Flat Pacing:** Once you get the idea of 
what's happening, the episode gets repetitive. 
Losira shows up, touches someone, they die. 
Rinse and repeat. There's little variation 
or deeper mystery beyond that cycle.

- **Underwhelming Resolution:** The twist that 
Losira is a computer-generated projection meant 
to protect the installation is fine, but it’s 
under-explored. The episode ends abruptly once 
the system is shut down, with minimal 
philosophical reflection or emotional resonance.

- **Character Use:** The core trio (Kirk, Spock, 
McCoy) are split, but their roles don’t shine. 
Spock gets some sharp lines, but the banter 
often feels forced. Scotty’s subplot in the 
engine room trying to save the ship is drawn 
out with a lot of technobabble and little payoff.

---

### **🧬 Sci-fi Themes:**

There are hints at deeper themes—identity, AI, 
unintended consequences of advanced defense 
systems—but they’re barely scratched. The idea 
of a defensive AI that kills based on 
preprogrammed assumptions could’ve led to a more
nuanced ethical dilemma.

---

### **Verdict:**  
**60/100**  
"That Which Survives" has a strong concept 
and some eerie moments but fails to build 
emotional or narrative momentum. It’s watchable 
and entertaining in a pulpy sci-fi way, 
but lacks the depth and tight storytelling 
that makes the best *Trek* episodes soar. 
Losira’s haunting presence saves it 
from being completely forgettable.

Google Gemini

"That Which Survives" is a Star Trek 
episode that explores themes of loss, 
revenge, and the dangers of unchecked 
technology. Here's a review:

**Strengths:**

* **Intriguing Premise:** The episode 
presents a compelling scenario: the crew 
of the Enterprise is stalked by a mysterious 
and seemingly unstoppable woman who can appear
anywhere and kill with a touch, 
all while a planet is breaking apart.

* **Suspenseful Narrative:** The episode 
maintains a strong sense of tension and mystery 
as the crew tries to understand the nature of 
the woman and her connection to the dying planet.

* **Strong Performances:** The core cast delivers
solid performances, particularly William Shatner 
as Kirk, who is determined to protect his crew 
and solve the mystery.

* **Exploration of Themes:** The episode delves 
into the destructive nature of revenge, 
the importance of letting go of the past, 
and the potential dangers of advanced 
technology that is not properly understood.

**Possible Weaknesses:**

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

* **Simplistic Resolution:** Some viewers 
may find the resolution of the conflict 
to be somewhat simplistic.

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

**Overall Impression:**

"That Which Survives" is a suspenseful 
and thought-provoking Star Trek episode 
that explores complex themes related 
to loss and revenge. Its strong performances 
and intriguing premise make it a memorable 
entry in the series.

**Rating:**

Considering its strengths and weaknesses, 
I'd rate "That Which Survives" an **85/100**. 
It's a highly recommended episode for any 
science fiction fan.

**Breakdown for viewers:**

* **For Star Trek fans, viewers who appreciate
 suspenseful narratives, and those interested 
 in themes of revenge and loss:** 88/100
 
* **For viewers seeking modern special effects 
and a more nuanced plot:** 79/100

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