A shuttle accident leads to Spock’s Vulcan DNA being removed by aliens, making him fully human and completely unprepared to face T’Pring’s family during an important ceremonial dinner. 

The plot summary for this episode might make you raise an eyebrow in a manner appropriate for Spock – haven’t we seen this story before? – but rest assured that there’s more to this than Spock being human for the week.

Investigating the disappearance of a civilisation, Spock and Chapel are intercepted by a gravitational anomaly that takes a look at Spock and ‘fixes’ him. He’s now fully human, which is awful timing, because his future in-laws are on their way to carry out a Vulcan ritual, and they are looking for any excuse to call off the wedding.

I assumed we’d get some comedic moments as Spock wrangles with his full humanity, and while there are grace notes of this nature, the episode is more about prejudice, xenophobia and being proud of who you are. And should Spock really be getting married to T’Pring when we know that his feelings for Chapel are absolutely buzzing?

Verdict: ‘A Vulcan should have a more resilient bladder’. Not the episode you think it is – and far better for it. 8/10

Nick Joy