Editing Turnabout Intruder

{{Use American English|date=January 2025}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=January 2013}}
{{Infobox television episode
| image          = 
| caption        = 
| series         = [[Star Trek: The Original Series]]
| season         = 3
| episode        = 24
| production     = 079
| airdate        = {{Start date|1969|06|03}}
| teleplay       = [[Arthur H. Singer]]
| story          = [[Gene Roddenberry]]
| director       = [[Herb Wallerstein]]
| music          = [[Fred Steiner]]
| photographer   = Al Francis
| editor         = Donald R. Rode
| guests         = *[[Sandra Smith (actress)|Sandra Smith]] - Dr. Janice Lester / Capt. James T. Kirk (when trapped in Dr. Janice Lester's body)
*[[Harry Landers]] - Dr. Arthur Coleman
*[[Barbara Baldavin]] - Communications Officer Lisa
*David L. Ross - Lt. Galoway
*John Boyer - Guard
*Roger Holloway - Lt. Lemli
| prev           = [[All Our Yesterdays (Star Trek: The Original Series)|All Our Yesterdays]]
| next           = 
| episode_list   = List of Star Trek: The Original Series episodes
| season_article = Star Trek: The Original Series season 3
}}

"'''Turnabout Intruder'''" is the twenty-fourth and final episode of the [[Star Trek: The Original Series season 3|third season]] of the American [[science fiction]] television series ''[[Star Trek: The Original Series|Star Trek]]''. Written by Arthur H. Singer (based on a story by [[Gene Roddenberry]]) and directed by [[Herb Wallerstein]], it was first broadcast on June 3, 1969.

In the episode, a woman switches bodies with Captain [[James T. Kirk|Kirk]] and then tries to take over command of the ''[[USS Enterprise (NCC-1701)|Enterprise]]''.

Originally scheduled to air at 10pm on Friday, March 28, 1969, [[NBC]] pre-empted it with a special report on former [[President of the United States|U.S. President]] [[Dwight D. Eisenhower]], who had died earlier that day.<ref>{{Cite book |title=Star Trek: The Complete Unauthorized History |first=Robert |last=Greenberger |page=50 |publisher=Voyageur Press |date=November 8, 2012 |isbn=978-0760343593}}</ref> On June 3, 1969, after an absence of two months, ''Star Trek'' was brought back on a new night and time: Tuesdays at 7:30pm. "Turnabout Intruder" was the only first-run episode to be shown in this new time slot.

This was the last original episode of ''Star Trek'' to air on NBC.

==Plot==
The [[United Federation of Planets|Federation]] [[starship]] ''[[USS Enterprise (NCC-1701)|Enterprise]]'' answers a distress call from the [[planet]] Camus II, the site of an [[Archaeology|archaeological expedition]]. Among the survivors are Dr. Janice Lester, with whom [[James T. Kirk|Captain Kirk]] was once intimately involved, and the expedition's physician, Dr. Arthur Coleman. Coleman claims that Lester is suffering from [[Acute radiation syndrome|radiation exposure]].

While Lester and Kirk are alone they reminisce about their time together at Starfleet Academy. Lester blames sexism within Starfleet for her failure to become captain. When Kirk explores the room, she activates an alien machine that traps and paralyzes him. She then enters the machine herself and the machine switches their life-entity. The new "Kirk" declares that he will take command of the Enterprise and begins to strangle "Lester" but the returning Spock and McCoy interrupt him.

Back on the ship, over McCoy's protests, "Kirk" gives Dr. Coleman full authority for treatment of "Lester" and it is revealed that Lester and Coleman conspired to kill the expedition's personnel.

Spock becomes suspicious when "Kirk" orders a course change to the Benecia Colony to drop off "Lester" for medical attention, despite the fact that Benecia's medical facilities are comparatively primitive, and that it would unnecessarily interfere with their current mission. McCoy invokes his authority to order a medical examination of the captain, including a personality test.

"Lester" regains consciousness and seeks help from Spock and McCoy. "Kirk" slaps her back into unconsciousness, and orders her to be put in isolation. Spock interviews "Lester" and is somewhat skeptical of her story. "Lester" suggests that he use his telepathic abilities to learn the truth, and he is convinced.

Spock tries to free "Lester" but is stopped by a security team led by the impostor Kirk, who accuses Spock of [[mutiny]] and orders a [[court-martial]]. Once on trial, Spock argues that Captain Kirk is really in the body of Dr. Lester. "Kirk" suggests that Spock's real goal is to take command himself and offers to drop charges if Spock will desist. Spock refuses, and "Kirk" flies into a hysterical rage.

Shocked by Kirk's behavior, McCoy and Chief Engineer [[Montgomery Scott|Scott]] confer secretly in the corridor. Scott believes that if Spock is acquitted, the "captain" will not let the decision stand, making it necessary to mutiny. "Kirk", having monitored their conversation, declares McCoy, Scott, Spock, and "Lester" guilty of mutiny and condemned to death.

On the bridge, [[Pavel Chekov|Chekov]] and [[Hikaru Sulu|Sulu]], having witnessed the trial, determine to resist the "captain", and refuse to obey his orders. Loudly accusing them of mutiny, "Kirk" falls into his chair, and an image of Lester emerges from his body, only to return again. "Kirk" runs to Coleman, who tells him that the transfer is reversing itself, and that Kirk, in Lester's body, must die in order to prevent it. The two head to the brig intending to inject "Lester" with a toxic substance. "Lester" resists, and the reversal now completes itself. Realizing she has lost her triple attempt to kill Kirk, destroy her female gender, and gain the ability to command a starship, she suffers a complete mental breakdown; the hysterical Lester begs Coleman to kill Kirk. Coleman then pleads with Kirk to allow him to care for her. Coleman and Lester are escorted to Sickbay. Kirk, Spock, and Scotty proceed to the Bridge and the ''Enterprise'' proceeds on its mission.

==Production==
"Turnabout Intruder" not only marked the final appearance of all main and supporting cast members of the show but also the last appearance of regular background actors David L. Ross (Lieutenant Galloway), William Blackburn (Lieutenant Hadley and [[DeForest Kelley]]'s stand-in), and Roger Holloway (Lieutenant Lemli and [[James Doohan]]'s stand-in). Blackburn had appeared in more episodes than cast members [[George Takei]] and [[Walter Koenig]], and Holloway's appearances were only two episodes short of Koenig. Ross had been a background actor since the first season.

[[Nichelle Nichols]] (Lieutenant Uhura) was absent from this episode. The position of Communications Officer was played by [[Barbara Baldavin]], who had previously appeared in two first-season episodes of the show, "[[Balance of Terror (Star Trek: The Original Series)|Balance of Terror]]" and "[[Shore Leave (Star Trek: The Original Series)|Shore Leave]]".

As noted in the 1975 book ''[[Star Trek Lives!]]'' by co-author [[Joan Winston]], William Shatner was sick with flu during the filming of the episode (Winston was on set for six days of filming).

Filming of the episode was completed on January 9, 1969 having gone one day over schedule; a few days earlier, the crew had been notified of the cancellation of the show. The episode aired in the United States on June 3, 1969.

==Reception==
The episode drew Nielsen ratings of only 8.8, in contrast to rival shows ''[[Lancer (TV series)|Lancer]]'' on [[CBS]] and ''[[The Mod Squad]]'' on [[American Broadcasting Company|ABC]], which gained ratings of 14.7 and 15.2 respectively, a drop of over fifty percent since the show premiered.<ref>{{cite book|author=[[Herbert Franklin Solow|Herbert Solow]], [[Robert Justman]]|title=Inside Star Trek The Real Story|publisher=[[Simon & Schuster]]|date=1997|location=June|pages=[https://archive.org/details/isbn_9780671896287/page/414 414–415]|isbn=0-671-00974-5|url=https://archive.org/details/isbn_9780671896287/page/414}}</ref>

Cultural theorist Cassandra Amesley states that this episode is "agreed to be one of the worst Star Trek episodes ever shown" by [[Trekkie|''Star Trek'' fans]].<ref name="amesley1989">{{cite journal|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=5fPe1YuA_6MC&pg=PA63|title=How to Watch ''Star Trek''|first=Cassandra|last=Amesley|journal=Cultural Studies|date=October 1989|volume=3|issue=3|pages=323–339|doi=10.1080/09502388900490221|access-date=December 17, 2020|archive-date=April 17, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210417175951/https://books.google.com/books?id=5fPe1YuA_6MC&pg=PA63|url-status=live|url-access=subscription}}</ref>

David Greven has a more positive view of the episode, even referring to it as "moving". He calls it the "infamous last episode" of the original series, in part because of the "campiness" of Shatner's performance when portraying himself as a female in a male's body, but also because of the sexist premise that "female desire for power was a clear sign of insanity."<ref>David Greven, ''Gender and Sexuality in Star Trek: Allegories of Desire in the Television Series and Films'', McFarland, 2009, pp.30-33.</ref>

In 2016, [[CNET]] ranked this episode as the fourth-worst episode of all ''Star Trek'', based on rankings between an audience and discussion hosts at a 50th anniversary [[Star Trek Convention|Star Trek convention]] in Las Vegas.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.cnet.com/news/10-worst-episodes-of-star-trek/|title=10 worst Star Trek episodes, according to the fans|last=Kooser|first=Amanda|website=CNET|language=en|access-date=2020-01-19|archive-date=November 4, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191104004311/https://www.cnet.com/news/10-worst-episodes-of-star-trek/|url-status=live}}</ref>

In 2017, this episode was rated the fourth worst episode of the Star Trek franchise including later spin-off series, by [[Screen Rant|''ScreenRant'']].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://screenrant.com/star-trek-worst-episodes-ever-all-time/|title=15 Worst Star Trek Episodes Of All Time|date=2017-05-22|website=ScreenRant|language=en-US|access-date=2019-06-08|archive-date=June 8, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190608155534/https://screenrant.com/star-trek-worst-episodes-ever-all-time/|url-status=live}}</ref> A ranking of every episode of the original series by [[Hollywood.com|''Hollywood'']], placed this episode as worst.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.hollywood.com/tv/ranking-star-trek-original-series-79-episodes-best-worst-59094091/|title=Ranking All 79 'Star Trek: The Original Series' Episodes from Worst to Best|last=Blauvelt|first=Christian|date=2013-05-18|website=Hollywood.com|language=en-US|access-date=2019-06-08|archive-date=March 4, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304065047/http://www.hollywood.com/tv/ranking-star-trek-original-series-79-episodes-best-worst-59094091/|url-status=live}}</ref> 
In 2017, [[Den of Geek]] ranked this episode as the seventh worst ''Star Trek'' episode of the original series.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.denofgeek.com/us/tv/star-trek/258699/the-15-best-worst-episodes-of-star-trek-the-original-series |title=The 15 Best Worst Episodes of Star Trek: The Original Series |date=September 16, 2017 |access-date=June 8, 2019 |archive-date=June 8, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190608213351/https://www.denofgeek.com/us/tv/star-trek/258699/the-15-best-worst-episodes-of-star-trek-the-original-series |url-status=live }}</ref>

==References==
{{reflist|30em}}

==External links==
{{wikiquote|Star Trek: The Original Series#Turnabout Intruder|"Turnabout Intruder"}}
*{{IMDb episode}}
* {{Memory Alpha}}
*[http://www.orionpressfanzines.com/articles/turnabout_intruder.htm "Turnabout Intruder"] Story outline dated May 8, 1968; Report and analysis by Dave Eversole
*[http://www.chakoteya.net/StarTrek/79.htm  Star Trek Transcripts - Turnabout Intruder]

{{Star Trek: The Original Series episodes|3|state=expanded}}
{{Gene Roddenberry}}

[[Category:1960s American television series finales]]
[[Category:1969 American television episodes]]
[[Category:Fiction about body swapping]]
[[Category:Star Trek: The Original Series season 3 episodes]]
[[Category:Television episodes directed by Herb Wallerstein]]
[[Category:Television episodes written by Gene Roddenberry]]