Rating: 
Summary: Two of my favorites
Review: "Mirror, Mirror" and "The Deadly Years" have long been two of my favorite Star Trek episodes, ever since the series became popular in the mid-1970s. "Mirror, Mirror" has Kirk and three other crewmembers beamed into a savage universe where Earth runs a brutal Empire instead of a benevolent Federation, and we get to see how our favorite characters turned out in such a very different place. Uniforms were altered to resemble Klingon uniforms somewhat, and the resemblance between the two cultures was underscored in the third season's "Day of the Dove" written by the same author, and "Elaan of Troyus" which introduced the Klingon insignia we are all familiar with. The Klingon transporter has an optical effect similar to that of the mirror universe transporter, and we also saw the mirror universe's agonizers used in "Day of the Dove". In the DS9 episode "Shattered Mirror" we saw that agonizers were still being used in the mirror universe, and were sufficiently improved over their predecessors that they no longer needed to touch their victims to be effective. Blooper trivia: When Chekov enters the turbolift with Kirk, he is seen wearing the gold sash worn by senior officers. When they're actually in the lift Chekov's sash is absent, but when they leave the lift he's wearing it again! In the scope of the Trek universe this could be explained as Kirk being in a state of quantum flux similar to what Worf experienced in "Parallels". Thus Kirk conceivably could have visited both DS9's and Diane Duane's mirror universes. "The Deadly Years" explores how some of the crewmembers reacted to premature aging caused by a radioactive comet. Spock is forced to remove Kirk from command of his ship, but cannot assume command because he's also afflicted. One of the most compelling scenes is Spock's reaction when Commodore Stocker argues the case for Kirk's removal. A human has outwitted Spock in logic.
Rating:
Summary: Two of my favorites
Review: "Mirror, Mirror" and "The Deadly Years" have long been two of my favorite Star Trek episodes, ever since the series became popular in the mid-1970s. "Mirror, Mirror" has Kirk and three other crewmembers beamed into a savage universe where Earth runs a brutal Empire instead of a benevolent Federation, and we get to see how our favorite characters turned out in such a very different place. Uniforms were altered to resemble Klingon uniforms somewhat, and the resemblance between the two cultures was underscored in the third season's "Day of the Dove" written by the same author, and "Elaan of Troyus" which introduced the Klingon insignia we are all familiar with. The Klingon transporter has an optical effect similar to that of the mirror universe transporter, and we also saw the mirror universe's agonizers used in "Day of the Dove". In the DS9 episode "Shattered Mirror" we saw that agonizers were still being used in the mirror universe, and were sufficiently improved over their predecessors that they no longer needed to touch their victims to be effective. Blooper trivia: When Chekov enters the turbolift with Kirk, he is seen wearing the gold sash worn by senior officers. When they're actually in the lift Chekov's sash is absent, but when they leave the lift he's wearing it again! In the scope of the Trek universe this could be explained as Kirk being in a state of quantum flux similar to what Worf experienced in "Parallels". Thus Kirk conceivably could have visited both DS9's and Diane Duane's mirror universes. "The Deadly Years" explores how some of the crewmembers reacted to premature aging caused by a radioactive comet. Spock is forced to remove Kirk from command of his ship, but cannot assume command because he's also afflicted. One of the most compelling scenes is Spock's reaction when Commodore Stocker argues the case for Kirk's removal. A human has outwitted Spock in logic.
Rating: 
Summary: Not the Same Old Crew
Review: "Mirror, Mirror" is a Trek classic and fan favorite, one of the better "alternate dimension" stories in cinema sci-fi. After a failed attempt at convincing a neutral and pacifistic planet to provide resources for the Federation's weapons, Kirk, Uhura and McCoy beam back aboard ship - but find themselves on a completely different Enterprise in a parallel dimension, fascistically tyrannical, imperial and sadistic. It's easier for them to masquerade as barbarians to fool this dimension's Empire than for their swapped counterparts to fool the more equable Federation, and it falls on the Spocks of both dimensions to logically determine what has gone on and come up with a solution to return everyone to the universe in which they belong. A great episode, very dramatic and suspenseful, and - to use Spock's own word - it's "fascinating" to see the usual cast members playing against type. Sulu becomes an especially sadistic S.S. style security man, Chekhov a treacherously backstabbing mutineer, and Spock a ruthless (but still logical) bearded cossack. Barbara Luna has a nice supporting guest role as the alternate universe captain's main squeeze, who figures out about the same time Spock does that the crewmembers who beamed aboard her Enterprise are not the same ones who left. "The Deadly Years" is unintentionally more comical than not, largely due to William Shatner's tendency to ham-it-up when not carefully restrained. The story is pretty good - Kirk, Spock and McCoy become infected with an alien disease that causes them to rapidly age - but the makeups are uneven and not always convincing (the production crew was rushed, over-time and over-budget), and so are the performances by the three principals. Shatner doesn't act old age convincingly at all, and you often get the impression DeForest Kelley is deliberately overdoing it just to have fun - but it is kind of entertaining, actually.
Rating:
Summary: I.S.S. Enterprise and the U.S.S. Enterprise in two episodes.
Review: "Mirror, Mirror" Caught in the beginnings of an ion storm, Kirk, McCoy and Uhura interrupt their negotiations with the Halkans for dilithium crystals, to return to the U.S.S. Enterprise. Scotty beams the landing party aboard as a burst from the storm hits the starship. The transporter short-circuits, sending Kirk, McCoy, Scotty and Uhura into a parallel universe. In this world, they soon discover the "Galactic Empire" is maintained by fear and assassination. Now, aboard the parallel version of the U.S.S. Enterprise, the four must find a way to remain undetected until they can return to their own universe. Meanwhile, the I.S.S. Enterprise versions of Kirk, Scott, McCoy and Uhura have been beamed on board the positive U.S.S. Enterprise. Their behavior is so different from their counterparts that Spock immediately realizes something is wrong. He puts the four in the brig until the transporter could be checked and repaired. On the I.S.S. Enterprise, the parallel Chekov is foiled in an attempt to assassinate Kirk. When Kirk refuses to give an order to destroy the Halkans, who have refused to give up their dilithium crystals, the bearded Spock becomes suspicious. The Imperial Starfleet sends a secret message to the bearded Spock, telling him to kill Captain Kirk and assume command of the starship I.S.S. Enterprise. Finding an unexpected ally in the bearded Spock, Kirk continues to stall while his three comrades gather the information needed to send them back to their own universe. Scotty tells Kirk that if the four don't leave in three hours, they will be trapped forever in the mirror universe. The bearded Spock has no desire to become captain, and therefore a mark for assassination. Along with Lieutenant Marlena Moreau, who wants the parallel Kirk back because she is "the Captain's woman," they help return the four U.S.S. Enterprise officers to their own world. Before he goes, Kirk talks to the bearded Spock, telling him the advantages of a Federation-system over the anarchy of this universe. Spock seems almost convinced that he should in fact get rid of his Kirk, seize control of the I.S.S. Enterprise, and manipulate the Imperial Starfleet into working toward a more civilized universe. With the dimension barrier about ready to collapse and seconds to spare, the small U.S.S. Enterprise crew beam on their own ship. Kirk can only hope that the parallel Kirk will find changes from the bearded Spock. "The Deadly Years" On the way to Starbase 10, the U.S.S. Enterprise stops to deliver supplies to the colonists of Gamma Hydra IV. A landing party, consisting of Kirk, Spock, McCoy, Scott, Lieutenant Galway and Chekov beam to the planet's surface. They find that accelerated aging has taken place, killing most of the colonists. Chekov is terrified when he discovers the first body. The only survivors, an elderly couple who claim to be in their twenties, die shortly after meeting the U.S.S. Enterprise crew. When the landing party returns to the U.S.S. Enterprise, the aging acceleration begins to affect the entire crew ... except Chekov, who remains unaffected. While Kirk wants to remain in orbit around Gamma Hydra IV until a cure can be affected, one of his passengers, Commodore Stocker, wants to proceed to Starbase 10 where he feels the best medical aid can be found. Each person on the U.S.S. Enterprise begins to show the effects of old age and soon Kirk is unable to command, as are Scotty and Spock. Command falls to Commodore Stocker, who, while an efficient desk officer, has no deep space training. Thinking he will save time, Stocker plots a course through the Romulan Neutral Zone on his way to Starbase 10. The Romulans are waiting and begin an attack. Stocker, panicked and inexperienced, has no idea what to do. As the U.S.S. Enterprise is surrounded, McCoy comes up with an antidote to the aging sickness ... adrenaline. Chekov, he explains, wasn't affected because his fear at finding the bodies on Gamma Hydra IV had already kicked his natural adrenaline into high gear. McCoy restores Kirk to normal in time to save the U.S.S. Enterprise by reusing his famous "corbomite" bluff and telling the Romulans that the U.S.S. Enterprise would destroy anything within a 200,000 kilometer radius. McCoy distributes the antidote and restores everyone to their normal state.
Rating:
Summary: Not the Same Old Crew
Review: "Mirror, Mirror" is a Trek classic and fan favorite, one of the better "alternate dimension" stories in cinema sci-fi. After a failed attempt at convincing a neutral and pacifistic planet to provide resources for the Federation's weapons, Kirk, Uhura and McCoy beam back aboard ship - but find themselves on a completely different Enterprise in a parallel dimension, fascistically tyrannical, imperial and sadistic. It's easier for them to masquerade as barbarians to fool this dimension's Empire than for their swapped counterparts to fool the more equable Federation, and it falls on the Spocks of both dimensions to logically determine what has gone on and come up with a solution to return everyone to the universe in which they belong. A great episode, very dramatic and suspenseful, and - to use Spock's own word - it's "fascinating" to see the usual cast members playing against type. Sulu becomes an especially sadistic S.S. style security man, Chekhov a treacherously backstabbing mutineer, and Spock a ruthless (but still logical) bearded cossack. Barbara Luna has a nice supporting guest role as the alternate universe captain's main squeeze, who figures out about the same time Spock does that the crewmembers who beamed aboard her Enterprise are not the same ones who left. "The Deadly Years" is unintentionally more comical than not, largely due to William Shatner's tendency to ham-it-up when not carefully restrained. The story is pretty good - Kirk, Spock and McCoy become infected with an alien disease that causes them to rapidly age - but the makeups are uneven and not always convincing (the production crew was rushed, over-time and over-budget), and so are the performances by the three principals. Shatner doesn't act old age convincingly at all, and you often get the impression DeForest Kelley is deliberately overdoing it just to have fun - but it is kind of entertaining, actually.
Rating:
Summary: Not the Same Old Crew
Review: "Mirror, Mirror" is a Trek classic and fan favorite, one of the better "alternate dimension" stories in cinema sci-fi. After a failed attempt at convincing a neutral and pacifistic planet to provide resources for the Federation's weapons, Kirk, Uhura and McCoy beam back aboard ship - but find themselves on a completely different Enterprise in a parallel dimension, fascistically tyrannical, imperial and sadistic. It's easier for them to masquerade as barbarians to fool this dimension's Empire than for their swapped counterparts to fool the more equable Federation, and it falls on the Spocks of both dimensions to logically determine what has gone on and come up with a solution to return everyone to the universe in which they belong. A great episode, very dramatic and suspenseful, and - to use Spock's own word - it's "fascinating" to see the usual cast members playing against type. Sulu becomes an especially sadistic S.S. style security man, Chekhov a treacherously backstabbing mutineer, and Spock a ruthless (but still logical) bearded cossack. Barbara Luna has a nice supporting guest role as the alternate universe captain's main squeeze, who figures out about the same time Spock does that the crewmembers who beamed aboard her Enterprise are not the same ones who left. "The Deadly Years" is unintentionally more comical than not, largely due to William Shatner's tendency to ham-it-up when not carefully restrained. The story is pretty good - Kirk, Spock and McCoy become infected with an alien disease that causes them to rapidly age - but the makeups are uneven and not always convincing (the production crew was rushed, over-time and over-budget), and so are the performances by the three principals. Shatner doesn't act old age convincingly at all, and you often get the impression DeForest Kelley is deliberately overdoing it just to have fun - but it is kind of entertaining, actually.
Rating:
Summary: Beatniks & Geezers
Review: Ah, the fun I have watching classic Star Trek™! I just love the over-the-top acting of our stalwarts, the even-more-over-the-top acting of the guest star(s) who play the bad guy(s), the primitive effects, and those seemingly-impossible-to-get-out-of predicaments our heroes seem to get themselves into show after show. In short, great entertainment for the cheese-hungry! This particular presentation showcases the landmark alternate-universe eppie 'Mirror, Mirror', where Jimmers & Co. get transported onto an alternate-universe Enterprise in a galaxy where the Federation has now become a ruthless interstellar empire! Not only do we get to see Spock looking truly satanic with his mod goatee, the mirror Mr. Sulu's sporting a pretty nasty if somewhat hokey-looking facial scar (oh my)! As usual, Kirk bags the babe, and with the help of beatnik-Spock they manage to transport themselves back to their own dimension! Strangely enough, red-shirt casualties here were pretty much nil... Oh yes, then there's 'The Deadly Years', where we see our gallant crew age before our very eyes! Fortunately, a remedy for the problem is found, courtesy of Dr. McCoy Mr. Chekov. Wow, I guess Chekov really WAS useful for something, hmm? Anyhoo, the aging-fx makeup shown here is relatively primitive compared to NextGen's more advanced approach; check out the 'de-aging' Admiral Jameson from TNG's 'Too Short A Season' & you'll see what I mean. Still, their simulated aging in this eppie looked a helluva lot better than the real-life aging they had to endure over the next 35+ years! Whenever I watch this particular show, I think about that fact, and I have to stifle a chuckle or two. Especially in front of my more- ardent UberTrekkie buddies who get on my case every time I convey even a hint of irreverence towards Star Trek™! Ah, the hell with 'em-- I'll chuckle all I want! How do ya like THEM apples, huh?! 'Late!
Rating:
Summary: Beatniks & Geezers
Review: Ah, the fun I have watching classic Star Trek™! I just love the over-the-top acting of our stalwarts, the even-more-over-the-top acting of the guest star(s) who play the bad guy(s), the primitive effects, and those seemingly-impossible-to-get-out-of predicaments our heroes seem to get themselves into show after show. In short, great entertainment for the cheese-hungry! This particular presentation showcases the landmark alternate-universe eppie 'Mirror, Mirror', where Jimmers & Co. get transported onto an alternate-universe Enterprise in a galaxy where the Federation has now become a ruthless interstellar empire! Not only do we get to see Spock looking truly satanic with his mod goatee, the mirror Mr. Sulu's sporting a pretty nasty if somewhat hokey-looking facial scar (oh my)! As usual, Kirk bags the babe, and with the help of beatnik-Spock they manage to transport themselves back to their own dimension! Strangely enough, red-shirt casualties here were pretty much nil... Oh yes, then there's 'The Deadly Years', where we see our gallant crew age before our very eyes! Fortunately, a remedy for the problem is found, courtesy of Dr. McCoy Mr. Chekov. Wow, I guess Chekov really WAS useful for something, hmm? Anyhoo, the aging-fx makeup shown here is relatively primitive compared to NextGen's more advanced approach; check out the 'de-aging' Admiral Jameson from TNG's 'Too Short A Season' & you'll see what I mean. Still, their simulated aging in this eppie looked a helluva lot better than the real-life aging they had to endure over the next 35+ years! Whenever I watch this particular show, I think about that fact, and I have to stifle a chuckle or two. Especially in front of my more- ardent UberTrekkie buddies who get on my case every time I convey even a hint of irreverence towards Star Trek™! Ah, the hell with 'em-- I'll chuckle all I want! How do ya like THEM apples, huh?! 'Late!
Rating:
Summary: Our Beloved Characters Turned Upside-Down
Review: Another reviewer hit the nail right on the head when he stated that so many times in the Star Trek: The Original Series DVD sets, a very good or great episode is paired with a real clinker. However, not this time. This DVD pairs up two terrific episodes that succeed on every level. Both episodes offer the varous cast members ways to play off of their usual characterizations on Star Trek:
MIRROR, MIRROR: I love watching films or TV episodes where you know that the cast and crew must have had a ball filming it. Mirror, Mirror is one of those episodes in spades. Those who have been to a Star Trek convention have, more than likely, seen the Star Trek blooper reel. It seems that a quarter of the bloopers shown are from this episode. William Shatner, DeForest Kelly, James Doohan and Nichelle Nichols must have felt cheated, not being able to play their snarling, savage altnerate counterparts for the entire episode. Of the four, only Shatner, in his inimitable small-screen Charlton Heston way, gets to play his evil self at all. George Takei gets the Snidely Whiplash prize for the most flamboyant evil counterpart. With his red uniform shirt, huge scar and lecherous leer, Takei jumps into the role with both feet as the Gestapo-like head of security on the I.S.S. Enterprise. Walter Koenig plays the alternate Chekov as a sneering rat and is, unfortunately, gone from the episode too soon. The best performance in the episode, however, is from Leonard Nimoy who manages to make Spock fit into the alternate universe while still maintaining the integrity and intellectual honesty that is so much a part of the character. It's one of the great episodes of the series and regretably wasn't followed up either later in the series or in one of the feature films. I would have loved to have seen how the crew of the I.S.S. Enterprise was doing 15-20 years in the future.
THE DEADLY YEARS: Star Trek fans have become used to the robust images of the original crew. So much so that even when the cast, some well into their sixties, appeared in the feature films from 1979 to 1991, the producers had them jumping through the same hoops as if they hadn't aged since the 1960's. (The Simpsons brilliantly spoofed the advanced ages of the Enterprise crew in a vignette called "Star Trek 6: So Very Tired.") In The Deadly Years, however, fans did get to see their heroes age and become physically weak and vulnerable. The writers of this episode do an excellent job of aging each character differently. (I especially liked the touch by DeForest Kelly of making Dr. McCoy's southern accent thicken as he aged). Most moving, however, is the relationship between Kirk and Spock when the aging disease takes hold. William Shatner and Leonard Nimoy's chemistry works very well because of their divergent acting techniques. Shatner hams it up and emotes furiously while Nimoy underplays, letting only the smallest indication of emotions leak out. Of course, the way the roles were written do, to a large extent, dictate how the actors perform them. However, try to imagine Shatner playing off of the much more emotive Martin Landau who was originally cast as Mr. Spock. When Spock conducts the competentcy hearing that removes Kirk from the captain's chair, Shatner becomes emotional and accuses Spock of stabbing him in the back. Nimoy, through very subtle gestures, shows that the situation pains Spock just as much as it does Kirk. It's a terrific job of acting, writing and directing that works perfectly.
The picture quality is as clear as a bell. The only problem I have with this (and all the other) DVD's is that not enough extras were included. The DVD only offers teaser previews for the episodes on the disk. Too bad the producers of this DVD didn't include the bloopers from Mirror, Mirror -- they would have added immensely to the DVD.
Rating:
Summary: Very different episodes, both great.
Review: BOTH of these episodes are great, which makes this DVD a real bargain. "Mirror/Mirror" is finely acted with real intensity, and "The Deadly Years" has some of the most hilarious performances of any episode, but it can still keep you on the edge of your seat. The DVD visual quality is excellent, allowing you to see the episodes in amazing detail, which, in "Mirror/Mirror" is really nice, since it gives you great views of Nichelle Nichols' gorgeous abdomen and pretty navel.
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