lizbee | TOS: "The Alternative Factor"

This is Lieutenant Charlene Masters. She's a science officer specialising in dilithium crystals.

She gives sass to Kirk on the bridge.

She's an African American woman. Her assistant is a white male. This was made in the sixties.

She was supposed to have a romantic subplot involving Lazarus. But she's an African American woman. He's a white male. This was made in the sixties. It's not all win.

She has a sense of humour, makes fun of the Enterprise's coffee, and takes no nonsense from anyone. Okay, yes, Lazarus knocks her out and steals her dilithium, but he also took out her assistant, so.

The amazing Lieutenant Masters aside, I was pretty eyerolly at this. Kirk evidently forgot to take his Good Captain pills that morning. McCoy and Spock keep trying to tell him really important stuff, and he's all, "STOP WITH YOUR COMPLICATED SCIENTIFIC JARGON! GIVE IT TO ME PLAIN, FOR I AM A PLAIN MAN!"

"I SAID, JIM, YOUR FACE IS ON FIRE!"

"WHY THE HELL DIDN'T YOU TELL ME?"