Star Trek episode "The Changeling"

E1019917

"The Changeling" is a first-season Star Trek: The Original Series episode in which the Enterprise encounters a powerful Earth probe, Nomad, that has been transformed into a deadly, perfection-obsessed machine.

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Observed surface forms (2)

Statements (46)

Predicate Object
instanceOf Star Trek: The Original Series episode
television episode
conflict Nomad threatens to destroy all imperfect life, including the Enterprise crew. NERFINISHED
continuityNote often cited as a precursor to the V’Ger storyline
countryOfOrigin United States of America
surface form: United States
featuresAntagonist Nomad NERFINISHED
featuresCharacter Hikaru Sulu NERFINISHED
James T. Kirk NERFINISHED
Leonard McCoy NERFINISHED
Montgomery Scott NERFINISHED
Nyota Uhura NERFINISHED
Spock NERFINISHED
featuresCommandingOfficer Captain James T. Kirk GENERATED
featuresConcept machine reinterpretation of original programming
featuresCrewRole chief engineer Montgomery Scott GENERATED
chief medical officer Leonard McCoy GENERATED
communications officer Nyota Uhura GENERATED
helmsman Hikaru Sulu GENERATED
science officer Spock GENERATED
featuresEntity Nomad space probe NERFINISHED
featuresStarship USS Enterprise (NCC-1701) NERFINISHED
featuresTechnology Earth space probe Nomad NERFINISHED
franchise Star Trek NERFINISHED
franchisePosition part of the original 1960s Star Trek television run
genre science fiction
influenceOn concept of V’Ger in Star Trek: The Motion Picture
narrativeDevice Kirk uses logical paradox to defeat Nomad.
NomadObjective to seek out and sterilize what it deems imperfect
notableEvent Nomad erases Uhura’s memory while attempting to correct her perceived imperfections.
Spock performs a mind meld with Nomad to learn its history.
originalLanguage English
originalNetwork NBC
originOfNomad Earth-launched space probe damaged and merged with an alien probe GENERATED
plotSummary The Enterprise encounters Nomad, an ancient Earth probe that has been altered into a powerful machine obsessed with perfection and intent on sterilizing imperfections.
productionCode 6149-37
relatedWork Star Trek: The Motion Picture NERFINISHED
resolution Captain Kirk convinces Nomad that it has failed its mission and is imperfect, leading it to self-destruction.
season 1
series Star Trek: The Original Series NERFINISHED
setting 23rd century
aboard the USS Enterprise NERFINISHED
theme artificial intelligence and its dangers
human fallibility versus machine logic
identity and self-contradiction
obsession with perfection
villainGoal sterilize all imperfect life-forms

Referenced by (5)

Full triples — surface form annotated when it differs from this entity's canonical label.

Jackson Roykirk mentionedIn Star Trek episode "The Changeling"
this entity surface form: Star Trek: The Original Series episode "The Changeling"
Nomad boards the USS Enterprise partOf Star Trek episode "The Changeling"
this entity surface form: Star Trek: The Original Series episode "The Changeling"
John Meredyth Lucas workedOn Star Trek episode "The Changeling"
John Meredyth Lucas wrote Star Trek episode "The Changeling"
Gene L. Coon wroteEpisode Star Trek episode "The Changeling"