Star Trek: The Animated Series S1E06 – The Survivor
The Animated Series ventures into familiar territory in The Survivor, blending long lost reunions, deception, and good old-fashioned spacefaring intrigue. The Enterprise rescues Carter Winston, a renowned philanthropist who’s been missing for years, only to discover he’s not what he appears to be. In true Star Trek fashion, he’s also the ex-fiancée of one of the Enterprise’s crew (cementing its original series reputation as the ship where every member of the crew signed up for the five-year mission to get away from their other half) but, just for fun, on top of all this, the Romulans are skulking about the edge of the Neutral Zone once again.
The concept of a “space billionaire” like Carter Winston is an unusual one for Star Trek, a franchise that typically eschews capitalist ideals in favour of a post-scarcity society and it’s in Winston’s altruistic reputation and his acts of generosity that really puts the fiction is science fiction. At the time, it probably seemed quite reasonable to envision a figure whose wealth is wielded in service of others, whereas nowadays the idea of a spacefaring billionaire being anything other than an egomaniacal fascist enabler is risible bordering on the naïve.
Of course, the twist of a long-lost individual not being who they appear to be is a well-worn Star Trek trope, and the inclusion of a romantic connection within the crew adds another layer of potential Starfleet cliché. Winston’s fiancée, Lieutenant Anne Nored, is thrust into an emotional shell game as she confronts the man she loves, only to discover he’s been replaced by an alien infiltrator. This element isn’t just an emotional subplot; it also serves to raise the stakes, making the revelation of Winston’s true identity as a Vendorian shapeshifter all the more impactful.
The Vendorian shapeshifter is one of those creations that only animation could have pulled off effectively at this stage of Star Trek. Its otherworldly natural appearance and ability to easily mimic both objects and living beings bring a sense of wonder and otherworldliness to the story that would have been almost impossible to achieve with live-action effects of the time. By leveraging the freedom of even economical animation, The Animated Series continues to expand the possibilities of what Star Trek can depict, adding to the episode’s appeal.
Echoing the cost-saving measures of The Enterprise Incident, the Romulan ships in this episode are represented as Klingon-style battle cruisers, reinforcing the political alliance hinted at in the original series. While this might have been a budgetary decision, it also serves as a subtle reminder of the tactical complexity and uneasy alliances that shape the galaxy’s power dynamics. The Romulan connection itself feels like a surprising added layer of intrigue, foreshadowing the more intricate, politically charged narratives that would become a hallmark of The Next Generation, especially where the Romulans were concerned.
With a runtime just under 25 minutes, The Survivor keeps its story tightly focused and zipping along, balancing its story elements and emotional stakes well. And while it may rely on some familiar Star Trek tropes, The Survivor blends them into a fresh and engaging package, reminding us how The Animated Series continued to build on the original series’ legacy.
