[6.8/10] This one gets points for having a straightforward but propulsive enough story, and for sprinkling in that Spock-Bones begrudging affection that I’m a sucker for. It loses points, however, for dragging out the space between the pirates chasing the USS Potemkin and the Enterprise confronting them. Overall though, it’s a solid episode, which wouldn’t feel out of place being done in live action. Maybe that’s a knock on the episode for not taking advantage of the possibilities of animation, but it’s nice to get a bit of standard *Star Trek* once in a while. It benefits from the ticking clock that is Spock’s fatal and fast-acting illness, and the easy macguffin of the medicine to cure him. Plus, while the Orions are a little cheesy, there’s something interesting about their fatalism, and their mantra that “all unsuccessful Orion missions end in death.” It’s a little convenient, but it gives their culture character as opposed to making them generic baddies. Again, the race against time to cure Spock, the diplomacy and threats with Orions, and the finalr confrontation between Kirk and their leader all make this a good enough meat and potatoes *Star Trek* episode; it’s just missing that extra spark and pacing to put it firmly into “legitimately good” territory.