2. Tomorrow and the Stars

A damaged transporter and a burst of temporal radiation send Captain Kirk back to Earth on the eve of the attack on Pearl Harbor, forcing him into a familiar Star Trek dilemma with uncomfortable new wrinkles.

As Kirk struggles to survive in nineteen forty one Honolulu, he forms a relationship with Elsa Kelly, the wife of a United States Navy officer, while the Enterprise races to correct the transporter malfunction and retrieve their captain. With history bearing down and war imminent, Kirk must once again choose between personal happiness and the integrity of the timeline.

On The Phase II Rewatch, Greg Westlake takes a hard look at an episode that invites direct comparison to City on the Edge of Forever, and not always to its benefit. The discussion covers why this story feels like a rerun so early in the series, how Kirk’s behavior here clashes with his TOS. history, and why this episode might have worked better later in the season.

The episode also explores the newly redesigned Klingons, the evolving bridge layout, Decker’s growing role as Kirk’s right-hand man, and Ilia's quiet but important final scene.