2. Peak TOS tone: campy, pulpy, and smart
“Mirror, Mirror” hits that elusive TOS sweet spot where pulpy adventure and thoughtful allegory coexist without undercutting each other. The episode revels in camp, dagger‑through‑Earth insignias, midriff uniforms, and a gloriously sinister Sulu, complete with scar, but underneath the heightened aesthetics sits a serious meditation on authoritarianism and the fragility of civilization.
Critics have praised the episode for being exciting and fun, visually appealing, well-acted, charming, pulpy, but also surprisingly thoughtful and nuanced, arguing that it encapsulates everything wonderful about classic Star Trek in one story. Where other season 2 standouts might lean heavily into either comedy (“The Trouble with Tribbles”) or grim tension (“The Doomsday Machine”), “Mirror, Mirror” balances both modes in a way that feels uniquely TOS.