The title refers to Khan and McGivers’ discussion about the importance of memorialising the dead, which he describes as magical thinking - the state of mind that connects seemingly unrelated events or phenomena, usually with supernatural causes. In psychiatric terms, it is thinking that one’s inner beliefs and thoughts can influence external events.
Khan says he knows what Ursula is doing in the medlab. In the previous episode, Madot and Ursula had successfully made Madot pregnant.
Khan asks Ivan, “My brother, what have I done?” and Ivan replies, “What you always do. Guided us, inspired us, protected us.” In ST III, after destroying Enterprise, Kirk asks McCoy, “My God, Bones, what have I done?” and McCoy replies, “What you had to do. What you always do. Turn death into a fighting chance to live.” This is the second time the series parallels Khan with Kirk, the last episode noting that when things don’t go according to plan, Khan changes the plan, much like Kirk changing the rules when faced with a no-win situation (ST II).
Ursula’s medical analysis translated says Richter died from a broken neck, and that he suffered fractures to his arm and legs before his death. She notes his age at 16 and his race as Caucasian.
Ursula’s description of the Ceti eel is consistent with Khan’s own description of them to Chekov and Terrell in ST II.
Paolo extended his dynoscanners’ range last episode by scavenging a Starfleet part - a coil - that he found in McGiver’s quarters.
Madot’s suggestion to use diatomaceous earth is a good one. It’s used for pest control even today in exactly a manner as she says.
Lear says Reliant’s mission to the Ceti Alpha system in 2285 was “5 years ago”. It is clearly rounding, since the current year established in the first episode was 2293. Lear’s skepticism about Reliant not noticing a missing planet or Enterprise being unaware of Ceti Alpha VI’s instability are questions that occasionally pop up in fan discussions about ST II.
McGivers’ recording now jumps to Day 119, nearly 4 months into the exile.
Ursula says McGivers’ HCG (Human Chorionic Gonadotropin, known as the pregnancy hormone) levels are over 30,000. At 6 weeks of pregnancy, the expected HCG level is between 152 to 32,171 mIU/mL.
McGivers says that in 4 months they’ve only lost 3 to the eels. Counting Richter as one of them, that means two more of the colony have died, which would bring the numbers down to 67.
Marla tells Khan how the Prime Directive is drilled into them, specifically not to provide advanced technology to those who haven’t developed it themselves.
Khan weds Marla, the ceremony officiated by Ursula, transforming her status from Khan’s Woman to his wife, as he called her in ST II.