Headscratchers / Star Trek S2 E4 "Mirror, Mirror"

• Followup stories typically show all of the major Mirror Universe counterpart characters still alive and well, and still very much in prominent positions even into the TOS movie era. It seems like all of the major characters have Character Shields or Plot Armor despite the fact that in such a brutal culture, it would be more plausible for least some of them to no longer be among the living. Chekov, for example, was not immediately executed after his failed assassination attempt on what he thought was Mirror Kirk. But the real Mirror Kirk would have surely heard about this "fatal misstep" when he returned. Also, Sulu was not disintegrated with his henchmen when Mirror Marlena used the Tantalus field. And he also seems to have apparently escaped retaliation for his own blatant attempt to arrange the death of not only whom he thought were Mirror Kirk, Uhura, Scotty, and Bones, but also the true Mirror Spock as well.
  • Mirror Spock may or may not reveal to Mirror Kirk that Mirror Chekov attempted to assassinate his imposter. Chekov, of course likely doesn't know the truth about what happened and will probably give himself away. And Sulu has now played his hand and given Spock a reason to eliminate him.
  • On the other hand, both Mirror Chekov and Mirror Sulu were just following standard procedure against superior officers who had disobeyed orders. It's Mirror Kirk who had better watch his back against his formerly loyal First Officer and Captain's Woman.
  • Marlena might have spared Mirror Sulu in order to leave matters in (presumably Mirror) Kirk's hands — he might want Mirror Sulu alive for some reason, or he might want to kill him personally. Killing redshirt minions is one thing; killing a senior officer might be too risky for her to do on her own initiative.