Series: Star Trek: The Original Series
Season 1, Episode 12
Original Air Date: November 24, 1966
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| via Memory Alpha |
The novelties on offer for the devotees are numerous in "The Menagerie." In addition to being the only two-parter of the originals, the episode marks the last on-screen appearance of Christopher Pike, Kirk's predecessor as captain of the Enterprise - the last, that is, until he hit the big screen in J.J. Abrams's 2009 reboot film. It was also the public's only glimpse of footage from the original pilot until it was finally aired on television in 1988. The draw for me, however, was the use of Spock as plot device.
Because of the inclusion of the pilot footage, the story gets quite complicated so for the sake of this exercise, I shall simplify: Spock kidnaps Pike, his own former commanding officer, and hijacks the Enterprise. Next, he sets course for Talos IV - a capital crime in the Federation, apparently - then promptly surrenders himself to the court martial process. Quite a set up, even without the older material thrown in the mix.
Ultimately, Spock is vindicated, of course. We all know he will be. Trek just isn't Trek if Spock is executed in the twelfth episode. But the plot is crafted cleverly enough to plant a seed of doubt, even for a long-devoted fan. We all know Spock is infallible, reason over emotion always wins - except when it doesn't. In the end, he believes his logic was flawless from the start but he's forgiven for all of his offenses because his heart was in the right place: on the right side of his torso, obviously.
*****
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| via Memory Alpha |
Susan Oliver (Vina) was born Charlotte Grecke, February 13, 1932 in New York City. She made her first major television appearance on Goodyear TV Playhouse in 1955. Her first movie was The Green-Eyed Blonde in 1957. She had the title role in that one, surprising as her eyes in Star Trek are a stunning crystal blue. She is credited in "The Menagerie" as a result of her role in the pilot. She doesn't feature in the new material. Oliver died in 1990 of lung cancer.
I do remember Pike in the wheelchair.
ReplyDeleteJeffrey Hunter and Susan Oliver were both such undeniably attractive people. Kudos to the makeup crew for so effectively deforming them.
DeleteI remember this one. The creepy men with the big heads (pulsing veins) and then the irrational passionate Spock, and Nurse what is her name who was then the Number One.
ReplyDeleteMajel Barrett! She was Rodenberry's then girlfriend, future wife.
DeleteI must watch this one again I liked Jeffery Hunter and I thought Susan Oliver was talented and beautiful.
ReplyDeleteBut did you enjoy the episode ?
It was always one of my favorites.
cheers, parsnip
I actually enjoyed Part 1 more than 2. The second part had too much pilot, not enough of the new Spock story built around it. Also, the solution to the Spock dilemma, while clever, was a little too easy.
Delete(I'd like to call for reinforcement to note parsnip's question.)
ReplyDeleteWe've totally dropped the ball on watching TOS. Only seen one since we moved. We've got pizza ordered and my brother is on his way with drinks. Perhaps I can convince him to watch an ep over dinner. He's not a huge sci-fi guy, tho ...
(See above)
DeleteI hope you get to watch more soon!
No Trek, for the moment. But we did watch the first two eps of Downton Abbey with friends this weekend. So good I thought about writing a post on it.
DeleteI've not watched Downton Abbey but my wife is a devotee.
DeleteThere's a few things in life that give me a nice, warm feeling of contentment...Star Trek is one of them. Whenever you do one of your Star Trek posts, it's like a happy homecoming for me, LOL!
ReplyDeleteThat's all...except, I forgot how pretty Susan Oliver was, her eyes really are blue blue blue!
I am equally delighted when you stop by to chat about these posts.
DeleteI remember the heavily eyebrowed Spock footage as being believable when then episode aired. I attributed his louder volume to the character's lack of familiarity with his human power of softer inflection. Jeffrey Hunter did well. I'd seen him as Jesus in "King of Kings", but it was another actor, Sean Kenney, who portrayed the disabled Pike. In all, an excellent olio that made a surprising amount of sense.
ReplyDeleteOh, good call on Sean Kenney! I was fooled.
DeleteThey really did manage the combination of the two stories very nicely. Clip shows, as this one essentially is, often feel contrived. Not in this case.
Oh, I don't think Spock was so infallible. He may have often gotten the better of Bones, but things were best when Kirk was balancing Spock's logic off of McCoy's passion.
ReplyDeleteAccording to IMDB, The Green-Eyed Blonde was shot in black and white, so nobody was any the wiser! :-)
Oh yes, I know. But I nearly always want him to be right. Generally speaking, I'm not a logic over emotion kind of guy - or maybe I am and just don't see myself that way. I know I like Spock, though, and usually root for him to win the debates.
DeleteI did enjoy what they did in The Menagerie. Very clever.
ReplyDeleteMe, too. I think the development of a prior history helped in their overall world building efforts as well.
DeleteOne of my favorite Star Trek comics, Star Trek #61 from the DC run to be exact, is a follow-up to Pike's self-imposed Talosian exile.
ReplyDeleteThe comic books will play a more prominent role in these posts in time...
DeleteThat's one of my favorite episodes.
ReplyDeleteI think that it's my favorite so far, too. I have yet to find MY episode but "Menagerie" is pretty good.
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