- Written by Samuel A. Peeples
- Directed by James Goldstone
- September 22, 1966
- NBC
Episode Cast
- Captain Kirk-William Shatner
- Spock-Leonard Nimoy
- Lt. Cmdr. Gary Mitchell-Gary Lockwood
- Dr. Elizabeth Dehner-Sally Kellerman
- Dr. Piper-Paul Fix
- Sulu-George Takei
- Scott-James Doohan
- Lt. Leslie-Eddie Paskey
- Lt. Hadley-Bill Blackburn
- Lt. Lee Kelso-Paul Carr
- Alden-Lloyd Haynes
- Yeoman Smith-Andrea Dromm
After encountering an energy barrier at the edge of our galaxy, the Enterprise finds itself damaged and in grave danger when two of their crew begin exhibiting powerful ESP abilities.
Though “Where No Man Has Gone Before” is the pilot that sold the show to the network, it was the third episode of the series to hit the airwaves. In comparison to “The Man Trap” this hits the ground running and has some relatively deep ideas while being propelled to an action filled ending. What happens if we get great power but are unable to temper our flaws?
Though we have Captain Kirk, Spock, Sulu, and Scott we are missing core Season One characters of McCoy and Uhura. Of those we do get Scott and Sulu are kind of blank slates while the relationship between Kirk and Spock as well as both characters personalities are well established. Kirk is a dedicated and caring captain. Spock is logical and analytical to the point of being cold and befuddled with the emotional creatures he is around.
“Where No Man Has Gone Before” is what Star Trek can do well and that is have some strong moments of action as well as a high stakes plot. On the surface you’re getting a very flawed man developing the powers of a god. If you take a deeper look, you could extend it as the general corruption of power. Kirk even says to his friend “Absolute power corrupts absolutely.” And Kirk’s friend Gary Mitchell is well on his way to absolute power.
In my opinion Gary Mitchell is probably the only genuinely evil villain of the original series. He becomes corrupted by his own power. He cares nothing for people by the end because he has power and they don’t. They’re automatically beneath him. “Morals are for men, not gods.” Other villains from the series could be viewed as good in their view and taking the best position for their side though it is opposition to the Federation. Mitchell was just bad.
Like many others I first encountered this episode out of airing order, so I understood Gary Mitchell was going to be a one-off character but they somehow managed to make him feel as if he had been a long and integrated part of the life of the character of Kirk. That goes to the writing as well as of the performances. It also makes the choices by Kirk feel all the more difficult as his duty as a captain force him to choose between his friend or his ship.
In popular culture Captain Kirk gets portrayed as a horndog who shoots first and asks questions later but right from the get-go he’s portrayed and talked about as an intelligent man as well as caring and concerned and duty-bound. It’s a protective streak which would carry through for the entirety of the original run of the character.
Somehow this episode makes you feel as if there is a strong and deep history to what is the first episode of the series. This sports the intelligent characters and deep dialogue that is a hallmark of all good Star Trek. This was a rare point of thoughtful and seriously done televised science fiction of the time it first appeared.
“Where No Man Has Gone Before” while the third episode is the pilot that got the ball rolling and a strong start to the series. There is great action and a great story that can be enjoyed in more than one way. If you want to see early Star Trek at its best or just Star Trek at its best this should definitely be at the top of your list.
Warren Watched A Movie 