Where No Man Has Gone Before (TOS episode)
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"Where No Man Has Gone Before" was the second pilot episode of the Star Trek: The Original Series. It is sometimes considered episode #2 of the series, if one counts the first pilot "The Cage" as episode #1. It is written by Samuel A. Peeples, and directed by James Goldstone.
Unlike the first pilot, "The Cage", Captain James T. Kirk is in charge, with a promoted Mr. Spock as his first officer; but Doctor Leonard McCoy is still missing.
Two versions of this episode exist. The first version, never aired in the U.S., contains alternate and extra footage not used on television (this is the version that sold Star Trek to NBC as a series). It is formatted in the style of Quinn Martin's television series (Act I, Act II, etc.). This version has been shown in Star Trek conventions and has also been unofficially released on public-domain VHS videos.
The second version was re-edited and reformatted as part of the original series (this is the version that has been officially released). One way to tell that it is the revised cut is that Kirk's "Space, the final frontier" introductory voice-over is missing (In fact, the concluding phrase "to boldly go where no man has gone before" was added because of this episode).
As originally filmed, the crew's uniforms are the same ones that were used in "The Cage", with the necks the same color as the rest of the tunic instead of black as they would be in subsequent episodes.
Somewhat confusingly for viewers, this pilot was not aired first when the series began, but was instead the third episode shown, on September 22, 1966. It was repeated on April 20, 1967.
Quick Overview: The Enterprise journeys to the edge of the galaxy, where two crew members develop dangerous psychic powers.
On stardate 1312.4, the starship USS Enterprise, under the command of Captain James T. Kirk, is on a mission to try to exit the galaxy. This feat has never been undertaken successfully since there is a seemingly impenetrable energy barrier surrounding the entire disk of the galaxy. The last ship to attempt passage was the SS Valiant which never subsequently reported back.
While en route, the Valiant's "black box" recorder is detected, and the Enterprise beams the battered device aboard. The 200-year-old recorder is barely functional, but still holds data about the last moments aboard the ill-fated ship, and indicates the crew had been searching vigorously for information about extra-sensory perception (ESP) in the ship's library computer.
Shortly thereafter, the Enterprise passes through the barrier which causes serious electrical damage to the ship's systems, and the vessel is forced to back off. At the same time, Navigator Lt. Gary Mitchell, and ship's psychologist, Dr. Elizabeth Dehner are both knocked unconscious by the field's effect. When they awaken they gradually become aware that they have changed, and both begin to display psychic powers, which strangely has covered their eyes with a silver film. Dehner's powers grow at a slower rate than Mitchell's, but having shared the experience together, the two eventually become very close in powers.
Mitchell and Kirk have known each other for many years. In fact, as a Star Fleet midshipman years ago, Mitchell was the student of instructor Lieutenant Kirk. He states, "In Lt. Kirk's class, either you think or you sink."
Over time Mitchell becomes increasingly arrogant and hostile towards the rest of the crew, declaring he has become godlike. He enforces his desires with fearsome telepathic and telekinetic powers. Mr. Spock believes that the Valiant may have experienced the same phenomena, and in turn, some of its crew members developed dangerous powers. The other crew members must have destroyed the ship to prevent the power from taking over the Galaxy.
Alarmed that Mitchell may eventually take over the Enterprise, Kirk decides to have him marooned on an unmanned lithium-cracking facility on the remote planet of Delta Vega. Once on the planet, the landing party tries to confine Mitchell, but his powers are too great. He eventually goes on a rampage, kills a guard, and escapes, taking Dr. Dehner with him.
Kirk follows, and Mitchell attempts to kill Kirk with his psionic powers. Witnessing this display, Dr. Dehner realizes, during a brief moment when her own powers have lapsed, how inhuman and dangerous Mitchell has become, and she tries to help Kirk defeat him. Without remorse, Mitchell kills the weaker Dehner, but before he can refocus his powers, Kirk blasts down a rock slide that buries and finishes off Mitchell for good.
Trivia
Curiously, Kirk's middle initial is given as "R." in this episode. "T." was evidently selected later, with this episode being overlooked. The explanation for this is that Gene Roddenberry wanted, as a private joke, to have a character named Rice in every series he created, and Kirk's middle name was to be Rice.
During the filming of this episode, a wasps' nest high in the rafters of the studio was somehow disturbed, and many cast and crew members suffered stings as a result. Despite the makeup used to hide them, they can still be seen in the later acts, as Kirk and Mitchell fight on the planet surface.
Lt. Commander Gary Mitchell was played by Gary Lockwood who had starred in the title role of Roddenberry's earlier series on ABC, The Lieutenant. Three years later he starred in Stanley Kubrick's film 2001: A Space Odyssey as ill-fated astronaut Frank Poole.
Sally Kellerman would later earn fame as "Hot Lips" Houlihan in the film version of M*A*S*H.