Title

Where No Man Has Gone Before

Episode

Season 1
Episode 3

Air Date

September 22, 1966

Stardate

1312.4

Description

While investigating the disappearance of the U.S.S. Valiant 200 years earlier, an Enterprise crewmember becomes “infected” by an alien life form that threatens to destroy the Enterprise.

Personal Rating

This episode has a fairly routine “crewmember-gets-possessed” plot, like those in The Lights of Zetar, The Return of the Archons, and Spock's Brain.

This particular episode is slightly appealing because the alien's intent is mysterious. But the actors in this inchoate series are extremely stiff and awkward, which is a real distraction.

Some of the props are also awful. The computerized library information appears as crooked, typewritten pages on the computer screens.

One interesting tidbit is that Captain Kirk's middle initial was “R” in this episode, while in later episodes it was “T.”

Another thing worth mentioning is that Scotty was actually slim at one time, in contrast to his Orson Welles-esque physique in the Star Trek movies.

Favorite Quotations

Kirk, to the psychologist named Dr. Dehner: “Dr. Dehner, how are you on ESP?”

Dr. Dehner: “In tests I've taken, my ESP rated rather high.”

Kirk: “I'm asking what you know about ESP.”

Dr. Dehner: “It is a fact that some people can sense future happenings, read the backs of playing cards, and so on, but the esper capacity is always quite limited.”


Kirk: “If you mean strand [possessed crewmember] Mitchell there, I won't do it! That station is fully automated. There's not a soul on the whole planet. Even the ore ships call only once every 20 years.”

Spock: “Then you have one other choice. Kill Mitchell while you still can.” [Not very pacifist of you, Spock.]