I have always found these very early episodes to be great fun because we get to see the crew in a very different light. These intrepid travelers are not the crew we all know and love. The actors and writers are still feeling out who these characters are. A prime example from this episode comes in the very opening scene. Kirk and Spock are playing three-dimensional chess and Spock cracks a very wry smile when he thinks he has his Captain beat. We have to remember that this is not “our” Enterprise. The ship model, sets, costumes, personalities, and even the characters aren’t what we’re used to seeing.
I said that to say this. This column isn’t going to be a typical review of the episode. You can find a good synopsis here.
Space Operas, like Star Trek, are often at their best when they are offering social commentary or they are trying to give us some insight into the meaning of our lives. So, what can we learn from this episode?
Who is Spinoza? For those playing the home game, Baruch Spinoza was one of the key philosophers responsible for the Enlightenment and the founder of modern Biblical criticism. His view could basically be described as naturalist. He viewed nature’s laws as binding in and of themselves without need of a supernatural God or gods.
Now, whether you or I agree with Spinoza is the subject of another debate. But, the fact that this sort of material could be discussed on television in the 1960’s is rather remarkable. This just isn’t the kind of thing that was done at the time and I think it’s indicative of the future direction of Trek.
But, back to the issue we are dealing with. Mitchell disagreed with Spinoza’s conclusion. He felt that by virtue of having this power and having more power than anyone around him, that he had the right to exercise that power as he alone saw fit. That free will allows him to decide not to be the old Gary Mitchell, but to be the new Gary Mitchell that can do whatever he wants when he wants. He’s setting the stage to be a powerful and ultimately vengeful god.
I think we can see that because, at least initially, Dr. Dehner argues that what Gary Mitchell is becoming may be a good thing. She even states that this is the next step of human evolution. This is a mistake that eventually costs her, her life. This is also illustrated because Kirk, both in the briefing room and on the surface of Delta Vega, makes is clear that it is not necessarily bad that Mitchell has these powers. What is bad is that he hasn’t earned them and the scars one would get while earning them. Those scars, hopefully, would teach someone when and how to use their powers justly and in a manner that would be useful for all.
Unfortunately, this episode was rather tough to pull a meaning from. We’re still dealing with some of the initial problems that NBC sought to avoid. They felt like the first pilot was far too cerebral and this is Roddenberry’s attempt to put more action into the show. I think he succeeded, but I think he also succeeded in sticking to his vision. We can agree or we can disagree with that vision, but I think I can speak for all Trek fans everywhere when I say, “Thanks.”
I hope you had as much fun reading this as I did researching and writing it. For more reading, be sure to check out Spinoza’s article on Wikipedia. Any critical thought, even on subjects we disagree about, makes us all better. Good day
