“The Menagerie”

Stardate: 3012.4-3013.2
Episode: 16
Original US Airdate: 17 November 1966, 24 November 1966

The award-winning "The Menagerie", Star Trek's only 2-part episode, is a sort of companion piece to "The Cage", since a good portion of "The Menagerie" consists of footage from "The Cage". In fact, "The Menagerie" was devised as a way to utilize "The Cage" footage and still preserve Star Trek's continuity in spite of the severe differences between "The Cage" and the rest of Trek.

Summary

In the story that serves as a "frame" for "The Cage", the Enterprise is falsely diverted to Starbase 11 by a message supposedly sent by former Enterprise commander Fleet Captain Christopher Pike. When Kirk, Spock, and McCoy arrive at the starbase, they learn that Captain Pike was recently disfigured and paralyzed in an accident while inspecting a cadet ship. Pike is abducted from the starbase by Spock (who served under Pike for over 11 years) and brought aboard the Enterprise. While Kirk is still on Starbase 11, Spock takes over the Enterprise and locks it on a course for Talos IV—even though General Order 7 stipulates the death penalty for visiting that planet. Kirk and Commodore Méndez (Starbase 11's commander) chase after the Enterprise in a shuttlecraft. They are finally beamed aboard the Enterprise after their shuttlecraft runs out of fuel, and Spock turns himself in for court-martial. Kirk has the painful task of presiding over a trial that may result in the death penalty for his friend.

During the proceeding, Spock presents in his defense scenes from the Enterprise's visit to Talos IV 13 years earlier. (See "The Cage".) After the presentation is over, Kirk learns that Méndez's presence on the ship and in the shuttlecraft was only an illusion, rendering the court-martial meaningless. The illusion was created by the Talosians, who have been working with Spock to get Pike to Talos IV so that he might live out his life with the illusion of being healthy and whole. Kirk, with Star Fleet's permission, allows Pike to beam down to Talos IV.

Notable Bits

Kirk's cryptic smile when Miss Piper mentions Lt. Helen Johannson—what sort of "friends" were they?

After it is discovered the Enterprise is receiving images from Talos IV during the trial, Kirk is relieved of command (another illusion?) and the court-martial recesses. Spock pleads with his friend to consider the rest of the evidence, but Kirk can only curtly reply "Lock him up." As part 1 fades out, Kirk looks as though he's been hit by a ton of bricks. Throughout the proceedings, Kirk is obviously having a difficult time; he seems more worried about Spock facing the death penalty than about any recriminations he may face from his vessel having contact with Talos.

The participants in the court-martial seem at times like a Greek chorus, commenting and elaborating on the events in "The Cage".

The Keeper's final message to Kirk ("Captain Pike has an illusion…") is a recycling of "The Cage"'s original ending; nevertheless, it is still quite poignant. Pike and Vina presumably spend the rest of their days on Talos together, living happily (if illusorily) ever after.

Quotable Quotes

Spock (to McCoy): "Doctor, I regret they elected to keep certain things from you…" [Who are they?]

Méndez (grumbling during the trial): "This is a court of space law, not a theater." [Unfortunately, Dr. McCoy never got the chance to say "I'm a doctor, not a lawyer."]

Spock (to Kirk): "Jim, please don't stop me. Don't let him stop me. It's your career and Captain Pike's life."

Observations

"The Menagerie" is an excellent action/plot-oriented episode overall, yet there are a puzzlingly large number of incongruities in the plot line:

How did Spock get in touch with the Talosians before the events of "The Menagerie", if contact with Talos was forbidden? Pike seemed to know what Spock had in mind—how?
At what point exactly is the real Méndez replaced by the illusion of same?
If the Talosians could control the Enterprise so many thousands of miles away, why couldn't they give Pike the illusion of health without his going to live on their barren world?

Trivia

Computer Center Chief Humboldt was named after German geographer/explorer Baron Alexander von Humboldt. (From The Making of Star Trek by Stephen E. Whitfield and Gene Roddenberry)

In Spock's plea to Pike, "I know it is treachery against Captain Kirk…", the underlined phrase was edited out of the final print but can be heard in the trailer for part 1.

Video Captures

(Click thumbnail to see full-sized picture.)

Miss Piper awaits visitors	Kirk and Commodore José I. Méndez	Fleet Captain Pike	Title	Kirk and Méndez examine record tapes
Chief Humboldt, Computer Center	Méndez introduces his assistant, Miss Piper	"She [Lt. Helen Johannson] merely mentioned that she knew you, sir."	Spock dispenses with Chief Humboldt	Lt. Hansen receives new orders
"He keeps blinking 'no!'"	"For eyes of Starfleet Command only" (click to read the report for yourself)	Méndez and Kirk in shuttlecraft	Spock presents himself to McCoy for arrest	Hansen transfers command to Kirk
The preliminary hearing	The court-martial	Kirk at the trial	Méndez	Spock asks to present his evidence
Kirk and Méndez discuss the evidence	Kirk watches still more evidence	Méndez berates Spock for having the ship receive images from Talos	"Lock him up."	"To Be Concluded Next Week"
Scenes from next week's voyage	Title	Kirk watches Vina as Orion slave girl with apparent interest	Guilty vote	Kirk is asked for his vote
A view of the Enterprise bridge	Kirk confronts Spock afterwards

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