“Where No Man Has Gone Before”

Stardate: 1312.4-1313.8
Episode: 2
Original US Airdate: 22 September 1966

"Where No Man Has Gone Before" went where no television pilot had gone before: after NBC rejected Trek's first pilot ("The Cage"), Gene Roddenberry was given a second chance to prove the viability of his "Wagon Train to the stars" concept. Since Spock was the only holdover from "The Cage," several beloved Trek personalities made their début in "Where No Man Has Gone Before": Captain James Kirk, Engineer Scott and Sulu (here an "astro-scientist" rather than helmsman).

Summary

The Enterprise encounters an energy barrier at the outer edge of the galaxy. While attempting to cross the barrier, the Enterprise's warp engines are severely damaged. The confrontation with the barrier also knocks unconscious two members of the crew: Lieutenant Commander Gary Mitchell (an old friend of Kirk's) and psychiatrist Dr. Elizabeth Dehner—both of whom happen to have high extrasensory perception (ESP) quotients. Mitchell's latent ESP abilities are accelerated to the point that he seems to be something beyond human. Dehner, who was affected to a lesser degree, takes Mitchell's side and protests Kirk's decision to maroon him on Delta Vega, an uninhabited planet. The Enterprise sets course for Delta Vega and its automated lithium-cracking station that can aid in repairing the ship's damaged engines. A sedated Mitchell is transported down to the planet but escapes from confinement, taking Dehner (who has begun to mutate as well) with him. Kirk follows with a phaser rifle, and Mitchell attempts to kill him with his psi powers. Dehner, who finally realizes what Mitchell has become, helps Kirk overpower the madman and is killed in the attempt. Back aboard the Enterprise, Kirk lists Mitchell and Dehner as having died in the line of duty.

Notable Bits

As the Enterprise leaves the galaxy, Mitchell has the arduous task of comforting the comely but vapid Yeoman Smith.

The "rodent things" on Dimorus mentioned by Mitchell—that would have been something to see.

As Mitchell continues to mutate, his hair gradually turns gray.

The pathetic sight of Mitchell and Dehner strolling the barren Delta Vega landscape like some otherworldly Adam and Eve in their own "Garden of Eden" (complete with apples).

The "zapping" contest between Mitchell and Dehner that helps lead to Mitchell's defeat and Dehner's death.

Quotable Quotes

Kirk (to the eminently unmemorable Yeoman Smith): "Jones?"
Smith: "The name's Smith, sir."

Dehner: "Women professionals do tend to overcompensate."

Dehner (to Spock): "I know those from your planet aren't supposed to have feelings like we do, Mr. Spock, but to talk that way about a man you've worked next to for years—"

Dehner: "A mutated, superior man could also be a wonderful thing, the forerunner of a new and better kind of human being."

Spock (to Kirk regarding Mitchell): "In a month he'll have as much in common with us as we'd have with a ship full of white mice."

Kirk (to Spock): "Will you try for one moment to feel, at least act like you've got a heart?"

Mitchell: "I'm not sure yet just what kind of a world I can use."

Kirk: "Dr. Dehner feels he isn't that dangerous. What makes you right and a trained psychiatrist wrong?"
Spock: "Because she feels. I don't. All I know is logic."

Mitchell (in "god" mode): "You should have killed me while you could, James. Command and compassion is a fool's mixture."

Kirk: "Above all else, a god needs compassion."

Mitchell: "Morals are for men, not gods."

Back to the Future

"My love has wings, slender feathered things with grace in upswept curve and tapered tip…"— excerpt from the poem "Nightingale Woman" by Phineas Tarbolde of the Canopius planet and written "back in 1996" (well, maybe it was).

Trivia

The broadcast version of "Where No Man Has Gone Before" (see below for information on the original version of the episode) has no "Space…the final frontier" voice-over, nor is there the "swish" sound effect as the ship flies by during the opening credits.

Making of "Where No Man Has Gone Before"

The "silver eye" effect in Mitchell and Dehner was produced by opaque contact lenses. As the characters mutated, lenses that were more opaque were used on the actors until they could not see at all. Although the actors rehearsed with the lenses off, they still stumbled through the shooting of their scenes, reaching out and picking up a camera or missing the chair when they tried to sit down.

Filming on "Where No Man Has Gone Before" began 19 July 1965 and finished eight days later. On the fifth day of shooting, a swarm of wasps appeared on the set, causing panic among the cast and crew and stinging two of the actors (Sally Kellerman was stung in the back, William Shatner on an eyelid). Post-production was finished in January 1966; total production costs were $330,000. The finished product was shipped to NBC at the end of January, and the network announced in mid-February the addition of Star Trek to the Fall 1966 schedule.

Significant differences exist between the original version of "Where No Man Has Gone Before" (the one submitted to NBC) and the version that was later televised. The original version was divided into 4 acts with a prologue and an epilogue (à la Quinn Martin productions such as The Fugitive). The show opened with a view of our galaxy, accompanied by a William Shatner voice-over introducing the tale. The opening chess game scene between Kirk and Spock had an additional line of dialog from Kirk: after his remark about Spock's "bad [human] blood," Kirk adds, "But you may learn to enjoy it someday." A bit later, when the disaster recorder materialized in the transporter room and began to flash on and off, the scene froze and the words "Star Trek" appeared in pink letters trimmed in silver-blue. As the opening theme was heard, the words "Tonight's episode: Where No Man Has Gone Before" appeared in the same style of lettering. The end credits were backed by a unique piece of music never again heard in Star Trek: a fast-paced, almost cheerful melody. [This version of "Where No Man Has Gone Before" is now available as an extra in the TOS Season 3 Blu-ray box set.]

Censorship Follies

The original script of "Where No Man Has Gone Before" had this exchange between Mitchell and Spock:

Mitchell: "Frigid Liz herself."
Spock: "The human mechanism is capable of generating a surprising amount of energetic heat—depending on the skill of the operator."

NBC censors asked that a different word be substituted for "frigid" and that the phrase "depending on the skill of the operator" be deleted from Spock's speech.

Anomalies

Why didn't subsequent trips out of the galaxy ("By Any Other Name", "Is There in Truth No Beauty?", etc.) cause the same ESP-related effects? ["Where No Man Has Gone Before"'s footage of the ship leaving the galaxy was reused in these episodes.]

It's puzzling that Dehner would take up for Mitchell even before she began to show the effects of crossing the barrier.

Sulu's reference to pennies—are they still used?

Amazing that an unconscious and sedated Mitchell can stand unaided on the transporter platform.

Observations

"Where No Man Has Gone Before" has a bit of an unfinished quality as far as the characters and their development are concerned, but it was definitely "getting there." Although Kirk is so serious in our first glimpse of the Enterprise's best-known captain, the essentials of his professional makeup are quite evident: his concern for his crew and ship, reluctance to kill his best friend in spite of the danger posed by Mitchell, and his taking the blame for what happened. Spock is more "Spockish" here than in "The Cage," but the character is still rough around the edges (e.g., shouting, peculiar speech patterns).

Of the characters that made their first (and last) appearance in "Where No Man Has Gone Before," Kelso was the most likeable— a decent, "best friend" type. His death in "Where No Man Has Gone Before" is quite a shame. Dr. Piper, however, was a dull, clueless sort; he wasn't even as interesting as "Cage"'s Dr. Boyce, let alone his popular successor, Dr. McCoy.

Video Captures

(From the "Where No Man Has Gone Before" DVD; click thumbnail to see full-sized picture)

Opening scene	Captain Kirk—the ribbed collar look	Spock—the ribbed collar look	Message from the bridge—but who is that girl in the background?	Opening credits—no "also starring"
Opening title	Dr. Mark Piper introduces Dr. Elizabeth Dehner; Scott and Sulu look on	Lt. Lee Kelso	Mitchell gets zapped	Oh, those eyes!
Kirk and Spock view ESP reports on Dehner and Mitchell	Briefing room	"Soon I'll squash you like insects!"	"Nobody but us chickens, Doctor."	Mitchell shares a Kaferian apple with a fellow "god"
Kirk with phaser rifle	The infamous "James R. Kirk" tombstone	"Pray to me!"	Dehner's death	Leaving Delta Vega—note Mr. Scott in Mitchell's place
"I believe there's some hope for you after all, Mr. Spock"

Return to main page

This page best viewed with Microsoft Internet Explorer 5 Macintosh Edition.