Hey Kids,
Today is a special anniversary! It was 50 years ago today, November 17, 1966, that Star Trek aired the first part of it’s only 2-part episode, The Menagerie, on NBC.
The episode conveniently helped keep production costs down by recycling Star Trek’s original pilot The Cage into a new story about Spock’s loyalty to his first captain, Christopher Pike. Pretty clever, actually, and aren’t we grateful for it! Gene didn’t want the pilot to be forgotten, and by making it the center of a new episode, it built up the canon of the original series.
But even more importantly, it offered first insights into Mr. Spock’s past, and revealed his devotion to his first captain, now seriously paralyzed, and willingness to risk court martial and even death to give his captain a better life. It also gave us our first inklings into just how human this logical, stoic Vulcan could be. I’ll discuss more about it in a future post. But for now, I really loved this episode. A shame there were not more two-parters made.
Do you have a favorite moment? Here’s some images from the classic episodes – with my silly captions, of course! (Hmm, maybe I should turn this into a full fledged comic…) But if you haven’t seen it, get thee to thy nearest streaming site! (Netflix, Amazon, etc)
Fun fact: Did you know that ‘The Menagerie’ and ‘Court Martial’ were filmed back-to-back? Maybe they had narrow window for dress uniform rentals! 😉
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- Lovely Miss Piper looks out for the Avon representative.
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- Kirk forgot her order, but immediately goes into flirt mode…
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- Pike says you can’t trust rival Mary Kay products. Look what it did to me!
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- Jim, I can’t get the online Avon to order properly!
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- Meanwhile, Spock is on his own mission…
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- Finding a new home for his Shopkins collection…
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- Uhura can’t believe what a bad commander Hansen is; she takes over the bridge.
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- Nobody touches my Shopkins!
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- They still use paper in the future?
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- Spock practices his sexy serious look
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- Kirk shows Mendez his new goldfish
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- What do you mean I can’t take over?
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- Spock has secret shame over his Shopkins collection
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- Spock denies he has Shopkins.
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- We’ll see about that…
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- Is it true you and Pike shared Shopkins?
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- Oh great, movie night…
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- Yes, that was before my Avon make-over!
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- You won’t let me take over the ship either? Damn glass ceiling!
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- She’ll never get command, Chris; it’s a man’s world!
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- No sense being excited about rescue, I’m just gonna die again in 2 episodes…
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- Nothin’ but old guys here…
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- Oh, wait. Except for this remarkably clean Barbie Avon rep.
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- This story’s too big for one week!
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- Are you dramatic enough? Yes.
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- Oh sure, the cute young Vulcan gets to be in every single episode while I vanish after this!
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- Barbie’s dream castle.
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- I found my Ken doll!
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- Avon Barbie said these remove eye bags
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- I had an allergic reaction to the foundation.
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- I’m gonna eat all your Shopkins!
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- NO!
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- I warned her about the foundation
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- Avon has jewelry too!
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- And great nailpolish!
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- Avon Barbie accidentally used Mary Kay moisturizer.
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- Spock is content with his Purple Pop eyeshadow
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- I told Jose not to use the vanishing cream!
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- Spock is freed, and runs off with Pike; his Shopkins safely stashed in Pike’s scooter…
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- Kirk is left to ponder..
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- I want Shopkins!
Hi Therese, Glad to see you’re posting again, love your comments; very funny!
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Thanks Amy. Life goes on – the least I can do is get some funny out there 🙂
I enjoyed your story very much, Therese, with its A plotline and B plotline, which merge in the end, its conflict, and its emotional turmoil. And it provokes thought by touching on the issue of collectibles– our addiction to them and the steep costs we end up paying for them. A haunting story, Therese. I will take it to heart and steer clear of the Shopkins.
Yes indeed! Thanks!
THE MENAGERIE’ is one of the good ones.
The whole first season was pretty great!
Bloody Areinnye, what kind of shavers do they have in the 23rd Century? 😛
I love “The Menagerie,” partly because it’s just a good story, but mostly because it displays Spock’s astonishing nobility. In spite of the fact that he thinks he’s “been completely logical about the whole affair,” what he’s actually been is altruistic and selfless.
I love Spock’s dry wit, his magnificent mind, and his beautiful exterior, but I love his goodness most of all.
Spock is more human that a lot of full humans in our world, great comment Corylea! Thanks.
I see that you removed my comment on “The Menagerie,” but I was unaware of saying anything offensive. What’s going on?
I found it Corylea! It must have been accidentally unapproved – so sorry! But it’s back! Sorry about that, I’d never intentionally delete a comment of yours!
Thanks, Therese. I thought we had a positive enough history that you’d TALK to me if you had a problem with me, which is why I was so confused. Glad it was just an oversight!
Hon, we’re very positive!
The photo captions had me rofl!