‘Star Trek’ Retro Recap: ‘Where No Man Has Gone Before’

Written by John Edward Betancourt 

If there’s one universal truth when it comes to new television shows, it is that they experience some serious growing pains in their first year. Because everyone involved with the project is working hard to find the show’s voice in every way imaginable and that means sometimes the stories can be a bit sub-par, or they seem a little confusing as the kinks get worked out in the writer’s room. But either way, we should see progress as the season rolls on and there is a supreme joy to be found in watching a series grow. Which is why I was so supremely shocked when I settled in to watch the next episode of Star Trek, simply because ‘Where No Man Has Gone Before’ ended up defying that criteria in every way imaginable, since this particular tale, was actually a bit of a step backward for the franchise.
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Because everything that you don’t expect to be a part of this storied franchise is present here, since a fair chunk of this episode revolves around an unsettling discussion, specifically whether or not to kill Lieutenant Gary Mitchell, after he becomes an omnipotent being and that’s… so unlike this series that it is ridiculous. After all, Trek was about saving lives and taking them would only happen if every last alternative is exhausted. So, to see Spock and Kirk talk about the finer points of murder and/or marooning Gary on Delta Vega as their primary options, is just jarring to say the least, but at the same time, it’s understandable as to why this episode seems so out place. Because as it turns out, this was the ‘second’ pilot that was made after ‘The Cage’ and truly the ideals of what the Federation stands for weren’t quite formed yet, making this a touch odd to air this three episodes into the inaugural season, since the tone and design are so woefully different.

Yet, what’s ironic here is that while this episode takes one by surprise by giving us crueler and more hardened versions of our favorite characters, it also offers up some supremely fascinating ideas to chew upon as well. Because a fear of those that are different is a wonderful notion to explore and Gary just so happens to fall into that category, since he transforms into something that is unique, and terrifying and the clash presented here revolving around acceptance versus prejudice, was downright fascinating. Plus, I did also appreciate how the show explored the notion of how absolute power corrupts, since Gary is a man that is lower on the Starfleet food chain, while his best friend is the captain of the Enterprise, and seeing him soak up the power he’s been given and relish in it and abuse it after spending so much time as a nobody is supremely relatable, since we’ve seen people become drunk with power, time and time again.

However, while this story does offer up some strange back and forth, there are some cool moments to fawn over for certain. For this particular story does feature the first ever appearance in the franchise of Lieutenant Commander Montgomery Scott and even though James Doohan is in this for a handful of minutes, he finds a way to stand out in every single scene he’s in. Plus, this is also the episode that shows us what life would have been like without DeForest Kelley on the show and well, that would have been as weird as can be. It’s not that Doctor Piper did anything wrong, it’s just obvious that the southern charm that Mister Kelley brought to the role added to the magic of this series, so it’s a wonderful thing that the character was recast after this second pilot was filmed because Dr. McCoy and his personality and his interaction with Kirk and Spock, truly made the show worthwhile.

But, while it seems as though I’ve been a touch rough on this episode, due to some of the strange things it presents us with, I honestly give this one a pass when all is said and done. In part because it does work to explore some powerful ideas and more importantly, we’re only three episodes into a journey that no one understood back in the day. I mean come on, a weekly serial about mankind living in a perfect utopia and exploring the stars? It just simply had not been done before and big stumbles should come as no surprise, and I have a funny feeling that it won’t be long before the series does what we’re used to with first year shows, and figures out how to grow into the legendary and hopeful franchise we know and love and I cannot wait to see that unfold as the first season continues along. Until next time. 

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