“The Cage” is the original pilot episode of the Star Trek series. For years it went unseen in its entirety and fans had to rely on the subsequent episodes, “Menagerie, Parts I & II” in order to see what all the fuss was about. But accompanying the Season 3 DVD release of the Original Series, the pilot episode has been restored, in its entirety, for fans to enjoy at their leisure. Indeed, there much here to enjoy – the story itself is worthy of merit and holds up remarkably well, even considering its age and the fact that its characters are so unfamiliar to Trek. To that end, it’s worth taking a peek at this episode, not just for the nostalgia and posterity factors, but also because it’s central themes and message are quite compelling.

For a more in-depth exploration of the story behind “The Cage,” please read the review for “The Menagerie, Part II” as it contains my initial thoughts on the main sections of the episode. This review will focus more on the impressions of the episode as a whole, as well as its longevity.

Indeed, when you consider this episode as a whole story, from start to finish, the craft with which it was written becomes much more noticeable. Christopher Pike’s initial conversation with the ship’s doctor not only manages to touch upon every vision we later see in the episode (from his love of picnics to his misguided wish to be an Orion trader), but it also effortlessly establishes the episode’s central theme: that a difficult life filled with challenge and hardship is more rewarding than a dreamlike life of ease.

To that end, the rest of the story becomes a vehicle for these themes and ideas, challenging the viewer as much as it challenges the characters. The execution remains fairly crisp with only a few blunders along the way – the most notable of which was the musical interlude during the first “time warp factor seven” trip to Talos IV. Aside from that, it’s an intriguing experience watching the more austere and monochrome bridge, a more emotive Spock, and a crew that seems every bit as cohesive as we later get from the rest of the Original Series. Perhaps the biggest criticism (and that’s only in relative terms) comes from Captain Christopher Pike who just doesn’t have enough of a natural charisma. The performance is certainly competent, but it definitely helped the series that William Shatner came in later to play the captain role.

Perhaps it is unfair to compare “The Cage” to what the series eventually evolved into. Ultimately, though, this episode simply cannot avoid such comparisons. And what is surprising is that when you remove the familiarity of characters like Kirk and McCoy, “The Cage” (for the most part) holds its own. I do think, objectively, that the series benefitted greatly from “lightening up” a little. But as a serious, sci-fi story, “The Cage” works very, very well.

Filed under: Original Series