Even though it was the third episode that was aired, “Where No Man Has Gone Before” is the “second” pilot episode for the original Star Trek series (the first never aired). As such, it features a number of elements that are incongruous with the two episodes that preceded it (there’s no Dr. McCoy and the chess game between Spock and Kirk is an exact repeat of the previous episode). Nonetheless, it is a strong outing – much better than “The Man Trap” but not quite as good “Charlie X.” The episode features two strong guest characters, as well as some fairly plausible special effects – even for 40+ years ago.

The episode begins with the Enterprise encountering what amounts to a flight recorder from a ship, called the Valiant, that left Earth over two centuries earlier. The recording is garbled but it recounts the last tragic moments of the ship – including an ominous reference to ESP, the deaths of crew members and, finally, the order to self-destruct the ship. The story that unfolds, then, is about the Enterprise’s first trip outside of the galaxy in search of answers about the destroyed Valiant. The idea is a bit on the hokey side – leaving the galaxy and all – but it’s a relatively minor point to the story. Leaving the galaxy allows the Enterprise to encounter a strange force which sets in motion the character arcs that are at the heart of the episode.

During the encounter with the strange energy field, the ship is badly damaged in a fairly impressive pyrotechnics display. Also, and more importantly, two characters are “zapped” by the strange energy. The first is Dr. Elizabeth Dehner (Sally Kellerman), a psychologist. The second is Lt. Cmdr. Gary Mitchell (Gary Lockwood), who also happens to be a close friend of Captain James T. Kirk. Shortly after the Enterprise escapes back to the safety of the galaxy, Mitchell begins to develop strange powers. This is shown, symbolically, by way of his silver eyes. But internally, his powers begin to grow – eventually allowing him to develop telekinesis, as well as the ability to discharge an electric shock at other people.

The true story of the episode, then, is the idea that as Mitchell’s powers increase, his humanity decreases. He begins to see himself as a god among mortals, and eventually he sees the mortals as mere insects. The lesson is clear: absolute power corrupts absolutely. And watching Mitchell lose his humanity as a result of his newfound powers is an important lesson. At one point, Kirk voices the idea, saying that while Mitchell may have the power of a god, he still has the same human weaknesses that we all do. Too much power is a dangerous without first learning the wisdom to use that power. Unfortunately for Mitchell, and for the crew, he doesn’t have the wisdom to be able to use his power responsibly.

The dilemma for Kirk, who has the safety of his ship and crew first and foremost in his mind, is plainly expressed by Spock: either maroon his old friend on a barren planet – or kill him before it’s too late. It’s interesting to watch Spock’s rather dispassionate assessment of the situation. But logically speaking, he’s right. Kirk however, with his human emotions, is determined to find another way. Unfortunately, Mitchell doesn’t give Kirk a choice and in the end, Kirk will have to kill his friend.

It would seem that the episode is presenting an unbalanced view about humanity – that sudden power always corrupts. But the character of Dr. Dehner is an important counterpoint to that sentiment. Like Mitchell, Dehner also begins to develop the same powers. But Kirk appeals to her humanity and it is with her help that he is able to defeat his friend – who had proclaimed that “morals are for men, not gods.”

Though “Where No Man Has Gone Before” is a bit slow to develop, its character exploration is very strong – as is its central message about power and corruption. The guest stars really help drive the episode forward, and Kirk’s choices about his friend are plausibly agonizing. The final fisticuffs between Kirk and Mitchell may be the episode’s weakest element, but they are minor enough to be easily overlooked in favor of the episode’s strengths.

Filed under: Original Series