The Menagerie: Part II
- Episode aired Nov 24, 1966
- TV-PG
- 50m
IMDb RATING
8.1/10
4.7K
YOUR RATING
At Spock's court martial, he explains himself with mysterious footage about when Capt. Pike was kidnapped by powerful illusion casting aliens.At Spock's court martial, he explains himself with mysterious footage about when Capt. Pike was kidnapped by powerful illusion casting aliens.At Spock's court martial, he explains himself with mysterious footage about when Capt. Pike was kidnapped by powerful illusion casting aliens.
Jeffrey Hunter
- Captain Christopher Pike
- (archive footage)
Susan Oliver
- Vina
- (archive footage)
Majel Barrett
- Number One
- (archive footage)
- (as M. Leigh Hudec)
Peter Duryea
- Lt. José Tyler
- (archive footage)
John Hoyt
- Dr. Phil Boyce
- (archive footage)
Laurel Goodwin
- Yeoman J.M. Colt
- (archive footage)
Adam Roarke
- C.P.O. Garrison
- (archive footage)
DeForest Kelley
- Dr. McCoy
- (credit only)
James Doohan
- Scott
- (credit only)
Nichelle Nichols
- Uhura
- (voice)
Meg Wyllie
- The Keeper
- (archive footage)
Frank da Vinci
- Lt. Clifford Brent
- (uncredited)
Michael Dugan
- The Kaylar
- (archive footage)
- (uncredited)
- Directors
- Robert Butler(footage from "The Cage")
- Marc Daniels(uncredited)
- Writer
- All cast & crew
- Production, box office & more at IMDbPro
Storyline
Did you know
- TriviaIn the script, McCoy and Scott have a scene in which they explain to Kirk how they figured out which computer bank Spock tampered with to lock the ship on course. They took perspiration readings on all banks, and since Spock's sweat has copper in it, traces of copper were found. This scene isn't shown.
- GoofsWhen fighting the Kaylar in the illusion of Rigel 7, Pike holds the Kaylar off with a staff as he backs up the stairs. The staff appears to have a metal blade. When the blade is pushed against the Kaylar's body, the blade flexes like rubber.
- Quotes
Vina: Now THERE'S a FINE choice for intelligent offspring!
Yeoman J.M. Colt: Offspring? As in children?
Number One: Offspring as in... he's Adam, is that it?
- Alternate versionsSpecial Enhanced version Digitally Remastered with new exterior shots and remade opening theme song
- ConnectionsEdited from Star Trek: The Cage (1966)
- SoundtracksTheme From Star Trek
Written by and credited to Alexander Courage
Featured review
"You overlook the unpleasant alternative of punishment."
The images from the saga of previous Enterprise captain Christopher Pike continue to be beamed to the ship during Spocks' court-martial. In fact, archive footage pretty much rules the day in this excellent conclusion to a two-part episode. Regular cast members don't get that much to do. As we find out, Pike had been taken prisoner by the Talosian people, a species that have mastered the art of illusion. It's how they continue to survive. And they have a plan in store for Pike, as well as for the lovely Vina (Susan Oliver), sole survivor of a previous expedition.
At least Gene Roddenberry's original pilot 'The Cage' was able to live on in a way in this typically solid 'Star Trek' script (by Roddenberry himself) that explores the idea of fantasy vs. Reality. In regards to the Talosians, fantasy can be preferable, and is likened in the script to a narcotic. It allows Jeffrey Hunter (as Pike) to experience a gamut of emotions as he tries various ways of dealing with his situation. Interestingly, when he gives in to anger and thoughts of violence, the Talosians CANNOT control him so well, since they cannot respond to such primitive emotions.
'The Menagerie: Part II' ends on a rather pleasant note as we feel that Pike will be able to live out the rest of his days in a comfortable manner. And it delivers one very nifty twist that the viewer may not see coming (Kirk certainly doesn't see it coming); it just happens to be indicative of how well Talosians can convince people that they're seeing something that isn't there. We now are able to understand Spocks' actions, not that there was any real doubt as to the outcome.
One very important point that the script makes is that the Talosians fail to realize at first that human beings have very instinctive negative reactions to the thought of captivity, or slavery. So, as was often the case, the story lines are dealing with universal concepts.
Eight out of 10.
At least Gene Roddenberry's original pilot 'The Cage' was able to live on in a way in this typically solid 'Star Trek' script (by Roddenberry himself) that explores the idea of fantasy vs. Reality. In regards to the Talosians, fantasy can be preferable, and is likened in the script to a narcotic. It allows Jeffrey Hunter (as Pike) to experience a gamut of emotions as he tries various ways of dealing with his situation. Interestingly, when he gives in to anger and thoughts of violence, the Talosians CANNOT control him so well, since they cannot respond to such primitive emotions.
'The Menagerie: Part II' ends on a rather pleasant note as we feel that Pike will be able to live out the rest of his days in a comfortable manner. And it delivers one very nifty twist that the viewer may not see coming (Kirk certainly doesn't see it coming); it just happens to be indicative of how well Talosians can convince people that they're seeing something that isn't there. We now are able to understand Spocks' actions, not that there was any real doubt as to the outcome.
One very important point that the script makes is that the Talosians fail to realize at first that human beings have very instinctive negative reactions to the thought of captivity, or slavery. So, as was often the case, the story lines are dealing with universal concepts.
Eight out of 10.
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- Hey_Sweden
- Aug 1, 2021
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