Trek Review: The Corbomite Maneuver & The Menagerie, Parts 1 & 2

The Corbomite Maneuver

The Enterprise is out on the fringe of known space and pushing farther when it comes across a strange cube shaped object (not a Borg ship!) blocking it's path.

Perceiving a threat from the object as it rotates in front of the Enterprise and begins to emit large amounts of radiation, endangering the crew, Kirk orders the object destroyed with phaser fire. Continuing on their journey a larger, spherical ship approaches the Enterprise, disabling her and threatening impending destruction for their aggressive actions against the cube shaped buoy.

Crew tensions run high, but Kirk responds with a bluff, of a special material that all Earth ships are equipped with, called Corbomite. Warning the aliens that the destruction of the Enterprise would result in the destruction of their own ship. The bluff pays off, for the moment when their time passes and nothing transpires.

A smaller ship breaks away from the sphere and tows the Enterprise away. Using the engines and the helm to flick the ship out of tow, the Enterprise breaks free, crippling the smaller vessel. Kirk takes Spock and Lt Bailey over to the crippled vessel where they meet Balok, a childlike being of the First Federation. Their entire encounter to this point had been a test. Balok offers a cultural exchange, where Lt Bailey offers to remain aboard Balok's ship, the Fesarius to learn more.

This has long been one of my favourite TOS episodes. It marks the first time in this re-run that we see the Enterprise fire her weapons and the remastered Fesarius is far improved from the original version. This episode is mostly drawn out with long scenes of tension and authority. There's a big sense of mystery yet immediate danger from the beginning when the warning buoy appears and Spock puts the ship on alert.

More of the comradery between Kirk and Spock is evident in this episode, with Kirk relying on Spock for input, even on decisions Kirk has already made. Spock even comments on this. On the same note, there's also signs in this episode that not every member of the crew likes Spock, with Lt Bailey often challenging him.

Overall Rating: 7/10


The Menagerie, Parts 1 & 2

The only two-parter episode of the Original Series. The Enterprise arrives at Starbase 11, but upon beaming to the surface, Starbase staff report that there was no such communication ordering the Enterprise to travel there.

Kirk and Spock meet Fleet Captain Pike, whom Spock served under while aboard the Enterprise 13 years ago. Pike is the victim of a terrible accident that has left him disfigured and stuck inside a chair that offers him mobility and the basic communication skills of Yes or No via the light/beeper.

Spock tampers with the Starbase communications console relaying orders to the Enterprise to head under computer control and follow out a top secret mission. It soon turns out that Spock has deceived the entire crew and is really using the Enterprise to transport Pike to the planet Talos IV, a forbidden world, but a world the Enterprise, Pike and Spock have all been to before.

A court martial ensues when Spock turns himself in and he explains the reasons behind transporting Pike to Talos IV. What follows is a retelling of Gene Roddenberry's original pilot for Star Trek, entitled 'The Cage'. It shows the Enterprise under Pike's command picking up a distress beacon from an old Earth ship which leads them to Talos IV. Pike is captured and trapped in a Cage, but meets a single Earth woman who has been detained since her ship crashlanded there. The telepathic Talosians are secretly trying to find her a mate so the species can continue to live on in their 'Menagerie'.

The Talosians offer their captives the chance to exist in any world they choose, an illusion of their making, but Pike resists and eventually breaks free.

Spock reveals that returning Pike to Talos IV will allow him to live as a free man again, instead of being restricted to his chair.

These two episodes form an interesting way of incorporating the original adventure/pilot episode within the current series. It also canonises the events of 13 years ago where the Enterprise was operating under an almost completely different crew. However, after watching many, many reruns of 'The Cage' after it was 'uncovered' and made available, I'm glad the version in 'The Menagerie' was somewhat cut down and to the point.

The Talosians are an annoying race in my eyes, no wonder Pike hated them so much in his first encounter with them! 'The Menagerie' has its flaws, how Spock could so easily break into the communications room of a Starbase and how he had a prepared answer for every question from Enterprise personnel when issuing the top secret mission was a bit convenient. Kirk and Commodore Mendez following the Enterprise in a shuttle was probably a bit foolish and the way Starfleet allows Pike to return to Talos IV and lets Spock off with no charges or reprimand at the end just offered a very tidy ending.

Overall Rating: 6/10, both parts.