Review of The Menagerie: Part I

I am always a sucker for this episode, even though the producers saw fit to use footage from the pilot of the series. Obviously, this was to try recoup some of the money they had thrown at this project. Christopher Pike, who was Kirk's predecessor on the Enterprise, is basically left with his thoughts. His body was destroyed in a fire where he heroically save a group of children. He is in a kind of box/wheelchair where his brain can answer questions by way of a light that flashes. Mr. Spock, out of loyalty to his old Captain, kidnaps Pike and takes him to Talos IV, a planet forbidden to the Federation. Spock actually lies about his reasons and is brought up for court martial and potential execution. During the trial the evidence is damning and the judges, including Kirk, have pretty much seen enough. There is a tape of the whole thing. Spock insists on them watching the whole tape, but must beg at the end of the episode. Trying to gerrymander a plot around a previous piece of film doesn't work very well, but in this case it keeps us guessing. It ends with a great narrative hook and we are coaxed into watching the next installment.