Episode Title: The Magicks of Megas-tu
Air Date: 10/27/1973
Written by Larry
Brody
Directed by Hal
Sutherland
Cast: William
Shatner as Captain James T. Kirk
Leonard Nimoy as Commander Spock
DeForest Kelley as Dr. Leonard H. McCoy AKA “Bones” James Doohan as Lieutenant Commander Montgomery Scott AKA
“Scotty”and Lucien George
Takei as Lieutenant Hikaru Sulu Nichelle Nichols as Lieutenant Nyota
Uhura Majel Barrett as Nurse
Christine Chapel Ed Bishop as Asmodeus
Ships: USS
Enterprise NCC-1701
Planets: Megas-tu
My Spoiler filled summary and review: The Enterprise has taken an assignment true to its mission to go where no man has gone before. Working with the theory that the Milky Way was established in some sort of explosion, the ship heads to the center of the galaxy to see what they can learn. As they enter, the ship seems to have things flying at it from all sides but the shields hold. The Enterprise then disappears before reappearing in an area of space that Spock would describe as having its own laws of physics. However, things go from strange to just bad when all systems fail including the life support.
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| Enterprise heading toward the center of the galaxy |
It looks like the crew is doomed until a character named Lucien appears. He looks like the mythical pan, and it wouldn’t be the first time they met someone from Greek mythology. Lucien, in a blink, restores their life support. He is excited to see them as it has been quite a while since he has seen humans. He takes Kirk, Spock, and McCoy to his planet of Megas-tu, which is hard for the trio at first because everything is out of place and discombobulated in this dimension. Realizing their trouble Lucien changes everything so that they are able to comprehend it. With their bodies now in one place they are able to do a bit of exploring with Lucien. However soon Lucien grows concerned that “the others” might sense the presence of the humans and sends the trio back to the Enterprise. When the trio arrive back on the bridge, they notice that Megas-tu is surrounded by a cloud that would prevent anyone on the surface from immediately noticing the Enterprise.
Spock concludes that in this section of the universe magic is real. So, he self-educates himself in the art of witchcraft and uses it to repair the ship. After the ship is fully repaired the entire bridge crew is summoned to stand trial for the crimes of humanity. These beings, the Megans, all look to be dressed as if they were from the colonial period of American history. The Megan prosecutor, Asmodeus, explains that they went to Earth with a desire to aid humanity, however they were hunted and branded as sorcerers and witches. Their last moment on Earth was when they were condemned a at the Salem Witch Trials.
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| Lucien |
Spock volunteers to advocate for humanity during the trail, because as a Vulcan, he would be unbiased. He calls Captain Kirk as witness and the two of them go over how humanity has changed since 1691. Kirk asks them to look at their historical records and see the difference in humanity since the Megans last new them. The Megans scan the Enterprise computers and confirm Kirk’s story. Asmodeus agrees to allow the crew to go home but Lucien must be punished for potentially bringing an evil to their planet, for even if these humans are nice others may not be. Therefore, Lucien will be sent into a type of limbo. Kirk objects to this and Asmodeus responds that Lucien had another name on Earth. There he was called Lucifer. Kirk dismisses this as superstitious nonsense.
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| On Megas-tu |
With Lucien’s freedom on the line Kirk challenges Asmodeus to a magic duel. Now Asmodeus has been practicing magic for hundreds if not thousands of years and this is Kirk’s first crack at it. However, Kirk the greatest fighter with speed and grace that leave other beings in both awe and fear. Now that his natural fighting skills have been enhanced by magic Asmodeus stands no chance. Kirk is victorious. Lucien, as Spock later notes, if he was the devil found himself saved instead of being cast out for a second time. Lucien and his fellow Megans look forward to having a real relationship with the Federation, which means we in the audience will probably never see them again.
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| We're all on trial |
Additional thoughts: Now my understanding of astronomy is somewhat limited, so I hope any science person who wants to comment does. Isn’t it the universe that was created via an explosion not the galaxy? I mean I suppose they both could have been but only in the center of the universe would new matter be created, correct? Isn’t the center of the galaxy more like a big black hole or something?
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| Asmodeus looking at the history of the Federation |
There is one part I really don’t like. The Salem Witch Trials were what happened when the entire community of Salem allowed their silly superstitions to cause a massive hysteria that resulted in that community murdering some of its most vulnerable citizens. So I am against any fiction that says “actually they were onto something.”
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| Kirk looking to kick butt at magic |
I thought it was hilarious that Captain Kirk with no training in magic
whatsoever was able to outduel a thousand-year practitioner. I mean Captain Kirk is a great fighter and
master tactician however it was a bit ridiculous for him to be able to out
magic Asmodeus. The power of plot armor is strong in Captain Kirk.
FINAL GRADE 3 of 5
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