Where No Man Has Gone Before (episode)

An encounter at the limits of our galaxy begins to change Lieutenant Commander Gary Mitchell and threatens the future of the Enterprise and the Human race itself.

Teaser

 * "Captain's log, Stardate 1312.4. The impossible has happened. From directly ahead, we're picking up a recorded distress signal, the call letters of a vessel which has been missing for over two centuries. Did another Earth ship probe out of the galaxy as we intend to do? What happened to it out there? Is this some warning they've left behind?"

In the briefing lounge, Captain James T. Kirk and Vulcan Science Officer Lieutenant Commander Spock are playing three-dimensional chess. Spock warns the captain that he's about to checkmate him on his next move, but the captain is preoccupied with awaiting the bridge's update on the unexplained Earth-vessel distress signal. The captain notes that Spock plays a very "irritating game of chess", to which Spock responds with "Irritating? Ah yes, one of your Earth emotions." Captain Kirk makes a move that surprises Spock, and smiles, to which Spock simply turns to look at him. "Certain you don't know what irritation is?" Kirk says wryly. As Spock begins to state that despite the fact that one of his ancestors married a Human female, Kirk interrupts him and jokingly chides him, saying it must be terrible to have bad blood like that. Just afterward then, a call comes over the comm. Lieutenant Lee Kelso informs the captain that the object is now within tractor beam range, and that it is only about a meter in diameter, too small to be a vessel. Kirk tells him to lock on to it, and the two of them head out.

In the transporter room, Lieutenant Commander Montgomery Scott is fine-tuning the transporter, preparing to beam the object aboard. Kirk gives the order, and Scott transports the device into the transporter room. The captain immediately recognizes it as an old-style ship recorder, one that would be ejected in the event of an emergency. Spock agrees, but states that, based on the level of damage the object seems to have sustained, something must have destroyed the ship. Montgomery Scott tries to feed the tapes into the computer, when the marker begins transmitting a signal. Captain Kirk orders red alert, and the crew go to their stations.

Act One
Throughout the ship, the crew is reporting to their emergency stations. Kirk and Spock enter a turbolift, and Lieutenant Commander Gary Mitchell jumps in as the doors are closing. Kirk and Mitchell joke about Kelso, and Spock's chess skills, showing that they have a deep friendship even in times of red alert. On the bridge, Mitchell takes his station as Spock scans for the message. As they approach the edge of the galaxy, Kirk orders all stop. Captain Kirk announces ship-wide that what they picked up was a marker launched from the SS Valiant over 200 years ago. Department heads report to the bridge as ordered, and Captain Kirk is given introductions. Smith, whom he mistakenly addresses as Jones, is his new yeoman. Astro-sciences physicist Sulu reports ready, Engineering Officer Scott reports ready as always, and Chief Medical Officer Doctor Mark Piper introduces the new psychiatrist aboard, Dr. Elizabeth Dehner, who came aboard back at the Aldebaron colony to study the long-term effects of space travel on the crew. Spock points out he's been able to get a signal from the recorder, as Mitchell tries to flirt with Dr. Dehner, who rebuffs him only to overhear him call her a "walking freezer unit".

Spock interprets the Valiant's message: that they had encountered a magnetic storm and were pulled out of the galaxy, and that the crew accessed computer records on "ESP" in Humans. The captain asks Dr. Dehner her opinion, and she mistakes the question as asking whether she has ESP. She reports that there are some Humans who can see the future, but it is never very powerful. Spock goes on to explain that several crewmen had died aboard the Valiant, which had suffered severe damage. The Valiant crew continued researching ESP, until it seems the captain ordered a self-destruct. Captain Kirk decides to go ahead anyway and engages warp factor 1. The crew reacts with mixed emotions as the Enterprise heads out of the galaxy. The ship encounters a strange field and Spock orders a full array of scans - deflectors indicating something in front of them while sensors say there's nothing. Smith and Mitchell hold hands to comfort each other as the ship enters the field. Flashes of light fill the bridge and electric discharges penetrate the hull, causing several consoles to explode. Kirk orders Mitchell to reverse course, but, before he can carry out the order, Dr. Dehner and he are struck by a mysterious electric charge which drops them to the deck. With no one in control of the Enterprise, Spock dashes over to the helm console and steers the starship clear of the energy field.

Taking damage reports, Spock informs Kirk that main power is out and nine crewmen are dead. Captain Kirk tends to Dehner and Mitchell, only to find that while Gary feels a little weak, his eyes are glowing an eerie silver...

Act Two

 * "Captain's log, stardate 1312.9. Ship's condition – heading back on impulse power only. Main engines burned out. The ship's space-warp ability – gone. Earth bases, which were only days away are now years in the distance. Our overriding question now is – what destroyed the Valiant? They lived through the barrier, just as we have. What happened to them after that?"

Captain Kirk, while supervising repairs being made to the bridge, proceeds to the science station where he finds Spock reviewing medical records of the dead crew members. Specifically, Spock is looking at ESP ratings of Dr. Dehner and Gary Mitchell. Both of the officers had high scores on ESP tests given by Starfleet Medical, Mitchell's having ultimately read as the highest in the crew.

Dr. Dehner approaches Captain Kirk and provides an autopsy report of the nine dead crew members. She mentions that in all cases, there was damage to a specific region of the brain. Kirk shares the fact that all of the dead crew members, as well as Dehner and Mitchell, had high ESP ratings. Spock also mentions that the captain of the Valiant was frantically searching through their records for information on ESP. Dehner defends those with ESP, stating that the ability is not harmful. Spock, however, reminds the doctor that there are the more extreme (and dangerous) abilities of ESP, such as the ability to see through solid objects or cause spontaneous combustion.

In sickbay, Mitchell is reading text on a viewer, trying to pass the time. Kirk enters the room, and Mitchell greets him by name without actually looking to see who it is. Kirk and Mitchell talk about some past experiences, implying that they have known each other for many years. Mitchell mentions that he feels better now than he's ever felt in his life, and he's catching up on his reading. Kirk and Mitchell continue to reminisce about their days at Starfleet Academy and Gary says that he "aimed that little blonde lab technician" at Jim. Kirk replies, "You planned that?!? I almost married her."

Kirk informs Mitchell that he's assigned Dr. Dehner to work with him. Mitchell doesn't seem happy, since Mitchell and Dehner have already had words with each other. As Kirk moves to leave, Mitchell, in an echoing voice, says, "Didn't I say you'd better be good to me?" Stopping short, Kirk turns and eyes his friend with uncertainty.

Once Kirk leaves the room, Mitchell continues reading books on the viewer, at a steadily-increasing, extremely fast rate. Kirk enters the bridge to find Spock monitoring Mitchell's viewer. Kirk assigns 24-hour security to keep an eye on Mitchell. Kirk approaches the science station viewer to look closely at Mitchell, and Mitchell looks directly at the security camera, seemingly aware that Kirk is watching.

Dr. Dehner enters sickbay and acknowledges the fact that she realizes that Mitchell doesn't like her very well. He apologizes to her for calling her a "walking freezer unit". She asks him how he feels. Mitchell jokingly says that everyone thinks that he has a fever or something and proceeds to change the vital signs monitor in sickbay with his mind. Then, he makes the readings show that he is dead. All indicators fall to zero and Gary appears to lose consciousness. He awakens, and starts telling Dr. Dehner of some of his other abilities, like being able to read quickly.

Dr. Dehner decides to test his memorization abilities. She shows Mitchell the title of a record tape, and asks him to tell her what's on page 387. Mitchell quotes, "My love has wings, slender feathered things with grace and upswept curve and tapered tip" from the poem Nightingale Woman, written by Tarbolde on the Canopus planet in 1996. Mitchell pulls Dehner close to him, and asks her how she feels. Her reply, that she only fell and that nothing else happened, is seemingly disbelieved by Mitchell, but the conversation is cut short by the arrival of Lieutenant Kelso, awkwardly coming in. Mitchell smiles and invites him in, joking that his eyes are merely lit up due to the lovely Doctor.

Kelso reports that the main engines are in bad shape. Mitchell warns Kelso to check the starboard impulse engine packs, which Kelso jokingly dismisses. Mitchell snaps that he isn't joking, and that if they activate those engines that the entire impulse deck will explode. Kelso leaves sickbay and Mitchell tells Dehner that he could see the image of the impulse packs in Kelso's mind. In the briefing room, Kelso shows Kirk the burned out impulse circuit that Mitchell described. Spock leads the discussion by asking Dr. Dehner about Mitchell's abilities. Scotty reports that bridge controls started changing on their own. Spock reports that each time it happened, Mitchell could be seen smiling on the surveillance monitors set up in sickbay. At the conclusion of the meeting, Spock suggests taking Mitchell to the planet Delta Vega where they can adapt the lithium cracking station's power packs to the Enterprise to try to repair the damaged systems. After repairs are made, Spock suggests stranding Mitchell there, which Kirk vehemently refuses to do as Delta Vega has no life on it and ore ships only visit every twenty years. Spock informs Kirk he has one other choice... kill Mitchell while he still can. Kirk pleads with Spock to, at least, act like he has a heart as they are talking about Kirk's friend. Spock reminds the captain that the Valiant captain probably felt the same way and he waited too long to make a decision. Kirk, realizing Spock is correct, orders the Enterprise course set for Delta Vega.

Act Three

 * "Captain's log, stardate 1313.1. We're now approaching Delta Vega. Course set for a standard orbit. This planet, completely uninhabited, is slightly smaller than Earth, desolate, but rich in crystal and minerals. Kelso's task – transport down with a repair party, try to regenerate the main engines, save the ship. Our task – transport down a man I've known for 15 years, and if we're successful, maroon him there."

In the sickbay, Mitchell's telekinetic power continues to grow as he's able to pour himself a drink of water from a faucet just by saying the words "I'm thirsty." Kirk, Spock, and Dr. Dehner enter to see Mitchell's cup effortlessly float across the room to him as he chuckles in amusement. Mitchell senses worry in Kirk and Spock's continued urging for the captain to kill him while he still can. Mitchell quickly subdues both Kirk and Spock with an electric shock and informs them he knows the Enterprise is orbiting Delta Vega, but, won't allow them to force him down there. As he postures about what kind of a world he can use, Kirk and Spock jump him and hold him down long enough for Dr. Dehner to tranquilize him.

Preparing to beam down, Mitchell regains consciousness and proclaims "Soon I'll squash you like insects!" before being sedated again. After transporting down, Mitchell is confined to a holding cell as Lieutenant Kelso and the engineering team begin to salvage the needed components from the outpost to restore the Enterprise engines to full capacity. As Mitchell regains consciousness, he reminds Kirk of how he saved his life on the planet Dimorus and wonders why he should fear him now. Kirk retorts that Mitchell has been testing his ability to take over the Enterprise and reminds him of the threat he made in the transporter room to squash the crew like insects. Mitchell snaps back that mankind cannot survive if a true race of Espers like himself is born and attempts to escape the force field of the cell. Kirk pleads with him to stop, but, Mitchell refuses and is jolted back, draining the light in the eyes. Gary pleads out to "Jim...", but, it doesn't last and the maniacal power that has now totally consumed Mitchell returns and he sneers that he'll "just keep getting stronger."

Back on-board the Enterprise, the repairs are nearly complete as Scotty beams a phaser rifle down to Mr. Spock. Kirk is angered by Spock's callousness towards Gary, but, Spock retorts that he's just being logical and he believes that the crew will be lucky just to repair the Enterprise and get away from Mitchell in time. Kirk, finally seeing Spock's viewpoint, instructs Kelso to wire a destruct switch to the power bins of the outpost, an explosion that will destroy the entire valley, and orders him to hit the button if Mitchell escapes.

Act Four

 * "Captain's log, stardate 1313.3. Note commendations on Lieutenant Kelso and the engineering staff. In orbit above us, the engines of the Enterprise are almost fully regenerated. Balance of the landing party is being transported back up. Mitchell, whatever he's become, keeps changing, growing stronger by the minute."

As the landing party prepares to return to the Enterprise, Dehner, completely transfixed on Mitchell, announces she's remaining on Delta Vega with him. At the same time, Mitchell uses his powers to strangle Lieutenant Kelso with a cable. As Kirk orders Dehner to return to the ship, Mitchell turns to the captain and taunts him that Kirk should have killed him while he still had the chance. With that, he shocks both Kirk and Spock and easily eliminates the force-field holding him. Dehner takes no action to stop him, she too now possessing the light in her eyes. A short time later, Dr. Piper revives Captain Kirk and informs him that Kelso is dead and that Mitchell and Dr. Dehner have left the facility. Kirk advises Piper not to revive Spock until after he's left as Kirk now blames himself for not listening to the Vulcan's warning. Taking Spock's phaser rifle, Kirk orders that Piper and Spock return to the Enterprise and to give him twelve hours to signal the ship. Failing that, Kirk recommends that the Federation subject the entire planet to a lethal concentration of neutron radiation. In an open valley, Mitchell uses his powers to create food and water for he and Dehner. He begins to sense Kirk approaching them, as does Dehner. Mitchell invites Dehner to talk to the captain and begin to realize just how unimportant Humans are compared to what they have become. The doctor appears before Kirk and advises the captain to retreat while he still can. Kirk appeals to what's left of Elizabeth's humanity and her profession as a psychiatrist and asks her what she believes will become of Mitchell if his power is allowed to continue to grow. Dehner begins to see the wisdom of Kirk's words, but, before she can decide anything, Mitchell appears before both of them. Kirk opens fire with his phaser, but, it has no effect on Mitchell who easily casts the weapon aside.

Taunting Kirk, Mitchell creates a grave for his "old friend", saying he deserves a decent burial, at the very least. Completely convinced of his power and his superiority, with absolute power corrupting absolutely, Mitchell uses his powers to force Kirk to pray to him as a god and for an easy death. Dehner, now realizing that Mitchell is inhuman and becoming more and more dangerous, helps Kirk by blasting Mitchell with some of her power, stunning him. Mitchell turns away from Kirk and counters Dehner's attack, however, the battle drains both of them and they both collapse; Dehner's attack being sufficiently powerful enough to weaken Mitchell who temporarily loses his powers. Imploring Kirk to hurry, the captain begins to attack his former friend, pummeling him to the ground. With a heavy rock raised high and preparing for the death knell, Kirk begs Gary to forgive him for what he must do. However, the captain's hesitation is enough for Mitchell to regain his powers and easily tosses Kirk away. With Kirk no longer able to cope with Mitchell's physical strength, he dives at him, sending both into the grave. Kirk, scrambling to the discarded phaser rifle, is able to blast the rockface above Mitchell, sending him into the grave and entombing him, thus ending Mitchell's threat forever.

Kirk, beaten and battered, turns to Dehner who apologizes to the captain for her actions, but, offers that the captain had no idea what it was like to be almost a god, before finally dying. Silently mourning Dehner's sacrifice, Kirk opens his communicator and hails the Enterprise...


 * "Captain's log, stardate 1313.8. Add to official losses, Dr. Elizabeth Dehner. Be it noted she gave her life in performance of her duty. Lieutenant Commander Gary Mitchell. Same notation."

Back on the Enterprise, Kirk, with a bandaged hand, laments to Spock that he wants Gary's service record to end with dignity as he didn't ask for what happened to him. Spock admits he felt for Mitchell as well. With a smirk, Kirk remarks that maybe there's hope for Spock after all as the Enterprise continues to journey where no man has gone before.

Memorable Quotes
"Have I ever mentioned you play a very irritating game of chess, Mister Spock?"

"Irritating? Ah, yes. One of your Earth emotions."
 * - Kirk and Spock, in the recreation room

"Terrible, having bad blood like that."
 * - Kirk to Spock, on his part-human ancestry

"The first thing I ever heard from upperclassmen was: Watch out for Lieutenant Kirk. In his class, you either think or sink."
 * - Mitchell to Kirk, reflecting on their time at the Academy

"My love has wings. Slender, feathered things with grace in upswept curve and tapered tip."
 * - Mitchell, reciting "The Nightingale Woman" by Phineas Tarbolde

"Don't you understand? A mutated superior man could also be a wonderful thing!"
 * - Dehner to Kirk, on Mitchell

"Will you try for one moment to feel? At least act like you've got a heart."
 * - Kirk to Spock, before deciding to maroon Mitchell on Delta Vega

"The captain of the Valiant probably thought the same thing. And he waited too long to make his decision."
 * - Spock, deliberating with Kirk on what to do with Mitchell

"If you were in my position, what would you do?"

"Probably what Mr. Spock is thinking now: kill me, while you can."
 * - Kirk and Mitchell upon discussing Mitchell's ultimate fate

"You fools! Soon I'll squash you like insects!"
 * - Mitchell, in the transporter room

"There's not a soul on this planet but us?"

"Nobody but us chickens, Doctor."
 * - Dehner and Kirk, on Delta Vega

"My friend, James Kirk."
 * - Mitchell, addressing Kirk upon awakening in the cell on Delta Vega

"In the sickbay, you said if you were in my place you'd kill a mutant like yourself."

"Why don't you kill me then? Mr. Spock is right and you're a fool if you can't see it."
 * - Kirk and Mitchell

"Man cannot survive if a race of true espers is born."
 * - Mitchell

"Doctor Dehner feels he isn't that dangerous! What makes you right and a trained psychiatrist wrong?"

"Because she feels. I don't. All I know is logic."
 * - Kirk and Spock, as Spock brings a phaser rifle

"If Mitchell gets out, at your discretion, Lee, if sitting here you think you're the chance, I want you to hit that button."
 * - Kirk ordering Kelso to destroy the station

"You should've killed me while you could, James. Command and compassion are a fool's mixture."
 * - Mitchell to Captain Kirk, before escaping the brig

"Above all else, a god needs compassion! MITCHELL!!"
 * - Kirk, calling out to Mitchell

"What do you know about gods?"

"Then let's talk about Humans! About our frailties!"
 * - Dehner and Kirk

"What's your prognosis, doctor?!"
 * - Kirk, to Dehner on Mitchell

"Morals are for men, not gods."
 * - Mitchell, to Kirk

"Time to pray, Captain. Pray to me."

"To you? Not to both of you?"
 * - Mitchell and Kirk 

"Do you like what you see? Absolute power corrupting absolutely?"
 * - Kirk, persuading Dehner to turn on Mitchell

"For a moment, James... but your moment is fading."
 * - Mitchell's last words

"I'm sorry. You can't know what it's like to be almost a god."
 * - Dehner's dying words to Kirk

"He didn't ask for what happened to him."

"I felt for him, too."

"I believe there's some hope for you after all, Mister Spock."
 * - Kirk and Spock

The Second Pilot

 * This was the second Star Trek pilot. However, it aired as the third regular series episode, after  and . In their book Inside Star Trek: The Real Story, Robert H. Justman and Herbert F. Solow explain that because this segment was "too expository" in nature – a common fault with pilots – it would not have made a good premiere episode for the series.
 * Although NBC rejected, they felt that the series concept was strong enough to give Star Trek a second chance, despite having already spent an exorbitant $630,000 on the first pilot. The network ordered three scripts, from which they would choose one to be developed into an unprecedented second pilot. The three scripts were by Gene Roddenberry,  by Roddenberry and Stephen Kandel and "Where No Man Has Gone Before" by Samuel A. Peeples. The advantage of "The Omega Glory" was that it showcased Roddenberry's "parallel worlds" concept and could be filmed using existing studio sets on the back lot as well as stock wardrobes. "Mudd's Women" was mainly a shipboard tale and could also be shot using the existing Enterprise sets left over from "The Cage". In addition, both required a minimum of new outer space effects shots. However, "Mudd's Women" guest starred "an intergalactic pimp", selling women throughout the galaxy, exactly what NBC didn't want, and "The Omega Glory" wasn't very good. The network finally chose "Where No Man Has Gone Before" which, although it required many new special effects, sets, props and costumes, was the most powerful and compelling of the three scripts. (Inside Star Trek: The Real Story, pp 65-66; The Star Trek Compendium, p 17)
 * There is a different, pre-broadcast cut of this episode in the archives of the Smithsonian Institution. This unique cut includes a few brief scenes trimmed from the aired cut of the episode, different opening titles, and a unique opening and closing theme. The alternate themes can be heard on the GNP Crescendo CD Star Trek: Original Series (Volume 1) "The Cage" / "Where No Man Has Gone Before". The pre-broadcast cut was originally available only in bootleg form, although it has been screened at numerous conventions and is now finally available commercially on the Season 3 Blu-Ray set. . James Doohan was credited as "Engineer", Paul Fix as "Ship's Doctor", George Takei as "Physicist" and Paul Carr as "Navigator" in the end credits of the original cut.
 * The aired version of this episode features a different version of the first season opening credits, which does not have William Shatner's opening narration, and uses a different orchestration of the main and end title themes. These orchestrations were used until mid-season during the original run and the initial syndication showings. However, in the 1980's, Paramount withdrew the prints from syndication and redistributed remastered and pre-cut episodes with standardized opening and closing credit music for the first season (using the Fred Steiner arrangement created for the back half of the season). These remastered prints were also used, in their uncut form, for the video and laserdisc releases. Only this episode was permitted to keep the original Alexander Courage arrangement. The 1999 DVD volumes, and later season sets, however, restored the opening credits to their original form, while leaving the end credits in their altered state (again, except for this episode which remains as originally aired).
 * The original narration spoken by Shatner was:
 * "Enterprise log, Captain James Kirk commanding. We are leaving that vast cloud of stars and planets which we call our galaxy. Behind us, Earth, Mars, Venus, even our Sun, are specks of dust. The question: What is out there in the black void beyond? Until now our mission has been that of space law regulation, contact with Earth colonies and investigation of alien life. But now, a new task: A probe out into where no man has gone before."


 * After NBC saw this episode, they were pleased with the results and decided that Star Trek would be a weekly television series. Gene Roddenberry said that, like, "Where No Man Has Gone Before" still had a lot of science fiction elements in it, but that it was the bare knuckle fist fight between Kirk and the god-like Gary Mitchell that sold NBC on Star Trek. (The Star Trek Saga: From One Generation To The Next)
 * This was the first episode of Star Trek to be shown by the BBC in the UK when the series premiered on 12 July 1969.

Story and Script

 * TNG adopted a gender-neutral and species-neutral version of this episode's title for.
 * This episode sets the original series record for Enterprise crew members killed: 12 (Mitchell, Dehner, Kelso, and the 9 who Spock says died when crossing the galactic barrier).
 * Kirk says he's been worried about Mitchell "ever since that night on Deneb IV." Coincidentally (or not), TNG's pilot episode  takes place on Deneb IV, home of the Bandi.
 * Gary Mitchell states that the "Nightingale Woman" poem was written in 1996 and that it is one of the "most passionate love sonnets of the past couple of centuries". Taken literally, this line of dialog seems to suggest that "Where No Man Has Gone Before" takes place no later than the end of the twenty-second century, which in turn would imply that the Valiant was launched during the twentieth.
 * In reality, the poem ("My love has wings...") was written by Gene Roddenberry about his World War II airplane.

Production

 * Bob Justman anticipated that the second pilot would take nine days to shoot. However, after "The Cage" went severely over schedule and budget, Desilu's "old guard" executives worried about the same situation regarding the second pilot. To avoid these fears, "Where No Man Has Gone Before" was scheduled to be filmed in seven days. The "old guards" skeptically expected that it will take ten or even eleven days. Filming began on Monday, . As expected, filming the pilot went over schedule, finally resulting in eight days and an extra day of shooting pickup shots and "inserts". Nine days, exactly as Justman expected. (Inside Star Trek: The Real Story, p 85).
 * Just as "The Cage", the second pilot was filmed at Desilu's Culver City studios. For the series itself, the entire production was moved to Desilu's main Gower Street facilities in Hollywood. (Inside Star Trek: The Real Story)
 * On the fifth day of filming, Friday,, a swarm of bees attacked the set, causing delay in filming, and injuries to William Shatner and Sally Kellerman, who were both stung by the bees. (Inside Star Trek: The Real Story, p 83)

Sets and Props

 * The gravestone Mitchell creates for Kirk says "James R. Kirk". According to D.C. Fontana in the introduction for Star Trek: The Classic Episodes 1, when the mistake was discovered, Gene Roddenberry decided that if pressed for an answer on the discrepancy, the response was to be "Gary Mitchell had godlike powers, but at base he was Human. He made a mistake." The gravestone also suggests that an important event marked "C" took place on stardate 1277.1: Kirk may have assumed command of the Enterprise on this stardate.
 * Their crew files show that Mitchell and Dehner were born in cities called "Delman" and "Eldman."
 * The mountainous backdrop painting from "The Cage" is reused in this episode.
 * In this episode, the helm console from the bridge was moved to the transporter set to double as the transporter console. Thus, the three levers used to "energize" are not yet in place.
 * A bit of the transporter chamber was changed from "The Cage." The center of the ceiling was "hollowed out," allowing white light to pour down onto the platform when the "materializer" was not in operation. After this episode, however, the dark, grilled ceiling from "The Cage" was restored and remained in place throughout the series.
 * The phaser rifle that Kirk uses appears for the first and only time in the series. However, it can be seen on many pre-season 1 promotional photos.
 * In this episode, the sickbay walls are green.
 * The alert light on the helm console is of a different shape in this episode.
 * Spock's phaser closely resembles the ones used in "The Cage".
 * This episode features the gooseneck tubes also used in "The Cage".

Cast and Characters

 * It was the first appearance for Trek mainstays Kirk, Sulu, Scott, and Leslie. Other regulars McCoy and Uhura would not appear until the next episode.
 * Leonard Nimoy (Spock) is the only actor to appear in both this episode and the first pilot, . His pointed ears are a bit smaller than in the first pilot, and his eyebrows are severely slanted (yet not as bushy as in "The Cage"). Most importantly, his hairstyle is reworked to show the bangs typical of his race – and that of eventual nemeses, the Romulans.
 * William Shatner was actually the third actor to be considered for the role of James T. Kirk. Jack Lord and Lloyd Bridges were each offered the role before him. (The Star Trek Compendium)
 * Veteran character actor Paul Fix got the role of the ship's doctor, replacing John Hoyt. Gene Roddenberry wanted to cast DeForest Kelley in the part, whom he originally wanted to play Doctor Boyce in . Then, he was outruled by director Robert Butler's suggestion. Here again, Fix was recommended by director James Goldstone. Roddenberry thought Fix didn't work out well in the role, and decided that if Star Trek became a weekly series, he would cast Kelley as the ship's doctor. (Inside Star Trek: The Real Story, pp 74-75, 152)
 * Andrea Dromm replaced Laurel Goodwin in the role of the Captain's Yeoman. According to Herb Solow and Bob Justman, her role was actually a "non-part" and Roddenberry claimed he cast her so he could "score with her". They added, it was not just a "non-part", but a "non-score" as well. (Inside Star Trek: The Real Story, p 75) Dromm didn't return to the series, and was replaced by Grace Lee Whitney as Yeoman Rand.
 * Roddenberry, Solow and NBC were all happy about the casting of Lloyd Haynes as Communications officer Alden. Haynes was one of the first African Americans hired to play an important role in a network series pilot. However, he was not rehired for the series itself, as the production staff saw the role as dull and uninteresting. (Inside Star Trek: The Real Story, p 75-77, 153)
 * This is the only episode of the series in which James Doohan (Scotty) appears but DeForest Kelley (McCoy) does not.
 * This is the only episode where Spock and Scotty wear gold and tan tunics instead of their better known blue and red, respectively.

Effects

 * The matte painting of the lithium cracking station was created by matte artist Albert Whitlock for this episode. A still exists showing the entire landing party in the doorway within the matte, but only the shot of Kirk and Dehner ended up being used. The matte painting would later be altered and reused in . The image of the matte painting would appear on the March 1953 issue of the Incredible Tales magazine in the Star Trek: Deep Space Nine episode.
 * Film trickery enabled Kirk, Spock and Mitchell's elevator ride to look like an actual ride from one deck to another, without relying on editing. When Mitchell jumped in, there was a gray wall outside the door that hid the bridge set. When the doors closed, the wall was removed by the stage crew, and then seconds later, they're on the bridge. The turbolift in the background after this scene sports "double doors" like modern elevators - the inner one is gray and the outer is red. This feature would survive into  and at least until, but then was phased out.
 * When Kirk, Spock and Mitchell emerge from the turbolift, the main viewscreen can be seen in its "off" setting - a kind of "psychedelic" visual effect that was never used again.
 * The voices of damage control personnel responding to the emergency situation were reused many times in subsequent episodes. These voices were provided by Gene Roddenberry, Robert Justman, Majel Barrett, Herb Solow and other production staff members, including some from Mission: Impossible. Roddenberry can be heard saying, "Communicator, we need more lines to the impulse deck!" in subsequent episodes. (Inside Star Trek: The Real Story, pp. 190-191)
 * Except for the shot of the Enterprise leaving the Barrier - which was shot using the three-foot unlighted model - all other ship fly-bys were produced using the 11-foot model used in all subsequent episodes. At the time, this model still had no sparkling effects on the front of the nacelles. It also had a larger sensor dish, grilles on the backs of the nacelles and not as many lighting effects. This footage was re-used in later episodes, often mixed in with shots of the improved model that is on display in the Smithsonian Air and Space Museum gift shop.  In the standard side-to-side fly-by, two lights on the angled pylon (which connect the two hulls) go out, followed one second later by two near the shuttlebay.
 * The original "bridge zoom-in" Enterprise shot from the beginning of "The Cage" is reused from stock footage in this episode, making it the only shot from the original pilot to appear in the second one.
 * The same shot is also used when the Enterprise hits the barrier with added purple background and lightning effects.
 * Stock footage of the Enterprise in the barrier was reused in and.

Reception

 * A print of the pre-broadcast version of this episode was taken by Roddenberry to the annual "" in Cleveland, Ohio to be presented to the convention goers. This marked Star Trek's first showing to the general public, on . Allan Asherman, author of The Star Trek Compendium was present among the audience. He recalled, "There must have been 500 people in that audience. When the Enterprise hit the galactic barrier, 1,000 eyes opened wide. Five hundred respiratory rates accelerated with that wonderful pleasure that comes over lovers of all things when they see their favorite subject being treated well. (...) If he [Roddenberry] could have read our minds at any moment during the screening, he would have been the happiest producer in the world. (...) Here was a future it did not hurt to imagine. Here was a constructive tomorrow for mankind, emphasizing exploration and expansion. This was a science fiction television series we all wanted to see. We were extremely impressed. (...) In fact, we liked everything about the episode more than anything else shown at the convention. (...) Roddenberry seemed to have no idea of the effect his show was having on us. (...) He asked for the audience's opinion; we gave him a standing ovation. He smiled, and we returned the smile before we converged him. We came close to lifting the man upon our shoulders and carrying him out of the room." (The Star Trek Compendium, pp 2-3)
 * Later, a group of the audience asked Roddenberry if he had brought any other episodes of Star Trek with him. He had a black-and-white copy of "The Cage", which was then screened to the audience. (The Star Trek Compendium, p 3)
 * Herb Solow commented on Gene's success: ""Where No Man," unlike the other television and theatrical films screened, was well received. The science-fiction aficionados at the convention were entranced by the new show. But in four days, the series would premiere on television to a national audience that thought science fiction was comic books of busty women being dragged away by alligator people, or a giant purple blob intent on dissolving Tokyo." (Inside Star Trek: The Real Story, p 263)
 * Bjo Trimble and her husband, John were members of the audience at the convention, and it was the first time they'd met Roddenberry. They persuaded him to allow the Star Trek costumes he brought along to be displayed during the fan-made costume competition. (Inside Star Trek: The Real Story, p 378)
 * Isaac Asimov was also a member of the audience. At the start, Roddenberry shushed a loud man to be silent, not knowing that the man was actually Asimov.

Apocrypha

 * An alternate explanation for the "James R. Kirk" reference is given in Peter David's novel Q-Squared which suggests that the events of this episode take place in a parallel universe where Kirk's middle initial is indeed R (and not T as we now know it to be). This same book suggests that Gary Mitchell's god-like powers were a result of him being temporarily possessed by Q, and the powers simply drove Mitchell insane.
 * Another explanation for the R as Kirk's middle initial comes from Michael Jan Friedman's three part novel series, My Brother's Keeper. In it, Kirk claims his middle name to be "racquetball" to Mitchell upon an early meeting. Later, Mitchell "changes" it to "Rhinoceros" after Kirk steamrolls through a conversation. The grave is thus explained by Kirk as an in-joke.
 * Mandala Productions' Fotonovel #2, in its cast of characters section, identified the Captain for this episode as "James R. Kirk", even though all the other Star Trek Fotonovels listed him as "James T. Kirk".
 * Several various novels and comics have suggested that the "little blond lab technician" that Mitchell set Kirk up with was Carol Marcus.
 * The alternate reality's version of events in this episode were depicted in issue 1 and issue 2 of IDW Publishing's ongoing Star Trek comic book. In this version, only Mitchell is affected - Dehner was a former lover of Dr. McCoy, and after the affair ended badly, their relationship was so strained that she rescinded her requested transfer to the Enterprise after finding out he was on board.

Remastered Information

 * The remastered version of this episode premiered in syndication the weekend of and featured shots of a digital version of Enterprise, consistent with the model used in this episode, which had a slightly different appearance from both the version seen in the production of the series and that seen the original pilot, .  Enhanced effects also included more detailed shots of the barrier, Delta Vega from space as well as on the surface, a subtle touch-up to a phaser shot during Kirk and Mitchell's fight, and an opening titles sequence featuring the pilot-version Enterprise.


 * The next remastered episode to air was .

Production Timeline

 * First draft script:
 * Second draft:
 * Final draft teleplay:
 * Final draft script:
 * Revised final draft script: 8 and, with further revised pages dated 14 and
 * Filmed: –
 * Score recorded:
 * Original airdate:
 * Rerun date:
 * First UK airdate
 * Remastered airdate:

Video and DVD Releases

 * Original US Betamax/VHS release:.
 * Original UK VHS release (two-episode tapes, CIC Video): Volume 2, catalog number VHR 2210, release date unknown
 * As part of the UK Star Trek - The Three Beginnings VHS collection:
 * US VHS release:
 * As part of the UK Star Trek - The Four Beginnings VHS collection: release date unknown
 * UK re-release (three-episode tapes, CIC Video): Volume 1.1,
 * Original US DVD release (single-disc): Volume 1,
 * As part of the TOS Season 1 DVD collection
 * As part of the TOS Season 1 HD DVD collection.
 * As part of the TOS Season 1 Blu-ray collection.
 * As part of the TOS Season 3 Blu-ray collection, entitled "Where No Fan Has Gone Before" - The Restored, Unaired Alternate Pilot Episode

Starring

 * William Shatner as James T. Kirk
 * Leonard Nimoy as Spock

Guest Stars

 * Gary Lockwood as Gary Mitchell
 * Sally Kellerman as Elizabeth Dehner

Featuring

 * George Takei as Sulu
 * James Doohan as Scott
 * Lloyd Haynes as Alden
 * Andrea Dromm as Yeoman Smith
 * And


 * Paul Carr as Lt. Lee Kelso
 * Paul Fix as Doctor Piper

Uncredited Co-Stars

 * Eddie Paskey as Leslie
 * Unknown Actor as Crewman

Stunt doubles

 * Dick Crockett as stunt double for William Shatner
 * Hal Needham as stunt double for Gary Lockwood

Production Crew

 * Directed by James Goldstone
 * Written by Samuel A. Peeples
 * Created and Produced by Gene Roddenberry
 * Associate Producer: Robert H. Justman
 * Music Composed and Conducted by: Alexander Courage
 * Director of Photography: Ernest Haller, ASC
 * Production Designer: Walter M. Jefferies
 * Art Director: Rolland M. Brooks
 * Film Editor: John Foley, ACE
 * Assistant Director: Robert H. Justman
 * Casting: Joseph D'Agosta
 * Set Decorator: Ross Dowd
 * Costumes Created by: William Ware Theiss
 * Sound Mixer: Cam McCulloch
 * Post Production Executive: Bill Heath
 * Music Editor: Jack Hunsaker
 * Sound Editor: Joseph G. Sorokin
 * Production Supervisor: James Paisley
 * Wardrobe: Paul McCardle
 * Special Effects: Bob Overbeck
 * Music Consultant: Wilbur Hatch
 * Music Coordinator: Julian Davidson
 * Makeup Artist: Robert Dawn
 * Hair Styles: Hazel Keats
 * Matte Paintings: Albert Whitlock
 * Sound: Glen Glenn Sound Co.
 * Photographic Effects: Howard Anderson Co.
 * Executive in Charge of Production: Herbert F. Solow

Production Companies

 * Desilu
 * Norway Corporation

Library Computer and Other References
aperception quotient; College of Medical Sciences; Dehner, Gerard; Delman; Delta Vega Station; Duke-Heidelburg quotient; Eldman; Ethics, The; Galactic Mining Company; Tri-Planetary Academy