10 Most Unique Star Trek Episodes

In a way, the inclusion of this episode is quite obvious. Here was Star Trek using, not simply allegory, but a full period drama to depict racial discrimination in America in the 50s. Though The Original Series debuted in the 60s, it bears remembering that it was born in times, and situations, like these.

For example, Nana Visitor doubles as both Major Kira and K.C. Hunter here, the only female writer on staff at the magazine. Her name is given in initials only so that the readers won't discover that she is, in fact, a woman. There are certainly echoes here of D.C. Fontana, one of the main writers on The Original Series, as well as becoming the showrunner on The Animated Series.

The bulk of the episode follows Avery Brooks as Benny Russell, the only Black writer on staff, and the one who suffers the most from the racism of the day. Russell writes his story, featuring a Black captain, and not only is the magazine pulped for that run, but he is fired.

The breakdown that Russell undergoes, played to perfection by Brooks - who was also on director duties - is harrowing. Star Trek had never shied from discussing issues of the day, but here was one of the most painful examples of real-world bigotry that had ever been shown, and Star Trek was never quite the same afterward.