10 Star Trek Behind The Scenes Horror Stories

2. Grace Lee Whitney (Again) And The Enemy Within

star trek enterprise
CBS

The Enemy Within is considered one of William Shatner's best performances as Kirk. He plays both versions of the man, split in two by a transporter accident, serving as a spiritual predecessor to Tuvix. One of these halves is good while the other, demonstrably an evil version comprised of the Captain's own worst impulses, goes to the quarters of Janice Rand.

There, he sets about sexually assaulting her. She manages to fend him off and escapes, scratching him across the face and leaving a scar that will become an important identifier. The two Kirks are later rejoined, but Spock comments to Rand at the end of the episode that "the imposter had some very interesting qualities, wouldn't you say, yeoman?".

Whitney was horrified by the inclusion of the line, which she couldn't properly attribute to the episode's writer Richard Matheson or to Gene Roddenberry himself. The inclusion made light of the woman's earlier assault in the episode, with the reveal off-screen as well making it an even more callous remakr.

The fact that Spock is the one who delivers this line is particularly disappointing. Unfortunately, none of the cast had the power to change the line and Rand was mocked on-screen before Whitney was fired off-screen.

Contributor
Contributor

Writer. Reader. Host. I'm Seán, I live in Ireland and I'm the poster child for dangerous obsessions with Star Trek. Check me out on Twitter @seanferrick