Star Trek: 10 Dropped Plot Threads We'll Never Get The Answer To
9. Whatever Happened To The Talosians? - The Menagerie (Star Trek The Original Series)
A follow-up to the pilot episode The Cage. The people of Talos IV needed to introduce hardier characteristics into their gene pool so they sought wayfarers and visitors to see if they would be compatible and worthy additions to their race. This was such a compelling idea that it was even picked up and re-examined within the series in a suspenseful two-parter. Of course, the second time around, the episode revolved around Spock's decision to improve the quality of life for his former captain, Christopher Pike, now crippled after radiation damage by having the Talosians employ their illusion-generating powers ability to mentally create realistic and believable illusions that he is whole and healthy again. But to have the idea originate from the logical and impassionate Mr. Spock gave him new depth for us to appreciate the Vulcan first officer and his apparent capacity for loyalty. The fate of an entire race was dropped from the Star Trek universe and remanded to the annals of obscurity. Whatever happened to the Talosians? Did their race ever make use of Pike and Vinas genetic potential? Were there any other travellers added to the breeding pool? What about any diplomatic attempts by the Federation to assist the Talosians in terraforming their harsh planet or assisting in improving the birthrate? All these story possibilities from 1966 are just sitting there, and no-one has picked them up. If you were in a creative-writing class and some English teacher offered you this as a starting premise, youd bless her name and hand in an A grade assignment.
John Kirk is a Teacher-Librarian and currently a History/English Teacher with the Toronto District School Board.
But mostly, John teaches Geek.
Comics, Sci-Fi (Notably Star Trek), Fantasy and Role-Playing and table-top games all make up part of John’s repertoire, There is a whole generation of nerds-in-embryo who rely on him to make sense of it all, to teach that with great power comes great responsibility, that the force will be with us always and that a towel IS the most useful thing to have in one’s possession.
When John isn’t in the classroom, he can be found in his basement writing comic reviews for www.popmythology.com and features for Roddenberry Entertainment's www.1701news.com.
