Star Trek: 15 Most Culturally Significant Episodes
7. The Man Trap
The Man Trap is the first episode of Star Trek to air on television. Though there had been other episodes produced and of course the Cage had been filmed the year before, this was the first one to actually transmit out to viewers.
It is a strong opening. The episode centres on Nancy and Robert Crater. Nancy is an old flame of Dr. McCoy, so his joy to meet her again is evident early on. In the background however, a creature lurks that, much like a vampire, is feeding from the blood of the crew, sucking the salt deposits from them.
The creature is a shape changer. Nancy is long dead and Robert is caring for the creature. It retains her form and in this way, she remains alive in his mind. It is the last of its kind and so to kill it is to destroy the species once and for all, for the crime of feeding to live.
The episode is Star Trek at its purest. There is no clear villain and no clear hero. There is a true sense of loss at the death of the creature and McCoy, doctor as he is, must destroy a race to save his friends. The guilt he shows serves to exemplify Roddenberry's teaching of equality through science fiction.
The Man Trap set the stage for the Star Trek universe.