9. The Menagerie
The Menagerie, which won the 1967 Hugo Award for Best Dramatic Presentation, was the only two-part episode of the original Star Trek series. Roddenberry made a wise decision in taking footage from the first (rejected) Star Trek pilot, The Cage, and building a story around it for the regular season run. The end result produced two episodes less than the cost of one, and gave audiences a glimpse into a vision of Star Trek that never made it on the air. Spock kidnaps the invalid former captain of the Enterprise, Christopher Pike, commandeers the ship and sets a course for Talos IV, a forbidden planet. Spock is caught and court-martialed, and during his trial he is able to make his defense through mysterious video transmissions from Talos IV. When Spocks motivations are understood, he is vindicated and Pike remains on the forbidden planet to live out his life healthy and whole again. The Cage is cerebral science fiction, which is why it failed as a television pilot. The network wanted more action and adventure. Roddenberry was able to incorporate his central ideas a racially diverse cast, thoughtful and relevant stories in the second Star Trek pilot, Where No Man Has Gone Before. The Menagerie established a number of important elements in Star Trek lore: it represented an early (pre-series) adventure of the USS Enterprise; it provided a glimpse into the career of her first captain, Christopher Pike; and it presented a slightly different, semi-emotional portrayal of Spock.
Memorable line: "Captain Pike has an illusion, and you have reality. May you find your way as pleasant." - Talosian Keeper, to Kirk