Movies Features

Star Trek's memorable moments

By Sue Klasky May 7, 2009, 20:39 GMT

Okay, I was in my teens when Star Trek was on prime time TV, and I did watch the show. A chronicle of the early days of James T. Kirk and his fellow USS Enterprise crew members.

A chronicle of the early days of James T. Kirk and his fellow USS Enterprise crew members. In the late '70s, I rediscovered the series and became a big fan, joining fan clubs, going to conventions, seeing the actors in plays. It was exciting when the first ST movie came out, as well as the following movies.

The new Star Trek movie, written, produced and directed by J.J. Abrams, will be officially released Friday, May 8. M&C looks back at 10 memorable moments from Star Trek TOS (The Original Series) which ran on NBC from 1966-1969, and one film. This is a subjective list, and we hope readers agree. The list is also not in any particular order. 1. The City on the Edge of Forever (First season) It's the most dramatic, sad and poignant, though there are some witty lines. Dr. McCoy becomes paranoid after getting an accidental overdose of the drug cordrazine. He escapes the ship and beams down to a strange planet and jumps through a portal called the Guardian of Forever. With his disappearance into time, he has changed Earth's history. Kirk and Spock go through the portal to try to stop McCoy from changing history, and end up in New York in 1930. They meet Edith Keeler who runs a shelter, and she gives them a job. Spock discovers that Edith has two timelines, both affected by McCoy's arrival. Can Kirk, who has now fallen in love with Edith, let her die to save the world? The best lines when Capt. Kirk prevents Dr. McCoy from saving Edith: McCoy: "You deliberately stopped me! I could have saved her! Do you know what you just did?" Spock: "He knows, Doctor...he knows." 2. The Trouble with Tribbles (Second season) On the way to assist a space station with an assignment concerning the disputed Sherman's Planet, which is claimed both by the Klingons and the Federation, a message comes in saying the post is under attack. The Enterprise crew discovers they're in the middle of dealing with Klingons, official Mr. Baris, Cyrano Jones, quadrotriticale and the adorable, furry tribbles. This is very funny episode, with lots of witty lines. Kirk: "Well you're right Mr. Jones, they don't like Klingons... but they do like Vulcans. Well Mr. Spock, I didn't know you had it in you." Spock: "Obviously tribbles are very perceptive creatures, Captain." McCoy: "Well the nearest thing I can figure is that there born pregnant -- which appears to be quite a time saver!"

3. Amok Time (Second season) In this episode, Captain Kirk and Dr. McCoy learn about Vulcan culture and mating rituals. Spock has become uncharacteristically irritable and under stress. McCoy tells Kirk that Spock must return to Vulcan soon or he will die. Spock uncomfortably tells Kirk that he is suffering from the pon farr and must mate with his bride, or die. In "Amok Time," the Vulcan salute is first shown. Spock, speaking to T'Pau: "Live long, T'Pau - and prosper." T'Pau: "Live long and prosper, Spock." Spock: "I shall do neither. I have killed my captain - and my friend." 4. Journey to Babel (Second season) The Enterprise is hosting a group of diplomats to a conference on Babel. During the trip, there's a murder and the ship comes under attack, Spock's parents, Ambassador Sarek and his human wife Amanda come aboard the ship. Sarek is ill and needs an operation, and Spock offers to donate blood. But after the captain is attacked, Spock is then in charge, so he can't help his father. What will he do? One memorable moment is when Amanda goes to Spock's quarters and begs him to help Sarek. Memorable lines:Amanda: "Logic! Logic! I'm sick to death of logic! Do you want to know how I feel about your logic?" Spock: "Emotional, isn't she?"Sarek: "She had always been that way."Spock: "Indeed -- why did you marry her?"Sarek: "At the time, it seemed logical thing to do." Kirk: "Dr. McCoy, I believe you are enjoying this. Spock: "Indeed, Captain. I've never seen him look so happy."McCoy: "Shut up!" 5. The Enemy Within (First season) When there's a transporter malfunction, Captain Kirk is split into two beings. One is good, the other evil, and they can't function without the other. The episode looks at the psychology of leaders. Spock talks about his own dilemma of being half-Vulcan and half-human: "Being split into two halves is no theory with me, Doctor. I have a human half, you see, as well as an alien half...submerged, constantly at war with each other. I survive it because my intelligence wins out over both, makes them live together." 6. The Naked Time (First season) The crew's inhibitions are heightened by a disease spread via perspiration. The virus is unknowingly picked up on a visit to the disintegrating planet Psi 2000. Nurse Chapel professes her love to Spock, Sulu starts fencing, Lt. Riley takes over Engineering, singing "Kathleen." Spock falls apart, saying he's sorry he can't tell his mother he loves her. And Kirk, after being infected, talks about his great love of the ship. A memorable moment:when Mr. Scott and Spock develop a cold restart of the engines, which sends the Enterprise back in time three days.

7. The Devil in the Dark (First season)At a mining operation on Janus V!, an unknown creature destroys machinery and kills workmen. It eventually steals a nuclear reactor's circulating pump, and the team must find it. Spock and Kirk discover the being is silicon-based. After Kirk injures it, Spock mind-melds with the being, and finds out it is called a Horta. She was protecting her eggs that the miners were inadvertently destroying. Doctor McCoy's best line: "I'm a doctor...not a brick-layer!" when Kirk orders him to help the Horta. McCoy: "It won't die. By golly, Jim, I'm beginning to think I can cure a rainy day!" Spock: "Really, sir, my modesty --Kirk: Does not bear close examination, Mr. Spock; I suspect you're becoming more and more human all the time."Spock: "You -- Sir, I see no reason to stand here and be insulted." 8. This Side of Paradise (First season)The Enterprise crew is surprised to find the inhabitants of Omicron Ceti III alive and well, even though the planet has been bombarded by berthold rays. Spock runs into botanist Leila Kalomi who he met on Earth years ago. She loved him yet he couldn't love her back. She leads him over to a plant that blasts him with spores, and he discovers he can now love Leila. The spores produce an euphoric effect on the crew, and the plants are subsequently brought back to the ship. Spock: "Captain, striking a fellow officer at a court-martial offense." Kirk: "Well, if we're both in the brig, who's going to build the subsonic transmitter?" Spock: "That is quite logical." Spock: "I am what I am, Leila, and if there are self-made purgatories, then we all have to live in them. Mine can be no worse than someone else's." Leila: "And this is for my good? Do you mind if I tell you I still love you? You never told me if you have another name, Mr. Spock." Spock: "You couldn't pronounce it." Kirk: "Maybe we weren't meant for paradise. Maybe we were meant to fight our way through -- struggle, claw our way up, scratch for every inch of the way. Maybe we can't stroll to the music of the lute. We must march to the sound of drums." Spock: "... for the first time in my life, I was happy."

9. The Enterprise Incident (Third season) Kirk is acting irrational and restless. He directs the Enterprise into the Romulan Neutral Zone, where the ship is then circled by the Romulans. He and Spock beam over to their ship, where Kirk is accused of trying to steal a cloaking device. Spock becomes involved with the Romulan Commander. A memorable moment, when Kirk, apparently dead via a Vulcan death grip, is revived after being beamed back to the ship, and has surgery to look like a Romulan. Romulan Commander: "Why would you do this to me? What are you that you could do this?" Spock: "First Officer of the Enterprise." McCoy: "Well, are you coming down or do you want to go through life looking like your first officer?" Spock: "Captain, please go. Somehow, they do not look as aesthetically appealing on Humans." 10. Mirror, Mirror (Second Season) Captain Kirk, Mr. Scott, Dr. McCoy and Lt. Uhura are sent into a parallel universe after a transporter malfunction, while the mirror Kirk, Scott, McCoy and Uhura are transported to the formers' universe. In this alternate universe, Starfleet is an evil empire, Spock has a beard, Sulu and Chekov are vicious and scheming, and Kirk is a tough ruler with a device in his quarters that can eliminate his enemies. And there's Marlena, the "captain's woman." In this episode, it's memorable to see how the mirror Spock fits into this barbaric world.

Memorable movie: Star Trek: The Wrath of Khan 1982 Admiral Kirk battles Khan Noonian Singh ("Space Seed"), who has managed to escape from his exile. Khan is on a mission of revenge. There's also the Genesis Project, a new-found son, and the death of a dear and loyal friend. The most memorable scene is Spock's death in the irradiated warp chamber, with Kirk on the outside and Spock on the inside, with their hands up against the clear wall. Spock': "Don't grieve, Admiral. It's logical. The needs of the many... Outweigh..." Kirk: "The needs of the few. Or the one." Spock: "I never took the Kobayashi Maru simulation until now. What do you think of my solution?" "I have been... and always shall be your friend... live long... and prosper." Another is Spock's funeral: Kirk says, "We are assembled here today to pay final respects to our honored dead. And yet, it should be noted that in the midst of a sorrow, this day takes place in the shadow of new life, the sun rise of a new world. A world that our beloved comrade gave his life to protect in the rush. He did not feel this sacrifice a vain or empty one and we will not debate his profound wisdom at these proceedings. Of my friend, I can only say this... of all the souls I have encountered in my travels, his was the most... human."

Editor’s Note: Research aided by Star Trek Wiki - Memory Alpha. Visit the movie database for more information on Star Trek!