Fascinating? - A Star Trek Podcast

Court Martial was the twentieth episode of Star Trek's debut season to air, with Kirk under suspicion and his own ship providing the most damning evidence. In this episode Gerry and Iain discuss legal representation and the importance of court procedures.

After losing a crew member in an ion storm, Kirk must report to the nearest starbase and give his report of the event to Commodore Stone (Percy Rodrigues). When computer records suggest his account is false, a full court martial is convened.

Fortuitously, or not (depending on your perspective), the chief prosecuting officer for the case is an old flame of Kirk's, Lt. Areel Shaw (Joan Marshall). Kirk's legal counsel is Samuel Cogley (Elisha Cook Jr.), a veteran litigator with an affection for physical books. A dramatic late twist reveals the survival of Lt Finney (Richard Webb), the supposed victim and Kirk's former friend, who's daughter Jame (Alice Rawlings) is named for the captain.

Court Martial was directed by Marc Daniels, one more of his fourteen Star Trek episodes. The initial writer was Don Mankiewicz with the final version credited to Steven W. Carabatsos.

In this episode Gerry and Iain considered the rules of evidence and the right to a fair trial organised under known rules.

The discussion continues in the comments below and please keep in touch with us on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram where we're @trekpodcast.

You can listen to the show here on the website, on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube, Pocket Casts, TuneIn, Stitcher, Google or wherever you find your podcasts.

Court Martial was released in 1967. It is 50 minutes long and originally aired on the NBC network. It can be viewed on CBS All Access in the United states, Netflix in the UK and is available on DVD and Blu Ray in other countries, including a comprehensive remastered set of all three seasons released by Paramount Home Entertainment.

Tomorrow is Yesterday was the nineteenth episode of Star Trek's debut season to air, with the Enterprise trapped in the past and some unfortunate airmen getting more than a glimpse of the future. In this episode Gerry and Iain discuss time paradoxes and before that they discuss the outcome of that conversation.

Escaping a black hole, the Enterprise is thrown back in time to the 20th century where they inadvertently pick up Captain Christopher (Roger Perry) and later an Air Police Sergeant (Hal Lynch).

Attempting to extricate themselves from the situation, Kirk and Sulu visit the air base, where the captain is captured by Col. Fellini (Ed Peck). A rescue follows before Spock devises a plan to restore the timeline and return the two visitors to their former lives without any damage caused.

Tomorrow is Yesterday was directed by Michael O'Herlihy, the his only Star Trek episode. The writer was DC Fontana, a Star Trek legend.

In this episode Gerry and Iain considered what the point of staging a daring ground mission was when you intended to reset time all along.

The discussion continues in the comments below and please keep in touch with us on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram where we're @trekpodcast.

You can listen to the show here on the website, on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube, Pocket Casts, TuneIn, Stitcher, Google or wherever you find your podcasts.

Tomorrow is Yesterday was released in 1967. It is 50 minutes long and originally aired on the NBC network. It can be viewed on CBS All Access in the United states, Netflix in the UK and is available on DVD and Blu Ray in other countries, including a comprehensive remastered set of all three seasons released by Paramount Home Entertainment.

Arena was the eighteenth episode of Star Trek's debut season to air, with a colony under siege and Kirk forced into a one-on-one battle for survival. In this episode Gerry and Iain discuss thinking you're smarter than the other guy while he listens in and plots your demise.

After chasing an invading force away from a Federation colony, Kirk and the Enterprise continue the pursuit until a third species - the powerful Metrons - intervene to set up a contest between Kirk and the captain of the alien ship.

With the Gorn captain (Ted Cassidy, Bill Blackburn, Bobby Clark, Gary Combs) and Kirk set to battle to the death, Spock and the Enterprise crew can only watch on and hope for the best, however grim the odds.

Arena was directed by Joseph Pevney, the first of his record-equalling fourteen Star Trek episodes. The writer was Gene Coon, with a story credit to Fredric Brown.

In this episode Gerry and Iain considered the misfortune of being the crew abandoned on a decimated colony when your ride home gets deposited halfway across the galaxy.

The discussion continues in the comments below and please keep in touch with us on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram where we're @trekpodcast.

You can listen to the show here on the website, on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube, Pocket Casts, TuneIn, Stitcher, Google or wherever you find your podcasts.

Arena was released in 1967. It is 50 minutes long and originally aired on the NBC network. It can be viewed on CBS All Access in the United states, Netflix in the UK and is available on DVD and Blu Ray in other countries, including a comprehensive remastered set of all three seasons released by Paramount Home Entertainment.

The Squire of Gothos was the seventeenth episode of Star Trek's debut season to air, with an impetuous adversary testing Kirk's skills to the limit. In this episode Gerry and Iain discuss planets that chase you, however hard you try to escape.

On their way to deliver vital supplies to a colony, the Enterprise and her crew are waylaid by an impossible planet, previously uncharted. When Kirk and Sulu are kidnapped by Trelane (William Campbell), the enigmatic Squire of Gothos, Spock must lead a rescue mission.

Spock's landing party includes crew members Jaeger (Richard Carlyle) and Lasalle (Michael Barrier), whose European ancestry is of particular interest to their temporary host until his 'parents' (Barbara Babcock and Bart La Rue) appear.

The Squire of Gothos was directed by Don McDougall, his only Star Trek episode. The writer was Paul Schneider, who also penned Balance of Terror.

In this episode Gerry and Iain considered the consequences of getting entangled with more powerful life forms, however irritating they may be.

The discussion continues in the comments below and please keep in touch with us on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram where we're @trekpodcast.

You can listen to the show here on the website, on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube, Pocket Casts, TuneIn, Stitcher, Google or wherever you find your podcasts.

The Squire of Gothos was released in 1967. It is 50 minutes long and originally aired on the NBC network. It can be viewed on CBS All Access in the United states, Netflix in the UK and is available on DVD and Blu Ray in other countries, including a comprehensive remastered set of all three seasons released by Paramount Home Entertainment.

The Galileo Seven was the sixteenth episode of Star Trek's debut season to air, with a stranded shuttle crew facing a race against time to alert rescuers to their predicament. In this episode Gerry and Iain discuss leadership and the importance of sound decision-making.

En route to a rendezvous with vital supplies to help fight a pandemic, the Enterprise stops off to examine a pulsar formation. Unexpectedly, the shuttle carrying Spock, McCoy, Scotty, Yeoman Mears (Phyllis Douglas) and crewmen Boma (Don Marshall), Latimer (Rees Vaughn) and Gaetano (Peter Marko) is captured by the phenomenon and grounded on a planet with no immediate chance to escape.

Meanwhile, on the Enterprise, Kirk's efforts to launch a rescue mission are not helped by the imposing presence of Commissioner Ferris (John Crawford) who is keen to make sure the rendezvous is kept and willing to take command of the ship to achieve that.

The Galileo Seven was directed by Robert Gist, his only Star Trek episode. The writer was Oliver Crawford, the first of his three stories for the show.

In this episode Gerry and Iain considered the importance of not irritating all of the people you are supposed to be leading, particularly in times of crisis.

The discussion continues in the comments below and please keep in touch with us on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram where we're @trekpodcast.

You can listen to the show here on the website, on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube, Pocket Casts, TuneIn, Stitcher, Google or wherever you find your podcasts.

The Galileo Seven was released in 1967. It is 50 minutes long and originally aired on the NBC network. It can be viewed on CBS All Access in the United states, Netflix in the UK and is available on DVD and Blu Ray in other countries, including a comprehensive remastered set of all three seasons released by Paramount Home Entertainment.

Shore Leave was the fifteenth episode of Star Trek‘s debut season to air, with unlikely events interrupting an idyllic respite for the Enterprise crew. In this episode Gerry and Iain discuss wrestling with tigers and the fine line between chivalry and inappropriateness.

After recent traumatic events, Dr McCoy is keen for the crew to enjoy a little shore leave and leads an exploratory team to consider a candidate planet. When he spots characters from Lewis Carroll's Alice in Wonderland he struggles to determine whether his own mind is overworked, or if there is something dangerous afoot.

When Kirk joins his team on the surface and encounters two figures from his past, Academy classmate Finnegan (Bruce Mars) and lost love Ruth (Shirley Bonne) he must find a way to keep his crew alive while the mystery remains unsolved. Meanwhile, Yeoman Barrows (Emily Banks) is left to grieve a fallen lover.

Shore Leave was directed by Robert Sparr, his only entry in the series. The episode was written by Theodore Sturgeon, who wrote one further episode of the series, along with two unproduced stories.

In this episode Gerry and Iain considered the difference between fantasy and reality and the importance of keeping your tigers at arm's length.

The discussion continues in the comments below and please keep in touch with us on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram where we're @trekpodcast.

You can listen to the show here on the website, on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube, Pocket Casts, TuneIn, Stitcher, Google or wherever you find your podcasts.

Shore Leave was released in 1966. It is 50 minutes long and originally aired on the NBC network. It can be viewed on CBS All Access in the United states, Netflix in the UK and is available on DVD and Blu Ray in other countries, including a comprehensive remastered set of all three seasons released by Paramount Home Entertainment.

Balance of Terror was the fourteenth episode of Star Trek‘s debut season to air, with a skilled adversary presenting a tough examination of Kirk's battle craft. In this episode Gerry and Iain debate the rights and wrongs of bearing grudges from your ancestors' wars.

Responding to a distress call from an outpost bordering the Neutral Zone between Federation and Romulan space, Kirk and the Enterprise are thrust into conflict with an enemy unseen in over a century when fired upon by a Romulan Warbird and its commander (Mark Lenard).

Casualties of the conflict included a Romulan Centurion (John Warburton), the Romulan officer Decius (Lawrence Montaigne) and the Enterprise phaser operator Lt Tomlinson (Stephen Mines), who had been due to marry fellow officer Angela Martine (Barbara Baldavin) that day. Lt. Stiles (Paul Comi) was saved from a similar fate by the quick thinking of Spock, who he had suspected of being a Romulan infiltrator for much of the episode.

Balance of Terror was directed by Vincent McEveety, the third of six episodes he helmed. The episode was written by Paul Schneider, who wrote one further episode of the series, along with an episode of The Animated Series.

In this episode Gerry and Iain considered what friendship there is to be found between two warring adversaries and whether a foolish man builds his house upon an asteroid.

The discussion continues in the comments below and please keep in touch with us on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram where we're @trekpodcast.

You can listen to the show here on the website, on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube, Pocket Casts, TuneIn, Stitcher, Google or wherever you find your podcasts.

Balance of Terror was released in 1966. It is 50 minutes long and originally aired on the NBC network. It can be viewed on CBS All Access in the United states, Netflix in the UK and is available on DVD and Blu Ray in other countries, including a comprehensive remastered set of all three seasons released by Paramount Home Entertainment.

Unfortunately we are not able to record new episodes at present due to the restrictions in place to control the spread of Covid-19. In this mini-episode Gerry explains the situation. Stay safe!

The Conscience of the King was the thirteenth episode of Star Trek's debut season to air, with a travelling theatre group bringing back some bad memories for Kirk. In this episode Gerry and Iain debate an imperfect seduction and brush up on their Shakespeare.

Kirk and the Enterprise are summoned by Tom Leighton (William Sargent), an old acquaintance who has made a startling discovery. While hosting a traveling theatre troupe Leighton observes that the lead actor, Anton Karidian (Arnold Moss) bears a remarkable resemblance to Kodos the Exectioner.

Kirk is one of only 9 survivors who witnessed Kodos massacre thousands of innocent people. When Leighton turns up dead and it is learned six others predeceased him while the theatre company was nearby, suspicion falls on Karidian. Kirk seduces Karidian's daughter, Lenore (Barbara Anderson), to draw the company on board the Enterprise, but does this play into his hands or theirs?

The Conscience of the King was directed by Gerd Oswald, the first of two episodes he helmed. The episode was written by Barry Trivers, who made no further contribution to the series.

In this episode Gerry and Iain considered whether it is better to be or not to be and whether the lady doth protest too much.

The discussion continues in the comments below and please keep in touch with us on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram where we're @trekpodcast.

You can listen to the show here on the website, on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube, Pocket Casts, TuneIn, Stitcher, Google or wherever you find your podcasts.

The Conscience of the King was released in 1966. It is 50 minutes long and originally aired on the NBC network. It can be viewed on CBS All Access in the United states, Netflix in the UK and is available on DVD and Blu Ray in other countries, including a comprehensive remastered set of all three seasons released by Paramount Home Entertainment.

The Menagerie: Part 2 was the twelfth episode of Star Trek's debut season to air. In this episode Gerry and Iain consider the motivations of the Talosians and whether a happy ending was the right outcome for Captain Pike.

As Spock's Court Martial continues, we see the former captain of the Enterprise, Christopher Pike (Jeffrey Hunter) captured by the Talosians who hope to develop a relationship between him and Vina (Susan Oliver) and breed a group of human slaves to populate the scarred surface of their planet.

The nature of the Talosian's power made it difficult for Pike to know what was real and what imagined. This extended to Captain Kirk as a shocking twist revealed that he, too, had been deceived. In a rousing finale the invalided Pike is restored to a life of fantasy with Vina on Talos IV.

The Menagerie: Part 2 was officially directed by Robert Butler, though his work was limited to directing the original pilot episode, The Cage, from which the footage of Talos IV was taken. The episode was written by Gene Roddenberry.

In this episode Gerry and Iain considered who was running this trial! and how the late revelations shifted the focus of the two-parter from Spock to Kirk.

The discussion continues in the comments below and please keep in touch with us on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram where we're @trekpodcast.

You can listen to the show here on the website, on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube, Pocket Casts, TuneIn, Stitcher, Google or wherever you find your podcasts.

The Menagerie: Part 2 was released in 1966. It is 50 minutes long and originally aired on the NBC network. It can be viewed on CBS All Access in the United states, Netflix in the UK and is available on DVD and Blu Ray in other countries, including a comprehensive remastered set of all three seasons released by Paramount Home Entertainment.