Star Trek: The Original Series’ Only 2-Part Episode Created One Of The Franchise’s Best Tropes

The only two-part episode of Star Trek: The Original Series created a Star Trek trope that's been used in some of the franchise's best episodes. TOS season 1, episodes 15 and 16, "The Menagerie," sees Mr. Spock (Leonard Nimoy) defy Starfleet's General Order 7, which dictates no Starfleet ship may go to Talos IV under penalty of death, to save Captain Christopher Pike (Sean Kenney). Spock lies to Captain James T. Kirk (William Shatner) and Dr. Leonard McCoy (DeForest Kelley), falsifies orders from Starbase 11, and confesses to mutiny before turning himself in.

Spock's subsequent court-martial used footage from the first Star Trek pilot, "The Cage," as evidence in the proceedings, because "The Menagerie" was written as a cost-saving measure for TOS. In-universe, the chopped-up version of "The Cage" serves to explain why Spock would risk his life for Captain Pike (Jeffrey Hunter). The trial and video are actually projected by the Talosian into Kirk's mind as a distraction, so Spock can get Pike to Talos IV. While Spock's trial isn't real, the format proved popular enough that later Star Trek shows would expand the courtroom drama genre.

"The Menagerie" Created Star Trek's Courtroom Drama Trope

The Trappings Of Starfleet Trials Are A Backdrop For Bigger Star Trek Stories

While The Original Series' "The Menagerie" created the franchise's courtroom drama, Star Trek's return to the courtroom in TOS season 1, episode 20, "Court Martial," established the trappings of a proper Starfleet hearing, when Kirk becomes the first Starfleet captain to face a court-martial. Starfleet Command's panel of judges, Starfleet dress uniforms, and the lighted device that witnesses swear upon in a secular future, have all become staples of Star Trek's courtroom episodes. Even the prosecutor being well-known to the defendant comes from TOS, with Kirk's old friend Areel Shaw (Joan Marshall) competently arguing against Kirk's defense.

All the physical elements of a 23rd-century Starfleet courtroom came back in Star Trek: Strange New Worlds season 2, episode 2, "Ad Astra Per Aspera," now updated with modern production standards. Star Trek: The Next Generation established equivalent 24th-century proceedings in season 2, episode 9, "The Measure of A Man." But predicting new technology and proving humanity has advanced beyond conflict of interest are only small parts of Star Trek legal dramas. Like in the relevant TOS episodes, Star Trek effectively uses the courtroom as a backdrop to explore the morals and motives of characters.

Star Trek Courtroom Dramas Are Consistently Great

Star Trek's Courtroom Episodes Reveal The Franchise's Moral Code

Star Trek's courtroom drama episodes are consistently some of the greatest the franchise has to offer. The Next Generation especially thrives on legal drama; in fact, TNG opens and closes with Q (John de Lancie) putting Captain Jean-Luc Picard (Patrick Stewart) on trial for humanity's right to live. Additionally, Lieutenant Commander Data's (Brent Spiner) trial in "The Measure of A Man" is one of Star Trek: The Next Generation's best episodes, acclaimed for interrogating Data's personhood. And Star Trek: Voyager's "Death Wish" inverts TNG's opening, asking whether a Q named Quinn (Gerrit Graham) has the right to die.

I believe Star Trek courtroom episodes are so excellent because these storylines show us Star Trek's moral center through the characters who are on trial. Even when we know they are guilty, like Spock in "The Menagerie," Commander Una Chin-Riley (Rebecca Romijn) in "Ad Astra Per Aspera," or even Wesley Crusher (Wil Wheaton) in TNG's "The First Duty", trials put pressure on Star Trek characters to stand up for what they believe in. While Starfleet searches for the facts to determine a verdict, we're treated to stirring confessionals and explanations about why characters' moral codes align with their transgressions.

Why Star Trek Is So Good At Courtroom Drama Episodes

Courtroom Dramas Explain Why Star Trek's Progressive Ideals Matter

Star Trek is so good at courtroom drama episodes because the concept naturally allows characters to argue in favor of the best parts of Gene Roddenberry's Star Trek vision, where everyone deserves truth, dignity, and respect. In TOS, "The Menagerie" proves Pike's dignity outweighs Spock's career, and "Court Martial" proves the value of human (and Vulcan) testimonies against the apparent infallibility of the USS Enterprise's computer. Later Star Trek courtroom episodes consistently prove that all people are worthy of respect and consideration, whether they're androids, holograms, human Augments, genetically enhanced Illyrians, or descended from former Federation enemies.

Courtroom episodes provide the perfect platform to let Star Trek do what it does best, using science fiction as social commentary. Star Trek: Deep Space Nine's Cardassian trials mimic real-world corruption by foregoing due process entirely and serving harsh punishments that exceed crimes. Even Federation law isn't exempt from bias; smart characters like Strange New Worlds' Neera Ketoul (Yetide Badaki) point out that something can be legal without being moral. Courtroom dramas are easily some of Star Trek's best episodes, and might never have happened if not for the need to reuse Star Trek: The Original Series' failed pilot.