In Star Trek's "Where No Man Has Gone Before," the Starship Enterprise passes through the galactic barrier bordering the known galaxy. Strange energies within transform Lt. Commander Gary Mitchell (Gary Lockwood) and Dr. Elizabeth Dehner (Sally Kellerman) into powerful and dangerous psychic beings. Mitchell's rapid evolution turns him into a threat, and Captain Kirk decides to trap Gary and Elizabeth on Delta Vega. When Mitchell battles Kirk, he uses his powers to create the Captain of the Enterprise's grave, complete with a tombstone that reads, "James R. Kirk."
Star Trek Season 1's Tombstone Was A Production Error
Gene Roddenberry Gave An Explanation For "James R. Kirk"
"James R. Kirk" was simply an early mistake by Star Trek's set and props department. "Where No Man Has Gone Before" was only the second hour of Star Trek produced, and Mr. Spock (Leonard Nimoy) was the only Star Trek actor from the original pilot, "The Cage," to return. Captain Kirk himself was a new character at this point, and the error of "James R. Kirk" is indicative of Star Trek finding its way in its early days. Star Trek writer and story editor D.C. Fontana later offered an explanation, as seen in Memory Alpha:
According to D.C. Fontana in the introduction for Star Trek: The Classic Episodes 1, when the mistake was discovered, Gene Roddenberry decided that if pressed for an answer on the discrepancy, the response was to be "Gary Mitchell had godlike powers, but at base he was Human. He made a mistake."
Star Trek's visionary creator Gene Roddenberry waves off "James R. Kirk" as an example of Lt. Commander Gary Mitchell's flawed humanity, in-universe. Roddenberry's explanation is also fascinating since Mitchell's evolution was an influx of psychic abilities. Yet Gary was still susceptible to human error, such as being mistaken about the middle initial of his best friend, Captain James T. Kirk.
Early Star Trek Episodes Had Many Canon Inconsistencies
Star Trek Was Still Finding Itself In Season 1
When watching Star Trek: The Original Series season 1, fans must be willing to accept several errors and inconsistencies in what later became established Star Trek canon. Much of Star Trek sprang fully formed from Gene Roddenberry's imagination from the get-go, but numerous aspects of Star Trek were developed and added as the series continued on NBC. For example, Leonard Nimoy gradually invented Spock and the Vulcans' logical behavior, and Spock was markedly more emotional before Nimoy locked into Vulcan culture.
Captain Kirk's Middle Name Was Confirmed In Star Trek VI
Star Trek: The Animated Series Coined "Tiberius"
Captain James T. Kirk's middle name was made official canon in Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country when "James Tiberius Kirk" was spoken aloud by General Chang (Christopher Plummer) during Kirk and Dr. Leonard McCoy's (DeForest Kelley) Klingon trial. Star Trek: The Animated Series originally coined "Tiberius" as Kirk's middle name, but Star Trek VI is what made "Tiberius" stick.
Gene Roddenberry considered the Saturday morning Star Trek cartoon apocryphal, and "Tiberius" remained unofficial until Star Trek VI finalized Kirk's middle name.
