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The Way to Eden (episode)

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The Enterprise picks up a group of renegades who have rejected modern technological life to search for the mythical planet Eden.

  • 1.2 Act One
  • 1.3 Act Two
  • 1.4 Act Three
  • 1.5 Act Four
  • 2 Log entries
  • 3 Memorable quotes
  • 4.1 Production timeline
  • 4.2 Story and production
  • 4.4 Sets and props
  • 4.5 Continuity
  • 4.6 Reception
  • 4.7 Remastered information
  • 4.8 Video and DVD releases
  • 5.1 Starring
  • 5.2 Also starring
  • 5.3 Guest star
  • 5.4 Also starring
  • 5.5 Uncredited co-stars
  • 5.6 References
  • 5.7 External links

Summary [ ]

Aurora remastered

The USS Enterprise intercepts the Aurora , a stolen space cruiser. The crew of the craft attempt to run away, but the engines overheat and the vessel is destroyed. Moments before the explosion, Scott is able to beam them safely aboard. There, the thieves are revealed to be a wild-looking group of primitivist space hippies.

Act One [ ]

In the transporter room, Kirk and Spock meet the thieves. Among them is Tongo Rad , the son of a Catullan ambassador – and whose involvement prevents Captain Kirk, under orders from the Federation , from arresting the group for theft . Instead, Kirk is ordered to bring them to a starbase as guests. Rad and the group are not fazed by Kirk, and continue to sit on the floor, though they do demand Kirk bring them to the planet Eden – which Kirk insists is a myth. Spock apparently seems to understand the group's gestures and motives, though they do not give him details, either. They chant Kirk derisively, " Herbert! Herbert ! "

Irina Galliulin

Irina Galliulin

Kirk goes to the bridge to have Lieutenant Palmer notify the starbase that they have the group alive. Another member of the group is Irina Galliulin , an acquaintance of Ensign Chekov and a dropout from Starfleet Academy . The group, led by Dr. Sevrin , a former university professor on Tiburon , rejects conventional society.

In sickbay, Chekov meets Galliulin after losing track of her a long time ago. He asks what happened, and she says she believes in her path and knew Chekov would not approve. When she rejoins her group, shouting is heard since Dr. Sevrin is quarantined. Chekov joins the security officers guarding sickbay in pushing back Sevrin's followers from entering.

Act Two [ ]

After being examined in sickbay , Dr. Sevrin is found to be a carrier for the deadly bacteria synthococcus novae , created by the very advances that make life in the 23rd century possible. The disease has no cure, but immunization is available. Kirk orders Dr. McCoy that boosters be administered to the crew, but that Dr. Sevrin must be put in isolation until he no longer poses a danger to the crew or his companions. Dr. Sevrin protests the action, claiming he did not know he was a carrier. Meanwhile, Dr. Sevrin's companions boldly circulate among the crew, attempting to incite the younger members, in particular, Sulu , to join them.

Kirk finally asks Spock to speak to Dr. Sevrin to persuade his followers to stop their actions before they are charged under Federation laws and barred from continuing their search for Eden . Dr. Sevrin then reveals to Spock he did know he was a carrier, and blames advanced technology for infecting him, then forcing him to stay near advanced technology. He says only a primitive world – such as Eden – can fully cleanse him from the disease. Spock counters that his presence would destroy any life on that planet , but Dr. Sevrin is unrelenting in his quest. Spock concludes that Dr. Sevrin is insane, but offers to help in the search for Eden by using the resources of the Enterprise .

Adam , one of Dr. Sevrin's followers, visits Spock in his quarters with a request to put on a concert for the crew. Spock agrees to ask Kirk about the idea. Adam spots Spock's Vulcan lute on a shelf behind him and Spock lets him try it out. Adam then hands the lute to Spock for a little demonstration on how to play it. Adam asks Spock to join him on the concert that he has proposed. Spock agrees.

Meanwhile, in auxiliary control , Chekov is assisting Spock's search for Eden, but he is distracted by Irina's presence. In trying to seduce the young ensign, Irina learns about the functions of the secondary control room. Adam and Irina then rejoin the rest of the group and there the true plan is revealed: the group is attempting to seize control of the Enterprise once Eden is located.

Act Three [ ]

Auxiliary control center

"That's right, someone else is running this ship. I am."

During the concert, Tongo Rad climbs up a ladder, sneaks up behind Sevrin's guard , knocks him out and releases Dr. Sevrin. They make their way to auxiliary control and the others join them, they divert control of the ship to themselves and change course for Eden – taking the Enterprise across the Romulan Neutral Zone and into Romulan territory.

On the bridge, Sulu reports to Kirk that the helm is unresponsive. Scott believes it may have shorted out, but determines that helm control has been redirected to auxiliary control. Sevrin announces that he now has control of the Enterprise , as well as the ship's life support , and will not release control of the vessel until they reach Eden. Knowing that Dr. Sevrin will do whatever he plans to do, Kirk orders Scott to break into auxiliary control by cutting through a wall with a phaser .

As Kirk, Spock, and Scott attempt to enter the room, Sevrin prevents he and his followers from being seized by applying ultrasonics to knock out the crew of the Enterprise .

Act Four [ ]

Eden remastered

The planet Eden

Kirk and Spock come to, however, and, under great agony, manage to shut off the sound waves. Kirk contacts the shuttlebay and discovers that a shuttle is missing. Dr. Sevrin and his followers stole the shuttlecraft Galileo II to take them to the planet's surface. Kirk decides to go after them.

Pavel Chekov and Irina Galliulin kiss

" Be incorrect, occasionally. " " And you be correct. " " Occasionally. "

They are joined by Chekov and Dr. McCoy in the transporter room and beam down to the planet's surface in search of the group. They learn the legends about the planet are true – Eden is a fabulously beautiful planet. However, they learn the beauty hides deadly secrets: the grass and plant life are full of a powerful acid, and the fruit is poisonous to Humans . Eventually, the shuttlecraft is found, with Sevrin and his followers nursing severe burns on their bare feet from the acid in the grass and Adam dead from eating the fruit. McCoy makes plans to beam everyone to the ship for medical treatment, but Sevrin refuses to leave, runs to a tree, takes a bite out of the fruit and quickly dies.

Back on the Enterprise , Sevrin's followers prepare to leave the ship. On the bridge, Spock urges Irina to continue their quest for Eden. " I have no doubt you will find it … or make it yourselves, " he tells Irina as she and Chekov then kiss goodbye. " We reach… Mr. Spock, " Kirk says. The Enterprise continues on its mission.

Log entries [ ]

  • Captain's log, USS Enterprise (NCC-1701), 2269

Memorable quotes [ ]

" Herbert! "

" One. " " We are one. " " One is the beginning. " " Are you One, Herbert? " "I am not Herbert. " " He's not Herbert! We reach! "

" Many myths are based on truth, Captain. "

" There are many who are uncomfortable with what we have created. It is almost a biological rebellion – a profound revulsion against the planned communities, the programming, the sterilized, artfully balanced atmospheres. They hunger for an Eden – where spring comes. " " All do. The cave is deep in our memory. "

" They regard themselves as aliens in their own worlds – a condition with which I am somewhat familiar. "

" Herbert was a minor official, notorious for his rigid and limited patterns of thought. " " Well, I shall try to be less rigid in my thinking. "

" Gonna crack my knuckles and jump for joy! I got a clean bill of health from Doctor McCoy! "

" I thought all the animals were kept in cages. "

" I am proud of what I am, I believe in what I do. Can you say that? "

" Why did you stay away? " " Because you disapproved of me, just as you do now. Oh Pavel, you have always been like this, so correct. And inside, the struggle not to be. Give in to yourself, you will happier, you'll see."

" You don't belong with them! You know what we want – you want it too! Come! Join us! " " How do you know what I want? " " You're young. Think young, brother! " " You make it tempting. "

" Stiff man putting my mind in jail And the judge bang the gavel and say 'No bail' Gonna lick his hand and wag my tail! "

" Captain, I just had to give one of those barefooted what-do-you-call-'ems the boot out of here. She came in bold as brass, tried to incite my crew to disaffect. "

" I could never obey a computer. " " You could never listen to anyone. You always had to be different." " Not different, what I wanted to be. There is nothing wrong in doing what you want. "

" I don't understand why a young mind has to be an undisciplined one. " " I used to get into some trouble when I was that age, Scotty, didn't you? "

" We cannot allow them to come after us. It will not reach us in here; I can control it all. I have adjusted it so that it will suspend its effects after a few moments and allow us time to escape. Then, after we've gone, it will automatically reactivate. Rejoice, brethren! Soon we shall step together into Eden. "

" Stepping into Eden Yea brother Stepping into Eden Yea brother No more trouble in my body or my mind Gonna live like a king on whatever I find Eat all the fruit and throw away the rind Yea brother. "

" His name was Adam. "

" It is my sincere wish that you do not give up your search for Eden. I have no doubt but that you will find it, or make it yourselves. "

Background information [ ]

Production timeline [ ].

  • Story outline by D.C. Fontana , titled "Joanna", 11 July 1968
  • Revised story outline, 24 August 1968
  • Revised story outline, titled "The Way to Eden", 27 August 1968
  • Second revised story outline, 5 September 1968
  • First draft teleplay by Arthur Heinemann , 6 November 1968
  • Second draft teleplay, 11 November 1968
  • Final draft teleplay by Arthur Singer , 12 November 1968
  • Revised final draft teleplay, mid- November 1968
  • Second revised final draft teleplay by Fred Freiberger , 18 November 1968
  • Music recording session, 20 November 1968
  • Makeup tests, 21 November 1968
  • Additional page revisions by Freiberger, 21 November 1968 , 26 November 1968
  • Day 1 – 21 November 1968 , Thursday – Desilu Stage 9 : Int. Bridge
  • Day 2 – 22 November 1968 , Friday – Desilu Stage 9 : Int. Bridge , Auxiliary control center
  • Day 3 – 25 November 1968 , Monday – Desilu Stage 9 : Int. Recreation room (redress of Briefing room ), Transporter room
  • Day 4 – 26 November 1968 , Tuesday – Desilu Stage 9 : Int. Transporter room , Sickbay , Corridors , Auxiliary control center
  • Day 5 – 27 November 1968 , Wednesday – Desilu Stage 10 : Ext. Eden surface , Int. Shuttlecraft ; Desilu Stage 9 : Int. Sickbay
  • Day 6 – 29 November 1968 , Friday – Desilu Stage 9 : Int. Brig , Auxiliary control center , Recreation room (redress of Briefing room )
  • Original airdate: 21 February 1969
  • First UK airdate (on BBC1 ): 20 January 1971
  • First UK airdate (on ITV ): 5 August 1984
  • Remastered episode airdate: 14 June 2008

During the syndication run of Star Trek , no syndication cuts were made to this episode.

Story and production [ ]

  • D.C. Fontana was unhappy with the rewrite of her original script, and requested to be credited under her pseudonym "Michael Richards".
  • The character of Irina Galliulin was originally to be Joanna McCoy , daughter of Dr. McCoy, and to be a love interest for Captain Kirk (the episode's original title was " Joanna "), but that script was later rejected. Joanna was also supposed to appear in an episode in season four, but again, it was not to be. [1]
  • Chekov's character (which in the original story, was meant to have been Kirk's character) is portrayed in this episode as a rigid, rule-quoting straight arrow, in contrast to the writers' initial concept of the character as a younger, less authoritarian character who might appeal to teenage viewers. Walter Koenig has called the episode "badly written" partly because of this. He also called this episode the low point of his character's tenure on the show. [2]
  • To create reaction shots of Kirk that were not filmed, several shots of William Shatner are repeated, printed backwards. This is obvious in a shot on the surface of Eden, where Kirk's insignia appears on the wrong side of his shirt.
  • In the scene in which Spock plays his Vulcan harp for Adam (the last time he plays the instrument on the series), the background music for Uhura 's song from " Charlie X " is recycled.
  • Nurse Chapel's collapse, as well as the collapse of other crewmembers in the corridor, is reused footage from " Spock's Brain ". This is why the lights go out in sickbay during that shot, while they are functioning normally elsewhere on the ship.
  • The references to the insult "Herbert" and the official it was named after were inserted at the behest of production executive Douglas S. Cramer . It is thought that they were digs at his predecessor, Herbert F. Solow , though Herbert Hoover has also been suggested as a target. ( citation needed • edit )
  • Due to the extra makeup load for this episode, Paramount brought additional outside makeup artists Larry Abbott and George Barr to assist in show's regular makeup staff. ( On the Good Ship Enterprise , p. 249)
  • Nichelle Nichols (Uhura) does not appear in this episode. Lieutenant Palmer , who fills in, makes her second and final TOS appearance after " The Doomsday Machine " in the second season .
  • Skip Homeier also starred in " Patterns of Force " as Melakon .
  • Charles Napier co-wrote two of the songs he sings in this episode, including " Headin' Out to Eden " and " Looking for a New Land ". ( Star Trek: The Original Series Soundtrack Collection liner notes ; These Are the Voyages: TOS Season Three , p. 555) He later appeared as Denning in the Star Trek: Deep Space Nine fourth season episode " Little Green Men ".

Sets and props [ ]

  • The hijacked Class F shuttlecraft was the oft-used Galileo , although in this adventure she bore the name Galileo II .
  • In the original version of the episode, the spacecraft Aurora is a Tholian ship with AMT model kit nacelles added to it. It is shown in the preview trailer without the nacelles. For the remastered version, a new design was created.
  • A brief shot of the surface of Eden is reused footage of the lakeside from " Shore Leave ". A shot of the surface of Gamma Trianguli VI from " The Apple " is also recycled and used in the same scene.
  • Gary Mitchell 's Kaferian apple tree can be seen in the foliage on Eden.

Continuity [ ]

  • This episode marks the first mention of Chekov's patronymic / middle name. Galliulin greets him with "Pavel Andreievich".
  • Spock's desire to find Eden is further explained in Star Trek V: The Final Frontier , although it is unlikely the stories were intended to be linked. Star Trek V closely parallels some of this episode's plot points, too.

Reception [ ]

  • According to James Doohan , this was the only episode of the series that he did not like. ( citation needed • edit )

Remastered information [ ]

The remastered version of "The Way to Eden" aired in many North American markets during the weekend of .... The episode included new effects shots of the Aurora , replacing modified Tholian studio model.

The original Aurora, made from the Tholian ship with nacelles added

Video and DVD releases [ ]

  • Original US Betamax release: 1988
  • UK VHS release (two-episode tapes, CIC Video ): Volume 39 , catalog number VHR 2435, 18 March 1991
  • US VHS release: 15 April 1994
  • UK re-release (three-episode tapes, CIC Video): Volume 3.7, 2 February 1998
  • Original US DVD release (single-disc): Volume 38, 27 November 2001
  • As part of the TOS Season 3 DVD collection
  • As part of the TOS-R Season 3 DVD collection

Links and references [ ]

Starring [ ].

  • William Shatner as Capt. Kirk

Also starring [ ]

  • Leonard Nimoy as Mr. Spock
  • DeForest Kelley as Dr. McCoy

Guest star [ ]

  • Skip Homeier as Sevrin
  • Charles Napier as Adam
  • Mary-Linda Rapelye as Irina
  • James Doohan as Scott
  • Walter Koenig as Chekov
  • George Takei as Sulu
  • Majel Barrett as Nurse Chapel
  • Victor Brandt as Tongo Rad
  • Elizabeth Rogers as Lt. Palmer
  • Deborah Downey as Girl #1
  • Phyllis Douglas as Girl #2

Uncredited co-stars [ ]

  • William Blackburn as Hadley
  • James Drake as Medical technician
  • Frank da Vinci as Brent
  • Roger Holloway as Lemli
  • Female patient (archive footage)
  • Frieda Rentie as Sciences crew woman 2 (archive footage)
  • Gary Wright as Enterprise sciences crewman
  • Command lieutenant 1
  • Command lieutenant 2
  • Crewman (archive footage)
  • Engineering technician 1 (archive footage)
  • Engineering technician 2
  • Engineering technician 3
  • Medical technician
  • Operations crew woman 1
  • Operations crew woman 2
  • Operations crew woman 3
  • Sciences crew woman 1
  • Sciences crew woman 3
  • Sciences technician 1
  • Sciences technician 2
  • Security guard 1
  • Security guard 2

References [ ]

ability ; acid ; acoustics ; Adam and Eve ; Adam's guitar ; alien ; ambassador ; ancient history ; anger ; animal ; answer ; antipathy ; area ; arrest ; arrogance ; aseptic ; atmosphere ; attack ; Aurora ; authority ; auxiliary control center ; bacillus ; back ; bail ; bearing ; belief ; Bible ; biological rebellion ; body ; " bold as brass "; boarding ; " Bones "; booster shot ; botany ; breathe ; briefing room ; brig ; brother ; bug ; carrier ; case ; Catulla ; Catullan ; Catullan ambassador ; cave ; charge ; " checkup "; Chekov, Andrei ; children ; choice ; circuit ; city ; civilization ; Class F shuttlecraft ; " clean bill of health "; clothes (aka clothing ); combat ; communications ; computer ; computer banks ; computer program ; confusion ; coordinates ; course ; cream ; crime ; criminal ; crying ; curiosity ; danger ; day ; destination : disease ; disciple ; disciplinary action ; door ; Earth city ; Eden (garden); Eden (planet) ( moons ); electronics ; emergency power ; emptiness ; endangering ; engine ; evidence ; evolution ; explanation ; explosion ; favorite ; Federation regulations ; file ; fire ; flight regulations ; floor ; flower ; friend ; fruit ; fun ; immunization ; Galileo II ; Galliulin's friends ; gavel ; grass ; guest ; guilt ; hailing frequency ; hand ; hangar deck ; harassment ; " Headin' Out to Eden "; Herbert ; " Herbert "; " Hey, Out There! "; hippie ; hobby ; honey ; hospital ; hostility ; hour ; humanoid ; imprisonment ; incitement to disaffection ; infection ; information ; infringement ; insanity ; isolation ; jail ; joy ; judge ; judgment : king ; knowledge ; knuckles ; leader ; legend ; licking ; " Like Hail "; life ; life support ; location ; " Looking for a New Land "; main control room ; malfunction ; mathematics ; medical gear ; medical team ; memory ; mile ; Milky Way Galaxy ; mind ; mood ; mutual understanding ; myth ; name ; navigation ; objection ; official ; One ; orbit ; order ; overheating ; panel ; passenger ship ; patrol ; permission ; physical ; piracy ; planned community ; planet (aka world ); plant ; poison ; peace ; power ; prejudice ; primitives ; prisoner ; problem ; product ; programming ; promise ; psychological profile ; quarters ; radiation ; report ; research ; research engineer ; resource ; revulsion ; right ; rind ; Romulans ; Romulan Neutral Zone ; Romulan space ; room ; science ; scientist ; scope ; sensor range ; sentence ; session ; shield ; shuttlecraft ; sitting ; son ; sound ; space ; space cruiser ; space studies ; specialist ; speed ; spring ; standing ; starbase ; Starbase Planet ; star chart ; Starfleet Academy ; strain ; suicide ; suspicion ; sympathy ; Synthococcus novae ; tail ; tape ; teasing ; technology ; text ; thinking ; thought ; Tiburon ; Tiburonian ; tolerance ; tractor beam ; transportation range ; transporter room ; treaty negotiations ; truth ; Typhoid Mary ; ultrasonics ; United Federation of Planets ; voice ; Vulcan ; Vulcan lute ; wagging ; way of living ; weapons ; wheel harp ; whistle ; white ; wish ; word ; year

External links [ ]

  • "The Way to Eden" at StarTrek.com
  • " The Way to Eden " at Memory Beta , the wiki for licensed Star Trek works
  • " The Way to Eden " at Wikipedia
  • " The Way to Eden " at MissionLogPodcast.com , a Roddenberry Star Trek podcast
  • "The Way to Eden" original and remastered screencaps at TrekCore
  • " The Way to Eden " at the Internet Movie Database
  • 2 ISS Enterprise (NCC-1701)
  • Cast & crew
  • User reviews

The Way to Eden

The Way to Eden

  • A group of idealistic hippies, led by an irrational leader, come aboard the U.S.S. Enterprise.
  • The Enterprise is ordered to pursue a group of anti-establishment idealists who have stolen a space cruiser and made off for the mythical planet Eden. When the group pushes their stolen ship beyond its limits, the Enterprise is forced to rescue them by transporting them aboard. This merry band of space-hippies includes an insane leader (Dr. Sevrin), an academy drop-out and former love interest of Chekov (Irina), and the son of a Catullan ambassador (Tongo Rad). With the Federation undergoing fragile treaty negotiations with the Catullans, Kirk is ordered by Starfleet to treat the dissidents with "extreme tolerance." Kirk finds the group and its leader too difficult to deal with while Spock maintains a deep curiosity about their ideals. Kirk appoints Spock as liaison for the group during their stay on the Enterprise. Dr. Sevrin demands to be taken to Eden, but Kirk refuses on the grounds that his orders from Starfleet dictate that the group be taken to the nearest star base. While investigating this strange group of free spirits, Dr. McCoy and Mr. Spock discover that not only is Dr. Sevrin insane, he is also the carrier for a potentially lethal disease. His desire to abandon technology and join the "primitive" inhabitants of planet Eden could well result in their destruction. As a precaution, Dr. Sevrin is quarantined, but Spock agrees to plot a course to the mythical planet of Eden in exchange for his cooperation. Meanwhile, Chekov inadvertently gives away some vital information about auxiliary control to his former classmate, Irina, and she and the rest of the followers soon free Sevrin and hijack the Enterprise. The group takes the Enterprise to Eden (which, to complicate matters, happens to be in Romulan space), establishes orbit and steals a shuttle craft to land on the surface while the Enterprise crew is incapacitated and left to die. But the planet, while as beautiful as any of them imagined, also has a deadly side. — Anonymous
  • The Enterprise intercepts a stolen spacecraft heading directly for Romulan space. Its occupants are six space-age hippies who refuse to accept authority and are unconventional in their thinking. Led by the renowned Dr. Sevrin, they are in search of paradise - the mythical planet Eden. Kirk cannot relate but Spock does and agrees to help locate the planet. Spock also concludes that Sevrin is insane. For Chekov, it's a chance to re-unite with Irina, with whom he was in love while they were students at the Academy. When the travelers manage to take control of the Enterprise, they realize their dream and arrive on Eden, which has surprises of its own. — garykmcd
  • The Enterprise is ordered to pursue a group of anti-establishment idealists who have stolen a space cruiser (the USS Aurora, with 6 occupants on-board) and made off for the mythical planet Eden. When the group pushes their stolen ship beyond its limits, the Enterprise is forced to rescue them by transporting them aboard. This merry band of space-hippies includes an insane leader (Dr. Sevrin (Skip Homeier)), an academy drop-out and former love interest of Chekov (Irina (Mary Linda Rapelye)), and the son of a Catullan ambassador (Tongo Rad (Victor Brandt)). With the Federation undergoing fragile treaty negotiations with the Catullans, Kirk is ordered by Starfleet to treat the dissidents with "extreme tolerance." Kirk finds the group and its leader too difficult to deal with (Sevrin wants to be taken to the planet Eden, while Kirk is under orders to take them to the nearest Starbase) while Spock maintains a deep curiosity about their ideals (that there is a planet named Eden where life originated. Spock says that Sevrin is a research engineer in fields of acoustics, communications & electronics. He is an educated man. He was dismissed from his post when he started this movement. Tango is an expert in space studies). Kirk thinks of them as irresponsible children. Chekov reconnects with Irina. It is evident that Chekov has feelings for Irina and is still haunted by her leaving him suddenly when she dropped out of the academy. Kirk appoints Spock as liaison for the group during their stay on the Enterprise. Dr. Sevrin demands to be taken to Eden, but Kirk refuses on the grounds that his orders from Starfleet dictate that the group be taken to the nearest star base. Sevrin does not recognize the Federation regulations, but Kirk disregards Sevrin on this matter. While investigating this strange group of free spirits, Dr. McCoy and Mr. Spock discover that not only is Dr. Sevrin insane, he is also the carrier for a potentially lethal disease. Humans are immunized against it, but not every species is. McCoy wants Sevrin to be isolated immediately. Sevrin claims he didn't know he was a carrier of this disease. Kirk orders Sevrin's isolation against his wishes. His desire to abandon technology and join the "primitive" inhabitants of planet Eden could well result in their destruction. Spock agrees to plot a course to the mythical planet of Eden in exchange for Sevrin's cooperation. Sevrin claims that his infection is a result of science and advanced tech and hence only the primitives can cure him. But Spock argues that Sevrin's presence will kill the people whom he is trying to find. Meanwhile, Chekov inadvertently gives away some vital information about auxiliary control to his former classmate, Irina (Chekov tells Irina that in the event of damage to the main bridge, the entire ship can be run from Auxiliary control room. Also, the computer banks contain the sum total of all human knowledge and the entire ship can be run by computer orders, even if the people running the ship have no knowledge of what to do. Irina seduces Chekov and they kiss), and she and the rest of the followers soon free Sevrin and hijack the Enterprise. Kirk and Spock try to convince Sevrin's crew that he is a carrier of a deadly disease and that Sevrin is insane, but they would not listen to any of it. The group takes the Enterprise to Eden (which, to complicate matters, happens to be in Romulan space), establishes orbit and steals a shuttle craft to land on the surface while the Enterprise crew is incapacitated (Sevrin changed the circuits and used ultra-sonic frequencies to attack the entire spaceship, allowing him time to escape) and left to die. Irina is worried that the frequencies being used by Sevrin will destroy humans, but Sevrin lies to her that it will only stun them. Rad knows that Sevrin is lying. The frequencies are set to kill. But the planet, while as beautiful as any of them imagined, also has a deadly side. Meanwhile Kirk disables the ultrasonic and puts together a landing party to pursue Sevrin and his crew. Kirk and his landing party determine that the entire vegetation on the planet is full of acid. They find Sevrin injured (his legs burnt by the acid in the grass) but he refuses to leave the planet, eats a fruit (which was also poisonous) and dies, but rescue the rest of his ragtag band and bring them back to the Enterprise and get the hell out of Romulan space.

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Doux Reviews

Star Trek: The Way to Eden

star trek the way to eden

8 comments:

star trek the way to eden

A little programming note: Ben P. Duck and I both had a lot to do this fall, and the last few Star Trek reviews had to wait. But they're now done, and all of them will go up before the new year.

Watching this episode as a 10 year old boy in 1970 I always thought there was something profound about this episode that I was missing as just a kid. Looking back on it now I realized that nope, I wasn't missing a think. This was a stinker, even worse than "Spock's Brain" which I always considered the worst!

OK, it's tidbit time - the original story, if not the first draft, came from the pen/typewriter of D.C. Fontana herself, although she wound up putting her pen name ("Michael Richards" on it). And the Irina character was originally supposed to be Dr. McCoy's daughter Joanna; indeed, the working title of the episode was "Joanna". Kirk was supposed to get into a, um, relationship with her too, which would have caused great consternation to the good Doctor. Unfortunately, Fred Freiberger, the 3rd season producer, felt that McCoy was too close to Kirk's age to have an adult daughter. Skip Homeier (who played Sevrin) also played Melancon in the Nazi episode. He should have fired his agent for putting him into two of the worst TOS episodes of all. I reach, brother. ;)

It's amusing, in hindsight, to compare books and notes too - back in the 1970's, when "Star Trek Lives" came out, Nimoy basically ruined what reputation Freiberger had, placing the blame for the third season woes squarely on ol' Fred's shoulders. Twenty years later, Shatner's "Star Trek Memories" features an interview with Freiberger and Bill had some laudatory things to say about ol' Fred. Then came the Justman/Solow "Inside Star Trek", which explains the disparity of opinions - Bill and Leonard were feuding, as was so often the case, over who the star of the show was. Freiberger eventually forced the issue by calling a meeting between the three of them and Roddenberry, and Gene was forced to state that Bill Shatner was the star of the show. Nimoy never forgave Freiberger for that, and that explains his comments in "Star Trek Lives".

star trek the way to eden

I genuinely didn't mind it. It is the only ep I am sure I have never seen before and I think it had plenty going for it (apart from the ears that looked like giant genital warts, the songs, the costumes, and the overtones of the Manson Family Meets The Brady Family Singers). I didn't even mind being hit over the head with biblical references and I adored Spock's open mind. What a champion!

tinkapuss, I am so loving your comments. Genital warts. Lol.

star trek the way to eden

I enjoyed this episode, the jam session and music was cool. they worked with what they had in those days. I think that I watched the original episodes on TV, or first reruns on CBS. It was on 6PM sunday nights along with Lawrence Welk, 'world of Disney', and 'How Come?' kids science tv show. cheers

star trek the way to eden

The part that has stuck in my mind the most over all these years was them finding out that despite how lovely their Eden looked, the vegetation was deadly. Not a fan of this one overall, (and Tinkapuss's genital wart ear comment made me lol), but as you both point out, Billie and Ben, it once again had sound ideas to build on, but they made a mess out of that foundation. We will always have folks that want to get away from our reliance on technology, and the more advanced the technology, the more stark the differences will be, so having the Star Trek level of scientific progress means those wanting to have a simple life (at least how they define it), will come off even more regressive than today!

We love comments! We moderate because of spam and trolls, but don't let that stop you! It’s never too late to comment on an old show, but please don’t spoil future episodes for newbies.

star trek the way to eden

Star Trek : "Requiem For Methuselah"/"Way To Eden"

I wouldn't mind living forever. Despite all those  Twilight Zone  episodes about the dreariness of immortality, I, personally, would be willing to take the risk of boredom and despair ten thousand years down the line, if that meant not having to be dead. I imagine most people would. Generally, fiction that deals with excessively long life tries to convince us that this is the wrong choice. You have the occasional pro-immortality piece (I always thought Neil Gaiman had the right idea of it in  Sandman:  no major revelations, just existence prolonged with all its minor triumphs and loss), but mostly, writers are heavily invested in convincing us that death is natural and therefore desirable. Maybe undertakers have a very strong lobby, I dunno, but "natural" to my way of thinking doesn't invariably mean "necessary."

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"Requiem For Methuselah" would disagree with this. Well, all right, it's a fifty minute episode of a forty years gone television show, it doesn't really get much in the way of active verb sentences. But the seemingly immortal Flint has definitely developed some issues as a result of being kept long past his expiration date. He bought a planet (I love how casually this is mentioned, as if buying planets that could support life were the sort of thing you'd expect from any reasonably well-off gentleman) just so he could avoid the company of others, and when Kirk, Spock, and McCoy beam down, he's not very happy about the surprise visit. The  Enterprise  has caught a bad case of Rigelian fever, and they're short on ryetalyn, the only known cure. Thankfully, Flint's planet is loaded with the stuff, and after some very heated debating, he gives in to their demands and offers to send his robot probe, M-4, to collect the plague-stopping chemical while the others come back to Flint's place and, y'know, hang out and stuff.

For an apparent hermit with no recorded history, Flint's amassed an impressive art collection, from a series of unknown Da Vinci's painted on modern canvases with modern materials, to a new Brahms' waltz written in fresh ink. But the jewel of his collection is a young woman named Rayna. Cultured, beautiful, intelligent, and charmingly naive, Rayna makes an immediate impression Kirk, and she on him. So, while the rest of his crew on the ship is battling sickness and waiting desperately for a cure, Kirk starts seducing the ward of his barely tolerant host. Spock's getting suspicious, though. What's with all the fresh/old art? And his suspicions are confirmed when McCoy's sensor reading on Flint reveals Flint to be somewhere in the area of really, really old.

There was discussion last week about my "soft" grading for this season of  Trek , and I won't deny that. I'm not trying to create some kind of textbook perfect scale here. Unless an episode is particularly horrible or particularly good, I'm more interested in working out the oddities and making cheap jokes. I start each ep assuming it's in the B/B+ area, and then adjust accordingly. So "Requiem" started off okay for me. There's a certain level of improbability you have to swallow here, that the  Enterprise  would get hit by a virus that gives them a very specific timetable to survive, and that the only cure for that virus would be found in substantial quantities on a nearby planet that just happens to have a human immortal who just happened to have been born on Earth. A less charitable person than myself would also point out that the Rigelian subplot is the worst kind of MacGuffin, one that seems deathly important when first introduced but becomes arbitrary and perfunctory as soon as is deemed narratively convenient.

I'm willing to look past that, though, especially in the third season. But "Requiem" kept disrespecting my goodwill. Again we have an episode where the audience is always a few steps ahead of the cast, and those few times it did manage to surprise me where more ridiculous than thrilling. That Flint just happens to have been Leonard Da Vinci and Brahms and a bunch of other famous guys is absurd, and needless, especially considering his explanation about how he had to learn quickly to not let his "special" nature become public. Right, so you live forever, and the best way to conceal that is to keep being insanely famous and influential. Some super genius. Also, for someone who's spent such a terribly long time watching people be people, he doesn't really understand humans very well. (Tip: Ordering someone who doesn't like you like that to stop caring for another man will  never  work out in your favor.)

Not to mention the ridiculously blase explanation for his immortality—apparently, he's just really good at healing. That's it. I'm a little torn on this one, because it's so bald-faced and unconcerned that I kind of like it. When there's no possible reasonable explanation for a situation, bluffing can work as well in fiction as it can in poker, depending on how straight-faced it's delivered. That neither Kirk, McCoy, nor Spock question this discovery goes a long way towards making it work. Still, it seems like a lost opportunity for something more clever than "I was born this way." (Admittedly, the episode justifies Flint's extraordinary abilities as a result of his longevity, but I'm not sure I'm buying. Bill Murray was a pretty great piano player after all those   Groundhog Day lessons, but he wasn't a master composer just because he had a lot more time on his hands.)

What really killed "Requiem" for me, apart from Flint's inconsistencies and the story's familiar  Forbidden Planet  parallels, was how much it had to betray Kirk's essential nature in order to justify its story. We've seen Kirk falling for beautiful women, and them falling for him in turn. You can make jokes about it, but it's an established element of the show's mythology. But here, we're supposed to believe that Kirk is so instantly and irrevocably smitten with Rayna (an android Flint built to be the perfect woman) that he's willing to put his ship and the lives of everyone aboard at risk. Despite Spock's repeated warnings, Kirk flirts with Rayna, pursues her, and then demands she leave with them, because he can't bear to see how Flint treats her. He's known this girl less than four hours, and he's so blinded by love (to put it charitably) that he loses the sense of duty that has been his strongest single characteristic since the first episode? I'm not buying that.

And it's too bad, because as others have noted, the final scene could've been moving if it had had a stronger foundation to rest on. Spock uses his mental powers to erase Kirk's memory of Rayna, sort of a one-time only Lacuna, Inc. treatment. It's a beautiful idea—Spock's outsider status doesn't just mean making snappy comments and having to clean up after the stupidity of his co-workers, it also gives him the responsibility of total observation, of holding onto memories that others would rather let go. McCoy lectures him on his inability to feel love, but that final gesture is definitive proof otherwise. (As if we needed it.) Were it not for the absurdity of Kirk's grief, this could've been a series highlight. Instead, it's a brief blip in an otherwise forgettable ep.

Still, forgettable isn't necessarily the worst thing. At least there aren't any space hippies. "The Way To Eden" is one of the notorious season three episodes that's hard to view straight, partly because it's been a punch-line for  Trek  fans for years, and partly because SPACE HIPPIES. It's gets ugly when popular culture tries to address a sub-culture it doesn't entirely understand. Regular hippies can be annoying enough, but the goofy nutjobs we see here are like a photocopy of a parody of an idea. A really tedious idea that keeps  singing . Oh man. I was doing okay until the songs started happening. That about killed me.

"Eden"'s premise should be familiar to anyone who's seen  Star Trek V.  (Yeah, seriously, if that doesn't give you a chill, you are made of stone. Or else you haven't actually seen  Star Trek V , which means you are made of something significantly smarter than stone.) A small cult of true believers gets on the  Enterprise —Kirk has to treat them well because one of them is the son of an ambassador—and that cult is determined to use the ship to help them on their quest. They're disillusioned with modern life, with all its computers and sterility and insistence on bathing, and they're trying to find their way back to where it all started, the very first planet, Eden.

Given how generally perfect the future of  Star Trek  seems to be, I will give "Eden" this much: it gives us a dissenting voice in Utopia. That that voice comes out from the touring cast of  Hair  damages its credibility somewhat, but the fact that Spock adds his support is hard to ignore. Spock has always been the sanest person on the ship, and to have him come out in favor of a bunch of trippy sland spouting airheads creates an odd dramatic tension. We see Dr. Sevrin and his motley band of morons babbling along, and then we hear Spock calmly defending their cause, and suddenyl, you've got to take the dolts seriously. Obviously they have problems, and their dress sense could use some work (but then, it's not like freaky costumes are a rarity on the show), but maybe there's something to their yearning for a new beginning, a freer, purer home. Maybe they  aren't  just a group of spoiled morons who use the pretense of idealism in order to distract from their essential wounded selfishness.

Still, there is all that singing. (From character actor Charles Napier! Playing an instrument that in no way could make the sounds it's supposed to be making.) While I appreciate the contrast between the space hippies appearance and Spock's calm, rational assessment of their goal, the group is too strange and irritating for me to view them sympathetically. Kirk is stuck as the straight man for once, as none of the hippie girls fall for him, and as funny as it is to hear people call him Herbert, we're firmly in Kirk's corner. Plus, even Spock admits that Sevrin is insane. He's a carrier of a virus that could kill the perfect world he yearns for, and he refuses to accept this. Kirk throws him in the brig, but the hippies spring into action, distracting and seducing the crew, and ultimately stealing the  Enterprise  so they can find their way to their precious destination.

The crew seduction never goes anywhere; even Chekov is able to resist his old girlfriend's advances. Sevrin has to knock everybody out with a sonic device that should be fatal, only Kirk is just too badass to die. It's all a set-up for one of other parts of "Eden" I honestly liked: the hippies steal a shuttlecraft to visit their new home, and it nearly kills them. All the vegetation is poisonous and highly acidic. Nothing can be touched, nothing can be eaten. Spock tells the surviving cultists that he hopes they continue their search, but I like to think that this place really was Eden, and that when God kicked Adam and Eve out the door, He made damn sure they wouldn't be able to sneak back in.

Really, I would've been a lot more patient with this one if it weren't for the songs. The action stops cold every time Napier picks up his whatever-the-hell-it-is and starts warbling. I think Sevrin's quest is foolishly naive, and the condescending emptiness of his followers is nearly intolerable, but at least those have something to do with a story. At least all the "Herbert" crap has a point. The singing is just the worst kind of padding, and it burns more than a few Edenic bushes ever could.

"Requiem For Methuselah": C

"The Way To Eden": C-

Stray Observations:

  • "That's now, that's the real now!" Ahh, it's like poetry.
  • I did like the explanation that Flint was already dying when Kirk and the others met him. It explains why he looked fairly old for somebody with perfect cellular regeneration.
  • Irina tells Chekov, "Be incorrect… occasionally." Oh sister, he is way, way ahead of you.
  • So, how about you—you wanna live forever?
  • Next week, it's "The Cloud Minders" and "The Savage Curtain"
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star trek the way to eden

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Recap / Star Trek S3 E20 "The Way to Eden"

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Original air date: February 21, 1969

Kirk and the Enterprise are in hot pursuit of the stolen spaceship Aurora . The Aurora isn't giving up easily and leads them on a high speed chase. The cruiser's engines become strained from the chase and the whole thing goes ka-blooey! Fortunately (or not), Scotty manages to beam aboard the six miscreants before the cruiser explodes.

The six spaceship jackers are a group of young idealists in search of the mythical planet Eden and led by the brilliant but insane engineer Dr. Sevrin. Among them are Tongo Rad, the son of a Catullan ambassador ( which prevents Kirk from simply throwing them all in the brig ), Adam ( Charles Napier ), who mostly sings Protest Songs , and Irina Galliulin , a New Old Flame of Chekov's.

Kirk wants to bring this group to the nearest starbase, but of course they have other ideas. They've come up with a Zany Scheme involving pressure points, ultrasonic sound waves, the Galileo , and a musical hubcap.

The Way to Tropes:

  • Actual Pacifist : Tongo Rad and Irinia briefly balk at Sevrin's plan to use sound waves to knock out everyone but them, noting that ultrasonics have the potential to cause harm, but he assures them he'll be careful.
  • Alien Food Is Edible : It's really, really not. The "apples" are so acidic that a single bite can kill.
  • All Planets Are Earthlike : A planet that was technically habitable (right sunlight and air quality), but all the flora secreted a deadly acid, and the fruit was lethal.
  • Artistic License – Botany : Flowers would not form on a planet unless they were meant to attract pollinators. Flowers require a fair amount of resources and water to develop and maintain. One might make a similar argument about the fruit, except that some fruits disperse seeds via exploding fleshy capsules.
  • Bald of Evil : Dr. Sevrin.
  • Belief Makes You Stupid : The hippies' belief that Planet Eden existed and that it was a perfect place leads to Adam and Sevrin's death by alien fruit and painful injuries for the others.
  • Beware the Silly Ones : Sevrin and his followers go from being a nuisance singing nonsense music to knocking out everyone on the ship and taking control. Kirk should've really had a talk with security after this fiasco.
  • Contemplate Our Navels : The space hippies are into the philosophy of "One", from which all is derived, and seek to return to the beginning. You reach?
  • Culture Clash : Starfleet may only be Mildly Military , but still military enough to seriously clash with the way of life and the attitudes of the space hippies. Ironically, Spock of all people is the crew member who has the least problems dealing with them. Adam, in particular really takes a liking to Spock.
  • Deconstruction : A rather anvilicious one, of idealistic societies framed outside accepted social norms. A blatant Take That! at hippies.
  • Didn't Think This Through : Picking the first vaguely Earthlike planet you stumble across to settle and going down with no supplies or equipment whatsoever, then going barefoot and eating random plants? Bad idea, it turns out.
  • Dramatic Irony / Foreshadowing : One of Adam's songs, early in the episode, proclaims proudly that he is "gonna live, not die". In the one he sings just as the group prepare to land on "Eden", he declares that he will "eat all the fruit and throw away the rind". After arriving, he does indeed eat a fruit... and he dies, he doesn't live.
  • Driven to Suicide : Dr. Sevrin had to have known the fruit was poisonous, but he was so distraught that he indirectly caused one of his followers' death he just didn't care.
  • Evil Luddite : Dr. Sevrin. And wouldn't you know it? He's a carrier for a disease that makes it dangerous for him to visit any world that isn't sufficiently scientifically advanced.
  • False Utopia : Eden, as the plants turn out to be acidic, and the fruit is poisonous.
  • Flowers of Nature : You can't have hippies without them! Irina wears violets in her hair. Sevrin has a daisy painted on his bald head. Body artist George Barr did body painting for all the hippies.
  • Foreshadowing : Spock's sensors indicate a total lack of animal life on Eden. Turns out that all of the vegetation on the planet is toxic and acidic.
  • And if you don't like it, you're a total Herbert!
  • That Vulcan instrument in Spock's quarters is real now!
  • Good Is Old-Fashioned : Sevrin believes this.
  • Gotta Get Your Head Together : Dr. Sevrin uses ultrasonics to stun the Enterprise crew. Even The Spock can't bear the pain and Kirk mimes turning his head into a Large Ham sandwich.
  • The one Red Shirt assigned to watch Sevrin gets too caught up in listening to music to do his job. Meanwhile, nobody else is bothering to keep an eye on the other hippies.
  • "Eden" turns out to be located in Romulan space, which naturally worries the hell out of Kirk after Sevrin and company take over; before beaming down, he tells Scotty to try and explain the situation if they show up * because that would clearly go SPECTACULARLY well — "Sorry, laddies, it wasn't our fault; our ship was hijacked by hippies!" . Somehow, though, the Romulans — who usually show up to surround the Enterprise the moment they stray into the Neutral Zone, and who would probably love to get their hands on Kirk after " The Enterprise Incident " — never show up. Presumably, everyone at the border monitoring stations was on break that day or something.
  • Irina and Tongo Rad, both who used to be Star Fleet students, express concerns over Sevrin setting the speakers on a certain frequency, remembering their studies on high ultrasonic frequencies being fatal to humanoid life forms. They shrug off their concerns in favor of reaching “Eden”.
  • Ignored Expert : Spock tells the hippies (who've stolen a shuttlecraft) that Sevrin is both dangerously ill and insane, even telling to them to look up Starfleet's files on him. Unfortunately, by this point no one's listening.
  • Literary Allusion Title : Gene Roddenberry may have been a proud atheist (if not antitheist), but he was fond of alluding to themes from The Bible .
  • Make Some Noise : Sevrin uses an ultrasonic tone to knock out everyone on the Enterprise so the hippies can make their getaway.
  • Meaningful Name : The Space Hippie who ate the deadly fruit was named Adam. Also, the name "Irina" means "Peaceful". Good name for a hippie chick.
  • My God, What Have I Done? : It’s implied by Sevrin’s expression that he realized he led his group to a dangerous and uninhabitable planet that resulted in the death of one in their group.
  • New-Age Retro Hippie : Well, hippies weren't retro when the episode first aired!
  • New Old Flame : Irina, one of the hippies, is an old girlfriend of Chekov's, whom he's never mentioned before and will never mention again.
  • Out-of-Character Moment : Chekov's character (which in the original story, was meant to have been Kirk's character) is portrayed in this episode as a rigid, rule-quoting straight arrow, in contrast to the writers' initial concept of the character as a younger, less authoritarian character who might appeal to teenage viewers. Walter Koenig has called the episode "badly written" partly because of this. He also called this episode the low point of his character's tenure on the show.
  • Pressure Point : Spock isn't the only one who can neck pinch! Tongo Rad used his knowledge of human anatomy to knock out an Enterprise crewman by squeezing the nerve pressure point at the back of the jaw, just under the earlobe ( Truth in Television , though it causes great pain and delayed unconsciousness rather than instant).
  • Protest Song : Adam's raison d'etre, and he plays a bunch of them on an odd-looking guitar-stick thingy.
  • Ragtag Bunch of Misfits : The Space Hippies see themselves as this. Spock sympathizes with their feeling of not being able to fit in, and is much more tolerant of them than Kirk is, which is why they take an immediate shine to Spock and immediately distrust and dislike Kirk. Spock : Miss Galliulin... it is my sincere wish that you do not give up your search for Eden. I have no doubt but that you will find it, or make it yourselves.
  • Recycled Soundtrack :
  • Rhymes on a Dime : That Adam's a real character. Adam: Gonna crack my knuckles and jump for joy; I got a clean bill of health from Dr. McCoy !
  • Secretly Selfish : Sevrin is the carrier for a deadly disease which endangers the lives of those around him unless he's in a controlled environment, which he refuses because he hates technology. He hasn't told his fellow hippies, with whom he travels in close quarters with and hangs out about this little problem. His search for Eden is also implied to be more motivated by his desire to get away from technology than the "return to the beginning" the others seek.
  • Some Kind of Force Field : Protects the door to the isolation cell that holds Dr. Sevrin.
  • Soundtrack Dissonance : In an especially eerie moment, once Dr. Sevrin and the hippies have control of the ship and have knocked everyone else out, Adam plays one of his upbeat little folk songs... as we pan across all the unconscious crew members.
  • They re-use the footage of Nurse Chapel being knocked out from " Spock's Brain " at the beginning of the season. That's why the lights go out in that shot whereas they don't anywhere else in the scene.
  • A brief shot of the surface of Eden is reused footage of the lakeside from " Shore Leave ". A shot of the surface of Gamma Trianguli VI from " The Apple " is also recycled and used in the same scene.
  • Strange Salute : The Space Hippies greet people by making an oval with their fingers; the future equivalent of the peace hand sign of the 60s. The oval is also seen in the ceramic egg-shaped pins they each wear. The egg represents their philosophy of "One," which Spock understands, as these people "seek the beginning".
  • Subculture of the Week : Hippies IN SPACE!
  • Want to live in an ideal society outside the established norm, hippies? Too bad, it will turn out to be a dystopia all along.
  • The insult "Herbert" was apparently aimed at a real-life person, but it's still unknown exactly who. The most common theory is that the show's former production executive, Herbert F. Solow was the target, though others have suggested it was Herbert Hoover .
  • Temporary Substitute : Uhura doesn't appear in this episode, her duties assumed by Lt. Palmer, played by Elizabeth Rogers.
  • That Reminds Me of a Song : We spend quite a lot of time with Adam singing his songs.
  • Too Dumb to Live : "Well, here I am on an unexplored planet! What will I do first? I know! I'll eat this fruit about which I know absolutely nothing!" Especially since the fruit tree is so far from the shuttlecraft that Adam must have been able to see and hear the others getting their feet burned by the grass.
  • Tractor Beam : The Enterprise tries to take the stolen ship in tow with a tractor beam.
  • Typhoid Mary : Dr. Sevrin, carrier of the Synthecoccus novae bacterium who was crazy more than he was malicious. While the episode had no reported infections, having to isolate him to ensure that did really tick off his followers.
  • Utopia Justifies the Means : Reaching Eden justifies killing everybody on the Enterprise .
  • Well-Intentioned Extremist : Dr. Sevrin and company see themselves as such.
  • You Fool! : Kirk shouts this as Sevrin takes a bite out of the poisoned fruit. (Incidentally, the image of him yelling this is obviously flipped. His insignia is on his right instead of his left.)
  • You're Insane! : A line that's blunt even for Spock. Spock (to Kirk): Dr. Sevrin is... insane.
  • Star Trek S3 E19 "Requiem for Methuselah"
  • Recap/Star Trek: The Original Series
  • Star Trek S3 E21 "The Cloud Minders"

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The Way to Eden

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"The Way to Eden" was the 75th episode of Star Trek: The Original Series , the 20th episode of the show's third and final season , first aired on 21 February 1969 . The episode was written by Michael Richards & Arthur Heinemann MA , directed by David Alexander MA and novelized in Star Trek 5 by James Blish . A remastered version of this episode was aired in syndication, premiering on 14 June 2008 .

  • 1.1.1 Episode characters
  • 1.1.2 Novelization characters
  • 1.2 Starships and vehicles
  • 1.3 Locations
  • 1.4 Races and cultures
  • 1.5.1 Technology and weapons
  • 1.5.2 Materials and substances
  • 1.6 States and organizations
  • 1.7 Ranks and titles
  • 1.8 Other references
  • 2.1.1 Adaptations
  • 2.1.2 Video releases
  • 2.2.1 Adaptation images
  • 2.2.2 Episode images
  • 2.3.1.1 Translations
  • 2.4 External links

References [ ]

Characters [ ], episode characters [ ], novelization characters [ ], starships and vehicles [ ], locations [ ], races and cultures [ ], science and classification [ ], technology and weapons [ ], materials and substances [ ], states and organizations [ ], ranks and titles [ ], other references [ ], appendices [ ], related media [ ].

  • Information about this episodes production and references are consistent in the 20th century versions of this work. The 21st century Star Trek Encyclopedia also relates material about this episode.

Adaptations [ ]

Novelization in Star Trek 5.

Video releases [ ]

DVD release in TOS season 3.

Adaptation images [ ]

The USS Enterprise.

Episode images [ ]

Irina Galliulin.

Connections [ ]

Timeline [ ], translations [ ], external links [ ].

  • " The Way to Eden " article at Memory Alpha , the wiki for canon Star Trek .
  • The Way to Eden article at Wikipedia , the free encyclopedia.
  • ↑ The character of Clifford Brent was not named in the episode but the same actor, wearing an officer 's Starfleet uniform , was addressed as Brent in TOS episode : " The Naked Time ". The same actor also played the character of Vinci .
  • 1 ISS Enterprise (NCC-1701)
  • 3 Odyssey class

The Way To Eden Stardate: 5832.3 Original Airdate: 21 Feb, 1969

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IMAGES

  1. Star Trek: 'The way to Eden'

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  2. Star Trek Episode 75: The Way to Eden

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  3. "The Way To Eden" (S3:E20) Star Trek: The Original Series Screencaps

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  4. "The Way To Eden" (S3:E20) Star Trek: The Original Series Screencaps

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  5. "The Way To Eden" (S3:E20) Star Trek: The Original Series Screencaps

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  6. "The Way To Eden" (S3:E20) Star Trek: The Original Series Screencaps

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VIDEO

  1. ✌️Heading Out To Eden-1969-Star Trek- Cover ✌️ (description) 🎸

  2. Eden* Visual Novel Gameplay Walkthrough

  3. The Way To Eden

  4. The Musical Hippies of Star Trek: Our Hilarious First-Time Reaction (S3E20)

  5. Star Trek Resurgence

  6. Star Trek Discovery S5E02 (Under The Twin Moons) Live Discussion

COMMENTS

  1. "Star Trek" The Way to Eden (TV Episode 1969)

    The Way to Eden: Directed by David Alexander. With William Shatner, Leonard Nimoy, DeForest Kelley, Skip Homeier. A group of idealistic hippies, led by an irrational leader, come aboard the U.S.S. Enterprise.

  2. The Way to Eden

    "The Way to Eden" is the twentieth episode of the third season of the American science fiction television series Star Trek. The episode was written by Arthur Heinemann, based on a story by Heinemann and D. C. Fontana (using the pen name "Michael Richards"). It was directed by David Alexander, and first broadcast on February 21, 1969.. In the episode, the Enterprise is hijacked by a hippie-like ...

  3. The Way to Eden (episode)

    The Enterprise picks up a group of renegades who have rejected modern technological life to search for the mythical planet Eden. The USS Enterprise intercepts the Aurora, a stolen space cruiser. The crew of the craft attempt to run away, but the engines overheat and the vessel is destroyed. Moments before the explosion, Scott is able to beam them safely aboard. There, the thieves are revealed ...

  4. "Star Trek" The Way to Eden (TV Episode 1969)

    Find out who directed, wrote, produced, and starred in the Star Trek episode The Way to Eden, aired in 1969. See the full list of cast and crew members, including William Shatner, Leonard Nimoy, DeForest Kelley, and more.

  5. "Star Trek" The Way to Eden (TV Episode 1969)

    A classic Star Trek episode from 1969, where the Enterprise crew helps a group of idealistic hippies who want to go to Eden, a mythical planet in Romulan space. The leader of the hippies, Dr. Sevrin, is an insane carrier of a lethal disease and the Enterprise crew has to face a surprise on the surface of Eden.

  6. Lessons Learned on 'The Way To Eden'

    A 55th anniversary review of the classic episode that explores the dangers of blind faith and the value of mercy. Find out how the crew of the Enterprise dealt with a cult seeking a mythical paradise and what we can learn from their experience.

  7. Star Trek, The Original Series, S3 E20 "The Way to Eden" (1969

    Dave and Jeff Mader with their Dad, Ted Mader, and along with Jody Simpson, have rewatched Star Trek: The Original Series, S3 E20 "The Way to Eden" (1969), a...

  8. Star Trek

    The Way to Eden, unlike the vast majority of Star Trek episodes, questioned and challenged the benefits and superiority of the technocomputerised universe put into place by the supposedly utopian United Federation of Planets. Spock's position as ally to the space hippies, against a fairly unattractive Kirk, strengthened and, to some extent ...

  9. The Way to Eden

    "The Way to Eden" was the 75th episode of Star Trek: The Original Series, the 20th episode of the show's third and final season, first aired on 21 February 1969. The episode was written by Michael Richards & Arthur Heinemann, directed by David Alexander and novelized in Star Trek 5 by James Blish.

  10. The Way to Eden

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  11. "The Way to Eden"

    Jammer pans "The Way to Eden" as a silly and misconceived episode about 23rd-century hippies in space. He criticizes the characterization, the plot, the message, and the musical numbers of this season 3 installment.

  12. Star Trek: The Way to Eden

    Star Trek: The Way to Eden. by Billie Doux. "They hunger for an Eden where spring comes." I love the original series. I really, truly do. Star Trek changed science fiction on television in a huge way, and gave us a string of classic episodes that have been often imitated but never duplicated, not to mention all of the spinoffs and movies.

  13. The Way to Eden

    The Way to Eden. The crew of the U.S.S. Enterprise is sent on a mission to intercept a mysterious starship that is dragging a comet behind it like a massive tail. It is soon revealed that the starship, known as the S.S. Beagle, is piloted by a group of free-spirited hippies.

  14. Star Trek: "Requiem For Methuselah"/"Way To Eden"

    Cultured, beautiful, intelligent, and charmingly naive, Rayna makes an immediate impression Kirk, and she on him. So, while the rest of his crew on the ship is battling sickness and waiting ...

  15. The Way to Eden

    "The Way to Eden" is the twentieth episode of the third season of the American science fiction television series Star Trek. The episode was written by Arthur Heinemann, based on a story by Heinemann and D. C. Fontana. It was directed by David Alexander, and first broadcast on February 21, 1969.

  16. Star Trek S3 E20 "The Way to Eden" / Recap

    Star Trek S3 E20 "The Way to Eden". Dr. Sevrin (the bald man in front) and his followers. "I reach that, brother; I really do!" Original air date: February 21, 1969. Kirk and the Enterprise are in hot pursuit of the stolen spaceship Aurora. The Aurora isn't giving up easily and leads them on a high speed chase.

  17. The Way to Eden

    The Way to Eden. Available on Paramount+ with SHOWTIME, Prime Video, iTunes, Paramount+. S3 E20: A charismatic leader and his followers hijack the Enterprise in their search for "Eden." Sci-Fi Feb 21, 1969 48 min. TV-PG.

  18. The Way to Eden

    "The Way to Eden" was the 75th episode of Star Trek: The Original Series, the 20th episode of the show's third and final season, first aired on 21 February 1969. The episode was written by Michael Richards & Arthur HeinemannMA, directed by David AlexanderMA and novelized in Star Trek 5 by James Blish. A remastered version of this episode was aired in syndication, premiering on 14 June 2008 ...

  19. The Star Trek Transcripts

    The Star Trek Transcripts - The Way To Eden. The Way To Eden Stardate: 5832.3 Original Airdate: 21 Feb, 1969. [Bridge] (A small craft, which looks like a Tholian dart with small nacelles, is being pursued by the Enterprise) SPOCK: It is definitely the stolen space cruiser, Captain, the Aurora. I read six aboard.

  20. Episode Preview: The Way to Eden

    Watch a sneak peek of the classic Star Trek episode The Way to Eden, where the Enterprise encounters a cult of peaceful hippies. Find out how Kirk and Spock deal with this unusual situation and the threat of a hidden enemy.

  21. Star Trek: The Way to Eden: Dr. Sevrin

    As Captain Kirk and Mr. Spock encounter the crew of a stolen starship, it becomes clear they are an offbeat collection of, well, anti-authority "space hippie...

  22. Star Trek: The Way to Eden (1969): Dr. Sevrin: A Life!

    The great Dr. Sevrin (Skip Homeier) manages, in his impassioned declamations of his ideals and goals (and with his subsequent cagey claims to "talk to his pe...

  23. The Way To Eden

    The Enterprise is host to some unruly guests - space hippies in search of planetary paradise. Kirk has trouble maintaining order amongst the visitors,…

  24. Elinor Donahue Played An Unseen Second Role In Star Trek's ...

    In the "Star Trek" episode "Metamorphosis" (November 10, 1967), an important dignitary named Commissioner Nancy Hedford (Elinor Donohue) is being transported to the U.S.S. Enterprise to undergo a ...

  25. Die Reise nach Eden

    Die Reise nach Eden (Originaltitel: The Way to Eden) ist die 20.Episode der dritten Staffel der Science-Fiction-Fernsehserie Raumschiff Enterprise.Sie wurde in englischer Sprache erstmals am 21. Februar 1969 bei NBC ausgestrahlt. In Deutschland war sie zum ersten Mal am 30. Mai 1988 in einer synchronisierten Fassung bei Sat.1 zu sehen, nachdem das ZDF sie bei der deutschen Erstausstrahlung der ...