Where No Man Has Gone Before - Scary?

[Superman]

*SPOILERS FOR THOSE THAT HAVEN'T SEEN THE EPISODE*

I, personally, consider "Where No Man Has Gone Before" to be perhaps the scariest Trek episode ever produced. I wondered if anyone else shared that view. In this episode, the Enterprise passes through a mysterious barrier, which affects two crew members, Lt. Gary Mitchell and Dr. Elizabeth Dehner. Both slowly beging to develop psychic powers, and undergo a metamorphosis.

The scary thing about the episode is the metamorphosis that Lt. Gary Mitchell and Dr. Elizabeth Dehner undergo. As they become more and more powerful, the viewer feels unease. What's worse is that these aren't two random beings that Kirk has come across, but his friends, his crew. And he has to do something to stop them, whatever it takes. Who would want to be in such a situation?

The episode is very realistic, realistic in the sense that if such a thing were to happen, it's possible that people would become drunk on power, and would become uncontrollable. Any one of us could misuse power if we were given it. That's what I found particularly scary about the episode, how two ordinary crew members became uncontrollable beings, beings who thought themselves superior, and who became very arrogant and very dangerous.

Has anyone else seen this episode? What did you think of it?



[Topic title edited]

[La Forge]

I have just seen in recently. One of the best TOS episodes. It is scary. I completely agree with what you said. Mitchell was pretty darned scary in that episode...

[Superman]

Was that the first time you watched it? I first saw it in the 80s, but it still scares me now.

[La Forge]

I've actually seen the episode twice, both times...were...last week, I believe.

[Superman]

Definitely scarier than any Borg episode, in my opinion.

[La Forge]

Yeah...they are your friends. They look the same. They still have...personalities, in a way, I suppose...its...like an evil form of your friends...scary...

[Superman]

The scariest aspect for me was the fact that neither Mitchell or Dehner were evil, they were just victims of circumstances. Kirk had no choice but to try and stop them, but he was having to go against two human beings who were not truly evil, and who could not help what they had become.

[Brightstar82]

I wouldnt really say it was a scary episode just rather creepy. Like when that electric Bolt struck Mitchell then all of a sudden his eyes went weird and he was able to see peoples thoughts and make objects move that was a bit creepy. That was a really great ep though

[Superman]

Any other comments on this episode? We must have more TOS fans here, surely.

[Slash_Gordon]

Yeah.. scary! Especially, how their eyes glowed, and their voices were louder than normal people when they talked.

[Mrs. Vulcan]

When I first saw this episode as a kid, it terrified me. But even so, I still sat watching the following week for more. I loved the series.

Hubby and I have recently bought TOS Season 1 and 2, and will be purchasing 3 in a couple of months. I've watched it a couple of times over the last weeks, and you're right, it's still unnerving to watch their eyes.

And to think that someone who was once your friend could turn on you like Gary did to Kirk... you could see on the characters expression that they were frightened.... of course, Spock hid it well

[Za Za Zoom]

Gary was not truly evil and he was far more creepy than the generic monsters and superbeings of the week that populated TOS. And is it me or do the sets, props and uniforms in "Where No Man Has Gone Before" look much better than the production values for rest of the series? The directing and camera angles were pretty dynamic as well.