For those of you Sherlock and/or Benedict Cumberbatch fans who are suddenly feeling panicky because you think, 'OMG I have no idea what Star Trek is about, OMG there's so much of it, how can I wade through it all before the next Star Trek 2 film is out, so that I'll know what Benedict's character is going on about,' have no fear. Don't panic. (July 2012 addendum re Benedict's supposed part)
I've put together a quick list of episodes and films to watch before the opening day, so that you'll be able to get what they're going on about. And no, this is not merely a list of my favourites. Also, I have no idea what the next film is going to be about, so apologies if I fail to mention an episode that ends up being really relevant.
1. Basic Premise
We are in the 23rd century. After three world wars (yes, three) and a few other nasties like the eugenics war (genetically altered superhumans battling for world domination), Earth is united and humankind has made it to the stars. On starships, which run on dilithium crystals, and can do warp drive so that the ships can travel to other solar systems. There's also this travelling technique called transporters which scramble your molecules, transport them great distances in a flash and re-assemble you back together again at your destination. This is what they mean by 'beam me up' somewhere or 'beam you into' somewhere. This was so that the ship doesn't have to land on a planet each week (which is expensive for the studio). In effect, with the transporter you're decimated and reconstituted each time you travel, but no matter. They also use communicators which strangely look a lot like our mobile phones. Which preceded which, I wonder?
Geopolitically, our section of the universe is made up of the United Federation of Planets, usually just called 'the Federation', i.e. the good guys, and Starfleet (HQ in San Francisco) is the exploration/self-defense/military arm of that august body. The best ship in the fleet (we think) is the U.S.S. Enterprise. The Federation part of space sits next to the Klingon Empire (bad 'uns), and the Romulan Empire (more bad 'uns) beyond the neutral zone which is often breached. (There are other villains in the later spinoffs, but in terms of Benedict's role, I expect we need concern ourselves with only the Original Series -- unless the Borg suddenly appears out of nowhere....)
The mission of the starship Enterprise is: to explore strange new worlds, to seek out new lives and new civilizations, to boldly go where no man has gone before.
(to be PC, btw, that was later changed in the 90s to 'where no one has gone before')
2. The main characters you need to know about
(facts only taken from canon. Some aspects of the canon changed in the new J.J. Abrams Star Trek film, because the space timeline was tampered with, etc, but let's not get into that here.)
Captain James Tiberius Kirk Our Hero. Captain of the starship Enterprise. Later admiral, eventually demoted to captain, etc. Born in Iowa. Had elder scientist brother, who died from an alien infestation on a space colony. Genius as a starship commander, not very good at admin or family life. Emotional, passionate, compassionate, intuitive, impulsive, daring, audacious, ruthless strategist, beats Spock at chess, red hot lover of the universe. Charismatic. The guy in the yellow shirt, which tends to tear and show his bare torso at the slightest provocation.
Commander Spock (family name unpronounceable by Earth humans unless with much practice) First officer and science officer of the Enterprise. Later captain, then Federation ambassador, etc. Father is Ambassador Sarek of the planet Vulcan, mother is Amanda Grayson of Earth. Best first officer in the fleet. Super logical, super clever, super cool, often annoyingly so. Brainy became the new sexy when he came along (Asimov said that). Constantly struggling with what he considers his 'human half', i.e. emotions -- but he gradually learns that we need our emotions and that all Vulcans struggle to master them. Vulcans decided logic is good and emotions not so good because once upon a time, their fierce emotions and ensuing warfare almost destroyed their planet (Romulans are said to be offshoots of Vulcans from that time). In Spock's time this has even led to a very illogical disdain of emotions and emotional beings such as Earth humans, hence when Spock was a child, he was often bullied by other Vulcan children for being 'not really Vulcan, a halfling'. Vulcans have a longer lifespan than Earth humans, and have greater body strength. They don't eat meat, are touch-telepaths, and the Vulcan neck pinch is a handy trick they have that knocks humans unconscious. And the mind meld allows a Vulcan to read into the consciousness of the other; often used for mating purposes (dunno if that's a good idea). There's also this thing called the pon farr which... oh, you have to watch the episode 'Amok Time' for that.
Doctor Leonard McCoy Super doc. Born in Atlanta, Georgia. Nickname, Bones. Emotional, acerbic wit, deeply caring. Always worrying about Kirk and Spock. Compared to those two, a normal guy -- 'just an ordinary country doctor' (although he's a genius surgeon and can almost cure the common cold). Has a daughter from a previous marriage. Loves mint juleps and pretty women. HATES the transporter and how it scrambles his molecules. Famous lines: 'I'm a doctor, not a bricklayer' (and other variations). 'He's dead, Jim.'
Engineer Montgomery Scott Engineer. Engineer. Engineer. Nickname, Scotty. Oh, a Scot, by the way. Loves his bairns = engines. Favourite pastime reading = technical journals. Also loves his whiskey. Gentleman to the ladies. Magician with the transporter. Famous line: 'I canna change the laws of physics, Captain!' BTW, popular myth has it that the most famous line in Star Trek is Kirk's 'Beam me up, Scotty.' He never. The closest he says in TOS is, 'Scotty, beam us up.'
Nyota Uhura Communications officer. African. Loves to sing. Fabulous linguist. The first name Nyota was never in the original series, but Nichelle Nichols says was proposed by a Star Trek-related book writer and was approved by Roddenberry and herself. It became popular in fandom, but the J.J.Abrams film was the first Paramount production to use it. Famous line: 'Hailing frequencies open.'
Hikaru Sulu Helmsman (later captain). Of Japanese descent. Romantic. Dreams of being a swashbuckler. His first name Hikaru was also never in the original series, but was popular in fandom, then the actor George Takei picked it up, and was used in the film Star Trek VI.
Pavel Chekov Navigator (later science officer). Russian, very Russian. Has a cute smile and is popular with women. Famous for his screams.
3. The episodes and films you might want to watch
In chronological order. Those especially recommended in bold (Warning. Do remember that this was a weekly TV show in the 1960's. Try to see beyond the bright-coloured pajama-like uniforms, Christmas lights, women's beehive hair and enormous false eyelashes, piano wire and papier mache scenery).
< From The Original Series >(commonly known in fandom as TOS. 79 episodes on NBC TV 1966-1969).
SEASON 1
- The Naked Time (a must see. Would crop up in any Star Trek 101 exam on the characterization of Kirk and Spock and their relationship)
- The Enemy Within (tells you a lot about Kirk and his relationship with Spock)
- The Corbomite Maneuver (tells you a lot about the values of this universe, not to mention Kirk and Spock)
- The Menagerie (not necessarily a must see, because much of the story predates Kirk's Enterprise, but this episode tells you about Spock's ruthless logic, his maverick nature and his fierce loyalty. And you can also see a young, smiling Spock trying out his human side.) (Addendum: actually, you might want to watch this, as this is the episode that showcases Kirk's predecessor, Christopher Pike, and Pike not only appears in J.J. Abrams's Star Trek, but also will re-appear in his Star Trek2).
- Balance of Terror (very good ship-to-ship battle story, and tells you who the Romulans are. Hmm, doesn't the Romulan commander look a lot like Spock's dad?)
- Court Martial (tells you a lot about Kirk, about Spock, and their relationship)
- Space Seed (some rumour has it that the villain in the new ST film might be Khan, who first appears in this episode. Other rumour says the villain is intended to be as memorable as Khan. Even if the villain has nothing to do with Khan, and even if Benedict isn't playing the villain, good show to watch, and is the prequel to the film, Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan.) (However! 'Twas brillig and the slithy toves... no, 'twas July 2012 that Karl Urban did let slip ... or did he let slip out a red herring? ... that with regards Benedict, "He’s awesome, he’s a great addition, and I think his Gary Mitchell is going to be exemplary.” Ahhhhhh.... )
- Where No Man Has Gone Before (So, if Benedict is indeed Gary Mitchell in the new movie, then this is THE must see episode. Gary is Kirk's old buddy from the Starfleet Academy days, and he even nearly died in trying to save Kirk, taking a poison dart meant for his friend. Gary also set Kirk up with a "blonde lab technician" whom Kirk's says he almost married. Now if Gary is indeed the baddie in the film, it would be interesting how that backstory remains or is changed in the films' warped timeline. Having said that, I think Gary Mitchell is much better suited for Benedict, his cool, cold ruthlessness, etc, rather than Khan's explosive, firy persona so beautifully played by Ricardo Montalban. And his look, the costume, and how he was able to take on Spock in hand-to-hand combat -- as seen in the leaked photos -- all make sense. Gary Mitchell was originally played by Gary Lockwood, who was the astronaut Dr. Frank Poole who gets killed by HAL in "2001: Space Odyssey".)
"Where No Man Has Gone Before" looks different from the other episodes because this is actually the pilot episode. Or rather, the second pilot episode. The first pilot was "The Cage", with Jeffrey Hunter as the Captain as well as a smiling Spock, a female second in command, etc., which the studio didn't much like. But the studio liked it enough to commission a second pilot, and so William Shatner was brought in, and voila "Where No Man Has Gone Before". "The Cage" became the aforementioned "The Menagerie. By the way, when Karl Urban appeared at Comic-con a few days later, he was literally "gagged" by JJ Abrams.)
- This Side of Paradise (a must-see to understand Spock. And has one of the most memorable lines spoken by Spock, of his captain (that man up on the bridge), and himself, in the entire oeuvre)
- The Devil in the Dark (one of the most popular episodes, and important as it deals with the underlying premise of Star Trek, i.e. accept/understand/appreciate/celebrate our differences. Mind meld also featured).
- Errand of Mercy (not necessarily must see, but introduces Klingons)
- The City on the Edge of Forever (arguably the best episode, ironic that it doesn't take place on the Enterprise. Very important in terms of Kirk and Spock. See it if only to see pre-Dynasty Joan Collins).
SEASON 2
- Amok Time (a total must see, Star Trek 101 episode. A benchmark show about Vulcan and Vulcans and what makes them tick. Or reproduce, at least. A benchmark show about Kirk and Spock and McCoy, also)
- Mirror, Mirror (a very popular episode about a parallel universe and an 'evil' Spock with a sexy beard)
- Journey to Babel (another total must see Vulcan episode. We meet Spock's parents, the totally Vulcan father Sarek and very human mother Amanda)
- The Trouble with Tribbles (a very, very popular episode, because it's funny and cute. Has Klingons, too)
- Obsession (very good Kirk show and how he thinks)
SEASON 3
- The Enterprise Incident (see Spock make love to a Romulan commander! Well... sort of.... Must-see in terms of Romulans and Vulcans)
(NB. Not that this is necessary in terms of appreciating Benedict's appearance in Star Trek, it might be noteworthy to remember that the original TV series was made in the late 1960's. After the Kennedy assassination, at the height of the Cold War and the Vietnam War, during the civil rights movement and the racial riots and the assasination of Reverend Martin Luther King, Jr. Star Trek was truly a product of its time in that it made shows like the Balance of Terror dealing with a deadly border skirmish with an hitherto unknown enemy which might escalate into a total war. It also dealt with horrific weapons of mass destruction gone beserk (The Doomsday Machine), and constantly dealt with racial prejudice and our fear and aversion to things/people that seem different from us. Star Trek portrayed a future in which people can work together as a team, no matter your race or place of origin; they say to see a black woman in a position of responbility and authority on the bridge of a mighty starship was groundbreaking television in those days, never mind Spock who was from another planet! That is one of the reasons for Star Trek's appeal and why it has endured for more than 40 years.)
< Films >
- If you're hooked by now, by all means watch Star Trek: The Motion Picture, but if you just want the basics of Trek, you can skip it. All you need to know is that in it, Spock leaves Starfleet and Kirk, thinking he's become too emotional about everything, but comes back when he finds out everyone is in danger, and then learns that emotions, 'this simple feeling', are valuable, after all. BTW, it was in the novelization of this film that the creator of the series Gene Roddenberry had Spock call Kirk 'my t'hy'la'. Roddenberry then went on to explain that the word can mean 'friend, brother and/or lover'. This blew the minds of many women, but in the novel, Kirk does then say in a footnote, 'I was never aware of this 'lovers' rumor, although I have been told that Spock encountered it several times. Apparently, he had always dismissed it with his characteristic lifting of his right eyebrow, which usually connoted some combination of surprise, disbelief, and/or annoyance. As for myself... I have always found my best gratification in that creature called woman. Also, I would not like to be thought of as being so foolish that I would select a love partner who came into sexual heat only once every seven years.' Remember, this isn't from some fan fiction but was written by the creator of Star Trek himself. Anyway, I do digress.
- Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan (TWOK). MUST SEE. The TOS episode 'Space Seed' was a prequel to this film. A tale of vengeance and responsibility, of sacrifice. A tale of life and death. Directed by Nicholas Meyer.
- Star Trek III: The Search for Spock (TSFS). Not as good as TWOK, imho, but a sequel to TWOK and continues onto ST IV. Directed by Leonard Nimoy (Spock).
- Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home (TVH). End of 'trilogy'. Time travel to 1980s San Francisco. Fun, funny and well-done. Directed by Leonard Nimoy.
(no need to watch Star Trek V. Sorry Bill, but I have to be honest.)
- Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country. MUST SEE. The Klingon Empire is on the brink of collapse a-la the Soviet Union. Espionage, betrayal, ugly aliens, beautiful aliens. Christopher Plummer (who also once played Holmes) deliciously chewing up the scenery as a brilliant, Shakespeare-quoting, baddie Klingon. Pre-SATC Kim Cattrall also interesting as a cool Vulcan with a punkish hairstyle. Spock says, 'An ancestor of mine once said...' and quotes Holmes. Written and directed by Nicholas Meyer (author of the Holmes pastiche, 'The Seven-Per-Cent Solution').
< And if you wish for more.... TNG >
- Star Trek: The Next Generation (TNG) 'Sarek' (an episode in which Spock's father Sarek mind-melds with Captain Picard)
- Star Trek: The Next Generation 'Unification' (Spock as a Federation ambassador gone undercover to help the Romulan freedom fighters. Spock shares with Picard the memories of Sarek, and learns his late father's true feelings)
- Film 'Star Trek Generations' (if only to see this is how Kirk dies in the original timeline)
< Finally in the new, altered timeline >
- Star Trek by J.J.Abrams (obviously, if you're going to watch Star Trek 2 which is what Benedict is going to appear in).
(I cannot stress more that the chronology of events, relationships, etc in the J.J.Abrams film is different from the original series. The Abrams film explains why the chronology has been changed. And of course, the characters look different, don't they?)
PS and BTW. I've been watching Star Trek for almost 40 years, and reading/watching Holmes things for almost the same duration. As I wrote above, Spock does imply that Holmes was his ancestor and quotes the Holmesian line, 'When you eliminate the impossible, whatever remains, however improbable, must be the truth.' Remember when Sherlock says a version of that line in 'The Hounds of Baskerville' and goes on to ramble about logic? John replies, 'All right, Spock.' Ye, gads! The plot thickens.