"The City on the Edge of Forever"
The Enterprise is investigating what Mr. Spock calls “ripples in time” when a console explodes on the bridge, injuring Mr. Sulu. McCoy gives Sulu a hypospray filled with cordrazine, a powerful drug that is deadly in large amounts. Ripples of turbulence shake the Enterprise, throwing McCoy forward, onto the hypospray. McCoy becomes delirious and escapes to the planet below. Kirk and Spock beam down to find him, instead finding The Guardian of Forever, an ancient rock-like machine and living being in one that can access any and all points in the space-time continuum. The Guardian informs Kirk and Spock that McCoy has jumped through the portal and is now lost in time. Spock uses his tricorder to determine McCoy’s exact location in time. The landing party then learns that the Enterprise has ceased to exist, due to something McCoy did in the past. Kirk and Spock enter the Guardian to find McCoy. The arrive in 1930s Earth, and there work menial tasks for Edith Keeler, a social worker. Kirk falls in love with Edith, but there love is doomed, as Spock informs Kirk that “Edith Keeler must die” for history to be restored. Kirk and Spock find McCoy, and when Edith moves to catch up with Kirk, she’s struck dead by an automobile. The trio return to the future, now restored, and a haunted Kirk’s only explanation for where and when they’ve been is to say “let’s get the hell out of here.”
Story
“The City on the Edge of Forever” is a classic Trek episode, considered by many fans to be the absolute best. I don’t know that I think it’s the best, as there are other stories out there like “Space Seed” and “Balance of Terror” that I like more, but certainly, “Forever” is an amazing tale, written by famed science fiction author Harlan Ellison. The story is an intimate one and yet manages to have action, suspense, and drama. At the core of the story is the star-crossed love of Kirk and Edith, which makes this episode so haunting and so powerful.
Action
There isn’t much in the way of classic Trek action, like flying kicks and phaser fights and ship to ship battles, but “Forever” is a love story crossed with a time travel story. Still, we thrill to Kirk and Spock’s leap into the time stream, their run from the law, and the shocking death of Edith. This is an episode about people and relationships more than action set pieces, and anything more would have been out of place.
Performances
Performances are what make “City on the Edge of Forever” so successful and timeless. It’s become fashionable to bash William Shatner’s acting style, but I personally love to mention this episode as proof that he can indeed act and act superbly. Shatner’s classical training in the Shakespearean tradition is brought to the fore here in a performance that manages to tap into every human emotion. We feel for Kirk and with Kirk, and though we know from the start he and Edith can’t work as a couple, we still want them to as desperately as he does. Joan Collins also gives a powerful performance as Edith Keeler, and she and Shatner share a wonderful chemistry that would have destroyed this episode had it been lacking. Finally, DeForrest Kelley knocks the proverbial ball out of the park as a crazed, drugged McCoy, who is frightened and paranoid but also a little frightening as well. Stellar performances in a superbly written episode.
Trektastic Moments
“The City on the Edge of Forever” is filled with Trektastic Moments. Kirk and Spock’s interaction here is classic, from there attempts to get clothing upon arriving in 1930s New York, to their banter about the device Spock is building and Edith’s fate. We also have the wonderful but sad moment when the bum pockets McCoy’s phaser after the doctor passes out and vaporizes himself. Finally, Kirk, Spock, and McCoy’s haunted return to the future is among the classic images in all of Trek, alongside the wonderful scene at the beginning of the episode when Kirk looks up to the heavens in search of an Enterprise-and a history-that no longer exists.
Overall
Overall, “The City on the Edge of Forever” is some of the best Star Trek ever produced and consequently, some of the best television and storytelling ever produced. A must see episode for any Trek fan, casual or otherwise. Highest possible rating.
The episode's title card.
McCoy, driven mad by an accidental overdose of the experimental drug cordrazine.
Kirk's love interest, the beautiful Edith Keeler, played by a young Joan Collins.
Kirk after returning to the future he bought at the cost of his love. "Let's get the hell out of here."
Story
“The City on the Edge of Forever” is a classic Trek episode, considered by many fans to be the absolute best. I don’t know that I think it’s the best, as there are other stories out there like “Space Seed” and “Balance of Terror” that I like more, but certainly, “Forever” is an amazing tale, written by famed science fiction author Harlan Ellison. The story is an intimate one and yet manages to have action, suspense, and drama. At the core of the story is the star-crossed love of Kirk and Edith, which makes this episode so haunting and so powerful.
Action
There isn’t much in the way of classic Trek action, like flying kicks and phaser fights and ship to ship battles, but “Forever” is a love story crossed with a time travel story. Still, we thrill to Kirk and Spock’s leap into the time stream, their run from the law, and the shocking death of Edith. This is an episode about people and relationships more than action set pieces, and anything more would have been out of place.
Performances
Performances are what make “City on the Edge of Forever” so successful and timeless. It’s become fashionable to bash William Shatner’s acting style, but I personally love to mention this episode as proof that he can indeed act and act superbly. Shatner’s classical training in the Shakespearean tradition is brought to the fore here in a performance that manages to tap into every human emotion. We feel for Kirk and with Kirk, and though we know from the start he and Edith can’t work as a couple, we still want them to as desperately as he does. Joan Collins also gives a powerful performance as Edith Keeler, and she and Shatner share a wonderful chemistry that would have destroyed this episode had it been lacking. Finally, DeForrest Kelley knocks the proverbial ball out of the park as a crazed, drugged McCoy, who is frightened and paranoid but also a little frightening as well. Stellar performances in a superbly written episode.
Trektastic Moments
“The City on the Edge of Forever” is filled with Trektastic Moments. Kirk and Spock’s interaction here is classic, from there attempts to get clothing upon arriving in 1930s New York, to their banter about the device Spock is building and Edith’s fate. We also have the wonderful but sad moment when the bum pockets McCoy’s phaser after the doctor passes out and vaporizes himself. Finally, Kirk, Spock, and McCoy’s haunted return to the future is among the classic images in all of Trek, alongside the wonderful scene at the beginning of the episode when Kirk looks up to the heavens in search of an Enterprise-and a history-that no longer exists.
Overall
Overall, “The City on the Edge of Forever” is some of the best Star Trek ever produced and consequently, some of the best television and storytelling ever produced. A must see episode for any Trek fan, casual or otherwise. Highest possible rating.
The episode's title card.
McCoy, driven mad by an accidental overdose of the experimental drug cordrazine.
Kirk's love interest, the beautiful Edith Keeler, played by a young Joan Collins.
Kirk after returning to the future he bought at the cost of his love. "Let's get the hell out of here."
posted by Christopher at 9:20 AM
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