Arena
- Episode aired Jan 19, 1967
- TV-PG
- 50m
For bringing hostility into their solar system, a superior alien race brings Captain Kirk into mortal combat against the reptilian captain of an alien ship he was pursuing.For bringing hostility into their solar system, a superior alien race brings Captain Kirk into mortal combat against the reptilian captain of an alien ship he was pursuing.For bringing hostility into their solar system, a superior alien race brings Captain Kirk into mortal combat against the reptilian captain of an alien ship he was pursuing.
- Metron
- (as Carole Shelyne)
- Gorn
- (uncredited)
- Gorn
- (voice)
- (uncredited)
- Gorn
- (uncredited)
- Gorn
- (uncredited)
- Lt. Brent
- (uncredited)
- Lieutenant Leslie
- (uncredited)
- Director
- Writers
- All cast & crew
- Production, box office & more at IMDbPro
Storyline
Did you know
- TriviaAlthough it was not intentional, Desilu's research department realized that Gene L. Coon's screenplay strongly resembled a novella of the same name by Fredric Brown. To deal with the difficulty, Brown was telephoned about the matter and he agreed to a writer's fee and an official credit for the story.
- GoofsGunpowder is a low explosive: it has to be contained to explode. Otherwise it simply burns. Even if Kirk had real gunpowder, it wouldn't have exploded.
- Quotes
Metron: You surprise me, Captain.
Captain James T. Kirk: How?
Metron: By sparing your helpless enemy, who surely would have destroyed you, you demonstrated the advanced trait of mercy. Something we hardly expected. We feel that there may be hope for your kind. Therefore, you will not be destroyed. It would not be... civilized.
Captain James T. Kirk: What happened to the Gorn?
Metron: I sent him back to his ship. If you like, I shall destroy him for you.
Captain James T. Kirk: No. That won't be necessary. We can talk. Maybe... reach an agreement.
Metron: Very good, Captain. There *is* hope for you. Perhaps, in several thousand years, your people and mine shall meet to reach an agreement. You're still half savage. But there is hope. We will contact you when we're ready.
- Crazy creditsThe closing credits are set against a combination background of stills from that episode, previous and future episodes - as per usual Star Trek: TOS practice.
- Alternate versionsSpecial Enhanced version Digitally Remastered with new exterior shots and remade opening theme song. Highlights include a wider angle on the Cestus outpost showing more destruction (and removing an oddly-placed chunk of metal in the foreground) and the never-before-seen Gorn ship.
- ConnectionsFeatured in Bill & Ted's Bogus Journey (1991)
- SoundtracksTheme From Star Trek
Written by and credited to Alexander Courage
The episode begins at a shattered Federation outpost. The Enterprise was called over to the planet by a bogus call. There's some impressive set design here for a TV show; the outpost, though wrecked, still looks neat, with vaguely Roman-like architecture (catch those two globules at the entrance, representing symbols of the Federation). This episode also touches on a concept not addressed much in all the Trek shows: the possible intrusion by the expanding Federation into another civilization's space. Suppose we find a planet with no intelligent life; we begin colonization; then, several months later, we find out another society has laid claim to this region of space a year earlier. What happens now? The answer suggested here by Spock is - bring on the diplomats. In the 3rd act, everything shifts to an asteroid, where Kirk meets his deadly-looking opponent - the sudden shot introducing the Gorn still sends shivers down my spine, even if it is a man in a suit. The Gorn was revamped much later on the "Enterprise" show with computer FX, but I still prefer this slow-moving version. Kirk can outrun the Gorn, but the lizard-man is much stronger; it's an interesting contest. Kirk's solution in finding a method of killing the stronger enemy is a bit too pat, but nonetheless exciting.
- Bogmeister
- Jul 10, 2006
Details
- Release date
- Country of origin
- Official sites
- Language
- Filming locations
- Vasquez Rocks Natural Area Park - 10700 W. Escondido Canyon Rd., Agua Dulce, California, USA(Fight with the Gorn N34.486018 W118.313123)
- Production companies
- See more company credits at IMDbPro