Arena (19 Jan. 1967)

For bringing hostility into their solar system, a superior alien race pits Captain Kirk in single combat against the murderous reptilian captain of an alien ship he was pursuing.

Director:

Joseph Pevney

Writers:

Gene L. Coon (teleplay), Fredric Brown (story),

Stars:

William Shatner, Leonard Nimoy, DeForest Kelley

Cast

Episode complete credited cast:
William Shatner	...	Captain James T. Kirk
Leonard Nimoy	...	Mr. Spock
DeForest Kelley	...	Dr. McCoy
George Takei	...	Sulu
James Doohan	...	Scott
Nichelle Nichols	...	Uhura
Jerry Ayres	...	O'Herlihy
Grant Woods	...	Lieutenant Kelowitz
Tom Troupe	...	Lt. Harold
James Farley	...	Lt. Commander Lang
Carolyne Barry	...	Metron (as Carole Shelyne)
Sean Kenney	...	DePaul

Storyline

When an alien race known as the Gorn destroys an Earth colony, the Enterprise pursues the fleeing Gorn vessel until another race of powerful aliens called the Metrons intervenes and forces Captain Kirk and the Gorn captain to face off in one-on-one combat in which the winner will be released and the loser destroyed along with his ship and crew.

---

Plot Keywords:

saltpetre | 23rd century | improvised weapon | reptile man

---

Genres:

Action | Adventure | Sci-Fi

---

Details

Official Sites:

Official site

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

19 January 1967 (USA)

Filming Locations:

Vasquez Rocks Natural Area Park - 10700 W. Escondido Canyon Rd., Agua Dulce, California, USA

Company Credits

Production Co:

Desilu Productions, Norway Corporation

Technical Specs

Runtime:

50 min

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

The Metrons (Carolyne Barry) were named after Metatron. God's other high-ranking soldier in Michael's army of angels. Hence, their cherubic, spiritual appearance.

---

Goofs

While Kirk is climbing the rocks after first meeting the Gorn, shadows can be seen from the reflectors used to illuminate the set. They are from two directions and inconsistent with the sunlight.

---

Quotes

[first lines]
Captain James T. Kirk: You'll enjoy Commodore Travers. He sets a good table.
Dr. McCoy: I wonder if he brought his personal chef along with him to Cestus III.
Captain James T. Kirk: Probably. Rank hath its privileges.
Dr. McCoy: [they both chuckle] How well we both know that!

---

Connections

Referenced in Star Trek: Enterprise: In a Mirror, Darkly: Part 2 (2005)

User Reviews

Mastering the reptile.

As mammals we have a layer of intellect and empathy that, for most of us at least, acts as a safeguard against relentless pursuit of territory and other material goods for the sake of all else. That primitive part that drives us forward is regulated by this sense of empathy and higher purpose (for lack of a better phrase).

But, when it comes down to it, when man competes with himself, other animals, or nature itself, it is the inner reptile that drives us forward. We seek land and raw materials to gratify us and perpetuate the species. It is what keeps us going, and in this sense preserves us.

So what happens when a species whose sole purpose is survival, and has starship weaponry to back it up? What happens when it confronts another species also bent on territorial expansion? The result; a clash.

This first season episode is a bit in the low budget department, but the drama is not lost on the viewer. By today's standards the Gorn alien captain and space SFX are certainly primitive, but the story endures. Lifted from a short story by Frederick Brown, also entitled "Arena", Trek shows the conflict between Kirk and a reptilian alien who has brain and brawn to match Kirk's Star Fleet training... mostly.

As another reviewer noted, we are also witnessing hypocrisy flagrantly thrown in the face of the two embattled starship captains by the Metrons, the so-called super-race of beings who force the two CO's to settle their differences on some far flung world (allegedly an asteroid). The would stop the carnage created by a starship on starship duel with their version of ultimate-fighting, complete with close circuit coverage for the bridge crew to watch.

The Metrons claim superiority, but with their promise to destroy and kill the ship and crew of the losing captain, they demonstrate an astute inferiority, or rather an arrogance and condescension that the two starship captain, for all of their bluster of threatening the other side, do not stoop to. Both Kirk and Gorn, in spite of being high on a blood lust, do not thumb their nose with false promises.

In the end Kirk succumbs to his inner mammal, and confronts the Metrons with their own devices. Or perhaps the Metrons were applying behavioral conditioning to one of Federation's finest? Testing the UFP to see what caliber of species they may encounter and interact with in the future? We don't know, but the hint is awfully strong.

Other than that, it's a good old fashioned actioner with some moments of tension and a few thrills. The script is tight and it's a very well shot piece of TV sci-fi drama.

Watch and enjoy.