Plato's Stepchildren 

After Dr. McCoy helps the leader of a planet populated by people with powerful psionic abilities, they decide to force him to stay by torturing his comrades until he submits.

Director:

David Alexander

Writers:

Gene Roddenberry (created by), Meyer Dolinsky

Stars:

William Shatner, Leonard Nimoy, DeForest Kelley

Cast

Episode complete credited cast:
William Shatner	...	Capt. Kirk
Leonard Nimoy	...	Mr. Spock
DeForest Kelley	...	Dr. McCoy
Michael Dunn	...	Alexander
Liam Sullivan	...	Parmen
Barbara Babcock	...	Philana
James Doohan	...	Scott
Nichelle Nichols	...	Uhura
Majel Barrett	...	Nurse Chapel
Ted Scott	...	Eraclitus
Derek Partridge	...	Dionyd

Storyline

On an urgent medical emergency, Kirk, Spock and McCoy encounter an alien society that had once flourished on earth during the time of Plato. Since reaching their current planet, they've developed psychokinetic powers while also losing their bodies' ability to combat even the simplest infection, making the need for a physician newly apparent. When Dr. McCoy declines their invitation to stay, they begin to make sport with Kirk, Spock, Nurse Chapel and Lieutenant Uhura using their psychokinetic powers.

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Plot Keywords:

dwarf | reference to socrates | reference to plato | greek culture | philosopher king | 

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Genres:

Action | Adventure | Sci-Fi

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Certificate:

TV-PG

Details

Official Sites:

Official site

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

22 November 1968 (USA)

Filming Locations:

Paramount Studios - 5555 Melrose Avenue, Hollywood, Los Angeles, California, USA

Company Credits

Production Co:

Paramount Television, Norway Corporation

Technical Specs

Runtime:

51 min

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

4:3

Did You Know?

Trivia

This is Alexander Courage's last score for Star Trek. This episode was also the last episode to have an original score, although new songs for Star Trek: The Original Series: The Way to Eden (1969) and a Johannes Brahms paraphrase for Star Trek: The Original Series: Requiem for Methuselah (1969) were composed.

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Goofs

The platonians repeatedly mention Utopia, it is impossible for them to know the term coined by Thomas More in 1518 as they left Greece centuries before he was born.

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Quotes

Captain James T. Kirk: [to McCoy, who has decided to stay] Bones, I know you're trying to do the right thing, but if any one of us escaped, Parmen knows that Starfleet would never let this planet go unpunished. Sacrifice yourself by agreeing to stay, and you sign our death warrants.
Alexander: Eh, he's right. I should've warned you. They were treating you the same way they treat me, just like me, only you fight them. All the time, I thought it was me, my mind that couldn't even move a pebble. They even told me I was lucky they ...
[...]

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Alternate Versions

Special Enhanced version Digitally Remastered with new exterior shots and remade opening theme song

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Connections

References Star Trek: The Original Series: Day of the Dove (1968)

User Reviews

Sadistic garbage

The writers went way too far, this episode is a nightmare of sadistic and truly cringe-worthy actions. Like another reviewer said, it is amazing it was aired at all!!! Totally tasteless garbage.