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Star Trek
S3.E10
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IMDbPro

Plato's Stepchildren

  • Episode aired Nov 22, 1968
  • TV-PG
  • 51m
IMDb RATING
6.4/10
3.3K
YOUR RATING
DeForest Kelley, Barbara Babcock, and Liam Sullivan in Star Trek (1966)
Star Trek: Plato's Stepchildren
Play trailer1:34
1 Video
33 Photos
ActionAdventureSci-Fi

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.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.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
    • Meyer Dolinsky
    • Arthur H. Singer
  • Stars
    • William Shatner
    • Leonard Nimoy
    • DeForest Kelley
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • IMDb RATING
    6.4/10
    3.3K
    YOUR RATING
    • Director
      • David Alexander
    • Writers
      • Gene Roddenberry
      • Meyer Dolinsky
      • Arthur H. Singer
    • Stars
      • William Shatner
      • Leonard Nimoy
      • DeForest Kelley
    • 36User reviews
    • 11Critic reviews
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • Videos1

    Star Trek: Plato's Stepchildren
    Trailer 1:34
    Watch Star Trek: Plato's Stepchildren

    Photos33

    Michael Dunn in Star Trek (1966)
    William Shatner and Nichelle Nichols in Star Trek (1966)
    Leonard Nimoy in Star Trek (1966)
    William Shatner, DeForest Kelley, and Michael Dunn in Star Trek (1966)
    Leonard Nimoy and Majel Barrett in Star Trek (1966)
    Leonard Nimoy, William Shatner, and Michael Dunn in Star Trek (1966)
    Nichelle Nichols in Star Trek (1966)
    Leonard Nimoy, William Shatner, and DeForest Kelley in Star Trek (1966)
    Leonard Nimoy and William Shatner in Star Trek (1966)
    Leonard Nimoy, William Shatner, DeForest Kelley, and Michael Dunn in Star Trek (1966)
    William Shatner and Nichelle Nichols in Star Trek (1966)
    William Shatner in Star Trek (1966)

    Cast

    Edit
    William Shatner
    William Shatner
    • Captain James Tiberius 'Jim' Kirk
    Leonard Nimoy
    Leonard Nimoy
    • Mister Spock
    DeForest Kelley
    DeForest Kelley
    • Dr. McCoy
    Michael Dunn
    Michael Dunn
    • Alexander
    Liam Sullivan
    Liam Sullivan
    • Parmen
    Barbara Babcock
    Barbara Babcock
    • Philana
    James Doohan
    James Doohan
    • Scott
    Nichelle Nichols
    Nichelle Nichols
    • Uhura
    Majel Barrett
    Majel Barrett
    • Nurse Chapel
    Ted Scott
    Ted Scott
    • Eraclitus
    • Director
      • David Alexander
    • Writers
      • Gene Roddenberry
      • Meyer Dolinsky
      • Arthur H. Singer
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      Network executives ordered director David Alexander to shoot a take where Kirk and Uhura did not kiss, just so it would be available. However, William Shatner crossed his eyes at the camera, making the take useless.
    • Goofs
      In his Captain's Log, Kirk states that the Platonians' "planet went nova." Planets don't go nova, only stars.
    • Quotes

      Captain James T. Kirk: Alexander, are there other Platonians like you?

      Alexander: [defensively] What do you mean "like me?"

      Captain James T. Kirk: Who don't have the psychokinetic ability.

      Alexander: [relieved] I thought you were talking about my size, because they make fun of me for my size. But, um, to answer your question, I'm the only one who doesn't have it. I was brought here as the court buffoon. That's why I'm everybody's slave, and I have to be at ten places at once, and I never do anything right.

      Spock: How does one obtain the power?

      Alexander: As far as I know, it just comes to you some time after you're born. They say I'm a throwback. And I am, and so are you... Sorry. I shouldn't have said that.

      Captain James T. Kirk: Don't worry about it. We're happy without it.

      Alexander: You know, I believe you are! Listen, where you come from, are there are lot of people without the power and my size?

      Captain James T. Kirk: Alexander, where I come from, size, shape or color makes no difference. And nobody has the power.

    • Alternate versions
      Special Enhanced version Digitally Remastered with new exterior shots and remade opening theme song
    • Connections
      Featured in William Shatner's Star Trek Memories (1995)
    • Soundtracks
      Theme
      Music credited to Alexander Courage

      Sung by Loulie Jean Norman

    User reviews36

    Review
    Review
    Featured review
    6/10
    Absolute Power
    Again a reference to earth culture in a Star Trek episode for a reference point for viewers. Some travelers in space who at one time settled in ancient Greece and admired the culture have now settled on a planet and have developed their minds kind of like the Krells had done in Forbidden Planet. Only their monster from the ID is nothing like a pretend creature from the depths of their souls.

    They've developed their minds and psychokinetic abilities to such a degree that they make everyone else dance to their tune. Such is what they do for amusement to several Enterprise crew members. They do have a purpose in mind. They're a finely tuned genetic machine these Platonians, but having achieved almost immortality and eradicating those pesty one celled things that cause disease they're immune systems are non-existent. When DeForest Kelley treats the head Platonian Liam Sullivan for a simple cut that has grown infected, Sullivan decides a Platonian doctor on call is what the planet lacks.

    Sullivan is also willing to go any lengths to keep Dr. McCoy there at his beck and call. And of course making the Enterprise crew do what you want them to do is good amusement. Previously the only one whom they could do it to was dwarf Michael Dunn.

    An interesting parable about absolute power. This Star Trek episode should be seen back to back with Forbidden Planet.
    helpful•11
    5
    • bkoganbing
    • Jun 7, 2014

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    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • November 22, 1968 (United States)
    • Country of origin
      • United States
    • Official sites
      • handitv
      • Official Facebook
    • Languages
      • Greek
      • English
    • Filming locations
      • Paramount Studios - 5555 Melrose Avenue, Hollywood, Los Angeles, California, USA
    • Production companies
      • Paramount Television
      • Norway Corporation
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      51 minutes
    • Color
      • Color
    • Sound mix
      • Mono
    • Aspect ratio
      • 4:3

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