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Star Trek: The Original Series
S3.E10
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IMDbPro

Plato's Stepchildren

  • Episode aired Nov 22, 1968
  • TV-PG
  • 51m
IMDb RATING
6.5/10
3K
YOUR RATING
DeForest Kelley, Barbara Babcock, and Liam Sullivan in Star Trek: The Original Series (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, box office & company info
  • IMDb RATING
    6.5/10
    3K
    YOUR RATING
    • Director
      • David Alexander
    • Writers
      • Gene Roddenberry
      • Meyer Dolinsky
      • Arthur H. Singer
    • Stars
      • William Shatner
      • Leonard Nimoy
      • DeForest Kelley
    • 34User reviews
    • 11Critic reviews
  • See more at IMDbPro
  • Videos1

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

    Photos33

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

    Top 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
    Derek Partridge
    Derek Partridge
    • Dionyd
    Bill Blackburn
    • Lieutenant Hadley
    • (uncredited)
    Jeannie Malone
    • Yeoman
    • (uncredited)
    • 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 reviews34

    Review
    Review
    Featured review
    7/10
    This one got in my head
    Typical of the 3rd season Star Trek; They had a shoestring budget and had to make the most of it. Most of the acting was right out there and cringeworthy; not that it was all that terrible but the actors pushed their characters well past their limits in this one. The star of this episode was a character by the name of Alexander (Played by Michael Dunn). His revelation and struggles seemed the most genuine and central to the plot.

    I was so intrigued that I went to ask my my search engine whatever happened to him. I had just watched him looking so real and personable. Mr. Dunn died in 1973; 47 years ago. That really got in my head.
    helpful•3
    3
    • jecskene
    • Dec 15, 2020

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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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