The Magicks of Megas-tu
- FIRST SHOWN (US)
- 27 October 1973
- ON
- NBC
- STARDATE
- 1254.4
- DIRECTED BY
- Hal Sutherland
- PRODUCTION NO.
- 22009
WRITTEN BYWritten by Larry Brody
A journey to the centre of the galaxy carries the Enterprise into a universe where magic is real, and a friendly being called Lucien seems eager to help.
Red alert: the full plot, ending included. Haven't watched yet?REVEAL SYNOPSIS
Seeking the place where matter is created at the galaxy's centre, the Enterprise is pulled through a vortex into another universe, where its systems fail. A cheerful being named Lucien, who looks remarkably like the Devil, restores the ship and brings Kirk, Spock and McCoy to his world, Megas-tu, where magic follows natural laws. Lucien explains that his people, the Megans, once visited Earth. When the crew begin experimenting with magic, the other Megans discover them and put humanity on trial in a recreation of Salem in 1691, where Megans were once persecuted. Spock acts as counsel. After studying the ship's records, the Megans accept that the visit was an accident, but they condemn Lucien to eternal isolation for bringing humans to them. Kirk refuses to abandon him and fights the Megans with magic of his own. They reveal that it was a test: Kirk's compassion shows humanity has changed, and the Enterprise is sent home.
- 01Larry Brody first pitched a story about finding God at the galaxy's centre for the original series. After NBC rejected that idea, it became the Devil instead.
- 02Gene Roddenberry rewrote the dialogue so heavily that Brody did not recognise it, although Brody kept the writing credit.
- 03Asmodeus is voiced by Ed Bishop, known for playing Commander Ed Straker in the British series UFO.