Once Upon a Planet
- FIRST SHOWN (US)
- 3 November 1973
- ON
- NBC
- STARDATE
- 5591.2
- DIRECTED BY
- Hal Sutherland
- PRODUCTION NO.
- 22017
WRITTEN BYWritten by Chuck Menville and Len Janson
Looking for a rest, the Enterprise returns to the shore leave planet, but the playground's machinery has changed since the crew's last visit, and the fun quickly turns hostile.
Red alert: the full plot, ending included. Haven't watched yet?REVEAL SYNOPSIS
The Enterprise returns to the amusement park planet first visited in “Shore Leave”, hoping to give the crew a proper break. McCoy, Sulu and Uhura beam down and meet familiar figures such as Alice and the White Rabbit, but the Queen of Hearts orders an attack on McCoy, and Uhura is seized and held underground. The planet's caretaker has died, and the master computer that runs the park, left without guidance, has come to resent serving visitors. Convinced that the Enterprise is enslaved by its crew, it takes control of the starship and pulls it out of orbit, hoping to use it to explore the galaxy. Kirk hatches a plan: McCoy drugs Spock so that he appears injured, and the planet's machines carry him below ground for treatment, with Kirk following. Facing the computer, Kirk persuades it that cooperation is not servitude. It gives up the ship and agrees to welcome guests again, valuing their company and conversation.
- 01A direct sequel to the original series episode “Shore Leave”. Its writer, Theodore Sturgeon, had pitched a follow-up during the live-action run, but it was never made.
- 02Chuck Menville and Len Janson were prolific animation writers who had earned an Academy Award nomination for a stop-motion short. Menville later wrote “The Practical Joker” for the series.
- 03Nichelle Nichols voices both Uhura and Alice, Majel Barrett plays the Queen of Hearts, and James Doohan voices the White Rabbit and the planet's computer.