Bread and Circuses
- FIRST SHOWN (US)
- 15 March 1968
- ON
- NBC
- STARDATE
- 4040.7
- DIRECTED BY
- Ralph Senensky
- PRODUCTION NO.
- 43
WRITTEN BYWritten by Gene Roddenberry and Gene L. Coon
Based on a story by John Kneubuhl, who received no screen credit.
Tracing a lost survey ship, Kirk, Spock and McCoy find a planet where the Roman Empire never fell, and gladiator fights are broadcast live on television.
Red alert: the full plot, ending included. Haven't watched yet?REVEAL SYNOPSIS
The Enterprise finds wreckage from the SS Beagle and tracks it to a planet where Rome never fell. Gladiator bouts are shown on television, and a dead Beagle crewman appears among the fighters. Beaming down, Kirk, Spock and McCoy meet runaway slaves who worship the sun, including the former gladiator Flavius and the elderly Septimus. They also find the Beagle's captain, Merik, who has become First Citizen Merikus and sent his crew to the arena under Proconsul Claudius Marcus. Kirk refuses to bring his own crew down, so Spock and McCoy are forced to fight, while Kirk is held for a televised execution. Scotty cuts the city's power, Flavius dies helping, and a remorseful Merik signals the Enterprise before Marcus stabs him. Back aboard, Uhura reveals the sun worshippers revere the Son of God: a new faith is spreading through this Rome.
- 01The resistance hide-out was filmed in the caves below the Hollywood sign, also used as the Batcave entrance in the Batman TV series.
- 02The title echoes Juvenal's Satires, from the Roman custom of keeping the public content with free food and entertainment.
- 03This production marked the handover from Gene L. Coon to John Meredyth Lucas as the show's producer.