TOS · SEASON 33×15

Let That Be Your Last Battlefield

NOMADIC PICK · GREAT DISCUSSION EPISODEStar Trek's boldest race allegory.

FIRST SHOWN (US): 10 January 1969
ON: NBC
STARDATE: 5730.2
DIRECTED BY: Jud Taylor
PRODUCTION NO.: 70

WRITTEN BYTeleplay by Oliver Crawford; story by Lee Cronin

“Lee Cronin” was a pseudonym used by Gene L. Coon.

IN BRIEF

SPOILER-FREE

The Enterprise picks up two aliens from the same world, each black on one side and white on the other, locked in a pursuit that has lasted thousands of years.

SYNOPSIS

SPOILERS

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On its way to decontaminate the planet Ariannus, the Enterprise recovers a stolen shuttlecraft carrying Lokai, a fugitive from the planet Cheron. Soon his pursuer, Bele, appears on the bridge. Both men are black on one side of their bodies and white on the other, and Bele claims he has been chasing Lokai for 50,000 years to bring him to justice. Kirk refuses to hand Lokai over, so Bele uses his mental powers to seize the ship. Kirk regains control by starting the self-destruct sequence, and the mission to Ariannus is completed. The crew learns the root of the feud: Bele's people are black on the right side, Lokai's on the left, a difference the humans cannot even see. Bele again forces the ship to Cheron, where the crew finds every inhabitant dead, wiped out by their own hatred. Rather than make peace, the last two survivors beam down to keep fighting on the ruins of their world.

DID YOU KNOW?

01The two-colour make-up was decided only about a week before filming, based on a passing remark by director Jud Taylor.
02It features the first formal self-destruct sequence in Star Trek. The same codes were reused almost word for word in “Star Trek III: The Search for Spock”.
03Frank Gorshin was famous as the Riddler in TV's “Batman”. The tilted shots of the red alert signal were reportedly a nod to that role.

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