Arena
- Episode aired Jan 19, 1967
- TV-PG
- 50m
For bringing hostility into their solar system, a superior alien race brings Captain Kirk into mortal combat against the reptilian captain of an alien ship he was pursuing.For bringing hostility into their solar system, a superior alien race brings Captain Kirk into mortal combat against the reptilian captain of an alien ship he was pursuing.For bringing hostility into their solar system, a superior alien race brings Captain Kirk into mortal combat against the reptilian captain of an alien ship he was pursuing.
- Metron
- (as Carole Shelyne)
- Gorn
- (uncredited)
- Gorn
- (voice)
- (uncredited)
- Gorn
- (uncredited)
- Gorn
- (uncredited)
- Lt. Brent
- (uncredited)
- Lieutenant Leslie
- (uncredited)
- Director
- Writers
- All cast & crew
- Production, box office & more at IMDbPro
Storyline
Did you know
- TriviaAlthough it was not intentional, Desilu's research department realized that Gene L. Coon's screenplay strongly resembled a novella of the same name by Fredric Brown. To deal with the difficulty, Brown was telephoned about the matter and he agreed to a writer's fee and an official credit for the story.
- GoofsGunpowder is a low explosive: it has to be contained to explode. Otherwise it simply burns. Even if Kirk had real gunpowder, it wouldn't have exploded.
- Quotes
Metron: You surprise me, Captain.
Captain James T. Kirk: How?
Metron: By sparing your helpless enemy, who surely would have destroyed you, you demonstrated the advanced trait of mercy. Something we hardly expected. We feel that there may be hope for your kind. Therefore, you will not be destroyed. It would not be... civilized.
Captain James T. Kirk: What happened to the Gorn?
Metron: I sent him back to his ship. If you like, I shall destroy him for you.
Captain James T. Kirk: No. That won't be necessary. We can talk. Maybe... reach an agreement.
Metron: Very good, Captain. There *is* hope for you. Perhaps, in several thousand years, your people and mine shall meet to reach an agreement. You're still half savage. But there is hope. We will contact you when we're ready.
- Crazy creditsThe closing credits are set against a combination background of stills from that episode, previous and future episodes - as per usual Star Trek: TOS practice.
- Alternate versionsSpecial Enhanced version Digitally Remastered with new exterior shots and remade opening theme song. Highlights include a wider angle on the Cestus outpost showing more destruction (and removing an oddly-placed chunk of metal in the foreground) and the never-before-seen Gorn ship.
- ConnectionsFeatured in Bill & Ted's Bogus Journey (1991)
- SoundtracksTheme From Star Trek
Written by and credited to Alexander Courage
The episode begins with the destruction of a Federation outpost, which prompts Kirk to go after the alien attacker and destroy him at all costs. During the pursuit, the Enterprise is seized by more powerful beings who send Kirk to a desert planet so that he can face his adversary: the reptilian Gorn. Whoever wins the duel will be set free; the loser will be destroyed, along with his ship and crew. Given the Gorn is much stronger than Kirk, the latter has to come up with an inventive strategy to survive.
Of the many examinations of the futility of war that Star Trek has offered, Arena is undoubtedly one of the more interesting ones, all because of its central idea: the preconception that all conflicts must end with the total annihilation of one of the two conflicting sides. The episode's presentation of the villain also plays on man's natural fear of all things unknown or different, making for 45 minutes of intelligence and tension that still resonate four decades on (despite the fact that the Gorn is obviously a stuntman in a suit).
- MaxBorg89
- Jun 17, 2009
Details
- Release date
- Country of origin
- Official sites
- Language
- Filming locations
- Vasquez Rocks Natural Area Park - 10700 W. Escondido Canyon Rd., Agua Dulce, California, USA(Fight with the Gorn N34.486018 W118.313123)
- Production companies
- See more company credits at IMDbPro