City on the Edge of Forever

[ElBurro]

I'm pretty new to Star Trek and I'm watching TOS for the first time. I'm about 5 episodes into the 2nd season and my favourite episode so far has to be City on the Edge of Forever. I've always loved time travel stories and I think this one really emphasizes the concept of 'one life makes a difference'. It's been three days since I watched it and I'm still thinking about it.

I think one of the things that really makes the episode for me, is the final moment, when they come back through the portal and beam up. I think it's a really powerful moment, with Bones silent and just that one line from Kirk, and, unlike most of the episodes I've seen, there isn't a comedic final scene.

From a couple of things I've seen on other sites, it seems to be a pretty popular episode and regarded as one of the best, so I was wondering what people here thought of it.

Do you agree? What do you like about the episode? Do you disagree and, if so, why?

 

[Green Shirt]

I consider it one of the best, but i can't help thinking it would have been nice to see it filmed according to Harlan Ellison's original treatment.

The one thing that always irritated me about the story is that the landing party had no idea McCoy was both hiding right under their noses and running circles around them and still he went unnoticed by their tricorders.

 

[Yeoman Randi]

Welcome ElBurro to the BBS. I'm glad you've found us. It IS wonderful to have a place to "tawk trek".

CotEoF is definitely one of my all time favorite episodes. I'd venture to say it is probably on the top ten list of EVERY trekkie! Well written, never boring, great story, and a terribly tragic ending makes for the very best of Trek.

 

[kirsten187]

I'd say it's definitely one of my favourites, which is unusual for me. I tend to find that episodes I like are ones that aren't often on a top 5 or 10 list!

 

[Angel4576]

A lot of episodes are subject to opinion and taste. The odd one, every now and then, transcends that because it's just undeniably brilliant. CotEoF is one of those episodes. I've never shown it to anyone who hasn't been blown away by it. Probably the very definition of a timeless classic. IMO

 

[ElBurro]

I consider it one of the best, but i can't help thinking it would have been nice to see it filmed according to Harlan Ellison's original treatment.

The one thing that always irritated me about the story is that the landing party had no idea McCoy was both hiding right under their noses and running circles around them and still he went unnoticed by their tricorders.

I would have liked to see Ellison's original treatment too. It sounds pretty good.

That irritated me a little. I think I actually whilst watching it.

Welcome ElBurro to the BBS. I'm glad you've found us. It IS wonderful to have a place to "tawk trek".

CotEoF is definitely one of my all time favorite episodes. I'd venture to say it is probably on the top ten list of EVERY trekkie! Well written, never boring, great story, and a terribly tragic ending makes for the very best of Trek.

Thank you. I'm glad I've found this site as well. I love talking Trek!

It is a beautifully written episode that I have a feeling I'll be watching over and over and over.

I'd say it's definitely one of my favourites, which is unusual for me. I tend to find that episodes I like are ones that aren't often on a top 5 or 10 list!

I find that quite often as well. In fact, I often find that episodes I like are universally despised!!!

A lot of episodes are subject to opinion and taste. The odd one, every now and then, transcends that because it's just undeniably brilliant. CotEoF is one of those episodes. I've never shown it to anyone who hasn't been blown away by it. Probably the very definition of a timeless classic. IMO

I made my dad watch it and he really liked it. He's not a fan of TOS at all, but he thought it was great.

 

[Wingsley]

According to Memory Alpha, "City of the Edge of Forever" won the 1968 Hugo award for "Best Dramatic Presentation" (and the other four competitors were all TOS eps).

The bit where the landing party can't find McCoy is only a minor thing for me. I just passed it off as interference from the Guardian making the tricorders intermittently effective. The bigger annoyance for me was the whole McCoy-gets-freaked-out-on-drugs performance. Looks a little too cheesy for my taste, but that's probably all they could get away with on 1960's TV.

The story and the concept are top-notch. And the depiction of Depression-era NYC is very convincing. Too bad it was all in an urban setting in 1930. If they could've set it in rural America five years later, they could've thrown in some C.C.C. boys. But this isn't a history lesson. Still, Roddenberry gets an extra thumbs up for the inclusion of the horse-drawn Widin Dairy Farm wagon. Nice touch. And of course that was followed by the very-TOS moment where McCoy appears and demands of the milk-stealing bum "You! What planet is this?" ending with the bum incinerating himself.

 

[BDJ]

I also consider it one of my top 5 episodes for sure!

I thought I'd add, in case you didn't know it, some of the 1939 scenes were filmed on the same set where the Andy Griffith Show's Mayberry scenes were filmed.

When Kirk and Keeler are walking and talking on the street, if you watch closely you'll see them walk past Floyd's Barber Shop! (Just watch for the window)

Of course a lot of television shows were filmed on that set. I was watching the old Batman show and there was Batman and Robin speeding past Andy's Sheriff's office.

I believe they also used that same set for exteriors on the episode Miri, too.

 

[scotpens]

I thought I'd add, in case you didn't know it, some of the 1939 scenes were filmed on the same set where the Andy Griffith Show's Mayberry scenes were filmed.

1930, actually.

When Kirk and Keeler are walking and talking on the street, if you watch closely you'll see them walk past Floyd's Barber Shop! (Just watch for the window)

Of course a lot of television shows were filmed on that set. I was watching the old Batman show and there was Batman and Robin speeding past Andy's Sheriff's office.

I believe they also used that same set for exteriors on the episode Miri, too.

Also “Return of the Archons.” That was the old Forty Acres lot, which was demolished in 1976 to make way for an industrial park.

 

[Admiral Buzzkill]

It's my absolute favorite episode of Star Trek ever. Period, check please.

So for me, Star Trek peaked in its first season forty-four years ago and has been bouncing around below that level ever since.

 

[Myko]

So for me, Star Trek peaked in its first season forty-four years ago and has been bouncing around below that level ever since.

I know how you feel, my favorite is possibly Where No Man Has Gone Before...

 

[SonicRanger]

...I've always loved time travel stories and I think this one really emphasizes the concept of 'one life makes a difference'....

Unless you're a homeless bum who is vaporized, then history will never notice.

 

[Warped9]

It's my absolute favorite episode of Star Trek ever. Period, check please.

So for me, Star Trek peaked in its first season forty-four years ago and has been bouncing around below that level ever since.

Round it out to about forty years and we're in agreement.

But I have to say that while there is a lot I like in Seasons 2 and 3 I loved the overall feel and sensibility of Season 1.

 

[The Mirrorball Man]

Among other things, it's also a very funny episode.

 

[Warped9]

"The City On The Edge Of Forever" shows how one can do drama, good sense-of-wonder SF and good contextual humour all in one story.

Hmm...when I'm done revisiting TNG I'll have to revisit TOS which is something I haven't done for quite awhile.

 

[ElBurro]

...I've always loved time travel stories and I think this one really emphasizes the concept of 'one life makes a difference'....

Unless you're a homeless bum who is vaporized, then history will never notice.

You may have a point there

 

[ElBurro]

I also consider it one of my top 5 episodes for sure!

I thought I'd add, in case you didn't know it, some of the 1939 scenes were filmed on the same set where the Andy Griffith Show's Mayberry scenes were filmed.

When Kirk and Keeler are walking and talking on the street, if you watch closely you'll see them walk past Floyd's Barber Shop! (Just watch for the window)

Of course a lot of television shows were filmed on that set. I was watching the old Batman show and there was Batman and Robin speeding past Andy's Sheriff's office.

I believe they also used that same set for exteriors on the episode Miri, too.

I did know that, but from reading trivia on tv.com. I've never watched The Andy Griffith Show. I don't think it's been on t.v over here in the UK (at least not in the 28 years since I was born) but I have found it online so will check it out!

 

[Forbin]

...I've always loved time travel stories and I think this one really emphasizes the concept of 'one life makes a difference'....

Unless you're a homeless bum who is vaporized, then history will never notice.

I wonder if that was an intentional juxtaposition of deaths. Some affect history, some, sadly, don't.

 

[WisTrekFan]

I also consider it one of my top 5 episodes for sure!

I thought I'd add, in case you didn't know it, some of the 1939 scenes were filmed on the same set where the Andy Griffith Show's Mayberry scenes were filmed.

When Kirk and Keeler are walking and talking on the street, if you watch closely you'll see them walk past Floyd's Barber Shop! (Just watch for the window)

Of course a lot of television shows were filmed on that set. I was watching the old Batman show and there was Batman and Robin speeding past Andy's Sheriff's office.

I believe they also used that same set for exteriors on the episode Miri, too.

I did know that, but from reading trivia on tv.com. I've never watched The Andy Griffith Show. I don't think it's been on t.v over here in the UK (at least not in the 28 years since I was born) but I have found it online so will check it out!

Welcome to Star Trek. City on the Edge of Forever is often the episode I use to introduce Star Trek to people. I have to add that if you haven't yet watched any episodes of the Andy Griffith Show, you are in for a treat. The first five seasons that were filmed in black and white are classics.

 

[DoBa]

It's the first episode I remember watching. Mostly due to the name.