The curse(?) of small universe syndrome

[Christopher]

Plus the episode is basically just saying thank goodness Pike died so that Kirk had to do Balance of Terror instead since he'd have succeeded.

Uhhh... Pike didn't die. Go watch "The Menagerie" again.

 

[The Salt Umpire]

This is just my read on it but A Quality of Mercy is a remake of a TOS episode that hinges on the TOS character being so important that the universe cant survive without him.

Pike died so that Kirk had to do Balance of Terror

 

[Smear-Gel]

Uhhh... Pike didn't die. Go watch "The Menagerie" again.

You know what that's egg on my face, especially since I also take issue with the show treating it like a death. But my feelings on the episode still stand otherwise.

Is this contradictory?