Goldstone, James "Where No Man Has Gone Before" 1st edition, March 1st (1993)

Where No Man Has Gone Before

Trek's second pilot is the stuff of perfect sci-fi: Compelling action mixed with heady, effective, and at times emotional, drama. It finds a perfect balance between delivering on Gene Roddenberry's "Wagon Train to the Stars" premise and the ethically challenging landscape of the morality play.

With Chris Pike and company replaced by Kirk and Spock, the Enterprise's new…ish mission gets off to a quick and violent start: The ship encounters an unknown energy barrier at the galaxy's rim, that turns Gary Mitchell, Kirk's best friend and helmsman, into a mortal enemy. Mitchell, not a warm and friendly guy to begin with, develops ESP powers, to the point where he goes from levitating cups to reading the thoughts of the entire crew. As Mitchell becomes an increasing threat to Enterprise, Spock helps Kirk make the tough decision – exile his friend to a barren planet, kill him, if necessary, to save the ship.

The episode introduces the Trek staple of Kirk and Spock's relationship; the emotionally restrained Vulcan playing conscience to Kirk's passionate cowboy diplomacy. "Gone Before" introduces that consequence of being the Enterprise captain, one which Kirk would suffer until the end of his career.

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