Star Trek: The Original Series/Recap/S1/E28 The City on the Edge of Forever: Difference between revisions

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Following him, the landing party discovers [[Ruins for Ruins Sake|a city of ancient ruins]] that appears to be uninhabited and empty except for a mysterious glowing green archway, which McCoy runs through and disappears. The crew notices the archway, which appears to be sentient and exhibits [[Psychic Powers|strange telepathic abilities]], acts as a viewscreen displaying various scenes from American history. The archway, which calls itself the Guardian of Forever, explains that it is a [[Portal to The Past|portal to any place and period in history.]]
Following him, the landing party discovers [[Ruins for Ruins Sake|a city of ancient ruins]] that appears to be uninhabited and empty except for a mysterious glowing green archway, which McCoy runs through and disappears. The crew notices the archway, which appears to be sentient and exhibits [[Psychic Powers|strange telepathic abilities]], acts as a viewscreen displaying various scenes from American history. The archway, which calls itself the Guardian of Forever, explains that it is a [[Portal to The Past|portal to any place and period in history.]]


Upon losing contact with the ''Enterprise'', the crew realize that McCoy has somehow altered the course of history since entering the portal. In order to return to their ship and restore the original timeline, they must follow him and prevent him from causing any more damage. Steeling themselves to find the correct moment in history, Kirk and Spock jump through the portal and arrive in [[Big Applesauce|New York City]] during [[The Great Depression]], where the pair must disguise themselves while they search for McCoy. Unfortunately, their Starfleet uniforms (and Spock's Vulcan ears) [[Highly Conspicuous Uniform|attract unwanted attention]]. When the pair attempt to steal clothes, they are chased by the police and end up hiding in the basement of a homeless shelter run by the kind, [[Wide Eyed Idealist|idealistic]] [[Brainy Brunette|and smart]] social worker Edith Keeler (Joan Collins). Keeler offers to take in Kirk and Spock and find them work, although she is slightly suspicious of their [[Mildly Military|military demeanour.]]
Upon losing contact with the ''Enterprise'', the crew realize that McCoy has somehow altered the course of history since entering the portal. In order to return to their ship and restore the original timeline, they must follow him and prevent him from causing any more damage. Steeling themselves to find the correct moment in history, Kirk and Spock jump through the portal and arrive in [[Big Applesauce|New York City]] during [[The Great Depression]], where the pair must disguise themselves while they search for McCoy. Unfortunately, their Starfleet uniforms (and Spock's Vulcan ears) [[Highly-Conspicuous Uniform|attract unwanted attention]]. When the pair attempt to steal clothes, they are chased by the police and end up hiding in the basement of a homeless shelter run by the kind, [[Wide Eyed Idealist|idealistic]] [[Brainy Brunette|and smart]] social worker Edith Keeler (Joan Collins). Keeler offers to take in Kirk and Spock and find them work, although she is slightly suspicious of their [[Mildly Military|military demeanour.]]


While Kirk and Spock do menial jobs, Spock is able to [[Bamboo Technology|construct a rudimentary computer]] using electronic parts he has assembled. Kirk and Edith begin to fall in love. While Spock is scanning new stories from their time period, he discovers a terrible truth: On the night he entered the portal and arrived on Earth, McCoy saved Keeler from dying in an auto accident. Since she did not die as intended, she later became [[Soapbox Sadie|a peace activist]] and successfully convinced [[Franklin D Roosevelt]] to keep America from entering [[World War II]] until too late, [[Godwins Law of Time Travel|allowing the Nazis to win]] and preventing Starfleet from ever existing. Kirk and Spock realize that [[Sadistic Choice|in order to prevent this from happening, Edith Keeler must die.]]
While Kirk and Spock do menial jobs, Spock is able to [[Bamboo Technology|construct a rudimentary computer]] using electronic parts he has assembled. Kirk and Edith begin to fall in love. While Spock is scanning new stories from their time period, he discovers a terrible truth: On the night he entered the portal and arrived on Earth, McCoy saved Keeler from dying in an auto accident. Since she did not die as intended, she later became [[Soapbox Sadie|a peace activist]] and successfully convinced [[Franklin D Roosevelt]] to keep America from entering [[World War II]] until too late, [[Godwin's Law of Time Travel|allowing the Nazis to win]] and preventing Starfleet from ever existing. Kirk and Spock realize that [[Sadistic Choice|in order to prevent this from happening, Edith Keeler must die.]]


Meanwhile, McCoy has been running loose in the city, still affected by the drugs. After an altercation with a homeless man who [[Reckless Gun Usage|steals his phaser and shoots himself with it]], he is found and taken in by Keeler, who believes he is merely drunk. As he recovers from the drug's effect, he befriends her, unbeknownst to Kirk and Spock.
Meanwhile, McCoy has been running loose in the city, still affected by the drugs. After an altercation with a homeless man who [[Reckless Gun Usage|steals his phaser and shoots himself with it]], he is found and taken in by Keeler, who believes he is merely drunk. As he recovers from the drug's effect, he befriends her, unbeknownst to Kirk and Spock.
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The following night, Kirk takes Edith on a date to the movies - the night of her accident. An offhand comment by Kirk reveals to Edith that he knows McCoy and has been searching for him. When the pair run into McCoy on the street, Edith rushes into traffic to greet him. Kirk instinctively moves to push her out of the way, but Spock insists he not interfere. When McCoy moves to save her, Kirk restrains him, and Edith is struck by a car and dies, returning history to its original timeline.
The following night, Kirk takes Edith on a date to the movies - the night of her accident. An offhand comment by Kirk reveals to Edith that he knows McCoy and has been searching for him. When the pair run into McCoy on the street, Edith rushes into traffic to greet him. Kirk instinctively moves to push her out of the way, but Spock insists he not interfere. When McCoy moves to save her, Kirk restrains him, and Edith is struck by a car and dies, returning history to its original timeline.


McCoy angrily demands to know why Kirk stopped him from saving Edith. Spock assures him that Kirk knew fully what he was doing. With the timeline restored, the three are able to return to the planet through the portal, where the ''Enterprise'' has reappeared. Scotty expresses surprise at [[Year Inside Hour Outside|the short time that's elapsed since they left.]] The Guardian offers to show the crew more fantastic journeys, but an emotionally shaken Kirk simply states "Let's get the hell out of here" and prepares to have the crew beamed back aboard.
McCoy angrily demands to know why Kirk stopped him from saving Edith. Spock assures him that Kirk knew fully what he was doing. With the timeline restored, the three are able to return to the planet through the portal, where the ''Enterprise'' has reappeared. Scotty expresses surprise at [[Year Inside, Hour Outside|the short time that's elapsed since they left.]] The Guardian offers to show the crew more fantastic journeys, but an emotionally shaken Kirk simply states "Let's get the hell out of here" and prepares to have the crew beamed back aboard.


=== Tropes ===
=== Tropes ===
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* [[Fish Out of Temporal Water]]
* [[Fish Out of Temporal Water]]
* [[For Want of a Nail]]
* [[For Want of a Nail]]
* [[Godwins Law of Time Travel]]
* [[Godwin's Law of Time Travel]]
* [[Informed Attribute]]: As lampshaded by [[SF Debris]], for a ''Guardian of Forever'', he certainly doesn't do anything to stop a drug-addled crazy man run into the past and screw with human history. The sort of thing a ''Guardian'' would be expected to prevent.
* [[Informed Attribute]]: As lampshaded by [[SF Debris]], for a ''Guardian of Forever'', he certainly doesn't do anything to stop a drug-addled crazy man run into the past and screw with human history. The sort of thing a ''Guardian'' would be expected to prevent.
* [[Kill the Cutie]]
* [[Kill the Cutie]]
* [[Leitmotif]]: "Goodnight, Sweetheart" is ''their'' song.
* [[Leitmotif]]: "Goodnight, Sweetheart" is ''their'' song.
* [[Precision F Strike]]: "Let's get the hell out of here." The effect is obviously lost for modern viewers, but "hell" was pretty shocking for 1960s television.
* [[Precision F-Strike]]: "Let's get the hell out of here." The effect is obviously lost for modern viewers, but "hell" was pretty shocking for 1960s television.
* [[Recycled Set]]: 1930s New York City sure looks a lot like Mayberry from ''[[The Andy Griffith Show (TV)|The Andy Griffith Show]]''. You can also see Mayberry in the episode "[[Recap/Star Trek S 1 E 8 Miri|Miri]]".
* [[Recycled Set]]: 1930s New York City sure looks a lot like Mayberry from ''[[The Andy Griffith Show (TV)|The Andy Griffith Show]]''. You can also see Mayberry in the episode "[[Recap/Star Trek S 1 E 8 Miri|Miri]]".
* [[Save This Person Save the World]]: Inverted.
* [[Save This Person Save the World]]: Inverted.
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