History Recap / StarTrekS1E3WhereNoManHasGoneBefore

* CharacterizationMarchesOn: Kirk's first (produced) episode goes out of its way to present us with a picture of Kirk that doesn’t quite correspond to the character we know and love.
** According to Mitchell, Kirk was a studious bookworm at the Academy and implies that he lectured. Given how Kirk responds to the thought of being grounded in both ''Film/StarTrekTheMotionPicture'' and ''Film/StarTrekIITheWrathOfKhan'', that’s hard to imagine.
** Mitchell claims to have "outwitted" Kirk by manipulating a member of the opposite sex to distract him. Mitchell muses, "If I hadn’t aimed that little blonde lab technician at you..." The idea that ''Kirk'' of all characters needed romantic assistance from his friend is hilarious.

* EarlyInstallmentWeirdness: Given that this was the second pilot, it really shows, from the less-detailed uniforms (and no red shirts!) to the lack of notable characters like Uhura and Bones.

** Sulu is present but is not the helm officer (he is the ship's astrophysicist).
** Kirk's tombstone gives his middle initial as "R" rather than "T." One of the novels explains this as an inside joke from Kirk and Gary's time together at the academy.
** The make-up on Spock is noticeably different from the rest of the show, giving him a somewhat comical appearance if you're comparing it to his "normal" look. He also wears command yellow rather than science blue.

* YouKeepUsingThatWord: Mitchell is referred to as having extra-sensory ''perception'', when his abilities clearly go well beyond merely "perceiving" things.

** The music soundtrack makes heavy use of eerie electronic elements that sound like they were borrowed from ''Film/ForbiddenPlanet''. The series proper would avoid SpaceMusic in favor traditional(albeit memorable) orchestral elements in their composition.

** The music soundtrack makes heavy use of eerie electronic elements that sound like they were borrowed from ''Film/ForbiddenPlanet''. The series proper would stick to acoustic instruments and traditional cues and leitmotifs for the most part.

** The music soundtrack makes heavy use of electronic elements that sound like they were borrowed from ''Film/ForbiddenPlanet''. The series proper would stick to acoustic instruments for the most part.

** Sulu is present but is not the helm officer (he is the ship's botanist).

* CriticalHesitationBlunder: Subverted. Kirk is fighting Gary Mitchell while Mitchell's psionic powers are temporarily suppressed. As Kirk is about to smash in Mitchell's head with a rock, he hesitates for a moment as he says "Gary, forgive me." Because of the delay Mitchell regains his powers and Kirk loses his chance to kill him. A few seconds later Kirk gets lucky and manages to kill Mitchell anyway.

'''Gary:''' (laughs) Yeah, she was nova that one. Not nearly as many after-effects this time...

* ProHumanTranshuman: Dehner, who sides with Kirk (and humanity) in the end. Her FamousLastWords say it all.

-->'''KIRK:''' Did you hear him joke about compassion? ABOVE ALL ELSE, A GOD NEEDS COMPASSION, ''[[SayMyName
MITCHELL!!]]''

* SuddenlyShouting \ SayMyName
** '''KIRK:''' Did you hear him joke about compassion? ABOVE ALL ELSE, A GOD NEEDS COMPASSION, ''MITCHELL!!''

* FutureSlang: Mitchell refers to a girl he once met as 'nova'. Assuming she didn't turn into an exploding sun, it presumably means she either had a radiant personality or an [[Tsundere}} explosive temper]].

* SuddenNameChange: Crewman Mitchell, possessed of near-omnipotent alien powers, fights Kirk and creates an open grave with a tombstone reading "James '''R.''' Kirk". This would normally be a minor matter but given how many times Kirk later introduces himself as "James '''T.''' Kirk" it's actually quite jarring.

** '''KIRK:''' Did you hear him joke about compassion? ABOVE ALL ELSE, A GOD NEEDS COMPASSION, MITCHELL!!

!!Tropes

* NoodleIncident: After Gary Mitchell is zapped by the mysterious energy field on the edge of the galaxy and sent to sick bay, Kirk visits him, where they share this exchange: [[note]] No further references to the incident, the girl, or just what Gary meant when he said "nova" (or [[{{Squick}} after-effects]], for that matter) are made. Later on in the scene, Gary admits to having secretly set Kirk up with "a little blonde lab assistant," and "planning her whole campaign." Shocked, Kirk declares he almost married that woman. Though certain revelations from Star Trek movies have led to speculation that this blonde was Carol Marcus, nothing is ever concluded.[[/note]]

* [[SwordOverHead Rock Over Head]]: Kirk hesitates to smash Gary's head in with a huge rock. This was not a good idea.

* DrunkWithPower: Initially Mitchell doesn't seem all that different, but as his power grows he becomes more aloof and arrogant.

** The ship needs ''lithium'' crystals to re-energize the ship, rather than ''di''lithium. This was changed early, similar to the weapons changing from lasers to phasers, to attempt an aversion of ScienceMarchesOn. Lithium is a known substance with known properties, dilithium [[Unobtanium is not.]]

** The ship needs ''lithium'' crystals to re-energize the ship, rather than ''di''lithium.

* AGodAmI: Gary Mitchell rather handily proclaims himself.

* MurderIsTheBestSolution: Just because Mitchell is getting a bit conceited, everyone jumps to this conclusion because his powers are growing so fast he will soon be uncontrollable.