History Recap / StarTrekS1E28TheCityOnTheEdgeOfForever

* DownerEnding

While Kirk and Spock do menial jobs, Spock is able to [[BambooTechnology 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: Soon after 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 [[SoapboxSadie a peace activist]] and successfully convinced FranklinDRoosevelt to keep America from entering WorldWarII until too late, [[GodwinsLawOfTimeTravel allowing the Nazis to win]] and preventing Starfleet from ever existing. Kirk and Spock realize that [[SadisticChoice in order to prevent this from happening, Edith Keeler must die.]]

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 doing whatever he did. Steeling themselves to find the correct moment in history, Kirk and Spock jump through the portal and arrive in [[BigApplesauce New York City]] during TheGreatDepression, where the pair must disguise themselves while they search for [=McCoy=]. Unfortunately, their Starfleet uniforms (and Spock's Vulcan ears) [[HighlyConspicuousUniform 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, [[WideEyedIdealist idealistic]] [[BrainyBrunette 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 [[MildlyMilitary military demeanour.]]

* HomeVersionSoundtrackReplacement: The [=DVDs=] were originally going to have "Goodnight, Sweetheart" replaced by generic music for monetary reasons. Then the [=DVDs=] were made with the song still in so Creator/{{Paramount}} paid the money.

''Many such journeys are possible. Let me be your gateway.''

* RecycledSet: 1930s New York City sure looks a lot like Mayberry from ''Series/TheAndyGriffithShow'' (Kirk and Edith even walk past "Floyd's Barber Shop"). You can also see Mayberry in the episode "[[{{Recap/StarTrekS1E8Miri}} Miri]]".

* HomeVersionSoundtrackReplacement: The [=DVDs=] were originally going to have "Goodnight, Sweetheart" replaced by generic music for monetary reasons. Then the [=DVDs=] were made with the song still in so Paramount paid the money.

* ExecutiveMeddling: The writer HarlanEllison described later on how his original screenplay - which required massive and expensive sets, had a drug dealing yeoman as the villain, additional characters for comic relief, and had ''Spock'' and not Kirk make the decision to let Edith get killed - got shredded. To be fair, depicting a drug culture went against Roddenberry's Utopian ideals of Starfleet, and Kirk being TheKirk had to make the tough decisions.

In the penultimate episode of the first season (based on a treatment by HarlanEllison), the crew of the ''Enterprise'' finds itself exploring a [[NegativeSpaceWedgie "temporal disturbance"]] near an unknown planet. Electromagnetic interference causes the ship's computer to explode, injuring Sulu. [=McCoy=] runs to prepare an injection of super-adrenaline for him, but turbulence causes him to [[IntoxicationEnsues accidentally inject himself]] and become BrainwashedAndCrazy. [=McCoy=] escapes the bridge and beams down to the planet.

In the penultimate episode of the first season (based on a treatment by HarlanEllison), the crew of the ''Enterprise'' finds itself exploring a [[NegativeSpaceWedgie "temporal disturbance"]] near an unknown planet. Electromagnetic interference causes the ship's computer to explode, injuring Sulu. [=McCoy=] runs to prepare an injection of adrenaline for him, but turbulence causes him to [[IntoxicationEnsues accidentally inject himself]] and become BrainwashedAndCrazy. [=McCoy=] escapes the bridge and beams down to the planet.

Following him, the landing party discovers [[RuinsForRuinsSake 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 [[PsychicPowers 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 [[PortalToThePast 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 [[BigApplesauce New York City]] during TheGreatDepression, where the pair must disguise themselves while they search for [=McCoy=]. Unfortunately, their Starfleet uniforms (and Spock's Vulcan ears) [[HighlyConspicuousUniform 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, [[WideEyedIdealist idealistic]] [[BrainyBrunette 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 [[MildlyMilitary military demeanour.]]

While Kirk and Spock do menial jobs, Spock is able to [[BambooTechnology 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 [[SoapboxSadie a peace activist]] and successfully convinced FranklinDRoosevelt to keep America from entering WorldWarII until too late, [[GodwinsLawOfTimeTravel allowing the Nazis to win]] and preventing Starfleet from ever existing. Kirk and Spock realize that [[SadisticChoice in order to prevent this from happening, Edith Keeler must die.]]

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.

* AnimatedAdaptation: The [[WesternAnimation/StarTrekTheAnimatedSeries TAS]] episode "Yesteryear" is a sequel to this episode.

* RecycledSet: 1930s New York City sure looks a lot like Mayberry from ''Series/TheAndyGriffithShow''. You can also see Mayberry in the episode "[[{{Recap/StarTrekS1E8Miri}} Miri]]".

* HomeVersionSoundtrackReplacement: The DVDs were originally going to have "Goodnight, Sweetheart" replaced by generic music for monetary reasons. Then the DVDs were made with the song still in so Paramount paid the money.

* StatusQuoIsGod: Neither Spock nor Kirk suggests the possibility of taking the foward thinking Edith Keeler back to the future with them instead of letting her get killed 'again'.

* AnimatedAdaptation: The [[StarTrekTheAnimatedSeries TAS]] episode "Yesteryear" is a sequel to this episode.

Series: Main/{{Star Trek The Original Series}}\\

* KillTheCutie

* RecycledSet: 1930s New York City sure looks a lot like Mayberry from ''Series/TheAndyGriffithShow''. You can also see Mayberry in the episode [[{{Recap/StarTrekS1E8Miri}} Miri]].

* RecycledSet: 1930s New York City sure looks a lot like Mayberry from ''Series/TheAndyGriffithShow''.

* StatisQuoIsGod: Neither Spock nor Kirk suggests the possibility of taking the foward thinking Edith Keeler back to the future with them instead of letting her get killed 'again'.

* CrowningMomentOfAwesome: Considered the best episode from the Original Series ever made.

Recapper: {{Tropers/AlexanderKaras}}]

* AlwaysSaveTheGirl: Played with, since saving Edith would doom the world.