History Recap / StarTrekS1E9DaggerOfTheMind

[[caption-width-right:320:Spock and Van Gelder share the very first MindMeld.]]

* ChristmasEpisode: This episode is mentioned as taking place after a Christmas party in the science labs. This is one of the few times a religious holiday is mentioned in the Star Trek future, and Christmas in particular was not mentioned again until ''Film/StarTrekGenerations''.

* AbsenteeActor: Scotty and Sulu are absent from this episode.

* BigElectricSwitch: A [[BigRedButton red double-handed]] switch is used to shut off the forcefield. Good thing too, as Helen might not otherwise have known how to CutTheJuice. When Spock shuts down the forcefield properly, he breaks open a locked cabinet and [[BoringButPractical just flicks off a row of switches instead]].

This episode is also known as "[[TheOneWith The One That Got]] [[Recap/SouthParkS2E11RogerEbertShouldLayOffTheFattyFoods Parodied Off]] By ''WesternAnimation/SouthPark''".

The crazy old man is at first believed to be an escaped inmate from Tantalus, but it's discovered that he's actually Simon Van Gelder, one of the doctors. Dr. Adams tells Kirk that Dr. Van Gelder pulled a ProfessorGuineaPig while working on a device called the Neural Neutralizer, losing his mind in the process. And would he kindly return him? Bones tells Kirk he smells a rat. Kirk gives Adams some B.S. about how they can't due to some red tape. Adams good naturedly accepts this and cordially invites Kirk down for a visit. Kirk takes him up on this. Bones suggests Kirk take a psychological expert with him. He recommends Dr. Noel. It seems Kirk and Dr. ''Helen'' Noel have met before. Apparently, even in the future office Christmas parties can get out of hand...

* ActionSurvivor: Dr Helen Noel doesn't have the skills to fight security mooks and sabotage power circuits, but she saves the day anyway.

* FreakOut: Dr. Van Gelder has the [[ChewingTheScenery mother of them all]]. Screaming, raving, crazy eyes, violent outbursts. He shouts "I am not a criminal!" Incidentally, the actor needed a four day reprieve after this emotionally-taxing role.

* TheMainCharactersDoEverything: Dr. Helen Noel is one of the Enteprise's psychiatrist'''s'''. So, [[PlotHole why isn't Bones assisted by any of them]] for the puzzling case of Van Gelder?

* TheMainCharactersDoEverything: Dr. Helen Noel is one of the Enteprise's psychiatrist'''s'''. So, [[PlotHole why Bones isn't assisted by any of them]] for the puzzling case of Van Gelder?

** When Spock is about to start the mind meld, he assures Bones that it's not hypnotism and he won't be affected just by observing. The script originally called for Spock to hypnotise van Gelder, but NBC sent a caution:
--> In accordance with our precautions to avoid hypnotizing a viewer, the act of hypnotizing must be either out of context or done off-camera. Further, since you are portraying hypnotism as a legitimate medical tool, Van Gelder should be hypnotized by ''Dr.'' [=McCoy=] rather than ''Mr.'' Spock unless ''Mr.'' Spock can be established as being qualified in the use of this technique.
** Nimoy says he came up with the mind meld and how it was done. He told Shimon Wincelberg, who loved it and ran off to the typewriter to put it in.

* AboveTheInfluence: Dr. Helen Noel flirts with Kirk, but he refuses to reciprocate. Later on, Kirk is {{Brainwashed}} into thinking he's in love with her and she desperately tries to explain what happened, in fact seeming rather creeped out. Averted at first; when Kirk tells Helen to give him a fake memory, she chooses one where [[BridalCarry he sweeps Helen off her feet]] after the Christmas party regardless of what the crew might think. However even in this fantasy she accepts that Kirk [[TheCasanova doesn't genuinely love her]], and is horrified when Dr Adams implants the suggestion in Kirk's mind.

* AboveTheInfluence: Dr. Helen Noel flirts with Kirk, but he refuses to reciprocate. Later on, Kirk is {{Brainwashed}} into thinking he's in love with her and she desperately tries to explain what happened, in fact seeming rather creeped out.
** Averted at first; when Kirk tells Helen to give him a fake memory, [[WishFulfillment she chooses one]] where [[BridalCarry he sweeps Helen off her feet]] after the Christmas party [[RelationshipSue regardless of what the crew might think]]. However even in this fantasy she accepts that Kirk [[TheCasanova doesn't genuinely love her]], and is horrified when Dr Adams implants the suggestion in Kirk's mind.

* MuggedForDisguise: Dr. Van Gelder knocks out a RedShirt and steals his jumpsuit in an attempt to fit in. It doesn't work for long because he's wearing an Engineering uniform in the wrong area of the ship, and so is spotted during the security alert when everyone else has gone to their stations.

* UnwittingInstigaterOfDoom: Spock gets a rare heroic example when he turns on the power, with no way of knowing that it would also turn on the mind control machine with the villain of the week still inside.

* NotSoDire: Helen backs off in alarm as a BrainwashedAndCrazy Kirk advances towards her. Turns out he's actually spotted the [[AirVentEscape air vent]] she's standing in front of.

%%* PantyShot: Hello, Dr. Noel!

!!Tropes for this episode include:

* PantyShot: [[HelloNurse Hello]], Dr. Noel!

* ProfessorGuineaPig: Invoked to explain Van Gelder's condition; however Bones refuses to believe this explanation and demands that Kirk investigate the matter.

* RedShirts: They get off easy in this ep. Two get karate chopped, one gets put in a chokehold until he passes out. It's possible that Dr. Van Gelder wasn't far gone enough to murder and just knocked them out for awhile.

* LiteraryAllusionTitle: From ''Theatre/{{Macbeth}}'': "Or art thou but A dagger of the mind, a false creation Proceeding from the heat-oppressed brain?"

* ExpositoryPronoun: Van Gelder refers to himself as "we" after forming a MentalFusion with Spock.

** Van Gelder urges Spock to proceed with the mind meld, despite being warned that it could be dangerous to a human.

** When Spock is about to start the mind meld, he assures Bones that it's not hypnotism and he won't be affected just by observing. The script originally called for Spock to hypnotise van Gelder, but it was worried that some ''viewers'' might be easily hypnotised, so the fictional "Vulcan mind meld" was created.

** Rather than a purely-telepathic act as portrayed in later years, the Vulcan mind-meld initially involves Spock manipulating pressure points on Gelder's face to affect his nerves and blood vessels, to induce a relaxed state susceptible to a MentalFusion.

* MentalFusion: Spock Mind Melds Van Gelder to pick info from his troubled mind.

** Had Kirk try out the Neural Neutralizer, complete with him not realizing he blanked out for a second when it was turned on.

* WhatTheHellHero: With Van Gelder StrappedToAnOperatingTable, Kirk just wants to [[SomeoneElsesProblem dump him back on the penal colony]] while Bones just wants to [[ForScience study his medical condition]]. Van Gelder tells them both off for their attitude.

* MuggedForDisguise: Dr. Van Gelder knocks out a RedShirt and steals his jumpsuit in an attempt to fit in. It doesn't work for long because he's wearing an Engineering uniform in the wrong area of the ship, and so is spotted during the security alert while everyone else has gone to their stations.