7 Things I Learned Watching Star Trek’s First Episode for the First Time 60 Years Later

This year, Star Trek celebrates its 60th anniversary. The original series first aired in September, and since then, it’s become a huge part of popular culture. What started as a simple science fiction show in the 1960s has grown into a vast and enduring story told through many TV series, movies, games, and other media. With so much content created over the decades, it can feel overwhelming for people who are new to Star Trek.

Growing up, I didn’t watch much Star Trek, but I’ve picked up bits and pieces over the years. I’ve seen the J.J. Abrams movies, including Star Trek Beyond, and a few episodes of The Next Generation. Plus, Star Trek has become so ingrained in popular culture through memes and cast members appearing in other shows, that I had a general idea of what it was about. With the anniversary approaching, I decided it was time to actually start watching from the beginning. While Star Trek fans know the first episode isn’t truly the first episode, I decided to start with “The Man Trap” anyway, and here are my initial thoughts on what makes Star Trek special.

7) The Technology Is Already Present and Ready

I knew advanced technology like teleporters and phasers would appear eventually, but I was surprised to see them used right away. What’s really interesting is the show doesn’t bother explaining how these devices work. It just shows them in action, and doesn’t worry about whether the audience understands everything. While I didn’t expect a show from the 1960s to fall into the trap of over-explaining things – a common issue with modern TV where writers worry about viewers being distracted – I did anticipate a gradual introduction of these technologies over the first season. Instead, Kirk has access to everything right from the start.

6) The Opening Credits Are Immediately Iconic

The Star Trek theme song is surprisingly different from the show’s score and overall serious tone. However, it’s undeniably catchy and actually fits the show’s themes well, evoking a sense of vastness and endless space exploration. Combined with the powerful narration that precedes it, the opening credits perfectly set the stage for everything the series is about.

5) The Whole Crew Is Fully Formed (Especially Spock)

When this episode of Star Trek begins, the main crew of the Enterprise is already established – likely because it wasn’t originally intended as the first episode. This turned out to be a positive, as characters like Kirk, Uhura, McCoy, and Sulu are already fully developed with clear personalities and roles. Spock, played brilliantly by Leonard Nimoy, is arguably the most fascinating, offering a unique perspective on his fellow crew members and their missions. However, a funny distraction: what exactly is that thing in Spock’s ear during some of the video calls?

4) There’s a Major Blooper in One Scene

When Kirk returns from the planet’s surface, he rushes to the bridge, trying to understand what just happened. This scene features a particularly exciting and fluid camera movement, following Kirk as he enters the turbo lift and focusing closely on his confused expression. However, during this energetic shot, the cameraman’s shadow briefly appears on screen—a noticeable mistake. It doesn’t completely detract from the scene, but once you spot it, it’s hard to ignore.

3) The Meal System on the Enterprise Is Apparently Five Stars

Of course, the crew needs to eat, but I was really surprised when the alien, disguised as Crewman Green, immediately noticed Yeoman Rand waiting for a lift with her lunch. It wasn’t the fact that she was eating, but the presentation – a nice china tray with a fresh meal and ridiculously large salt and pepper shakers – that really caught me off guard.

Adding to the mystery, there’s a strange detail about the food. Even though Yeoman Rand is shown eating from a plate and seasoning it, it turns out the meal isn’t actually hers! She brings it to the Botany lab, where it’s revealed to be for Mr. Sulu. Does he know she’s taking his food? Do they have some kind of arrangement? It’s a bizarre situation, and it’s unclear if the show will ever explain it.

2) There’s More Than Just the Standard Uniforms

While I was still reeling from the shock of Yeoman Rand unknowingly eating Mr. Sulu’s food, I noticed something else unexpected: the uniforms weren’t what I thought they’d be. I’d assumed the standard would be black pants and solid-color shirts, with skirts for the women. But the episode showed a lot of different costumes, including sleek coveralls and even radiation suits! And surprisingly, not all the women wore skirts – one crew member was shown wearing black slacks. It was a nice change of pace to see so much variety!

1) The Writing Is Already Top-Tier

After finally watching the first episode of Star Trek, what stands out most is the surprisingly strong writing. The characters are well-defined, with clear motivations, and the writers skillfully use this to drive the story and build suspense. Even with its futuristic setting and alien life, the show explains complex ideas in a relatable way, often through comparisons to things we already understand. For instance, the creature’s camouflage ability is cleverly explained by comparing it to a chameleon, making it easy to grasp even within the show’s universe.

Beyond the main plot, the writing contains some truly memorable lines that both advance the story and deepen our understanding of the characters. A great example is Kirk’s playful rebuke to Bones, “Stop thinking with your glands,” which subtly reveals their dynamic to adult viewers while also highlighting their personalities. The episode’s ending is also powerful, with Kirk’s seemingly random comment about “thinking about the buffalo” adding a layer of contemplation about the moral cost of the crew’s actions – having to kill the last of an alien race to survive.

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2026-02-06 19:12