All 7 Banned Star Trek Episodes, Explained

While Star Trek is usually considered appropriate for all ages, seven episodes were actually banned for a period of time. What makes Star Trek different from many other science fiction shows is its hopeful look at the future. The series emphasizes optimism and exploration, and typically delivers a positive message for viewers of any age.

Over its 60-year run, Star Trek hasn’t always been without its share of disagreements. Even the original series was groundbreaking for the 1960s, challenging common beliefs about race and gender. Star Trek is fundamentally opposed to prejudice of any kind – racism, sexism, or any other form of discrimination we still see today – and that’s naturally caused some controversy.

Some Star Trek episodes were so controversial they were banned by certain TV channels. While no episode has ever been completely banned in the United States, many caused problems for the reasons mentioned before. This continued with Star Trek: The Next Generation, as a few episodes proved too sensitive for broadcast in other countries.

There’s a fascinating story behind why some Star Trek episodes were originally banned. Some were considered too disturbing or shocking for viewers, while others appeared to encourage violence through political messaging. Considering there have been almost 1,000 Star Trek episodes made over sixty years, it’s not surprising a few became controversial. Fortunately, all previously banned episodes are now available in the countries that originally prohibited them, and no episodes have been banned since the early 1990s.

7. “Miri” – Star Trek: The Original Series Season 1 Episode 8

Despite first airing on British television in 1970 as part of the original Star Trek series, the episode “Miri” was never shown again. Viewers complained about it, leading to a ban on rebroadcasts that lasted for many years – the exact reasons for the ban remain unclear. However, the content of the episode makes it easy to see why British audiences found it disturbing.

As a huge sci-fi fan, one of the most memorable episodes of Star Trek for me involves the Enterprise stumbling upon a planet that feels eerily familiar – it’s basically a second Earth, but all the adults have died. It turns out a disease created by the planet’s inhabitants wiped them out, leaving only the children. What’s really unsettling is seeing the Enterprise crew start to fall ill – they develop these strange sores and temporary bouts of madness. It’s a tough story to watch, especially when kids are at the center of something so awful, and I remember even back then, the show had to be careful about how it portrayed everything to satisfy the censors.

The episode also caused controversy in the United States and wasn’t often shown again after its first broadcast. Despite being a strong episode from the first season, “Miri” is considered one of the most frightening in the entire series. However, the ban was later removed in the UK, and it’s now commonly aired with the other episodes.

6. “Patterns Of Force” – Star Trek: The Original Series Season 2 Episode 21

The way people understand history varies from country to country, and the Star Trek episode “Patterns of Force” beautifully demonstrates this. While American viewers saw it as a warning about the swift rise of corruption in government, German audiences found it particularly sensitive, given that it aired only twenty years after World War II.

While searching for a lost historian, the Enterprise crew encounters a hidden human colony that has shockingly recreated the government of Nazi Germany, complete with its terrible symbols and ideologies. The episode, “Patterns of Force,” doesn’t shy away from depicting the horrors of this regime, and remains a powerful and significant installment in Star Trek’s legacy.

German television refused to air the episode, finding it completely lacking in entertainment. Given Germany’s strict rules about depicting Nazi imagery at the time, it’s not surprising that “Patterns of Force” was considered unacceptable. The episode wasn’t shown again until 1995, decades after its original creation.

5. “Plato’s Stepchildren” – Star Trek: The Original Series Season 3 Episode 10

“Plato’s Stepchildren,” like many innovative TV episodes, sparked controversy when it first aired. While Season 3 of Star Trek: The Original Series had some weaker episodes, this one is mostly remembered for including one of the first interracial kisses ever shown on American television.

The starship Enterprise encounters a species with telepathic abilities who use them to control people’s minds. This leads to unsettling situations where crew members are compelled to act against their own desires. The BBC refused to air the episode due to its disturbing portrayal of torture, cruelty, and sexual content. It’s also unknown whether a kiss between two people of different races played a role in the decision to ban it.

For years, this episode wasn’t shown on television, but it was eventually added back to the BBC’s broadcast schedule. In her autobiography, Beyond Uhura: Star Trek and Other Memories, Nichelle Nichols explained that American television executives feared Southern stations would strongly protest the episode. However, as she noted, that didn’t happen – the episode was actually well-received by audiences.

4. “The Empath” – Star Trek: The Original Series Season 3 Episode 12

As a big Star Trek fan, I have to admit “The Empath” is one of the weaker episodes from the original series’ third season. It had some really interesting concepts, but honestly, it didn’t quite land. What makes this episode particularly noteworthy, though, is how it was received overseas. Back then, the BBC mostly saw Star Trek as a show for kids, so when they aired “The Empath,” some of its more intense content really surprised – and apparently, upset – viewers in the UK.

The Enterprise crew encounters another alien race who use them as subjects in experiments designed to understand human nature. Similar to the episode “Plato’s Stepchildren,” “The Empath” includes scenes of intense suffering and physical harm. Because of this, the episode wasn’t shown on British television until the 1990s, when other previously banned episodes were finally cleared for broadcast.

3. “Whom Gods Destroy” – Star Trek: The Original Series Season 3 Episode 14

Marta’s captivating dance in the Star Trek: The Original Series episode “Whom Gods Destroy” is what the episode is best remembered for, and it’s the main reason it was banned in the UK for many years. Though often overlooked, the episode is a good example of the show’s ambitious themes, even if it wasn’t perfectly made.

Kirk and Spock travel to a planet filled with an asylum to provide medical help, but they quickly find themselves prisoners of a former Starfleet captain with the power to change his appearance. Yvonne Craig delivers a memorable performance as the Orion character Marta in this single appearance, often considered the highlight of the episode. However, the episode’s violence and suggestive content meant it wasn’t broadcast on the BBC until 1994, and it faced similar delays in Germany, not airing there until the 1980s.

2. “Conspiracy” – Star Trek: The Next Generation Season 1 Episode 25

The first season of Star Trek: The Next Generation wasn’t a smooth launch, but the episode “Conspiracy” was a standout. It’s one of the few TNG episodes that caused controversy and feels very different from the rest of the series.

Captain Picard returns to Earth to investigate whispers of a secret plot within Starfleet’s leadership, but the truth he uncovers is far stranger than he expected. The episode culminates in a shockingly disturbing scene – arguably the most gruesome in all of Star Trek – and features a character suffering a violent and unexpected fate that most viewers wouldn’t anticipate.

The BBC first refused to show the episode, but after some editing, it finally aired. The Canadian broadcast included a disclaimer, and the show’s creators were concerned about how it would be received in the United States. Surprisingly, the episode actually helped TNG win an Emmy Award for Outstanding Makeup that same year.

1. “The High Ground” – Star Trek: The Next Generation Season 3 Episode 12

While Star Trek: The Next Generation often explored controversial issues, the episode “The High Ground” from season 3 proved too sensitive for television stations in England and Ireland. Though the episode attempted to raise a thought-provoking philosophical question, it wasn’t very engaging and ultimately failed to deliver its message effectively.

I was so worried when Dr. Crusher was taken hostage by a terrorist group on a planet torn apart by civil war! But what really struck me was how she didn’t just try to escape – she actually made those who kidnapped her start to think about what they were doing and whether it was right. It reminded me a lot of the conflict in Northern Ireland, but seen through the lens of the future, which was a really interesting way to explore those difficult questions about right and wrong.

The BBC considered some of the dialogue too provocative, particularly Data’s reference to the “Irish Unification of 2024,” and delayed airing the episode until 1992. The original, unedited version wasn’t shown in the UK until 2007. Given that Star Trek is set far in the future, it’s unusual for current events to become relevant to the crew of the Enterprise.

2026-05-10 00:35