The Man Trap: Review

Ah, the official unofficial pilot of The Original Series. Though it wasn’t intended to be the first episode (as Where No Man Has Gone Before was recorded before it), it was the very first episode aired. Upon rewatching it and reviewing it, I kept thinking about how to come at it—as a pilot or as a mid-season episode. I eventually decided to review it as a pilot, as even though it wasn’t intended as such, it does fulfill that role.

This episode does three things–it gives us great detail about the side characters, very little about the main characters and completely irrelevant information about the actual plot. Upon watching it for the first time since completing the series, I was confused about what was happening. Not because it wasn’t laid out for me, but because it didn’t align with what the show would become. For some reason, McCoy and Kirk are doing a routine medical check on two scientists on an empty planet, one of whom is an ex-girlfriend of our favourite doctor.

 I had several questions. Why is Kirk, the captain of the flagship of the Federation on this mission? Why is the Enterprise doing a routine medical check to begin with? They, if it went as planned, would have spend a full day checking in on just two people. Also, at the beginning of the episode, Uhura is at helms? And Sulu is nowhere to be seen? That last part is later explained, though I still found it unusual. 

At least I had the comforting familiarity of the Styrofoam sets to fall back on.

Bones and an extremely choir-boy-esque Kirk (seriously, look at his hair) exchange some playful banter that does a good job of demonstrating their friendship. Bones is characteristically short with Jim, though later he pretty much neglects his God-given duty of teasing Spock relentlessly. It’s one of the shortcomings of this entire episode. There’s very little dynamic between our main 3 boys. It feels much more like an episode of Deep Space Nine, since there’s a lot more focus given to the whole cast. It’s not bad, but it is a little offputting in a show such as this one.

Next, we meet Nancy Crater, “that one woman in Doctor McCoy’s past.” We begin a wonderful tradition in this episode, as Bones constantly mentions that Nancy “looks the same as she did 10 years ago.” Trust me, he says it a lot. A full four times, if anyone was wondering.

The credits roll after the ensign of the week is charmed by a rather different looking Nancy. Instead of being brunette, she’s blonde! I’ll take this moment to mention how fantastic Jeanne Bal, who plays Nancy, is. She manages to seem like Nancy Crater, then like salt-alien Nancy, then like the salt monster. She’s great opposite DeForrest Kelly too.

We then meet Nancy’s intense husband, who insults Kirk, asks for a bunch of salt and refuses a medical examination. As always, this show has the most bizarre side characters. Everyone’s just starting to be pleasant with eachother when Nancy screams from outside. The ensign of the week is dead (shocker) but he’s also wearing a blue shirt, so I suppose this counts as a plot twist. We get our first “He’s dead, Jim,” too, which is one of the highlights of the episode.

I know it’s not relevant at all, but for some reason, it’s like they forgot to powder Shatner in this scene. In my notes, I have “Why is Jim glistening?” and I stand by it. He’s often weirdly sweaty in scenes, and I don’t know whether that’s because he had to run in the previous shot, or whether the lights were just incredibly bright. I think it’s probably a little from Column A, and a little from Column B.

Next comes my personal favourite scene in the episode, one of the only Uhura-Spock scenes in the show. This, in my opinion, is the epitome of what makes this episode good. The side characters (so anyone who is not McCoy/Kirk/Spock) get things to do, dynamics and personalities. It feels like a fully fleshed out crew rather than the Shatner Show.

Spock is confused by Uhura’s flirting (I wonder why). And they deliver possibly my favourite lines of dialogue in this entire episode

UHURA: I'm an illogical woman who's beginning to feel too much a part of that communications console. Why don't you tell me I'm an attractive young lady, or ask me if I've ever been in love? Tell me how your planet Vulcan looks on a lazy evening when the moon is full.

SPOCK: Vulcan has no moon, Miss Uhura.

UHURA: I'm not surprised, Mister Spock.

I wish we had gotten more of them in The Original Series. I feel like they could have had a truly incredible friendship.

Right after this exchange is our Spirkiest moment, when Uhura claims that Kirk is the closest thing Spock has “to a friend.” Yet again, this show makes me forget that Kirk and Spock do not in fact kiss at the end. Or ever.

McCoy and Kirk have an unremarkable scene (apart from Bones getting annoyed and calling Kirk “sir). This scene is immediately followed by more plot confusion–the Enterprise is, inexplicably, carrying chilli peppers? Not discovering new worlds? Don’t they have cargo ships? I’ll just write it off on them figuring out the show and sweep it under the rug.

Bones and Spock gang up on Jim about the lack of salt in the dead ensigns body, beam down, and after a confrontation, Professor Crater slowly “runs” away. McCoy points this out to Jim (though running is too strong a word), and Nancy becomes crewman Green. The plot is finally picking up.

Another highlight of this episode is the inclusion of Janice Rand, who doesn’t react that much to Nancy/Green trying to steal the salt from the tray she’s carrying. I don't know if shenanigans like that happen all the time on the Enterprise, but with the amount of possessions/split personalities etc etc, I wouldn't be surprised if she’s become numb to weird behaviour. 

We then get some great Sulu stuff (I love George Takei!) where Janice and him talk about Gertrude, a “plant” made out of crepe paper and a dream. Yet again, Nancy shamelessly searches for salt (even though she just killed someone?)

She then turns her sights to Uhura, they have a weird flirtatious encounter, but luckily Uhura gets away unharmed. I think this is where one of the mysteries of the Star Trek franchise was born, as she speaks Swahili but it isn’t translated by the Universal Translator. Can they choose what is translated? If so, how?

One thing that always amazes me in this show is how incredible future space technology is, how many problems the Universal Translator could solve and the life saving medtech that allows human lifespans well over 100 years. And yet. The beds look like the scratchiest, hardest, most uncomfortable mattresses I’ve ever seen. No blankets, no pillows, just pain. Unfortunately, in the show’s run and consecutive series, it doesn’t improve. 

Another crewman is found dead, Bones is replaced by Nancy-Bones and our boys beam down to the planet to confront Crater. Crater, the homophobe, yells “Go away! We don't want you here.” Spock and Kirk circle Crater, slithering through bushes (and yes, slithering is indeed the right word,) and generally being a nuisance to Crater. They manage to hit him, and he finally reveals that Nancy is some sort of salt alien, and the real Nancy gave up her life to preserve this endangered species. 

This would have made more sense if we had established early on that Nancy was interested in alien life, or conservation, but it’s a serviceable plot point nonetheless. Crater makes an analogy about buffalo that doesn’t land entirely well (as the show will later go on to appropriate Native American culture in a later episode “The Paradise Syndrome.”) 

When we cut back to the Enterprise, the crew are talking about how to track Nancy down, a scene which feels reminiscent of Sisko’s search for the Changelings on Earth in Deep Space Nine. Nancy/McCoy (quite suspiciously) notes that the creature is intelligent, which really makes use of the dramatic irony that’s been prominent throughout this episode. The crew then suggest using “truth serum,” which feels pretty unethical. Nancy, again, floats the idea of using salt to lure the creature in, which…would just be luring herself in. Giving away her identity. It’s not explained whether or not she has an ulterior motive.

Luckily, Spock is here to save the day by demonstrating his usual dry wit–“Your attitude is laudable doctor, but your reasoning is reckless”. Legend. And, it finally brings in the Bones-Spock dynamic that’s been extremely lacking.

Nancy as McCoy then hits Spock (no!!!) giving away her disguise. Again, reasoning unknown. Spock is fine, despite having his salt stolen, as “Fortunately, my ancestors spawned in another ocean than yours did. My blood cells are quite different.” Again, legend. 

Kirk eventually tracks down Nancy, but is defeated and is having his salt stolen. In my notes, I seem to be extremely confused. “Why is Nancy feeding again? She’s de-salted at least 3 people in the last day.” 

Spock rushes in, and is extremely emotional as he tries to convince McCoy to shoot Nancy with a phaser. In later episodes, he would have utilised his neck pinch, but as it’s the unofficial official pilot, they haven’t worked out all the Vulcan abilities, so I’ll let them have this one. This scene is reminiscent of The City on the Edge of Forever, as Bones has to decide to let the woman he loves die for the greater good, or be selfish. As Nancy transforms into her final form (and into some of my favouirte prosthetics in the show) he decides to shoot. 

The episode ends with the trademark Weird Banter between Spock, Bones and Kirk, and left me wondering as to what had just happened.

The episode was serviceable, but it didn’t feel like a Star Trek episode. It was unclear as to why they were on the mission in the first place, there was very little Kirk and Spock, and there was a much greater focus on the ensemble. This episode is single-handedly the basis for any fanfiction that puts emphasis on the side characters, as a lot about their lives, personalities and relationships comes from this episode. I love ensemble shows, so this episode was more enjoyable for me. However, as a certified Kirk x Spock believer, there wasn’t much to draw from. 

A few miscellaneous things I noticed from this episode were that there’s a female ensign wearing trousers (if you’re curious, it’s in the scene where Sulu and Janice find a crewman dead.) There’s also some assorted music cues and sound effects we don’t hear anywhere else in the show, including a rather strange jazz remix of the main theme. In terms of characterisation, this episode feels off. Bones isn’t his usual grumpy self, Spock is unnecessarily emotional in parts, and Kirk has barely enough scenes for him to even register as the captain. 

I’ve seen ‌middling reviews for this episode, and I’ll have to agree. It was fun and watchable, and I didn’t find myself cringing as I would in some later episodes. Despite the strange vibe and confusing plot, I found myself enjoying it and laughing at parts. Overall, I’m going to give it a 3.5 out of 5. 

Overall: 3.5/5

Plot: 3/5

Characters: 3.5/5

Sets: 4/5 (I’m a sucker for some dramatic TOS sets)
Shippability: 2/5

Prosthetics: 5/5 (It’s just so silly)