WARNING: This thread WILL contain unhidden spoilers for this entry. Because this re-watch is in a slightly-subjective chronological order and not in production order, please refrain from talking about the content of other episodes or movies in this thread. If you do, please put that content inside spoiler tags. Some people here may be watching Star Trek for the first time.
#56: Star Trek: The Original Series, season 2, episode 20 “Return to Tomorrow”
Written by John Kingsbridge, directed by Ralph Senensky.
Stardates 4768.3 through 4770.3 (August 2268)
“This body please me. I intend to keep it.” - Thalassa
The Enterprise chases an unusually-powerful distress signal into an unexplored star system. The source of the signal is found to be a planet that used to be similar to Earth, but is now long dead. Suddenly, in the proximity of the planet, a benevolent voice fills the ship and invites them to the surface. There, there find an orb with the consciousness of an ancient alien named Sargon (James Doohan) who’s race existed long before all others, and whom very likely seeded Earth to create the first humans. Those few of them who remain wish to return to physical bodies and ask Captain Kirk, Commander Spock, and Lieutenant Mulhall (Diana Muldaur) to allow them to become temporary possessed with their life force so that they may construct new bodies and live amongst caporal beings once again.
Originally released: 3 May 1968
“Return to Tomorrow” on Memory Alpha (mirror)
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What did you think?
Visual effects comparison of the original broadcast & the Remastered versions.
Good to very good ep. I think maybe it didn’t register as one of the greatest eps because it was kind of a bottle show - thought experiment as opposed to ones with more action, locales, drama and interesting new (physical) characters.
I thought it was really cool to hear James Doohan’s natural voice amplified as Sargon, and downright awesome to see Spock playing a smarmy, scheming villain.
At the end, the spheres’ fast-deteriorating was quite a shock and dramatic touch for me, and then Sargon & Thalassa deciding to embrace one last time before throwing themselves to oblivion was really quite moving.
