Television Review: Yesteryear (Star Trek: The Animated Series, S1X02, 1973)

Yesteryear (S02E02)

Airdate: September 15th 1973

Written by: D. C. Fontana
Directed by: Hal Sutherland

Running Time: 22 minutes

The Star Trek: Animated Series (TAS), often overshadowed by its live-action counterparts, has a unique place in the hearts of Trekkies. Unlike The Original Series (TOS), which has a plethora of episodes vying for the title of best, TAS enjoys a more consensus-driven opinion. The honour of being the standout episode is bestowed upon Yesteryear, the very second episode of the series. This episode not only captivated audiences during its initial run but also laid significant groundwork for the development of the Star Trek franchise and its expansive lore.

Yesteryear cleverly borrows a plot element from one of The Original Series' most beloved episodes, The City on the Edge of Forever. In that episode, the ancient time-traveling portal known as the Guardian of Forever played a pivotal role. Yesteryear opens with a team of two Federation historians, accompanied by Captain Kirk and Mr. Spock, using the Guardian to travel back in time to research Orion history. Upon their return, Kirk notices something amiss: nobody recognises Commander Spock as the first officer of the USS Enterprise. Instead, the role is filled by Commander Thelin, an Andorian. Further investigation reveals that Spock died at the age of seven during the kahs-wan maturity test on his home planet of Vulcan. Spock deduces that his carelessness during the time-travel expedition inadvertently erased himself from the timeline.

To rectify this temporal error, Spock must return to Vulcan and save his younger self. He recalls that his life was saved by a cousin named Selek. Assuming the identity of this fictional cousin, Spock travels back to the year 2237 AD and visits young Spock's home in the city of Shikahr. There, he finds the seven-year-old Spock being bullied by his peers for being half-human and discovers that his father, Sarek, is emotionally distant. Spock befriends the boy and secretly follows him during his ritual trek into the desert. In the L-langon Mountains, young Spock and his pet sehlat, I-Chikaya, are attacked by a le-matya, a vicious predator. Spock saves the boy, but I-Chikaya is mortally injured. After consulting a healer, young Spock decides to put his pet out of its misery, deeming it "the logical thing to do." Spock then returns to the Guardian and finds himself back in the correct timeline.

Yesteryear is the sole episode of The Animated Series written by D. C. Fontana, one of Star Trek's most renowned authors. Fontana was insistent on maintaining continuity with The Original Series, and some details of the episode were inspired by the discussions between Spock and Sarek about Spock's childhood in the TOS episode Journey to Babel, also written by Fontana. This attention to detail and continuity is one of the reasons why Yesteryear stands out.

Despite its short runtime and rapid pace, Yesteryear manages to explain complex concepts such as time travel, alternative timelines, and the paradoxes that come with them in a relatively simple manner. The episode is divided into two parts: the first part, where Spock solves the mystery of the altered timeline, and the second part, which offers a fascinating reconstruction of Spock's early life and the most comprehensive depiction of Vulcan, its landscapes, cities, and culture up to that point.

The episode is notable for featuring Mark Lenard, the actor who became famous for playing Sarek in The Original Series. Lenard's reprise of the role in Yesteryear secured his later appearances as Sarek in other incarnations of the franchise, making it a significant moment in Star Trek history.

Yesteryear faced challenges with NBC executives over a scene in which Spock's beloved pet dies. The executives thought it might be too disturbing for children. However, Fontana insisted on keeping the scene, arguing that children needed to be educated about the concept of death, even when it involves their pets. Gene Roddenberry and Filmation supported her, and the scene was retained. This decision later won praise from critics and fans, who appreciated the emotional depth it added to the episode.

Yesteryear became the most memorable episode of The Animated Series and was later referenced in the 2009 live-action film Star Trek. This episode's impact on the franchise is undeniable, and its legacy continues to influence Star Trek lore and storytelling. The blend of nostalgia, character development, and thought-provoking themes makes Yesteryear a timeless classic in the Star Trek canon.

RATING: 8/10 (+++)

Blog in Croatian https://draxblog.com
Blog in English https://draxreview.wordpress.com/
InLeo blog https://inleo.io/@drax.leo

InLeo: https://inleo.io/signup?referral=drax.leo
Leodex: https://leodex.io/?ref=drax
Hiveonboard: https://hiveonboard.com?ref=drax
Rising Star game: https://www.risingstargame.com?referrer=drax
1Inch: https://1inch.exchange/#/r/0x83823d8CCB74F828148258BB4457642124b1328e

BTC donations: 1EWxiMiP6iiG9rger3NuUSd6HByaxQWafG
ETH donations: 0xB305F144323b99e6f8b1d66f5D7DE78B498C32A7
BCH donations: qpvxw0jax79lhmvlgcldkzpqanf03r9cjv8y6gtmk9