Star Trek: The Cage

"The Cage" is the first pilot episode of the American television series Star Trek. It was completed in early 1965 (with a copyright date of 1964), but not broadcast on television in its complete form until late 1988.

Jeffrey Hunter as Captain Christopher Pike
Leonard Nimoy as Mr. Spock
Majel Barrett as Number One
John Hoyt as Dr. Phillip Boyce

The original Star Trek Pilot, is a product of its time, and is glorious for being so! 

Imagine some alternate reality where we follow the space going adventures of Christoper Pike. Who, totally comes off as a 50s dad - That's not a slam, its an observation. 

I had a bit of culture shock when I turned this on, the other night. Like, wait! This isn't Star Trek, its some other Science Fiction TV Show! 

One thing, this more so, than even the whole of TOS comes across as Americans in Space. Again, not a slam. 

You have a sense, its not meant to be set too far into the future, and in fact Faster Than Light travel feels - NEW. Very new. At best it seems like the (Late) 22nd Century, and I am even doubtful of that. 

You start to realize, women aboard the USS Enterprise were to be better regarded when they wore mini skirts. That's not intended as a backhanded compliment. Every member of the crew wears the same style uniform in the pilot, and yet Christopher Pike seems to be experiencing his own sort of culture shock at having a female yeoman on his bridge. 

It was a crazy moment, when Captain Pike remarked he "Can't get used to having women on the bridge." 

What? 

Imagine if Christopher Pike's Star Trek, had been what we got? In fact I almost want to see that alternate reality. Pike in command for 5 years.