The Cage

"The Cage" was the original pilot episode of Star Trek, made in 1964, but first broadcast on television in 1988.

Much of the footage was recycled in the later episode "The Menagerie", which revisited the events of the plot. However, the process of editing ended up destroying what was thought to be the only known color print. For many decades, a black-and-white print of the original pilot was shown at conventions and later used for early video releases of "The Cage". It was only in the late 1980s that a full-color print was discovered in Paramount's archives.

"The Cage" had most of the essential features of Star Trek, but many differences, in cast and terminology. The Captain of the Starship Enterprise was not James T. Kirk, but Christopher Pike. Mr. Spock was present, but not as First Officer - that role was taken by a character known only as Number One, played by Majel Barrett. Spock's character differs somewhat from that seen in the rest of Star Trek: he displays much more emotion than usual.

NBC reportedly called the pilot "too cerebral", "too intellectual", "not enough action", and "too slow"; but rather than rejecting the series outright the network commissioned (in an unprecedented move) a second pilot: "Where No Man Has Gone Before".

Warning: Plot details follow.

The Enterprise receives a distress call from a planet known as Talos IV, claiming to be from a crashed colony ship. It was sent at light-speed and had been in transit for 20 years. Upon arrival they find a healthy-looking colony, and evidence of an alien civilisation on the planet. Captain Pike is captured by them. It is revealed that the colony (bar one person, Vina, who was a child at the time of the crash and is disfigured) was an illusion caused by the Talosians, and their real intent was to lure more humans to the planet so they could obtain a breeding pair for their zoo - hoping that they will one day be able to use their descendants as a workforce for the rebuilding of their planet. Upon discovering that humans find captivity cruel, the Talosians give up and release Pike. Vina is allowed to stay on the planet, where she may continue to enjoy the illusion the Talosians have been providing her of life without her injuries.