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Star Trek TAS - 1x02 - Yesteryear

Originally Aired: 1973-9-15

Synopsis:
By using the Guardian of Forever, Kirk, Spock, and the historian Erikson explore the planet Orion's past. When they return, there is no record of Spock. [Blu-ray] [DVD]

My Rating - 9

Fan Rating Average - 6.66

Rate episode?

Rating: 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
# Votes: 10 2 2 1 3 2 4 2 8 20 14

Problems
None

Factoids
- This episode is the winner of my "Best Episode of TAS Award" but is not a candidate for my "Best Episode Ever Award" because only episodes rated at 10 can be candidates.
- The Guardian of Forever was first discovered in TOS: The City on the Edge of Forever.

Remarkable Scenes
- Nobody knowing who Spock is.
- The first officer, an Andorian! Cool.
- Spock learning of his own death.
- An Andorian using the Vulcan salute. Surreal...
- Seeing the planet Vulcan is always remarkable.
- Sarek's appearance.
- Seeing Spock's sehlat. They look so cute and harmless in a cartoon unlike Spock's description in TOS: Journey to Babel.
- Spock talking to Spock.
- McCoy bemoaning about having to recalibrate his Tricorder to give Spock a physical.

My Review
TAS is not considered canon by most people, which I disagree with. However, even among people who firmly believe TAS is not canon, this episode is largely an exception. Mostly because Spock's backstory is established here. The details of which will be confirmed by later live action shows. I take one point off for using the ridiculous Guardian of Forever and the ensuing time travel absurdity. Other than that a wonderful episode. Remarkable alien: the winged bird-like alien, a Federation member.

The following are comments submitted by my readers.

  • From JRPoole on 2008-12-12 at 5:46pm:
    Problem: Spock has Kirk order up period clothes, then waltzes through the Guardian without them, only to be wearing them later.

    Bigger problem: Selik/Spock tells Sarek he's "on a pilgrimmage to honor our Gods." I just don't see the logical Vulcans worshipping gods, and I don't think it's ever mentioned again.

    That said, not a bad episode for TAS.
  • From CAlexander on 2011-04-05 at 7:58pm:
    The actual story of this episode is fairly routine. It is that chance to see some of Mr. Spock's back story that makes it cool.

    Response to JRPoole:
    - I believe Spock put the outfit in a bag, carried it through, and put it on off-camera. Though I wondered why he didn't put it on before going through, that would make more sense to me.
    - You wouldn't think the Vulcans would worship Gods. But TNG, at least, made clear that they had Gods at some point. And as seen in Amok Time, they do some really, really weird stuff when it comes to honoring ancient Vulcan traditions. So I wouldn't disbelieve some sort of pilgrimage for that purpose.

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