The Magicks of Megas-Tu (episode)

Template:Realworld

While investigating the theory of creation, the Enterprise is caught inside an energy/matter tornado. After emerging from the storm, the crew encounter a world where magic works and science doesn't.

Summary

"Captain's Log: Stardate 1254.4. For years scientists have theorized that if our galaxy was created from a great explosion then the center of the galaxy might still be creating new matter. The Enterprise is now on a science mission to investigate. It's an awesome thought that we may actually witness matter being created."

The Enterprise was sent on a scientific mission to find the creation point, an area in the galactic core where matter was being created. Upon arrival, the starship is caught in what Spock described as a matter-energy whirlwind and thrown into an alternate universe. All of the ship's computers and systems begin to fail, and the crew begins to lose consciousness due to the lack of oxygen.

Suddenly, a red-skinned humanoid with small horns on his head appeared on the bridge. He repaired the systems and welcomed the crew as if they were old friends but preached caution. He took them to his planet, Megas-Tu, where he explained that Megas-Tu was not governed by the same laws as their own universe and that magic thrived here. He then sent them back to the Enterprise, seeming afraid that someone might discover them.

"Captain's Log: Supplemental. In this incredible universe it appears to be part of the natural laws that belief is as potent a force as energy and matter are in our own."

Back on board, some of the crew began experimenting with magic, despite Spock's obvious disapproval. It is discovered that in this universe, belief is as real as matter and energy. Spock explored these new abilities by drawing a pentagram on the floor, and while standing in it, used the power of his belief to move a Vulcan chess piece and Sulu used magic to conjure up a beautiful woman. Lucien reappeared, telling them that using these mental powers would attract unwanted attention. Too late – the Megans have noticed the activity and arrived in non-corporeal form on the Enterprise.

The crew is transported to what appears to be Salem, Massachusetts, in what appears to the be middle of a witch trial. The prosecutor, Asmodeus, explained that the Megans had gone to Earth many years prior in search of companions, as there were no other life forms in their own universe, practiced magic, but were met with hatred, fear, and eventually driven out accused of witchcraft. The remaining few gathered together, and combining their powers, were able to return to Megas-Tu.

Spock spoke in defense of the Humans, since he was not from Earth. Kirk also explained how Humanity has grown since 1691, trying to accept all forms of life with an open mind. Kirk invited Asmodeus to view the ship's computer, which convinced him that Humanity has changed, and that they could go free.

However, they were now putting Lucien on trial for bringing evil to their planet, since they expect that the Enterprise will bring more Humans to their world. Lucien's punishment would be to be condemned to Limbo for eternity. Spock and Kirk defend Lucien's actions, but their words do nothing to convince the court. Seeing no other course of action, Kirk used magic himself, against Asmodeus, in defense of Lucien, despite the knowledge that he could not win. He explained that the Megans were in danger of becoming like the Humans they so feared. Despite the knowledge that Lucien was the inspiration, or even the embodiment of Lucifer, Kirk continued to defend him, stating that he would give his life to save Lucien. This impressed the Megans, and they give Lucien his freedom.

The Megans tell Kirk that if any other Humans make it to their planet they would be welcomed, and the Enterprise is returned to its proper universe.

Memorable Quotes

"Ah, humans. Lovely, primitive humans. Can't you do anything right?"

- Lucien

"Children will play."

- Lucien

"These are the defendants, as representatives of the vilest species in all the Universe, treacherous humanity."

- Megas Prosecutor

"Know that once, upon your world, I was known as Asmodeus, he who sees all. Gaze upon my countenance so that you too may see."

- Megas Prosecutor

"Some Humans would attempt to use us to gain power... to serve their own greed and lust. When we refused to serve them they turned against us and taught other Humans to fear us, to hate. They called us devils, warlocks, evil sorcerers. Those of us who survived came to the town of Salem in Massachusetts as settlers and tried to live like other men."
"But you made mistakes, used your powers..."
"And burned for it. Burned!"
"As witches."

- Asmodeus, Spock, and Kirk

"Knowledge is freedom."

- Kirk

"We massed together outside the town, immersed ourselves in Megan lore, revived ourselves enough to unite our minds and reach into our own Universe, and tap enough of its power to return from your hellish Earth to Megas-Tu."

- Asmodeus

"You could be found."
"Have been found!! So...the people of Earth would spread the evil to our homes!! We are ready for human supremacy this time!! This time, it is the Humans who shall suffer...the humans, and you, Lucien, who shall pay!!"

- Lucien and Megan Spirits

Background Information

Story and Script

This episode's writer, Larry Brody, also wrote the story for VOY: "Tattoo".
After D.C. Fontana invited him to write an episode for Star Trek: The Animated Series, Larry Brody considered the possible stories he could suggest. He later said, "I stayed up for a couple of nights, thinking of all the episodes I'd always wanted to see on the show but hadn't." [1] Brody also remarked, "I had some ideas that I'd always had for years about what Star Trek as a series should have, so I was ready to go with them." ("Drawn to the Final Frontier - The Making of Star Trek: The Animated Series", TAS DVD) Three days after Fontana presented the invite to Brody, he visited her office at Filmation, prepared to pitch his ideas. Rather than listen to these herself, Fontana took a nervous Larry Brody to meet Gene Roddenberry. Since he instructed Brody to explain his ideas quickly, the young writer did so, detailing the genesis of this episode as well as two other plot concepts. [2]
The idea that ultimately became this episode was Larry Brody's favorite of the three story-germs that he pitched. The plot concerned the Enterprise encountering God in space and was already entitled "The Magicks of Megas-Tu". ([3]; "Drawn to the Final Frontier - The Making of Star Trek: The Animated Series", TAS DVD) Gene Roddenberry approved of the title. Brody later remembered him having said, "Good title. I like it." [4] Roddenberry also liked the thought of the Enterprise being confronted by God. "Gene thought that was the greatest thing he'd ever heard of," noted Brody. "He said, 'I've been trying, for years, to just get that out in that way. I never really thought about just doing it. So, all right, let's do that.'" ("Drawn to the Final Frontier - The Making of Star Trek: The Animated Series", TAS DVD) Agreeing to make a deal for Brody to write the episode, Roddenberry advised the writer to return home and begin to flesh out the installment, which Roddenberry seemed to eagerly anticipate reading. ("Drawn to the Final Frontier - The Making of Star Trek: The Animated Series", TAS DVD; [5])
In compliance with Gene Roddenberry's orders, Larry Brody continued to work on the episode. "I went home and wrote, then turned in my story outline," he stated. "Later, I wrote a first draft. And a second. Between each step was the compulsory meeting, but not with Gene. Always, it was Dorothy Fontana and Larry Brody, sitting in her office while Dorothy told me what changes Gene wanted me to make. Always, I made them, doing the best I could." Brody had some difficulty understanding what Roddenberry meant in his notes, but the young writer was too nervous to call him and ask. [6]
One extremely important change was made, shortly after the pitch meeting. "A week later, Dorothy [Fontana] called me," reflected Larry Brody, "and said, 'The good news is that we're making a deal and you're gonna write that episode we talked about. The bad news is we can't use God... but we can use the Devil.' So, it became [...] a story about a planet of devils." ("Drawn to the Final Frontier - The Making of Star Trek: The Animated Series", TAS DVD)
Larry Brody eventually turned in his final draft but, unbeknown to him at the time, Gene Roddenberry continued to work on it, rewriting much of the episode. [7]

Continuity

This is the only episode of the series to feature Earth.
The stardate for this episode, 1254.4 has a lower-numbered stardate than the first-aired episode of Star Trek: The Original Series, "Where No Man Has Gone Before", which has a stardate of 1312.4. Whilst this episode thus features the lowest stardate reference in the entire Star Trek franchise, due to the ambiguous interpretation of stardates, it cannot be assumed that this episode takes place prior to the other. Nor is the stardate here assumed to be an error.
This outing, with its theme of magic, has a precedent in the form of TOS: "Catspaw". According to Larry Brody, Gene Roddenberry cited this connection during their pitch meeting. Brody later remembered Roddenberry having said, "We tried to do a show on magic the second year of the series. Antoinette Bower guest-starred. But we were limited then, by the fact that we couldn't do the special effects we wanted. Now we can do it all!" [8]

Reception

Shortly prior to the first airing of this episode, D.C. Fontana called Larry Brody to notify him of the installment's forthcoming telecast and to relay comments from Gene Roddenberry. Brody explained, "She told me that Gene had truly loved my script. 'It was his favorite,' she said. 'He thinks you're brilliant!' Filled with pride, that Saturday morning I sat down to watch the show. The characters were right there, just as I'd imagined them. So were the events. But not one word of dialog was mine." Brody was perplexed and disappointed that Roddenberry had rewritten so much of the script and, after the program ended, he called Fontana at home, puzzled about what had happened to the episode's teleplay. Fontana explained that, even though Roddenberry had made many alterations to the script, he had still loved Brody's final version of it, while also wanting to personally oversee every facet of the episode (as it was a part of "his" fictional universe of Star Trek). [9]
D.C. Fontana was aware that the theme of this outing was highly controversial; "It caused quite a bit of consternation [....] It was about the Devil, and the Devil has problems, you know? [....] But we were also saying, 'If there's a devil, then there must be a God.' But a lot of people took offense to the fact that we were supposedly showing the Devil in a sympathetic manner." Despite this, Fontana herself thought the outing "was still a good episode," citing it as one of her favorite installments of Star Trek: The Animated Series (along with "Beyond the Farthest Star", "Yesteryear", "Bem" and "More Tribbles, More Troubles"). The Magicks of Megas-Tu (episode) at StarTrek.com