Catspaw (Star Trek: The Original Series)

Last updated

"Catspaw"
Star Trek: The Original Series episode
Antoinette Bower William Shatner Star Trek 1967.jpg
Episode no.Season 2
Episode 7
Directed by Joseph Pevney
Written by Robert Bloch
Featured music Gerald Fried
Cinematography by Jerry Finnerman
Production code030
Original air dateOctober 27, 1967 (1967-10-27)
Guest appearances
  • Antoinette Bower - Sylvia
  • Theo Marcuse - Korob
  • Michael Barrier - Asst. Chief Engineer DeSalle
  • Eddie Paskey - Lt. Leslie
  • William Blackburn - Lt. Hadley
  • Jimmy Jones - Crewman Jackson
  • Rhodie Cogan - First Witch
  • Gail Bonney - Second Witch
  • Maryesther Denver - Third Witch
  • John Winston - Lt. Kyle
Episode chronology
 Previous
"The Doomsday Machine"
Next 
"I, Mudd"
Star Trek: The Original Series season 2
List of episodes

"Catspaw" is the seventh episode of the second season of the American science fiction television series Star Trek [1] Written by Robert Bloch and directed by Joseph Pevney, it was first broadcast October 27, 1967. [2]

Contents

The crew of the Enterprise encounter two aliens from another galaxy with magical-seeming powers. This episode was the first filmed to include series regular Pavel Chekov (Walter Koenig), although it was broadcast after several other episodes with the character had already been aired; the airing was delayed to coincide with Halloween. [3] [4]

Plot

The USS Enterprise, under the command of Captain Kirk, orbits the apparently lifeless planet Pyris VII. Contact has been lost with the landing party, consisting of Chief Engineer Scott, Lt. Sulu, and Crewman Jackson. Jackson calls for transport back to the ship, but falls from the platform dead. His open mouth emits an eerie voice, telling Captain Kirk that Enterprise is cursed and must leave the planet immediately, or death will follow.

Kirk beams down with First Officer Spock and Chief Medical Officer Dr. McCoy to search for the missing crewmen, leaving Assistant Chief Engineer DeSalle in charge of Enterprise. The landing party comes upon three apparitions that appear as witches, who warn the landing team not to proceed any further. The team ignores the warnings and discovers what appears to be a medieval castle.

Entering the castle, the landing party comes upon a black cat wearing a diamond pendant. As they follow the cat, the floor collapses, and the fall knocks them unconscious. When they awaken, they find themselves held in a dungeon. Scott and Sulu soon appear, walking as if in a trance, and unlock their restraints.

Kirk and the others attempt to overpower them but suddenly find themselves in another part of the castle, with a robed man, Korob, and the black cat, whom he appears to consult for advice. Spock remarks that no life is known to exist on the planet, and Korob admits that he is not a native. The cat leaves the room, and Korob's beautiful colleague Sylvia enters, wearing a pendant identical to the cat's. As a demonstration of her power, by which she claims to have killed Jackson, Sylvia dangles a miniature model of Enterprise over a lit candle, after which the crew of the real Enterprise reports a rapid rise in hull temperature.

Kirk reluctantly surrenders and offers to cooperate. Korob then surrounds the model of the ship with a crystal prism, informing them that Enterprise has been encased in an impenetrable force field. Kirk and Spock are then led back to the dungeon.

After a while McCoy appears, in a trance, and leads Kirk back to Sylvia. Sylvia wants to experience human sensations, and appears in various feminine forms to stimulate Kirk's interest. Kirk plays along as he tries to get information. Sylvia tells Kirk that she and Korob are explorers from another galaxy, who wield their power through a device called a transmuter, which gives them control over matter. Sylvia then realizes Kirk is using her, and angrily sends him back to the dungeon. Korob comes to free Kirk and Spock, telling them that he has released their ship, and urges them to leave immediately, as he can no longer keep Sylvia under control. Sylvia, in the form of a giant cat, attacks him. Korob releases his scepter and Kirk picks it up, guessing it to be the transmuter.

Kirk tells Sylvia that he has the transmuter. He destroys it when she threatens him with a phaser. The castle disappears and Sulu, Scotty, and McCoy return to normal. Looking down, Kirk sees two tiny blue and yellow creatures, apparently Korob's and Sylvia's true forms. Unable to survive without the transmuter, the two creatures die and disintegrate.

Production

Bloch wrote this episode, basing it on a short story of his, "Broomstick Ride" (1957) and also wrote the Star Trek episode, "What Are Little Girls Made Of?" Both mention the "Old Ones". [5] The character of Asst. Chief Engineer DeSalle previously appeared in the episodes, "The Squire of Gothos" and "This Side of Paradise" wearing a gold command shirt.[ citation needed ]

The cloak worn by Gilligan in "Lovey's Secret Admirer" (aired January 23, 1967) was also worn by Korob in "Catspaw" (October 27, 1967). [6]

Reception

Critical response

In 2017, H&I included "Catspaw" in a list of "eerie, disturbing and downright scary" episodes of the series. The list noted that the episode was written by Robert Bloch, writer of the famous psychological thriller Psycho . [7]

In 2020, Den of Geek ranked "Catspaw" as the 28th scariest episode of all Star Trek franchise television episodes, including later television series. [8]

In 2021, ScreenRant ranked "Catspaw" the 10th scariest episode of all Star Trek franchise television episodes, including later series. [9]

In 2024 Hollywood.com ranked Catspaw at number 50 out of the 79 original series episodes, calling it "stylish and silly" [10]

Release

Catspaw was released on VHS on April 15, 1994, by CBS Paramount International Television. [11]

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">James T. Kirk</span> Character in the Star Trek media franchise

James Tiberius Kirk, commonly known as Captain Kirk, is a fictional character in the Star Trek media franchise. Originally played by Canadian actor William Shatner, Kirk first appeared in Star Trek serving aboard the starship USS Enterprise as captain. Kirk leads his crew as they explore new worlds, new civilizations, and "boldly go where no man has gone before". Often, the characters of Spock and Leonard "Bones" McCoy act as his logical and emotional sounding boards, respectively. Kirk has also been portrayed in numerous films, books, comics, webisodes, and video games.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Spock</span> Fictional character in the Star Trek media franchise

Spock is a fictional character in the Star Trek media franchise. He first appeared in the original Star Trek series serving aboard the starship USS Enterprise as science officer and first officer and later as commanding officer of the vessel. Spock's mixed human–Vulcan heritage serves as an important plot element in many of the character's appearances. Along with Captain James T. Kirk and Dr. Leonard "Bones" McCoy, he is one of the three central characters in the original Star Trek series and its films. After retiring from active duty in Starfleet, Spock served as a Federation ambassador, and later became involved in the ill-fated attempt to save Romulus from a supernova, leading him to live out the rest of his life in a parallel universe.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Pavel Chekov</span> Fictional Character in the Star Trek universe

Pavel Andreievich Chekov is a fictional character in the Star Trek universe.

"Mirror, Mirror" is the fourth episode of the second season of the American science fiction television series Star Trek. Written by Jerome Bixby and directed by Marc Daniels, it was first broadcast on October 6, 1967.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Spock's Brain</span> 1st episode of the 3rd season of Star Trek: The Original Series

"Spock's Brain" is the third season premiere episode of the American science fiction television series Star Trek. Written by Gene L. Coon and directed by Marc Daniels, it was first broadcast on September 20, 1968.

"Shore Leave" is the fifteenth episode of the first season of the American science fiction television series Star Trek. Written by Theodore Sturgeon and directed by Robert Sparr, it first aired on December 29, 1966.

This Side of Paradise (<i>Star Trek: The Original Series</i>) 24th episode of the 1st season of Star Trek: The Original Series

"This Side of Paradise" is the twenty-fourth episode of the first season of the American science fiction television series Star Trek. Written by D. C. Fontana and Jerry Sohl and directed by Ralph Senensky, it was first broadcast on March 2, 1967.

"Spectre of the Gun" is the sixth episode of the third season of the American science fiction television series Star Trek. Written by the series' former showrunner, Gene L. Coon, and directed by Vincent McEveety, it was first broadcast on October 25, 1968.

"The Squire of Gothos" is the 17th episode of the first season of the American science-fiction television series Star Trek. Written by Paul Schneider and directed by Don McDougall, it first aired on January 12, 1967.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">The Naked Time</span> 4th episode of the 1st season of Star Trek: The Original Series

"The Naked Time" is the fourth episode of the first season of the American science fiction television series Star Trek. Written by John D. F. Black and directed by Marc Daniels, it first aired on September 29, 1966.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tomorrow Is Yesterday</span> 19th episode of the 1st season of Star Trek: The Original Series

"Tomorrow Is Yesterday" is the nineteenth episode of the first season of the American science fiction television series Star Trek. Written by D. C. Fontana and directed by Michael O'Herlihy, it first aired on January 26, 1967. It was the first Star Trek episode to be written solely by a woman.

"The Return of the Archons" is the twenty-first episode of the first season of the American science fiction television series Star Trek. Written by Boris Sobelman, and directed by Joseph Pevney, it first aired on February 9, 1967.

"Wolf in the Fold" is the fourteenth episode of the second season of the American science fiction television series Star Trek. Written by Robert Bloch and directed by Joseph Pevney, it was first broadcast on December 22, 1967.

"The Apple" is the fifth episode of the second season of the American science fiction television series Star Trek. Written by Max Ehrlich and directed by Joseph Pevney, it was first broadcast on October 13, 1967.

"Bread and Circuses" is the twenty-fifth and penultimate episode of the second season of the American science fiction television series Star Trek. Written by Gene Roddenberry and Gene L. Coon and directed by Ralph Senensky, it was first broadcast on March 15, 1968.

"A Piece of the Action" is the seventeenth episode of the second season of the American science fiction television series Star Trek. Written by David P. Harmon and Gene L. Coon, and directed by James Komack, it was first broadcast on January 12, 1968.

"And the Children Shall Lead" is the fourth episode of the third season of the American science fiction television series Star Trek. Written by Edward J. Lakso and directed by Marvin Chomsky, it was first broadcast on October 11, 1968.

"Turnabout Intruder" is the twenty-fourth and final episode of the third season of the American science fiction television series Star Trek. Written by Arthur H. Singer and directed by Herb Wallerstein, it was first broadcast on June 3, 1969.

"That Which Survives" is the seventeenth episode of the third season of the American science fiction television series Star Trek. Written by John Meredyth Lucas and directed by Herb Wallerstein, it was first broadcast January 24, 1969.

"Beyond the Farthest Star" is the pilot episode and series premiere of the animated American science fiction television series Star Trek. This series premiere episode first aired in the NBC Saturday morning lineup at 10:30 a.m. on September 8, 1973, seven years to the day after the series premiere of the live-action series that started the franchise. It was written by American author and scriptwriter Samuel A. Peeples who had also written the Original Series second pilot "Where No Man Has Gone Before".

References

Citations

  1. Jason T. Eberl; Kevin S. Decker, eds. (2008). Star Trek and Philosophy: The Wrath of Kant. Popular Culture and Philosophy. Vol. 35 (1st ed.). Chicago: Open Court Publishing Company. ISBN   978-0812696493.
  2. Baker 2018, p. 218.
  3. "Was the Star Trek episode Catspaw originally intended as a Halloween episode or was it just coincidence?".
  4. "Remembering Star Trek's Halloween Special, "Catspaw"" . Retrieved March 25, 2020.
  5. "Star Trek Re-Watch: "Catspaw" (Halloween Edition)". October 30, 2009.
  6. "Jake Sisko's Dos and Don'ts for #NaNoWriMo".
  7. "18 eerie, disturbing and downright scary Star Trek episodes". H&I. Retrieved June 5, 2019.
  8. "The Scariest Star Trek Episodes". Den of Geek. October 12, 2020. Retrieved February 13, 2021.
  9. "10 Scariest Episodes Of Star Trek, Ranked". ScreenRant. February 1, 2021. Retrieved February 13, 2021.
  10. Blauvelt, Christian (May 18, 2013). "Ranking All 79 'Star Trek: The Original Series' Episodes from Worst to Best". Hollywood.com . Retrieved June 8, 2019.
  11. Catspaw. CBS Paramount International Television (VHS). Los Angeles: CBS Television Studios. April 15, 1994. ASIN   630021334X.

Sources