Bem (Star Trek: The Animated Series)
A guest officer interferes with a crucial mission.
Last updated
"Bem" is the 18th episode of Star Trek: The Animated Series, airing on 14 September 1974. It is notable as the first time Captain Kirk's full name, James Tiberius Kirk, is revealed. The episode was written by David Gerrold.
Plot
On stardate 7403.6, the Enterprise crew conducts exploratory missions with honorary Commander Ari bn Bem, an observer from Pandro. Bem interferes with a landing party mission on a new planet, leading to the crew's capture by primitive natives. The natives are protected by a powerful non-corporeal entity upset by the intrusion.
Reception
Michelle Erica Green's 2011 TrekToday Retro Review found the episode conceptually interesting with many elements, including a cranky colony creature, primitive dinosaur aborigines, and a godlike alien. She noted the situation turned out differently than expected, but disliked the technobabble and that regular cast members McCoy, Chapel, Scotty, Sulu, and Uhura had little to do.
Green also felt Kirk violated the Prime Directive by allowing Bem to beam down. She appreciated giggle moments and the first pronouncement of James Tiberius Kirk's full name. Tor.com rated the episode 8 out of 10 in 2017.
Did You Know?
- David Gerrold won both Hugo and Nebula awards for science fiction.
- "Bem" began as a script for Star Trek: The Original Series third season.
More in Star Trek: The Animated Series Episodes
Sources
Compiled from Wikipedia and the sources listed below. Text from Wikipedia is available under CC BY-SA 4.0; this entry is adapted from it.
- Wikipedia: Bem (Star Trek: The Animated Series) (CC BY-SA 4.0).
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