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Star Trek: The Animated Series

Once Upon a Planet

Season 1, Episode 9, Aired 11/3/73

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Episode Summary

Kirk returns to the "shore leave" planet, but it's not as peaceful as it was when they last saw it.

7.2

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Cast & Crew

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William Shatner

Capt. James Tiberius Kirk
Leonard Nimoy

Mr. Spock
DeForest Kelley

Dr. Leonard "Bones" McCoy

Fan Episode Reviews (2)

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Kirk returns to the "shore leave" planet, but something's gone wrong.

7.0

"Good"

By Celedorian, Feb 06, 2011 Report Abuse

This is, of course, a sequel to the original series episode "Shore Leave", and it's one of the few animated episodes that features both an A and a B story; one on a planet and one on the ship. The cutting back and forth between the ship problems and the planet drama is reminiscent of the original series as well as a precursor to Star Trek: The Next Generation. In addition, the episode touches on living machines and features, for the first time in Star Trek, the Enterprise losing gravity. (Both these ideas would be expanded upon in the feature films.) It all adds up to a fun, memorable episode.moreless

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Many things have changed since the last time Enterprise visited the "shore leave" planet.

6.9

"Fair"

By GameraTrekkie, Jan 08, 2011 Report Abuse

This episode is another average episode that is just an updated version of a previous story. Here, we see what things have changed since the crew left "shore leave". And, for story purposes, things have changed for the worse. The robots that make the illusions have taken over the planet after the keeper died of old age. Once again, a few highlights, but overall things that aren't that interesting. The main story is fairly good involving the machine that kidnapped Uhura. This may appeal more to the fans of the episode this is based on, but if you didn't care for the TOS story, then it will be the same here. Good, but not great.moreless

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Trivia, Notes, Quotes and Allusions

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Trivia
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- When Spock and Kirk enter the master computer room, there is a wall behind them about 5'-10' away and no robots. The camera cuts away to the master computer for a second or two, then cuts back to Kirk and Spock and now three robots have appeared between them and the wall. In the next longer shot, the two men are standing in the middle of the room, the robots are behind them, but there's no sign of the wall. Edit
- When Uhura is singing by the lake, her reflection in the water doesn't show her uniform rank on her sleeves. Edit
- Towards the end of the episode, we see the crew use seat belts. During the original era the Enterprise never before (or since) had seat belts on chairs. Edit
Notes
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- This episode along with "The Eye of the Beholder" was released on The Animated Adventures of Gene Roddenberry's Star Trek: Volume 8 for VHS. Edit
- An accomplished singer, Nichelle Nichols as Lieutenant Uhura, sang in this episode as she had done in a number of original Star Trek episodes. In this episode, she vocalized for almost 40 seconds Edit
- Trivia: In this episode, the date of the Caretaker's death could be read off of the gravestone: "7009th year of operation." Edit
Quotes
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- Spock: The Queen of Hearts and her cards are characters from Alice Through the Looking Glass, Captain. Kirk: I read the book as a child, Mr. Spock, but I wasn't aware you indulged in the literature of fantasy. Spock: Light reading is considered relaxing, Captain. My mother was particularly fond of Lewis Carroll's work. Edit
- Amusement Park Computer: Unfortunately, I have no use for more hostages which leaves me no choice but to turn them off. Uhura: Turn them off? Amusement Park Computer: Again redundant. I will make them cease to function. I will turn them off. Uhura: That's murder. Amusement Park Computer: That is a word meaning to cease to function? Uhura: Yes, but... Amusement Park Computer: Good. It is as I wish. I will turn them off. Edit
- Spock: Our amusement park seems no longer content to amuse. Edit
Allusions
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- Alice and the White Rabbit These characters following it are from the novel Alice's Adventures in Wonderland (written by Lewis Carroll). Later, McCoy is attacked by playing cards--these are from the sequel, "Through The Looking Glass". The rabbit and Alice also appeared in the Original Series episode, "Shore Leave," that first showcased the so-called shore leave planet. Edit