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Star Trek

Dagger of the Mind

Season 1, Episode 9, Aired 11/3/66

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Episode Summary

Kirk investigates an experimental facility for holding prisoners and finds a sinister scheme.

8.1

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Cast & Crew

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Leonard Nimoy

Mr. Spock
William Shatner

Captain James Tiberius Kirk
Nichelle Nichols

Lt. Nyota Uhura

Fan Episode Reviews (9)

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Not when you've sat in that room.

10

"Perfect"

By amazingwebhead, Nov 22, 2011 Report Abuse

"Dagger of the Mind" has definitely got to be a favourite of mines for numerous reasons but I'd say it probably has a lot to do with the show's very distinct 'casual' feel. Beginning with Kirk lecturing on how to transport cargo, to the very humerous transporter scene involving Kirk and what seems to be a victim of Kirk's natural flirtatious nature. Helen is her name, and indeed she plays quite a major role in this episode.

Nevertheless the episode isn't all fun and games, and indeed a lot of moral play is on display here. Perhaps another reason why I adore this episode is the intelligent conversations the trio have between each other. These range from Spock's speech on the treatment of personal violence versus organised violence, and Kirk's adoration and respect for the prisons or more appropriately hospitals- that treat the 'sick mind' of a criminal.

Indeed, it is this latter theme that runs throughout the entire episode: the treatment of the criminally sick, or socially unacceptable. I cannot help but draw comparison to the novel 'A Clockwork Orange' written by Anthony Burgess, which also deals with such issues on the treatment and psychological reformation of criminals. As such, 'Dagger of the Mind' takes a similar stance, showing that unless the problem is treated at the root, the rug under which the problem has been hidden, can and probably will unravel. We see this unravelling first hand in some well performed and entertaining scenes with Dr. Simon Van Gelder, a seemingly insane and dangerous man who has fallen victim to Dr. Tristan Adams' memory erasing machine that 'fixes' the offenders. Morgan Woodward does a great job bringing Van Gelder to life and I'll probably never forget his over-the-top scenery-chewing that really helps inject life into the episode.

This character also lends hand to a brilliantly performed set of scenes involving Spock and Van Gelder in the first seen Vulcan Mind-Meld which -although not as poignant as others from the series- brings the reality of the situation to McCoy and Spock in an original and dramatic way, naturally engaging on screen.

Aside from this brilliant piece of writing, Wincelberg (a favourite writer of mines from TOS) also manages to create an episode that throughout, has a well balanced pace, that comes to climax in the last 15 or so minutes with a good mix of drama, action, intelligence and what I like to call 'scifiness' (which of course refers to something that is reeking of science-fiction). Amongst these scenes is the brilliantly performed sequence with Kirk in the treatment room where he is brain washed into believing he loved Helen. Shatner does a great job here, delivering a performance rather typical of his better episodes that I love and will always remember.

In the end, Dr. Adams falls victim to his own machine and ends up 'erasing' his own mind and dying from loneliness. It may sound cheesy, but it works and I loved it (remember 'scifiness'?, well here it is in all its glory). Specifically well done is the closing scene where McCoy brings up the unbelievable nature of Adams' death of loneliness, where Kirk simply replies that you would believe in it if you had sat in that room. The treatment room? I don't think so.moreless

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4 2
In "Dagger of the Mind" the "Star Trek" crew explores the problems of penal systems and the moral questions they raise. A perfect facility by reputation comes under question as it crosses paths with the "Star Trek" Enterprise crew.moreless

7.8

"Good"

By jrgreenmd, Nov 22, 2011 Report Abuse

In "Dagger of the Mind" the "Star Trek" crew explores the problems of penal systems and the moral questions they raise. A perfect facility by reputation comes under question as it crosses paths with the "Star Trek" Enterprise crew.

At the time this episode aired, there was a reexamination of what prisons systems should be. Punishment versus rehabilitation was a issue. Psychology experiments were indicating a desensitization of guards to prisoner suffering. along with these issues was a expansion of sciences view of the mind.

The latter was partly an off shoot of the drug culture, meditation, and other movements.

This episode examines what would happen if a prison system goes off mission. What if those in control could impose their thoughts on others? Captain Kirk once again find himself with the girl and a problem of planetary proportions. "Dagger of the Mind" is a fair episode that is an example of how "Star Trek" deals with social issues.moreless

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3 0
Captain Kirk and his Yeoman visit a house of horrors.

7.0

"Good"

By Celedorian, Oct 25, 2010 Report Abuse

This is one of those "Star Trek tries to do horror" attempts, and it's not too bad. There are some cheesy elements, such as the mind control device which seems to come out of a B movie, but the episode moves along at a good pace, has some innovative stuff (such as the first Vulcan mind meld) and has some interesting guest stars (James Gregory, Morgan Woodward, and Marianna Hill). The big problem, however, is that the script is fairly predictable all the way through, so we're almost always a step or two ahead of our good Captain. Still, it's a solid offering.moreless

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1 0
First mind-meld

9.2

"Superb"

By the_cyberleader, May 30, 2010 Report Abuse

(First Vulcan Mind-Meld in Star Trek history between Mr. Spock and Simon Van Gelder.)

Spock voice over: (ship external view from warp nacelles) Enterprise log. (Spock eyes closed deep in thought.) First Officer Spock, Acting Captain. I must now use an ancient Vulcan technique to probe into Van Gelder\'s tortured mind.
McCoy: Spock, if there\'s the slightest possibility it might help...
Spock: I have never used it on a human, Doctor.
McCoy: If there\'s any way we can look into this man\'s mind to see if what he\'s saying is real or delusion...
Spock: It\'s a hidden, personal thing to the Vulcan people. Part of our private lives.
McCoy: Now, look, Spock, Jim Kirk could be in real trouble. Will it work or not?!
(Spock moves over to Van Gelder\'s bed.)
Spock: It could be dangerous. Do you understand? It requires I make pressure changes in your nerves, your blood vessels...
Van Gelder: You must open my mind. Let me warn you, explain to you.
Spock: This will not affect you, Dr. McCoy. Only the person I touch. It is not hypnosis.
McCoy: I understand. (Spock holds Van Gelder\'s head with both hands. Spock looks at McCoy. McCoy looks at the bed monitor.) Good. The reading is leveling.
Spock: You begin to feel a strange euphoria. (Spock, moving to the head of the bed, leans in closer to Van Gelder.) Your body...floats.
Van Gelder: Yes. I begin to feel it.
Spock: Open your mind. We move together... our minds sharing the same thoughts.
(...returning to the scene in the Sick Bay)
Spock: What is our name? Who are we?
Van Gelder: We are Simon Van Gelder.
Spock: Dr. Adams... the neural neutralizer. What did he do to us?
Van Gelder: He can re-shape any mind he chooses. He used it to erase our memories, put his own thoughts there. He was surprised it took so much power. We fought him, remember? (Spock moves counterclockwise moving still closer to Van Gelder\'s head.) But we grew so tired... our mind so blank, so open, that any thought he placed there became our thoughts. Our mind so empty... like a sponge needing thoughts, begging... empty... Loneliness. So lonely to be sitting there empty. Wanting any word from him. Love...
Spock: Yes.
Van Gelder: Hate...
Spock: Yes.
Van Gelder: Live...
Spock: Yes.
Van Gelder: Die...
Spock: Yes.
Van Gelder: Such agony, to be empty.
Spock: Empty.moreless

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0 1
One of my favourites

10

"Perfect"

By jahnmiri, Dec 05, 2009 Report Abuse

This episode is interesting because it punctures the pretentious idea that ST presented a glorious vision of a great future for Humanity. If that's the case, then why is Dr Adams the most evil git in ST history?
The scenes with Kirk and McCoy questioning Van Gelder in sickbay are among the most disturbing of the whole series, thanks to Morgan Woodward's performance, and the horrible idea that Van Gelder is like this because of something that was done to him deliberately, and for no real reason, other than cruelty.
The episode is also a bit sick and kinky, with scenes of sweaty, raving, gibering madman Van Gelder followed by Helen Noel, in her miniskirt, black tights, and blue knickers(which are clearly on view) waltzing around in a prison for the criminally-insane! Its a shame we dont see Van Gelder after the machine has been used to return him to normal, otherwise, a great, and somewhat, grim story.moreless

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Trivia, Notes, Quotes and Allusions

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Trivia
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- Trivia: For once, Kirk is wearing a black undershirt as well as his tunic. When he falls off the chair you can see a shirt instead of a bare chest. This is unusual for Kirk. Most often his uniform doesn't include the undershirt as you can tell in other episodes where it is torn. Edit
- The two transporter operators at the beginning are unusually unprofessional. Neither one of them knows that penal colonies have security screens, or even understand that a security screen is blocking their transporter beam. Edit
- When the intruder alert goes off, a security guard come to the bridge. This makes sense. What doesn't make sense is that once he makes sure there's no intruder on the bridge, he faces away from the turbolift: the only entrance onto the bridge that an intruder could come through. Sure enough, Van Gelder comes in behind him and knocks him out before he can respond. The guard fails to respond despite the fact that he should be at attention. Edit
Notes
ADD NOTES
- Features recycled Delta Vega matte painting from "Where No Man Has Gone Before," this time for Tantalus colony, with refinery tanks removed and entrance doorway changed. Edit
- This episode is parodied by South Park in Episode 24 (Production code 211) "Roger Ebert Should Lay Off the Fatty Foods." That episode is littered with references, including a mindmeld between a counselor and a student. Edit
- First mention and use of the Vulcan mind-meld. In Star Trek: Enterprise episode, "The Forge", Syrrann, the Vulcan who discovered Surak's katra, said "Surak tells us... (mind-melding) is the heritage of every Vulcan." Edit
Quotes
ADD QUOTES
- Dr. Adams: Captain, you remind me of the ancient skeptic who demanded of the wise old sage to be taught all the world's wisdom while standing on one foot. Edit
- McCoy: It's hard to believe that a man could die of loneliness. Kirk: Not when you've sat in that room. Edit
- Kirk: But (Adams) was alone. Can you imagine the mind emptied by that thing, without even a tormentor for company. Edit
Allusions
ADD ALLUSIONS
- Tantalus: A Greek myth about a man who commits crimes and is punished by the gods by never being able to satisfy his thirst or hunger. The stream of water would recede when he reached for it, the fruit trees' branches would raise when he reached for fruit. Edit
- Patient The patient who has had her memories removed is named Lethe, after a river in the classical Greek underworld that appears in Dante's Inferno. The river Lethe had a unique property that whoever drank of it would lose all memory of their previous life. Edit
- Title: Referencing Shakespeare's MacBeth: "Is this a dagger which I see before me, / The handle toward my hand? Come, let me clutch thee. / I have thee not, and yet I see thee still. / Art thou not, fatal vision, sensible / To feeling as to sight? or art thou but / A dagger of the mind, a false creation..." In plotting a murder to gain the throne, Macbeth causes himself considerable mental anguish, seeing an unreal dagger that is really a symbol of his guilt. Edit

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