Star Trek

The Man Trap

Season 1, Episode 1, Aired 9/8/66

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Episode Summary

Kirk and his crew are at deadly risk from an alien creature that feeds on the salt in a human body and can take on any form.

7.8

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Cast & Crew

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Leonard Nimoy

Mr. Spock

9.6
William Shatner

Captain James Tiberius Kirk

9.3
DeForest Kelley

Dr. Leonard Horatio "Bones" McCoy

9.5

Fan Episode Reviews (16)

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This exciting "monster" episode has some real problems in the credulity department, perhaps the result of too many people fiddling with the story.

5.2

"Mediocre"

By Mac-Ale, Nov 23, 2011 Report Abuse

A salt-hungry "vampyre" stalks the Enterprise, able to change shape and assume alternate identities.

There are things that are fun in this episode, shape-shifters lend a lot of possiblities. My favorite part is that there could be a recreational "Ripley's Pleasure Planet" in the 23rd century - I like those rugged human details in a 1960s TV series. Kirk really ribs McCoy, I kind of enjoy the interaction there.

What bugs me a LOT, and other people seem to forget, is that the alien is impossibly characterized. I have read that some people say that this is an episode that shows the inhumanity of the "Star Trek" universe - killing a being that is the "last of its kind". That would have some weight if the alien here was an "innocent" life form. But it doesn't come out in the wash. First of all, there is no hope for a creature that has no breeding partners. But most importantly, this is a being able to assume any identity, and that also can mimic any human's thought patterns to carry out its deceptions. Does this highly intelligent and capable life form just explain the situation and ask for salt to live on? No, it decides to stalk and kill the very people it needs to ultimately survive. Unlikely, incredibly unlikely. The only real conclusion is that the alien is insane, full of ability and thought - but stupidly homicidal.

I tend to believe that there was a good science fiction story underlying this episode, but that there was some pressure to make a "horrifying monster" - and so the story suffered as a result of that.moreless
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Dr. McCoy's got the hots for an old acquaintance who might not be who he thinks.

5.0

"Mediocre"

By Celedorian, Nov 13, 2011 Report Abuse

The Man Trap is an attempt at a horror episode of Star Trek, but its languid pacing makes it more boring than frightening. Still, some Star Trek fans will enjoy seeing a favorite Star Trek plot device: the crew beams down to a planet, discovers a threat, and tries to deal with it. The Man Trap invented this formula, though in later episodes the writers learned how to do it better.

The guest stars for this episode are Alfred Ryder and Jeanne Bal. They're capable but nothing special, certainly not memorable. The regular cast members give average performances.

All in all, this is Star Trek still trying to figure out what it is and stumbling a bit. You certainly won't see this one in a marathon of best episodes, but it also won't be laughed about as one of the show's worst episodes.moreless
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Unbeknown to anyone, an old flame of Dr. McCoy's has been taken over by a form-shifting creature that feeds on salt, sucking it out of its victims. A reasonable start to a classic series...moreless

9.0

"Superb"

By Jay-Spacedust, Nov 13, 2011 Report Abuse

As is well known, although this was the first 'Star Trek' episode to air in the U.S., it was actually the sixth episode to be filmed (not including original pilot 'The Cage'). Various theories have been presented over the years as to why this episode was picked to air first; personally I think that original second pilot 'Where No Man Has Gone Before' would have made a better premiere episode. That said, I still really like 'The Man Trap'; it is a mostly exciting story with an interesting creature. Some fans don't like this episode, and while there are a couple of flaws, I for one really enjoy it.

The 'salt vampire', as it is sometimes dubbed, is an interesting creature; I like the twist of how it appears different to every person, and it has a good costume for its true appearance. As some other reviewers have commented, its treatment is many a bit suspect compared with the handling of other unknown creatures in various other episodes, but I can't say it overly bothered me.

The episode also gives some good character development, most notably for Bones, but also with botanist Sulu, and a nice scene with Uhura trying to make conversation with Spock. (The character emphasis of the episode is one of the various suggested reasons that the episode was picked to air first).

There are a few things that let the episode down very slightly (in particular, Sulu's plant, which is quite clearly just a hand puppet), but all-in-all there is enough going on in this episode to make it a very fair entry. There would be much better episodes later on, but for the selected first outing, it's not too bad at all.moreless
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Between "Bones" and "Plum" Dr. McCoy could use some more virile nicknames.

7.5

"Good"

By millerem99, Nov 13, 2011 Report Abuse

Die hard fans ripped this one apart, and I heard somewhere that Leonard Nimoy decried it as the first of the "monster episodes" and how that wasn't what they'd wanted for Star Trek to be. However, this episode has too much fun stuff in it for me to give it a poor rating. Most notably, in our household this was one of the most "quoted" episodes as far as cheesy-fantastic lines. There's ditzy Janice Rand's glib take on Green to Sulu, "Do you think he's space happy?" and Kirk's smirking and scoffing McCoy's reaction to his old flame, right in front of the apparent husband, "No offense...she's a handsome woman...but hardly twenty-five." Then there's Spock, belting the incarnate Nancy back and forth across the face, "If she were Nancy, could she take this?!" and McCoy watching in mild puzzlement. It really seems like he's about to say, "Well, Spock, Nancy always was a tough ol' broad..."

Other highlights include Kirk screaming like a girl when the creature closes in on him, and the deliciously hideous monster itself, when in its true form.

All in all, it's full of goofs and question marks, but I rate it a "good" for pure entertainment value.moreless
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Mccoy, Spock, Kirk, an ex-lover of Mccoy's, and a alien that can change forms and needs salt are a deadly combination find out why in this episode.

9.7

"Superb"

By daisyduke71, Apr 13, 2010 Report Abuse

I really liked this episode. When Bones, Spock, and Kirk beam down to a planet to talk with the scientist. They find him and his wife Nancy. Nancy is seen by everyone as something different. Nancy was seen as a old women to Kirk. The same to Bones as the last time he had seen her. She was seen as a young women to the crew member. We find out when they beam to ship that the creature posing as Nancy can take the form of anything, from a crewman to a horrible monster. We find out in all truth that Nancy in reality is not alive. The monster attacks the Captain and Spock and McCoy is forced to kill it. We find out it has to have salt to survive. This was a very good episode and a very sad episode.moreless
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Trivia, Notes, Quotes and Allusions

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Trivia
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- Trivia: This is the first episode where McCoy says, "He's dead, Jim."
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- Trivia: The designation on McCoy's stateroom is 3F 127.
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- When the salt creature goes to put its suction-like hands on Kirk, Kirk begins to scream before the creature even touches him, and continues to scream as the creature places its fingers on Kirk's face. However, all the other times that crewmen were killed on the planet, there were never any screams emitted. In fact, the only scream heard was from "Nancy" finding the corpse, which was within earshot of Kirk and McCoy.
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Notes
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- Sulu uses the phrase "The Great Bird of the Galaxy." The term was a nickname for Star Trek creator and producer, Gene Roddenberry.
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- In the opening credits William Shatner and Leonard Nimoy's names appear without their usual 'Starring' and 'Also Starring' credits.
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- Sulu's plant (the one that he and Yeoman Rand debate about being male or female) is a hand-operated puppet. When its "petals" extend, it shapes just like the hand that's operating it.
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Quotes
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- McCoy: The machine is capable of almost anything, but I'll still put my trust in a healthy set of tonsils.
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- Crater: The heroic captain and the intrepid doctor cross interstellar space to preserve our health! Oh, your sense of duty is overwhelming. Now, will you please go back where you came from and tell whoever issues your orders to leave me and my wife alone?!?
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- Uhura: Mr. Spock, sometimes I think if I hear that word "frequency" again, I'll cry. Spock: It is illogical for a communications officer to resent the word "frequency." Uhura: Then I'm an illogical woman. Why don't you tell me what an attractive lady I am? Or how your planet looks when the moon is full. Spock: Vulcan has no moon, Miss Uhura. Uhura: I'm not surprised.
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