Yesteryear (episode)
From Memory Alpha, the free Star Trek reference
(written from a Production point of view)
| "Yesteryear" | ||
|---|---|---|
| TAS, Episode 1x02 Production number: 22003 First aired: 15 September 1973 | ||
| ← | 3rd of 22 produced in TAS | → |
| ← | 2nd of 22 released in TAS | → |
| ← | 81st of 727 released in all | → |
 | ||
| Written By D.C. Fontana Directed By Hal Sutherland | ||
| 5373.4 (2269/2239) | ||
Spock travels back in time to prevent his own demise in his youth on Vulcan.
Contents |
[edit] Summary
- "Captain's Log, Stardate 5373.4. We are in orbit around the planet of the time vortex, the focus of all the timelines of our galaxy. Our mission is to assist a team of historians in the investigation of Federation history."
As Federation historians Aleek-Om, Grey, and Enterprise CMO McCoy record history, while standing outside the Guardian of Forever, the Guardian announces the return of the travelers, Kirk, Spock and historian Erikson, through its gateway after a mission to observe the dawn of Orion civilization. As the travelers begin to appear, one-by-one, Kirk announces how exciting it was to observe the birth of a civilization, just as the last traveler, Spock, emerges from the Guardian, much to the surprise of Grey and McCoy. McCoy inquires who it is they brought back with them, and the puzzled Kirk informs him that it is Spock.
The crew beam back to the ship and are greeted by Scotty. Scotty was not expecting a Vulcan among those he transported back, and was anticipating one of the historians instead. The annoyed Kirk instructs Scotty that he expects his first officer to be treated with respect, just as an Andorian crewmember enters the transporter room stating that no one has ever treated him otherwise. Kirk inquires as to who it is speaking to him, as McCoy then re-introduces Commander Thelin to him, the Enterprise's first officer for the last five years. Spock and Kirk finally come to the realization that what they have encountered is not a game, and question what it is going on.
- "Captain's Log, supplemental. When we were in the time vortex, something appears to have changed the present as we know it. No one aboard recognizes Mr. Spock. The only answer is: that the past was somehow altered."
In a staff meeting, Lieutenant Erikson reviews the tricorder logs from their mission, and observes that there is nothing they could have possibly done to change the events of the future. Spock then surmises that the change in the timeline must have happened while they were in Orion's past.
The meeting is then interrupted by Bates, who just checked the Starfleet records on Spock that were requested by Thelin. Bates reports that there is no Vulcan named Spock serving with the Starfleet in any capacity. Thelin then inquires about the results of the Vulcan family history request, which Bates then related to the screen. Bates transmits an image featuring Sarek of Vulcan, and notes that he has been an ambassador to seventeen Federation planets in the past 30 years. Spock notes that this information is not correct and inquires about Sarek's family – his wife and son. Bates then transmits an image of Amanda Grayson, the former wife of Sarek, from whom she separated following the death of their son. Amanda was later killed in a shuttle accident at Lunaport on her way home to Earth. Spock mourns briefly for his mother, then inquires as to the name of the son that died, only for his name to be revealed as Spock, age seven.
Kirk, Spock and Thelin return to the surface of the planet to confer with Aleek-Om and Grey on what happened. Kirk asks if the Guardian was in use while they were away, and Grey informs him that it was used, in a limited capacity, to scan recent Vulcan history, twenty to thirty Vulcan years past. Kirk then wonders if there is any notation on the death of Sarek's son, and Aleek-Om confirms that there was, and that he had died during the kahs-wan maturity test.
Spock then recalls the date of the event in question, the 20th day of Tasmeen, noting that it was the day that his cousin Selek saved his life in the desert when he was attacked by a wild animal. Although Spock cannot remember the finer details of the event, he recalls that that was also the only time he had ever met Selek.
On a hunch, Kirk asks if perhaps this cousin might have looked like Spock looks now, only for Spock to confirm what Kirk was thinking: Spock saved his own life in the original timeline, but was unable to do it a second time because he was in Orion's past when the time vortex replayed Vulcan history, making it impossible for him to be in two places at one time. With the realization of what transpired, Kirk asks the Guardian if there is any way they can reverse what happened. The Guardian confirms that there is, but only as long as no other important factor is changed.
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Spock decides that in order for him to save his mother's and his own life he has to return to Vulcan and correct what has been changed. Before his departure, he requests a Vulcan desert soft suit and boots, as well as a small selection of street wear and carry bag, circa 8877 Vulcan year, from the ship's wardrobe section. A brief conversation with Thelin reveals that he bodes no ill-will towards Spock’s quest, despite that this quest would change the commander’s timeline as well. He considers it a reasonable sacrifice in order to save Spock’s family.
Spock enters the Guardian and travels back to his hometown ShiKahr, in the month of Tasmeen, thirty years in the past in 2239.
- "Personal Log, Stardate 5373.5, subjective time. I have returned to the past in an attempt to restore the future. I am home, and I have almost forgotten its beauty."
He meets his father Sarek and his younger self, and introduces himself as cousin Selek.
- "Personal Log, Stardate 5373.9, subjective time. The timeline seems to have changed again, yet I do not believe I have done anything to disrupt it. My memory is quite clear regarding the date my cousin saved my life and it is tomorrow. The kahs-wan ordeal is an ancient rite of warrior days. When Vulcans turned to logic, they reasoned they must maintain the tests of courage and strength to keep pure logic from making them weak and helpless."
Young Spock goes on his kahs-wan a month early on his own will. His pet sehlat I-Chaya follows him into the Vulcan desert, defying young Spock's authority.
- "Personal Log. The boy, Spock, should be moving towards the L-langon Mountains, he – I, had much to prove to myself. The personal ordeal upon which I embarked was meant to determine the course my life would take."
In the desert, the couple are attacked by a ferocious le-matya. Adult Spock, who had been following the two into the desert, intervenes and saves young Spock's life. Unlike the way adult Spock remembers this episode, I-Chaya is badly injured from the battle and is dying. Young Spock sets out to find a healer in the city, while adult Spock uses a nerve pinch to help ease I-Chaya's pain.
Although Young Spock is successful, I-Chaya is too far gone by the time the healer arrives. The healer gives young Spock the choice to give I-Chaya a longer, but painful life, or to release him from his suffering. Spock chooses to release I-Chaya from life, the most logical way, and, in doing so, chooses to follow the Vulcan ways of his father.
The timeline is saved and Spock returns from the Guardian as first officer. Before beaming back to the Enterprise, Spock laments the death of I-Chaya to Kirk, admitting that this did not happen the first time around. Back on the ship, McCoy is complaining when it is Spock's turn to take the routine physical, and the fact that he has to recalibrate his equipment for a Vulcan. Spock tells him that if he wasn't recalibrating for a Vulcan he would be recalibrating for an Andorian. McCoy asks if this is some sort of joke, reminding Spock that Vulcans don't tell jokes. To this Spock responds, "Times change, Doctor. Times change."
[edit] Memorable Quotes
"Is it possible for Spock to return to Vulcan and repair the time line that has been broken so all is the same as before?"
"It is possible if no other major factor is changed."
- - Kirk and The Guardian
"What a trip, Bones!"
- - Kirk, to McCoy after emerging from the Guardian of Forever
"In the family, all is silence."
- - Spock (as Selek) to Sarek
"What you do not yet understand, Spock, is that Vulcans do not lack emotion. It is only that ours is controlled. Logic offers a serenity humans seldom experience in full. We have emotions, but we deal with them… and do not let them control us."
- - Spock, to his younger self
"You're a Terran, Spock! You could never be a true Vulcan!"
"That is not true!"
- - Sofek and Spock
"What's the matter, Bones!"
"Who's he, Jim?"
"Whadda you mean, 'Who's he'? You know Mr. Spock."
" 'Fraid I don't, Jim."
- - Kirk and McCoy
"Every life comes to an end when time demands it. Loss of life is to be mourned but only if the life was wasted."
- - Spock
[edit] Background Information
- "Yesteryear" was penned by D.C. Fontana, a writer and story consultant for the original series, who also served as the animated series producer. "Yesteryear" is the sequel to the original series episode "The City on the Edge of Forever" by Harlan Ellison and ties in with the TOS episodes "Journey to Babel" and "Amok Time".
- Fontana re-used the plot of this episode the same year for an episode of Land of the Lost entitled "Elsewhen".
- Star Trek: The Animated Series was not considered canon by Paramount Pictures and could not be included in Michael and Denise Okuda's reference books. However, they made an exception in the case of "Yesteryear" (or at least its backstory) because of its importance to the Star Trek timeline and elements of Spock's backstory established here have made it into official sources and future live-action episodes of TNG, so "Yesteryear" was mentioned in the Star Trek Chronology. The producers of later Star Trek series incorporated elements of "Yesteryear"'s backstory into canon: Spock's desert journeys are mentioned by Sarek in TNG: "Unification I", and T'Pol mentions her own kahs-wan in ENT: "The Catwalk". In addition, Vulcan's Forge is mentioned in DS9: "Change of Heart" and seen in ENT: "The Forge".
- Along with Stanley Adams (Cyrano Jones) and Roger C. Carmel (Harry Mudd), Mark Lenard (Sarek) is one of only three actors, besides the regulars, to play the same character on both this series and Star Trek: The Original Series. He first portrayed Sarek in TOS: "Journey to Babel".
- Billy Simpson never studio recorded the voice of young Spock for this episode. Instead, the finished production used his audition tape.
- In this story, Spock's pet sehlat, I-Chaya, was mortally wounded, and the seven-year-old Spock decided to have him euthanized rather than continue to live in pain. NBC executives wanted the ending changed, but D.C. Fontana refused, and Gene Roddenberry supported the decision. (citation needed • edit)
- D.C. Fontana originally scrawled "no moon" on the Filmation artwork depicting a huge planetoid in the Vulcan sky. However, the note was overlooked. Star Trek: The Motion Picture later featured a similar large body.
- The recordings made by the historians in this episode may explain why the Federation seemed to have fragmentary records on Earth's 20th century past in TOS: "Space Seed", yet they would have much fuller knowledge in TNG: "The Neutral Zone" and VOY: "11:59".
- This was the second of five STAR TREK projects to be adapted into View-Master reels, and was retitled Mr. Spock's Time Trek. There was also a version for use with "talking" View-Masters.
- Spock's survival in the past required his travel in time to save himself. Therefore, within the logic of the episode, the "normal" timeline is actually an altered timeline.
- This is the first of three animated episodes that does not feature any scenes set on the bridge of the USS Enterprise. The two subsequent episodes that excluded the location are "The Slaver Weapon" and "The Jihad".
- Spock's dialog to his younger self, regarding logic offering "a serenity humans seldom experience," is revisited by Sarek in the 2009 Star Trek film, in which Spock likewise travels through time and meets a younger version of himself.
[edit] Apocrypha
Star Trek: Myriad Universes story The Chimes at Midnight, goes into greater detail of the alternate timeline in which Spock died, focusing mainly on the differences of the events in the films ranging from Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan and Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country.
[edit] Video and DVD releases
- UK VHS release (CIC Video): Volume 1, catalog number VHR 2535, 6 December 1991
- As part of the The Animated Series DVD collection
[edit] Links and references
[edit] Starring
- And
[edit] Also starring
- Majel Barrett as:
- James Doohan as:
[edit] Guest stars
[edit] References
2232; 2237; 2239; 2264; 8877; Andorian; annual physical; Aurelia; Aurelians; boots; carry bag; desert flyer; Earth; Earther; emotion; Federation history; healer; historian; kahs-wan; L-langon Mountains; le-matya; logic; Lunaport; Orion; Orions; philosophy; physical; poison; practical joke; Sasak; sehlat; Selek; ShiKahr; T'Pel; Tasmeen; Terran; timeline; time vortex planet; Vulcan; Vulcans; Vulcan desert soft suit; Vulcan's Forge; Vulcan history; Vulcan neck pinch; Vulcan desert soft suit; wardrobe section;
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