Yesteryear (Star Trek: The Animated Series)
"Yesteryear" is an episode of Star Trek: The Animated Series.
Plot
Spock returns from a time-traveling research project he has been conducting with the use of the Guardian of Forever. When he emerges from the portal, he discovers that apart from Kirk (who had accompanied Spock into the past), no one onboard the Enterprise recognizes him. Spock is further surprised to see that an Andorian officer, Commander Thelin, has replaced him as first officer.
In the new timeline, history has recorded that Spock died at age 7 undergoing the Kahs-wan ordeal on Vulcan. However, Spock remembers that when he took the Kahs-wan, his life was saved by Selek - an adult relative - when a desert creature had attacked them. Realizing what must have happened, Spock knows he must go back through the time gate to his Vulcan childhood, and save the life of the child he was. At first, this proceeds smoothly: Spock assumes the identity of Selek, and is welcomed into the home of Sarek and Amanda Grayson. "Selek" journeys into the desert to find his younger self, and saves the boy. However, I Chaya - Spock's pet sehlat - has been gravely wounded. Young Spock is offered a choice: either I Chaya can be treated with medicines (but will live in obvious pain) or his pet can be allowed to die with dignity. Young Spock chooses the latter, and I Chaya dies peacefully. By making this choice, Spock has thus chosen the Vulcan way of life - logic and emotional control - and his elder self, successful in repairing history, returns to the restored present day.
Broadcast
According to the DVD text commentary for this episode, Los Angeles-area stations aired this episode first, instead of "Beyond the Farthest Star" (the actual premiere episode elsewhere) because of favoritism allegations lodged by political opponents of George Takei, who was running for public office at the time. Instead of having to offer "equal time" to Takei's challengers, NBC stations in the L.A. area decided to air "Yesteryear" first, since it did not have any scenes with Hikaru Sulu (Takei's character) in it.[1]
Canonicity
Some elements of this particular episode have made it into the canon over time.
Several concepts that first appeared in the Animated Series' episode "Yesteryear", including The Forge and the city of ShiKahr, were later included in the Enterprise three-part story that started with "The Forge".[2]
References
External links
|
|
|
| Primary characters |
|
|
| Season 1 |
|
|
| Season 2 |
|
|