MovieChat Forums > Star Trek: Strange New Worlds (2022) Discussion > Pike in original Star Trek's "The Menage...

Pike in original Star Trek's "The Menagerie" was a MISERABLE FAILURE!

posted 3 years ago by [deleted]
7 replies | jump to latest

Star Trek actually had two pilots, and two crews, Spock was just common to both crews, but Roddenberry's first pilot with Pike, "The Menagerie", was a miserable failure with viewers because it was far too cerebral, but the second pilot, "Where No Man Has Gone Before", with Kirk, was more action-oriented and a hit with viewers.

So my question is: why stick with a failed captain like Pike? Is it cos he somehow (laughs) had his own fans? Don't fucking make me laugh.

[–] thingmakersback (1414) 3 years ago

"The Cage" (That was the first pilot) was only a failure with network folks. It was never even shown to viewers till, like 20 or 30 years later. It was turned into the backstory of the two part episode "The Menagerie" and has always, in that context at least, been well loved by fans.

[–] tanyalawrence (353) 3 years ago

The Cage wasn't even seen by viewers until the late 80s.

It wasn't liked by the network executives who ordered a second pilot.

Material from The Cage was used into a two-parter called The Menagerie.

So my question is: why would someone with so little knowledge of Star Trek offer such an ignorant take?

[–] [deleted] 3 years ago

I forgot about the "Cage" title, I thought that was the "Menagerie".

Wasn't the two-parter about Spock's trial?

[–] Rorikon (18127) 3 years ago

The Cage is an interesting footnote in history. The show TOS could have been, and they show they are making now (Strange New Worlds).

The Menagerie is an award winning 2-parter that contains 90% of The Cage anyways. A 2-parter much less suspenseful knowing the plot of The Cage. Therefore I recommend skipping The Cage and watching it sometime later. The DVDs and Netflix actually make it the last episode.

Basically 50% of the crew is watching The Cage and 50% is built around it sort of speak. The only difference that I could recall was in The Cage, Pike leaves and what’s her name gets a weird fake Pike to live with forever. On The Menagerie, they use the exact same footage, but it’s actually Pike going with her and not fake Pike.

[–] Satan2016 (25905) 3 years ago

You are constantly showing your ignorance. You made this claim weeks ago: https://moviechat.org/tt12327578/Star-Trek-Strange-New-Worlds/61f9939ddfff904f274c4665/Why-this-obsession-with-Pike

[–] Rorikon (18127) 3 years ago

https://youtu.be/qYJ0L12Tidw

And here is your answer...

[–] ATG6 (3000) 3 years ago

Bringing back Pike was an attempt at fan service to prop up STD's sagging ratings, and an excuse to bring in Spock. And it worked -- Anson Mount was great in the role and earned a spin-off.

I only wish that Discovery had blasted far into the future never to be seen again, and the main series just followed Enterprise.