TOS: The Cage

             I have seen pilots before, but this one really feels extra piloty. Things that felt really weird and will be addressed in more detail below:

1. Paper!
2. Spock smiling
3. Time Factor
4. More and Less Sexism

             Seeing paper on the bridge of the Enterprise was just odd. Seeing metal clip boards with unevenly cut pieces of paper on it was just downright jarring. Every time Captain Pike needs a report or something he gets handed differently shaped piece of paper. I realize that in a pilot with so many other set and casting changes being offended about paper may seem odd, but other than a comment in the TNG pilot about, "printout mode," or something like that I don't recall any official federation business being done on paper.
             When the away team of half the bridge crew other than the female first officer beams down to the planet they encounter vibrating blue leaves. Pike is amused by grabbing them to make them stop shaking. Not something I would be shocked to see Kirk do, but what gets me is Spock grabs that damn blue leaf and starts beaming from ear to ear. It seems that even though he was apparently already an alien (not actually clear to me other than the odd name) he does still feel emotions. Pike and Kirk are if anything more similar than Spock in the pilot and Spock in the actual show.
             Instead of calling their faster than light travel warp and warp factor they call it time factor and even refer to having broken the time barrier. I guess given the nature of spacetime this isn't actually all that different, but it is jarring every time they say it. Reminded me a lot of hearing people say, "may the force go with you!" in the early cuts of Star Wars.
             The first officer on the Enterprise in the pilot was played by a stunning Majel Barrett, and she gives an outstanding performance. If there was one aspect of the show I wish they hadn't changed this would be it. She has great dramatic and sexual tension with Pike. On the less impressive side of thing this early episode also introduces the concept of green orion slave girls.
             
             Ok, I guess this is the part where I actually review the episode. Overall this one held up much better than I would have expected. It looks low budget, but most of the main acting performances are solid and the story isn't bogged down. Lots of the props and sets changed by the first real episode, but this is still very recognizable as Star Trek.

7 out of 10