Original artwork, not a still
Captain's log, stardate 1513.1.
— Star Trek: The Original Series • 1966
Behind the line
What it means
Our interpretation.
With a stardate and a calm voice, the line announces the series' whole format: a captain narrating from a ship at the edge of the unknown. The 'Captain's log' device became the franchise's signature, reused by every later captain, and it is how generations of fans mimic the show. Ironically, this episode was not the first one filmed, only the first one aired.
Context reviewed
In context
Spoilers for Star Trek: The Original SeriesShow the scene
Kirk's log entry is the first spoken line of "The Man Trap", the Star Trek episode NBC broadcast first, on 8 September 1966 (Canada's CTV had aired it two days earlier). Over a shot of the Enterprise in orbit, he logs the ship's position above planet M-113 and says Spock is temporarily in command while he and Dr. McCoy visit the ruins below. It sets up the episode's plot, a salt-craving shape-shifting creature that preys on the crew. Written by George Clayton Johnson, it was directed by Marc Daniels.
Sources (2)
- Memory Alpha: The Man TrapInfobox, Teaser summary, Production notesReference checked
- Wikipedia: The Man TrapLead and infoboxReference checked
Context reviewed
