59 Years Later, Star Trek's Most Important Episode is Still Groundbreaking

59 years later, one of Star Trek’s most important episodes continues to be groundbreaking. The classic Star Trek was a trailblazer for science fiction on television. The program regularly tackled social problems of the day, all dressed up in the trappings of alien worlds and Federations in order to get by the censors.

Star Trek broke new ground in even more profound ways as well. The show featured a Black woman, Uhura, in a position of authority. For any Black person to be a regular on TV, let alone a woman, was unheard of at the time. Nichelle Nichols, the actress who played Uhura, was famously praised by Doctor Martin Luther King Jr.

Since then, the Star Trek franchise has been ahead of the curve when it comes to addressing real world problems as well as in the area of representation. The many Star Trek spin-offs have featured other characters of color, as well as disabled and queer individuals. Yet one episode, airing in Star Trek’s first season, also quietly broke new ground.

"Court Martial" is a GroundBreaking Star Trek Episode

Captain Kirk Must Defend Himself From a Murder Charge

“Court Martial” aired in early 1967, as part of Star Trek’s first season. In the episode, Kirk stands trial at a Starbase for the murder of a fellow Starfleet officer. Complicating the situation is that Starfleet's JAG Officer, Areel Shaw, is a former flame of Kirk’s. The case against Kirk seems airtight, forcing him to seek the best legal representation.

During the course of the episode, Kirk must not only defend himself in the trial of his life, but also navigate his complicated feelings for both Shaw and the man he is accused of murdering: Lieutenant Commander Benjamin Finney. Finney had been a lifelong friend of Kirk’s, even naming his daughter after Jim.

Of course, the episode ends with Kirk being exonerated. It was revealed that Finney, in a fit of mental instability, faked his death and tried to blame it on Kirk. Once the truth comes to light, Kirk is free to go, and Finney is taken into custody. The Enterprise then warps off to its next destination.

"Court Martial" Is Not Regarded as a Classic Star Trek Episode Among Fans

The Episode Introduced an Important Type of Star Trek Episode: the Courtroom Drama

Today, “Court Martial” enjoys a mixed reputation among Star Trek fans. It never shows up in “Top 10” episode lists. It is the epitome of what is now called a “filler episode.” Aside from some world-building and insights into Captain Kirk’s past, “Court Martial” seems to offer little of substance to Star Trek fans.

“Court Martial” introduced the trappings of procedural thrillers to the Star Trek universe, based on the principles of military law. This type of episode would continue throughout Star Trek’s many spinoffs. “The Measure of a Man,” airing in The Next Generation’s second season, was one such episode cut from this cloth. Unlike “Court Martial,” it is regarded as a classic.

Legal procedurals would continue throughout Star Trek. The Next Generation would revisit the trope again in its fourth season, in the episode “The Drumhead.” Other shows, such as Strange New Worlds, have also set some of their finest episodes in a courtroom. It might seem that “Court Martial” is an important Star Trek episode after all.

"Court Martial" Broke Ground In Representation

Commodore Stone Was the First Black Flag Officer Star Trek Fans Meet

Yet “Court Martial” broke new ground in more subtle ways as well. As noted earlier, Star Trek was way ahead of the curve when it came to representation, especially during The Original Series. In addition to Uhura, a Black woman, Star Trek featured a Japanese man as well as a Russian at the height of the Cold War.

In “Court Martial,” fans meet Commodore Stone, the head of Starbase 11, where the episode takes place. Played by Canadian actor Percy Rodriguez, who was of African/Portuguese descent, Commodore Stone was the first Black Starfleet officer fans meet who outranks Kirk. Uhura was an officer too, but she was only a Lieutenant. Stone outranked them both.

Commodore Stone was not only the first Black Flag officer Star Trek fans meet, but he bucked the trend of other members of Starfleet Command. In The Original Series, commodores and admirals were often hindrances to Kirk’s mission. On the other hand, Stone is fair and impartial, and puts Kirk in his place at one point.

"Court Martial" Featured a Woman Lawyer, Unheard of on Television During the 1960s

Areel Shaw Was One of Star Trek's Strongest Women Characters

Lieutenant Areel Shaw, played by Joan Marshall, was also a ground-breaking character. As part of Starfleet’s JAG Division, Shaw was responsible for prosecuting personnel guilty of breaking Federation law. “Court Martial” makes it clear that Shaw is a fantastic lawyer, and she does not let her feelings for Kirk interfere with her job.

This characterization puts Shaw ahead of other women characters appearing on television at the time. Women had very little agency in the shows and movies of the era, often serving as love interests to the male characters. At the onset of “Court Martial,” it seems as if this trope is going to play out, yet it does not.

Areel Shaw was a woman lawyer, appearing on television in 1967, something also not regularly seen. While women were making inroads into the law profession even before the 1960s, seeing them depicted on television was rare. Most lawyers seen on-screen were men, such as Raymond Burr in Perry Mason. Shaw subverted this trend.

"Court Martial" Deserves More Love from Star Trek Fans

"Court Martial" Had More Groundbreaking Elements Than Many Classic Star Trek Episodes

When Star Trek fans are recounting some of the franchise’s most memorable episodes, “Court Martial” may not spring immediately to mind. Groundbreaking episodes such as “Plato’s Stepchildren,” which featured television’s first interracial kiss, or “The Outcast,” which brought LGBTQIA issues to the Star Trek universe, are more likely to be remembered.

To be sure, those episodes are important to Star Trek and television as a whole, but there are plenty of others that did the same thing as “Plato’s Stepchildren,” only they do not get the credit that the others do. “Court Martial” was equally important to the Star Trek franchise, but does not get the love it deserves.

Star Trek set the gold standard for science fiction television. It took concepts such as galactic Federations, ones only existing in books, and brought them to the mainstream. Star Trek also showed science fiction’s more hopeful side, including a future free of racism and misogyny. “Court Martial” demonstrated this better than many other, more well-known Star Trek episodes.