Time Travel to the Past With Star Trek!

By Scott McLean

Time travel was a subject dealt with in the original Star Trek series, and the episodes were quite suspenseful.

My favorite episode of this genre is “All Our Yesterdays”, which is to take nothing away from the sci-fi masterpiece “The City on the Edge of Forever”, starring Joan Collins. If time travel ever becomes possible, it would serve as a cautionary tale not to get emotionally involved with someone from the past.

Kirk, Spock and McCoy take an unexpected 'leap' back in time to Earth's early 20th century, where they try to help a special woman (played by Collins). But should they follow their hearts and not their minds, their good deeds could have disastrous consequences for future generations.

“All Our Yesterdays” visits a world bracing for the end brought on by a supernova, but instead of leaving the planet for safety, it's inhabitants transport themselves to the past, which isn't all bad because they are allowed to choose which eras they would like to spend the rest of their lives.

Captain Kirk, Spock and Doctor McCoy get separated in different historical periods many centuries apart, and they must find each other and their way back to the present time.

The three men find themselves in difficult situations, though that is nothing new for them. They must hurry or it will be too late to leave the planet. The plot is tense and taut. Each time I've seen this episode, I wanted it to go on for another hour or two.