10
submitted 4 weeks ago* (last edited 4 weeks ago) by aeronmelon@lemmy.world to c/startrek@lemmy.world

WARNING: This thread WILL contain unhidden spoilers for this entry. Because this re-watch is in a slightly-subjective chronological order and not in production order, please refrain from talking about the content of other episodes or movies in this thread. If you do, please put that content inside spoiler tags. Some people here may be watching Star Trek for the first time.

#56: Star Trek: The Original Series, season 2, episode 20 "Return to Tomorrow"

Written by John Kingsbridge, directed by Ralph Senensky.

Stardates 4768.3 through 4770.3 (August 2268)

"This body please me. I intend to keep it." - Thalassa

The Enterprise chases an unusually-powerful distress signal into an unexplored star system. The source of the signal is found to be a planet that used to be similar to Earth, but is now long dead. Suddenly, in the proximity of the planet, a benevolent voice fills the ship and invites them to the surface. There, there find an orb with the consciousness of an ancient alien named Sargon (James Doohan) who's race existed long before all others, and whom very likely seeded Earth to create the first humans. Those few of them who remain wish to return to physical bodies and ask Captain Kirk, Commander Spock, and Lieutenant Mulhall (Diana Muldaur) to allow them to become temporary possessed with their life force so that they may construct new bodies and live amongst caporal beings once again.

Originally released: 3 May 1968

"Return to Tomorrow" on Memory Alpha (mirror)

THE STAR TREK FRANCHISE REWATCH PARTY MASTER LIST

Check here to find out where you can stream or digitally purchase Star Trek: The Original Series in your country. Star Trek: The Original Series is also available on DVD & BluRay.

What did you think?

top 2 comments
sorted by: hot top new old
[-] aeronmelon@lemmy.world 2 points 4 weeks ago

Visual effects comparison of the original broadcast & the Remastered versions.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kfcUUlAZHoc

[-] JohnnyEnzyme@piefed.social 1 points 4 weeks ago

Good to very good ep. I think maybe it didn't register as one of the greatest eps because it was kind of a bottle show - thought experiment as opposed to ones with more action, locales, drama and interesting new (physical) characters.

I thought it was really cool to hear James Doohan's natural voice amplified as Sargon, and downright awesome to see Spock playing a smarmy, scheming villain.

At the end, the spheres' fast-deteriorating was quite a shock and dramatic touch for me, and then Sargon & Thalassa deciding to embrace one last time before throwing themselves to oblivion was really quite moving.

this post was submitted on 06 Aug 2026
10 points (100.0% liked)

Star Trek

2540 readers
2 users here now

/c/StarTrek: Your safe harbored Spacedock in these Stellar Seas!

Fire up the inertial dampeners, retract all moorings and clear space dock. It's time to boldy go where no one has gone before!

~ 1. Be Civil. This is a Star Trek community and lets keep that energy. Be kind, respectful and polite to one another.

~ 2. Be Courteous. Please use the spoiler tags for any new Trek content that's been released in the past month. Check this page for lemmy formatting) for any posts. Also please keep spoilers out of the titles!

~ 3. Be Considerate. We're spread out across a lot of different instances but don't forget to follow your instances rules and the instance rules for Lemmy.world.


founded 3 years ago
MODERATORS