City on the Edge of Forever - How did they return?

[MarsWeeps]

In the City on the Edge of Forever, after Edith is killed in the traffic accident, how did Kirk, Spock and McCoy return to the future? How did they initiate the "doorway" that brought them back?

Was the Guardian watching things, and once it was determined that McCoy no longer altered the past, gave Kirk a minute or two to grieve and then "opened the door" for them?

 

[KirksStuntMan]

In the City on the Edge of Forever, after Edith is killed in the traffic accident, how did Kirk, Spock and McCoy return to the future? How did they initiate the "doorway" that brought them back?

That's a very good question. Maybe the Guardian whisked them back through the portal before some other event in history was changed by their presence.

 

[Gojira]

I want to know how this episode stacks up with the Multi-verse theory.

 

[Neutral Zone]

In the City on the Edge of Forever, after Edith is killed in the traffic accident, how did Kirk, Spock and McCoy return to the future? How did they initiate the "doorway" that brought them back?

That's a very good question. Maybe the Guardian whisked them back through the portal before some other event in history was changed by their presence.

He had to be precise, but who's to say that they didn't change history in some way?

 

[T'Girl]

There had to be time for Kirk and Spock to return to where-ever it was that they were storing their uniforms and change. Spock (IIRC) arrived back in the 23rd century with his tricorder as well.

 

[CorporalCaptain]

In the City on the Edge of Forever, after Edith is killed in the traffic accident, how did Kirk, Spock and McCoy return to the future? How did they initiate the "doorway" that brought them back?

That's a very good question. Maybe the Guardian whisked them back through the portal before some other event in history was changed by their presence.

He had to be precise, but who's to say that they didn't change history in some way?

The Guardian of Forever.

Time has resumed its shape. All is as it was before. Many such journeys are possible. Let me be your gateway.

 

[Timewalker]

In the City on the Edge of Forever, after Edith is killed in the traffic accident, how did Kirk, Spock and McCoy return to the future? How did they initiate the "doorway" that brought them back?

That's a very good question. Maybe the Guardian whisked them back through the portal before some other event in history was changed by their presence.

He had to be precise, but who's to say that they didn't change history in some way?

The Disappearing Bum. I'm sure that he didn't phaser himself out of existence in the original history.

 

[Shatinator]

As Scotty said " you only left amount ago"

Edith died as intended and history was restored

Kirk & Co returned with all they left with because though they remember it essentially it never happened.


The
S H A T I N A T O R

 

[Therin of Andor]

I want to know how this episode stacks up with the Multi-verse theory.

I can highly recommend "Crucible: McCoy", a novel by David R George III. It tracks the alternate history of the McCoy who was stranded in time.

Similarly, "Crucible: Spock" features the alternate history featuring Thelin the Andorian of "Yesteryear", ie. from ST's other aired journey through the Guardian.

 

[KirksStuntMan]

Damn those guys, Kirk, Spock, and McCoy!!!! Before they went back in time and changed history, I was handsome, famous, and rich. Now I'm homely, unknown, and poor.

 

[erastus25]

That's a very good question. Maybe the Guardian whisked them back through the portal before some other event in history was changed by their presence.

He had to be precise, but who's to say that they didn't change history in some way?

The Disappearing Bum. I'm sure that he didn't phaser himself out of existence in the original history.

But it could be that he had literally no effect on the timeline. Maybe he was going to die the next day, anyway. Spock did imply that the rivers and eddies of time generally end up with the same result unless something MAJOR is changed.

 

[CorporalCaptain]

Yes to everything erastus25 just said. I'll also repeat what I said already, the Guardian said everything was fixed.

If you're willing to reason outside the box and contradict what the Guardian said, then either the Guardian is lying or you must accept the additional explanation that therefore at that point in the bum's life his death had no impact.

I prefer the latter possibility, simply because I believe the intention was that the Guardian was telling the truth.

The whole thing's a bitter ending to this magnificent episode.

 

[KirksStuntMan]

The Disappearing Bum. I'm sure that he didn't phaser himself out of existence in the original history.

Did his "Homeless. Will work for food." sign get disintegrated, too?

 

[Gojira]

I want to know how this episode stacks up with the Multi-verse theory.

I can highly recommend "Crucible: McCoy", a novel by David R George III. It tracks the alternate history of the McCoy who was stranded in time.

Similarly, "Crucible: Spock" features the alternate history featuring Thelin the Andorian of "Yesteryear", ie. from ST's other aired journey through the Guardian.

Thanks, I will look them up!

 

[scotpens]

There had to be time for Kirk and Spock to return to where-ever it was that they were storing their uniforms and change. Spock (IIRC) arrived back in the 23rd century with his tricorder as well.

Or maybe the Guardian conveniently dressed them in their uniforms just before it whisked them back to the present. Like Doug and Tony in The Time Tunnel always ending up in the same clothes they started with.

 

[Anwar]

I'm still left wondering why Kirk never considered taking Edith with him to the future. I mean, sure she wouldn't be 100% on-board with the idea but still...

 

[CorporalCaptain]

She needed an obituary for Spock's reading of the paper to occur. Too many witnesses to the accident to fake it; they needed her body there.

Spock didn't get enough details, so there was no way to prepare. The exact moment came as a surprise.

 

[erastus25]

She needed an obituary for Spock's reading of the paper to occur. Too many witnesses to the accident to fake it; they needed her body there.

Spock didn't get enough details, so there was no way to prepare. The exact moment came as a surprise.

And the Guardian would have had to be complicit with this plan. They weren't really in contact with her so it's possible it would never have whisked them back while she lived.

 

[Mr. Laser Beam]

Edith was native to that time period, that is probably why she couldn't return via the Guardian - she can't go to the future because she didn't come FROM it.

And her death in the past had to be recorded. To preserve history, her death had to be a known event. A disappearance would not be enough.

As for the 'original' history? There wasn't one. There was a predestination paradox. Just like in ST:FC.

 

[cblmc1296]

After everything that's already been said upthread, I don't know if this will help any but:

Kirk: "Guardian... if we are successful?"

Guardian: "Then you will be returned. It will be as though none of you had gone."