The City On The Edge Of Forever Commentary

[In_Correct]

i am watching Star Trek right now for several reasons and I decided to watch The City On The Edge Of Forever even though I have already seen it.

I regret rewatching it.

I now understand (perhaps too much) that Edith Keeler is a social worker during a time period when so many were suffering. She ran a soup kitchen and tried to employ as many people as she could. She dreamed of a future where Governments don't spend money on war and by coincidence, sailing on a space ship. She was welcoming of Kirk, Spock, and McCoy who have similar philosophies.

Spoiler

But Edith Keeler Must Die.

And I did not like that. Her dreams apparently were way too soon. She is centuries ahead of her time. They were so good, that they were good enough to be bad ... or threatening. They threatened the time line because she had gotten the attention of The President (which I find to be unlikely) and the progress she made could have benefited U.S.A.. But I also find this to be unlikely. Even

Spoiler

if she lived

.

But at the same time, her efforts became so significant, it prevented the U.S.A. from entering World War II (which I also find to be unlikely) and Germany took over the world and The Federation never existed.

I don't think Edith Keeler's efforts would have ever had national recognition.

Spoiler

And if it did, then The Government would probably would have killed her anyways. The driver that ran her over in the original time line could have been sent from The Government.

Spoiler

I also don't like how Star Trek says that in order for Hitler to be killed, Edith Keeler must die as well.

I do not see any way that the two events could be connected. I find it to be most illogical.

Also, a man stealing milk notices Bones yelling out "Assassins!! Murderers!!" The man takes McCoy's device and beams away somewhere. I assume that The Guardian returned the man by the end of the episode, but I still find this to be another plot hole. (And what exactly is this strange device? A Phaser? Did the man vaporize himself?)

Let's theorize that IF Edith's Efforts became successful, I really doubt that U.S.A. would be uninterested in World War II. Instead, there would probably be some type of future in Voyager's "Future's End". Since Edith Keeler is no Henry Starling, then she would use any thing from the Future for benevolence, not belligerence.

Perhaps I am being too hard on TOS.

 

[Tosk]

And what exactly is this strange device? A Phaser? Did the man vaporize himself?

Yes and yes.

 

[UnknownSample]

Also, a man stealing milk notices Bones yelling out "Assassins!! Murderers!!" The man takes McCoy's device and beams away somewhere. I assume that The Guardian returned the man by the end of the episode, but I still find this to be another plot hole. (And what exactly is this strange device? A Phaser? Did the man vaporize himself?)

He accidentally destroyed himself with the phaser, by fooling with it. Starfleet people don't have portable teleporters.

This is my favorite scene in all of Star Trek. It has a dark sense of futility and tragedy, the man unleashing all this power in a back alley, it consumes him, and he's gone without a trace, and no one will ever know.

Edith Keeler started a pacifist movement to keep the US out of the war. Before Pearl Harbor, the US public was overwhelmingly against getting involved in WW2, and it wouldn't have been all that hard to get her movement going. As for the US government possibly assassinating her for being a peace activist... now there's a pretty wild assumption.

 

[feek61]

Her dreams apparently were way too soon. She is centuries ahead of her time. They were so good, that they were good enough to be bad ... or threatening. They threatened the time line because she had gotten the attention of The President (which I find to be unlikely) and the progress she made could have benefited U.S.A.. But I also find this to be unlikely.

Perhaps I am being too hard on TOS.

Edith Keeler was somewhat based on a real person named Aimee McPherson. Here is a link to McPherson:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aimee_Semple_McPherson

 

[allmusic4us]

I've always been a big TOS fan, and liked this episode. But found the statement that Spock makes to Kirk - "Edith Keeler Must Die" to be, almost funny. I mean, it's not something Spock would normally say. But I guess it inspired me to write a song about the episode. So I humbly offer this as a tribute to the show. My hope is that it makes you laugh or smile or elicits a positive response.

To view this content we will need your consent to set third party cookies.
For more detailed information, see our cookies page.

Accept third party cookies

 

[1001001]

I've always been a big TOS fan, and liked this episode. But found the statement that Spock makes to Kirk - "Edith Keeler Must Die" to be, almost funny. I mean, it's not something Spock would normally say. But I guess it inspired me to write a song about the episode. So I humbly offer this as a tribute to the show. My hope is that it makes you laugh or smile or elicits a positive response.

To view this content we will need your consent to set third party cookies.
For more detailed information, see our cookies page.

Accept third party cookies

First, welcome to the board.

Second, please take some time to review the rules for posting here, pinned at the top of this forum. Specifically, the one on resurrecting old threads.

This one has been dead for over 6 years.

Thanks