History YMMV / StarTrekS1E0TheCage

** Fortunately averted in the end, but during makeup tests for the Orion make-up (Creator/MajelBarrett being used as the test subject), the footage kept coming back with no indication of the different skin color, leading to makeup dressing her up with various shades of green, all with the same results. After three days of this, the makeup artists learned that the film processing lab had been decoloring her, not having realized that she was SUPPOSED to be green.

* ValuesDissonance: The fact that Captain Pike has some trouble over having a woman on the bidge (other than his female first officer who implicitly seems to be treated as OneOfTheBoys, and is somewhat resentful of the fact) is pretty jarring to modern audiences used to more inclusive iterations of the franchise.

** Just after the women beam down, Vina attempts to insult Number One by comparing her to a computer. Creator/MajelBarrett, who played Number One, went on to voice the Federation Computer in every ''Star Trek'' series up to ''Series/StarTrekEnterprise''.

* TheWoobie: Vina was in a wreckage, disfigured and dying, and was so tortured that she's developed StockholmSyndrome, just happy to be in a illusion.

* {{Narm}}: Captain Pike's vision of Hell? Surrounded by flames...in a [[LavaIsBoilingKoolAid pit full of oatmeal]].

* SpecialEffectsFailure: Fortunately averted in the end, but during makeup tests for the Orion make-up (Creator/MajelBarrett being used as the test subject), the footage kept coming back with no indication of the different skin color, leading to makeup dressing her up with various shades of green, all with the same results. After three days of this, the makeup artists learned that the film processing lab had been decoloring her, not having realized that she was SUPPOSED to be green.

** Following their [[EnsembleDarkHorse extremely popular]] portrayal in Season 2 of ''[[Series/StarTrekDiscovery Discovery]]'', it was announced in 2020 that a new series featuring Captain Pike, Number One, and Spock serving aboard the USS Enterprise would go into production. Several people have observed that technically, this version of the series finally got picked up, ([[TheOtherDarrin albeit with everyone recast]]), in what is probably the ''longest'' amount of time it has ever taken for a pilot to get a first-season order.

* WhatAnIdiot: Captain Pike is startled by the appearance of the female yeoman assigned to him delivering him a report on the bridge, then trying to explain the reasons to his also-female first officer.\\
'''You'd Expect:''' That the fact of having a female first officer, who by the nature of her duties is usually present on the bridge, would be enough for the captain not only to be used to having a woman on the bridge, but for the fact to be not even worthy of comment.\\
'''Instead:''' He explains, ''to said female first officer'', that the reason the yeoman startled him was that the captain wasn't used to having a woman on the bridge, earning him a funny look and forcing him to backtrack ("[[PresentCompanyExcluded You're different]], of course").

** Following their [[EnsembleDarkHorse extremely popular]] portrayal in Season 2 of ''[[Series/StarTrekDiscovery Discovery]]'', it was announced in 2020 that a new series featuring Captain Pike, Number One, and Spock serving aboard the USS Enterprise would go into production. Several people have observed that technically, this version of the series finally got picked up, ([[AuthorExistenceFailure albeit with]] [[TheOtherDarrin everyone recast]]), in what is probably the ''longest'' amount of time it has ever taken for a pilot to get a first-season order.

* FairForItsDay: Number One being a woman in authority was quite progressive for the time. Avoiding many of the stereotypes for time, she's a competent commanding officer, taking effective charge of the situation when Pike isn't present.

* {{Padding}}: In an indication that the hour-long version of the episode is probably a workprint that was never intended to be broadcast as-is, there are a number superfluous scenes where the characters either point out the obvious or recap what the audience already knows, bits of dialogue that are repeated with minor alterations a few minutes later, and special effects that just add to the running time. Had this version of ''Star Trek'' gone to series, chances are it would have been edited down to the 50-minute length that TOS episodes usually ended up being.

** Following their [[EnsembleDarkHorse extremely popular]] portrayal in Season 2 of ''[[Series/StarTrekDiscovery Discovery]]'', it was announced in 2020 that a new series featuring Captain Pike, Number One, and Spock serving aboard the USS Enterprise would go into production. Several people have observed that technically, this version of the series finally got picked up, albeit with everyone recast, in what is probably the ''longest'' amount of time it has ever taken for a pilot to get a first-season order.

* {{Narm}}: Captain Pike's vision of Hell? Surrounded by flames... in a [[LavaIsBoilingKoolAid pit full of oatmeal]].

* FridgeLogic
** Vina claims her misshapen but correctly functioning body is the result of the Talosians having put her back together without ever having seen a human before. But even ignoring the fact that the Talosians themselves are HumanoidAliens with perfect bilateral symmetry along their long axis, ''they could have read her thoughts'' to see what humans looked like.
*** Earlier drafts of the episode describe the Talosians as [[StarfishAliens crustaceans]], and the change to humanoids in the final product was a budgetary concession. The telepathy point depends on whether a subject needs to be conscious to have their minds read. It's doubtful Vina was in anything resembling a lucid or communicative state after the crash, considering she herself describes her condition at that point as a "lump of flesh."
*** We know the Talosians can't read the mind of someone who's caught up in primal hatred. Possibly the mental state of someone whose body has been mangled in a starship crash is even more primal than that, a frenzy of pain and terror they can't (or possibly don't ''dare'') connect with. Also, who's to say they aren't ''still'' crustaceans, but made themselves look humanoid for convenience during their interaction with Pike?
*** Also the Talosians simply lacked the physical skill and experience to do surgery on a human. If they had that ability, they could certainly take up agriculture to save their lives.

* {{Misblamed}}: Creator/GeneRoddenberry claimed that a lot of women objected to seeing a woman in a position of authority (Number One, played by Creator/MajelBarrett), and the fact that the female crew members wore pants. However, [[https://www.quora.com/Why-did-Star-Trek-the-original-series-do-away-with-the-female-XO-in-its-pilot-episode?share=1 the problems with the pilot had nothing to do with a female in a powerful position]]; it had more to do with who was playing her. [[Series/ILoveLucy Women in leading and strong supporting roles]] on TV, sometimes playing [[Series/{{Bewitched}} clearly powerful characters]] and sometimes being [[Series/TheBigValley middle-aged to elderly]] women [[Series/TheBeverlyHillbillies who were not sexualized]], were not completely unheard of at the time. When the pilot was first pitched, [[https://www.thoughtco.com/the-lost-star-trek-pilot-4031216 the network was concerned because Barrett was involved in an extramarital affair with Roddenberry at the time, and their relationship was quite well-known in the industry]]. Additionally, some of the ''Star Trek'' creators believed that Barrett was just not a very good actor back then. She seemed to improve with age, as she was eventually given more complex material to work with than just "she is in love with Spock".

* TheEvilsOfFreeWill: The fact that humans would prefer death to any form of captivity is a sticking point on why they are unsuitable for the Talosians plans. Pike tries to console the Keepers suggesting some sort of mutual cooperation to solve their population problem. The Keeper, however is savvy enough to know [[InYourNatureToDestroyYourselves what will happen if humans eventually acquire the Talosian power of illusion.]] All of this at least explains why there is a General Order forbidding any contact with this planet.

* {{Misblamed}}: Creator/GeneRoddenberry claimed that a lot of women objected to seeing a woman in a position of authority (Number One, played by Creator/MajelBarrett), and the fact that the female crew members wore pants. However, [[https://www.quora.com/Why-did-Star-Trek-the-original-series-do-away-with-the-female-XO-in-its-pilot-episode?share=1 the problems with the pilot had nothing to do with a female in a powerful position]]; it had more to do with who was playing her. [[Series/ILoveLucy Women in leading and strong supporting roles]] on TV, sometimes playing [[Series/{{Bewitched}} clearly powerful characters]] and sometimes being [[Series/TheBigValley middle-aged to elderly]] women [[Series/TheBeverlyHillbillies who were not sexualized]], were not completely unheard of at the time. When the pilot was first pitched, [[https://www.thoughtco.com/the-lost-star-trek-pilot-4031216 the network was concerned because Barrett was married to Roddenberry and their relationship was quite well-known to the public]]. Additionally, some of the ''Star Trek'' creators believed that Barrett was just not a very good actor back then. She seemed to improve with age, as she was eventually given more complex material to work with than just "she is in love with Spock".

* TheEvilsOfFreeWill: The fact that humans would prefer death to any form of captivity is a sticking point on why they are unsuitable for the Talosians plans. Pike tries to console the Keepers suggesting some sort of mutual cooperation to solve their population problem. The Keeper, however is savvy enough to know [[InYourNatureToDestroyYourselves what will happen if humans eventually the Talosian power of illusion.]] All of this at least explains why there is a General Order forbidding any contact with this planet.

* TheEvilsOfFreeWill: The fact that humans would prefer death to any form of captivity is a sticking point on why they are unsuitable for the Talosians plans. Pike tries to console the Keepers suggesting some sort of mutual cooperation to solve their population problem. The Keeper, however is savvy enough to know [[InYourNatureToDestroyYourselves what will happen if humans eventually the Talosian power of illusion.]]

'''Instead:''' He explains, ''to said female first officer'', that the reason the yeoman startled him was that the captain wasn't used to having a woman on the bridge, earning him a funny look and forcing him to backtrack ("[[PresentCompanyExcluded You're different]], of course").

* {{Misblamed}}: Creator/GeneRoddenberry claimed that a lot of women objected to seeing a woman in a position of authority (Number One, played by Creator/MajelBarrett), and the fact that the female crew members wore pants. However, [[https://www.quora.com/Why-did-Star-Trek-the-original-series-do-away-with-the-female-XO-in-its-pilot-episode?share=1 the problems with the pilot had nothing to do with a female in a powerful position]]; it had more to do with who was playing her. [[Series/ILoveLucy Women in leading and strong supporting roles]] on TV, sometimes playing [[Series/{{Bewitched}} clearly powerful characters]] and sometimes being [[Series/TheBigValley middle-aged to elderly]] women [[Series/TheBeverlyHillbillies who were not sexualized]], were not completely unheard of at the time. When the pilot was first pitched, [[https://www.thoughtco.com/the-lost-star-trek-pilot-4031216 the network was concerned because Barrett was married to Roddenberry and their relationship was quite well-known to the public]]. Additionally, some of the ''Star Trek'' creators believed that Barrett was just not a very good actor back then. She seemed to improve with age, as she was given more complex material to work with than just "she is in love with Spock".

* {{Misblamed}}: Creator/GeneRoddenberry claimed that a lot of women objected to seeing a woman in a position of authority (Number One, played by Creator/MajelBarrett), and the fact that the female crew members wore pants. However, [[https://www.quora.com/Why-did-Star-Trek-the-original-series-do-away-with-the-female-XO-in-its-pilot-episode?share=1 the problems with the pilot had nothing to do with a female in a powerful position]]; it had more to do with who was playing her. [[Series/ILoveLucy Women in leading and strong supporting roles]] on TV, sometimes playing [[Series/{{Bewitched}} clearly powerful characters]] and sometimes being [[Series/TheBigValley middle-aged to elderly]] women [[Series/TheBeverlyHillbillies who were not sexualized]], were not completely unheard of at the time. When the pilot was first pitched, [[https://www.thoughtco.com/the-lost-star-trek-pilot-4031216 the network was concerned because Barrett was married to Roddenberry and their relationship was quite well-known to the public]]. Additionally, some of the ''Star Trek'' creators believed that Barrett was just not a very good actor back then. She seemed improve with age, as she was given more complex material to work with than just "she's in love with Spock".

* Misblamed: Creator/GeneRoddenberry claimed that a lot of women objected to seeing a woman in a position of authority (Number One, played by Creator/MajelBarrett), and the fact that the female crew members wore pants. However, [[https://www.quora.com/Why-did-Star-Trek-the-original-series-do-away-with-the-female-XO-in-its-pilot-episode?share=1 the problems with the pilot had nothing to do with a female in a powerful position]]; it had more to do with who was playing her. [[Series/ILoveLucy Women in leading and strong supporting roles]] on TV, sometimes playing [[Series/{{Bewitched}} clearly powerful characters]] and sometimes being [[Series/TheBigValley middle-aged to elderly]] women [[Series/TheBeverlyHillbillies who were not sexualized]], were not completely unheard of at the time. When the pilot was first pitched, [[https://www.thoughtco.com/the-lost-star-trek-pilot-4031216 the network was concerned because Barrett was married to Roddenberry and their relationship was quite well-known to the public]]. Additionally, some of the ''Star Trek'' creators believed that Barrett was just not a very good actor back then. She seemed improve with age, as she was given more complex material to work with than just "she's in love with Spock".

* Misblamed: Creator/GeneRoddenberry claimed that a lot of women objected to seeing a woman in a position of authority (Number One, played by Creator/MajelBarrett), and the fact that the female crew members wore pants. However, [[https://www.quora.com/Why-did-Star-Trek-the-original-series-do-away-with-the-female-XO-in-its-pilot-episode?share=1 the problems with the pilot had nothing to do with a female in a powerful position]]; it had more to do with who was playing her. [[Series/ILoveLucy Women in leading and strong supporting roles]] on TV, sometimes playing [[Series/{{Bewitched}} clearly powerful characters]] and sometimes being [[Series/TheBigValley middle-aged to elderly]] women [[Series/TheBeverlyHillbillies who were not sexualized]], were not completely unheard of at the time. When the pilot was first pitched, [[https://www.thoughtco.com/the-lost-star-trek-pilot-4031216 the network was concerned because Barrett was married to Roddenberry and their relationship was very well-known to the public]]. Additionally, some of the ''Star Trek'' creators believed that Barrett was just not a very good actor back then. She seemed improve with age, as she was given more complex material to work with than just "she's in love with Spock".

* ValuesDissonance: Creator/GeneRoddenberry claimed that a lot of women objected to seeing a woman in a position of authority (Number One, played by Creator/MajelBarrett), and the fact that the female crew members wore pants. Also, somewhat jarring to modern viewers might be Captain Pike's unwillingness to allow, and discomfort with having, a woman on the bridge (when a female yeoman comes up to deliver a report)... [[OneOfTheBoys with the exception of Number One, that is]].
** [[https://www.quora.com/Why-did-Star-Trek-the-original-series-do-away-with-the-female-XO-in-its-pilot-episode?share=1 It had less to do with a female]] in a power position as it had to do with who was playing her. [[Series/ILoveLucy Women in leading and strong supporting roles]] on TV, even playing [[Series/{{Bewitched}} some pretty powerful characters]], weren't unheard of at that time. (Even [[Series/TheBigValley older women]] [[Series/TheBeverlyHillbillies who were not sexy dolls]]. However, Barrett was the still-married Roddenberry's paramour in a very public affair. [[https://www.thoughtco.com/the-lost-star-trek-pilot-4031216 This is what concerned the network]] -- that, and according to some of the ''Star Trek'' creators, Barrett was just not a very good actress (although she seems to have improved with age, and given more complex material to work with than just "she's in love with Spock").