Racism on Star Trek TOS - “Let That Be Your Last Battlefield”

Star Trek TOS - “Let That Be Your Last Battlefield” first broadcast January 10, 1969. Not one of the more popular episodes, but this is one of my favorite clips. I use it as an example that, even in the 2300's, there were still racial issues with the Milky Way.

[@gillmartin1758]

For me, Frank Gorshin sold this episode. His “lanky” physique along with his broadway acting style really elevated this episode.

[@joncarroll2040]

Frank Gorshin was always the best thing on any show he was on

[@johnbockelie3899]

Frank Gorshin found that his costume was just like the Riddled one he wore on Batman. Only a different color.

[@Benjiesbeenbetter.]

I thought it was him. Thanks for saving me Googling.

[@charlesajones77]

2:56 I love Kirk's reaction here, like: "Are you f***ing kidding me?"

[@MartyInLa]

I was honored to know Oliver Crawford the writer of this episode. He also wrote The Cloud Minders and Galileo Seven, making him the creator of the shuttle craft. He was the nicest man, sadly gone now. I wish I could tell you Star Trek made him extremely rich, but it didn't. In fact, I know for a fact he was never even asked to appear at a Star Trek Convention, which is extremely sad.

[@dalethelander3781]

I thought The Cloud Minders is a David Gerrold script.

[@MartyInLa]

@@dalethelander3781 I believe they both worked on the script and that Mr. Crawford got co-writing credit, so I believe we are both right.

[@esausjudeannephew6317]

So he basically invented "The Purge" as well as, "Cloud Atlas" Not bad!

[@MartyInLa]

@@esausjudeannephew6317 he was not just a great writer, he was a wonderful human being. He served on the board of directors for the Writers Guild for many years, and he served his country in World War II.

[@nobodynothing00000]

the writer getting rich in show business? lol. Ok buddy.

[@mashah1085]

"Change is the essential process of all existence". People who fail to believe that are invariably disappointed with Reality.

[@mealsome1571]

Most people neglect that change is not always what they wish for it to be. things can get much worse. change is just that, change. no inherent malevolence involved.

[@shamancredible8632]

It's also important to discriminate on which changes occur. Not all change is good, you progressive hippy

[@ihavegymnastics]

A perfect demonstration of the ridiculousness of visual stereotyping.

[@Mailed-Knight]

Indeed.

[@sureshmukhi2316]

An episode way ahead of its time.

[@riogrande5761]

Many were way ahead of it's time.

[@sureshmukhi2316]

@@riogrande5761 yes, and this wasn't even a time travel episode. 😁

[@Makeyourselfbig]

No it wasn't. It was appropriate for the civil rights issues in the 1960's. Rodenberry did this a lot. Picking stories that reflected issues that were in the news back then. "A Private Little War" was a reflection on East/West proxy wars. The man v machine episodes. How many times did Kirk talk a computer into blowing itself up? These were just fear of technology stories. "The Enterprise Incident" was the same as spy planes getting caught obove Russia or China. "The Doomsday Machine" A weapon of mass destruction that couldn't be turned off destroyed by using a nuke was about fear of automated nulclear war.

[@davidlloyd1526]

I disagree... We've just not moved as far as we like to pretend since...

[@sureshmukhi2316]

@@davidlloyd1526 so then it was even more ahead of its time since we haven't progressed as much.

[@EliasMoore-t9n]

I found this episode kind of heavy handed, but its message still resonates, especially today. Hatred and intolerance only lead to destruction.

[@SerbAtheist]

Well, perhaps, but it was a very 'heavy handed' time where racism wasn't just 'said the wrong word' kinda thing, but open and unrelenting hatred expressed at every single place in society. Plenty of white people were describing black people in exactly the same terms as the right-side-black guy is doing here.

[@robertaylor9218]

@@SerbAtheistI still hear people talking like this. Though not usually in public. It’s pretty disturbing.

[@bryanx0317]

​@@robertaylor9218Ignorance may always exist. But we must continue to set the example that we will not succumb to intolerance. Racism is just an easy way for ignorant people to think they are automatically better than certain people. Evil will never be eradicated. Good people must stand up and fight everyday.

[@robertaylor9218]

@@bryanx0317 yep

[@thaneoflions975]

@@robertaylor9218I’ve never heard anyone talk like this. Aside from Muslims and Chinese people. Modern America though, in my 41 years? Never.

[@magicsinglez]

When I was a child. I felt this episode was stupid. It’s s huge insult to the viewer’s intelligence, it teaches us a lesson we already know, in a ridiculously crude and simple manner. Now I’m older, I like this episode. The ending, as they are jogging after one another, is very moving.

[@shanemcdaniel1509]

One of favorites , remember you come from apes .

[@kevinknight9950]

Showing how stupid racial prejudice is.😢

[@dalethelander3781]

Showrunner Fred Freiberger being heavy-handed with the didactic message. Would Gene have done it better? Who knows.

[@DavidAltman-g1l]

​@@kevinknight9950 I agree with you when I saw this back then I realized how stupid it was to hate someone because of race and color

[@RobertGoldman-o2p]

Ironic ending since we never find out who was right and who was wrong. And the entire population ends up destroying each other.

[@petemccutchen3266]

This is a terrible low budget episode, but Frank Gorshun absolutely made it with his deadpan delivery of the line about which side is black and which is white.

[@brianarbenz1329]

Well, they certainly had a large budget for make up.

[@haweater1555]

Putting a scifi twist on a social issue without drawing uncomfortable parallels to ourselves.

[@dalethelander3781]

I think Fred Freiberger was heavy-handed with the allegory.

[@jamesalexander5623]

Anyone who didn't get the parallel was either Ignorant or Racist! .... Or maybe Both!

[@_mergg]

Great writing. Excellent acting. Another gem from the maligned third season. What a beautiful show!

[@atllzable]

It's a clever concept , the screenwriter(s) came up with..!! To display to all of us the triteness of prejudice....The Captain & Mr. Spock were completely unaware of the difference between The Commissioner & Lokie....

[@Takeshi357]

And apart from their designated roles, the differences aren't even skin deep.

[@graveyardshowpodcast]

This is the Star Trek that inspired me, and the Star Trek that I miss. ~ Caretaker

[@infinightsky]

The look on Spock’s face when he realizes the ignorance he’s up against, is priceless

[@jeffanon1772]

As he did with Khan, Kirk allows Spock to engage while the Captain sits back & observes....👍👍

[@readerviewer9177]

Nice Memory comparing it with another episode

[@Takeshi357]

There is a scene in this episode I remember quite strongly, but I once saw someone commenting on it being "pointless", and from a purely narrative perspective, I guess it kind of is; it's the scene where Lokai is addressing some Enterprise crewmen in a room, Spock almost walks by but then stands by the doorway listening in on the situation. The purpose of the scene might not be obvious, but I do think it casts an important light on the dynamic between Bele, Lokai and the main characters; at least some of the accusations Bele levels at Lokai have basis in fact, which means neither one of them should be taken at face value.

[@michaelbayer5094]

I remember the scene. Lokai is a revolutionary and an agitator. He is seeking converts. This subplot is not explored but a lot of Americans at that time once or still had an idealistic view of the Communist revolutions around the globe. The Lokai types just believed that all people were oppressed and would fight their oppressors. In that way the episode shows the extreme and irreconcilable differences that make war inevitable and peace impossible.

[@sandal_thong8631]

One of the few times in the series a door was left partly opened. Spock had good hearing so probably could have picked up on things with the door closed. Or maybe he could have been with security who could have been monitoring the rec room.

[@christophertomasello1227]

2:49 shatner's line "I fail to see..... "Was dubbed. And Mr Gorshin was doing his Kirk Douglas impression for this particular role

[@phillytvdirector]

Kirk looked at Spock like..."Is this guy nuts or what? I don't get it!" 2:58

[@Richard-b5r9v]

Frank Gorshin did a perfect imitation of Burt Lancaster ala Rich Little

[@Benjiesbeenbetter.]

I might be wrong, but I think he started out as an impressionist.

[@davis9971]

A truly impactful episode on a young boy watching this episode when it originally aired. At that time we were all trying to come to a place where we saw each other as people and not colors. IMHO it is a shame that we seem to have retreated from that ideal to a place where identity politics rules.

[@steveconn]

The black/white face always freaked me out.

[@dalethelander3781]

I wondered how DNA could give people a perfectly straight line down the middle of the face?

[@Benjiesbeenbetter.]

It might be my eyes or this phone, but it's giving me distorted vision. It's like the two halves are moving independently of each othet.

[@erosgritti5171]

@@dalethelander3781 The animal world is full of creatures with these features. One reason may be that perfectly divided coloration indicated a healthy individual and therefore more attractive for breeding. All you have to do is look at the birds and their feathers to understand that selection also occurs for these things.

[@ZDR59]

One of the coolest Star Trek arguments in the history of Startrek

[@anthonycantu8879]

It still impresses me just how far ahead of its time this show was. Human nature spans across all time. We are, once again, grappling with with the same issues. Only the people involved have changed.

[@alfonsedente9679]

I remember him as a child at the KC football game. Oh how time flies

[@SnootchieBootchies27]

I'm wondering what happened to the plethora of colorful beverages in future iterations of Star Trek.

[@BiffTannen-d5b]

Perfect tale of the world. Guess what nothing has changed and it never will. Hate is taught in the home and always will be.

[@Benjiesbeenbetter.]

It's got worse. Tiktok is sticking warp engines onto hatred.

[@deletebilderberg]

No. It's gullible fools who are brainwashed by their televisions. Same brainwashed fools who took the Trump clot shot.

[@Mailed-Knight]

Hate is taught in academia, in government and on the TV.

[@Benjiesbeenbetter.]

@@Mailed-Knight You missed out newspapers and their online entities. They're the biggest purveyors of hate and always have been. Hate sells.

[@johnbockelie3899]

I've seen the blooper reel of this episode and as bal, and Loki are running down the hall shown from their POV, It suddenly cuts to them eventually running into each other then running off down the hall way.😅😅

[@1978rharris]

*Bele

[@JustWasted3HoursHere]

Do you remember where you saw it? I'd kind of like to see it and I can't find it on KZbin.

[@johnbockelie3899]

Also to save on the budget, one ship used at the beginning was a shuttle craft stolen from a nearby starbase, and the other ship was "cloaked".

[@johnbockelie3899]

@@JustWasted3HoursHere I saw the blooper scene at a Star Trek convention once.

[@JustWasted3HoursHere]

@@johnbockelie3899Ha! That's actually pretty clever from a budgetary point of view.

[@TheLookingOne]

I watched this episode and did not realize the difference between the 2 antagonists until this scene.

[@patrickwilson1459]

My favorite space travel show.

[@sirbrad2336]

The fifty thousand year timeline was absurd, but the message of the episode comes from a good place.

[@Ares99999]

Would have worked better with just fifty years. I tend to just mentally remove the 'thousand' part.

[@jiayojames]

i think there might be some kind of extremely subtle subtext at play here

[@Mailed-Knight]

Nah it was on the nose, the fascist and the communist are both evil and everything they accused each other of turned out to be true.

[@mho...]

"see?! one guys is black&white & the other is white&black.... *IN COLOR* " -Michael Kelso

[@repairworld2367]

Riddle me this.....😂

[@geo.037]

That was a different Bat time and Bat channel.😂

[@ModeratelyAmused]

Captain Kirk wasn't racist when he cut off Uhura. He was being a misogynist.

[@joncarroll2040]

It's kind of funny how Spock talks about how Vulcan was saved by logic. I'm not an expert on Trek law but didn't the Vulcans fix that problem by exiling the Romulans? That's kind of like Andrew Jackson advising George Wallace.

[@dekelittle6004]

This story came with a great lesson and l believe most people understood that lesson. Common Sense.

[@Mailed-Knight]

I think most people misunderstood the episode, that both the fascist and communist were evil. Both groups destroyed the planet. A good chunk of what the fascist accused the communist of turned out to be true.

[@vimfuego8827]

Brilliant rationality

[@dalethelander3781]

Third season; Gene Roddenberry had resigned and Fred Freiberger was appointed showrunner. Star Trek is moved to a killer time slot and dies. Fast-forward 6 years. Freiberger is appointed showrunner of Space:1999's second season. Space:1999 tanks. Fans start referring to him as Freddie "Kiss Of Death" Freiberger.

[@Benjiesbeenbetter.]

Six Million Dollar Man was one of his victims as well. He was a serial serial killer.

[@brianarbenz1329]

Maybe he should have lived up to his name and fried burgers for living.

[@brianarbenz1329]

Actually, Roddenberry was overrated in his importance to the show, and a misogynist for that matter. He degraded women who auditioned, and denigrated the female gender in many plots. Star Trek was given a 3rd season because of a massive letter writing campaign which the production company felt would making them look heartless for cancelling the show. So they deliberately put bad plots in to force the ratings down and make the letter campaign look non-reflective of actual opinion.

[@dalethelander3781]

@@brianarbenz1329 Then, Paramount gave him The Next Generation. If Freiberger deliberately approved subpar scripts, what's the excuse for the second season of Space:1999, a series Freiberger was brought in to save?

[@yelleryoung5870]

Logic cannot defeat racism, only making fun of it will stop racism.

[@IWR-INC]

It was the 1960's , and the racial problems were causing suffering, and this was a clever way for Sci-Fi to address this. Sci-Fi, is a way to explore current problems via proxy. I guess that is the Star Wars vs Star Trek debate😅

[@mikicerise6250]

Good thing you've evolved beyond that primitive stage. 🤣🤣

[@whiteknightcat]

"Riddle me this, Captain Kirk!" What's black and white but white all over?

[@Piggy-Oink-Oink]

I find it quite strange that SPOCK, always the keen Observer, didn't realize Loki was black on a different side than his nemesis. Slacking!

[@stantheman9072]

“Devil in the Dark” made the same point in a much more entertaining and subtle fashion. That was brilliant social commentary in the form of creative fiction. Even Rod Serling never did it better. This episode is saved by the quality of the performances and the direction. The narrative is obvious as a sledgehammer, the dialogue is pedantic, and the script is, at best, sub-mediocre. No. I don’t hate this episode. It’s not stupid and it has great moments. The costumes are ridiculous, but then so is the makeup. This ep needs a reboot; but then, knowing how those things go, that would probably be worse.

[@mikep5335]

The Riddler's Frank Gorshin as the alien

[@Wolffen51]

Even in the star-date of Star Trek racism was present

[@sixmax11]

look it's the joker from the batman show.

[@holbrookgd]

Hi there, thanks for checking out my video. Actually, the actor Frank Gorshin played the Riddler on "Batman".

[@Rayman1971]

@holbrookgd He certainly had a quirky acting style... Awesome clip!

[@c64116]

this reminds me of that Dr Suess story The Sneetches

[@jack_m100]

This episode wasn't just about racism. It was about foreign race wars and not getting involved. In the sixties there are several conflicts in Africa that could be considered race wars.

[@mikeg2491]

I feel the same way about Ukraine and Russia who are practically cousins fighting each other over ancient grievances.

[@terminat1]

What a major assumption Spock makes at the end with zero evidence.

[@Benjiesbeenbetter.]

Yes. They might have been striped for all he knows, like zebras.

[@terminat1]

@@Benjiesbeenbetter. Precisely.

[@Jabberwockybird]

If they had an interracial marriage, would the kids look like a checkerboard?

[@brianarbenz1329]

I was wondering that.

[@ripleyleuzarder630]

Ask around if That race had mirrors? He would see his enemy so I have no idea how they can even think about race. 1's an 0's or shouldn't Opposites Attract? oh yea Whats a Mirror, in their context.....

[@Laceykat66]

Sounds like discussions on college campuses today. "You can't come and speak to our students. The reason is blatantly obvious!"

[@filter021]

Funny, Lokai is that "Woke" revolutionary we see in society.

[@BezoRazo]

This is predicated on the infantile idea that racial differences are just skin-deep, totally superficial. They are not.

[@Dryghtendanitsu]

Who knew the Riddler was racist

[@kenofken9458]

They should have had a guest appearance of Archie Bunker and George Jefferson to hold forth on the mixing of black and white!🤣

[@barryon8706]

When I was younger I loved the episode. I thought it showed how stupid it was to fight over something pretty much literally skin deep. But I've read actual racists dismiss that, saying that it isn't about skin color, which I think is probably true for many racists. Oh, there are people who talk about how only ruddy people are truly human or about "toilet-seat complexioned individuals", but I think they're in the minority. So the episode, while noble in intention, probably didn't have the intended effect on most of the people it was trying to reach.

[@sandal_thong8631]

After watching the movie _Origins,_ I'm now reading the book it was based on: _Caste: The Origin of Our Discontent_ which says caste like in India is what's behind racism. Those in the highest caste (white men) might be desperate to maintain their supposed superiority over other groups, and violent to those seemingly stepping out of place. It just so happened that they created the lowest caste, blacks, based on color and African origin, and those with European identity when they came to this country wanted to be in the highest caste, white.

[@NorthForkFisherman]

"But, but, but....TOS wasn't WOKE!" Have you heard the term "WOKE AF"? When this first came out this was earth-shattering content.

[@manticore4952]

The difference between Trek and woke is this. Trek attempted to say that all people are equal regardless of skin colour, equality was eventually achieved in society. Woke now attempts to say things like "You have privilege based on skin colour" or you are guilty because whites were slavers while attempting to paint other races as non slavers. That isn't a message of equality, that is RACISM.

[@randomdude8202]

The problem with recent ones are not the same. This doesnt judge, it just shows it as it is. Recent ones a lot more aggressive, making the decision for the audience.

[@NorthForkFisherman]

@@randomdude8202 Because the audience has changed. We've seen a massive dumbing down in all critical thinking. If things aren't handed to the general public on a silver platter with tons of exposition they don't get it. for example - "The Boys" : great satire, right? Have you read what some of those fans actually think? They truly, utterly believe Homelander is a hero and should be emulated. This is our world today.

[@llynellyn]

This isn't woke it's progressive, hence why it's 100x better than the woke crap they make now as it's designed to make you think/understand rather than trying to beat points into you with a stick like you have a 50 IQ.

[@jeffanon1772]

1:42.... WOW, what a perfect description of the 45th so called president...

[@abc-ey4ld]

That is kim kardashians baby all grown up

[@johnharrison6745]

🤣

[@marklogan3813]

I call this episode ISREAL AND PALASTINE!!!!

[@Mality]

Spellcheck is a wonderful thing.

[@dayalcober89]

How is this racism when their from another planet?

[@JEG6919]

The sun came up today. It must be race specific.

[@brianarbenz1329]

I'm Methodist on one side and Presbyterian on the other. I can't _stand_ those lousy, scheming people who are Methodist and Presbyterian, but have the sides reversed.

[@WayneGrover-j1p]

One of his parents was black 🖤

[@brianarbenz1329]

And the other was powdered sugared. I mean his "white" part is actually white, not the color Caucasians call white.

[@kenofken9458]

They certainly had a nice collection of booze!

[@DayTwo-w8n]

This episode was by far the worst. Dealing with social issues in Star Trek was not the place

[@moonlion7047]

Time to cancel starwars

[@johnnyboyboxing-yy4tw]

Riddler

[@Derekivery]

Anyone who claims modern Star Trek is becoming "too woke" check the star date? Trek was doing built on being woke, one of the things that made it great.

[@llynellyn]

This isn't woke it's progressive, hence why it's 100x better than the woke crap they make now as it's designed to make you think/understand rather than trying to beat points into you with a stick like you have a 50 IQ.

[@sandal_thong8631]

I think today the episode most closely applies to Israelis and Palestinians who are filled with hate for each other, one in power, the other with little power in society, but both violent. They also are considered closely related Semitic people, like the two here, though they consider themselves different breeds. Not sure what the point of them supposedly originally being "mono-colored" is. But a more interesting point is what do the offspring of a union between people of different types turn out to be? Mono-colored, random between the two or something else? Probably groups are forbidden from breeding outside their kind.

[@l337pwnage]

definitely one of their cringyest episodes.

[@gregbors8364]

“I am black on the right side.” So, he’s basically Bill Clinton then

[@transvestosaurus878]

Bloody woke 1960s

[@theAEDan]

Well, what if Lokis people are disproportionately represented in violent crime data? Could be the differences are more than just skin deep.

[@mikicerise6250]

Oh, well in that case suspend due process.

[@theAEDan]

@@mikicerise6250 why? Due process enacted rationally and without bias would be sufficient.

[@jd190d]

What if they are often apprehended for minor crimes that the other population overlooks in it's own people. What if Loki's people are denied access to things like housing, healthful environments and access to jobs that pay well. These might all be factors in why they do not do as well.

[@theAEDan]

@@jd190d what if it tends to be violent crime too?

[@EricA-xd9fn]

A great example where the "message" subsumed the entertainment. I get it...racism is bad. But, most racism and bigotry are much more subtle. The writers settled for a simplistic framing, and how could any organism evolve with perfect bilateral pigmentation inversion anyway? They did a much better job on this same subject matter in The Cloud Minders, and they didn't need to resort to such heavy-handed plot devices...although the plot resolution (here's some gas-masks; everything's okay now) wasn't perfect.

[@christianmccann9400]

Sounds like an israeli spokesman

[@ThaFuzzwood]

If the oppositely colored people were known to lob rockets into civilian centers and hide their terrorists among civilians, then yes, he sounds like an israeli spokesman.

[@greenjacket4605]

This is only insightful if you grew up in a time where leaded fumes polluted the atmosphere.

[@gsr4535]

And thanks to liberal, woke Democrats, race relations are worse than ever. Separation of demographic groups may actually be the most practical solution. Utopia is just that. Utopia.

[@busman2050]

It's not democrats, it's Trump who made things worse

[@Eric-d6t]

If it is it's because of the Republicans and syphilis 45

[@polemeros]

God, all the stupid blathering liberal bromides infecting Star Trek,

[@johnharrison6745]

I was about to comment upon that myself.....

[@Embur12]

Frank Gorshins' character sounds much like a BLM mouthpiece spouting CRT!

[@Embur12]

" Surely captain , all Caucasians are of the devil"!

[@RoyCyberPunk]

And ladies and gentlemen this is how social issues were tackled before Wokeism instead of making insufferable unwatchable 💩 as is mostly done nowadays under the excuse of DEI ESG they actually came up with an engaging story on which the social issue was intertwined as is on this episode of TOS Trek

[@thesaw9988]

It sounds like Ronald J Dumb.

[@Stuart267]

How's that TDS treating ya?

[@Stuart267]

Or Joe Biden

[@carlhawkins-tu9yl]

Stupid episode

[@holbrookgd]

Opinions vary.

[@carlhawkins-tu9yl]

@@holbrookgd LOL OK Dalton

[@holbrookgd]

@@carlhawkins-tu9yl; good catch!

[@BlueSky-eb7ru]

I watched this episode back in the 1960's ... Not all the episodes were gems . This episode was a stinker for me .

[@mattconway8851]

Everybody already knows.. the white side of his face is the good side

[@MichaelHowell-c8q]

The only thing more pathetic than this episode is that people actually try to compare it to race issues in America. The ONLY difference between them was which side was which color. This IS NOT the same as a culture that barely advanced to the Iron Age being unable to be productive and non-aggressive against the people who got to the fucking moon! The older I get, the more I begin to realize the hypocrisy of Star Trek. I think it's wrong to hire solely based on race; yet, Nichols and Goldberg got their roles for this reason. Let me put it this way; Starfleet is looking more and more insidious.

[@GayRocker81]

Anyone notice Gorshin referred to Kirk as ""Will"? 1:49

[@chucksucks8640]

This would only be true if either people had identical crime stats. That isn't true in real life.

[@randomdude8202]

Crime is the outcome of inequality. You dont get job, you dont get education, you dont get money, you get it by force. You would do the same.