Unraveling the Mysteries of Kirk and the Star Trek Villains
The classic Star Trek episode "Arena" featuring the iconic villain Gorn actually predates the TV show itself. The episode's storyline, in which Captain Kirk and the Gorn Captain are forced to fight on a prepared world, was accidentally plagiarized from a 1944 short story by Fredric Brown. While the original story had a more action-packed and gripping narrative, the Star Trek version added a humanist twist by having Kirk spare the Gorn's life. The upcoming series Strange New Worlds will explore the Gorn further, presenting a battle that feels dangerous and less inclined towards mercy.