Season 1
Episode 7: Charlie X
Filmed: July 1966
First Air Date: September 15, 1966 (2nd episode aired)
Karen: An episode that demonstrates that raging adolescent hormones and omnipotence don't mix, "Charlie X" featured actor Robert Walker Jr as young orphan Charlie Evans, the only survivor of a starship crash many years prior who comes aboard the Enterprise and gradually wreaks havoc with his psychic abilities. In some ways, it's similar to "Where No Man Has Gone Before," in that the Enterprise crew are faced with an adversary with godlike abilities. But this time, that adversary is also a teenager who is just discovering girls.
Karen: This episode is notable for being writer Dorothy (D.C.) Fontana's first effort for Star Trek. Fontana started out as Gene Roddenberry's secretary, but already had a few screenplays under her belt. Of course, in the 60s, it wasn't easy for a woman to get a full time job as a screenwriter. But she persevered. When she saw Roddenberry's story idea, she asked if she could develop it. She was given the chance and had a natural feel for the character of Charlie.She had two teen-age brothers at the time and understood their troubles and motivations. In These are the Voyages, Vol.1, Marc Cushman quotes Fontana as saying about the character of Charlie: "Here's this kid who hasn't had any exposure to other humans, and I felt that this incredible humanity shock to him is a little like growing up. You're a child, then suddenly, you're considered an adult. Plus you're really starting to appreciate but not understand the other sex."
Karen: Although the Star Trek staff unanimously felt Fontana had hit it out of the park, Roddenberry still came in to tweak the script a bit. Associate Producer John D.F. Black said, "(Roddenberry's) habit was to put sex into everything. It drove Dorothy crazy because he did that to 'Charlie X.' He had to make it sexy." Fontana said, "I was trying to play on the naivete and the innocence of the boy rather than the raging hormones, but, you know, that's the way the story went. And some of that went pretty well, I thought."
Karen: It's a memorable episode. Walker does a fine job as Charlie, and William Shatner turns in a solid performance as a somewhat flustered Kirk. Grace Lee Whitney's Yeoman Rand is the object of Charlie's affections and gets more to do in this episode than any other. Nichelle Nichols has a featured moment singing, accompanied by Spock on his Vulcan lyre no less. One thing I truly enjoy about these first season episodes are the scenes of the crew relaxing together. They seemed to be rare in the second and third seasons.
Karen: It occurs to me that Charlie X and Anthony Fremont from The Twilight Zone episode "It's A Good Life" could have quite a cage match...
Karen: An episode that demonstrates that raging adolescent hormones and omnipotence don't mix, "Charlie X" featured actor Robert Walker Jr as young orphan Charlie Evans, the only survivor of a starship crash many years prior who comes aboard the Enterprise and gradually wreaks havoc with his psychic abilities. In some ways, it's similar to "Where No Man Has Gone Before," in that the Enterprise crew are faced with an adversary with godlike abilities. But this time, that adversary is also a teenager who is just discovering girls.
Karen: This episode is notable for being writer Dorothy (D.C.) Fontana's first effort for Star Trek. Fontana started out as Gene Roddenberry's secretary, but already had a few screenplays under her belt. Of course, in the 60s, it wasn't easy for a woman to get a full time job as a screenwriter. But she persevered. When she saw Roddenberry's story idea, she asked if she could develop it. She was given the chance and had a natural feel for the character of Charlie.She had two teen-age brothers at the time and understood their troubles and motivations. In These are the Voyages, Vol.1, Marc Cushman quotes Fontana as saying about the character of Charlie: "Here's this kid who hasn't had any exposure to other humans, and I felt that this incredible humanity shock to him is a little like growing up. You're a child, then suddenly, you're considered an adult. Plus you're really starting to appreciate but not understand the other sex."
Karen: Although the Star Trek staff unanimously felt Fontana had hit it out of the park, Roddenberry still came in to tweak the script a bit. Associate Producer John D.F. Black said, "(Roddenberry's) habit was to put sex into everything. It drove Dorothy crazy because he did that to 'Charlie X.' He had to make it sexy." Fontana said, "I was trying to play on the naivete and the innocence of the boy rather than the raging hormones, but, you know, that's the way the story went. And some of that went pretty well, I thought."
Karen: It's a memorable episode. Walker does a fine job as Charlie, and William Shatner turns in a solid performance as a somewhat flustered Kirk. Grace Lee Whitney's Yeoman Rand is the object of Charlie's affections and gets more to do in this episode than any other. Nichelle Nichols has a featured moment singing, accompanied by Spock on his Vulcan lyre no less. One thing I truly enjoy about these first season episodes are the scenes of the crew relaxing together. They seemed to be rare in the second and third seasons.
Karen: It occurs to me that Charlie X and Anthony Fremont from The Twilight Zone episode "It's A Good Life" could have quite a cage match...
