Star Trek: The Animated Series S2E02 – Bem
Recovering from the sluggish season two opener, Star Trek The Animated Series warps back to form with Bem, an episode that delivers a slyly complex commentary wrapped in deceptively simple Star Trek tropes. Deconstructing the Federation’s Prime Directive, it raises questions about the limits of understanding and cooperation between vastly different cultures. The result is a layered adventure that feels quintessentially Star Trek, driven by the creative ideas of writer David Gerrold, who bounces back from the “difficult second album” slump of More Tribbles, More Troubles to skewer Trek‘s finest and most flawed philosophical favourites.
The story follows the Enterprise on a mission to observe a primitive alien species, accompanied by Bem, a non-human Federation observer from the planet Pandro. Bem’s presence quickly complicates matters, as his apparently impulsive actions and disregard for time-honoured Starfleet protocols lead to dangerous consequences for the landing party.
Bem himself is one of the more imaginative alien creations in The Animated Series. His unique physiology allows him to separate his body into multiple independent parts, a concept that would have been nearly impossible to depict in live-action television at the time. His colony creature existence adds an element of unpredictability to the story dynamics and there’s fun to be had in the fact the audience become aware of it long before Kirk and co get wise to the fact. It’s a nice reinforcement of the episode’s theme of embracing and understanding differences, no matter how strange or challenging they may seem.
Bem is essentially a classic Prime Directive dilemma and when his actions interfere with the primitive alien culture, Kirk and Spock must decide whether to intervene to save him or uphold their non-interference policy. Bem’s perspective on what constitutes “proper” observation may be at odds with Federation ideals, but he has a point and it’s a nice opportunity to explore the limits of cultural relativism and the complexities of cross-cultural understanding.
Bem‘s alien design and setting make the most of the freedom afforded it by animation. The primitive alien species are depicted with a vibrant, tribal aesthetic, and the lush planet landscapes provide a colourful backdrop for the adventure. While the animation still shows the familiar limitations of 1970s TV production, the episode’s ambitious visuals help elevate the story. And as if that wasn’t enough, this is the episode that finally reveals what the “T” in James T Kirk stands for – Tiberius – a detail that wouldn’t be referenced again until Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country.
Despite its late in the run slot, Bem stands out as a highlight of The Animated Series, blending high-concept storytelling with a thoughtful exploration of Star Trek’s core themes. It’s an episode that challenges preconceptions, embraces the unknown, and reinforces the series’ commitment – despite its budgetary and format limitations – to expanding the boundaries of what Star Trek can be.
