Unveiling Star Trek's Ongoing Menagerie Dilemma: 150 Years Beyond Pike in TOS

Warning: SPOILERS For Star Trek: Lower Decks Season 4, Episode 2 - "I Have No Bones Yet I Must Flee"

Summary

Menageries remain an ongoing issue in Star Trek, presenting a constant challenge for the USS Cerritos crew who must contend with perilous creatures and unscrupulous captors. The presence of individuals in the 24th century who lack enlightenment is evident through their intentions to profit from the killing and acquisition of a menagerie.

Menageries have been a longstanding component of the Star Trek universe, dating back to Captain Pike's encounter with the Talosians and Dr. Phlox's assemblage of diverse creatures in Sickbay.

Menageries have been a persistent issue in Star Trek since its inception, and this problem continues to be highlighted in Star Trek: Lower Decks' fourth season set in the 24th century. The latest season marks a significant advancement for Ensigns Beckett Mariner, Brad Boimler, D'Vana Tendi, Sam Rutherford, and T'Lyn as they all receive promotions to Lieutenant, junior grades. However, despite these promotions, they remain at the lower end of the Starfleet hierarchy known as Lower Deckers.

"The Menagerie" was the inaugural two-part episode of the original Star Trek series, and it established the recurring theme of menageries being a source of trouble (and occasionally benefit) throughout the franchise's 57-year history. While Star Trek revolves around the exploration of the galaxy and venturing into uncharted territories, Starfleet's finest often find themselves imprisoned in literal cages. Space is highly perilous, and the United Federation of Planets faces opposition from hostile alien races. Additionally, there are beings who profit or engage in nefarious activities by imprisoning other species, compelling Starfleet officers to intervene and secure the freedom of not only the captives but also themselves.

Lower Decks Brings Back Star Trek’s Dangerous Menagerie

In Star Trek: Lower Decks season 4, episode 2, titled "I Have No Bones Yet I Must Flee," the crew of the USS Cerritos visits Narj's Miraculous Menagerarium. This renowned menagerie recently gained recognition as one of the top thousand in the quadrant. Commander Jack Ransom, Lt. Mariner, and Ensign Gary venture into Narj's establishment with the mission to free two captured humans who are being exhibited. However, the claim of there being a thousand menageries in the Alpha Quadrant implies that numerous alien species are likely held captive across the universe.

Surprisingly, the most threatening creature in Narj's Miraculous Menagerarium is Moopsy, a seemingly harmless and adorable creature. It is revealed that Moopsy is actually a predatory terror that consumes the bones of other species. However, the true menace in the menagerie lies with the humans who freed Moopsy. Their intention was for Moopsy to eliminate Narj, which it successfully did. Their ulterior motive was to take control of the menagerie and capitalize on its profits. This episode of Star Trek: Lower Decks highlights that even in the 24th century, humans can still exhibit traits that make them among the worst species. The devious plot to murder for personal gain demonstrates that not every human in Starfleet possesses the enlightenment of its finest officers.

Star Trek Began With A Menagerie

Star Trek commences with a menagerie, specifically in the initial pilot episode titled "The Cage." This installment was later reworked into the two-part episode of Star Trek: The Original Series called "The Menagerie." In this narrative, Captain Christopher Pike and the USS Enterprise are directed towards Talos IV, only to fall into the clutches of the telepathic Talosians. These beings intended for Pike to form a union with Vina, a human woman who was stranded on Talos IV. The Talosians persistently attempted to entice Pike by presenting him with various imaginary scenarios.

Despite the Talosians' persistent efforts, Pike firmly resisted their advances. In retaliation, the aliens seized female members of the Enterprise's crew, namely Number One and Ensign Colt, in an attempt to determine if Pike would entertain the idea of partnering with them instead. Eventually, Pike and his crew managed to emancipate themselves from captivity and escape, leaving Vina behind on Talos IV. Starfleet responded to the perceived threat posed by Talos IV and its menagerie by enforcing General Order 7, a directive that prohibited all Starfleet Officers from setting foot on the planet under the penalty of death. However, Spock, in an act of defiance that carried the risk of court-martial, chose to bring the gravely injured Fleet Captain Pike back to Talos IV. The purpose behind this daring act was to afford Pike the opportunity to live out his days with Vina in a simulated utopia.

Star Trek: Enterprise’s Dr. Phlox Also Had A Menagerie

In Star Trek: Enterprise, an example of a benevolent menagerie is found in the Sickbay maintained by Dr. Phlox (played by John Billingsley) on the NX-01 Enterprise. Dr. Phlox, a Denobulan physician, was selected by Captain Jonathan Archer (Scott Bakula) to serve as the Chief Medical Officer for the ship's first galactic exploration mission. Dr. Phlox possessed numerous medical degrees, including expertise in interspecies veterinary medicine, botanical pharmacology, and hematology. Interestingly, his Sickbay housed a peculiar assortment of plants and creatures.

Those seeking medical assistance from Dr. Phlox in Sickbay could encounter an array of unusual creatures from his menagerie. Notably, he owned a Pyrithian bat and stocked his Sickbay with Immunocytic Gel Worms, an Altarian Marsupial, Moth Larvae, a Danaxian tapeworm, Regulan Bloodworms, an Osmotic eel, a Calrissian Chameleon, Lyssarian Desert Larvae, and even a Tribble. The presence of such a diverse collection demonstrated that Dr. Phlox's menagerie was not motivated by selfishness or profit, in contrast to places like Narj's Miraculous Menagerarium in Star Trek: Lower Decks.

Star Trek: Lower Decks season 4 streams Thursdays on Paramount+.