The City on the Edge of Forever story

tos1x28 · 1967-04-06

After accidentally overdosing on a powerful stimulant, Dr. McCoy becomes unbalanced and disappears through the Guardian of Forever , a newly discovered time portal on a remote planet. Kirk and Spock follow after learning that McCoy somehow changed history. Arriving in the 1930s, the duo meet Edith Keeler, a New York social worker who gives them a place to stay. As the days pass, and McCoy is nowhere to be seen, Kirk finds himself falling in love with Keeler... but Spock discovers that Keeler must die to restore the timeline.

23 total · 2 choice · 8 major · 13 minor

ThemeLevelMotivation
the life of a loved one vs. the lives of many choice Kirk :: let Edith die or not
time traveler's dilemma choice Kirk :: let Edith die or not
economic downturn major the Great Depression
future point of view major Kirk, Spock :: Kirk and Spock while living in Great Depression America
pacifism major Edith Keeler :: Edith was a raging pacifist
time portal major Guardian of Forever, Guardian of Forever :: The Guardian
time travel major back to the Great Depression
tragic love major Kirk, Edith Keeler :: Kirk and Edith
war is sometimes justified major Spock concludes about WW2
what if I found myself in the past major Kirk, Spock, McCoy :: Kirk, Spock, and McCoy were tossed right back into the Great Depression.