star trek lizard fight

To revisit this article, visit My Profile, then View saved stories .

• The Big Story
• Newsletters
• Steven Levy's Plaintext Column
• WIRED Classics from the Archive
• WIRED Insider
• WIRED Consulting

46 Years Later, a Rematch Between William Shatner and the Gorn Warrior

For fans of the original Star Trek , the fight between Kirk and a Gorn warrior in the episode "Arena" is a thing of weird beauty. Well, as beautiful as a slow-motion, clearly choreographed fight between an actor and a stunt man in a rubber suit can be, anyway. Now, 46 years later, it's time for a rematch. Yes, really.

The campy wrestling match between Kirk and the Gorn in " Arena " is one of the highlights of *Star Trek'*s first season, in large part because of Alexander Courage's great score and also because, come on: Who doesn't love obviously fake aliens throwing styrofoam boulders around the place?

With Trek back in everyone's minds because of this summer's upcoming Star Trek Into Darkness flick, someone decided it was time for the two to go head-to-rubber-head once again. And thanks to an ad for NAMCO Bandai's Star Trek: The Video Game , that's exactly what happens. The only problem: It's 82-year-old William Shatner and an equally graying Gorn opting for a rematch:

What's that Karl Marx quote about history repeating itself, firstly as tragedy, then as farce?

Yes, now we're at the point where William Shatner himself is making fun of himself for being too old for this kind of nonsense. I mean, sure, he's looking pretty good for 82, but still, part of me has just died a little. Chris Pine, if you're pulling this kind of stuff four decades from now.... Well, I'll be impressed that Star Trek has lasted that long, to be honest, but you know what I mean.

How STRANGE NEW WORLDS Transforms the Gorn, an Old STAR TREK Enemy

In its first season, Star Trek: Strange New Worlds reinvented one of the franchise’s oldest alien adversaries, the Gorn. They gave this classic antagonistic species an upgrade by injecting some blood from two of cinema’s most deadly extraterrestrials. We’re talking about Gorn inspired by the xenomorph from the Alien franchise and the Predator. In the season two finale of Strange New Worlds , “Hegemony,” the Gorn returned. And these aliens destroyed a Federation starship, along with most of a human colony. So how did Strange New Worlds update this alien race once thought of as a silly product of its 1960s time? First, we’ll tell you all about Star Trek ‘s Gorn and why they haven’t appeared much for five decades.

Who Are the Gorn, Star Trek ‘s Race of Reptilian Aliens, and Where Have They Been?

First appearing in the original Star Trek series episode “Arena,” the Gorn Hegemony was a warlike reptilian race who decimated a Federation outpost on the planet Cestus III. When Captain Kirk chased the enemy Gorn ship deep into space, an advanced species called the Metrons forced Kirk and the Gorn captain to fight for survival on a remote world. This fight scene, with a man in a very fake-looking alien lizard suit, became the subject of parody. It was even parodied in Bill and Ted’s Bogus Journey . Perhaps because of that, Star Trek has seemingly almost totally avoided the Gorn, beyond cameos and name drops across different series. The Gorn popped up briefly in CGI form on Star Trek: Enterprise in 2004 and in the 2013 Star Trek video game, for which the Gorn and William Shatner reunited for a silly promotion.

Strange New Worlds Reinvents the Gorn

But Strange New Worlds changed everything about these aliens, making the Gorn intergalactic boogymen. In the episode “Memento Mori,” we learned that La’an Noonien Singh (Christina Chong) had some serious PTSD based on her childhood trauma of surviving a Gorn massacre. During her childhood, the Gorn attacked and captured the SS Puget Sound, a colony ship, and left its crew on a Gorn breeding planet. The survivors, including La’an, were hunted for sport or eaten alive by their newborn hatchlings. Only a young La’an Noonien-Singh survived and told her tale to Starfleet. This was the first documented encounter with the Gorn on Star Trek , although it was not considered an official first contact. As La’an says, “Many people have seen the Gorn, but few live to tell about it.”

In “Memento Mori,” the Gorn only appeared in their Star Trek space vessels. We don’t actually see them in the reptilian flesh. Their vicious ways were only spoken of by Lt. Noonien Singh. In fact, they are described and treated as the shark in Jaws . When La’an described her childhood encounter with the Gorn and their lifeless eyes, it’s almost like hearing Quint talk about the shark that killed his crewmates on the U.S.S. Indianapolis . But in Strange New Worlds season one, episode nine, “All Those Who Wander,” we truly saw the Gorn for the first time in this Star Trek series. And they owe their newest incarnation to two classic sci-fi adversaries, the Xenomorph and the Predator.

The Gorn Become Terrifying Foes in Star Trek ‘s World

When the Enterprise responded to a distress beacon from a crashed Starfleet vessel, the U.S.S. Peregrine , they found the ship in shambles on an ice world and the crew of 99 officers dead. The logs showed that they had picked up three stranded refugees, all infected with Gorn eggs. They found a human girl (shades of Newt in Aliens ) and an unknown alien in the wreckage. Despite initial scans showing nothing unusual, the Gorn eggs were hatching inside one of the aliens.

Just like in Ridley Scott’s Alien , the hatchling busted out of the victim’s body and scampered off. Two others then emerged from the body of another victim. The four hatchlings quickly became two as they killed the others and fought for dominance. The POV shots of the Gorn hatchlings looked extremely similar to the heat signature vision of the alien hunters from the Predator franchise. Their reptilian appearance was also like the Predator, although that predates the movie, as the Gorn first appeared in 1967. Like the Xenomorph from Alien, the Gorn matured at an exponential rate, but the Enterprise crew managed to kill it before it grew to full size.

But the Enterprise crew took a heavy casualty when they fought the Gorn. The Gorn hatchling spit a type of venom onto Chief Engineer Hemmer (Bruce Horack), similar to the Dilophosaurus in Jurassic Park. But this was more than venom. La’an revealed that this is how the Gorn lay their eggs. Hemmer took his own life before allowing the Gorn to take hold of him. In the two separate episodes of season one, they did not show a full-grown Gorn.

Star Trek: Strange New Worlds Season Two Reveals a Full-Grown Gorn

In season two’s “Hegemony,” the Gorn attack the human colony world Parnassus Beta, and decimate most of the population. Only a few survive. They also destroy the U.S.S. Cayuga . The episode shows that the Cayuga’s Captain, Marie Batel, has been infected with Gorn eggs. We finally see an adult Gorn in this episode, in a space suit no less. Unlike their Star Trek: The Original Series counterpart, this Gorn has a tail. Although Spock kills this particular Gorn, at the end of the episode, the Gorn Hegemony has the upper hand over Pike’s Enterprise , leaving us with a massive cliffhanger ending.

Of course, this sets up certain continuity issues. Technically “Arena,” the episode where Captain Kirk fights the Gorn in The Original Series , takes place about eight years after Star Trek: Strange New Worlds . Spock and Uhura don’t seem to know anything about the Gorn in The Original Series , which doesn’t make much sense. You’d think with their experiences in these Strange New Worlds episodes, they would have a few thoughts about this particular enemy. But it’ll be interesting to see how Strange New Worlds deals with this all of this, as we are no doubt going to see the Gorn continue to be a significant threat to Pike and his crew as the show continues to unfold.

Originally published on July 1, 2022.

YOU MIGHT ALSO LIKE...

• Privacy Policy
• Do Not Sell or Share My Information Opens in new tab

v2.08 – © Nerdist All Rights Reserved

79 Years Ago, A Classic Star Trek Villain Was Created — Before Star Trek Even Existed

The Gorn are back in the Strange New Worlds Season 2 finale, but their origins go all the way back to 1944.

Everyone knows Captain Kirk first fought the Gorn in the classic Star Trek episode “Arena,” which aired on January 19, 1967. But when you do a deep dive into the origins of this episode, the bizarre truth is “Arena” and the Gorn predate the TV show. As Strange New Worlds continues to reinvent the Gorn and put the canon of “Arena” in a new light, it’s time to revisit a story that existed two decades before Star Trek even existed.

The storyline of “Arena” is familiar even to casual sci-fi fans: after chasing a Gorn spaceship that attacked a human colony, Kirk and the Gorn Captain are whisked to a “suitably prepared world” by a super-powered alien species called The Metrons. They want Kirk and the Gorn to duke it out hand-to-hand and settle their conflict forever. Kirk eventually cobbles together a working cannon using DIY gunpowder and wounds the Gorn. However, Kirk famously refuses to deliver a fatal blow, professing his desire to let his enemy live. This gesture of mercy makes the Metrons believe humans aren’t so bad, and everyone lives happily ever after.

This endpoint with the Gorn is in the future for Pike and his Strange New Worlds crew, but the sci-fi concept of “Arena” actually predates Star Trek . In 1967, Original Series producer Gene Coon shared writing credit with author Fredric Brown on “Arena,” because Coon accidentally ripped Brown off when he wrote the script.

“Arena” Before Star Trek

Fredric Brown’s “Arena” in 1944 and the Star Trek “Arena” in 1967.

Because Gene L. Coon was essentially what we’d now call a showrunner, he often wrote scripts when the show ran low on new stories. “Arena” was an example of a script Coon wrote very quickly to get Star Trek back on track. When script researcher Joan Pearce gave “Arena” its legal review, she noticed it was very similar to a 1944 short story by Fredric Brown, also called “Arena.” Coon accidentally plagiarized chunks of Brown’s story, so Brown was offered a story credit.

Just how similar are the stories? In the June 1944 issue of Astounding , “Arena” opens with a space pilot named Carson who’s found himself on an alien world covered in blue sand. Carson is naked and has to quickly figure out how to survive, all while battling an alien from a group called the Outsiders. Carson’s adversary is something he calls a Roller because it’s a metal ball with tentacles. At one point, the Roller throws a lizard creature at Carson, which makes the story seem similar to Trek’s “Arena.”

An interior illustration for “Arena” in Astounding.

If you squint, Carson is similar to Captain Kirk, and his ingenuity and ability to adapt allows him to defeat the Roller and the Outsiders. In the 1940s, ’50s, and ’60s, this type of story was common in Astounding . Influential editor John Campbell favored stories in which men defeated impossible odds simply because they were smarter and stronger. Had Campbell been in charge of shepherding the Trek version of “Arena,” you can bet it would have ended with Kirk slaying the Gorn, not sparing him.

Gorn, but not forgotten

While the original “Arena” has a bit of 1940s machismo, it’s a fun, fascinating read outside of its relationship to the much more famous Star Trek episode . Brown’s action is quick, the world-building is nimble, and there’s something legitimately gripping about the story that the Trek “Arena” lacks.

In Brown’s “Arena,” you’ll find yourself frightened by the fight-or-flight reality of Carson’s battle with the Roller. When we watch the 1967 Star Trek “Arena” today, we’re more impressed with the philosophy than the action. While the design of Way Chang’s Gorn costume is amazing, it’s not like anyone can really watch Kirk fight the Gorn with a straight face. The best way to enjoy “Arena” is to enjoy the brazenness of the themes that classic Star Trek often presented. The best Original Series scripts are like this; they feel like pulpy sci-fi stories from decades prior, but with a humanist twist.

Kirk versus the Gorn in “Arena.”

In the 1944 “Arena,” Carson brutally stabs the Roller, and we learn this was kind of a Matrix-ish battle in which the physical combat was a metaphysical representation of an entire conflict between space fleets. Carson later awakens and realizes his actions have caused the entire Outsider fleet to be turned to dust.

The stakes in Trek’s “Arena” are way more literal, as the Metrons have told Kirk and the Gorn that the outcome of their fight will resolve the overall conflict between their people. What makes “Arena” so special is that it’s an episode about a physical fight that ends with Kirk laying down his weapons. And so, while it has the trappings of the 1944 “Arena,” its message is the opposite.

In a way, the conflict with the Gorn on Strange New Worlds is closer to the 1944 “Arena” than the Star Trek “Arena.” Strange New Worlds presents a battle with the Gorn that feels dangerous and frightening, and at this point in the Trek timeline, the idea of showing the Gorn mercy feels foolish. When Spock and Chapel fight a Gorn in zero gravity amid the wreckage of the USS Cayuga , they’re not thinking about making peace with it. Spock taking out the Gorn in “Hegemony” makes him more like Carson than Kirk.

In the final pages of James Blish’s novelization of Star Trek’s “Arena” (a third version of the story!) Kirk feels like he’s not ready to talk to Spock about his experience fighting the Gorn. In all three versions, the hero keeps some of the experience to himself. In the 1944 version, Carson stays quiet out of self-preservation. But for Kirk, there’s a sense of sanctification, of knowing he did the right thing and not needing to brag about it. And in that small, specific way, the Trek “Arena” is still the best version of the story, because it does something sci-fi couldn’t in 1944; let the hero be kind and humble.

This article was originally published on Aug. 12, 2023

Arena (episode)

Kirk battles an alien captain who has destroyed a Federation outpost.

• 1.2 Act One
• 1.3 Act Two
• 1.4 Act Three
• 1.5 Act Four
• 2 Log entries
• 3 Memorable quotes
• 4.1 Production timeline
• 4.3 Production
• 4.4 Props and costumes
• 4.5 Continuity
• 4.6 Preview
• 4.8 Remastered information
• 4.9 Video and DVD releases
• 4.10 Apocrypha
• 5.1 Starring
• 5.2 Also starring
• 5.3 Featuring
• 5.4.1 Stunt double
• 5.5 References
• 5.6 External links

Summary [ ]

Captain Kirk and a landing party – Spock , Dr. McCoy , O'Herlihy , Kelowitz , and Lang – beam down to the Federation observation outpost on Cestus III at the invitation of its commander, Commodore Travers , who has received quite the reputation for setting a fine table with his personal head chef . When the away team arrives, they discover that the invitation is a ruse and the colony has been destroyed.

Act One [ ]

After the landing party takes cover and Kirk declares full alert , they discover a single Human survivor in the ruins, Lieutenant Harold . Spock quickly locates the presence of other lifeforms nearby but no other colonial survivors. His tricorder reads them as cold-blooded creatures but definitely not Human. O'Herlihy attempts to scout them out, but is immediately disintegrated by an alien weapon as the landing party is bombarded by a massive shelling attack.

" Captain, I see something…! " O'Herlihy is suddenly disintegrated by an alien weapon.

At the same time, the USS Enterprise comes under attack in orbit by an unidentified starship . With her deflector screens up, the Enterprise cannot beam up the landing party. Kirk orders Lieutenant Sulu to return fire with the phaser banks , but it has little effect as the alien ship has screens up as well. Kirk orders the use of photon torpedoes , but the torpedoes are ineffective, as the alien is too far away even for visual contact. The captain orders Sulu to take whatever action is necessary to protect the Enterprise , be it leaving orbit or engaging maximum warp. Sulu opts for the former and takes the ship away from Cestus III.

Kirk makes his way to the colony's arsenal, avoiding large blasts from the unidentified attackers, and retrieves a grenade launcher . Spock and Kelowitz rendezvous with him as the first officer reports that the enemy troops are moving towards their location. Kelowitz reports that Lang has been killed (Lang's death in not shown, only mentioned), and gives Kirk his best guess as to where they have moved; Kirk launches the grenade in that direction. The tactic proves successful as the aliens begin to decamp back to their vessel, allowing Sulu to return with the Enterprise and retrieve the landing party and quickly set a pursuit course of the attacking ship.

In sickbay , Harold tells Kirk and Spock of the attack on the colony. The aliens had knocked out their phasers with their first salvo, leaving the colony defenseless; and confirms Kirk's earlier theory that the aliens had faked the message from the colony, diverting the Enterprise to Cestus III in an attempt to destroy what was the only protection in that part of the Federation. Such a move, a prelude to invasion, suggests the correct course: overtake and destroy the enemy before he can return to his home base and report. The captain orders the ship to battle stations and to warp 6 to overtake the aliens. " Red alert . I repeat, red alert. This is no drill, " Kirk announces to the crew through the Enterprise 's intercom . " This is no drill. "

Act Two [ ]

" We are the Metrons. "

The aliens, aware that the Enterprise is in pursuit, jump to warp 6 as well. Kirk orders warp 7 engaged, drawing concern from Spock and chief engineer Scott that a sustained warp 7 speed would be hazardous to the Enterprise 's warp engines. Spock argues against destroying the enemy vessel on the basis of respect for sentient life . Kirk disagrees; his opinion is that a crime has been committed and the perpetrators must be punished. Sulu reports that the aliens have moved to warp 7, as well. Kirk, mulling over his options, orders the ship to accelerate to warp 8 and have all weapons departments at battle ready.

Closing in at warp 8, the Enterprise records a scanning beam from an uncharted solar system at 2466 PM . The alien is not approaching this system; it appears that a third party is "curious" about the Enterprise . The alien abruptly begins to slow, going quickly to sublight speed until finally stopping dead in space. Kirk closes for the kill, but the Enterprise is soon slowed to sublight, as well, stopped dead like the alien with all power to the engines and weapons simply cut off.

The architects of this reveal themselves: the Metrons , an advanced race who regard intrusion into their space for the purpose of conflict as entirely unacceptable. They remove Kirk from the Enterprise along with the Gorn captain from the alien vessel and deposit both of them on a suitably prepared world. From there, the two captains will settle their differences, using strength and ingenuity, and the most basic of weapons. The winner and his ship will be free to go; the loser and his ship will be destroyed.

Act Three [ ]

The Gorn captain is a green, Human-sized reptilian creature, and quite slow compared to Kirk; however, he makes up for this by his superior strength and bulk. Kirk is able to evade him initially, but knows he can't do so indefinitely. He'll have to find a way to defeat his opponent, who is far stronger and tougher, and may have more stamina.

Kirk fighting the Gorn captain

The key may lie in a comment the Metron made, i.e. that the prepared environment around them contains elements suitable for fabricating weapons. Attack and evasion continue for some time, with Kirk narrowly evading death at the Gorn's claws. Back on the Enterprise , the crew is unable to restore power to the engines and the weapons and remains immobilized. The Metrons reestablish communications and inform the crew that Kirk is losing the battle. In view of his impending death, they allow the crew to watch what is happening on the viewscreen .

The Gorn finally communicates: it proposes that Kirk cease trying to evade him, and promises in exchange to be merciful and quick in killing him. Kirk compares this offer to the supposed "mercy" that was shown to the Humans at Cestus III; this enrages the Gorn, who tells Kirk his people regard Cestus III as part of their territorial space. From the Gorn perspective, they were repelling an invading force. Watching from the bridge (for the Metrons are now allowing this), McCoy posits that perhaps it was the Humans who were in the wrong. Spock agrees it is possible.

Act Four [ ]

" If there were only some way we could contact him. " " Yes, indeed, Doctor. If only there were… "

As the conflict continues, Kirk remembers an old formula: gunpowder . Using sulfur , coal , potassium nitrate , diamonds, and a bamboo-like plant, Kirk constructs a makeshift cannon . Spock, impressed by the captain's ingenuity, posits that Kirk might be successful if he can complete construction of the cannon before the Gorn closes in for the kill. Moments from a fatal attack, Kirk rips up his own uniform to make a fuse and uses the metallic recording-translating device provided by the Metrons to spark the coal, allowing Kirk to touch off his crude device, which incapacitates the Gorn.

Kirk fires his makeshift cannon.

Kirk has won the contest, but stops short of delivering the fatal stroke to the Gorn captain. He yells out loud to the unseen Metrons that he won't kill him and that they will have to find their entertainment elsewhere. The Gorn suddenly disappears, and a Metron representative appears before Kirk on the rocks above him: a tall, youthful-looking blond male in a silver toga, who looks rather like a Greek god. The Metron expresses surprise, saying their analysis did not prepare them for Kirk's demonstration of mercy towards his helpless opponent. The Metron claims to be 1,500 Earth years old and informs Kirk that the Gorn has been returned to his ship. The Metron will destroy him for Kirk, if he so chooses. Kirk declines and claims that the Federation and the Gorn can talk their dispute over and perhaps reach an agreement. This also impresses the Metron, who theorizes that although Humanity is still half-savage, perhaps in several thousand years it will be civilized enough to be of further interest to the Metrons. Kirk is returned to the Enterprise (he is no longer dusty and dirty from the battle, and his torn uniform is pristine again), where he discovers that the ship has been relocated five hundred parsecs away from the Metron solar system.

A male Metron representative appears on the planet.

Talking over the incident with the Gorn captain and the Metrons with Spock, Kirk tells his first officer that " We're a most promising species, Mr. Spock, as far as predators go, " when Spock asks what happened after Kirk fired off his cannon. Spock remarks that he frequently had his doubts about that, but Kirk informs him that in a thousand years or so, Humanity will be able to prove it to the Metrons. " A thousand years, Captain?, " Spock inquires. " Well, that gives us a little time, " Kirk replies as the Enterprise heads back to Cestus III.

Log entries [ ]

• Captain's log, USS Enterprise (NCC-1701), 2267

Memorable quotes [ ]

" Doctor, you are a sensualist. " " You bet your pointed ears I am. "

" Like most Humans, I seem to have an instinctive revulsion to reptiles. "

" This place is a mineralogist's dream. "

" We appeal to you in the name of civilization! Put a stop to this! " " Your violent intent and actions demonstrate that you are not civilized. "

" I weary of the chase. Wait for me. I shall be merciful and quick. "

" Can he do it? " " If he has the time, Doctor. If he has the time. "

" By sparing your helpless enemy who surely would have destroyed you, you demonstrated the advanced trait of mercy. Something we hardly expected. "

" You are still half savage. But there is hope. "

" We're a most promising species, Mr. Spock, as predators go. Did you know that?" " I've frequently had my doubts. " " I don't. Not anymore. "

Background information [ ]

Production timeline [ ].

• "Arena" is published in the June 1944 edition of Astounding Science Fiction magazine
• Story outline by Gene L. Coon : 10 October 1966
• First draft teleplay by Coon: 13 October 1966
• Second draft teleplay: 18 October 1966
• Final draft teleplay: 28 October 1966
• Revised final draft teleplay: 3 November 1966
• Additional revisions: 4 November 1966 , 7 November 1966 , 8 November 1966 , 10 November 1966 , 15 November 1966
• Day 1 – 8 November 1966 , Tuesday – Desilu Stage 9 : Int. Bridge
• Day 2 – 9 November 1966 , Wednesday – Vasquez Rocks Natural Area Park : Ext. Planetoid surface
• Day 3 – 10 November 1966 , Thursday – Vasquez Rocks Natural Area Park : Ext. Planetoid surface
• Day 4 – 11 November 1966 , Friday – Fortress set near Vasquez Rocks Natural Area Park : Ext. Cestus III surface
• Day 5 – 14 November 1966 , Monday – Desilu Stage 9 : Int. Bridge
• Day 6 – 15 November 1966 , Tuesday – Desilu Stage 9 : Int. Bridge , Kirk's quarters , Sickbay , Transporter room
• Original airdate: 19 January 1967
• Rerun airdate: 6 July 1967
• First UK airdate (on BBC1 ): 15 November 1969
• First UK airdate (on ITV ): 3 January 1982
• Remastered airdate: 21 October 2006
• "Arena" was written at short notice when several other writers failed to produce scripts on time, leaving the series without a script to shoot. Gene L. Coon volunteered to write a script, leaving at 6pm on a Friday and returning on Monday morning with the initial script.
• This teleplay was credited to an original story by Fredric Brown , also titled "Arena", that was first published in 1944 on the pages of Astounding Science Fiction magazine. In Inside Star Trek: The Real Story , p.206, Herb Solow writes that Gene L. Coon, an avid reader of science fiction, was unaware of the accidental similarity between his work and Brown's story until it was recognized by script reviewer Joan Pearce . To avoid a possible plagiarism lawsuit, the company called Brown and offered to buy the rights to produce his work as an episode, although they did not tell him that the script was already written.
• The plot also bears some similarity to the Outer Limits episode " Fun and Games " (1964), in which advanced aliens known as Anderrans "electro-transport" Humans and other intelligent beings to do battle with one another on the moon known as "Arena". The Anderrans see Humanity as violent, and the losers of the battles are supposed to forfeit the lives of all the inhabitants of their own planet, and they are only allowed to use primitive technology.
• In his final speech, the Metron informs Kirk that because he demonstrated mercy, he will not be destroyed. Initially, they said they planned to destroy the loser, "in the interests of peace". In Coon's script, in dialogue not aired, the Metron admits that they had, all along, planned to actually destroy the ship of the winner of the personal combat, because that race would represent the greater danger to them. James Blish preserves this disclosure in his novelization in Star Trek 2 .

Production [ ]

• This was the first episode directed by Joseph Pevney , brought in by producer Gene Coon ( Inside Star Trek: The Real Story , p. 208). Pevney was known for his fast work, and finished this episode – originally expected to be shot in seven days (one day extra) – in six days, remaining on schedule, for which he received a $500 bonus ( These Are the Voyages: TOS Season One [ page number? • edit ] ).
• The scenes on the planet surface were filmed at Vasquez Rocks Natural Area Park , California, the same location used for " Shore Leave ", " Friday's Child " and several other Star Trek productions. These are notable for their tilted ledges which form a part of the pursuit.
• A piece of black aluminum foil resembling stone was placed at the top of the frame of a wide shot of the outpost, to hide houses that would otherwise have been seen in the distance. The remastered version of the episode replaces this with a CGI landscape.

Props and costumes [ ]

• Cestus III was a globe of the Earth (previously seen in " Miri "), printed backwards and tinted a hazy orange.
• The recording-translating device Kirk and the Gorn were given later appeared in " Metamorphosis " as a universal translator .
• Wah Chang designed and built the Gorn suit, and the Gorn's clothing was designed by William Ware Theiss . Casual viewers will be unaware that the Gorn captain was played by no less than four actors, all of whom remained uncredited on-screen, even though the Gorn had dialogue; and that two suits were made, which were worn by stuntmen Bobby Clark and Gary Combs . One of these was for the location shoots at Vasquez Rocks , and the other for portraying him aboard the bridge of his vessel. Also, William Blackburn wore the Gorn head for close-ups. The suit had air vents to keep the wearer from becoming overheated. ( Star Trek: Lost Scenes ) Ted Cassidy was used to provide the voice dubbing throughout. After production finished on the episode, the two Gorn costumes were placed in Robert H. Justman 's office, one dressed up to look like a girl ( Inside Star Trek: The Real Story , p. 216).
• Harold , the outpost's only survivor, wears the recycled uniform Commander Hansen had worn in " Balance of Terror ".
• The closing credits use a different shot of Vina from what was used for most of the first season episodes.

Continuity [ ]

• This is the first episode to establish the existence of a "Federation". The full title of " United Federation of Planets " would not be used until later in " A Taste of Armageddon ".
• The phaser control room reported that the " aft phasers " were ready, making the first reference in dialogue to the Enterprise having aft weaponry. Aft phasers were later shown to have been a feature of the USS Defiant in Star Trek: Enterprise episode " In a Mirror, Darkly ", which, perhaps not coincidentally, is the first of a two parter featuring a Gorn.
• This episode is the first to reference, and show the use of, photon torpedoes .
• According to the Star Trek: Deep Space Nine episode " Family Business ", by 2371 , Human colonists were once again living on Cestus III , suggesting that the Gorn Hegemony had relinquished control of the planet, or moved to accept Human settlers, after the events of this episode.
• In the DS9 episode " Trials and Tribble-ations ", Captain Sisko admits to Jadzia Dax that he would love to meet Kirk and ask him about "fighting the Gorn on Cestus III…."
• This was the first episode broadcast in color in the United Kingdom. After the initial uncut showing, the BBC chose to edit the episode for repeat viewings removing all references to the ingredients of gunpowder. The episode was later screened uncut in 1992. [1]

Preview [ ]

• The preview contains a Captain's Log recorded solely for the preview: " Captain's log, stardate 3045.6. The Enterprise has responded to a call from Cestus III. On landing, we have discovered the outpost has been destroyed. "
• William Shatner currently suffers from tinnitus due to a special effects explosion on the set of this episode. Both Leonard Nimoy and DeForest Kelley reportedly suffered from tinnitus as well during the remainder of their lives. [1]
• Bobby Clark later reprised his Gorn performance from "Arena" in the Bring Back... Star Trek documentary in 2009. William Shatner also fought a Gorn in an "Arena" parody to advertise the 2013 Star Trek video game. [2] The same video game, which featured an attack by the Gorn in the alternate reality , used this episode's title as a chapter title.
• The creation of the diamond cannon was tested on the show MythBusters in late 2009 and deemed implausible. (It's been suggested the wood on the Metron planet may have had different properties, however.)

Remastered information [ ]

• "Arena" was the seventh episode of the remastered version of The Original Series to air. It premiered in syndication on the weekend of 21 October 2006 and most notably featured new effects shots of Cestus III from space, the Enterprise battling the Gorn ship, and an expanded matte painting of the outpost, showing more battle damage and giving greater scope to the surrounding terrain. A small but significant alteration also appeared in the form of the Gorn, which blinked several times throughout the remastered episode – achieved with computer-generated eyelids. Another small detail was finally inserted into the episode: the Gorn starship .

Video and DVD releases [ ]

• Original US Betamax release: 1985
• UK VHS release (two-episode tapes, CIC Video ): Volume 11 , catalog number VHR 2295, release date unknown
• US VHS release: 15 April 1994
• UK re-release (three-episode tapes, CIC Video): Volume 1.7, 4 November 1996
• Original US DVD release (single-disc): Volume 10, 21 March 2000
• As bonus episode on the region 2 release of VOY Season 1 DVD , 3 May 2004
• As part of the TOS Season 1 DVD collection
• As part of the TOS Season 1 HD DVD collection
• As part of the TOS Season 1 Blu-ray collection

Apocrypha [ ]

• A cat version of "Arena" was featured in Jenny Parks ' 2017 book Star Trek Cats .

Links and references [ ]

Starring [ ].

• William Shatner as Capt. Kirk

Also starring [ ]

• Leonard Nimoy as Mr. Spock

Featuring [ ]

• DeForest Kelley as Dr. McCoy
• George Takei as Sulu
• James Doohan as Scott
• Nichelle Nichols as Uhura
• Jerry Ayres as O'Herlihy
• Grant Woods as Kelowitz
• Tom Troupe as Lt. Harold
• James Farley as Lang
• Carole Shelyne as Metron
• Sean Kenney as DePaul

Uncredited co-stars [ ]

• Gorn captain (head only)
• Bobby Clark as Gorn captain
• Gary Combs as Gorn captain
• Ted Cassidy as the voice of the Gorn captain
• Jeannie Malone as Yeoman
• Vic Perrin as the voice of the Metron
• Frank da Vinci as Brent
• Eddie Paskey as Leslie
• Ron Veto as Harrison
• Unknown actor as Travers (voice only)

Stunt double [ ]

• Dick Dial as stunt double for William Shatner

References [ ]

8th century ; 2279 PL ; 2466 PM ; 2466 PM solar system ; advice ; agility ; agreement ; alert status ; all hands ; " all right "; Archanis ; area ; Arena planet ; arsenal ; asteroid ; atmosphere ; azimuth ; battle ; battle stations ; " Bones "; cannon ; Canopus ; captain ; Cestus III ; Cestus III civilians ; chance ; Channel 1 ; charcoal ; chef ; chemistry ; circuit ; civilization ; club ; coal ; combat officer ; commander ; commodore ; communications officer ; compassion ; composition ; computer banks ; contact ; coordinates ; course ; crime ; " crystal clear "; culture ; damage control ; day ; deflector screen (aka defensive screen ); degree ; demonstration ; deposit ; diamond ; diplomat ; disruptor ; doctor ; dream ; drill ; ear ; Earth ; Earth Observation Outpost ; Earthling ; electronic ; ensign ; facility ; Federation ; feeling ; full alert ; Gorn ; Gorn starship ( unnamed ); Gorn space ; gravimetric ; grenade ; grenade launcher ; gunnery officer ; gunpowder ; hardness ; head ; heat ; home base ; hope ; hospitality ; hostility ; Human ( Human being ); identification ; impulse engine ; ingenuity ; " in place "; internal injuries ; " in the name of "; invasion ; jewel ; " just in case "; lieutenant ; lieutenant commander ; life system ; light ; living creature ; logic ; magnetic ; massacre ; maximum warp ; meal ; medical personnel ; memorial arrangements ; mercy ; Metron ; Metron colony ; Milky Way Galaxy ; mineralogist ; mission ; mortar ; nature ; ordnance officer ; orbit ; overload ; parsec ; peace ; phaser ; phaser banks ; phaser battery ; photon torpedo ; place ; plot ; policemen ; potassium nitrate ; power ; predator ; projectile ; proof ; propulsion system ; radiation burn ; raider ; range ; " rank hath its privileges "; recording-translating device ; red alert ; reptile ; result ; revulsion ; risk ; rock ; rumor ; salvo ; savage ; scanning beam ; search ; search party ; section ; sensors ; sensualist ; sentient life ; shock ; signal ; Sirius ; space ; space legend ; space-normal speed ; species ; " stand by "; star chart ; Starfleet Command ; sublight ; subspace channel ; sulfur ; surface ; surrender ; survivor ; table ; tactics officer ; thousand ; threat ; tractor beam ; transformer bank ; transporter ; trap ; Travers' personal chef ; tricorder ; universe ; unscientific ; vine ; visual contact ; (not) warm-blooded (aka cold-blooded ); warp drive ; wavelength ; weapon ; word ; yard ; year ; yeoman

External links [ ]

• " Arena " at Memory Beta , the wiki for licensed Star Trek works
• " Arena " at Wikipedia
• " Arena " at MissionLogPodcast.com
• "Arena" short story review and episode comparison  at Orion Press
• " Arena " at the Internet Movie Database
• ↑ https://www.denofgeek.com/tv/star-trek-looking-back-at-the-bbcs-ban-and-censorship/
• 2 Daniels (Crewman)
• 3 Klingon augment virus

• Cast & crew
• User reviews

The Gamesters of Triskelion

• Episode aired Jan 5, 1968

Kirk, Uhura and Chekov are trapped on a planet where abducted aliens are enslaved and trained to perform as gladiators for the amusement of bored, faceless aliens. Kirk, Uhura and Chekov are trapped on a planet where abducted aliens are enslaved and trained to perform as gladiators for the amusement of bored, faceless aliens. Kirk, Uhura and Chekov are trapped on a planet where abducted aliens are enslaved and trained to perform as gladiators for the amusement of bored, faceless aliens.

• Gene Nelson
• Gene Roddenberry
• Margaret Armen
• William Shatner
• Leonard Nimoy
• DeForest Kelley
• 29 User reviews
• 13 Critic reviews

Top cast 22

• Captain James T. Kirk

• Ensign Jana Haines

• Andorian Thrall
• Lieutenant Hadley
• (uncredited)

• Provider #2
• Provider #3
• All cast & crew
• Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

Did you know

• Trivia The look of the character Galt was modeled after Ming the Merciless, the archenemy from the Flash Gordon comic strip.
• Goofs In addition to Kirk and the Thralls stepping on each other's colors in the contest without being penalized, Shahna is allowed to submit and give up when the fights are supposed to be "to the death".

Dr. McCoy : You're out of your Vulcan mind, Spock!

• Alternate versions Special Enhanced version Digitally Remastered with new exterior shots and remade opening theme song
• Connections Featured in Star Trek Logs: An MTV Big Picture Special Edition (1991)
• Soundtracks Theme Music credited to Alexander Courage Sung by Loulie Jean Norman

User reviews 29

• Feb 15, 2022
• What is Gamesters of Triskelion about?
• January 5, 1968 (United States)
• United States
• Official Facebook
• Paramount Studios - 5555 Melrose Avenue, Hollywood, Los Angeles, California, USA
• Paramount Television
• Norway Corporation
• See more company credits at IMDbPro

Technical specs

• Runtime 50 minutes

Related news

Contribute to this page.

• IMDb Answers: Help fill gaps in our data
• Learn more about contributing

More to explore

Recently viewed.

• The Magazine
• Stay Curious
• The Sciences
• Environment
• Planet Earth

Mythbusting the Mythbusting of Capt. Kirk and His Handmade Diamond Cannon

Alas, Capt. Kirk's muzzle-loading bamboo gun would more likely have killed Kirk himself then the Gorn attacking him—or at least, so said the Mythbusters a while back. For those who haven't seen arguably the best episode of Star Trek TOS ( Arena ), the plot is as follows: An alien race wants to test humanity by pitting Kirk against another alien, called a Gorn, in a fight to the death. The Gorn is bigger and stronger, but Kirk wins the day by finding and mixing together saltpeter, sulfur, and charcoal into black powder, loading them into a bamboo tube, and, using diamonds as ammunition, shooting and killing the Gorn. The Mythbusters set about testing the theory and found that it didn't work. They handmade some half-decent gunpowder, but it didn't have enough force to fire anything, and if it had, the bamboo tube couldn't contain the explosion. The Mythbusters discovered the exploding bamboo would have been more likely to kill Kirk then the gorn. But it's possible the Mythbusters didn't use optimal ingredients in their low-energy gunpowder. Like, maybe they used bad charcoal. Ulrich Bretscher is a retired Swiss chemist who turned his discipline and training to the art of homemade black powder, and he says the charcoal is the key element in determining the effectiveness of the gunpowder. According to Bretscher, Kirk's recipe was about right : Sulfur has the effect of lowering the ignition temperature by 130 degrees, which, since Kirk was lighting his gun with a spark from a stone, would have been important; and saltpeter acts as a catalyst for the flame, allowing it to burn hotter and more easily. But the crucial ingredient for releasing the most energy from homemade gunpowder is charcoal . Bretscher found that charcoal could be made effectively by heating wood under a sealed lid to a temperature of 400 degrees until the wood is thoroughly blackened. He yields 19 percent charcoal by weight, but a more effective technique could get that yield up to 60 percent. But he also found that the type of wood used for the charcoal was crucial. His measurements showed that the highest energy could be extracted from charcoal made from willow and balsa wood ---- more energy than some commercial black powder he tested. The making of charcoal was so important, it was the most closely guarded secret of gunpowder makers. So it seems to me that maybe Kirk found some really great charcoal, better than whatever they used in Mythbusters. Assuming he knew the optimal proportions (which he did, of course--he's Kirk), he could have mixed up a pretty snappy batch of powder, and the diamond ammunition probably worked well enough. That left the problem of bamboo. Well, maybe it was alien bamboo. Superstrong alien bamboo. That must be it.

Already a subscriber?

Register or Log In

Keep reading for as low as $1.99!

Sign up for our weekly science updates.

Save up to 40% off the cover price when you subscribe to Discover magazine.

• More to Explore
• Series & Movies

Published May 25, 2023

10 Favorite James T. Kirk Fight Scenes

There's no singular fighting style as unique as that of the captain of the Enterprise.

StarTrek.com

Is there anyone across the vast tapestry of the Star Trek mythos with a fighting style as unique as that of James Tiberius Kirk ?

I don’t believe there is. As captain of the fabled U.S.S. Enterprise , Kirk engaged in his share of fisticuffs, besting opponents— well, most of the time, anyway — with a slick combination of moves and guile that remains unmatched. I’m hard-pressed to think of anyone I’d rather have watching my back as we take on Klingons, alien gladiators, genetically-engineered supermen, and even, on occasion, his own first officer and best friend.

In unabashed celebration of James Kirk’s singular fighting style, I present to you 10 of my favorite examples of “ Kirk Fu .”

“ Where No Man Has Gone Before ”

Kirk wastes no time throwing down right here in his very first filmed adventure as captain of the Enterprise . For this initial outing, he takes on his friend, Gary Mitchell, who’s been imbued with godlike powers. Despite this complication, Kirk wades in with both fists, punching and chopping and spinning his opponent all over the desolate surface of Delta Vega before delivering the knockout blow with a well-aimed phaser rifle strike and a handy chunk of nearby hillside. It’s this episode that also gives birth to the tradition of Kirk’s uniform tunic getting ripped to expose his manly chesticles.

“ Shore Leave ”

On an idyllic, seemingly uninhabited planet, Kirk and his people run into knights on horseback, samurai warriors, Japanese warplanes, and even an old flame or two. Kirk also encounters his academy nemesis, Finnegan, who’s more than happy to pick up where they left off as cadets. Following one of the longest fights across any of the series, it’s Finnegan who helps Kirk to solve the mystery of this odd planet and those who want nothing more than to make every visitor’s dream and fantasy come true. And hey! There’s more of that torn-shirt action, too. If we’re not careful, this might become a trend.

It’s a battle for the ages as Kirk squares off against the commander of a Gorn vessel after they’re both transported to a barren planetoid by mysterious beings who call themselves “The Metrons.” Though the captain gives his best drop kicks and double fist-punches, none of his attacks have any effect, but Kirk’s not just a man of action; he has other mad skills! Using just the raw materials littering the landscape around him, he constructs a crude bamboo cannon and shoots a wad of diamonds into the Gorn captain’s massive reptilian chest. Yep, that’s going to leave a mark. Does Kirk close in to deliver the death blow? What...you mean you haven’t seen this episode? WHY NOT??

“ Space Seed ”

20th Century superman Khan Noonien Singh has no problem demonstrating his improved intellect and extra-enhanced physique against Kirk when the two face off in the Enterprise ’s engine room. Khan might have the strength of five men, but nobody mixes it up like Jimmy T. Despite being out-muscled six ways from Sunday, Kirk holds his own against the genetically-engineered brute and manages some sweet moves. That’s right, fans — drop kicks and the famed double fist-punch are brought to bear yet again before the good captain emerges triumphant. As for Khan? I wonder whatever happened to him...

“ Amok Time ”

After Spock succumbs to the ancient Vulcan mating drive known as Pon Farr, he invites Kirk and McCoy to accompany him to his home planet to observe the ceremony, which will see him wed to his childhood betrothal partner, T’Pring. As if that’s not weird enough, T’Pring decides she needs to spice up the whole marriage thing, challenging Spock’s status as her husband-to-be and selecting Kirk as her champion to battle Spock to the death! What we end up getting is a fight so awesome that it needs its own special theme music; a funky tune that sets the bar for every subsequent Star Trek hand-to-hand squabble to this day. You can hear it right now as you’re reading this, can’t you? Things get even hairier when Spock ( gasp !) kills Kirk! Or, does he? The suspense is killing me!

“ Journey to Babel ”

A shipload of ambassadors on their way to a conference where half of them are going to yell at the other half, and one of them might just be an assassin? The party crasher has already killed one person, and soon he sets his sights on none other than Captain Kirk himself! This leads to a vicious struggle in one of the Enterprise corridors with Kirk facing off against a feisty Andorian. Everything is a potential weapon in this skirmish, even the walls, from which Kirk pushes and kicks off as he puts the moves to his spirited opponent. Nothing’s going to keep him from winning this battle, not even a knife between the ribs! That’s why he’s the captain.

“ The Gamesters of Triskelion ”

It seems the word’s out about how humans in general and Kirk in particular make for pretty awesome fighters. After a weird transporter interruption sends him along with Uhura and Chekov to a remote planet, Kirk and his people find themselves unwilling conscripts for a mysterious alien race’s gladiator school. This gives Kirk several opportunities to demonstrate his fighting prowess, including an epic final showdown against three opponents for all the marbles and the lives of his crew. Two hundred quatloos on the newcomer!

“ The Omega Glory ”

If there’s anyone who can give Kirk a run for his money in a good, old-fashioned slugfest, it has to be another Starfleet captain, right? That’s exactly what happens when Kirk confronts Ronald Tracey, commander of the U.S.S. Exeter , who’s found himself in the middle of some serious Prime Directive violating as he seeks to unravel the mystery of why the planet’s native inhabitants have such prolonged life spans. Along the way, Tracey’s managed to kill several thousand of the indigenous population, and it’s long past time for Kirk to bring him down. The two captains end up in not one but two fights to the death, the second one pretty much just for the amusement of the locals. Kirk wins of course (because he’s awesome), but all of that simply pales in comparison to a Shatnerian delivery of the U.S. Constitution’s preamble. E Plebnista, yo.

“ The Savage Curtain ”

Kirk, Spock, Abraham Lincoln, and Surak walk into a bar. Okay, not really, but you have to think that would be pretty sweet, right? Anyway, when the Enterprise orbits a planet of molten lava called Excalbia, Kirk and Spock beam down to a lava-free area and are confronted by something that’s taken on the appearance of Lincoln and Surak, a.k.a. “The Greatest Vulcan Who Ever Lived.”

Together, this fearsome foursome is tasked by the planet’s local guy in charge with showing him how the Forces of Good differ from Those of Evil. A battle royale ensues, pitting Kirk and his team against some of history’s most dastardly bad guys — the Klingon Kahless, Genghis Khan, Zora (who?), and Colonel Green (huh?)! The final confrontation is a mix of makeshift spears, crude knives, and full on scrapping in the dirt, including one of Kirk’s better open field tackles as he puts the beat down on Colonel Green (who comes off as quite the punk), all while Yarnek the Excalbian looks on. Kind of creepy, don’t you think?

Star Trek III: The Search for Spock

It took three movies for Kirk to bring the Fu to the silver screen, with renegade Klingon Commander Kruge serving as his punching bag du jour. Despite all the years which have passed since his glory days during the five-year mission, Kirk shows us that he still knows how to rumble, fueled as he is by the anger that Kruge is responsible for the death of his son, David Marcus. As the bizarre Genesis planet disintegrates around them, Kirk and Kruge are locked in a mano-a-Klingono tussle, which ends up with Kruge hanging off the side of a cliff, ready to plunge to his doom save for his death grip on Kirk’s leg. After rebuffing Kirk’s attempts to save him, Kruge meets his end after Kirk...say it with me, “Has Had! Enough Of! Him!”

Okay, that’s my 10. As always is the case with these columns of mine, this isn’t intended to be a “best of” list, so who’s got their own list of favorites?

This article was originally published on June 29, 2013.

Get Updates By Email

Stay tuned to StarTrek.com for more details! And be sure to follow @StarTrek on Facebook , Twitter , and Instagram .

Dayton Ward (he/him) is a New York Times bestselling author or co-author of numerous novels and short stories including a whole bunch of stuff set in the Star Trek universe, and often collaborating with friend and co-writer Kevin Dilmore. As he’s still a big ol' geek at heart, Dayton is known to wax nostalgic about all manner of Star Trek topics over on his own blog, The Fog of Ward .

Screen Rant

Star wars stunt coordinator reveals george lucas' massive last-second change to attack of the clones: "it changed on the day".

Your changes have been saved

Email is sent

Email has already been sent

Please verify your email address.

You’ve reached your account maximum for followed topics.

All 19 Force Powers Yoda Possesses (In Canon & Legends)

Alice in wonderland horror movie confirmed in the works for blood & honey crossover universe, 20 highest valued disney vhs tapes today.

Star Wars: Episode II – Attack of the Clones stunt coordinator Nick Gillard recalls how George Lucas made a massive last-minute change to the film. Released in 2002, the second of Lucas' Star Wars prequel movies follows Obi-Wan Kenobi (Ewan McGregor) as he uncovers a secret clone army and Anakin (Hayden Christensen) as he falls in love and experiences some personal tragedy. Attack of the Clones ' ending memorably includes a climactic fight between Obi-Wan, Anakin, and Count Dooku (Christopher Lee), with Yoda eventually making a heroic appearance in what marks his first lightsaber duel of the franchise.

In a recent interview with Chris Castellani on the Chris and Company podcast, Gillard, who served as the fight and stunt coordinator on all three Star Wars prequels, reveals that Yoda's involvement in the Attack of the Clones' Dooku fight was actually the result of a very last-minute decision from Lucas .

Gillard recalls that the decision meant that a large stretch of fight choreography had to be mapped out, with a mannequin ultimately being used as a Yoda reference to both the Dooku stunt double and for Industrial Light & Magic's post-production work. Check out Gillard's full comment below:

"Originally it was Anakin and Obi in that fight, I think, it changed on the day. We went in that day to shoot another fight, and George had decided Yoda wanted to be in it, so he said, 'Sorry, but... the door's gonna open and Yoda's gonna come in.' And he's gonna fight Dooku. “So we came up with the moves for Dooku, we found out where Yoda was going to be, he jumps around a lot, we had a little mannequin of him, so ILM would place it where they needed him to be, and the actor doubling for Dooku would make beautiful moves for Dooku reaching for those areas, which was actually a terribly easy thing for us to do. He did certain routines and arrived in certain places. ILM knew us well enough that they could make Yoda do the same moves."

Yoda's Dooku Duel Became A Highlight Of The Star Wars Prequels

Why the fight remains so significant.

There are a number of key moments from the Star Wars prequels that live on, and Yoda's fight against Dooku is certainly among them. While Yoda was an important character in Star Wars: Episode I – The Phantom Menace (1999) and in the original trilogy, his skills as a Jedi were only talked about and implied rather than actually shown on-screen. Yoda's duel with Dooku served as the first glimpse audiences got of his skill with a lightsaber and the Force (in a combat setting) , and the scene helps to reinforce why Yoda is as revered as he is.

Yoda was one of the most powerful Jedi ever due to his deep understanding of the Force, and the Force powers he had in Legends and canon prove it.

Gillard's comment also isn't the only reveal that has emerged regarding Yoda's Dooku duel, with Jar Jar Binks actor Ahmed Best, who has experience in fight choreography, previously revealing that he played a role in how the fight played out. Best recalled in an interview with Inverse earlier this year that he knew how critical it would be to show Yoda as " the baddest cat ," during this sequence. Since ILM's head of animation at the time, Rob Coleman, was having difficulty mapping the scene out, Best stepped in to help shape Yoda's unique fighting style, explaining:

"I was like, 'Rob, come to the crib. We’re going to watch some stuff, and then let’s write this fight.' So he came to the crib and we watched. Ninja Scroll was out at that time. That was the hot anime. Jet Li was kind of on the scene as the hottest martial arts star, right? But then we went back to Jackie Chan, and we started watching all of these movies back to back. Akira , we watched. And I was like, 'We gotta take all of these influences and put it into this fight.'"

Yoda's lightsaber fight would ultimately help create the Ataru lightsaber form .

Our Take On Yoda's Fight With Dooku In Attack Of The Clones

The star wars prequels are better for it.

While Obi-Wan and Anakin's brief fight with Dooku is thrilling, it's now impossible to imagine the sequence without Yoda also getting in on the action . This entire fight not only features some strong character beats, with Anakin's impulsivity costing him his arm and nearly his and Obi-Wan's lives, it also helps set the stage for Yoda's eventual fight against Palpatine (Ian McDiarmid) in Revenge of the Sith . Though it was a last-minute addition, Lucas evidently made the right call by including this key Yoda moment in Star Wars: Episode II – Attack of the Clones .

Source: Chris Castellani

Your Rating

Your comment has not been saved

Star Wars: Episode II - Attack of the Clones

Years after the events of The Phantom Menace, the Skywalker Saga continues with Star Wars: Episode II - Attack of the Clones. When Senator Padme Amidala's life is threatened, Jedi Knights Obi-Wan Kenobi and Anakin Skywalker are tasked with her protection. While Obi-Wan uncovers a clone army made in secret, Anakin falls in love with Padme, marking the beginning of his inevitable fall to the dark side of the Force.

Not available