| "The Magicks of Megas-tu" | |
|---|---|
| Star Trek: The Animated Series episode | |
| Episode no. | Season 1 Episode 8 |
| Directed by | Hal Sutherland[1] |
| Written by | Larry Brody |
| Production code | 22009 |
| Original air date | October 27, 1973 |
"The Magicks of Megas-tu" is the eighth episode of the first season of the American animated science fiction television series Star Trek: The Animated Series. It first aired on NBC on October 27, 1973, and was written by Larry Brody, who had originally pitched the idea for the third season of Star Trek: The Original Series. However, according to Brody the dialogue was mostly re-written by series creator Gene Roddenberry.
Set in the 23rd century, the series follows the adventures of Captain James T. Kirk (voiced by William Shatner) and the crew of the Starfleet starship Enterprise. In this episode, while exploring the center of the galaxy, the crew of the Enterprise are transported by an alien named Lucien to the planet Megas-Tu, where magic and witchcraft are normal. Kirk and the crew are placed on trial by the inhabitants in response to the Salem Witch Trials.
The original pitch by Brody featured God rather than the Devil, but this was changed after the idea was rejected by NBC executives. Critics have written positively about the episode, praising the design work for the magical effects. It was compared to The Original Series episode "Plato's Stepchildren", but was thought to be an improvement. Following the broadcast, a novelization of "The Magicks of Megas-tu" was created by Alan Dean Foster, and it has been released on a variety of home media formats.