Summary
Susan Oliver playedStar Trek’s first ever captain’s love interest in the unairedStar Trek: The Original Seriespilot, “The Cage”.Rejected by the network for being too cerebral, “The Cage” saw Captain Christopher Pike (Jeffrey Hunter) get captured by the Talosians, who believed that he could be a worthy mate for Vina, and tested the couple in a variety of scenarios.Pike’s resistance convinced the Talosians that he and Vina would not repopulate their planet after all. AfterLucille Ball savedStar Trekby convincing the network to give it another chance, “The Cage” was repurposed for"The Menagerie", which gave Pike and Vina their happy ending.
If production onStar Trek: The Original Seriesseason 1 hadn’t fallen behind, then it’s possible that Vina and Pike’s Enterprise crew could have been lost to time. Because"The Menagerie" canonizedStar Trek’s unaired pilot, it allowedStar Trek: Discoveryto reintroduce Captain Pike (Anson Mount), Number One (Rebecca Romijn) and even Vina (Melissa George). This led toStar Trek: Strange New Worldsbeing commissioned, which now bridges the gap between the events of “The Cage”, thesecondTOSpilotand Pike’s happy ending with his firstStar Treklove interest.
Captain Pike’s 3 Strange New Worlds Love Interests Explained
Captain Christopher Pike may not be the sort of infamous lothario that Captain James T. Kirk was, but he’s had a few important romantic relationships.
Susan Oliver Played Vina In Star Trek’s Original Pilot “The Cage”
InStar Trek’s original pilot, “The Cage”, Vina was the sole human inhabitant of Talos IV, followingthe crash of the SS Columbus in 2236. The Talosians were able to bring the ailing Vina back to life. However, the Talosians' lack of knowledge about human physiology meant that, while physically healthy, her body was scarred and misshapen. Because of this, Vina opted to remain on Talos IV instead of leaving with Captain Pike, because she wanted to keep her illusion of youthful beauty. She would later be joined by the critically wounded Fleet Captain Pike (Sean Kenney) at the end of “The Menagerie”.
Susan Oliver was the stage name of the actress Charlotte Gercke.
Susan Oliver was cast as Vina at the suggestion of studio executive Oscar Katz, who became the subject of an on-set joke due to his “religious” avoidance of set visits. Susan Oliver carried around a sign which read “Oscar, Where Are You?” which appeared in several set photos.Oliver had a prolific career as a TV guest actor, becoming one of manyStar Trekactors inThe Twilight Zone, when she played a Martian in “People Are Alike All Over”. Susan Oliver was also a pilot, and was nominated for an Emmy for playing ‘Snookie’ in the 1976 NBC TV movie,Amelia Earheart.
The 2014 documentaryTheGreen Girlwas a feature-length tribute to Susan Oliver’s life and work, which contained a surprising revelation about a late career connection toStar Trek: The Next Generation.In the 1980s, Susan Oliver tried her hand at directing television, with one episode ofM.A.S.Hand another ofTrapper John, M.D.on her list of credits. WhenTNGentered production in the late 1980s, Oliver offered to direct an episode, but was rejected due to her inexperience with visual effects.
Vina Returned In Star Trek: Discovery
Discovery Season 2, Episode 8, “If Memory Serves”.
Over 50 years after Susan Oliver’s portrayal of Vina in “The Cage”, Melissa George played Vina inStar Trek: Discoveryseason 2, episode 8, “If Memory Serves”. Set three years after the events of “The Cage”, Captain Pike returned to Talos IV to seek the Talosians' help with restoring the damaged mind of Spock (Ethan Peck). Vina aided Pike, Spock and Commander Michael Burnham (Sonequa Martin-Green) in evadingSection 31 operatives. Pike traveling to Talos IV to save Spock ultimately set up the Vulcan’s own mission to return to the planet to save his former captain inStar Trek: The Original Series, reuniting Pike and Vina for good.
Star Trek: The Original Series
Cast
Star Trek follows the U.S.S. Enterprise on its five-year mission to explore the galaxy, led by Captain James T. Kirk and First Officer Mr. Spock. The crew confronts a variety of challenges, including Klingons, Romulans, and genetic supermen, as they search for new life and civilizations.
