{
  "id": 18596874,
  "title": "All 7 Star Trek Episodes That Were Banned Or Censored Around The World",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/11/06/all-7-star-trek-episodes-that-were-banned-or-censored-around-the-world",
  "topic": "culture",
  "section": "Culture",
  "published": "2026-11-06T23:52:00.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "TVLine",
    "slug": "tvline",
    "url": "https://www.tvline.com/2309742/star-trek-banned-censored-episodes/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Seven episodes of *Star Trek* were banned or censored around the world due to their taboo themes, including violence, torture, sadism, disease, and sexual innuendo. The BBC was particularly strict, withholding episodes like \"Whom Gods Destroy,\" \"Plato's Stepchildren,\" and \"The Enemy Within.\" \"Whom Gods Destroy\" had Spock and Kirk visiting a mental hospital run by a shapeshifting villain, while \"Plato's Stepchildren\" featured the crew being subjected to humiliation and torture on a planet modeled after ancient Greece. \"The Enemy Within,\" another original series episode, explored the psychological torment of the heroes as they battled parasitic aliens controlling their behavior. Despite the controversy, all seven episodes were eventually broadcast with edited versions, allowing fans to view them in their unaltered forms.",
  "summary": "Whether because they depicted violence, sensuality, or sensitive political topics, seven episodes from the Star Trek franchise were banned or censored overseas.",
  "key_points": [
    "Seven Star Trek episodes banned or censored worldwide.",
    "BBC withheld Whom Gods Destroy, Plato's Stepchildren, The Enemy Within.",
    "Episodes featured taboo themes like violence, torture, sexual innuendo."
  ],
  "editors_take": "The censorship of these specific episodes demonstrates how international broadcasters historically prioritized the avoidance of taboo themes like psychological torment and physical violence over the original creative vision.",
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}