Upcoming Arrow Episode Pays Homage To Classic Star Trek Story

Currently, fans of The CW’s Arrowverse are busy with the network and its annual superhero [...]

By Megan Peters

Currently, fans of The CW's Arrowverse are busy with the network and its annual superhero crossover special. The Invasion! event kicked off last night with Supergirl and will continue with The Flash tonight. On Wednesday, Arrow will air its crossover episode which coincides with the series' 100th episode to-date. And, now, fans are getting a tease about a future Arrow episode thanks to Marc Guggenheim.

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And, yes, it pays homage to Star Trek: The Original Series.

On Twitter, Guggenheim tweeted the title page for one of Arrow's scripts. The document is part of Season 5's thirteenth episode which Guggenheim said enters production today. The episode itself had its title revealed as well, so fans know now that "Spectre of the Gun" is what it will be called. So, of course, Trekkies have started to speculate about the name.

After all, "Spectre of the Gun" is the title of a very well-known Star Trek episode. Debuted in October 1968, the episode was part of the third season of Star Trek: The Original Series. The episode follows Captain Kirk and his Starfleet comrades trespass into Melkotian space, and the alien race is not too pleased by the action. As such, the Melkotians force the Enterprise's away team into a psychic fugue.

The induced state makes the Enterprise crew believe they've been transported to the Wild West of the 1880s. The gang is quickly embroiled in a historical gunfight at the O.K. Corral, but the Starfleet officers try to pacify the bloody event and change history. Once they realize they are only dreaming about the Wild West, the team manages to subdue their enemies while sparing their lives. Impressed, the Melkotians free the crew from their hold and admire the officers' desire for peaceful negotiations. The interaction ultimately leads the aliens to forge a peaceful relationship with the Federation, something which Captain Kirk welcomes wholeheartedly.

If Arrow is making an intentional nod to Star Trek with its new episode title, then there could be some connection between the two episodes. Arrow and his new recruits might find themselves fighting against a misguided villain who winds up being impressed by Oliver Queen's rationale. Of course, the heroes of Arrow might also go time-traveling to the Wild West, but that option seems far more likely for DC's Legends of Tomorrow.

There are also some fans who wonder whether "Spectre of the Gun" is hinting at the return of a DC Comics character. There has been speculation that the episode will bring Spectre back to the show, but that seems very unlikely. Jim Corrigan, the host of the Spectre, was featured in Constantine for two episodes before the series was canceled. As such, fans were wondering whether the hero would make a crossover to The CW, but actor Emmett J. Scanlan is currently busy with other projects.

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