The Starship Enterprise - everyone knows it. Affectionately referred to as the "classic series" these days, the old Star Trek series from 1966 is the cornerstone of something a lot of fans would call the greatest space saga ever, which would go on to be followed by several more TV series and feature films. This success could not have been imagined when the series was first broadcast. Produced under the tightest budgets and schedules, the ratings always left room for improvement. Only the massive commitment of the fan base, which was already loyal at the time, made it possible for the series to make it to 3 seasons. Then NBC pulled the plug and Star Trek seemed dead.

In the early 1970's, the series was sold to so-called "syndicated" stations, smaller, local stations that broadcast Star Trek on the best slots and sparked an enthusiasm for the series that would later lead to the production of the feature films. And yet another station bought into the series - ZDF. A bold move for a public broadcaster of the time, but not too bold either: German viewers got to see only 26 selected episodes, and in 1973 another 13 of the total 79 episodes. Unfortunately, ZDF did not acquire the original NBC versions, but the syndicated versions, in which numerous episodes had been cut in favor of commercial time. Therefore, we're discussing those in our archive.

"Charlie X" is an unusual episode that focuses on the characterization of the young orphan Charlie. The pubescent boy, who is endowed with supernatural powers, quickly becomes an enormous threat to the ship. A well-done and unusually serious episode. In addition to some more minor cuts, the TV version also features a real censorship cut.

There are 5 cuts omitting a total of about 1 minute and 43 seconds, plus 1 sound censorship.

03:37
Immediately after the opening credits, a shot of the Enterprise with the episode title superimposed is missing.
8 sec

29:49
Part of the conversation in the conference room was cut in the German version.
Kirk: "Short-tempered. Because he doesn't understand. He needs, he wants. Nothing happens fast enough."
Spock: "Probability is, he is responsible for the destruction of the Antares, which would indicate a total disregard for human life."
Kirk: "He doesn't understand what life is, he is a boy!"
McCoy: "What would we do with this boy, Jim? How do we keep him caged up?"
Kirk: "It goes even further than that, Doctor. We can't take him with us to Earth Colony 5. 'an'a imagine what he would do in an open, normal environment?"
28 sec

34:47
When Rand rebuffs Charlie, he walks menacingly toward her. In the German version, the fade to black that follows has been removed, as well as an exterior shot of the Enterprise. Only after that the scene continues in Rand's quarters, in the German version it runs in one piece, which can be seen because of the moderately cut sound.
8 sec

36:22
After Charlie has released Kirk and Spock from their rigidity, Kirk rises and asks Spock to do the same. In the original version, Spock says, "My legs.... they're broken.".
No time difference

38:25
A real censorship cut takes place here in the syndicated version, removing some really violent scenes by the standards of the series.
Charlie runs amok in the hallway. A young woman steps out of her cubicle and walks past Charlie. The latter turns around, rapidly aging her. The woman looks at her hands, touches her face, and begins to shriek.

Charlie continues walking, you can see the shadows of some crew members laughing and talking.
Charlie: "No. No laughing!"
Charlie makes a head movement, people freeze, and Charlie keeps walking. A woman steps around the corner, groaning, and you can see that she no longer has a face.
30 sec

47:01
The German version shows its homemade credits much earlier. A shot of the blank main screen is missing, then the camera moves away from the dismayed crew, various credits fade in, McCoy and Rand leave the bridge. A final shot of the Enterprise concludes the episode.
29 sec