Star Trek

The characters of the original Star Trek series.

The Star Trek franchise was created by Gene Rodenberry, and began with the television series Star Trek in 1966. It related the adventures of the crew of the starship U.S.S. Enterprise as they traveled to new planets and encountered new species and beings. The ship was captained by James T. Kirk, played by William Shatner. His first officer, Mr. Spock, was half Vulcan, a species which values logic and reason. The rest of the human crew included Dr. McCoy, Uhura, Scotty, Sulu, and Chekov. Show themes included tolerance, acceptance, and peaceful exploration.

While the original series ran for only three seasons, for a total of 79 episodes (not including the original, rejected pilot), it became a very popular cult series. Eventually, six films starring the cast of the original series were produced from 1979 to 1991. A second series, Star Trek: The Next Generation premiered in 1987 with a new cast. The new cast subsequently made another four films. Three other series, Star Trek: Deep Space Nine, Star Trek: Voyager, and Enterprise, followed. The franchise was restarted in 2009 with the movie Star Trek, which cast new actors as the original series characters.

Captain Kirk and Mr. Spock

Star Trek and Supernatural have several parallels. Star Trek also spawned an animated series, which aired in 1973. A library of books set in the Star Trek universe has been written since the airing of the original series. Star Trek is famous for its vast fandom, members of which participate in conventions. Additionally, Star Trek has been a popular subject for slash.

Three members of the Supernatural crew have connections to Star Trek. The director of 1.06 Skin, Robert Duncan McNeil starred in Star Trek: Voyager as Lt Tom Paris, while Robert Picardo, who played Wayne Whittaker, appeared with him as the Doctor. Actor Mark Sheppard, who plays Crowley on Supernatural, guest starred in an episode of the same series.

Sera Gamble herself says "I will boldly admit to being a life-long Trekkie. I was born and bred on the cheesy rock [set] and William Shatner. So I am well aware of what it is to be part of a fandom. And fandom is defined by meticulous care and really giving a shit and having strong opinions and arguing." Source. On the episode commentary to 5.04 The End with Eric Kripke and Ben Edlund, Eric mentions that Sera was meant to be doing the commentary but had been called up for jury duty, which she was attending in her Star Fleet uniform.

At Asylum Europe 2, Jensen was asked as whether Dean sees himself as Captain Kirk. Video of the questions.

Episodes Referencing Star Trek

1.06 Skin

Sam: I don’t know, it was like he was downloading your thoughts and memories.
Dean: You mean, like the Vulcan Mind Meld?

In the Star Trek universe, Vulcans are humanoid aliens with pointed ears and green blood who can access someone’s thoughts and memories by a mind meld. It is initiated through physical contact, usually by placing a hand on the side of the subject’s head. Vulcan Mind Meld appears on the Pad of Definitions.

1.11 Scarecrow

Stacy: Sweetheart, that’s what sacrifice means. Giving up something you love for the greater good. The town needs to be safe. The good of the many outweighs the good of the one.

This is possibly a reference to lines from Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan:

Spock: Were I to invoke logic, however, logic clearly dictates that the needs of the many outweigh the needs of the few.
Kirk: Or the one.

However, in Star Trek, the sacrifice in question is voluntary.

4.02 Are You There, God? It's Me, Dean Winchester

Upon finding out that the Apocalypse is imminent, Dean suggests they go and visit the Star Trek Experience, among other destinations. This Las Vegas attraction ran from January 1998 to September 2008. It closed seventeen days before Dean’s resurrection in Lazarus Rising.

4.03 In the Beginning

Dean: Know where I can get any reception?
Young John: The U.S.S. Enterprise?

To young John Winchester, Dean's cell phone looks like a communicator from Star Trek, which ended four years earlier.

4.21 When the Levee Breaks

Dean: They come on like shady politicians from Planet Vulcan.

Dean is referring to Star Trek's Spock's planet of origin, and comparing Castiel’s behavior to the Vulcans' lack of emotional display.

4.22 Lucifer Rising

When Dean is in the Green Room and Zachariah is offering him all manner of diversions, Dean says "No, no. Let's... bail on the holodeck, okay?". In Star Trek the holodeck was a space on the starship where a virtual experience was created.

5.13 The Song Remains the Same

While explaining the Angel Banishing Sigil to a young Mary and John, Dean says that it can be used to "beam [ Anna ] right off the starship."

"Beaming" refers to the use of the transporter to move people from a starship to a planet by disassembling them in one location and reassembling them in another.

6.13 Unforgiven

Samuel: So Roy's just some Red Shirt to you? Spider bait?

The term "red shirt" evolved from the original Star Trek series, where security officers wearing said shirts were often killed on missions. It is more widely used now for any minor character killed in a movie or TV show, purely to provide drama for the main characters.

6.16 ...And Then There Were None

A new creature is created by Eve. Dean and Bobby both refer to it as the Khan Worm because it is reminiscent of the Ceti eel from the Star Trek movie The Wrath of Khan which after entering through the ear, wrapped itself around a person's brain stem making them susceptible to suggestion, and eventually causing madness. It was referenced also in the reboot Star Trek movie in the form of the Centaurian slug which also entered through the ear canal and made people speak the truth.

6.18 Frontierland

Dean: I know where we can find one. March 5th 1861. Sunrise Wyoming. We’ll Star Trek IV this bitch.
Bobby: I only watch Deep Space 9.
Dean: It’s like I don’t even know you guys anymore. Star Trek IV. Save the whales.

The plot of Star Trek IV involves the crew of the Enterprise going back in time to 1986 to find some humpback whales that they need to communicate with an alien probe.

Jim Beaver’s late wife Cecily Adams portrayed the Ferengi Ishka on Deep Space 9. The reference in the script was originally to Star Trek Next Generation but Jim asked for it to be changed: "It was coincidence in the first draft when it was Next Generation, but deliberate when I asked to change it to Deep Space 9."Source.

7.02 Hello, Cruel World

Dean: Why would the devil holodeck you a whole new life, when he could just kick your ass all over the cage?

The Holodeck is a facility where an artificial reality can be created. It was a feature of starships in the Star Trek universe.

7.20 The Girl with the Dungeons and Dragons Tattoo

Charlie makes the Vulcan salute when she farewells Sam and Dean.

8.10 Torn and Frayed

Mr Hinckley: Sounded like Klingon to me.

Klingon is a language spoken by the race of the same name in Star Trek.

8.11 LARP and the Real Girl

Charlie makes the Vulcan salute when she farewells Sam and Dean.

Ghostfacers

In the first episode of the Ghostfacers Web Series, Ed Zeddmore and Harry Spengler discuss their new intern Dave:

Ed: Yeah, uh, Dave, Dave, Dave. Good intern, uh, knows his equipment, runs a mean cable—
Harry: Knows his Trek.

The Ghostfacers also have a framed, autographed photo of William Shatner as Captain Kirk in their main meeting room, sitting atop their Vest of Destiny. In the extra Ghostfacer webisode guest starring Misha Collins, Castiel smashes the frame in order to perform a "minor miracle" and repair it, but is somehow unable to do so.

Ed: You shattered my Shatner!