I didn’t the first time through, but this is just a dumb fun episode.
Why’s that?
He left?
Was the original script called The Menagerie? Then they changed it to The Cage?
Love how he is short with Rand. Very authentic Kirk.
I also like proto-Worf.
Relatively recently.
Not sure about the script, but the first Pilot was The Cage, and the two-parter was rebranded The Menagerie. Same shot showed up in both.
That pompadour just makes me laugh. 
Yeah but it bugged me.
So very fanfic. ‘Wow!! That would be cool. Fly a Starship bla bla bla…’
He’s not in the others. If I recall correctly.
Me too.
Those uniforms look comfy, like pajamas. 
I wish they just ran with the Pike & Co. crew, to be honest.
That would be a great prequel series, IMO.
Note that past Spock acts more like the Cage/Menegerie Spock.
Yeah, but the thing that separated these guys from all the other fanfilms is that they did the original crew.
Kirk is unsettlingly informal with Pike. I mean, “Chris”? They’ve never met before. Why does he feel like he’s on a first name basis?
From Memory Alpha:
Reportedly the episode title was changed in production from “The Cage” to “The Menagerie,” however when the two-part episode went into production with that title, the title of the actual pilot episode reverted to “The Cage.”
Malachi Motherfrakin’ Throne!
Ah, that makes sense.
They have met, in the EU anyway.
Note the different bridges. They’re the same one (built to specs for the original) redressed.
Not at this point in time, though, right? Pike certainly didn’t seem to recognize him.
Oooh. I forgot about/repressed Scotty.