Five years ago I discussed the subject of death fake-out’s. This of course is when they seem to kill off a major character only to undo it seconds later. Star Trek loves this trope, I don’t think there’s been a character on any show that hasn’t been delcared dead at least once. And in that past article I went over the five worst.
But Captain Kirk tops them all. I can count eight times that Kirk appeared die or was declared dead in the course of Trek TV and movies. Some a little more permanent than others. What were these eight times? Funny you should ask….
What Are Little Girls Made Of
This is one of those episodes that isn’t awful but it’s not great. It’s a tad draggy. Anyway, Kirk and Dr.Chapel beam down to a planet where they have found Dr.Korby alive and well. Korby had designed androids, some so perfect they can copy the memories of a human being. This happens to Kirk, and toward the end of the episode the female android phasers him when she confuses him to the real Kirk.
Amok Time
Now we’re talking. Do I really need to sum this episode up? Spock is experiencing Pon Farr and, long story short, is forced to fight Kirk in a battle to the death. Fortunately, McCoy steps in and slips Kirk a neural paralyzer that makes him appear dead. Thought Spock believes it’s real, making the scene later where he disocvers Kirk is alive one of Star Trek’s best moments.
Return to Tomorrow
This one is often forgotten, and you could argue Kirk never really dies in the episode. Let me explain, the crew agree to swap bodies with advanced aliens who live as energy. They want to build androuds to permeanently move in to. (see my review for more details). But the alien in Spock is evil and poisons Kirk so he’ll die and take the alien living inside with him. It doesn’t work that way and Kirk is brought back, the alien in Spock is defeated (in a rare Spock death fake out) and the alien named Sargon agrees to fade into oblivion. No video clip sorry
The Tholian Web
You could argue cheating but I decided it counted. When Kirk is trapped on another ship that interspaciallt locked, it’s assumed he died when the vessel vanished. So sure in fact, that Spock holds a memorial where he formally pronounces Kirk dead and takes over. Spock and McCoy even watch Kirk’s final taped orders. The next scene we see Kirk appear to the crew in astrophysical form (long story and I never understood how that worked) which convinces them he is in fact alive. And they manage to save him.
Enterprise Incident
Why isn’t this one more infamous? In a ruse to trick the Romulans, we see Kirk acting nuts and then forcing the Enterprise across the Neutral Zone for no reason. Long story short, Spock is explaining to the Romulan Commander that he is not sane. When Kirk lunges at Spock, and in response Spock applies the “Vulcan Death Grip” which apparently kills Kirk instantly. Of course, there is no such thing as a “Vulcan Death Grip, it was just a disguised nerve pinch. Kirk is fine and since the Romulans think he is dead he impersonates one to steal a cloaking device. This is actually a decent season three episode.
Star Trek VI
You may think that I am foricng it putting this one here, but I swear the scene of Kirk being vaporized was shown in teasers out of context for the movie to get people’s attention. Of course, it isn’t Kirk being vaporizd it’s Martia. A shape shifter who helps Kirk and McCoy escape the prison they are in, only to betray them. When the prison gaurd catches up to them he kills her (still impersonating Kirk) so there will be no witnesses.
Star Trek Generations
Only fair to put the real death on here. We all know how this went and how lame it was. No one, and I mean no one, can understand why they had to kill this iconic character off. Why not retire in some sort of blaze of glory? Even worse, the death is kind of weak. They tried to make it work, even reshotting the whole thing, but for someone like Kirk it should have been bigger. Hey, did anyone read the follow up books Shatner wrote about how Kirk was brought back by the Borg? Yeah look those up, they’re…interesting.
Star Trek Into Darkness
I mentioned this in that previous article but let’s discuss it again. Into Darkness is easily the worst death. Not because they lifted it straight from Wrath of Khan. Not because it was only the second movie and we really didn’t know this Kirk or Spock well enough yet. And not even because they copped out on it. It was how the death was reversed. Tribble blood? What? I feel bad for this movie that they did the Kirk death scene and resurrection. It didn’t just hurt the movie, it killed it. It was so lame fans and non fans alike were thrown out of the movie, and of course when that happens your movie is going to be remembered as a joke not a hit.
So there are the eight I can remember, if I left one off you think I forgot comment and let me know. Of course most of these were fake out’s and when we found out this was always our reaction..
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