This is one of the best remembered episodes of the entire series. It's a classic that gave us one Trek's greatest villains and led directly to an amazing sequel movie. So, is it ok that I think the episode is a tad overrated?
Plot:The Enterprise discovers an ancient spaceship carrying genetically enhanced supermen from late 20th century Earth and their enigmatic warlord leader: Khan Noonien Singh.
Guest Stars:Ricardo Montalban as Khan, Madlyn Rhue as Marla
Nitpick:Well we wont meet Chekov for a few more episodes but we know he's on the ship somewhere. According to DC Comics he was working in Engineering under Mr.Scott and was instrumental in forming a rebellion against Khan. Course this was made up since Khan clearly spent time down there it's the most likely area he would have seen Chekov. You gotta locve the time frame they used here, imagine if 1996 could truly have creaked a ship like the Botany Bay? Did the 1990's really seem that far off in 1966?
Summary:
Teaser-The Enterprise has located a lost ship in uncharted space. An old Earth vessel dating back to he end of the 20th century. Even stranger they are picking up life signs aboard.
Act 1-Spock has identified the ship as the Botany Bay. The era of the last world war, the Eugenics wars. Scientists attempt to improve the race with genetic breeding. Kirk beams over with Scotty, McCoy and historian Marla McGivers. They find several slots with people in suspended animation. One turns on, and starts to revive the person within. He nearly died before Kirk can open the slot, and the man asks how long he's been asleep. Kirk responds two centuries they estimate.
Act 2-On board the Enterprise McCoy works to keep the stranger alive. His recuperative abilities are amazing. Kirk discusses the amazing find, 72 men and women from the 20th century alive. Spock calls the 1990's a strange violent period in history (did they think the protests of the 60's were gonna last forever?). Earth was on the verge of a dark ages, whole populations were being bombed out of existence (did CNN cover that?). In Sick-Bay the stranger is still recuperating thank to his own physiology. McGives comes in to check on him, and while there Kirk reprimands her for her behavior on the landing party. She admits she made a mistake which Kirk accepts. After Kirk leaves, the stranger awakens. When he hears McCoy he takes a knife off the wall (all these years and I still dont get why that was there). The stranger holds the knife to McCoy's throat, who talks him down. He then summons Kirk to talk to Khan, as he finally reveals his name simply as Khan. He does not give much info but does ask to see their technical manuals. Spock notes how Khan is being thorough going over them. Spock explains the scientists lost control of the tyrants because superior ability's breeds superior ambition. When they were defeated about 90 were unaccounted for. McGivers appears to question Khan but it's clear she is smitten with him. At a dinner in honor of Khan, Spock begins questioning Khan while Kirk watches, something Khan finally calls out. After Khan lets slip a little of their mission, he announces he is fatigued and leaves. Later, when McGivers visits him to apologize he tells her he is planning to take over the ship and needs her help (and I am not doing justice to the scene here). She promises to do whatever he asks.
Act 3-Thanks to their computers they have no recognize Khan as Khan Noonien Singh. From 1992-1996 absolute ruler of more than a quarter of Earth. The last of the tyrants to be overthrown. Kirk posts a guard at his door, and goes to speak to Khan. Khan says how surprised he is to find that man has not changed much aside from technology. And says they will do well in this century. He is superior with his genetic enhancements. After Kirk leaves Khan escapes and gets over to the Botany Bay to revive his people. A little later, the oxygen is cut off from the Bridge as Khan has taken over Engineering.
Act 4-After Kirk passes out Khan gathers the senior staff together and shows that he has put Kirk inside and anti-grav chamber. He says if anyone joins his cause, he will allow Kirk to live. McGivers asks if she can be excused, and then the visual showing Kirk in the chamber is cut off. McGivers then releases Kirk from nearly suffocating to death, and when Spock appears the two work to regain the ship with anesthetic gas. Kirk goes to Engineering to confront Khan, but he is waiting for him. The two struggle (or there stunt doubles do) and Kirk is nearly beaten when he is able to outthink Khan and save the ship from an overload that Khan had started. Later, at a hearing Kirk decides to drop all charged and leave Khan and his followers on the fifth planet in the Ceti Alpha system. A chance to start a that new world he always wanted. Kirk gives McGivers the choice of joining Khan or court martial. She decides to go with Khan, and Spock wonders what seed will spring from Kirk's actions today. Actions that I am sure will have no negative outcome at all in, say, fifteen years.
Final Thoughts:When I said the episode was overrated I was definitely not referring to Montalban. He is amazing here and steals every scene he is in. But there is some silly stuff in here like Kirk allowing Khan to study the tech manuals, or putting only one guard on him even knowing Khan is a super human. McGivers betrayal would have been stronger if she had shown she was a loyal officer in the start rather than being disinterested in even being there. What was up with the whole suffocating on the Bride scene? And the pacing is a tad slow in spots. But overall, the episode is great again because the show finally gave us a worthy adversary for Kirk to face. It's one of the few times Kirk literally almost dies! McCoy and Uhura even get their own badass moments, and that final fight with Khan is excellent. Of course the ending led to an amazing movie years later. Would this episode be so loved if the movie had ever happened? Probably not but I'd bet Montalban's Khan would still be talked about.
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