In 1982, when Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan (WoK) originally premiered in theatres I was only 3 years old. Unfortunately, I didn’t get to see the movie until much later. And it was only recently that I got to enjoy it on the big screen for its 40th anniversary. It was definitely worth the wait.
I’ve always found it odd that Gene Roddenberry hated the second instalment of the franchise so much. I understand his aversion to mixing Trek and violence. I primarily watch Star Trek for the sense of hope and optimism it gives me about the future (even if we humans are currently a long way away from that future). Was there too much violence in WoK? Perhaps, but unfortunately, even in the distant ‘hopeful’ future, you’re still going to find unavoidable conflict.
I didn’t start watching it in earnest until Captain Picard took the reigns of the Enterprise over for a ‘new generation.’ Even though Captain Picard and his Enterprise were my first love, I still had a great appreciation for the original series cast. Especially in their movie adventures.
Growing up a Star Trek geek there was a…how shall I put it..? A rule or I guess maybe a running joke that the even-numbered Trek movies were great and the odd-numbered ones well… weren’t so great.
That proved to be true for me (in my mind anyway) for a good 20 years, until recently when I watched all the movies again for my podcast (There Are Four Hosts!).
I have a much greater appreciation for movies I, III and V now. Perhaps it’s just me, but those movies have actually aged rather well. After watching Wrath of Khan on the big screen this week I was reminded why it quickly became one of my favourite Trek films. It had everything I had come to love about Trek. It had humor, adventure, heart… and most importantly hope.
Wrath of Khan and all the Trek movies for that matter have, at their core, always been about the love and respect the crew has for each other. The bonds that hold them together as a family… through death and life.
Star Trek has always been able to shine a light on our own failings and strengths as a society, and Wrath of Khan continues on with this tradition.
Whether it be ego, pride, arrogance or even friendship, Wrath of Khan puts a magnifying glass up to those emotions and relationships and makes us examine them in our own lives. Whether we want to or not.
One of my favourite scenes in the movie is when Captain Kirk explains how he beat the infamous Kobayashi Maru test. Captain Kirk had never faced ‘the no-win scenario.’ Never faced death. So he changed the conditions of the test so that he could win. In altering the test, he cheated himself of the opportunity to learn a valuable lesson. One that every captain will have to face.
At one point during the movie, after Lieutenant Saavik tries and fails to pass the test she states to Captain Kirk that the conditions of the test were unfair because there was no way to win.
KIRK: A no-win situation is a possibility every commander may face, has that never occurred to you?
SAAVIK: No sir. It has not.
KIRK: And how we deal with death is at least as important as how we deal with life, wouldn’t you say?
SAAVIK: As I indicated sir, that thought had not occurred to me.
By the end of the movie, Spock helps Kirk learn that lesson at the cost of his own life…
Spock fixes the Enterprise’s engines, enabling them to warp away to safety and avoid the Genesis bomb that Khan set in motion for them on the Reliant.
SPOCK: I never took the Kobayashi Maru test until now. What do you think of my solution?
Kirk realizes too late that in cheating the no-win scenario he has cheated himself. He never had to face death. He tells his son David at the end of the movie:
DAVID: Lieutenant Saavik was right: You never have faced death.
KIRK: No. Not like this. I haven’t faced death. I’ve cheated death. I’ve tricked my way out of death and patted myself on the back for my ingenuity. I know nothing.
DAVID: You knew enough to tell Saavik that how we face death is at least as important as how we face life.
KIRK: Just words.
DAVID: But good words. That’s where ideas begin. Maybe you should listen to them. I was wrong about you. And I’m sorry.
KIRK: Is that what you came here to say?
DAVID: Mainly. And also that I’m proud – very proud – to be your son.
Even with the death of his friend, Kirk feels.. young. Feels hope. He lost a dear friend but gained a son.
KIRK: It’s a far, far better thing I do than I have ever done before. A far better resting place that I go to than I have ever known.
CAROL: Is that a poem?
KIRK: No. Something Spock was trying to tell me. On my birthday.
MCCOY: You okay, Jim? How do you feel?
KIRK: Young. I feel young.
Which is the main reason I watch and will continue to watch Star Trek… to feel young.. and hope for the future.
