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Star Trek: Wait, What Happened to Kirk's Brother in the Kelvin Timeline?

A deleted scene from 2009's Star Trek reveals plans to include Captain Kirk's older brother in the Kelvin Timeline.

The 2009 film Star Trek established an alternate, yet parallel timeline to the Prime Star Trek chronology, diverging at the point in time when Nero's ship exits a black hole and engages the Federation ship the U.S.S. Kelvin in battle. This battle claimed the life of James T. Kirk 's father George, setting the iconic protagonist on a slightly different path to growing up into the legendary starship Captain he was destined to become.

Despite this change to the character's origins, it was established in The Original Series that Kirk had an older brother named George Samuel "Sam" Kirk, who worked as a scientist. As Sam would have been born before the arrival of the Narada and its battle with the Kelvin , that would mean that he would most surely exist within the Kelvin timeline . However, there is no mention of Sam Kirk in the 2009 movie, nor in its sequels. Though this at first appears to be an oversight, the filmmakers of the reboot had actually planned to introduce Kirk's older brother and even shot a scene featuring Sam. Let's explore who George Samuel Kirk was in the Prime Timeline and what his scrapped role in the Kelvin Timeline would've consisted of.

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Who is George Samuel Kirk?

George Samuel Kirk made his first and only appearance in an episode of The Original Series   titled "Operation: Annihilate!" In the episode, Captain Kirk is desperate to reach his scientist brother, who lives on the planet Deneva, which is next in line in a pattern of mass insanity. After beaming down to the planet with a landing party, Kirk soon finds the dead body of his brother (played by William Shatner sporting a fake mustache) and beams up his infected sister-in-law Aurelan and nephew Peter.   The crew soon discovers that the planet had been besieged by flying parasites, which soon infect Spock and claim the life of Aurelan. Fortunately, the crew is finally able to defeat the parasites using   ultraviolet light, curing the surviving Denevans, as well as Spock and Peter.

While the episode doesn't focus too heavily on Kirk's emotions related to the death of his brother, it's one of the rare times fans actually see Kirk's family onscreen. However, the choice to kill off almost all of them is a strange one, especially given that in another episode, Kirk fondly recalled a memory of Sam and his family seeing him off on his five-year mission on the Enterprise .

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Where is George in the Kelvin Timeline?

2009's Star Trek  explored Kirk's childhood growing up in rural Iowa, much like his Prime Universe counterpart. An early scene sees the young Kirk stealing his Uncle's car and calling out to a hitchhiking boy named "Johnny" (played by Spencer Daniels) before being chased by police. Though "Johnny" simply seems to be a random acquaintance of Kirk's, a deleted scene shows that he was actually intended to be Sam Kirk.

The cut scene featured Sam as he runs away from the family home after an argument with their Uncle Frank. Young James begs his brother not to leave, but Sam assures him he'll be fine, noting that James has always had good grades and followed orders. The scene ends with James dutifully washing Uncle Frank's car before rebelliously deciding to steal it. This would've led straight into the high-speed chase that was included in the film's final cut.

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Renaming the character "Johnny" was most likely a decision made in editing. After all, Sam was not present on the Kelvin during the opening scene, so it would have been a little confusing to suddenly introduce an older brother out of the blue if they had deleted the prior scene.

So, while Sam Kirk was nearly included within the reboot, his status as part of the official Kelvin Timeline canon is still unclear. That being said, there is still a chance that Sam could be introduced in a future project , perhaps in the long-rumored  fourth installment of the Kelvin film series. If Star Trek has proved one thing throughout its decades-long history, it's that the franchise always finds a way to patch holes in its continuity .

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STRANGE NEW WORLDS – Who is Samuel Kirk?

If there was one thing about Star Trek: Strange New Worlds premiere episode that left us a little shook, it was THAT reveal. And by THAT I mean the arrival of Dan Jeannotte’s ‘George Samuel Kirk’. The series has secretly added the set-to-be recurring character to the crew. Samuel Kirk revealed himself after a surprising ‘bait and switch’ style build-up. Fans will of course have known that James T isn’t the only Kirk, but who is Samuel Kirk?

An unexpected surprise…

The latest Star Trek series kicked off this week with its self-titled first episode ‘Strange New Worlds’. Lt. Samuel Kirk joins the Enterprise crew in the final moments, much to the shock of the audience. I’m sure the first question on many long-time fans’ minds was, does this conflict with canon? And what does it mean for Captain Pike’s crew going forward?

We already know that Strange New Worlds would be giving us Sam’s younger brother James T. Kirk for the second season. Actor Paul Wesley was announced for the role a few months ago after he was spotted filming in Toronto.

The secret of Sam Kirk almost made it to the premier completely unspoiled. That was until an interview with Akiva Goldsman went public the day before the premiere. Regardless, there were many more fans oblivious to the news. And it was quite the reveal, spoiled or not.

Who Is Samuel Kirk?

There’s not a huge amount laid down in on-screen canon for this Kirk brother. George Samuel Kirk only briefly appeared in Star Trek: The Original Series (as a corpse). As well as JJ Abram’s first big-screen Trek outing in 2009.

Samuel Kirk is the older brother of Jim Kirk, according to lore. And it was only Jim who called his brother Sam. However, in Strange New Worlds Pike also uses Sam, implying the pair are very familiar with each other. Pike seems to be an old, family friend and specifically requested this Lt. Kirk for the mission.

Additionally like his Captain, Samuel’s future holds a cruel fate. However, how is he going to work on-screen in Star Trek: Strange New Worlds.

Samuel Kirk’s Star Trek History

When Jim Kirk undertook a new five-year mission, commanding the USS Enterprise, George Samuel Kirk saw him off. It is noted that his wife Aurelan, and their three sons, were also present. Sam would then mention that he wished to be transferred to the Earth Colony II Research Station.

Sam Kirk is a Starfleet Scientist, specifically a research biologist. For Strange New Worlds Sam where’s the blue of the science department, fitting with established lore. How does this affect Spock’s position as a science officer onboard the USS Enterprise under Pike? As Pike says, ‘he’s your boss’.

However, as for Sam’s unfortunate ending? The Original Series episode “Operation — Annihilate! ” sees the death of Sam Kirk and his wife. Flying parasites attack Kirk and his fellow colonists in the colony on Deneva. While his wife, Aurelan Kirk managed to signal for help, Sam would perish. When the USS Enterprise eventually arrived at the colony, Sam Kirk is long dead. As are two of his child, with his wife Aurelan dying shortly thereafter. Only one nephew survived, Peter Kirk.

Behind The Scenes

George Samuel Kirk and his moustache are brought to life by actor Dan Jeannotte, best known for his role in The CW’s Reign and Hallmark’s Good Witch . The actor has done an impressive task of keeping his Strange New Worlds role top secret. Additionally, with the exclusion of Akiva Goldsman’s interview, there wasn’t so much as a hint this character would be included absolutely anywhere.

He’s not the Kirk you wanted — but maybe, if you give him a chance… he could be the Kirk you NEED. #samkirk #startrekstrangenewworlds @startrekonpplus #ohman https://t.co/oOxpUqmPg7 pic.twitter.com/YZuJTgFs4F — Dan Jeannotte (@dan_jeannotte) May 5, 2022

Co-showrunner Henry Alonso Myers recently spoke to Inverse about the character, and how he fits into Strange New Worlds .

“He is very much not his brother,” Myers says. “And that is important. He’s a different person. He comes from a different place. He and Jim Kirk have a complex relationship, that we will eventually learn more about. But, the intention wasn’t to come in and give us little ‘Kirk-lite’ flavor. Sam Kirk is his own man.” Henry Alonso Myers – via Inverse

Alonso’s comments definitely point to Sam Kirk’s inclusion as having a bigger part to play than initially suspected. If you watch the trailers for Star Trek: Strange New Worlds , you should be able to spot him in what we know is several episodes. He is present in what looks to be the away mission for Episode 2 ‘Children of the Comet’. Additionally, I’m almost certain we can hear Sam’s voice in the teaser for the “Ice World” scenes. According to some spoiler-laden reviews, this episode will see some form of action with the Gorn.

He wasn’t the Kirk we were expecting, however, he’s the Kirk we’ve got! For now, anyway, Jim Kirk will make his appearance in season 2. Samuel is now clearly firmly a part of Captain Pike’s crew on the Enterprise. This Kirk may well turn out to be a very interesting addition to the crew, but who Is Samuel Kirk? I guess we have plenty of time to find out in the season ahead!

Star Trek: Strange New Worlds  airs on Thursday, May 5 via Paramount+ in the USA, Australia, Latin America, and the Nordics. Additionally on the CTV Sci-Fi Channel and Crave Streaming in Canada. Plus Voot Select in India, TVNZ in New Zealand, and Cosmote TV in Greece. Additionally, the streaming service will also land in the UK & Ireland on June 22nd, 2022.

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Strange New Worlds Just Borrowed A Key Plot Point From J.J. Abrams' Star Trek And Made It Official Canon

In the latest episode of "Star Trek: Strange New Worlds," called "Lost in Translation," a young James T. Kirk (Paul Wesley) has just been promoted to the position of First Officer on board the U.S.S. Farragut. His brother Samuel (Dan Jeannotte) serves on the U.S.S. Enterprise as an anthropologist. In the canon of "Star Trek," James Kirk did indeed serve as First Officer on the Farragut, although Samuel's fate — as detailed in the episode "Operation — Annihilate!" (April 13, 1967) is far less rosy; he and his family will die at the hands (?) of flying pancake-looking critters that invade his planet-bound colony. 

The Kirks' father is rarely mentioned in "Star Trek." The most explicit reference to the Kirk patriarch — prior to 2009 — came in a production memo regarding the episode "The Conscience of the King" (December 8, 1966) wherein Kirk (William Shatner) didn't merely witness an infamous massacre at the hands of Kodos the Executioner, but that his dad was murdered as well. This idea was abandoned, and the identity of Kirk's father wasn't made known. 

The first time any on-screen mention of Kirk's father came about was in 2009 with the release of J.J. Abrams' "Star Trek." At the start of that film, George Kirk ( Chris Hemsworth ) was serving onboard a ship called the U.S.S. Kelvin when it was damaged by a Romulan vessel flying in through a portal from the future. George Kirk's son James was born in the middle of the conflagration, and George had just enough time to hear his infant son cry over a communication channel before he crashed the Kelvin into the enemy vessel and died. George Kirk's ship gave the alternate Abrams "Star Trek" timeline its commonly accepted name. 

With "Lost in Translation," an element from the Kelvinverse has now become central "Trek" canon. 

Reclaiming canon

"Lost in Translation" sees James Kirk's first visit to the Enterprise. The episode features the Kirk brothers bickering — Sam resents that Jim is so darned ambitious — and Jim meets Uhura (Celia Rose Gooding) and Spock (Ethan Peck) for the first time. Sam and Jim talk a little bit about how Jim's ambitions are a direct result of their Starfleet father, George Samuel Kirk, who once served on board a ship called the Kelvin. 

And with that passing, almost thrown-off line of dialogue, George Kirk has been placed firmly into "Star Trek" canon as having served on board the U.S.S. Kelvin. One might see the reference as a cheeky need for the central "Trek" timeline to reclaim the Kelvinverse for itself. Note, though, that the Abrams "Star Trek" timeline didn't diverge from the traditional "Trek" canon until the Kelvin was destroyed, so George Kirk's career on board would be canonical either way. It's just that in one timeline he survived, and in another, he died. In the original timeline, Kirk's mother Wynona made it back to Earth and gave birth to James in Iowa. Here, Kirk was born in space. 

Of course, Kirk's father has multiple histories, depending on which "Star Trek" novel you decide to pay attention to. Plenty of non-canonical sources have traced careers and personalities around George Kirk. According to the 2015 sourcebook "The Autobiography of James T. Kirk" (the Kelvinverse version of the character), Kirk's father served on board a ship called the U.S.S. Los Angeles before serving on the U.S.S. Kelvin. An early California-class vessel perhaps? Like the ones seen in "Star Trek: Lower Decks" ?

Other George Kirk histories

It has generally been accepted that Kirk's father was named George Samuel, although the details of his life have been changed multiple times over the franchise's long and varied expanded-universe history. In Diane Carey's 1999 novel "Best Destiny,"  a teenage James Kirk has an adventure on the Enterprise with his dad and the ship's captain, Robert April. In that continuity, George Kirk was a Starfleet officer who was frequently away from home. In Joe Haldeman's 1979 novel "World Without End," however, George Kirk was not a Starfleet officer at all, but the mayor of a small Iowa city. In that timeline, George Kirk was an advocate for a return to agrarian life wherein people were to work their own land (and presumably be given the resources to care for farmland).

In the 1989 novel "Final Frontier," also by Carey, it was further posited that George Kirk and Robert April were close friends, and that April asked George to serve on board a brand new experimental starship. In that continuity, George Kirk was the one who suggested it be called the U.S.S. Enterprise. Fatalism! Whee!

William Shatner wrote several "Star Trek" novels himself, detailing a miniature sub-continuity in itself, called the Shatnerverse. In 1997's "The Return,"  George Kirk was described like a company man, always on business trips, but eager to take his sons to museums and theme parks when he was home. The small Kirk recalls looking at the stars with his father, and credited him for wanting to join Starfleet. In Shatner's version of things, there was no familial tragedy or resentment about Kirk's father. 

With "Lost in Translation," though, all other continuities may be cleanly wiped from the map. The U.S.S. Kelvin is real , and George was an officer. Other "official" details will now have to be filled in by the current crop of writers. 

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Published Sep 25, 2023

Why Sam Kirk is the Best Kirk

Don't @- me; these are the facts.

StarTrek.com

While many parts of the web debate which iteration of James T. Kirk is the best Kirk, they all fail to recognize the George Kirks of the universe.

First, there's George Kirk, first officer of the U.S.S. Kelvin , under command of Captain Robau. As noted in " Lost in Translation ," he holds the distinction of the youngest Starfleet officer to hold the first officer position. And in the Kelvin Timeline, he's no short of a hero. As Captain Pike reminds a young James, "Your father was captain of a starship for 12 minutes. He saved 800 lives, including your mother's and yours," before challenging him with, "I dare you to do better."

However, we're here to make the case for George Kirk's first son — George Samuel Kirk .

A Memorable Mustache

Operation -- Annihilate!

Sam Kirk's first and only appearance on the Original Series was in "Operation -- Annihilate!" In that appearance, Kirk discovers his brother and Sam's family perished on a Deneva colony. Portrayed by William Shatner, the only distinction between James and Sam was a magnificent mustache.

Over five decades later, Star Trek: Strange New Worlds gives us a far better glimpse of James' older brother (portrayed by Dan Jeannotte), the first Kirk to serve on the U.S.S. Enterprise , under command of Captain Christopher Pike.

Speaking to StarTrek.com earlier this summer , Henry Alonso Myers, series' co-showrunner and executive producer, revealed, "James’ brother was initially just a one-shot of him being dead with a mustache on [in The Original Series]. We never knew anything more about them except some brief things, in some of the books. We wanted to take a moment, ‘Okay, he’s got a brother. What’s their relationship? Why is their relationship like this? What’s it like to be connected to the two of them?’”

His mustache is distinguished and captivating enough that Captain Pike praises him on it.

Close Friends with Christopher Pike

"A Quality of Mercy"

In the series' premiere, Captain Pike is pulled out of his self-imposed exile to command the U.S.S. Enterprise . His crew is complete with the arrival of Lt. George Samuel Kirk, a friend he elected as part of his crew.

Pike's a man who's a good judge of character. And if Sam's the Kirk he wants aboard the Enterprise , then that's reason enough that he's the Alpha Kirk.

Makes Spock More Human

"Charades"

If there's one surefire way to get Spock in touch with his more human side, it's to place him in the room with Sam Kirk.

One source of annoyance for the Vulcan science officer is bearing witness to Sam's crumbs during a sciences briefing. But can we blame the xenoanthropologist for being more preoccupied with the mission at hand rather than his empty plate?

Sam riles him up so much that his outburst prompts the other officers to hold him back as he attempts to lunge at him while firmly threatening, "Don't test me, Kirk! I will break you."

If you're questioning if Spock could really break Sam, just remember Pike's words to Dr. M'Benga in "All Those Who Wander," Sam is "stronger than he looks."

More than His Family Name

"Lost in Translation"

Not everyone is interested in the role of command, or following down a set path.

In addition to not using his father's name and going by "Sam," a fact that his younger brother refuses to believe, Sam dived full force into the sciences. "Old-fashioned ideas" about a successful career and fulfilling life, be damned.

When Jim visits him on the Enterprise , he can't help but mention how everything in the world of xenoanthropology is "new and exciting" while they catch up over drinks.

In fact, Sam thrives the most when he's in his research lab. When Uhura and Jim investigate what could be the source of her and a Farragut 's officer's mysterious visions, the first person they needed to speak to was the elder Kirk. Deeming it a fringe theory, Sam is completely in his element while explaining the possible behaviors of other species as they attempt to communicate. So much so, he plans to write a paper on their "deuterium friends."

No Thoughts, Just K-Pop Vibes

Star Trek: Strange New Worlds - Make Your Blood Scream (Garkog's Version)

After the Enterprise 's experiences a subspace anomaly that compels everyone to break out in song, Uhura believes she's found an end to the quantum improbability field. In that moment, they've discovered three K’t’inga -class battlecruisers in the area. Hailing the Klingons, they learn that the anomaly's musical effects have reached others outside of just their starship when the Klingons issue a pop-infused threat.

While others on the bridge are perplexed by the scenario, Sam Kirk is vibing, taking in and enjoying the Klingon pop performance. He's clearly a man of exquisite musical tastes.

Studying the Gorn with a Phaser

"Hegemony"

After one tragic run-in with the Gorn , it'd be understood if you never want to face the aggressive species again. However, that's not the case for the xenoanthropologist.

In " Hegemony ," Sam volunteers for a covert mission on Parnassus Beta following a Gorn attack. As the science officer states, he's ready to tackle his fears by “studying” the Gorn — with a phaser.

Unfortunately, Pike's landing party as well as hundreds of survivors on Parnassus Beta were taken and beamed aboard a Gorn destroyer.

Responsible for One of Star Trek 's Most Poignant Friendships

Fans eager to discover James T. Kirk and Spock's first meeting got their wish this summer in "Lost in Translation." What was the common ground that sparked one of the greatest friendships in the galaxy? Their mutual frustration with Sam, of course!

In the Enterprise 's mess, as James tries to explain Sam's outburst to an amused Uhura, Spock finishes the future captain's thought by simply stating that he's "frustrating." It's this mutual understanding that prompts James to invite Spock to join them at their table.

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Kirk family

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The Kirk family farm in 2372 .

The Kirk family ancestry included settlers who pioneered the American frontier in the 19th century , and the Kirks of the early 23rd century rediscovered the impulse for untamed spaces. After his early childhood on Earth , James T. Kirk the son of George Samuel Kirk, Sr. and Winona Kirk was living on Tarsus IV by the age of 13, his brother's family later lived on colonies as well. ( TOS episodes : " Spectre of the Gun ", " The Conscience of the King ", " Operation -- Annihilate! ")

George and Winona's other son George Samuel Kirk, Jr. (called "Sam" only by his brother) was a researcher, hoping to transfer to the Earth Colony 2 research station in 2265 . Sam, along with his wife Aurelan and three sons, joined his younger brother for a farewell visit before the USS Enterprise departed for her five-year mission . It was the last time Jim saw Sam alive. Sam ended up on Deneva , with his wife and son Peter by 2267 . The neural parasites invaded Deneva that year and killed the couple, but Peter survived the attack. ( TOS novel : Enterprise: The First Adventure ; TOS episodes : " What Are Little Girls Made Of? ", " Operation -- Annihilate! ")

Jim Kirk recognized the impact his life in Starfleet had on his family life. In 2287 , while camping with his friends in Yosemite National Park , he referred to himself, Spock , and McCoy , as the only family that men like themselves were likely to have. ( TOS movie : The Final Frontier )

• 1.1 Mirror Universe Family Members
• 1.2 Kelvin timeline Family Members
• 2 Kirk Family Genealogy: Tree
• 3 Kirk Family Genealogy: Gallery

Kirk Family Genealogy: List [ ]

• Abernathy Kirk , a 17th century English politician
• John Claudius Kirk , a 20th century pilot and lieutenant in the United States Army Air Corps during World War II .
• Lieutenant Samuel Abraham Kirk (Federation Starfleet), father of Tiberius.
• Tiberius Kirk , father of James and George Samuel Sr.
• James Kirk , son of Tiberius and Brunhilde.
• George Samuel Kirk, Sr. , father of George Samuel Jr. and James T.
• George Samuel Kirk, Jr. , eldest son of George Samuel Sr. and Winona.
• Alexander Kirk , son of George and Aurelan.
• Julius Kirk , son of George and Aurelan.
• Peter Kirk , son of George and Aurelan.
• Sinjin Kirk , son of Craig.
• Unnamed daughter (possibly Jamie Samantha Kirk )
• David Marcus , son with Carol Marcus .
• unnamed boy, with Miramanee .
• Joseph Kirk , with Teilani .

Mirror Universe Family Members [ ]

• David Marcus (mirror) , son of James and Carol Marcus (mirror) .
• James T. Keeler , son of a time displaced James and Edith Keeler (mirror) .
• George Samuel Kirk, Jr. (mirror) , George Kirk, Jr.'s mirror universe counterpart.

Kelvin timeline Family Members [ ]

• George Samuel Kirk, Sr. , alternate version of George Samuel Kirk Sr., died fighting Nero .
• James T. Kirk , captain of the USS Enterprise (Kelvin timeline NCC-1701) , with a different past and destiny.
• George Samuel Kirk, Jr. , alternate version of George Samuel Kirk Jr.
• Peter Kirk , son of George Jr. and Aurelan Kirk .
• Frank Davis , alternate version of Frank Davis, brother of Winona.

Kirk Family Genealogy: Tree [ ]

Kirk family genealogy: gallery [ ].

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James T. Kirk

James [1] Tiberius [2] Kirk was born in Iowa on Earth [3] [4] on Stardate 1277.1 [1] ( 22 March [4] 2233 [5] ) to Lieutenant Commander George Kirk and Lieutenant Winona Kirk , [6] [4] and named for both his maternal grandfather, James Davis , and his paternal grandfather, Tiberius Kirk . [6] Kirk was raised with his brother in Iowa , [3] though he also accompanied his parents to other planets, such as Tarsus IV , where he was one of only nine eyewitnesses to survive the massacre of half the colony's population by Governor Kodos in 2247 , and he would never forget what he saw. [7] Kirk was a skillful tactician, and was able to beat Spock , a master player himself, at chess, utilizing illogical but successful strategies to win the game. [1]

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• 6 Notes and References

Academy Years

Kirk entered Starfleet Academy in 2250 , at the age of 17. He was a brilliant and dedicated cadet , though some people, including an upperclassman named Finnegan , thought he was too serious and bookish. [8] Kirk was particularly impressed by one of his instructors, a history professor named John Gill , whom he considered one of the kindest and gentlest men he had ever met. [9] Kirk proved himself to be more than just an academic when he was the first cadet to beat the Kobayashi Maru scenario , a test designed to confront aspiring starship captains with a no-win situation. Refusing to accept that there was such a thing, Kirk broke into the Academy’s computer and reprogrammed the scenario so that he could achieve all his goals. Far from being criticized for his behavior, he was commended for original thinking. [10]

Assigned to the U.S.S. Republic NCC-1371 for his cadet cruise in 2254 , Kirk befriended one of his instructors, Lieutenant Ben Finney . The two were close enough that Finney named his daughter Jamie in his honor, but that friendship didn't prevent Kirk from doing his duty. One day, Kirk relieved Finney on watch and discovered that he had left a circuit to the ship’s atomic matter piles open, seriously endangering the ship and the lives of everyone aboard. Kirk closed the circuit and logged the incident. As a result, Finney was reprimanded and moved to the bottom of the promotions list. He failed to accept responsibility for the incident and blamed Kirk, resulting in more than a decade of enmity from the older man. [11] While assigned to the Republic, Kirk was part of a mission to the planet Axanar , where one of his heroes, Captain Garth of Izar , had won a famous victory. Kirk was awarded the Palm Leaf of Axanar for his part in the Republic's mission. [12]

Gary Mitchell ( TOS 02 )

After his tour on the Republic ended, Kirk returned to the Academy, where he became a student tutor. The class he taught earned quite a reputation among other cadets, who knew that in Kirk’s class it was "think or sink." Kirk became friends with one of his students, Gary Mitchell , whom Kirk would later request on his first command. [1] Kirk left a lasting impression on many of his other contemporaries, including R.M. Merrick , who was expelled after failing a psychosimulator test. Years later, Merrick still remembered Kirk as an example of all that was best about Starfleet officers. [13] During his time at Starfleet Academy, Kirk had at least three serious relationships: one with a blonde lab technician, [1] one with Janice Lester , which lasted a year, [14] and one with a beautiful young woman named Ruth . [8] Kirk's relationship with the unnamed lab technician was engineered by Mitchell to distract Kirk, a tough taskmaster whom Mitchell would later describe as "a stack of books with legs," and became so serious that Kirk nearly married her. [1]

Junior Officer

Upon his graduation in 2254 , Kirk was promoted to Lieutenant , and his first posting was the U.S.S. Farragut NCC-1647 under Captain Garrovick . [15] The young Lieutenant Kirk first experienced command when he led a planetary survey party; during this mission he befriended the leader of the local hill people, a man called Tyree . [16] Kirk served aboard the Farragut during the Klingon War , and his experiences caused him to develop an intense dislike for the Klingons . He was horrified by the way the Klingons maintained "order" on occupied planets, by organizing them into vast labor camps, taking and killing hostages and confining the people's leaders. He became convinced that the Klingons were a brutal people who could not be trusted. [17]

In 2257 , Kirk was involved in a serious incident that left him deeply troubled for many years. Near Tycho IV , the Farragut encountered a mysterious and dangerous gaseous entity . Kirk hesitated for a brief moment before firing the ship’s phasers and, when the creature attacked, a third of the crew, including Captain Garrovick, were killed. Although Starfleet found nothing wrong with his actions, Kirk blamed himself for the disaster. [15]

By 2258 , Kirk met Carol Marcus . Their relationship became serious, and in 2259 , Carol became pregnant. [18] Their relationship ultimately came to an end [10] after he was promoted to Lieutenant Commander and first officer of the Farragut. [19] Marcus asked him not to become involved in their child's upbringing, and Kirk respected her wishes. [10] Following his promotion, he briefly shadowed Lieutenant Commander Una Chin-Riley , the first officer of the U.S.S. Enterprise NCC-1701 , who offered advice on how to be an effective first officer. [18] He also met the Enterprise's commanding officer , Christopher Pike at this time, following the latter's temporary [19] promotion to Fleet Captain . [20]

Not long afterward, Kirk became involved with Janet Wallace , an endocrinologist, but their differing career goals pulled them apart. [5] During this period, he was also involved with Areel Shaw , an impressive young lawyer with the Judge Advocate General 's office. The two parted on good terms but didn't see one another for several years. [11] In fact, it seems that Kirk’s dedication to his career made it almost impossible for him to form lasting relationships.

Starship Command

U.S.S. Enterprise NCC-1701 ( TOS 04 )

In 2265 , [21] Kirk assumed command of the U.S.S. Enterprise NCC-1701 from Captain Christopher Pike , [20] becoming the third commanding officer of that vessel, [22] and began what would become an historic Five Year Mission. [1] Kirk excelled as a captain, and his exploits became requred reading at the Academy. [21] Kirk had a relaxed command style and enjoyed a close relationship with his crew. Although Kirk and Finney had never reconciled their differences, Kirk did not object when Finney was assigned to his ship as records officer. [11] Kirk also brought along Gary Mitchell, whom he had requested on his first command. [1]

Kirk was on very good personal terms with many of his officers, who respected and admired him. Occasionally, these relationships verged on romance—Kirk evidently became close with Doctor Helen Noel at a science lab Christmas party — but on the whole he felt it was inappropriate to become romantically involved with another member of his crew. [23] Although Kirk didn’t establish any lasting romances, he did form some of the most important friendships of his life while he was aboard the Enterprise. His first officer, the half- Vulcan Spock , and the ship’s Chief Medical Officer , Doctor Leonard McCoy , became his lifelong friends. [10]

Tactically, Kirk was one of the finest officers who ever served in Starfleet, and he consistently proved himself the equal of many adversaries. Kirk’s many exploits included the discovery of replicable means of time travel , [24] [25] several important conflicts with the Klingon [17] and Romulan Empires [26] (including a mission where he stole a Romulan cloaking device ), [27] the first successful journey across the galactic barrier, [28] and an incident involving the Mirror Universe . [29]

Ben Finney ( TOS 15 )

Kirk and his crew also repelled several attempts to invade Federation space. In 2268 , the Enterprise encountered an automated weapon that had destroyed several planets and crippled the U.S.S. Constellation NCC-1017 . Kirk finally managed to defeat the weapon by setting the Constellation to self-destruct and flying it inside the planet-destroying device. [30] In the same year, Kirk and his crew defeated a massive spaceborne "amoeba" cosmozoan that had destroyed the U.S.S. Intrepid NCC-1631 and threatened Federation space. [31] Kirk also convinced the Kelvans to stop their intergalactic invasion plans. [28] Despite all his achievements, in 2266 Kirk stood trial in a court-martial when he was accused of the murder of Ben Finney. During the trial, it emerged that Finney, who was still obsessed with Kirk, had faked his own death, and Kirk was exonerated. [11]

Kirk endured other hard times during his command. On Stardate 1313.8 , he was forced to kill Gary Mitchell when his friend gained extremely potent psionic powers after passing through the Galactic Barrier , becoming a serious danger to the rest of the crew and the Federation at large. [1] In 2267 , the Enterprise visited Deneva , where Kirk’s older brother, George Samuel Kirk , was working as a research biologist. When the planet was attacked by a race of neural parasites , Sam (as Kirk called him) and his wife Aurelan were killed, and their son Peter barely survived. [32] Fortunately, Sam’s two other sons [33] were not on the planet at the time. [32]

Edith Keeler ( TOS 28 )

Kirk also had a difficult time romantically. In 2267 , he traveled back in time to 1930 and fell in love with Edith Keeler , but was forced to let her die in order to preserve history. [34] In 2268 , Kirk spent several months living among a Native American community when he was stranded on a planetoid with amnesia and went by the name "Kirok." During this time he married a woman named Miramanee , who became pregnant. Shortly after the Enterprise returned to rescue Kirk, she and her unborn child were stoned to death by an angry mob. [35] Later that year, Kirk fell deeply in love with the android Rayna Kapec . He awakened similar feelings in her, but she was unable to cope when asked to choose between Kirk and her creator, the immortal Mr. Flint ; her programming failed, and she died. Kirk was so distressed by her death that Spock took the extreme step of mind-melding with him to remove the painful memories. [36]

If Kirk had a weakness, it was his obsessive devotion to duty. He was extremely hard on himself and felt personally responsible whenever one of the people under his command was killed. He rarely took shore leave, [8] and Dr. McCoy was forced to order him to relax on more than one occasion. He was extremely devoted to his ship, which he looked on as "a lady" who needed his love. [37] Kirk was just as dedicated to the members of his crew, and he disobeyed direct orders on several occasions in order to help officers under his command. For example, in 2266 , he refused to obey Galactic High Commissioner Ferris ' order to abandon the search for a shuttlecraft which had been lost while investigating the Murasaki 312 quasar -like phenomenon. [38] The following year, Kirk disobeyed direct orders from Starfleet Command to attend the inaguration of the president of Altair VI . Instead, he ordered the Enterprise to Vulcan because his science officer, Spock, needed to return there in order to deal with his pon farr . Spock held his captain in such high regard that he asked him to be present at the koon-ut-kal-if-fee ceremony. As a result, Kirk and McCoy (who was also present) became part of a select group of Humans who have had first-hand experience of this aspect of Vulcan culture. [39] In general, Kirk was intolerant of bureaucracy and often described himself as a soldier rather than a diplomat. However, he played an important part in resolving several conflicts, including the conflict between Vendikar and Eminiar VII . [40] He also forced the inhabitants of Ardana to reconsider the divisive social system that forced one group of people to work in the zenite mines while others lived in luxury in the floating city of Stratos . [41]

Fortunately for Kirk, he managed to lay some of his demons to rest during his time aboard the Enterprise. In 2266 , his friend Thomas Leighton , another survivor from Tarsus IV, told him that he believed he had found Kodos , who had assumed the identity of Anton Karidian, a Shakespearean actor. Leighton was murdered shortly after he revealed his suspicions to his friend, but Kirk’s investigations proved that he had been right about Kodos. The fugitive governor died in an accident when his daughter, Lenore , attempted to kill Kirk. [7] Kirk also again encountered the cloud creature that had attacked the Farragut years earlier. The events that followed proved that Kirk’s hesitation in firing on the creature during its attack on the Farragut had made no difference. Kirk eventually managed to destroy the creature with an antimatter bomb. [15]

When the Enterprise's five-year mission ended in 2270 , [21] Kirk was promoted to admiral . [42] He accepted the promotion against the advice of Dr. McCoy, who warned him that he would never be happy unless he was in command of a starship. [10] Kirk recommended that the young Will Decker replace him as captain of the Enterprise, which had just begun a major refit shortly after its return to Earth. [42]

As an admiral, Kirk became Chief of Starfleet Operations . McCoy's prediction about Kirk's happiness proved right; everyone could see that the admiral was frustrated and unhappy with his desk job. When the Federation was threatened by V'Ger in 2273 , Kirk grabbed the opportunity to return to the field. In his obsession to regain command of a starship and save the Federation, Kirk was less than sensitive to the needs of the people around him: in order to resume command of the newly refitted Enterprise, Kirk demoted Decker and assumed personal control of the mission. He also forcibly reactivated Dr. McCoy's commission. Although Kirk's actions may suggest that he was insensitive and egotistical, he was proved right. Under his command, the crew of the Enterprise persuaded V'Ger to abandon its attack on Earth. Decker and the ship’s navigator, Ilia, were lost in the mission. [42]

After the V'Ger threat had passed, Kirk remained in command of the Enterprise and began a new five-year mission of deep space exploration. This mission ended in 2278 , and Kirk decided to retire from Starfleet five years later in 2282 . During his retirement, Kirk fell in love with a woman named Antonia , whom he met at his uncle’s farm in Idaho . They lived together in a beautiful mountain cabin, but Kirk was clearly not satisfied. In 2284 , he returned to Starfleet against her wishes and their relationship ended. [43] On his return to active duty, Kirk took up a post as the Commandant of Starfleet Academy, moving into an apartment in San Francisco so that he could be near his work. By this time, his closest friend, Spock, who had been promoted to captain, was also working as an instructor at the Academy and as Captain of the Enterprise, which was now a cadet training vessel. [10]

David Marcus ( ST02 )

By 2285 , Kirk was beginning to feel his age. Even though he had chosen to return to Starfleet, he did not feel that he was young enough to return to the bridge of a starship and, despite Dr. McCoy's advice, he refused to request a command of his own, telling his friend that "galloping around the cosmos is a game for the young." Kirk took the Enterprise on a cadet training mission. At the same time, the genetically engineered Human Augment , Khan Noonien Singh , took control of the U.S.S. Reliant NCC-1864 , determined to wreak revenge on Kirk, who had left him on Ceti Alpha V in 2267 . The Reliant had been assigned to the Genesis Project , led by Dr. Carol Marcus and Dr. David Marcus, the son she had with Kirk. Khan learned about the project and used it to lure Kirk into a battle near Regula 1 , where the Marcuses were based. Although Khan inflicted serious damage on the Enterprise, Kirk's greater experience triumphed and he outfought the Reliant in a tense battle in the Mutara Nebula . At the end of the battle, the Genesis Device was activated, creating a new planet. The mission had a great personal cost for Kirk: Spock was killed by radiation exposure when he repaired the Enterprise's warp engines . The Vulcan was given a burial in space, with Kirk providing the eulogy. Spock’s body came to rest on the newly-formed Genesis Planet . [10]

When the Enterprise returned to Spacedock, Admiral Morrow informed Kirk that the decision had been made to retire the badly damaged ship. Still grieving for his friend, Kirk found it extremely difficult to accept that his ship and crew could be treated in such a way. The same day, Spock’s father, Ambassador Sarek , visited Kirk and asked him to recover Spock’s body from the Genesis Planet and return it to Vulcan. Although Kirk and Spock were extremely close, the Vulcan had not told his friend many details about life on Vulcan. Sarek explained that before they die, Vulcans mind meld with one of their most trusted companions and entrust them with their katra , or soul, which is then taken back to Vulcan with their body. Kirk learned that although Spock had been unable to mind meld with him, he did manage to place his katra in Dr. McCoy’s mind. Demonstrating typical loyalty to his crew, Kirk asked Morrow for permission to return to the Genesis Planet to retrieve Spock’s body, but the admiral refused. Genesis had become the focus of a diplomatic furor, and Starfleet Command had placed the planet off-limits to everyone except essential personnel. Effectively, this meant that the only people allowed to visit the planet were the crew of the U.S.S. Grissom NCC-623 , which included David Marcus. This prompted Kirk to make a momentous decision: he disobeyed orders and, with the aid of the Enterprise's senior staff, stole his old ship and went to Genesis. When the Enterprise arrived, the crew discovered that the Grissom had been destroyed by a group of Klingons, and that only Lieutenant Saavik and Dr. Marcus had been left alive on the planet's surface. The damaged and undermanned Enterprise was no match for the Klingon ship, and Kirk was powerless when David was killed by the Klingons. Once again Kirk was faced with apparently insurmountable odds. In a desperate move, he tricked most of the Klingons into boarding the Enterprise, which he destroyed, killing them. Kirk and his staff narrowly escaped the destruction of the Genesis Planet after it became unstable; they managed to retrieve Spock’s body, which had been rejuvenated by the Genesis effect, and took control of the nearly-deserted Klingon Bird of Prey . They then took Spock to Vulcan, where his katra and body were reunited. [44] The death of Kirk's son had a profound effect on him and further hardened his attitude toward the Klingons. He had never had much respect for the Klingon Empire , but he was now convinced that the Klingons, as a whole, were little better than animals. [45]

Kirk returned to Earth to face the consequences of his actions. However, before he could arrive, Earth was "attacked" by a mysterious probe . Kirk saved Earth by traveling back in time and retrieving two humpback whales from the 20th century . When he returned, nearly all charges were dropped, and he was reduced in rank for disobeying orders. A captain once again, he was placed in command of the U.S.S. Enterprise NCC-1701-A . Kirk was delighted to be back on the bridge of a starship and gratefully accepted the position. [3]

A New Enterprise

After a shakedown and refit, this new Enterprise entered service and was sent to deal with a disturbance on Nimbus III on 8454.1 . When they arrived, Spock’s renegade half-brother Sybok took control of the ship and headed for the Great Barrier at the center of the galaxy . The Enterprise was the first Federation vessel to pass through the barrier, and on the other side, the crew met a malevolent entity who claimed to be God . Sybok was killed, but Kirk defeated the entity and returned to normal space. [46]

In 2293 , Kirk, now sixty years old, was nearing retirement once again when he and the Enterprise were assigned to escort the Klingon Chancellor , Gorkon , to vital peace talks with the Federation. Initially, Kirk, who blamed the Klingons for his son’s death, was unwilling to accept the assignment. The Klingon Empire was on the verge of collapse and he felt it would be better to let it die. However, Starfleet Command wanted to send someone who had been known as an enemy of the Klingons to show how serious they were about peace. Despite Kirk’s feelings, he and Dr. McCoy beamed over to Gorkon’s ship to offer assistance when it was attacked, seemingly by the Enterprise, but the chancellor was assassinated. They were arrested for Gorkon’s murder and sentenced to life imprisonment on Rura Penthe , but they escaped, and Kirk was instrumental in exposing a plot to disrupt peace negotiations with the Klingon Empire. Kirk was deeply impressed by Azetbur , Gorkon’s daughter and the newly-named chancellor, who insisted on pursuing peace negotiations with the Federation even after her father’s death. He realized that his attitude regarding the Klingons was not entirely fair, and recognized that he had been guilty of prejudice. [45]

The following year, Kirk was an honored guest at the launch of the newly commissioned U.S.S. Enterprise NCC-1701-B . When the ship responded to a distress call from two transports loaded with El-Aurian refugees he made essential modifications to the ship’s deflector, but was lost and presumed dead. Kirk was actually transported to an unusual region outside normal space-time known as the Nexus . While there, he lived an idyllic existence unaffected by the passage of time. The Nexus provided Kirk with an "ideal" reality. In it, he "returned" to the period in the 2280s when he left Starfleet. He was once again living in his mountain cabin and had the opportunity to stay with Antonia rather than return to Starfleet. Kirk left the Nexus when Captain Jean-Luc Picard from 2371 persuaded him to help fight Dr. Tolian Soran , who in one timeline had caused the deaths of hundreds of millions of lives in order to return to the Nexus himself. Kirk was more than willing to leave because he realized that, although the Nexus appeared idyllic, nothing in it mattered and his life there lacked the passion and the sense of adventure that had been so important to him throughout his life. Kirk was killed on Veridian III , foiling Soran’s scheme and altering the timeline so that hundreds of millions of lives on Veridian IV were saved. However, because of the unusual properties of the Nexus, it is not entirely clear whether or not Kirk is still there, outside the passage of normal time. [43]

James T. Kirk ( TOS 02 )

James T. Kirk ( TOS 03 )

James T. Kirk ( TOS 04 )

Transporter duplicate of James T. Kirk ( TOS 05 )

James T. Kirk ( TOS 06 )

Notes and References

• ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 1.6 1.7 1.8 Roddenberry, Gene (Executive Producer). "Where No Man Has Gone Before" . Star Trek , season 1, episode 3 (Production number 02). Directed by James Goldstone . Written by Samuel A. Peeples . Desilu Productions . 22 September 1966 .
• ↑ Scheimer, Lou & Norm Prescott (Producers). "Albatross" . Star Trek: The Animated Series , season 2, episode 4 (Production number 18). Directed by Bill Reed . Written by Dario Finelli . Filmation Associates . 28 September 1974 .
• ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 Bannett, Harve (Producer). Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home . Directed by Leonard Nimoy . Story by Leonard Nimoy and Harve Bennett . Screenplay by Steve Meerson & Peter Krikes and Harve Bennett & Nicholas Meyer . Paramount Pictures . 26 November 1986 .
• ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 " A Quality of Mercy ." Star Trek: Strange New Worlds , Season 1, Episode 10 (Production 10). 7 Jul 2022 .
• ↑ 5.0 5.1 Roddenberry, Gene ( Executive Producer ). "The Deadly Years." Star Trek , Season 2, Episode 11. Directed by Joseph Pevney . Written by David P. Harmon . Desilu Productions , 8 December 1967.
• ↑ 6.0 6.1 Abrams, J.J. & Damon Lindelof (Producers). Star Trek . Directed by J.J. Abrams . Written by Roberto Orci & Alex Kurtzman . Paramount Pictures . 8 May 2009 .
• ↑ 7.0 7.1 Roddenberry, Gene ( Executive Producer ). "The Conscience of the King." Star Trek , Season 1, Episode 13 (Production 13). Directed by Gerd Oswald . Written by Barry Trivers . Desilu Productions , 8 December 1966 .
• ↑ 8.0 8.1 8.2 Roddenberry, Gene ( Executive Producer ). "Shore Leave." Star Trek , Season 1, Episode 15 (Production 17). Directed by Robert Sparr . Written by Theodore Sturgeon . Desilu Productions , 29 December 1966 .
• ↑ Roddenberry, Gene ( Executive Producer ). "Patterns of Force." Star Trek , Season 2, Episode 23. Directed by Vincent McEveety . Written by John Meredyth Lucas . Desilu Productions , 16 February 1968.
• ↑ 10.0 10.1 10.2 10.3 10.4 10.5 10.6 Salin, Robert (Producer). Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan . Directed by Nicholas Meyer . Story by Harve Bennett and Jack B. Sowards . Screenplay by Nicholas Meyer (Uncredited). Paramount Pictures . 4 June 1982 .
• ↑ 11.0 11.1 11.2 11.3 Roddenberry, Gene ( Executive Producer ). "Court Martial." Star Trek , Season 1, Episode 20 (Production 15). Directed by Marc Daniels . Story by Don M. Mankiewicz . Teleplay by Don M. Mankiewicz and Steven W. Carabatsos (Teleplay). Desilu Productions , 2 February 1967 .
• ↑ Roddenberry, Gene ( Executive Producer ) and Freiberger, Fred ( Producer ). "Whom Gods Destroy." Star Trek , Season 3, Episode 16. Directed by Herb Wallerstein . Story by Jerry Sohl & Lee Erwin . Teleplay by Lee Erwin . Paramount Pictures Corporation , 3 January 1969.
• ↑ Roddenberry, Gene ( Executive Producer ). "Bread and Circuses." Star Trek , Season 2, Episode 14. Directed by Ralph Senensky . Written by Gene Roddenberry and Gene L. Coon . Desilu Productions , 15 March 1968.
• ↑ Roddenberry, Gene ( Executive Producer / Story ) and Freiberger, Fred ( Producer ). "Turnabout Intruder." Star Trek , Season 3, Episode 24. Directed by Herb Wallerstein . Teleplay by Arthur Singer . Paramount Pictures Corporation , 3 June 1969.
• ↑ 15.0 15.1 15.2 Roddenberry, Gene ( Executive Producer ). "Obsession." Star Trek , Season 2, Episode 18. Directed by Ralph Senensky . Written by Art Wallace . Desilu Productions , 15 December 1967.
• ↑ Roddenberry, Gene ( Executive Producer / Teleplay ). "A Private Little War." Star Trek , Season 2, Episode 16. Directed by Marc Daniels . Story by Jud Crucis . Desilu Productions , 2 February 1968.
• ↑ 17.0 17.1 Roddenberry, Gene ( Executive Producer ). "Errand of Mercy." Star Trek , Season 1, Episode 26 (Production 27). Directed by John Newland . Written by Gene L. Coon . Desilu Productions , 23 March 1967 .
• ↑ 18.0 18.1 " Subspace Rhapsody ." Star Trek: Strange New Worlds , season 2, episode 9 (Production 19). CBS Entertainment . 3 August 2023 .
• ↑ 19.0 19.1 " Lost in Translation ." Star Trek: Strange New Worlds , Season 2, Episode 6 (Production 16). CBS Entertainment . 20 July 2023 .
• ↑ 20.0 20.1 Roddenberry, Gene ( Executive Producer ). "The Menagerie, Part I." Star Trek , Season 1, Episode 11 (Production 16). Directed by Marc Daniels and Robert Butler . Written by Gene Roddenberry . Desilu Productions , 17 November 1966 .
• ↑ 21.0 21.1 21.2 Berman, Rick & Biller, Kenneth ( Executive Producers ). " Q2 ." Star Trek: Voyager , Season 7, Episode 19. Directed by LeVar Burton . Story by Kenneth Biller . Teleplay by Robert Doherty . Paramount Pictures Corporation , 11 April 2001.
• ↑ Scheimer, Lou & Norm Prescott (Producers). "How Sharper Than a Serpent's Tooth" . Star Trek: The Animated Series , season 2, episode 5 (Production number 21). Directed by Bill Reed . Written by Russell Bates & David Wise . Filmation Associates . 5 October 1974 .
• ↑ Roddenberry, Gene (Executive Producer). "Dagger of the Mind" . Star Trek , season 1, episode 9 (Production number 11). Directed by Vincent McEveety . Written by S. Bar-David . Desilu Productions . 3 November 1966 .
• ↑ Roddenberry, Gene (Executive Producer). "The Naked Time" . Star Trek , season 1, episode 4 (Production number 07). Directed by Marc Daniels . Written by John D.F. Black . Desilu Productions . 29 September 1966 .
• ↑ Roddenberry, Gene ( Executive Producer ). "Tomorrow is Yesterday." Star Trek , Season 1, Episode 19 (Production 21). Directed by Michael O'Herlihy . Written by D.C. Fontana . Desilu Productions , 26 January 1967 .
• ↑ Roddenberry, Gene (Executive Producer). "Balance of Terror" . Star Trek , season 1, episode 14 (Production number 09). Directed by Vincent McEveety . Written by Paul Schneider . Desilu Productions . 15 December 1966 .
• ↑ Roddenberry, Gene ( Executive Producer ) and Freiberger, Fred ( Producer ). "The Enterprise Incident." Star Trek , Season 3, Episode 4. Directed by John Meredyth Lucas . Written by D.C. Fontana . Paramount Pictures Corporation , 27 September 1968.
• ↑ 28.0 28.1 Roddenberry, Gene ( Executive Producer ). "By Any Other Name." Star Trek , Season 2, Episode 21. Directed by Marc Daniels . Story by Jerome Bixby Teleplay by Jerome Bixby & D.C. Fontana . Desilu Productions , 23 February 1968.
• ↑ Roddenberry, Gene ( Executive Producer ). "Mirror, Mirror." Star Trek , Season 2, Episode 10. Directed by Marc Daniels . Written by Jerome Bixby . Desilu Productions , 6 October 1967.
• ↑ Roddenberry, Gene ( Executive Producer ). "The Doomsday Machine." Star Trek , Season 2, Episode 6. Directed by Marc Daniels . Written by Norman Spinrad . Desilu Productions , 20 October 1967.
• ↑ Roddenberry, Gene ( Executive Producer ). "The Immunity Syndrome." Star Trek , Season 2, Episode 19. Directed by Joseph Pevney . Written by Robert Sabaroff . Desilu Productions , 19 January 1968.
• ↑ 32.0 32.1 Roddenberry, Gene ( Executive Producer ). "Operation -- Annihilate!." Star Trek , Season 1, Episode 29 (Production 29). Directed by Herschel Daugherty . Written by Steven W. Carabatsos . Desilu Productions , 13 April 1967 .
• ↑ Roddenberry, Gene (Executive Producer). "What Are Little Girls Made Of?" . Star Trek , season 1, episode 7 (Production number 10). Directed by James Goldstone . Written by Robert Bloch . Desilu Productions . 20 October 1966 .
• ↑ Roddenberry, Gene ( Executive Producer ). "The City on the Edge of Forever." Star Trek , Season 1, Episode 28 (Production 28). Directed by Joseph Pevney . Written by Harlan Ellison . Desilu Productions , 6 April 1967 .
• ↑ Roddenberry, Gene ( Executive Producer ) and Freiberger, Fred ( Producer ). "The Paradise Syndrome." Star Trek , Season 3, Episode 3. Directed by Jud Taylor . Written by Margaret Armen . Paramount Pictures Corporation , 4 October 1968.
• ↑ Roddenberry, Gene ( Executive Producer ) and Freiberger, Fred ( Producer ). "Requiem for Methuselah." Star Trek , Season 3, Episode 21. Directed by Murray Golden . Written by Jerome Bixby . Paramount Pictures Corporation , 14 February 1969.
• ↑ Roddenberry, Gene ( Executive Producer ). "This Side of Paradise." Star Trek , Season 1, Episode 24 (Production 25). Directed by Ralph Senensky . Story by Nathan Butler . Teleplay by Nathan Butler & D.C. Fontana . Desilu Productions , 2 March 1967 .
• ↑ Roddenberry, Gene ( Executive Producer ). "The Galileo Seven." Star Trek , Season 1, Episode 16 (Production 14). Directed by Robert Gist . Story by Oliver Crawford Teleplay by Oliver Crawford & S. Bar-David . Desilu Productions , 5 January 1967 .
• ↑ Roddenberry, Gene ( Executive Producer ). "Amok Time." Star Trek , Season 2, Episode 5. Directed by Joseph Pevney . Written by Theodore Sturgeon . Desilu Productions , 15 September 1967.
• ↑ Roddenberry, Gene ( Executive Producer ). "A Taste of Armageddon." Star Trek , Season 1, Episode 23 (Production 23). Directed by Joseph Pevney . Written by Robert Hamner (Story and Teleplay) and Gene L. Coon (Teleplay). Desilu Productions , 23 February 1967 .
• ↑ Roddenberry, Gene ( Executive Producer ) and Freiberger, Fred ( Producer ). "The Cloud Minders." Star Trek , Season 3, Episode 19. Directed by Jud Taylor . Story by David Gerrold and Oliver Crawford . Teleplay by Margaret Armen . Paramount Pictures Corporation , 28 February 1969.
• ↑ 42.0 42.1 42.2 Roddenberry, Gene (Producer). Star Trek: The Motion Picture . Directed by Robert Wise . Story by Alan Dean Foster . Screenplay by Harold Livingston . Paramount Pictures . 7 December 1979 .
• ↑ 43.0 43.1 Berman, Rick (Producer). Star Trek: Generations . Directed by David Carson . Story by Rick Berman & Ronald D. Moore & Brannon Braga . Screenplay by Ronald D. Moore & Brannon Braga . Paramount Pictures . 18 November 1994 .
• ↑ Bennett, Harve (Producer). Star Trek III: The Search for Spock . Directed by Leonard Nimoy . Written by Harve Bennett . Paramount Pictures . 1 June 1984 .
• ↑ 45.0 45.1 Jaffe, Steven-Charles & Ralph Winter (Producers). Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country . Directed by Nicholas Meyer . Story by Leonard Nimoy and Lawrence Konner & Mark Rosenthal . Screenplay by Nicholas Meyer & Denny Martin Flinn . Paramount Pictures . 6 December 1991 .
• ↑ Bennett, Harve (Producer). Star Trek V: The Final Frontier . Directed by William Shatner . Story by William Shatner & Harve Bennett & David Loughery . Screenplay by David Loughery . Paramount Pictures . 9 June 1989 .
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Here's What the Recent 'Big Brother' Winners Have Been Up To

These 'Big Brother' winners have been busy since leaving the house.

Big Brother season 25 came to an end in November when Jag Bains was crowned the winner of the milestone season. Throughout his time competing on the show, he proved himself to be a strong competitor both physically and socially . Jag adds to the long list of competition beasts that have also won a season of Big Brother.

First premiering in 2000, there have been a lot of players to compete inside the Big Brother house over the years but only 25 of them have walked away a winner. There is no doubt that Big Brother is one of the most grueling reality TV competitions . In addition to the draining physical competitions, these players have to be cut off from the real world for up to 100 days. Therefore, it takes a lot of physical and mental strength to excel in this game, which makes the large cash prize worth it.

Big Brother

11 jag bains, winner of season 25.

The most recent player to win a season of Big Brother is Jag Bains . During his time competing on the show, Jag worked closely with both Matt Klotz and Bowie Jane Ball . Jag also made Big Brother history by becoming the first ever Sikh-Punjabi player to win the game, as well as for having the most Power of Veto wins in one season. Although it has only been two months since his big win, Jag has been keeping quite busy. He has reunited with his former “ Mafia ” alliance members on numerous occasions and even rung in the new year with them when they hosted an event at a club in Canada. Jag has also spent some much-needed time with his family, who he is very close with.

While many past Big Brother winners start working with brands following their time inside the famous house, Jag has yet to secure his first endorsement. In November, Jag was honored on the field at a University of Washington football game, which is where he graduated from. Jag has also made it a point to make time for charity work. At Thanksgiving, the season 25 winner worked closely with the fundraiser Christmas & Holiday Baskets to help local families in need. He was also a guest speaker at a Special Olympics event. Most recently, Jag has let his musical talents shine as he shared a video of him singing in a recording studio, according to his Instagram account.

10 Taylor Hale

Winner of season 24.

Another Big Brother winner to make history was Taylor Hale . When Taylor secured the $750K grand prize during season 24, she became the first African-American female to do so . Additionally, Taylor was the first player to ever win the season as well as America’s Favorite Player. In December, Taylor returned to the Big Brother house to compete in the show’s brand-new spin-off, Big Brother Reindeer Games . She ultimately came in second place in the holiday rendition of the competition.

Taylor’s career took off after leaving the Big Brother house as a winner. According to her Instagram page, she has been given the opportunity to work with numerous brands. Additionally, Taylor has secured a job as a host for Entertainment Tonight . In fact, she got to interview Jag, along with some of the other season 25 houseguests, following the conclusion of the season. Unfortunately, not long after her time inside the Big Brother house came to an end, she and her showmance partner turned real-life boyfriend, Joseph Abdin , called it quits on their relationship. The two have, however, remained friends.

9 Xavier Prather

Winner of season 23.

After being a part of one of the most historic alliances in Big Brother history, " The Cookout ", Xavier Prather became the first African-American winner of the show. Similar to Taylor, the season 23 winner also competed in Big Brother: Reindeer Games this past December, during which he came in fourth place. Additionally, Xavier also competed in the first season of The Challenge: USA .

Despite winning $750K, Xavier still works as an attorney; however, he has also dabbled in some modeling as well, In August 2023, Xavier was a keynote speaker at the Wisconsin IT Symposium. Following his time away competing inside the Big Brother house, Xavier found himself in a new relationship with his now fiancé, Kenzie Hansen . Xavier proposed to Kenzie in Grand Rapids, Michigan back in May 2023. It is unclear when the two plan on tying the knot.

8 Cody Calafiore

Winner of season 22.

Competition beast and Big Brother legend , Cody Calafiore , became a winner his second time competing on the show. Cody first entered the Big Brother house in 2014 when he came in second place in season 16. He later returned for the All-Star season in 2020, during which he took home the grand prize. In January 2023, Cody competed in the brand-new reality show, The Traitors . Most recently, Cody also competed in Big Brother: Reindeer Games . To the surprise of many fans, Cody was one of the first players eliminated from the game.

After securing the large cash prize at the conclusion of the All-Star season, Cody used some of his earnings to buy an engagement ring for his now fiancé Cristie Laratta . Cody got down on one knee in October 2022. This past June, Cody competed in the TST 7v7 inaugural soccer tournament. One of Cody’s main focuses has been his podcast with season 16 winner and fellow " Hitman " alliance member Derrick Levasseur . The two started the Winners Circle Podcast in 2021 after Cody too became a winner. They use the platform to discuss seasons of Big Brother as they are taking place, as well as to interview past players.

7 Jackson Michie

Winner of season 21.

One of the most controversial players to ever win Big Brother is season 21’s Jackson Michie . Despite winning, Jackson was disliked by many fans for allegedly making racist remarks while competing inside the house. Needless to say, Jackson has not been asked to return to the famous house like many of the other past winners have.

Luckily, Jackson has seemingly bettered his life since fans watched him compete on the show in 2019. J ackson has been working on his physical, mental and spiritual health by taking the time to focus on working out as well as practicing and preaching his religious beliefs. Following the conclusion of the season, he and his showmance partner turned real life girlfriend, Holly Allen , went through a messy breakup. He later began dating his now wife, Caitlin Michie . Jackson got down on one knee in March 2023 before the couple later tied the knot in July of the same year.

6 Kaycee Clark

Winner of season 20.

Another former winner that has yet to make a second appearance inside the Big Brother house is season 20 winner Kaycee Clark . Although her time competing on Big Brother was seemingly one and done, Kaycee did go on to compete on MTV ’s The Challenge . Kaycee was on five seasons of the show. Of the four seasons, Kaycee was a finalist in three of them, winning one.

Currently residing in Arizona, Kaycee works as a personal development and fitness coach. Like many of the other former winners, Kaycee too went on to find love. In September 2023, Kaycee and her then girlfriend Nany Carmen got engaged in Thailand. Being an alum of The Real World: Las Vegas , Nany too competed on The Challenge alongside Kaycee.

5 Josh Martinez

Winner of season 19.

Known for his loudness and crying, Josh Martinez holds the title of winner of Big Brother 19. After becoming $500K richer, Josh continued his reality TV career. He went on to compete on five seasons of MTV ’s The Challenge and also competed on The Challenge: USA season 2. Most recently, Josh returned to the Big Brother house for Big Brother: Reindeer Games .

In addition to continuing his reality TV career on these other shows, Josh has also done a ton of traveling since his Big Brother win. He has visited places such as Greece, Costa Rica, Amsterdam, Mexico and more. When Josh isn’t traveling or competing on a reality TV show, he is working on his physical physique inside the gym. This is no surprise considering how strong Josh has proved himself to be in some of the competitions he has endured over the years.

4 Nicole Franzel

Winner of season 18.

One of the best female Big Brother players to ever compete on the show was season 18’s winner, Nicole Franzel . This was Nicole’s second time on the show. She first entered the game during season 16, before returning and ultimately winning two summers later. Nicole then returned yet again for the All-Star season in 2020, during which she came in third place. Most recently, Nicole became the first ever winner of Big Brother: Reindeer Games .

Following her win in 2016, Nicole began dating her now husband and fellow Big Brother 18 alum Victor Arroyo . The couple competed together on The Amazing Race in 2019, during which they came in fourth place. Nicole and Victor tied the knot in March 2021 before later welcoming their first child into the world in July of the same year. Since then, Nicole has become a stay-at-home mom while also launching her own boutique called Franny & The Fox .

3 Steve Moses

Winner of season 17.

One of the more quiet former Big Brother winners is season 17’s Steve Moses . 31, Unlike most past Big Brother players and winners, Steve has a small following of just over 2,000 followers on Instagram . He also rarely posts on social media. Additionally, Steve did not go on to compete in any other reality show .

According to his Twitter account, which he is much more active on than Instagram, Steve is a small business owner; however, it is unclear what the business is. Not much else has been revealed after Moses' time in the Big Brother house.

2 Derrick Levasseur

Winner of season 16.

One of the best and most strategic players to ever win the show was season 16’s Derrick Levasseur. As previously mentioned, Derrick has since started a podcast with fellow Hitman alliance member Cody Calafiore. Since competing on the show, Derrick has stepped away from the police force and started his own private investigation group.

He has also started his own true-crime podcast in addition to his podcast with Cody. Above all else, Derrick’s main priority is his family. Derrick has been married to his wife Jana for over 10 years, and the happy couple has two daughters.

1 Andy Herren

Winner of season 15.

10 years ago, Andy Herren was crowned the winner of Big Brother 15 . After his big win, Andy resumed his career as a teacher for a few years. According to ET , he returned to Chicago where he previously taught and went on to teach a course on reality TV at Columbia College.

He later left his teaching career to become a full-time dog walker. Andy is also quite active on social media and will often live-tweet seasons of Big Brother as well as other big pop culture events. Andy is fully immersed in the Big Brother universe, and he has certainly staked his claim as one of the most beloved houseguests in the history of the series.

Sources: Jag Bains / Instagram, Taylor Hale / Instagram, Xavier Prather / Instagram, Cody Calafiore / Instagram, Jackson Michie / Instagram, Kaycee Clark / Instagram, Josh Martinez / Instagram, Nicole Franzel / Instagram, Steve Moses / Instagram, Steve Moses / Twitter, Derrick Levasseur / Instagram, ET .

Season 25 of Big Brother and Big Brother Reindeer Games are both available for streaming on Paramount+.

Watch on Paramount+

KEEP READING: The 10 Best 'Big Brother' Winners, Ranked

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Star Trek's Best Character Has A Secret Tie To James Bond

Posted: April 26, 2024 | Last updated: April 28, 2024

Star Trek’s Best Character Has A Secret Tie To James Bond

In Star Trek: The Next Generation, Picard is a very serious captain, but he does have some unconventional ways of blowing off steam. For example, he was fond of the fictional 20th-century Dixon Hill novels in which the titular detective conducts investigations in one noir-style chapter after another. Picard likes to recreate the investigations in the holodeck, but that’s not the real surprise: the shocking thing is that Star Trek writers changed this detective’s name from “Dixon Steele” because they thought Picard’s detective sounded too much like Remington Steele, the successful show starring James Bond star Pierce Brosnan.

The Big Goodbye

This strange Star Trek tale goes all the way back to the first season TNG episode “The Big Goodbye.” Picard recreates a Dixon Hill investigation on the holodeck and is joined by both Dr. Crusher Data for what is meant to be a campy adventure filled with film-noir tropes. However, in what would become a major Star Trek tradition, our characters get trapped inside the holodeck with the safety protocols turned off and must play their fictional characters perfectly in what has now become a life-or-death struggle.

Homages To Film Noir

What might seem obvious (at least, if you’ve watched enough old movies) is that this episode is filled with homages to film noir, which is why it calls back to such cinematic classics as The Maltese Falcon. Originally, screenwriter Tracy Tormé wanted Trek’s fictional detective to be named “Dixon Steele” because that was the name of the lead character in his favorite Humphrey Bogart movie, In a Lonely Place. An homage to Bogart wasn’t a problem, but the Star Trek writers ultimately changed the name because it closely resembled the title of a popular show featuring future Pierce Brosnan, who would later famously play James Bond.

Remington Steele

Before he brought everyone’s favorite British spy to life on the big screen, Pierce Brosnan became a household name thanks to the success of his TV show Remington Steele. That show had a very cheeky premise: when a female private investigator had trouble finding clients due to general misogyny (it was even more abundant than cocaine back in the ‘80s), she developed a fictional male investigator named Remington Steele. You guessed it: Pierce Brosnan (who plays a con man as charming as he is conniving) embodies this persona, and he and the real investigator begin a professional partnership that eventually turns romantic.

The Name Change Made Sense

Captain Picard’s favorite fictional detective would have had the name Dixon Steele if not for the success of that other ‘80s show featuring one of the best James Bond actors. The similarities in the names Remington Steele and Dixon Steele were bad enough, but there was also the matter of the similar premise. Remington Steele was a popular show featuring a private investigator, and that show ended the same year (1987) that TNG premiered, so audience comparisons between it and the name of a private investigator on Star Trek would have been inevitable.

Our Man Bashir

While the Star Trek writers were hesitant to draw connections between Picard’s favorite detective and Pierce Brosnan’s hit show, they later had no problem heavily referencing James Bond. In the Deep Space Nine episode “Our Man Bashir,” we find out that the station’s doctor doesn’t like to play detective…instead, he enjoys a holosuite game where he is a debonair secret agent in the vein of James Bond. Less than two years after this episode premiered, Pierce Brosnan would make his debut as 007 in Goldeneye, ushering in a new golden age for a franchise that had stalled out after the disappointing box office of 1989’s Licence to Kill.

The Picard show may have ended, but weirdly enough, the franchise is very likely to channel James Bond yet again even without this Dixon Hill superfan. We don’t yet know the plot of the upcoming Section 31 movie featuring Oscar winner Michelle Yeoh, but there’s a good chance we’ll see her engaging in secret agent antics as she tries to keep her activities hidden from other Starfleet personnel. If we’re really lucky, we’ll get at least one instance of Yeoh introducing herself to a character by saying “The name’s Georgiou…Philippa Georgiou.” 

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• Starfleet command personnel
• USS Enterprise (NCC-1701) personnel (alternate reality)
• USS Enterprise (NCC-1701-A) personnel (alternate reality)

James T. Kirk (alternate reality)

• View history

James Tiberius "Jim" Kirk was a 23rd century Human Starfleet officer . As a Starfleet cadet , he was instrumental in the defeat and death of Nero , a Romulan bent on the obliteration of the entire United Federation of Planets . As a result, he was commissioned directly to the rank of captain and appointed as commanding officer of the service's flagship , the USS Enterprise . ( Star Trek )

A year later in 2259 , Kirk faced Khan , an enhanced Human from the late 20th century with superior strength and intellect. However, the crew of the Enterprise managed to stop him, following the sacrifice of Kirk. Spock managed to capture Khan with the help of Uhura and Dr. McCoy managed to revive Kirk. Afterwards in 2260 , the Enterprise set out on the first five-year mission . ( Star Trek Into Darkness )

In 2263 , during its five-year mission, the Enterprise was destroyed by Swarm ships , led by Krall , stranding the crew on Altamid . The crew and Jaylah , who was also stranded by Krall, later managed to leave the planet after repairing the USS Franklin , a ship commanded by Balthazar M. Edison that went missing in 2164 . Kirk and his crew traveled to Starbase Yorktown and stopped revenge plans put into motion by Krall, who was revealed to be Edison. Afterwards, Kirk was given command of the USS Enterprise -A and continued his five-year mission. ( Star Trek Beyond )

• 1 Early history
• 2.1.1 Stowaway
• 2.1.2 First officer
• 2.1.3 Marooned on Delta Vega
• 2.1.4 Acting captain
• 2.2.1 Year One
• 2.2.2.1 Demotion
• 2.2.2.2 Pursuing "John Harrison"
• 2.2.2.3 Qo'noS
• 2.2.2.4 Uncovering a conspiracy
• 2.2.2.5 Death and resurrection
• 2.2.3.1 In the vastness of space
• 2.2.3.2 Loss of the Enterprise
• 2.2.3.3 Altamid
• 2.2.3.4 Saving Yorktown
• 2.3.1 Continuing the five-year mission
• 3.1.1 Spock
• 3.1.2 Leonard McCoy
• 3.1.3 Nyota Uhura
• 3.1.4 Christopher Pike
• 3.1.5 Montgomery Scott
• 3.1.6 Hikaru Sulu
• 3.1.7 Pavel Chekov
• 3.2.2 Khan Noonien Singh
• 3.2.3 Alexander Marcus
• 3.2.4 Krall
• 3.3.1 Gaila
• 3.3.2 Christine Chapel
• 3.3.3 Caitian twins
• 3.3.4 Carol Marcus
• 4 Awards and honors
• 5 Key dates
• 6.1 Catch phrases
• 7.1 Appearances
• 7.2 Background information
• 7.3 Apocrypha
• 7.4 External links

Early history [ ]

Kirk moments after his birth

James Tiberius ("Jim") Kirk was the descendant of pioneers of the American frontier during the late 19th century . ( TOS : " Spectre of the Gun ") He was also the youngest brother of George Samuel Kirk . ( SNW : " Tomorrow and Tomorrow and Tomorrow ")

The second son of Starfleet officer George Kirk – first officer of the USS Kelvin – and his wife Winona Kirk , he was born on January 4th , 2233 aboard the Kelvin 's medical shuttle no. 37 , in the midst of an unprovoked attack on the Kelvin by the Narada , a 24th century Romulan mining vessel commanded by Nero .

Winona had been evacuated from the severely crippled Kelvin , along with the rest of the crew, and gave birth to James while George Kirk died piloting the Kelvin into the Narada in a kamikaze attack . The young Kirk was named James Tiberius after Winona's father and George's father , respectively.

James T. Kirk as a child

Jim was raised in Iowa , in Midwestern North America , on Earth . His mother remarried. As a young boy, Jim had a somewhat rebellious streak in him as he once, for example, stole his stepfather 's 1965 Chevy Corvette convertible, drove it recklessly, got into a high speed chase with local police, then nearly died when he barely managed to jump out, as he drove the car into a quarry . As he grew up, he had little sense of purpose and by 2255 , he was an aimless rebel who had found himself on the wrong side of the law on more than one occasion. ( Star Trek )

When Kirk was a boy, Winona told James that George had owned a PX70 motorcycle . According to Winona, George often put Winona on the back of the vehicle and it drove her nuts. ( Star Trek Beyond )

Kirk after the bar fight

While visiting a bar near the Riverside Shipyard in 2255 , an inebriated Jim met and began flirting with a Starfleet cadet named Nyota Uhura . Although annoyed by Jim's advances, Uhura was surprised that Jim knew what was involved in the study of xenolinguistics . Moments later, the twenty-two year-old Jim Kirk engaged in a bar fight with three male cadets, including Hendorff , who were irritated at his cocky attitude and the attention he was giving Uhura.

He was ultimately overwhelmed by the cadets until Captain Christopher Pike broke up the fight. Pike, who had written his dissertation on the USS Kelvin and was familiar with Jim's story, pushed the young man to challenge himself and reach the greater potential he was capable of achieving, calling him "the only genius-level repeat offender in the Midwest".

Pike tried to persuade him to join Starfleet , firmly believing he could do more with himself than get into bar fights and break all the laws in the state of Iowa. Kirk laughed at the idea of joining Starfleet, but Pike reassured him that, with his "off-the-chart" aptitude, he could make captain and have his own ship in only eight years. He reminded him that his father had saved eight-hundred lives, including Jim's and his mother's, and dared young Kirk to do better.

Kirk on his bike – just before enlisting in Starfleet

Soon after their conversation, and to the surprise of Pike, Jim decided to enlist with the intent of completing the Academy training in three years. He rode onto the shipyard, gave his bike to a construction worker , and boarded a shuttle for new recruits heading to Starfleet Academy . It was on his trip to the Academy where he first met and befriended Doctor Leonard McCoy .

Starfleet career [ ]

Starfleet academy [ ].

During his time at the academy, Kirk would learn of Captain Balthazar Edison and the USS Franklin , the first ship capable of Warp 4. ( Star Trek Beyond )

Kirk in Cadet's dress uniform in 2258

Kirk and McCoy became close friends at the Academy, though Kirk frequently exasperated McCoy with his maverick nature. Kirk had an eye for attractive female cadets and he once ended up in the dormitory of an Orion female cadet named Gaila . He was caught and hid under the bed when her roommate, Cadet Uhura, arrived unexpectedly. On discovering him, she angrily threw him out.

It was at the Academy that Kirk also met Commander Spock . Kirk had failed the Kobayashi Maru examination twice but decided to take it a third time, being sure that he would succeed. He eventually managed to cheat the test and won. Spock, who programmed the "no-win scenario", later investigated the matter.

While discussing his cheating ways with head of the Starfleet Academy Board Admiral Richard Barnett , Kirk argued that the test itself was a cheat, and stated that he didn't believe in the no-win scenario. Kirk asked to face his accuser, and Spock stepped up. This was the first time the two met, and they clashed over their differences.

James T. Kirk at the Academy board inquiry regarding his recent conduct

Kirk and Spock continued to engage in a heated argument (the accused becoming particularly agitated when Spock suggested that, "of all people", George Kirk's son should recognize the no-win scenario), until the hearing was suddenly interrupted after Starfleet received a distress call from Vulcan .

Stowaway [ ]

Kirk warns Pike and Spock of what awaits the Enterprise

Many of the cadets were called into action after the news but Kirk – who had been suspended because of his recent academic dishonesty charges – was not allowed to join. McCoy, however, was able to get him aboard the Enterprise by injecting him with a vaccine that temporarily rendered him sick so he could be transferred to the ship on medical grounds.

Kirk tried telling Captain Pike and Spock about Nero's attack and his trap, and with the help of McCoy and Uhura, he was able to convince Pike about the trap. Pike raised the Enterprise 's shields as they entered the Vulcan system, only to find a massive debris field of destroyed Federation starships having been attacked by Nero.

As Pike was en route to a shuttlecraft to negotiate with Nero, he appointed Kirk as acting first officer under acting captain Spock and volunteered Kirk to disable the Narada 's drill platform .

First officer [ ]

Kirk space-jumps onto the Narada 's drill platform

Along with Chief Engineer Olson and Lieutenant Hikaru Sulu , Kirk skydived onto the platform. Olson was vaporized by the drill, leaving only Kirk and Sulu to disable it. Facing off against two of Nero's crew, Kirk and Sulu eventually killed both of their adversaries before destroying the platform, but not in time to prevent Nero from successfully completing his plan to destroy the planet Vulcan.

Before returning to the Enterprise , Sulu fell off the drill platform and began plummeting toward the surface of Vulcan. Kirk jumped off the platform to save him. After intercepting Sulu, Kirk had the helmsman pull his parachute, but it was knocked off, leaving them both in freefall. However, Ensign Pavel Chekov managed to compensate for Vulcan's gravitational pull and beamed both of them on board.

Kirk attempted to dissuade Commander Spock from a rendezvous with the rest of Starfleet at the Laurentian system . He urged him to go after the Narada as the ship left for Earth, rather than waste time trying to gather additional forces in the opposite direction, but Spock was relentless. When Kirk became more and more heated in his objections, Spock finally ordered Kirk's removal from the bridge , knocked him out and threw him off the ship in an escape pod .

Kirk's rank

Marooned on Delta Vega [ ]

Kirk marooned on Delta Vega

Kirk landed on Delta Vega , some fourteen kilometers away from a Starfleet outpost. Despite an inhospitable environment, he left his escape pod and soon was chased by an indigenous animal which was dispatched by an even larger predatory creature . When Kirk fled into a nearby cave, the creature was scared away by an elderly Vulcan man, who revealed himself to be Spock from a future timeline .

Though Kirk initially dismissed this as "bullshit", he changed his mind when the old man demonstrated his knowledge of Nero. The elderly Spock revealed to Kirk through a mind meld Nero's intentions, also telling him that in his timeline, Kirk was the captain of the USS Enterprise . Understanding that their only hope was to have the Enterprise pursue the Narada instead of returning to the fleet, they realized that they had to get the other Spock to step down from command.

Spock mind-melds with Kirk

Fortunately, while the Enterprise had long since left the system, Spock was aware that one of the officers at the nearby outpost was Montgomery Scott , who, in his universe , had devised a way to beam onto a ship at warp speeds . After Spock gave Scott his own equations a century ahead of schedule, Kirk was advised by Spock, before Kirk and Scott were beamed onto the Enterprise , that he needed to elicit an emotional reaction from the young Spock so that everyone could see that he was emotionally compromised and unfit for command; according to the elderly Spock, the only way to defeat Nero was for Jim to take command of the ship himself.

Acting captain [ ]

Kirk takes command of the Enterprise

Following the advice of Ambassador Spock, Kirk goaded Spock with assertions that Spock cared nothing for what had happened to Vulcan or the death of his mother , whom he accused Spock of never having loved. The last remark did the job and Spock violently attacked Kirk, nearly to the point of killing him, before Sarek stepped in and stopped him. Following Spock immediately relinquishing command. Kirk, as acting first officer, took command and ordered pursuit course of the Narada to Earth.

Kirk later beamed onto the Narada with Spock, who deferred to Kirk as captain. After an intense firefight in which they killed several Romulans, they made it to the elder Spock's ship . Upon being identified as its pilot, Spock quickly realized exactly who Kirk's unknown benefactor had been. Leaving Spock to secure the ship, Kirk went to retrieve Captain Pike.

Kirk leaps away from Romulans aboard the Narada

In searching for the captain, he encountered Nero and his first officer, Ayel . Kirk was quickly overpowered by the pair of Romulans, but when Nero, after boasting that he would kill Kirk just like he had with his father, discovered that Spock had destroyed the drill, he furiously returned to the bridge.

Initially, Kirk was no match for Ayel either, but the Romulan was overconfident and was too busy mocking his "weak" victim to notice the theft of his disruptor . Offered the chance to speak, Kirk's "last words" were " I got your gun! " and Kirk shot the Romulan Ayel point-blank in the chest. Kirk then retrieved Pike, who repaid his savior by grabbing the stolen disruptor and gunning down two Romulans walking in on the escape.

Against Spock's advice once again, Kirk decided to give Nero and his remaining crew a chance to beam to the Enterprise and surrender. After Nero strongly declined, Kirk decided to fire all weapons, and the Narada was finally destroyed in a massive black hole created by red matter it was carrying. The Enterprise was nearly destroyed as well, but Kirk had Scott eject the ship's multiple warp cores and detonate them, creating a blast wave strong enough to push the Enterprise out of danger.

Commanding the USS Enterprise [ ]

Year one [ ].

Kirk takes the Enterprise out as her new captain

Upon his return to Earth, Kirk was commissioned as an officer in the United Federation of Planets Starfleet with the serial number SC937-0176CEC . ( Star Trek Beyond ) He was commended and officially appointed as captain of the Enterprise by Admiral Barnett for his actions, which demonstrated his ability as an extremely able commanding officer fully capable of leading a Federation starship crew in the most dire of situations.

Dressed in his new captain's uniform, Kirk took command of the Enterprise . Commander Spock arrived and requested the permanent post as Kirk's first officer, which Kirk was honored to accept. He sat down in his chair and, officially as captain of the Enterprise , led his crew and ship to another adventure. ( Star Trek )

Year Two [ ]

Demotion [ ].

" Do you have any idea what a pain in the ass you are? "

A year later , Kirk violated the Prime Directive on Nibiru , saving Spock's life from a cold fusion device detonation inside a volcano . During the rescue, the Enterprise was exposed to the primitive Nibirans , who began worshiping the ship as a god. Returning to Earth, Pike informed Kirk the Admiralty headed by Alexander Marcus would be sending him back to the Academy, and that perhaps he had been promoted too soon. That night, Kirk drowned his sorrows in a bar, when Pike appeared to reveal he had convinced Marcus to let him appoint Kirk his first officer, because he still had faith in the young man. As a result, however, Kirk was demoted to the rank of commander rather than captain.

Pursuing "John Harrison" [ ]

The two then attended a summit, in the Daystrom Conference Room at Starfleet Headquarters , regarding the bombing of the Kelvin Memorial Archive in London . Marcus ordered a manhunt for the perpetrator, a rogue commander named John Harrison . Kirk analyzed surveillance of Harrison at the debris site, and questioned why Harrison bombed an archive for the information he needed. Kirk then realized Harrison would be aware protocol dictated such an attack would precipitate meetings like these: Harrison then showed up in a jumpship and opened fire.

Kirk firing a phaser rifle

Kirk wrapped a fire hose around a rifle and threw it into the jumpship 's engine, causing it to crash. Before it did, Kirk saw Harrison glaring at him and then beaming himself away. Kirk returned to the conference room to find Spock with Pike, who had died of a chest wound, and mourned his friend's death.

The next morning, Kirk was notified by Scott that Harrison had used a portable transwarp beaming device to escape to Qo'noS , the homeworld of the Klingon Empire . Kirk informed Marcus, who explained the Archive had actually been a Section 31 facility, which Harrison had needed to steal the beaming device from. Marcus reinstated Kirk's command and rank as captain, giving him permission to hunt down and execute Harrison, and allowed him to reinstate Spock as his first officer.

To execute Harrison, Marcus gave the Enterprise seventy-two advanced long-range torpedoes to bombard Harrison's location from orbit, and assigned weapons expert Carol Wallace to the Enterprise . At a hangar, McCoy expressed his belief that Harrison was out of Kirk's league, while Spock protested executing Harrison without trial was immoral. Aboard the Enterprise , Scott protested about not being allowed to examine the torpedoes, and not having time to examine the ship's warp core, which was new but faulty. Kirk accepted Scott and Keenser's resignation, and appointed Chekov to replace Scott. Dejected, Kirk decided to listen to Spock and Scott's advice, and announced they would find Harrison and bring him back for a tribunal.

Kirk pilots the confiscated K'normian ship at Kronos

Before reaching Qo'noS, the Enterprise 's warp core broke down, so Kirk took an away team with Spock, Uhura, and Hendorff, disguised as K'normian arms dealers, to find Harrison in a K'normian trading ship .

Shortly after acting captain Sulu sent a targeted comm burst from the Enterprise to Harrison's location, Kirk's ship was attacked by a Klingon patrol, and despite maneuvering it through a narrowing gate, the away team found themselves surrounded. Kirk allowed Uhura to exit the ship and negotiate with the Klingons in their native language , but they refused to listen and tried to kill her. Before Kirk and Spock could come out firing phasers, Harrison appeared and single-handedly killed all the Klingons. Kirk accepted Harrison's surrender, but spitefully punched him, only to find his continuous blows had no effect on him.

Uncovering a conspiracy [ ]

Kirk and Spock confront a captured John Harrison in 2259

In the ship's brig , Kirk and Spock interrogated Harrison while Bones took a blood sample, which he studied by injecting into a dead tribble . Harrison only responded by giving Kirk a set of coordinates, and advised the captain to open one of the torpedoes. Spock informed Kirk that Wallace could examine the torpedoes, and also told the captain that he had learned she was actually Admiral Marcus' daughter, a fact Spock had chosen to reveal at that precise point because he felt the information had just become relevant. Kirk also called Scott via a communicator and asked him to investigate the coordinates.

McCoy and Carol Marcus took a shuttle to a meteor to examine a torpedo, but McCoy accidentally activated the countdown and trapped his hand in the device. Kirk ordered to beam them up, but was warned by Spock that beaming up McCoy would also beam up an exploding torpedo. Fortunately, Kirk avoided losing his friend when Carol deactivated the device with less than three seconds to spare. The torpedo finally opened up, and the two officers found it contained a man in cryogenic stasis .

Admiral Marcus dresses down Kirk over the viewscreen

Kirk interrogated Harrison again, who explained he had placed people in torpedoes to smuggle them before he was caught. He revealed he was actually the infamous Khan Noonien Singh, recruited by Admiral Marcus under a new identity to design weaponry and ships for war against the Klingons, and that the frozen people were his fellow Augments , whom the admiral had held hostage. Marcus suddenly showed up in a Dreadnought -class ship, the USS Vengeance , demanding Kirk hand over Harrison. Kirk revealed he knew the truth, and defied the admiral by having Sulu warp the Enterprise back to Earth, where Khan would stand trial and expose the conspiracy. However, the Vengeance was capable of catching up with the Enterprise in subspace and fired on the ship, halting it as it arrived near Earth and the planet's moon .

After Carol tried to bargain with her father but was simply beamed by him over to his ship, Kirk tried to hand himself over to protect his own crew, but Marcus explained he had no intention of letting anyone in on the plot survive. Before the Vengeance could finish off the Enterprise , its weaponry suddenly deactivated. Scott called Kirk, explaining he had stowed away aboard the Vengeance at the coordinates given by Khan, buying them some time. Kirk, realizing Khan had designed the ship, allied himself with him, and the two donned thruster suits to fly over and commandeer the vessel. Khan's formidable strength was an asset in dispatching any guards they encountered, but Kirk was suspicious of Khan's motives and ordered Scott to shoot him unconscious later.

Kirk, Scotty, and Khan run through the corridors of the Vengeance

When they reached the bridge, Kirk confronted Marcus over his betrayal of Starfleet's ideals. However, Scott's attempt to stun Khan did not affect him, and the Augment tackled Scott and Kirk before proceeding to kill Marcus and take the command chair . Khan ordered Spock to hand over the torpedoes, which he complied with, and in return he beamed Kirk, Scott, and Carol into the Enterprise brig .

Khan then turned on Spock, bombarding the Enterprise once more. Spock, who had the cryopods removed from the torpedoes, ordered them to be detonated, severely crippling the Vengeance ; the shockwave caused both ships to be pulled by Earth's gravity. Kirk and Scott ran to the warp core, trying to avoid falling to their deaths due to the Enterprise 's failing artificial gravity .

Death and resurrection [ ]

The death of James Kirk

Once they reached the Enterprise 's warp core, Scott warned entering it would flood the chamber with radiation, but as there was no time to put on a containment suit, Kirk knocked out Scott and secured him with a seat belt before entering the warp core. Kirk knocked the central component back in place, restoring power to the engines and preventing the Enterprise from crashing.

Meanwhile, Khan crashed the Vengeance into Starfleet Headquarters in San Francisco . Scott woke up and called Spock to come to the area outside the warp core chamber, where Spock saw Jim dying from radiation poisoning . Jim bid goodbye to his friend, displaying the Vulcan salute with his hand on a glass door, then died. He heard the voices of his father, mother and Pike as he neared death.

Following decontamination, Kirk was taken to the Enterprise 's medbay, where McCoy and others silently mourned the loss of their captain. McCoy noticed the tribble he had injected with Khan's blood had come back to life, and realizing how to save Kirk's life, ordered his body be placed in a cryotube to preserve his brain functions. Spock and Uhura beamed down and apprehended Khan, enabling McCoy to create a serum from Khan's blood, which resurrected Kirk. However, the effects of the serum left Kirk unconscious for two weeks, after which he awoke in Starfleet Medical and was greeted by McCoy and Spock.

The five-year mission [ ]

Kirk giving his speech

Nearly a year after his death and resurrection, Kirk presided over the rechristening ceremony of the Enterprise and a memorial service to those who lost their lives in terrorist acts committed by Khan, before setting off on Starfleet's first five-year mission . ( Star Trek Into Darkness )

In the vastness of space [ ]

Three years later , Kirk was helping to negotiate peace between the Teenaxi Delegation and the Fibonan Republic , working as a neutral representative by presenting the Teenaxi with a dismantled weapon as a token of peace. Suspicious of the Fibonans, the Teenaxi attacked Kirk – though due to their diminutive stature, Kirk was mostly unharmed and was quickly beamed back to the Enterprise by Scotty.

Kirk and McCoy remember George Kirk in 2263

In his captain's log following the mission, Kirk expressed his frustrations with life aboard the Enterprise this far into its mission, stating he felt as though life had become "episodic." Near his thirtieth birthday , Kirk confided in McCoy over a drink, divulging that he now questioned his own motives for having joined Starfleet, as he had done so on Pike's dare, rather than because of a strong belief in the organization on his own behalf. Kirk was further upset by the fact that he would be turning one year older than George had been at the time of his death.

Due to these frustrations, Kirk applied for a promotion , seeking the position of vice admiral at Starbase Yorktown , when the Enterprise docked there for resupply.

Loss of the Enterprise [ ]

Kirk commands the Enterprise in battle at Altamid

After Kalara arrived at Yorktown and claimed her ship had crashed on planet Altamid in the Necro Cloud , Kirk volunteered the Enterprise for a mission to rescue the survivors. Once the craft traversed the unstable nebula, a massive cluster of unidentified ships was detected, approaching the Enterprise . Kirk quickly realized something was amiss and raised the shields before the oncoming Swarm ships began to dismantle the Enterprise , causing multiple hull breaches and severing the nacelles.

Kirk discovered the enemy was seeking the weapon he had tried to present to the Teenaxi, so he gave the artifact to Ensign Syl before the leader of the Swarm , Krall , could steal it. Realizing the ship's destruction was imminent, Kirk ordered the Enterprise crew to abandon ship. Kirk then attempted to execute a saucer separation , so the saucer section could safely land on the surface of Altamid. Kirk, however, ran into Krall and the two fought, but Uhura finally managed to sever the saucer section, sending Kirk to the surface of the nearby planet.

Altamid [ ]

Witnessing the crash of the Enterprise on Altamid

On the planet's surface, Kirk landed near where Chekov and Kalara also landed. Furious, Kirk confronted Kalara, realizing she had known the Enterprise would be attacked. She revealed Krall had kidnapped her crew and threatened to kill those personnel, unless she helped. Realizing they needed to locate the rest of the survivors from the Enterprise , the three went to the site where the vessel's saucer section had crashed, and they scanned for crewmembers there.

Kirk went to where he claimed to have left the weapon but was attacked by Kalara, who revealed she had been working for Krall all along and proceeded to contact him to let him know she had the weapon. Kirk, however, deceived her, having Chekov trace her communication to Krall. They were both attacked by his troops but escaped by activating the Enterprise thrusters, causing an explosion which in turn killed Kalara and thrust Kirk and Chekov through the air as they made their getaway.

The next morning, Kirk and Chekov walked into one of multiple traps prepared by Jaylah , a scavenger who was living on the planet, but they were freed after Scotty told her they were friends of his. Jaylah revealed she had made the wreckage of a 22nd century Federation starship – the USS Franklin – her home and, using the scanners, Kirk was able to locate Spock and McCoy, and beam them to the ship before Krall's drones were able to kill them.

Kirk helped treat an injured Spock, while he revealed that the weapon had come from Altamid. Using the trace from Kalara's communication and pinpointing it with a Vulcan amulet Spock had given Uhura, Kirk's team was able to learn the exact location of their former shipmates and formulate a plan to not only rescue them but also stop Krall before he attacked Yorktown.

Kirk saves the Enterprise crew on one of the Franklin 's motorcycles

Using a motorcycle from the Franklin and holographic technology from Jaylah, Kirk managed to distract Krall so that Spock and Jaylah were able to escape with the rest of the surviving Starfleet officers. Once they were all aboard the Franklin , Kirk, at the last second, managed to rescue Jaylah and get her back to the ship. While Krall left for Yorktown, Kirk and the crew followed on the Franklin .

Saving Yorktown [ ]

Kirk and the rest of the senior staff from the Enterprise , onboard the Franklin

When they arrived at Yorktown, Krall had nearly penetrated the base's defenses. Spock and Scotty realized they had to disrupt the communications between the drones in order to prevent the attack. As a result, Kirk ordered McCoy and Spock to transport onto one of the ships, in order to hack into the Swarm's frequency using a music player from the Franklin . They sent out a classical song over the frequency, rendering the drones unable to cooperate with each other and causing the destruction of all but three of the ships, one of which was being flown by Krall.

The Franklin pursued his ship into the base and was able to block Krall's attack, causing him to crash into the Franklin , presumably killing him. Kirk searched the ship with Uhura, for confirmation, but during the search, Uhura discovered a recording of the original Franklin crew and deduced from the footage that the captain of the ship, Balthazar Edison, was Krall. By looking at his file, they discovered he had been a soldier who fought during the Xindi and the Romulan Wars , after which he had been given command of the Franklin . He had slowly started to despise the Federation's views and had slowly gone insane in the century after the ship went missing.

" I think you're underestimating Humanity. "

Scotty and Jaylah realized that Edison was going to release the weapon in the base's ventilation system, killing the base's inhabitants. Confronting the now-disfigured Edison in the ventilation hub, Kirk revealed to him that he knew who he was. Kirk also tried to persuade Edison that he was underestimating humanity and that the Federation was a cause of good.

While the hub lost gravity, Kirk fought Edison, seized the bioweapon from him, and attempted to eject it into space by opening an airlock . Kirk was attempting to open it when Edison regained his strength; he continued to fight Kirk but was ultimately ejected into space with the weapon, which then killed him. Kirk was nearly sucked out as well but was spared by the timely rescue of Spock and McCoy. Kirk and Commodore Paris then closed files on the Franklin 's late crew.

Commanding the USS Enterprise -A [ ]

Continuing the five-year mission [ ].

Kirk, McCoy and Spock watch the Enterprise -A under construction

Having gained a new insight into himself and his motives in the confrontation with Krall, Kirk declined the promotion to vice admiral and decided to remain the commanding officer of the Enterprise . Some time later, while the crew was on shore leave at Yorktown, the crew surprised Kirk with a birthday celebration at which he and his crew looked out onto the construction of the brand new USS Enterprise -A . After its completion, Kirk and the crew of the Enterprise -A resumed their five-year mission. ( Star Trek Beyond )

Relationships [ ]

Friendships [ ].

Kirk and Spock on the bridge of the Enterprise

Kirk initially had a largely antagonistic relationship with Spock , mainly due to their vastly different philosophies and approaches to command. The frictions began first at Starfleet Academy, when Kirk cheated on the Kobayashi Maru test Spock had designed.

The discord between Kirk and Spock continued when the disparate pair worked side by side on the USS Enterprise and Kirk was put in charge as second in command by Captain Pike. Tensions between the two culminated in Spock throwing Kirk off the ship altogether.

However, their attitudes towards each other softened after Kirk had an encounter with an older version of Spock from an alternate future, who revealed that in fact the two had shared a great friendship in his timeline. Upon returning to the Enterprise , Kirk goaded Spock into revealing his emotional instability. Kirk, as a result, was nearly killed by a raging Spock before the latter did exactly as Kirk wanted and stepped down, putting Kirk in charge of the ship. Once Spock had regained emotional equilibrium, Kirk insisted on teaming up with Spock on an away mission to the Narada and Spock deferred to Kirk's command.

Kirk and Spock in the cockpit of the Jellyfish

From then on, the two worked as a team to stop Nero and rescue Pike, with Spock trusting Kirk to watch his back and even calling him "Jim" at one point. After Spock learned how important their friendship was from Spock Prime, Kirk happily accepted an offer from Spock to serve as the Enterprise 's first officer. ( Star Trek )

Kirk and Spock share a moment of friendship before Kirk's apparent death

A year later , Kirk fell out with Spock because Spock filed the mission report that caused Kirk's demotion, although Kirk's actions leading to this decision had been done to save Spock's life; Spock was more concerned with fulfilling Starfleet regulations than with sentimental notions, though he was relieved that Kirk was just demoted and not more severely punished. When split up, Kirk told Spock he'd miss him but this left Spock speechless, which somewhat annoyed Kirk.

However, Kirk wanted Spock reinstated as his first officer after Pike's death. Kirk later explained to Spock that the reason he had saved Spock's life was that he had come to see Spock as a friend (The real reason Kirk covered up his violation was most likely to protect Spock from the consequences). By this point, Spock had come to return the sentiment and was so upset by Kirk's impending death that he lost his temper and nearly killed Khan in revenge, until he learned that Khan's blood would save Kirk. Kirk and Spock also realized they each had handled the situation in the way the other would: Kirk sacrificed himself for the greater good, whereas Spock used unorthodox tactics to defeat the enemy. ( Star Trek Into Darkness )

Nine hundred and sixty-six days into their five-year mission, both Kirk and Spock wished to leave the Enterprise – Kirk because he believed he needed stability to figure out who he truly was, and Spock because he wanted to leave Starfleet altogether and move to New Vulcan to help his species. After Spock saved Kirk's life, though, Kirk questioned what he himself would do without Spock as an ally, Kirk coming to the realization that he needed Spock.

Whereas Spock chose to remain in Starfleet, Kirk took back his application to vice admiral on Starbase Yorktown in order to remain on the Enterprise . The two were also shown to retain an amicable relationship and understanding of each other. Notably, while Kirk didn't want Spock on the away team to rescue the Enterprise crewmembers as he was injured, Spock requested to go as Uhura was amongst those trapped. While telling Kirk this, Spock once more called him "Jim" and Kirk agreed to let him go. ( Star Trek Beyond )

Leonard McCoy [ ]

Bones and Kirk as Starfleet cadets

Kirk and McCoy met on the transport shuttle Bardeen , which was headed to Starfleet Academy. The pair found themselves in adjacent seats where a slightly neurotic McCoy instantly opened up to the rebellious and somewhat incredulous Kirk. The two remained good friends throughout their time together at the Academy. Kirk began calling McCoy the nickname of " Bones " as the doctor had informed him when they first met that his ex-wife took everything in their divorce ; all he had left was his bones.

When the time came, McCoy always had Kirk's back, such as helping him get aboard the Enterprise after his suspension and berating Spock for throwing Kirk off the ship and marooning him on Delta Vega . Despite this, McCoy berated him for forcing Spock to resign command and responded with "you gotta be kidding me!" when he learned Kirk was first officer and thus the one to take command. ( Star Trek )

A year later, McCoy accompanied Kirk to Nibiru and they both ran away from the planet's angry natives when Kirk stole their sacred scroll. They both jumped off of a cliff into the ocean during the pursuit and swam to the Enterprise , much to McCoy's chagrin. Later, after Kirk was caught in John's Harrison's attack on Starfleet Headquarters, McCoy tried many times to scan Kirk for injuries, but Kirk ignored him, even when McCoy told him his vital signs were way off.

When the Enterprise arrived at Qo'noS to apprehend Harrison, McCoy inundated Kirk with metaphors – when the Enterprise 's warp core malfunctioned, " you don't rob a bank when the getaway car has a flat tire ", or when Sulu took command, " you just sat that man down at a high-stakes poker game with no cards and told him to bluff. " Kirk asked McCoy to dispense with the metaphors, calling it an order. Following this, Kirk was killed while sacrificing himself repairing the warp core to save his crew. McCoy was saddened at the death of his friend but noticed that the dead tribble he injected with Khan's blood was alive again. McCoy had Kirk put in stasis and later performed a blood transfusion, which saved Kirk's life. ( Star Trek Into Darkness )

Three years into the five-year mission, McCoy and Kirk shared a drink to commemorate Kirk's birthday. ( Star Trek Beyond )

Nyota Uhura [ ]

Kirk vents his frustrations for Spock to Uhura

Kirk first met Nyota Uhura at a bar in Iowa in 2255 , audaciously flirting with her while intoxicated, angering some other Starfleet cadet patrons of the bar, resulting in a fight. He met her again when the two studied at Starfleet Academy, although she preferred to keep a distance from him – not even ever telling him her first name – as she saw him as brash and uncouth. Trying to learn Uhura's first name became almost a mission for him.

The pair ended up serving together aboard the Enterprise , but she continued to maintain her distance from him. It was Kirk and his need for a xenolinguist that got her stationed on the bridge. Over the course of the mission, she gained some respect for him though was not pleased with his tactic of forcing Spock to relinquish command. Uhura was the first to call Kirk Captain, though it was sarcastically done. When Kirk was granted permanent command of the Enterprise , he chose Uhura as one of his senior officers. He also appeared stunned that her first name was Nyota. ( Star Trek )

Over time, her discomfort vanished and she began to show unwavering loyalty to her new captain. The two developed a friendship to the point that Uhura confided in him her relationship troubles with Spock. When Pike was killed, Uhura sincerely offered her condolences and concern for the captain. When Kirk died, Uhura cried and helped Spock bring Khan down while preventing him from killing him so they could save Kirk. ( Star Trek Into Darkness )

Over the next few years, the two maintained a close friendship and Uhura was shown to have a great loyalty to Kirk. During the Battle of Altamid , Uhura rushed to Kirk's aid when she realized he was in danger, risking her life to aid him in performing a saucer separation . In the face of Krall , Uhura showed absolute confidence Kirk would come for them and wouldn't leave his crew behind. ( Star Trek Beyond )

Christopher Pike [ ]

Kirk and Pike share a drink at a San Francisco dive

Christopher Pike and James T. Kirk developed a father-son relationship. Pike was the one who convinced Kirk to enlist in Starfleet and to make something of himself. He had once written a dissertation on the loss of the USS Kelvin , which Kirk had read at some point. ( Star Trek )

Even after Pike had to demote Kirk for contravening regulations, Pike wanted Kirk as his own first officer and did his best to encourage Kirk despite this setback. Kirk was later informed that Pike had done a lot to speak in Kirk's favor during the aforementioned disciplinary hearing.

When Khan Noonien Singh attacked the meeting of Starfleet brass in San Francisco , Pike was killed, and Kirk was distraught, weeping at the loss of his mentor and becoming consumed with vengeance. However, Kirk later recalled Pike having made him swear to the Captain's Oath , and how it called him to be an explorer, not an executioner. He later let go of his vengeance and arrested Khan instead in honor of Pike. ( Star Trek Into Darkness )

Nearly four years after Pike's death, Kirk reflected on his decision to join Starfleet on Pike's "dare" and considered giving up his command for a position at Starbase Yorktown , though he ultimately chose to remain and command the USS Enterprise -A . ( Star Trek Beyond )

Montgomery Scott [ ]

Kirk's relationship with Montgomery Scott began after he met the future Enterprise chief engineer on the planet Delta Vega . While marooned on Delta Vega, Kirk unwittingly sought, with the help of the future Spock , the Scotsman's help to return to the USS Enterprise while it was still warping to rendezvous with the fleet in the Laurentian system . He quickly learned that Scott was wiser than he lead on, after first impressions belied the fact that he had begun to postulate the theory of transwarp beaming while still on active duty (misplacing Admiral Archer 's beagle Porthos in the process, earning his isolation to Delta Vega).

Kirk and Scotty in the engine room of the Enterprise in 2259

With the aid of his transwarp beaming theory (and the future Spock) Kirk, along with Scott, managed to beam aboard the Enterprise , which was mid warp flight. Once on board the Enterprise , Scott had been inadvertently beamed straight into the ship's internal water recycling system. Following quick work by Kirk, Scott was freed, and they both tried to make their way out of engineering, only to be captured by security officers, sent by Spock, who was on the bridge.

Once on the bridge of the Enterprise , Scott was witness to Kirk's field promotion to captain, and was then instrumental in the efforts to sneak up on the war criminal Nero's ship, by helping to increase warp speed to factor 4 and to beam both Kirk and the newly-reinstated Spock onto the Narada while in the moon Titan's upper atmosphere. ( Star Trek )

A year later , Scott and Kirk had somewhat of a falling out over what to do with the torpedoes that were given to the Enterprise by Admiral Marcus . But following the defeat of Khan and the death of Admiral Marcus, Scott returned to his post as chief engineer on the Enterprise . ( Star Trek Into Darkness )

Hikaru Sulu [ ]

Kirk and Sulu safe after free falling on Vulcan

Kirk seemed to have been surprised at Hikaru Sulu 's special training in close-hand combat, specializing in fencing . Kirk committed a selfless act when he dove off the drill platform to save Hikaru Sulu from death on Vulcan. When Kirk appointed himself as acting captain, Sulu reminded everyone that he was already first officer and therefore was able to take over the Captain's position on the Enterprise . Following the defeat of Nero, Sulu was assigned to the Enterprise as Helmsman under Kirk's command. ( Star Trek )

A year later , Kirk showed confidence in Sulu's leadership skills and left him in command of the Enterprise while Kirk led an away team to apprehend John Harrison. ( Star Trek Into Darkness )

Three years into the five-year mission, Kirk once again put Sulu briefly in command when the Enterprise engaged in battle with Krall's forces. Kirk and Sulu were among the last officers to leave the bridge when the destruction of the Enterprise was imminent. ( Star Trek Beyond )

Pavel Chekov [ ]

Kirk first met Pavel Chekov in 2258 when he smuggled on board the USS Enterprise . When Kirk took command of the ship after Spock stepped down due to his being emotionally compromised, he took young Chekov's suggestion that the Enterprise beam crewmembers aboard the Narada from the ship, using the magnetic distortion from Saturn 's rings to hide it from the enemy's sensors. ( Star Trek )

A year later , after Scott to resigned his duties over objections to the John Harrison manhunt, Kirk had enough confidence in Chekov to make him acting chief engineer . When the Enterprise was severely damaged, Chekov saved Kirk and Scott from falling to their deaths. ( Star Trek Into Darkness )

Kirk and Chekov on Altamid

Several years later, following the destruction of the Enterprise at Atlamid, Kirk and Chekov banded together on the planet's surface. Suspicious of the alien called Kalara, Kirk had Chekov track her transmission, ultimately leading to the discovery of Krall's base of operations. Barely escaping the wreck of the Enterprise , Kirk and Chekov made their way through the forests of Altamid together before becoming caught in Jaylah's booby traps set outside the wreck of the USS Franklin . ( Star Trek Beyond )

Enemies [ ]

Nero killed Kirk's father George in 2233 . Despite this, Kirk was willing to offer assistance to his father's killer when his ship was caught in between a black hole created by the remaining red matter. However, the Romulan refused his assistance and stated that he'd "rather suffer the end of Romulus a thousand times" and "die in agony". Kirk obliged him by completing the destruction of the Narada as it was consumed by the black hole. ( Star Trek )

Khan Noonien Singh [ ]

"The enemy of my enemy" - Kirk strikes a deal with Khan

Under the identity of John Harrison, Khan killed Christopher Pike and other members of Starfleet in 2259 , causing Kirk to seek revenge. Eventually capturing Khan, Kirk soon learned of his true identity and the fact that he had aided Admiral Marcus in the building of Starfleet weapons.

Kirk decided to team up with Khan to stop Marcus, though Khan eventually betrayed Kirk to overtake the USS Vengeance . After Khan killed Marcus and attacked the Enterprise , Kirk sacrificed himself to save the crew. Khan was eventually captured, due to efforts by Spock and Uhura, and put back into suspended animation. Kirk was soon revived using Khan's blood, which was administered to Kirk by McCoy. ( Star Trek Into Darkness )

Alexander Marcus [ ]

Despite Marcus's demotion of Kirk, in their early meetings the two had what could have been described as grandfather-grandson relationship. However, after Khan confessed his role in the Admiral's plot to wage war with the Klingons, Kirk began to doubt the Admiral and viewed him as a war criminal. Marcus himself did not have an antagonistic relationship with Kirk until the Captain lied and tried to warp Khan and the Enterprise to Earth, though he later outright admitted that he was going to kill him and the Enterprise's crew from the start of the mission he assigned them to.

To cover up the conspiracy, Marcus branded Kirk as "having gone rogue" when he attempted to warn Starfleet. Their last meeting occurred when Kirk tried to arrest him for high treason, with the Admiral openly mocking Kirk's naivete. The relationship ended when Khan crushed Marcus' skull in revenge for treating him like a slave. ( Star Trek Into Darkness )

Kirk fights Krall at Yorktown

In 2263 , Balthazar M. Edison , once the commanding officer of the USS Franklin and later known as Krall, attacked the Enterprise , destroying it with the help of his Swarm ships and stranding the crew on Altamid . Krall had been stranded on the planet after his ship went missing in the 2160s and had planned revenge by attacking Starbase Yorktown . Kirk and his crew, with the help of Jaylah , managed to find and repair the Franklin , traveling to Starbase Yorktown and putting a stop to Krall's plans to destroy it. ( Star Trek Beyond )

Romances [ ]

Kirk seduces fellow cadet Gaila

Kirk had a relationship with Gaila , Uhura's Orion roommate at the Academy. However, when she professed her love for him in bed, he responded it was "weird". ( Star Trek )

Christine Chapel [ ]

Kirk also had a relationship with Christine Chapel , a Human nurse. After it ended, she moved from the Enterprise to nurse on the outer frontier. When Carol Marcus brought her up in a conversation, he did not seem to remember her. ( Star Trek Into Darkness )

Caitian twins [ ]

On his return to Earth in 2259 , Kirk slept with Caitian twin sisters in his apartment . ( Star Trek Into Darkness )

Carol Marcus [ ]

Kirk talking to Carol Marcus

Kirk had an obvious and mutual attraction to Carol Marcus upon their first meeting and personally, and somewhat awkwardly, welcomed her aboard when she was permanently assigned to the Enterprise for the first five-year mission a year later . ( Star Trek Into Darkness ) However, she was no longer serving onboard the ship three years later . ( Star Trek Beyond )

Awards and honors [ ]

For his role in saving Earth from Nero's attack, Kirk was awarded a medal and assigned to the USS Enterprise as Pike's relief. ( Star Trek )

Key dates [ ]

• 2233 : Born on Medical shuttle 37 that was attached to the late USS Kelvin
• 2233 – 2255 : Raised in Iowa
• 2255– 2258 : Cadet / lieutenant at Starfleet Academy
• Appointed acting first officer of the USS Enterprise
• Elevated to acting captain of the USS Enterprise
• Appointed captain of the USS Enterprise
• Demoted to first officer of the Enterprise
• Demoted to commander
• Reinstated to captain to hunt John Harrison, revealed to be Khan Noonien Singh
• Poisoned saving the Enterprise and crew, but revived with Khan's blood
• Attends the re- christening ceremony of the Enterprise
• Sets off on first five-year mission
• Applies for promotion as vice admiral
• Attacked by Krall and the Swarm, leaving the Enterprise destroyed
• Takes command of the USS Franklin and defeats the Swarm
• Fights Krall on Starbase Yorktown and manages to defeat him
• Declines promotion to vice admiral and decides to continue five-year mission aboard the USS Enterprise -A

Memorable quotes [ ]

" Citizen, what is your name? " " My name is James Tiberius Kirk! "

" If you don't give me a name, I'm gonna have to make one up. " " It's Uhura. " " Uhura? No way! That's the name I was gonna make up for you! "

" I'm impressed. For a moment there, I thought you were just a dumb hick who only had sex with farm animals. " " Well, not only... "

" Do you like being the only genius-level repeat offender in the Midwest? " " Maybe I love it. "

" Four years ? I'll do it in three . "

" Two Klingon vessels have entered the neutral zone and are locking weapons on us. " " That's ok. " " That's ok?! " " Yeah, don't worry about it."

" I don't believe in no-win scenarios . "

" Who was that pointy-eared bastard anyway? " " I don't know. But I like him. "

" I am Spock. " (Pause) " Bullshit. "

" You gotta be kidding! " " Thanks for the support. "

" Attention crew of the Enterprise , this is James Kirk. Mr. Spock has resigned commission and advanced me to acting captain . I know you are all expecting to regroup with the fleet, but I'm ordering a pursuit course of the enemy ship to Earth. I want all departments at battle stations and ready in ten minutes. Either we're going down... or they are. Kirk out. "

" Your species is even weaker than I expected... You can't even speak ... What? " " I got your gun! "

" What're you doin' here? " " Just following orders. "

" I would rather suffer the end of Romulus a thousand times. I would rather die in agony, than accept assistance from you. " " You got it. Arm phasers, fire everything we've got. "

" Bones... buckle up! "

" If Spock were here, and I were there, what would he do? " " He'd let you die. "

" I gave you my ship because I saw a greatness in you. And now, I see you haven't got an ounce of humility. "

" That's your problem, you think you're infallible! You think you can't make a mistake. It's a pattern with you! The rules are for other people! " " Some should be. " " And what's worse is you using blind luck to justify your playing god! "

" I said if anyone deserves a second chance, it's Jim Kirk. " " I don't know what to say. " " That is a first.... It's gonna be okay, son. "

" Where I come from, if someone saves your life, you don't stab them in the back."

" CLEAR THE ROOM! "

" On behalf of Christopher Pike – my friend – I accept your surrender. "

" Let me explain what's happening here. You are a criminal . I watched you murder innocent men and women. I was authorized to end you...and the only reason why you are still alive, is because I am allowing it. So SHUT... YOUR... MOUTH! "

" Sir, My crew was just... was just following my orders. I take... I take full responsibility for my actions. But they were mine and they were mine alone. If I transmit Khan's location to you now, all that I ask is that you spare them. Please, sir. I'll do anything you want. Just let them live. "

" I'm sorry. "

" You're right! What I'm about to do, it doesn't make sense, it's not logical, it is a gut feeling! I have no idea what I'm supposed to do. I only know what I can do. The Enterprise and her crew needs someone in that chair who knows what he's doing. And it's not me. It's you, Spock. "

" I'm scared, Spock. Help me not be. "

" There will always be those who mean to do us harm. To stop them, we risk awakening the same evil within ourselves. Our first instinct is to seek revenge when those we love are taken from us. But that's not who we are. We are here today to rechristen to USS Enterprise, and to honor those who lost their lives... nearly one year ago. When Christopher Pike first gave me his ship, he had me recite the Captain's Oath. Words I didn't appreciate at the time. But now I see them as a call for us to remember who we once were and who we must be again. And those words... "

" Space: the final frontier. These are the voyages of the starship Enterprise . Her five-year mission: to explore strange new worlds, to seek out new life and new civilizations; to boldly go where no one has gone before. "

" Where shall we go? " " As a mission of this duration has never been attempted – I defer to your good judgment, captain. "

" Just another day in the 'Fleet. "

" Do you believe every sad story you hear? " " Not every. "

" What did Krall want with this thing? " " To save you...from yourselves. "

" Mr. Sulu. You can... you know... fly this thing, right? " " You kidding me, sir? "

" Let's make some noise "

" That's a good choice "

" I think you underestimate humanity. " " I fought for Humanity! Lost millions to the Xindi and Romulan wars. And for what? For the Federation?! To sit me in a Captain's chair and break bread with the enemy! " " We change. We have to. Or we spend the rest of our lives fighting the same battles. ".

" You lost. There's no way for you to make it back there! Give up! " " What, like you did? I read your ship's log Captain James T. Kirk. At least I know what I am! I'm a soldier! " " You won the war, Edison. You gave us peace! " " Peace...is not what I was born into. "

" You...can't stop it. You will die. " " Better to die saving lives, than to live with taking them. That's what I was born into. "

" Vice Admirals don't fly, do they? " " No. They don't. " " Well, no offense, ma'am, but where's the fun in that? "

" To the Enterprise ... and to absent friends. "

Catch phrases [ ]

" Take us out."

" Attention, crew of the Enterprise . "

" You have the conn. "

" My name is James Tiberius Kirk. "

" Lieutenant Uhura, open a ship-wide channel. "

Appendices [ ]

Appearances [ ].

• Star Trek (First appearance)
• Star Trek Into Darkness
• Star Trek Beyond

Background information [ ]

Joshua Greene as Kirk

James T. Kirk was portrayed by Chris Pine . Young Kirk was portrayed by Jimmy Bennett . Newborn Kirk was portrayed by a silicone puppet. [13] For the scene in which Kirk runs into a cave on Delta Vega, child actor Joshua Greene served as body double for Pine, with the producers arranging for Greene to momentarily play Kirk so the entrance of the cave would look bigger.

Chris Pine repeatedly auditioned for the role of the alternate reality Kirk, not caring much if he got the assignment to play him. " I auditioned for it in spring 2007 , just bombed the audition, and didn't think twice about it, " Pine remembered. " I knew it was for Star Trek , but I didn't have much interest in it [....] Just like many auditions, you go in, you bomb it, you move on and that's life. Then about five months later, I come back from doing a couple of small movies back to back, and my agent asked me if I wanted to come in. Again I didn't have much interest in doing it, [...] [but] I went in and auditioned. " ( Star Trek Magazine  issue 141 ) Pine, after describing himself as "just not a sci-fi guy," continued, " I didn't want to talk about phasers and thrusters and all that kind of stuff! " ( SFX , issue 276, p. 54)

Before making his on-screen debut as Kirk, Pine consulted the originator of the part, William Shatner . " I wrote him a letter when I originally got the role, in which I just basically said that I wasn't trying to take over his role , " Pine explained. " I understood the big shoes I was stepping into, and that I would never want to offend him by doing the character an injustice [....] I just wanted to do as good a job as he'd done. " ( Star Trek Magazine  issue 141 ) Shatner replied, hopeful Pine would be successful in the forthcoming movie. ( Star Trek Magazine  issue 141 ; Star Trek Magazine  issue 140 )

Pine has said in the past that he was influenced in part by Harrison Ford's acting in " Star Wars " and " Indiana Jones ", as well as Tom Cruise's acting in "Top Gun" . [14] [15]

While Chris Pine was beginning to play Kirk, J.J. Abrams helped him with the part, allowing Pine a great deal of free reign in portraying the character. " It made me feel a little bit safer, " admitted the actor, " that I wasn't originating the role; I was merely taking it over for a little bit to see what I could do with it. Ironically, there is some safety in that. " ( Star Trek Magazine  issue 141 ) On the other hand, Pine also related that he actually never felt as though he was borrowing the role, but that he always felt he owned it. ( SFX , issue 276, p. 55) " Whatever issues I might have had about stepping into such an iconic role, into a piece that has already been done, and done well, by many others, " he went on, " was laid to rest by this man [Abrams], who at the get go told me that he wanted to create something new [....] I was not to worry about trying to mimic Mr. Shatner, but to create something new and different and unique. That was really exciting and really fun to be around. " ( Star Trek Magazine  issue 141 ) Indeed, being permitted such a degree of freedom with the character prevented Pine from ever feeling an overbearing sense of responsibility. " I hope I brought everything that I could to the role [....] I certainly felt a responsibility to do justice to what Mr. Shatner did, but I never felt like I had to in some way impersonate the Kirk that he embodied. Really, at the end of the day, I think I would have been doing an injustice to the story, and to my fellow actors, if I was trying to figure out some genius way of impersonating William Shatner, because then it would become an impersonation, not an original incarnation, " Pine reckoned. " My version of the character people would have been taking apart to see how I was trying to achieve that perfect mimicry, whereas it shouldn't be like that. It should be about the story, so I had to throw caution to the wind and say, 'Screw it, here it is, here's my version of it.' I understand that it's a lose-lose situation in many ways, because I know some people are going to want to see a younger version of Mr. Shatner. I am not that, because I am simply not William Shatner. I'm my own person. " ( Star Trek Magazine  issue 145 , p. 11) Despite decidedly not impersonating Shatner's take on Kirk, Pine noted, " I thought it was necessary to pay tribute to that. " As such, he actually infused his own version of the character with some of Shatner's performance attributes, especially his humor from Star Trek: The Original Series . ( Star Trek Magazine  issue 172 , p. 20) " It was fun in the first one to throw in little peppers of Shatner, " Pine reminisced, " because he's so fun. That makes people smile. But J.J. never wanted that. He told me specifically not to do that. " ( SFX , issue 276, p. 55)

What Pine has based his portrayal of Kirk on more are the scripted depictions of him. Thus, the actor explained, " I think of Kirk as less of an iconic character and more as a character given to me on the written page. I used my script as my 'bible', and tried to make sense from that. " ( Star Trek Magazine  issue 172 , p. 20) He later recalled about how he was able to adopt such a well-established role, " I just had to look at the script and say, 'If this script was attached to no other iconography or mythology, how would I do it?' I'd just have to create the character that I was given. The guy that I was given was a real maverick, kind of a pain in the ass, a lot of fun… He's the classic rogue. He had no attachment in my mind to any other character named Jim Kirk. He was just the guy in that particular script – which gave me a lot of freedom to do whatever I wanted. " ( SFX , issue 276, p. 55)

When adopting the part, it was important to Pine that Kirk be depicted as a relatable Human. " Kirk's interesting because he is the Everyman presented with an unbelievably epic, daunting task, an opportunity, a challenge, and he has a very difficult choice to make. It just happens it's one of the big ones, like 'try to save planet Earth' kind of thing. I think what's great about it is he's insecure, he's damaged, he's cocky, he is brash. He is all these things at once, and he's a hero, but a very human hero, " the actor commented. " Anyone looking at it can see themselves in James T. Kirk. That's what was great about it. It wasn't far from myself, and I don't think the character is far from anybody. When presented with a great challenge, it's your choice to either step up to it, and try to take it on head first, or not. You try to do the best you can. " ( Star Trek Magazine  issue 141 )

Regarding how Kirk is presented in the film Star Trek , Chris Pine believed that, rather than be suddenly given a direction for his life, Kirk changes gradually. " I think there are stages in the progression of his becoming that mature leader. We're not reinventing the wheel here. It's Joseph Campbell 's reluctant hero's journey. It's a version of a story that's been told since the beginning of time in every single culture on the planet. " One motivation Kirk has, at least in Pine's opinion, is the challenge to improve himself that Pike gives him. " Kirk takes it head on. That doesn't mean that right at the get-go, right when he accepts that challenge, he becomes a reasoned, mature leader. There's an arc to that journey. " Pine also "certainly" found that, by the end of the film, Kirk is "getting there." The actor continued, " What it shows is all that passion, that drive, that impulsiveness and arrogance can be molded and shaped into something a little bit more functional in a team setting. But it's exactly those qualities that make James Kirk a great man. " ( Star Trek Magazine  issue 145 , p. 10)

Chris Pine approved of the many different emotions he was able to play while portraying Kirk in the initial movie. " I think what was great about Kirk is that I get to really run the gamut of emotions, and I get to run the gamut of every single genre within this character. I get to be a comedian, an action hero, a take-charge leader. I get to be my own version of Jason Bourne – I have all these different qualities that I get to bring to life. I don't think I'd be doing anyone any favors by saying which was the most satisfying [....] It's like any boy's dream. Playing pretend on that multimillion dollar Bridge was like playing cops and robbers with real horses and real robbers! " ( Star Trek Magazine  issue 145 , p. 11)

There were, however, particular moments in the initial depiction of the alternate reality Kirk which appealed to Chris Pine. " There was a lot of humour and a lot of action [to] it, but what really got me about the role were two pivotal scenes at the beginning of the movie that lays out James T. Kirk to a T. Those were the most exciting scenes, and the ones I was most looking forward to taking on. " ( Star Trek Magazine  issue 141 ) The two scenes Pine was drawn to were the scene in which Kirk tries to flirt with Uhura upon first meeting her but gets into a bar fight with a group of Starfleet cadets, and the next scene, in which he talks with Christopher Pike while still in the bar. A year after making the previous statement, Pine elaborated about that pair of scenes, " Not that it's 'Kirk to a T,' but it certainly explains much of who he is and I guess why he has so much anger and such a passionate dislike of Starfleet before he changes his mind. I also think in those two scenes you get a chance to see [...] Kirk's sense of humor. J.J. really wanted to make sure [...] that Kirk is that wisecracking, smart but kind of directionless young man. " Pine additionally remarked that he " loved the bar scene because I get to be that kind of bad ass hero that I grew up watching. " ( Star Trek Magazine  issue 145 , pp. 10 & 11)

In the stage directions for his bar fight, the script characterized Kirk as a "spirited" fighter. [16] His fighting style was purposely designed to suit the character's personality. Regarding how this is shown in the film Star Trek , Pine observed, " The kind of baser, more brutal instincts of Kirk [compared to Spock] are seen in that bar fight at the beginning... And the fight with Ayel, and the fight with Nero! " Sulu actor John Cho agreed, " Chris Pine had more of a barroom brawler type of training. " For the same film, Pine trained for three or four hours a day, over a stretch of two months. He found the training was "intense" but "a lot of fun." ( Star Trek Magazine  issue 145 , pp. 12, 41 & 13)

Screenwriter Roberto Orci joked, in a message board post, that the radiation from Kirk's premature birth in space caused his eyes to go blue, considering that the prime Kirk has hazel eyes. [17]

Chris Pine approved of the maverick, wildcard side of Kirk's personality being shown. " I think it was very important, especially for the first film, to have that version of the character, " the actor remarked. " There were fans that were dismayed that he had so much bravado – but there's no place for the character to go if you don't start somewhere. " ( SFX , issue 276, p. 54) As such, inspired by the portrayal of an evil Kirk in TOS : " The Enemy Within ", Pine proposed to J.J. Abrams that, in Star Trek Into Darkness , the alternate reality Kirk might undergo a similar transformation. " I wanted [him] to go dark and rogue, " noted Pine, though his request wasn't granted. ( Star Trek Magazine Movie Special 2016 , p. 20; SFX , issue 276, p. 54)

Kirk's demotion at the start of Star Trek Into Darkness was prompted by fan criticism that the character had been promoted too quickly at the end of Star Trek . [18] Orci and Kurtzman described the second film as being about Kirk earning the captain's chair, and proving that by sacrificing himself. [19]

After J.J. Abrams gave the script for Star Trek Into Darkness to the cast members, Kirk's character arc made sense to Chris Pine, as did Abrams' advice. " Really, what he kept stressing in the second one was the fact that Kirk might have gotten the Captain's chair in the first one, but in the second one he has to earn the Captain's chair, " Pine recollected. " What does it mean to be a leader? In the first one, he became one very quickly and accidentally. In the second one, he finds himself growing up very fast, becoming an adult very fast. The bravado he does so well in the first film, in the second maybe isn't the best quality or color with which to lead these men and women into battle. It's really about humility, and maturity, and growing up in a couple of hours [....] The fact that Kirk is the Captain of this ship, and is going through a major existential crisis, does not bode well for where the crew and the Enterprise find themselves in the middle of this picture [....] This Kirk is still trying to figure the best way to lead, and who his consigliores are, and who it's wisest to trust [....] I think it makes for an interesting story. " Pine found returning to play Kirk, however, was more nerve-wracking than when he introduced the character in the previous film. ( Star Trek Magazine  issue 172 , pp. 21 & 23)

The script of Star Trek , upon describing Kirk's reaction to the death of Amanda Grayson , stated, " There's no cheating death, " though that is precisely what Kirk himself does in Star Trek Into Darkness . [20]

Chris Pine appreciated the reasons behind Kirk's actions in the movies Star Trek and Star Trek Into Darkness . " [Those films] were, for Kirk, a lot about dealing with the loss of his father, looking up to his second father [ Bruce Greenwood 's Captain Pike], and taking guidance from him while living in the shadow of the legacy of this father that he never got to meet; the anger he feels at having not met him and known him, " Pine mused. " Those are all wonderful motivators for Kirk – to try to get noticed, to do a good job, to be the best. " ( Star Trek Magazine Movie Special 2016 , p. 18)

Chris Pine working with Star Trek Beyond Director Justin Lin

During the development of Star Trek Beyond , the film's writing team were somewhat uncertain how to forward the character of Kirk, but did decide to set the film a couple of years after the previous movie. The director of Star Trek Beyond , Justin Lin , stated, " Especially coming after Into Darkness , where Kirk actually sacrificed himself for everybody already, how do you go on? The time jump was important, because what happens after that? When Kirk thinks about life, what does that mean? How does that reflect on him, and those more subtle, existential issues? With the time we were allowed to have, it helps Kirk in this instance. " ( Star Trek Magazine Movie Special 2016 , p. 8) Simon Pegg , as he was co-writing the film, consulted Chris Pine about any character requests he had, to which Pine asked for the humor from earlier in the series to be preserved and protected in the forthcoming movie, a desire which influenced the writing of Kirk's scenes with Chekov in the film. ( Star Trek Magazine Movie Special 2016 , p. 20)

Chris Pine's portrayal of Kirk inspired the costumes which were designed for Pine to wear in the film. " Because he's such a gorgeous guy, I saw him as almost like a space cowboy, " admitted Costume Designer Sanja Hays . " So, for me personally, I just wanted to do justice to him, and make him look as good as possible, because he's such a charismatic man. " ( Star Trek Magazine Movie Special 2016 , p. 42)

The notion of presenting a maturer Kirk in Star Trek Beyond was welcomed by Chris Pine, who said, " What I really enjoy about this part of Kirk's arc is that he's relieved of all the onus of trying to live up to his father and the anger of never having met his father, all the stuff that drove the first couple of films. " Pine was aware too that, in Beyond , Kirk is nonetheless still partly as he was in the film Star Trek , retaining a sense of being an "iconoclast that is beholden to his own sense of morality and not anybody else's rules and regulations." Pine also pointed out that his hairstyle in Star Trek Beyond is one of several stylistic "nods" to TOS in the movie, commenting, " My haircut in the film is a bit '60s Kirkian! " Conversely, Pine thought it was still important that he not impersonate Shatner's Kirk in the film, adding, " My role is to disappear, [...] so I've got to blend into the background enough to let [Krall actor] Idris [Elba] do his stuff. " ( SFX , issue 276, pp. 54 & 55) While working on Star Trek Beyond , Pine felt an increased sense of personal ownership regarding the role of Kirk. ( Star Trek Magazine Movie Special 2016 , p. 20)

Chris Pine has admitted that his portrayal of Kirk has been influenced by his own real life experiences, and speculated about how Kirk would cope with a promotional tour, the likes of which he and his castmates undertook to promote Star Trek Beyond . " I think he'd probably be a big fan of the hanging out with friends, and not so big a fan of answering questions, " Pine reckoned. ( Star Trek Magazine Movie Special 2016 , p. 20)

When asked (shortly after the making of Star Trek Beyond ) if he could imagine playing an older and retiring Kirk in a few decades, Chris Pine answered, " That's too far in the future for me to say, but at this point, I'd be very interested, sure. " Pine also acknowledged that he loves the character of Kirk and expressed an interest in continuing to return in the role, despite being unsure of precisely how his version of Kirk will develop in the future. ( Star Trek Magazine Movie Special 2016 , p. 22)

McCoy actor Karl Urban once stated about his co-star Chris Pine, " He is absolutely spot on as Kirk. " With a laugh, Zoë Saldana agreed, " His approach to the character, the kind of Kirk that he and J.J. created, is so much fun. He's so sexy, so entertaining, and at the same time such a leader. This Kirk is no different than the original one: definitely a flirt, and the cockiness is overbearing at times, but it makes him who he is [....] And there's an intriguing sensitivity about him. " ( Star Trek Magazine  issue 145 , pp. 22 & 35) Khan actor Benedict Cumberbatch raved, " I think Chris [Pine] is one of the best leading men there is. He's extraordinary in the performance he gives. He's really smart, he varies his game, he's constantly grinding away at the script, the story arcs. He's always paying attention to where his character is, and Kirk's story in the overall scheme of things. " ( Star Trek Magazine  issue 172 , p. 27) Jonathan Frakes concurred, " Pine is perfect as Kirk. " ( SFX , issue 270, p. 63)

The 2013 virtual collectible card battle game Star Trek: Rivals uses screenshots for card #36, Recruit James T. Kirk, card #56, Cadet James T. Kirk, card #84, Acting First Officer James T. Kirk, and card #101, Captain James T. Kirk.

Apocrypha [ ]

His female counterpart

The novelization of Star Trek by Alan Dean Foster states that Winona Kirk was given an inhibitor that would help slow the birth of James until the Kelvin 's return to Earth. However, the impacts to the ship by the Narada 's attack cause her to go into early labor. The novelization also merges the conflicting abusive-adult characters, making "Frank" the boys' step-father, and revealing that he wanted the car washed because he planned to sell it behind Winona's back, which is what truly drives Jim to steal it.

Kirk is one of the playable characters in the 2013 Star Trek video game. Prior to leaving the bridge for his trip to Helios Station ( β ), Sulu and Kirk briefly discuss friendly sparring matches they'd had in the past. According to Sulu, Kirk was improving, as he almost made contact the last time.

According to the comic book I, Enterprise! Part 2 (Issue #32 of the Star Trek: Ongoing comic series), Kirk's identification number is 0001.

In comic book two-parter " Parallel Lives, Part 1 and 2 ", Kirk has an equally reckless female counterpart named Jane Tiberia Kirk.

In the first issue of Star Trek: Boldly Go , Kirk, along with Dr. Leonard McCoy and Pavel Chekov were assigned to the USS Endeavour .

External links [ ]

• James T. Kirk (alternate reality) at StarTrek.com
• James T. Kirk (Kelvin timeline) at Memory Beta , the wiki for licensed Star Trek works
• James T. Kirk at Wikipedia
• 3 ISS Enterprise (NCC-1701)

'Star Trek: Discovery' season 5 episode 5 'Mirrors' is a quality installment, but weighed down by another anchor of nostalgia

This entire episode was more than likely written for the sole reason that the sets from "Strange New Worlds" could be utilized.

Warning: Spoilers ahead for "Star Trek: Discovery" season 5, episode 5

The chase across the galaxy for the Progenitors MacGuffin continues, offering chances to insert stand-alone, episode-length adventures along the way. And this week's installment, entitled "Mirrors" features a brief and very random reminder that the Mirror Universe exists. 

And that alone would've made an genuinely enthralling episode, but...Alex Kurtzman et al could not resist the temptation for an utterly pointless and thoroughly unnecessary throwback to the USS Enterprise. Honestly, these people have a serious problem, they should seek help. 

To put all of this into context, the crew of the USS Discovery continue their pursuit of Malinne 'Moll' Ravel (Eve Harlow) and L'ak (Elias Toufexis) and that chase leads them to er...well, you know, a giant, space-time swirly orifice that fills the viewscreen. Apparently, it's some sort of wormhole that's spectacularly unstable because of the constant matter/anti-matter reactions that are taking place at the opening. It's actually more than a little reminiscent of the inside of the V'ger spacecraft from "Star Trek: The Motion Picture" and that's just fine. 

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But it's what they find inside that grinds gears. Since the Discovery is too big to squeeze through the constantly opening and closing orifice, Capt. Burnham (Sonequa Martin-Green) and Book (David Ajala) take a shuttle through only to find...the ISS Enterprise. Yes, indeed, last seen (and only seen, actually) in the epic "The Original Series" episode "Mirror, Mirror" (S02, E04).

While beaming back to the USS Enterprise during an ion storm, Kirk, McCoy, Scotty and Uhura materialize aboard a almost-identical Enterprise in a parallel universe. Here, the United Federation of Planets has been replaced by the Terran Empire and its inhabitants are violent and cruel. Their only hope is to artificially reproduce the effects of the storm to facilitate a return to their own universe. (" I mperial S pace S hip replaces the traditional " U nited S pace S hip.")

And while the idea of finding a derelict, 900-year-old starship from the latter half of the 23rd century is a great idea, in the name of the Great Prophet Zarquon, why-oh-why did it have to be the Enterprise? There are — at least — 10 other Constitution Class starships that could've been potentially chosen and thus still allowing the updated sets from "Strange New Worlds" to have been used. 

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The USS Cayuga (NCC-1557), USS Constellation (NCC-1017), USS Defiant (NCC-1764), USS Excalibur (NCC-1664), USS Exeter (NCC-1672), USS Hood (NCC-1703), USS Intrepid (NCC-1631), USS Lexington (NCC-1709), USS New Jersey (NCC-1975) and the USS Potemkin (NCC-1657). And those are just the ones that are canon. Another new vessel could just as easily have been introduced as it's not unknown for Nu-Trek to bring brand new ships to the line.

And of course Burnham makes reference to the fact that her brother, Spock, served on this ship, which is probably another reason why the Enterprise was forced upon the writers. And according to some extremely rushed exposition, most of the crew escaped the weird wibblywobbly wormhole and went on to lead peaceful and productive lives — we assume somewhere not too far away given how long ago it happened and the current location in deep space — in a somewhat Space Seed scenario. Another interesting throwaway remark from Burnham was, "Crossing between universes has been impossible for centuries now," which shuts down that potential story avenue rather abruptly. 

But let's also focus on why this episode could've been near-faultless if only someone could counsel Paramount showrunners on how to ween themselves off of nostalgia addiction. This week we get to see the whole Moll and L'ak backstory...and it's rather good and to add to that, Book and Moll confront the fact that they're distantly related. You know, because that makes things much more absurd orderly. (See how Burnham had to be related to Spock.)

The pacing of this episode, and with the exception of using the Enterprise, when any other Constitution Class starship could've worked — and served to expand the Mirror Universe a little bit — this is an enjoyable episode. It's a shame though that this is following the same cookie cutter seasonal storyline template by relying very much on a quest to follow while having standalone episode-long adventures to fill in the gaps, but hey, it can't be much worse than last season. So, there's that.

The fifth and final season of "Star Trek: Discovery" and every other episode of every "Star Trek" show — with the exception of "Star Trek: Prodigy" — currently streams exclusively on Paramount Plus in the US, while "Prodigy" has found a new home on Netflix.  

Internationally, the shows are available on  Paramount Plus  in Australia, Latin America, the UK and South Korea, as well as on Pluto TV in Austria, France, Germany, Italy, Spain and Switzerland on the Pluto TV Sci-Fi channel. They also stream on  Paramount Plus  in Italy, France, Germany, Switzerland and Austria. In Canada, they air on Bell Media's CTV Sci-Fi Channel and stream on Crave.

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When Scott's application to the NASA astronaut training program was turned down, he was naturally upset...as any 6-year-old boy would be. He chose instead to write as much as he possibly could about science, technology and space exploration. He graduated from The University of Coventry and received his training on Fleet Street in London. He still hopes to be the first journalist in space.

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Screen Rant

Unfrosted stars jerry seinfeld & jim gaffigan on the pros and cons of working with stand up comedians.

Screen Rant interviews comedy legends Jerry Seinfeld and Jim Gaffigan about their new Netflix film, Unfrosted, and the origins of their friendship.

• Jerry Seinfeld and Jim Gaffigan star in a new Netflix film Unfrosted , a comedy about a breakfast treat rivalry in the 1960s.
• Seinfeld makes his directorial debut in Unfrosted , reuniting with writing partner Spike Feresten from Seinfeld and Bee Movie.
• The film tells the story of Kellogg's and Post Cereal competing to create a new breakfast pastry in 1963 Michigan.

The story of the Pop Tart breakfast treat probably may not be terribly interesting, but when Jerry Seinfeld tells the story, it becomes a genuine comedy epic about corporate espionage, Cold War tensions, and living ravioli abominations run amok. In Unfrosted , which arrives May 3 on Netflix, Seinfeld stars as an employee at Kellogg's tasked with developing a breakfast treat to compete with one from their arch-rivals, Post Cereal. Fellow comedian Jim Gaffigan plays his boss, Edsel Kellogg III.

For those not in the know, Jerry Seinfeld is a bona fide comedy legend and star of his eponymous sitcom, Seinfeld , which ran for nine seasons on the NBC network. Unfrosted marks his directorial debut, and his first major film role since 2007's Bee Movie , which shares the same writing team as Unfrosted , including Spike Feresten, who also worked on Seinfeld in the 90s. Meanwhile, Jim Gaffigan is one of the most popular comedians working today and is as well known for his film and television roles as for his various stand-up routines.

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While promoting the release of Unfrosted , Jerry Seinfeld and Jim Gaffigan sat down with Screen Rant for a brief interview about the film, its casting, the pros and cons of working with stand-up comedians, and the origins of their friendship.

Jerry Seinfeld & Jim Gaffigan On The Joy Of Netflix's Unfrosted

Screen Rant: Hello, Jerry and Jim!

Jerry Seinfeld: I read Screen Rant all the time! I like Screen Rant, yes!

We're grateful to hear that! I was talking earlier about how you've talked about only being concerned with the laugh. The buck stops there.

Jerry Seinfeld: Oh, cool! That's right.

You get the old gang back together, it's you and Spike, and you write this hilarious movie based on a classic bit that your tried-and-true fans know, and I imagine you send out feelers to all of your talented buddies across Hollywood... Who would say "no" to that?

Jerry Seinfeld: I don't think anybody says "no." There are some people who weren't available. A lot of people weren't available. Who did I try...? It's hard to get people because everybody is so busy. Anyone that's good is really busy these days, so it's hard to get people. Jim Gaffigan: Scheduling is not a foregone conclusion.

You got an insane cast, not the least of which is our friend, Jim Gaffigan! How far back do you to go, together?

Jerry Seinfeld: Ten years? Jim Gaffigan: Ten years, I would say. Then we fell in love.

Is there a meet-cute? Or is someone like, "Hey Jerry, do you know Jim? Jim, Jerry"

Jim Gaffigan: It was weird, because I remember... When you were going around doing the movie, Comedian, I remember. There was always, people were like, "I think Jerry Seinfeld would like your stand-up." But he was in the middle of doing this documentary. And that was 30 years ago... Jerry Seinfeld: 24 years ago, actually. And then we did an episode of Comedians in Cars (Getting Coffee), because I had seen him on TV, I did like his stand-up, and then we started going to the same clubs together, and working out together, it was just fun!

You look fantastic in those 60s glasses. Horn-rim glasses?

Jerry Seinfeld: Yeah, no... With the metal on the bottom, isn't that what you had? Jim Gaffigan: Yeah, yeah. Jerry Seinfeld: Everybody in Mississippi Burning has them.

Tell me about being directed by Jerry. Do you go, "Oh, I've got something funny," and Jerry's like, "Really? You think it's funnier than what I've got?" Or are you like, "If it's funnier, let's hear it."

Jerry Seinfeld: It is, a lot of times! Jim is as good a comedian as there is, so when he says, "I've got a funny idea," we listen, you know? And we used a lot of them! So, that's what's fun about working with stand-up comedians. What's not fun is most of them cannot act. Myself included. But he can! So he was a double threat, there, since he could act and he could write, and there's nothing better on a movie set than someone who can do both.

Well, it pays off. Thank you so much for the movie, and don't sell yourself short, I felt your pain as you "ran the gauntlet," or... What was it? Ran the Aisle, Walked the Aisle?

Jerry Seinfeld: Make him "Walk the Aisle." Yeah. "But sir, he's a family man!"

About Unfrosted

Michigan, 1963. Kellogg's and Post, sworn cereal rivals, race to create a pastry that will change the face of breakfast. A tale of ambition, betrayal, sugar, and menacing milkmen, UNFROSTED stars Jerry Seinfeld in his directorial debut.

Check out our other Unfrosted interviews here:

• Spike Ferensten
• Christian Slater, Sarah Cooper & Max Greenfield

Unfrosted releases May 3 on Netflix.

Source: Screen Rant Plus

Unfrosted (2024)

Unfrosted is a 2024 biographical comedy directed, written, and starring Jerry Seinfeld. The film takes place in 1963 Battle Creek, Michigan, where Kellogg's and Post are fighting to create a new world-changing breakfast pastry.