Captain James T. Kirk (William Shatner) is usually an indomitable hero inStar Trek: The Original Series, but I always feel bad for him in this season 2 episode. AsCaptain of the USS Enterprise, Kirk leads a historic five-year mission of galactic exploration. Kirk’s legend is of glamorous journeys, making First Contact with numerous aliens, thrilling battles withStar Trekenemieslike the Klingons and the Gorn, and lusty romances with all manner of women Kirk meets in our space.
InStar Trek: The Original Seriesseason 2, episode 24, “The Ultimate Computer,” Captain Kirk is laid low and treated cruelly by Starfleet. When brilliant inventorDr. Richard Daystrom(William Marshall) comes aboard the Starship Enterprise to test his M-5 Multitronic computer, Captain Kirk must step aside while an A.I. takes command of his ship. Even Spock (Leonard Nimoy) is fascinated by the M-5 and its potential. Of course, the M-5 experiment goes horribly awry, butthe disrespect Starfleet heaps on Kirk beforehand is appalling.
Captain Kirk Was Never Treated Worse By Starfleet Than In This Star Trek Season 3 Episode
Calling Kirk “Captain Dunsel” Was A Low Blow
AsCaptain of the Enterprise, James T. Kirk is typically held in high regard by Starfleet, but not inStar Trek: The Original Seriesseason 2, episode 24, “The Ultimate Computer.” Commodore Wesley (Barry Russo) seems overly enamored with the M-5’s capabilities and dismissive of Kirk’s competence. Naturally, Kirk worries that the M-5’s automation could replace a human starship captain. When the M-5 sees early success, Kirk’s fears seem to be realized. Worse,Wesley calls Kirk"Captain Dunsel,“meaning a part that has no useful purpose.The hurt on Kirk’s face says it all.
The M-5 does raise a point when it comes to landing party selection, as it chooses personnel based on necessity. Captain Kirk picks people based on the fact thatStar Trekis a television show, and certain characters are needed for dramatic purposes, even if it’s illogical from a military standpoint.
Captain Kirk is redeemed when the M-5 is proven to be capable of tragic error because it lacks humanity and sound judgment. Meanwhile, Dr. Richard Daystrom is revealed to be emotionally unbalanced as he tries to assert his genius, and his flaws bled into the M-5’s programming. Kirk’s importance as a starship captain is reaffirmed, andthe M-5 experiment is a dismal failure that costs unnecessary lives.
I Love This Star Trek: The Original Series Episode Even Though Kirk’s Behavior Is Disturbing
“The Conscience of the King” is an underrated but terrific Star Trek: The Original Series episode that reveals a darker side of Captain James T. Kirk.
Yet even though Kirk ends up being right, his reputation is dragged through the mud, and he endures insults from his superior officer.I can’t help but feel bad for Captain Kirk because he didn’t deserve this treatment.
Captain Kirk Was Even Court-Martialed
The way Starfleet treats Captain Kirk in “The Ultimate Computer” is a slap in the face,and it stands out even among the low points in Kirk’s career. While Captain Kirk triumphs in everyepisode ofStar Trek: The Original Series, he has suffered indignities. Kirk has been court-martialed, kidnapped, he’s been forced to fight for his life, the USS Enterprise gets hijacked, and Kirk has even had his mind swapped with Dr. Janice Lester (Sandra Smith) inStar Trek: The Original Seriesseason 3’s finale, “Turnabout Intruder.”
My 7 Favorite Captain Kirk Scenes In Star Trek Movies, Ranked
Captain James T. Kirk (sometimes Admiral Kirk) is the hero of 10 Star Trek movies in two timelines, and he has some classic moments.
Some of Kirk’s greatest tragedies occur in theStar Trekmovies. Kirk watches Spock die inStar Trek II: The Wrath of Khan, and he’s powerless to stop the murder of his son, David Marcus (Merritt Butrick), inStar Trek III: The Search for Spock. Of course, Kirk dies inStar Trek Generations. Yet the way Captain Kirk is mocked by Starfleet inStar Trek’s “The Ultimate Computer” remains particularly galling, especially considering how Kirk selflessly saves the day yet again.
Kirk Proved A Point In Star Trek Season 3 But Starfleet Keeps Making The Same Mistake
Starfleet Can’t Trust A.I. (Besides Data)
Captain Kirk proved thata machine, no matter how advanced, cannot replace human intuition, courage, and compassioninStar Trek’s “The Ultimate Computer,” yet Starfleet repeats its mistake with the M-5. InStar Trek: Lower Decks, a corrupt Admirals attempt to create an A.I. Texas Class starship armada ends in tragedy when the USS Aledo becomes a murderous machine. A decade beforeStar Trek: The Original Series, Starfleet’s threat assessment A.I., Control, tries to wipe out organic life in the galaxy inStar Trek: Discoveryseason 2.
Kirk overcomes undeserved insults to save Starfleet from its own folly.
Lt. Commander Data (Brent Spiner)inStar Trek: The Next Generationis a rare example of an A.I. who emulates the best aspects of humanity. Meanwhile, Data’s older android brother, Lore (Brent Spiner), is another malevolent machine. Starfleet regularly forgets the point Captain Kirk proved inStar Trek: The Original Series'“The Ultimate Computer,” even after Kirk overcomes undeserved insults to save Starfleet from its own folly.
