Does Kirk Contribute to the Transporter Accident in TMP?

Discussion in 'Star Trek Movies I-X' started by YARN, Feb 19, 2014.

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  1. urbandefault

    urbandefault Rear Admiral Rear Admiral

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    Ok, I didn't remember that part.

    But still, Kirk's reaction to David's murder at the hands of the Klingons is understandable. Anything less, in my mind, would not have played well onscreen.
     
  2. DonIago

    DonIago Vice Admiral Admiral

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    Say what you will about Shatner's acting, between this, Spock's death and Edith Keeler he does grief quite well IMO.
     
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  3. Dale Sams

    Dale Sams Fleet Captain Fleet Captain

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    I say Shatner is an outstanding actor and can provide multiple cites. Granted but for a few from 1979-1990ish, they are all pre 1968. But still.

    As for the transporter scene. That and Ilia's death are why ST:TMP would be on my "Top Five Movies You Won't Believe are G-Rated."
     
  4. USS KG5

    USS KG5 Vice Admiral Admiral

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    It is possible Kirk was being a good commander, knew the two people on the transporter were about to die horribly whatever was done and he wanted to take the responsibility away from Rand, rather than stand there and watch.
     
  5. Captrek

    Captrek Vice Admiral Admiral

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    FWIW, the novelization says that the navigator who dies with Sonak is Kirk's girlfriend, which also might contribute to his decision to take the controls.

    Of course that's not canon, and I'm not entirely comfortable with it. His instruction to Starfleet to convey his condolences to the families seems kind of impersonal if one of the casualties was his girlfriend.

    The idea does add an interesting subtext to Decker's angry rebuke to Kirk, "This is how I define unwarranted!" Decker is understandably upset that Kirk's pushing has cost the life of the woman Decker loves, but it has also cost the life of the woman Kirk loves, so it isn't like Kirk doesn't understand the personal cost of this mission just as well as Decker.
     
  6. thetrellan

    thetrellan Lieutenant Junior Grade Red Shirt

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    Not likely. As others have stated, it was already too late to save Sonak and Kirk's ex. But he had to try. As for the transporter sensor, being out would have probably enabled them to detect a problem, but wouldn't have caused one. Not unless that sensor is needed to scan for patterns. If it was, though, the fault would have been Decker's, for not taking the transporters offline as soon as he'd found the problem. It would be as simple as giving an order. I suspect the fault lied on the ground, for initiating a platform to platform transport without verifying serviceability of the one on Enterprise.
     
  7. Mr. Laser Beam

    Mr. Laser Beam Fleet Admiral Admiral

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    Decker and Scotty find the faulty module, which Scotty gives to Cleary to fix. From that point on, Cleary is the only one who is working on the problem, and Kirk does not disturb him in any way. So therefore Kirk did not 'interrupt' anyone...the only fault for the accident is the bad transporter module itself. There was never any negligence on the part of the crew, Kirk included.

    Now THAT I did not think of.
     
    Last edited: Jan 4, 2018
  8. MacLeod

    MacLeod Admiral Admiral

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    An almost 4 year old necro-thread.
     
  9. JonnyQuest037

    JonnyQuest037 Vice Admiral Admiral

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    What we got back didn't live long.
     
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  10. thetrellan

    thetrellan Lieutenant Junior Grade Red Shirt

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    ...fortunately.
     
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  11. Peach Wookiee

    Peach Wookiee Cuddly Mod of Doom Moderator

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    And locking. This is almost four years past the expiration date, people.
     
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