Khan’s followers — Why loyalty & no initiative?

[FredH]

So, Khan’s followers (in both “Space Seed” and The Wrath of Khan) are Augments just like him, right? With theoretically-superior everything, just like him. So how come:

(A) Aside from Joachim, none of them ever show any initiative?

(B) There’s never the slightest hint of jockeying for power; they’re all loyal to Khan, and that’s that. In retrospect, this seems very un-Augment-like, if they’re all supermen (or think they are).

 

[hbquikcomjamesl]

That whole situation seems alarmingly familiar.

 

[DonIago]

Khan claimed that his followers had sworn to live and die at his command, so, Augments or not, if you assume they're honorable types (at least in that sense), that would be the end of that.

That said, if you read Greg Cox's trilogy regarding Khan, you'll see that not all of the Augments were utterly loyal to Khan.

But, as far as onscreen material, I suspect TPTB weren't interested in showing discord among the Augments on top of the other stories they were telling.

 

[Laura Cynthia Chambers]

The main (violent) conflict was Kirk vs Khan, ultimately. Augment in-fighting would only clutter the film. If it had been a miniseries, however...

 

[CoveTom]

That whole situation seems alarmingly familiar.

No, it really doesn't.

 

[fireproof78]

So, Khan’s followers (in both “Space Seed” and The Wrath of Khan) are Augments just like him, right? With theoretically-superior everything, just like him. So how come:

(A) Aside from Joachim, none of them ever show any initiative?

(B) There’s never the slightest hint of jockeying for power; they’re all loyal to Khan, and that’s that. In retrospect, this seems very un-Augment-like, if they’re all supermen (or think they are).

One, in TWOK, his crew seems much younger so they might be used to being under his thumb.

Two, as noted, they have sworn to serve him. For what reason, one can only speculate. I would imagine it might be the recognition that the Augments defeat was potentially due to overreach rather than remaining together.

 

[Laura Cynthia Chambers]

Plus, they've just woken up in totally unfamiliar surroundings (23rd century space). They need to get their bearings and find an opportunity to seize power. Their planet gave them a place to rule, but when it blew up, they were right back where they started (albeit with the next generation of augments).

 

[CoveTom]

I'm I the only one who hates the term "Augments"? A term, of course, which was invented in Enterprise and never used in TOS or TWOK. I just don't like the way it sounds for some reason.

Of course, the whole history of Khan and his people was retconned anyway. In "Space Seed," they were just described as a product of "selective breeding," which is what eugenics is. Then TWOK changed it to "genetic engineering," which is an entirely different proposition.

 

[F. King Daniel]

I'm I the only one who hates the term "Augments"? A term, of course, which was invented in Enterprise and never used in TOS or TWOK. I just don't like the way it sounds for some reason.

Of course, the whole history of Khan and his people was retconned anyway. In "Space Seed," they were just described as a product of "selective breeding," which is what eugenics is. Then TWOK changed it to "genetic engineering," which is an entirely different proposition.

As a derogatory term for them, it makes sense that Khan would never use it. And Kirk and friends are just so super enlightened in the future they don't use it either.

 

[DonIago]

I don't have a problem with it myself. It's a simple one-word way to convey a larger concept. I don't readily know (at 10am on a Saturday) of a more effective term.