Just because Kirk doesn't act like a genius doesn't mean he isn't one.
he was one of the few who could beat Spock at 3-D chess, not to mention mess up the "flawless logic" of smart computers.
he's definitely a smartie. in TOS, at least, we were always given the idea that he was no mean intellect. he knew his history and literature as well as philosophy and the sciences (even if not on the level of an actual scientist) and showed plenty signs of "book learning".
IMO, this is yet another misconception about Kirk (as in his "womanizer" label).
yeah, Captain Fine, please don't change your ava!
Omega_Glory
Commodore
He was very intelligent in TOS but was not shown to be a genius. Other scientist who were at that level were definitely shown to be above Kirk. And ego too...remember Dr Daystrom...highly intelligent with an ego to match...even more ego than Kirk...or even daresay the Shat!!
I did it in three, but the courses at my college were all 4-credit courses. I did a couple of summer courses, and then knocked off almost a year with credit for life experience.
Kirk could have earned credit for life experience for:
- Starfleet History - he was already part of it. There was mention of him in all the textbooks.
- Hand-to-hand Combat - he learned a lot in bar fights.
- Xenolinguistics - he spoke numb tongue.
- Interplanetary Relations
Kirk could have earned credit for life experience for:
- Starfleet History - he was already part of it. There was mention of him in all the textbooks.
- Hand-to-hand Combat - he learned a lot in bar fights.
- Xenolinguistics - he spoke numb tongue.
- Interplanetary Relations
You overlook the fact that lecture courses are good for 5 credits.
You also overlook the fact that some of the basics can be "tested out" of, by taking the finals, substantially reducing your time in classes.
I finished in three also.
It may have very well been that he already had some, if not several years of college already. As he was portrayed in the film, he struck me as the type that gets easily bored and needs a challenge. He probably excelled at the academy and was determined to actually finish in 3 years.
I had always assumed that the Kobayahsi Maru test was a command level course. He may have been "technically" done with the academy but actually in the beginnings of his command level course.
I had always assumed that the Kobayahsi Maru test was a command level course. He may have been "technically" done with the academy but actually in the beginnings of his command level course.
I finished in 3. 
Kirk certainly could have served on a cadet cruise or two. He did in TOS' timeline, so he probably did in this one as well.
that is how i saw kirk in the movie.
he had gone to college but hadnt found anything to challenge him so
he was just wandering through life when pike found him.
and while it wasnt stated in the film it appears prime kirk served a tour of duty aboard the republic before graduating from the academy.
my little pet theory about prime kirk that when younger he was also
cocky and maybe had his own issues.
but got steered into the academy earlier then movie kirk.
but when the farragutt got attacked and a captain he admired was killed while kirk himself was seriously injured for awhile it did some thing to him.
for one thing young prime kirk blamed himself for what happened/
injured with some of his kirk essence gone he was assigned back to the academy to teach while he recuperated.
while he previously loved learning( remember some of his favorite people were
scientist and a history professor) he now became a more quiet stuck in books character untill other events and possibly gary mitchell knocked him out of it and he got his kirk mojo back.
we do know kirk prime was fond of spinoza, he wanted to meet
roger korby who was an expert on archaeological medicine.
prime kirk even had real books in his room ( i think some were supposed to be
greek history but i forgot where i read it.
as pointed out new kirk was described by pike as being genuis level.
and i suspect he was finishing up his academy time at the time of the attack on vulcan.
with the koybashi maru probably being seen as final program for graduating students.
Is a TOS tradition. Leonard Nimoy. Leonard McCoy. James Doohan. James Kirk.
That's very true. I have a genius level IQ and, if you met me in real life, you'd never guess that.
Is there a certain way a genius is supposed to act anyway ?
Geniuses or not, people are people and act in all sorts of ways.
Einstein was incredibly forgetful and someone whose comportment on first appearance would never lead you to believe he's the man who forever changed how we see the universe.
I really don't think Roddenberry wanted Kirk to be thought of as a genius. For what it's worth, a "stack of books with legs" can also be interpretted as someone who has to work hard and struggle to do well. A normal intellect but an overachiever. That could fit Kirk, too.
But they went the "genius" route, and I have no problem with that. It fits, too.
This makes some sense if you remember TWOK. Saavik was already a Lt JG when she took The Test. But she still was a trainee. She wore the red shoulder strap of a cadet, but the rank of Lt JG. She was normally called a Lt onscreen, but she was also lumped in with the other "Trainees." It is conceivable that Kirk was in a similar situation in the Movie.
Similar threads
