Kirk's dad in the ice cave...

[Sabataage]

If Kirk ran into his father from the alternate timeline instead of Spock, I think the second half of the movie would have benefitted both structurally and emotionally. It would have done a better job of telling Kirk's story and underlining the overall (apparent) message of the movie: kids need living, supportive parents to grow up and be emotionally well adjusted adults. You could bring back Chris Hemsworth too, looking only slightly older than he was in the opening scene.*

Of course since his father was most likely dead by the time of TOS this would make absolutely no sense whatsoever in how this fits in with the rest of the timeline. But you know what I mean. Empiracally speaking, separating this movie from the rest of the Star Trek franchise (that shouldn't be hard for some commenters on this forum) and viewing it as something else-- say "JJ Abram's Starship Adventures" you could see how this might have worked.

Its fine though as it is. Instead of Kirk meeting his literal father in the ice cave he runs into the figurative father to millions of trekkies and an arguable one for the whole franchise.

*I think how much you like this idea is dependant on how much you like the Jim Caviezal/Dennis Quaid movie Frequency.

 

[Trekker4747]

Of course since his father was most likely dead by the time of TOS this would make absolutely no sense whatsoever in how this fits in with the rest of the timeline.

I believe Elder Spock tells young Kirk that Krik's father was alive at least up to the point to see Kirk get command of the Enterprise.

 

[Neutral Zone]

Of course since his father was most likely dead by the time of TOS this would make absolutely no sense whatsoever in how this fits in with the rest of the timeline.

I believe Elder Spock tells young Kirk that Krik's father was alive at least up to the point to see Kirk get command of the Enterprise.

He did, adding that he was proud of his son's achievement. It only because Zero did a time warp that history changed. Which causes lots of other confusions later ie in ST:The Movie, Spock is Vulcan going through a ritual and in the Voyage Home (IV) Spock talks to now non-existant mother. But no matter it was still a good movie, perhaps they could sort all this time cock-up in a sequel?

 

[Alientraveller]

And for our next thread as to who could've been the Obi-wan of the movie, we suggest Admiral Archer.

 

[Aike]

And for our next thread as to who could've been the Obi-wan of the movie, we suggest Admiral Archer.

No, Worf. He´s got a tendency to turn up in unexpected places.

 

[cultcross]

Of course since his father was most likely dead by the time of TOS this would make absolutely no sense whatsoever in how this fits in with the rest of the timeline.

I believe Elder Spock tells young Kirk that Krik's father was alive at least up to the point to see Kirk get command of the Enterprise.

He did, adding that he was proud of his son's achievement. It only because Zero did a time warp that history changed. Which causes lots of other confusions later ie in ST:The Movie, Spock is Vulcan going through a ritual and in the Voyage Home (IV) Spock talks to now non-existant mother. But no matter it was still a good movie, perhaps they could sort all this time cock-up in a sequel?

Alternate timeline. Elder Spock still experienced all that on Vulcan because he lived the original timeline. nuSpock will not experience the same things.

 

[Voyagerian]

In one of the ST novels-I believe it's 'Final Frontier', by Diane Carey, Jim is on Earth in Iowa after the terrible loss he suffered re Edith Keeler, and home recovering, when he finds and reads some old letters to him by his Dad...whom in later books by same, he had a contentious relationship with George during his teen years, and the latter being away for long stretches at a starbase as Security Officer, thus the strain, and difficult times...as George tries to reach him then, and make him see his love, etc...so it's discovery for the adult Kirk...not canon, but an interesting notation...and the writers were inspired by books like 'Best Destiny' also by Carey.

 

[Guardian Bob]

Pike plays the role of a father figure.

 

[Voyagerian]

True. And I liked that in the film.

 

[Trevacious]

Pike plays the role of a father figure

I'd rather he still be the Captain.

It only because Zero did a time warp that history changed. Which causes lots of other confusions later ie in ST:The Movie, Spock is Vulcan going through a ritual and in the Voyage Home (IV) Spock talks to now non-existant mother.

Just remember it's not the same Spock or Kirk or Crew or Starship and it becomes easy.

 

[startrekrcks]

I would have liked it more if his father survived.

 

[Aike]

I would have liked it more if his father survived.

Why?

 

[TEACAKE'S PLEATHER DOME]

Kirk should have confronted a Gorn in the cave and in the heat of battle sliced off the Gorn's head. He should have picked it up only to have the skin peel away V-like and his OWN FACE to be revealed!!!!

 

[Voyagerian]

...and Young Jim has a staff-fight with Nero, gets a hand cut off, and jumps into the bowels of the Narada, where he happens to slide through an exhaust conduit....about to fall to his death, the Enterprise shows up, fighting the laws of physics-WE KNOW SHE CAN!-and beams him aboard...hey, where'd Sulu go, an' who's the furry guy in the helm seat...!!?

 

[Garm Bel Iblis]

...and Young Jim has a staff-fight with Nero, gets a hand cut off, and jumps into the bowels of the Narada, where he happens to slide through an exhaust conduit....about to fall to his death, the Enterprise shows up, fighting the laws of physics-WE KNOW SHE CAN!-and beams him aboard...hey, where'd Sulu go, an' who's the furry guy in the helm seat...!!?

And McCoy's standing there in pieces while Spocks having delusions of grandeur!

 

[Jeyl]

What about the mothers? Where the heck are the women in Star Trek?

 

[startrekrcks]

the characters mothers no I don't think it would work.

 

[Admiral Buzzkill]

I'm a lot more interested in seeing Leonard Nimoy than Chris Hemsworth - and, of course, the reason for asking him to play Spock was because the producers understood how enormously popular that would be.

 

[Aike]

I would have loved if it had been Rick Berman.

 

[KiraDax]

I actually agree with the OP.

While I'm glad we saw Nimoy, and I would have wanted to see him in some way regardless, Spock Prime's role insofar as the ice cave went was pure insertion.

Scene would have had a lot more emotional punch had it been Hemsworth's character who saved Kirk. And considering how popular the guy was after that opening scene, I think general audience would have loved him even more than Nimoy.