Operation: Annihilate!

[Kirk Prime]

So I just finished rewatching this one on netflix and decided that this was not Kirk's best episode.

He seemed off his game, which I guess could be understood given the circumstances and that he lost his brother.

However, he made some mistakes that were out of character. First, he suggested that he would have to kill one million people to save billions. Ok, fine, I get the logic, but that's NOT Kirk.

If he did that, would he be any better than Kodos?

Shortly after in the same episode, he demanded a third option.

And yes, Kirk himself figured out the solution, but the mere fact that he entertained that for awhile seemed very un-Kirk-like.

Also, Kirk insisted that Spock be the guinea pig with the bright light. Spock agreed, and Bones objected.

Then when Spock was blinded, he blamed McCoy.

That was not Kirk-like either.

Finally, at the end, no mention of his nephew?

 

[johnnybear]

There was a filmed scene with his nephew on the bridge wearing a command uniform but it was never used sadly, KP!
JB

 

[Kirk Prime]

That would have been interesting. The kid lost his parents in a horrible way. To have him just forgotten was a lost opportunity. It was a chance to give Kirk a little character development too. Yes, we get that he's married to his ship and could never take care of Peter, but it would have been nice to see some interaction. Maybe find out where Peter was going to go. And they could have had some continuity too, and let the audience know that Peter was going to stay with his one of his older brothers.

 

[feek61]

The ending scene with Peter is on "The Roddenberry Vault" set. Peter was going to live with his fathers business partner.

 

[Spock's Barber]

There was a filmed scene with his nephew on the bridge wearing a command uniform but it was never used sadly, KP!
JB

That was my dream as a kid, JB. To be in one of TOS episodes wearing a command tunic.

 

[johnnybear]

I remember having a couple of tea shirts as a kid that resembled the Trek uniforms my lord! Trouble is the yellow one shrank in the wash and made me look like a big fat kid as I recall because I insisted on wearing it at school!
JB

 

[Timo]

However, he made some mistakes that were out of character. First, he suggested that he would have to kill one million people to save billions. Ok, fine, I get the logic, but that's NOT Kirk. If he did that, would he be any better than Kodos?

Well, yes, rather significantly so - his 1:1000 exchange rate is way better than Kodos' 1:1.

He also seemed clear on his disgust at Kodos butchering people needlessly (his choice of word), while he himself is a more professional butcher... Indeed, Kodos' actions make no sense except as fulfilment of a long-cherished butchering fantasy, while containing the flying pancakes is a fairly sensible action.

Also, Kirk insisted that Spock be the guinea pig with the bright light. Spock agreed, and Bones objected. Then when Spock was blinded, he blamed McCoy.

Using Spock as the guinea pig is not a decision - it's what has to be done, because Spock is the one infected individual they can study. Blaming McCoy for fumbling the procedure would be a separate issue.

However, where does Kirk "blame" McCoy? His only comment on the issue is "Bones, it wasn't your fault"...

Finally, at the end, no mention of his nephew?

Or his brother, or other civilian matters. But it's pretty clear that once the procedure for eradicating the pancakes was verified with Spock, Peter would be the first practical recipient, before the treatment of the planet. The issue with Peter would be long over by the time of the final scene, then - not just the healing, but the subsequent cuddling and whatnot.

Timo Saloniemi