Shatner was intimiated by Montalbán?

[Ssosmcin]

Spock pulped a comm screen and put his fist through a food selector door in the transporter room. He sent Kirk somersaulting over a conference room table with a backhand. Chief Humbolt decked him in the face twice and he barely reacted. I'd still say Spock and Khan were close in strength, especially when Spock's human dander is up.

 

[M'Sharak]

Khan backhanded a security guard, sending him flipping off of his feet and into a wall, crushed a Phaser with his hands (I assume the weapons were supposed to be made from some sort of metal), and used the pressure in his fingers to force a sealed door open. I'd say he was fairly superhuman

From episode dialogue:

KIRK: Bones?
MCCOY: He'll live.
KIRK: My compliments.
MCCOY: No, I'm good, but not that good. There's something inside this man that refuses to accept death. Look at that. Even as he is now, his heart valve action has twice the power of yours and mine. Lung efficiency is fifty percent better.
(McGivers enters)
KIRK: An improved breed of human. That's what the Eugenics War was all about.
MCCOY: I'd estimate he could lift us both with one arm. It will be interesting to see if his brain matches his body. [/iindent]

While "superhuman" is kind of a vague term to use as a yardstick, it's clear that he Khan and company were meant to be "more than" ordinary humans -- stronger, faster, able to acquire and process information more quickly, and possessing superior ability to recover from sickness or injury.

At the time the story was written, the science of "genetic engineering" wouldn't arrive on even the most primitive level for a few years yet, but eugenics in one form or another had long been a practice and the idea of selective breeding for humans goes back more than 2000 years.​

 

[Grant]

An entire thread based on BS by the OP.
"longstanding" LMFAO

 

[Richard S. Ta]

I've never really understood fandom's need (playful or vindictive....or anything in between) to pick at Shatner. I see more comments about his hairpiece, weight, alleged conflicts with co-stars, etc etc than most of the other Trek actors combined.

Odd isn't it? Mention Mary Wiseman's obvious weight increase and (rightfully) a mod will intervene, but no-one minds it when people have a dig at Shatner's gut or toupee.

 

[Forbin]

If we're looking for an actual metric, don't forget:
Khan: "I have FIVE TIMES your physical strength, Captain." (From Space Seed)

 

[Ssosmcin]

According to Khan. Let's not forget his very high opinion of himself.

 

[Phaser Two]

Eh, this is the original series before the over the top acrobatics and superduper strength or the term "augments." Khan in Space Seed looked to have no more than Spock's level of strength. Khan didn't land a punch, Kirk's agility was his saving grace. But Khan's superior ability didn't save him from a blow to the breadbasket.

The "Enterprise" trilogy and STID made them practically Kryptonian. TOS is its own thing and always will be.

Well, only Spock's level of strength is pretty strong. I tend to be guided by Khan crushing a phaser with his bare hands. BTW, the look Shatner gives during that display is masterful.

 

[Warped9]

Let's not forget his very high opinion of himself.

The usual failing of supreme arrogance—that you are incapable of error. You can’t imagine anyone besting you at anything.

Humanity does evolve, even in our own time. Our average lifespan has increased over the past 100-150 years. In tandem people generally stay vital longer—the now familiar saying 50 is the new 40 has a basis in truth. People can remain active into their 70s. Standards in activities like professional sports increase over time.

Who can say what humanity could be like in 300 years?

This is one thing where I think the creators of Star Trek might have missed a step. They didn’t really or consistently depict how humanity in general could have evolved a longer and more vital lifespan.

And so Khan’s arrogance blinded him to the possibility an evolved 23rd century man could indeed stand up to him and possibly beat him.

Then again it should be no surprise because in TOS’ historical backstory contemporary 20th humans still managed to defeat the superman.

 

[TREK_GOD_1]

Just what kind of knob was Kirk using to defeat him?

You mean this metal conduit?

Imagine someone suddenly ramming a lead pipe into your solar plexus, then repeatedly beating your back with it. Its easy to see why Kirk defeated Khan.

 

[Noname Given]

He did work out enough to prepare for the role. (Those are his real muscles.) So he couldn't have been THAT sick...

As for fight scenes, when they DID fight in "Space Seed" Khan should have kicked Kirk's ass! Khan's a freaking augment, for crying out loud. They're supposed to have superior strength! Khan should have killed Kirk with one blow to the head.

In that respect Star Trek was always a space Western. You always wanted the lead character to suke it out with the villain; and while the hero struggles he always has to have a chance/come out on top in the end.

It's the same thing with the Spock/Kirk fight in TOS S2 Amok Time, yes Spock may be under the influence of Vulcan adrenaline; but Vulcans are supposed to be many times stronger than humans, (and not to mention Spock being in his home World environment of Vulcan), so Spock should be able to wipe the floor with Kirk in short order as soon as he gets his hands on him; but again that doesn't make for good drama.

 

[David cgc]

Good thing they're so easily disconnected! Captains don't defeat supermen, conduits do!

My joke after STID was that, off-screen, Spock-Prime told young Spock Khan's true weakness in hand-to-hand combat: leverage. You can punch him as much as you like and nothing will happen, but you find something that'll make a decent club and bash him over the head with it, he'll go down. Watch the movie, he gets shot like six times without losing a step, but the fight turns against him once Spock breaks a metal greeble off the side of the skiff they're on and uses it as a cudgle.

 

[Vger23]

Look, bottom line, when people make up stupid rumors and try to slander The Shat...

 

[johnnybear]

Nope, whatever people think of William Shatner the man and actor, he made Captain Kirk into a hero that we all loved to watch once a week when we were kids! (And most of us on here still do when we get the chance)
JB

 

[Commishsleer]

If we're looking for an actual metric, don't forget:
Khan: "I have FIVE TIMES your physical strength, Captain." (From Space Seed)

I agree that Spock's strength was up or down depending on the needs of the episode. Surely Spock would have smashed Kirk in "Amok Time' super high on hormones with Kirk only half-heartedly fighting Spock. I think most fan-fiction writers put Spock's weakness in Amok Time due to him unconsciously not really wanting to use all his strength to hurt Kirk. I mean McCoy did say Spock would have been weakened by Pon Farr but I can't see how that would work - I mean everyone would challenge. Anyway the episode I cringed at most is when Spock and Kirk were captured so easily by the goons in the Cloud Minders.

Did Shatner just respect Montalban or was he intimidated? If he was then why? Whats the difference between Montalban's appearance in TOS or TWOK. How much more gravitas would Montalban have gained by then. Was that post Fantasy Island? Or could Shatner be jealous because Montalban was such a silver fox? LOL If Shatner was intimated at all.

 

[publiusr]

He’s Ricardo Montalbán. I’m intimidated just watching him on the screen

I mean, seriously, he’s an imposing guy. And he has gravitas.

Guy Williams was just a tad taller
https://www.billcotter.com/zorro/

 

[Commishsleer]

Guy Williams was just a tad taller
https://www.billcotter.com/zorro/

Well if Shatner is intimidated by everyone who's taller than him thats practically everyone except Tom Cruise. It explains a lot.
I mean I think I'm taller than Shatner. How tall is Shatner? No really whats his actual height?

 

[Warped9]

I thought Shatner was about 5’-7” or ‘5-8”. I think he wore lifts to make him look 5’-10”.

I met John Colicos at Toronto Trek about a year or so before he passed away. I’m 5’-7” and Colicos was about the same height.

 

[ZapBrannigan]

I thought Shatner was about 5’-7” or ‘5-8”. I think he wore lifts to make him look 5’-10”.

I thought he was more like 5'10" in his prime, and I'm willing to believe 5'9". The custom boots he wore for some scenes on Star Trek, which maybe added an inch, might have been needed because Leonard Nimoy was 6 feet tall.

 

[Warped9]

I thought he was more like 5'10" in his prime, and I'm willing to believe 5'9". The custom boots he wore for some scenes on Star Trek, which maybe added an inch, might have been needed because Leonard Nimoy was 6 feet tall.

Yeah, 5’-9” in his prime could be right. You shrink as you age so I suspect he is definitely less than that now.

 

[drt]

On that note, I don’t think Montalban was particularly tall, he looked about 5’10”-5’11”, so doubtful Shatner would have been that intimidated by his height, either.