TNG's "Too Short a Season" with Kirk...

[BillJ]

I always wondered, why didn't Kirk just...take away the weapons the Klingons gave the natives? There were no factories or production houses anywhere, so they weren't making the weapons themselves.

1. The Klingons were teaching the natives how to make them.

2. You going to keep a ship in constant orbit to monitor them? Because nothing stops them from bringing more once you leave.

 

[Captain Clark Terrell]

No, it wasn't a great start. Plenty of fans were on Picard's side the time and even now are still pissed at how Sisko treated him.

That some people don't like it doesn't mean it didn't work. The TNG-first crowd needs to get over itself.

--Sran

 

[Praetor]

To be frank, why would Kirk be to blame for this? The Klingons armed the other tribe first, who then shot at Mr. Spock and wounded him. Kirk was trying to broker for peace, but circumstances (and the oversexed, backstabbing wife of his friend) forced his hand. Plus, Kirk didn't give the Hill People overpowering phasers, but standard flintlocks equal to the other tribe's. It seemed to be a complete and utter mess for all concerned, and not a straight Prime Directive violation like the kind that Kirk usually does.

Good point. Relatedly, this is not the same situation shown in "Too Short a Season," which was a clear weapons-for-hostages situation.

I guess, then, the Kirk version would have more of a bent that of cowboy diplomacy backfiring... which actually would not paint Kirk in that bad a light, IMO.