William Shatner’s Finest TOS Performance?

[Farscape One]

Shatner had a LOT of great scenes and episodes. But there are even more moments where he shines completely.

One of my favorites is the very end of "BALANCE OF TERROR". After he is left alone in the chapel, he looks up and you can see that he feels the cost of the battle with Tomlinson's death. But as he walks out, he slowly and methodically, with each step, brings back his 'captain composure' (for lack of a better term). And you can tell it's deliberate... he's allowing himself that moment to grieve for his crewman, but his duty is to make sure his other 430 people are safe.

That was a brilliant move on Shatner's part... he conveyed a great deal with just a look and a few steps. It reminds me of another personal favorite acting moment by one of the captains: Kate Mulgrew at the end of "TUVIX". You see the personal cost on her face, composes herself, then continues. (This was another superb acting moment for her on VOY. She really brought it from beginning to end of VOY.)

 

[publiusr]

Shatner also was in one of the few movies that featured Esperanto

To view this content we will need your consent to set third party cookies.
For more detailed information, see our cookies page.

Accept third party cookies

 

[Rowdy Roddy McDowall]

His finest TOS performance? ''Naked Time.''

 

[billbird2111]

For me? Nothing tops William Shatner's performance in Arena. It's one of those classic episodes pulled from the pulp magazine classics (unintentionally) of the thirties and forties. Fredric Brown is who I aspire to be as a writer.

But I think Arena is one of Shatner's best performances.

 

[Ssosmcin]

• The Paradise Syndrome: I won't get unanimous consent, but I think Shatner was pitch-perfect throughout. It's a top-tier episode in my book.

Yeah you def won't. "I'm so happ-eeeee!"

However, I blame a lot on the ADR in the outdoor scenes.

 

[Trevacious]

Court Martial: when Kirk demands it from Commodore Stone.

 

[Warp Core Breach]

All of the above are glorious, but I'm still going to have to go with "City on the Edge of Forever".

 

[Airin]

He's perfect in "Turnabout Intruder", an specially difficult part, considering he wasn't even playing his usual character. And I also love when the script allowed him to show his more comedic side, like in "Tribbles" and "A Piece of the Action".
In general, he's great with subtle emotions (repressed grief or anger, a fleeting worried thought...). Not so great when the script calls for bigger action, like screaming in pain or acting crazy.
But Shatner was really good in most of the episodes.

 

[Ssosmcin]

I really admire his freak out scenes in "The Enterprise Incident." The absolute control the man had over his voice and body is impressive.

 

[RubySlipppers]

The final scene in the chapel in “The Balance of Terror” - from his silhouette when the door opens to when he walks down the corridor of the enterprise, classic Kirk!

 

[Daddy Todd]

Shatner’s performance in Wrath of Khan is, for me, his best performance as Kirk. His weary, confused, beat-down Kirk is in sharp contrast to the take-charge Kirk in the second half of the movie. The moment he flips open that communicator and says “it’s two hours” is phenomenal. It gets me every time.

 

[Newt]

Shatner’s performance in Wrath of Khan is, for me, his best performance as Kirk. His weary, confused, beat-down Kirk is in sharp contrast to the take-charge Kirk in the second half of the movie. The moment he flips open that communicator and says “it’s two hours” is phenomenal. It gets me every time.

If we can mention the films I would also like to mention Search for Spock.
Never seen Kirk so vulnerable. He's still shaken about the Spock's death. McCoy breaking into Spock's quarters has him rattled. Then the Sarek mind meld, reliving the trauma of Spock's death again.
His son's tragic murder. The destruction of the enterprise at his own hands. The final conflict with the Klingon commander, even offering him an olive branch.
When Sarek asks Kirk the deep personal cost bringing Spock's katra and body back to Vulcan he simply says "If I haven't tried the cost would have been my soul"

 

[Tallguy]

If we can mention the films I would also like to mention Search for Spock.
Never seen Kirk so vulnerable. He's still shaken about the Spock's death. McCoy breaking into Spock's quarters has him rattled. Then the Sarek mind meld, reliving the trauma of Spock's death again.
His son's tragic murder. The destruction of the enterprise at his own hands. The final conflict with the Klingon commander, even offering him an olive branch.
When Sarek asks Kirk the deep personal cost bringing Spock's katra and body back to Vulcan he simply says "If I haven't tried the cost would have been my soul"

Other than "You Klingon bastards" (which I think is kind of hammy) the rest of his performance is breathtaking. The mind meld!

 

[Newt]

Other than "You Klingon bastards" (which I think is kind of hammy) the rest of his performance is breathtaking. The mind meld!

I was just saying I love that scene in my swearing in Star Trek thread over in genera trek.

Think Shatner is elevated by his co-stars reactions too. the looks of sadness from Kelly and Doohan get me every time.

And let's not forget the ending when Spock remembers Kirk.
"Jim, you're name is Jim."

 

[Tallguy]

Think Shatner is elevated by his co-stars reactions too. the looks of sadness from Kelly and Doohan get me every time.

The last time I watched TSFS I concentrated on those reactions more. Doohan in particular has a kind of gravitas to him that I wish Doohan had gotten to play more. (My favorite Doohan performance is The Motion Picture.)

 

[Warp Core Breach]

TSFS is still highly underrated I think. It's gotten some traction in recent years, and the even/odd numbered Trek Movie Trope is nonsense.

 

[Ssosmcin]

Other than "You Klingon bastards" (which I think is kind of hammy) the rest of his performance is breathtaking. The mind meld!

I felt it was the farthest thing from hammy. Each reading of the line was different and conveyed a separate emotion. The first was restrained disbelief. The sob that rips out of him on the second line was heartbreaking. Then he brings it back into anger for the last "you Klingon bastard." Masterclass.

 

[Poltargyst]

Doomsday Machine

"Not with MY ship you don't!"

"I'm going to ram 'er right down that thing's throat."

"Gentlemen, I suggest you beam me aboard."

 

[TRON JA307020]

I really loved Shatner in Where No Man Gas Gone Before. After Gary is changed into a near god Kirk is grappling the entire episode about killing Mitchell. Spock is the other half knowing they will have to kill Mitchell because his power will keep growing. After Gary kills Kelso Kirk finally goes after him and in they finally fight when Dehner saps Garys power and hes back to normal just for a few seconds and Kirk is ready to kill him he stops again after Gary confused says "Jim?" Kirk says Garys name with that last bit of despair was a great scene and both Lockwood and Shatners acting made it a great scene. Still probably my favorite scene in all of star trek. Truly sad..

 

[Phaser Two]

There are so many. "Obsession" surely deserves a mention, however. Shatner turns in a bravura performance in one of TOS' most military-themed episodes.