I never thought it was a bad ending, Kirk decided to help a man he never met save random people he never heard of and never got to see. He died helping strangers, very few things are more heroic than that.
It was a righteous death, to be sure. I just personally didn’t like that he died to begin with.
Eh. Still. He was technically in his prime for a captain when it comes to wisdom and experience. Only 63. Picard went much longer.
Bingo!
At least the final version we got was more heroic than the original where Soran just shoots Kirk in the back. Talk about an anti-climactic ending.
It was also death by a fluke.
Right. I always wondered if he was the younger kirk from the 1960s would that bridge gad collapsed as quickly. Would he have gotten off the bridge by climbing and jumping off? Just a weird way to see kirk go.
Yes. If they felt the need to kill him off so young I would have like to see the earth and galaxy in danger amd kirk saving them.
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Because the audience finds out what really happened to Kirk, we don't appreciate that it takes about a century for people to learn the rest of his story. Most of his crewmates wouldn't ever find out what really happened to him (Scott and Spock excepted).
Been there, done that.
Furthermore, the people he saved will never know the sacrifice that he made on their behalf. It was a heroic death, one appropriate for Kirk.
That's the crux of it, right there. It's a selfless and heroic gesture Kirk made without qualms or hesitation. He doesn't know the folks he saved, nor will they know him.
If that doesn't speak volumes as to Kirk's character at his core, I don't know what does.
His death also saved the lives of everyone on the Enterprise. Which in turn allowed them to ensure first contact with Vulcans actually took place and Earth wasn't assimilated. So yeah Kirk saving the Enterprise crew on Viridian did in fact save Earth and the entire Federation.
Plus he died saving one Enterprise and gave up a paradise reality to die saving another. A very fitting permanent end to the character.
Anyone that just sees random planet needs to rewatch Generations and pay much closer attention.
Kirk's sacrifice is heroic.
The presentation sucks.
The presentation sucks.
Which is where he was when Soran shot him in the back originally. The reshot scene is far more heroic and active for Kirk.
He shouldn't have died at all.
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