#kahn

Star Trek the Original series is a series with a lot of ups and downs. For every classic there are most likely two episodes that are dull or straight out bad. Luckily this episode isn't just good this is a classic

Space Seed is about the crew of the Enterprise finding a ship full of people in suspended animation launched in the 1990s.... Yes just go with it. They find a man by the name of Kahn who leads the group of sleepers but he is more than he seems. He is a 1990s earth warlord named Kahn Noonien Soong who is also a genetically enhanced super human. The story follows Kahn's attempt to take the Enterprise so he can wreak havoc in the 23rd century and Kirk and crew must stop him.

This episode was written by Carey Wilber and Trek mainstay Gene L. Coon and you can tell as the writing is most excellent. Most of the best stuff in the episode are people just talking. The dialogue between Kirk, Bones , Spock and even Scotty is Sharp. Even when Kahn is not on screen then conversation is intelligent, well structured, and engaging ensuring there is never a dull moment on screen. It avoids the mistakes of many TOS episodes wasting time on things that really don't matter as the pacing is brisk and every conversation contributes to the plot and the characters. The conversation between Scotty, Kirk, Bones and Spock is a highlight as they talk about the merits or lack there of with a "benevolent dictator" which is what Kahn is seen as to some with Spock talking the logical position that no matter how benevolent one person should not have that much power.

Of course the stand out of the episode is of course Ricardo Montalban as Kahn. Kahn is a larger than life figure who possesses the attitude that he is unquestionably right in all things. Montalban gives amazing life to the character as someone with great charm that hides a dark side. Kahn acts as someone who is always right and gives orders unquestionably. Shortly after he is revived Kahn tells Kirk to bring back the rest of his people, he doesn't ask or even suggest this... He demands it. Kirk of course refuses and Kahn realizes Kirk is not to be trifled with and has overplayed his hand. The only strange note is that Kahn is supposed to be Indian but played by a Mexican well I guess it's better than being played by a white British man.

There are a couple of sour notes that I should go over for the record but they by no means ruin the episode. The first is that the fight between Kahn and Kirk is .... not great looking. The choreography is fine but it's very obvious these are stunt doubles and not the original actors, it's very distracting. I don't know if this was apparent in standard definition but in HD it is obvious.

The second but more important problem is Marla McGyvrs. Marla is a Starfleet historian who is brought along on the original mission to give context for the time the ship was made and to help the crew. However she along the way becomes infatuated with Kahn and helps him take the ship but eventually helps the crew take back the ship and then decides to go into exile with Kahn. Sadly in keeping with the times she, like a lot of female characters is not written as competent. She is supposed to be a historian but is extremely unprofessional about it when she starts to fall for Kahn's charms and good looks. It's especially creepy when he starts to assault her and her reaction is very passive. This is supposed to be the 23rd century but she is a very dated stereotype of a woman driven to do bad things because a guy is hot and fails to see through his gaslighting. Recently the Star Trek Kahn audio drama has tried to redeem her character by more or less just changing everything about her. Luckily Uhura has a stand out moment in this episode as she refuses to comply with the supermen even after one of them hits her. It is quite the image of her standing up to a genetically enhanced man twice her size, good stuff.

On the whole a great episode and a classic with few dated elements. Also an episode that would plant the seeds for a great movie.

Sincerely,