What's so great about Captain Kirk?

I could go on and on about the greatest captain in Starfleet history. I could tell you about his courage in the face of danger or his heroism at the most desperate hour. But that would just be repeating everything you’ve already seen or read. Instead I’m going to share what Captain James T Kirk means to me.

In third grade, there was an assignment: What do you want to be when you grow up? My answer: Captain of the Enterprise. I was eight and I wasn’t kidding. I wanted to face a problem, solve it, get the girl, and laugh about it with my friends when it was over. I wanted to be the one everyone relied on and trusted with their lives. I wanted to know all the right answers and I wanted to search the universe for more questions to solve.

How could I accomplish this task of becoming captain of the Enterprise? Even at 8, I knew there were no Starfleet and no starships to serve on. There was only a 60s TV show and a few paperbacks. So instead, I practiced Kirk’s tumble roll in my basement and command tactics on the playground. While we played, I imagined being captain and leading my landing party with the TOS soundtrack playing in my head.

As I grew older I was ridiculed for my passion and devotion to my idol. I was a geek and admonished accordingly. In my dreams, I was Captain but in reality I was a loner and alone. There was no crew, starship, or Federation to back me. There was only me. I took a lotta craaaap for that. Through it all, I still respected and honored my devotion and who I was. I never wavered or tried to fit in at the cost of turning my back on all things geek.

Captain Kirk taught me that. No matter the odds against you, follow your heart and do what you feel is right. In the first episode of the original series ‘Where No Man Has Gone Before’ Kirk is faced with killing his friend (Gary Mitchell who has become a god) or saving his ship. Throughout the episode he defends his friend even though he knows Mitchell has changed. Kirk cannot listen to his logical first officer who says to kill Mitchell before its too late. In the end, Kirk realizes he has jeopardized his ship and faces Mitchell alone.

You can question Kirk’s decisions. But you cannot question his passion. Whenever a crewman dies, he feels it. When he sees a society under subjugation, he needs to do something about it. Kirk is the first to put his life in danger or rip his shirt. He is also capable of self-reflection. In the episode ‘Errand of Mercy’ the Organians (a race evolved beyond corporeal state) stop a war between the Federation and Klingon. Kirk’s prejudice toward the Klingons and Organians is apparent throughout yet at the end he states, “I’m embarrassed, Mr. Spock. I was furious with the Organians for stopping a war I did not want.” Kirk is able to admit his faults.

I try to live my life with the same passion. I won’t always make the right decisions but at least I try to do what is right. When someone points out my flaws, I try to correct them.

That being said, it is no surprise how strong I defend the character of James Kirk. Perhaps I take it too personally. I’ll work on that.

It should come as no suprise to you, my friend, that I’ve been thinking about starting just such a thread. There’s a real pheonomen and more than meets the eye about the charcter of James Tiberius Kirk–it’s insperable from the persona of Shatner in many ways. I’ll get my thots together, and give you my full report.

Don’t change a thing. There are worse heroes you could emulate. :slight_smile:

I’ll reply/comment from a woman’s perspective.

I never wanted to BE Kirk. I wanted to marry Kirk. I think the greatest disappointment of my life was that I never met a man who lived up to James Tiberious Kirk (my apologies to the men I’ve loved!).

As a girl, I watched the re-runs with my two brothers. I had this wide-eyed awe and innocent crush on the blonde tanned hero who exuded confidence and masculinity. Watching re-runs, I see the blatant sexism and machismo, but that was simply The Way It Was during that time period. We evolve, but there will always be room for a charming smile, a wink, a tussle between opponents, an embrace, a beautiful woman in a seductive outfit… that’s all just part of being human.

It’s the hair.

Ah yes, the tumble roll. I also acted out Star Trek with my friends. I also envisioned a life similar to James T. Kirk’s. Unfortunately, as the years rolled by, I’ve most identified with this guy:

Me also, Tom. Me also.

Denny Crane.

The way he could hang on to a car hood like no other man alive?

I may have posted this before, but my take was always: I would prefer to serve under Picard. But I’d much rather BE Kirk.

I also wanted to marry Kirk, until I realized (sometime in HS) that he’s not the type to marry. That’s when I decided I want to be more like Kirk, but with a Vajayjay.

But I’m totally this red shirt guy.

Everything.

Just ask him.

I was waiting for that.

I’ve said this before…somewhere…the lines are blurred between the character Captain Kirk and the personality William Shatner. People often confuse the two especially when Shatner plays Kirk as a parody.

The real trick at mastering the distinction is this. If William Shatner’s ego were to meet Captain Kirk in battle, Kirk would win. Shatner’s ego is a massive god-like entity that forces the universe’s rotation to compensate. Kirk is known for destroying things like that when he encounters them.

Just a helpful PSA.

I’m sorry, I can’t hear you over the sound of how awesome I am.

Man, I love you, talos. This is exactly the distinction I needed drawn.

I have really experienced a new appreciation for Kirk in this rewatch. Most of what I had put together about him was based on TOS, but since I’ve been looking at the movies all at once, more or less, his character development has really struck me far more than previously.

Since y’all are in confessional mode, I’ll add some fuel to the fire. I never wanted to marry Kirk or be him- nor did I ever want to be/marry Picard- but my first lady-crush was Beverly Crusher. I thought she was soooo awesome and really beautiful.

As a young lad, Bev had the whole motherly thing. Sorry Freud, I wasn’t into that. TNG really lacked the skirt-of-the-week like TOS had. I remember a few crushes: Ensign Sonya Gomez (Q Who), Kamala (The Perfect Mate)…hold up!! Speaking of Kamala, did y’all know Famke was up for the role of Jadzia Dax?!? That woulda been…Oh MY!

without Cap’n Kirk, there’s no Denny Crane … :cool:

Don’t tease me…too much goodness in that right there.

OK,Kirk. (NOT Shatner…I seee you over there Pike), but Kirk. Let’s see…

  • Commands respect from everyone around him
  • Is human enough to doubt himself, yet brave enoguh to take risks
  • The guy has more awrds and commendation than any-frakkin-body in the fleet
  • Brilliant tactician
  • Good diploamt (tho no where near the level of Picard)
  • Khan had five times Kirks strength and Kirk STILL neat him down.
  • and…most importantly…dude is a straight up PIMP. Only guy who had more girlfriends in a TV series is Jerry Sienfeld (you laugh, but go back and look at the series…EVERY episode, new chick)

I could never feel an attraction to Beverly Crusher, for one reason:
She’s got the same first name as my mother, so it too icky to think such thots :eek:

I also had a crush on Sonya Gomez (if she cussed, she’d be a twin of Sarah Silverman just about).
Wow, if Famke had been Jadzia Dax, I would never left my friggin bunk.

I was head of heels for Seven of Nine, and not just cuz of her body (tho didn’t hurt). Her character as this strong, brilliant, formidable creature, with the human (almost girlish) side struggling to get out—very appealing character.

Overused image? Maybe. Most people seen this? Most likely. But it hasn’t been posted yet and I take it as my duty to do so.

Kirk is awesome. Well done, frakkintalos! Well done!