Space Seed
- Episode aired Feb 16, 1967
- TV-PG
- 50m
While on patrol in deep space, Captain Kirk and his crew find and revive a genetically-engineered world conqueror and his compatriots from Earth's Twentieth Century.While on patrol in deep space, Captain Kirk and his crew find and revive a genetically-engineered world conqueror and his compatriots from Earth's Twentieth Century.While on patrol in deep space, Captain Kirk and his crew find and revive a genetically-engineered world conqueror and his compatriots from Earth's Twentieth Century.
- Spinelli
- (as Blaisdell Makee)
- Ingenieur Fields
- (uncredited)
- Guard
- (uncredited)
- Lieutenant Hadley
- (uncredited)
- Augment
- (uncredited)
- Otto
- (uncredited)
- Lt. Brent
- (uncredited)
- Female Guard
- (uncredited)
Storyline
Did you know
- TriviaGene Roddenberry questioned Carey Wilber's notion of wasting a high-tech spaceship and expensive resources on criminals - just like Kirk and Spock came up with the same question in the story itself - and came up with the concept of "a bunch of Napoleons" self-exiling in space.
- GoofsMarla, when examining a hibernating Khan prior to his revival, speculates that he is "probably a Sikh". There is nothing about Khan's appearance that would suggest that he was a Sikh. Being clean-shaven and bareheaded, he lacked the prerequisite beard and turban. Sikh is not an ethnicity but a cultural subset of India.
- Quotes
Dr. McCoy: [lying in sickbay, Khan surprises McCoy and holds a knife to his throat, then pauses] Well, either choke me or cut my throat. Make up your mind.
Khan Noonien Singh: English... I thought I dreamed hearing it. Where am I?
Dr. McCoy: You're in...
[Khan tightens his grip. McCoy continues in a lower voice]
Dr. McCoy: You're in bed, holding a knife at your doctor's throat.
Khan Noonien Singh: Answer my question.
Dr. McCoy: It would be most effective if you would cut the carotid artery, just under the left ear.
Khan Noonien Singh: [impressed, releases McCoy] I like a brave man.
Dr. McCoy: [takes the knife from Khan] I was simply trying to avoid an argument.
- Alternate versionsSpecial Enhanced version Digitally Remastered with new exterior shots and remade opening theme song. In the new version, Khan's ship from the 20th century, Botany Bay, is much more aged and weathered than in the original version.
- ConnectionsFeatured in Leonard Nimoy: Star Trek Memories (1984)
- SoundtracksTheme From Star Trek
Written by and credited to Alexander Courage
Remember that guy? Remember how the cute cheerleader always went for him? Well, so it is with the Enterprise's ship's historian Lieutenant McGivers, who gives in to her romanticism with a historic figure brought to life before her. Her inner passions form a symbiosis with some inner instinct to find a successful male, and she betrays both her higher intellect and oath to Star Fleet because of it. McGivers is cute, alluring, attractive, but her inner desire to see a child with the successful code of the antagonist is her own down bringing. She succumbs to his interpersonal tyranny, mistaking his anger-filled desire for power respected by other males. So it is in the real world.
Ah, but the "superior man", adeptly played by the late Ricardo Montablan, with all of his intellect and physical prowess, is no match for knowledge and wisdom, tempered by Star Fleet training. The former "Napoleon" of the past and would be tyrant of the future is confronted with a kind of understanding beyond his ken. It is in fact why he failed on Earth centuries before, and perhaps why the many McGivers and Kahns in the contemporary western world divorce.
Can we blame McGivers for her weakness in not following her intellect, by letting her baser instincts dictate her actions? No more than that cute cheerleader falling for the egotistical jock that plays brutal and mean spirited pranks on those whose brain and brawn are more balanced.
Again, Trek shows us that not just brute strength, not just pure intellect, but a melding of those elements interwoven with wisdom and caring brings forth the best in men. One without the other is a weakness, and when that is energized with an innate superiority complex, only disaster can follow; the bully; the abusive husband, the tyrant.
On a more Trek oriented vein, as other have mentioned, this is indeed the "Space Speed" not just in the name of the title, but in fact the genesis for one of the most popular of the Star Trek films. I speak of none other than Star Trek 2, the Wrath of Kahn, where emotional, physical and space ship battles run paramount. It is a memorable film tying old Trek with then state of the art effects, and updating characters and story line.
As Trekker and Trekkies we watch and are reminded of the parable presented by this episode, and appreciate not just the thesping from the usual gang of suspects, but Ricardo Montablan who himself keenly observed that villains do not know that they are villains. It is a lesson for many a cute girl who fell for the brute. Too bad they're not Star Trek fans.
Watch and enjoy.
- Blueghost
- Feb 17, 2011
Details
- Release date
- Country of origin
- Official sites
- Language
- Filming locations
- Production companies
- See more company credits at IMDbPro