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“Space, the final frontier…” Captain James T. Kirk’s opening line in Star Trek made him a galactic hero for generations. William Shatner portrayed the celebrated role of the captain of the USS Enterprise in numerous ventures in the Star Trek franchise since The Original Series aired in 1966. Captain Kirk finally bid farewell to the character in the 1994 movie Star Trek: Generations with Captain Jean-Luc Picard (played by Patrick Stewart) by his side.
For a man, who lived an exciting life seeking adventure across the galaxy and faced every threat fearlessly, his death was underwhelming. In the movie, Captain Kirk and Captain Picard are trying to stop Dr. Tolian Soran (played by Malcolm McDowell) from destroying stars so he can enter the extra-dimensional realm, Nexus. Captain Kirk dies after he falls from a bridge and gets buried under the debris.
How did Captain Kirk die in Star Trek?
Captain Kirk is presumed dead at the start of the movie Star Trek: Generations after he saves the USS Enterprise-B from Nexus, a cosmic energy ribbon, in 2293. The story goes about 78 years in future, where Captain Jean-Luc Picard is at the helm of USS Enterprise-D. He learns about El-Aurian scientist, Dr. Tolian Soran, who lost his family when his hometown was destroyed and wants to return to Nexus, an extra dimensional realm where he can live out his wishes outside the normal space-time reality.
Later, Captain Picard enters the Nexus and finds Captain Kirk, whom he had thought died years ago. They return to Veridian III and try to stop Dr. Soran. During the intense showdown that takes place, Kirk falls from a bridge. Picard finds Kirk buried under the debris. He dies with the last words, ‘Oh my’. Picard is seen standing near a rocky mountain where he buried Kirk.
In Star Trek: Picard Season 3, for a fleeting moment, we see that Captain Kirk’s remains are preserved in a secret vault in Section 31 in Daystrom Station, a Starfleet Federation facility, which houses several artifacts and unknown secrets from across the galaxy.
Why did Captain Kirk deserve a better ending?
While many fans felt that he should have had a glorious hero’s ending, some felt that his death was not required in the first place.
Captain Kirk dedicated his life to the Enterprise and the crew. But during his last hours, he had none of his crew members with him. For years, he had been in graver situations, and therefore, his death on a bridge seemed anticlimactic.
William Shatner shared that he wished Captain Kirk’s death reflected the boldness with which the character lived in the Star Trek universe. While appearing on Jimmy Kimmel Live, he said,
“I think you die the way you live…So, Captain Kirk always had these grotesque things happening, 'Oh, look at that! It’s an animal! I think it’s going to eat me,' you know? But without fear… with joy and love and opportunity to see what’s better.”
He added,
“I thought I had lived the ‘Oh my. I thought that he would see death — old man with a scythe on his shoulder — and look at it and wonder...that sounded fearful. And I didn’t want to be fearful.”
Fans have since then debated, discussed and dissected the scene several times. It remains as one of the more controvertial death scenes.
A fan shared on X,
"Captain Kirk's death in Star Trek Generations. They had the possibility to try every option in the Nexus where he doesn't die. On top of that they decide that Picard should bury Starfleets most famous person on a hill on a forsaken planet nobody cares about."
Another fan said,
“I will forever think they did Kirk dirty with his death in “Generations. Fights the Gorn, fights Khan….. Dies falling off a busted bridge.”
Will we see William Shatner as Captain Kirk again?
Though William Shatner has shared that he is open to returning as Captain Kirk in Star Trek, there has been no update so far. Despite other actors portraying the coveted role, Shatner’s name remains synonymous with Captain Kirk.
There are a few possible ways that the actor could reprise the role. Shatner, 93, may make a come-back through the use of de-age technology or even as an older Kirk in the Kelvin timeline.
Paramount+ is currently developing a Star Trek series, which could give the perfect platform to give Captain Kirk the grand hero farewell he deserved.
William Shatner made his first appearance as James T. Kirk in the Star Trek: The Original Series episode ‘The Man Trap’ as the captain of the USS Enterprise. The show was cancelled in 1969 due to dwindling ratings. However, the show’s syndication made it reach a wider audience. Captain Kirk became an overnight hero to the millions of Trekkies across the globe.
Chris Pine portrayed Captain Kirk in the Kelvin timeline in JJ Abrams' Star Trek movies. Paul Wesley portrayed James T. Kirk in Star Trek: Strange New Worlds.
ALSO READ: These 7 Star Trek references in The Big Bang Theory are a treat for fans
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