star trek the original series space seed

Space Seed (episode)

The Enterprise discovers an ancient spaceship carrying genetically enhanced supermen from late 20th century Earth and their enigmatic warlord leader: Khan Noonien Singh.

• 1.2 Act One
• 1.3 Act Two
• 1.4 Act Three
• 1.5 Act Four
• 2 Log entries
• 3 Memorable quotes
• 4.1 Story and script
• 4.4 Effects
• 4.6 Deleted scene
• 4.7 Reception
• 4.8 Continuity and trivia
• 4.9 Apocrypha
• 4.10 Production timeline
• 4.11 Remastered information
• 4.12 Video and DVD releases
• 5.1 Starring
• 5.2 Guest stars
• 5.3 Featuring
• 5.4 Uncredited co-stars
• 5.6 References
• 5.7 Deleted references
• 5.8 External links

Summary [ ]

The Enterprise encounters the Botany Bay

In 2267 , the USS Enterprise encounters a spacecraft floating in deep space, sending out a signal in Morse code . Captain Kirk recognizes it as being similar to the DY-500 class , but Spock points it out as being the much older DY-100 , built back in the 1990s .

Spock identifies the vessel from its outer hull markings as the SS Botany Bay , but finds no registry of the ship in the computer library; however, he points out that records of the era from which the ship was launched are fragmentary, as the 1990s was the era of the Eugenics Wars , a "strange and violent period in your history" as Spock puts it. Faint life signs are detected on board, and Kirk has the ship go to red alert as it closes in on the mysterious vessel to investigate.

Act One [ ]

Aboard the derelict vessel

The Botany Bay takes no action as the Enterprise approaches it, the only sign of life being the faint life readings. Now certain the ship is a derelict, Kirk orders Scott and Doctor McCoy to join an engineering party to board the ship and investigate the life readings. Kirk also requests the services of the ship's historian , Lieutenant Marla McGivers . In the transporter room , Scott takes note of the life support systems coming back on, as if the ship is expecting them to transport over. " Very interesting, " Kirk notes.

" A man from the 20th century coming alive… "

The landing party materializes on board the Botany Bay , and Scott confirms that the vessel is Terran in origin, using old style atomic power and computers with transistor units . He tells Kirk that he would " love to tear this baby apart. " McGivers speculates that the ship is a sleeper ship, designed for long periods of interplanetary travel due to the limits of space travel technology in that era until the year 2018 .

One of the life units is then activated, and Kirk asks McGivers if this could be the leader; the lieutenant does not reply immediately, seemingly smitten with the appearance of the man, but eventually answers that it's likely, as the leader would be awakened first to determine if circumstances warranted the reviving of the others. She also speculates that the man could be Sikh , from the northern region of India , noting that they were the most fantastic warriors. Scott then reports that there are 84 people held in suspended animation , all of varied ethnic origins.

The life support unit malfunctions , likely due to the accumulation of dust , and its occupant's life readings begin dropping. As McGivers begs Kirk to save him, he breaks the glass on the stasis unit to release him. Taking shaky breaths as he regains consciousness, the man asks in a hoarse whisper how long he had been asleep; Kirk estimates the time at two centuries. Kirk flips his communicator open to request that McCoy and the man be beamed aboard the Enterprise immediately for further medical attention. " Magnificent, " McGivers states.

Act Two [ ]

McCoy is conducting a medical analysis on the unidentified man at sickbay on the Enterprise . McCoy is amazed at the physical and recuperative power of the man.

" Well, either choke me or cut my throat! Make up your mind! "

Aboard the Botany Bay , Scott notes that twelve of the life units had failed and that their occupants have consequently died, leaving seventy-two alive from the 1990s, thirty of the survivors being women. Spock can find no record in the vessel in any of the computer libraries. Kirk suspects that since Botany Bay was the name of an Australian penal colony, this might have been a way to deport criminals.

Spock refutes this, as it would be a seeming waste of Earth's then most advanced spacecraft, but has no other explanation of his own, lacking sufficient facts. Spock also notes the extremely low probability that a vessel of this type could have survived for so long, and managed to leave Earth's solar system . Kirk orders Lieutenant Spinelli to have the Botany Bay put under tow, and to set course to Starbase 12 .

" Khan is my name. " " Khan – nothing else? " " Khan. "

In sickbay, Kirk arrives to speak to the man. McCoy notes his superior bodily strength and efficiency of his lungs , hinting at his Augment origin. McCoy estimates that the man could lift both he and Kirk with one arm. He tells Kirk that it would be interesting to see if the man's brain matches his body. McGivers arrives, while Kirk chides her on her performance on the landing party. She admits to finding the man fascinating, in a purely professional way, as her position aboard the Enterprise is historian. Kirk thanks her for admitting this, noting " If I can have honesty, it's easier to overlook mistakes, " then dismisses her.

Later, the man awakes from his slumber and goes through some exercises of Hatha yoga; then, hearing Dr. McCoy at work, the man notes a scalpel among a collection of antique medical instruments on the wall. He takes it, and moves back to his bed, feigning sleep. McCoy arrives to check his vital signs, and the man reaches towards McCoy's throat, threatening him with the scalpel. McCoy sarcastically, and in an admirable display of calm, tells him to make up his mind to choke him or cut his throat, adding that it would be best if he would cut the carotid artery , just under the left ear . The man says he admires such bravery, and lets McCoy take back the scalpel. McCoy simply and calmly tells him that he was just trying to avoid an argument. The man demands to speak to the captain of the vessel, and McCoy calls Kirk, saying he is a man with "many questions."

McGivers meets Khan

Kirk arrives, identifies himself as the captain, and asks the man his name. The man avoids the question, and asks what the ship's heading is. Kirk answers that it is Starbase 12, a planet in the Gamma 400 star system , the Enterprise 's command base in that sector . The man identifies himself simply as "Khan". Kirk attempts to question Khan further, but he declines to elaborate on his history, claiming he is "fatigued". He says that he was once an engineer of sorts, and would very much like to study the ship's technical manuals . Kirk and McCoy then show him how to use the computers to access such information. He is later visited by McGivers, asking her to "sit and entertain" him, rearranging her hairstyle to something more "attractive".

" Social occasions are only warfare concealed. "

In the officers' mess, the crew prepares a full-dress banquet, and McCoy wonders if the Enterprise is hosting a fleet admiral ; Kirk replies it was McGivers' idea to welcome Khan to their century . Dressed for the occasion, Khan meets with McGivers in her quarters, decorated with portraits of great conquerors of the past, including Richard the Lionheart , Leif Ericson , Alexander the Great , and Napoleon Bonaparte , as well as an unfinished portrait of Khan in the 20th century. Khan tells her he is honored, but cautions her "such men dare take what they want", before passionately kissing her, which she apparently doesn't mind.

McGivers' affection for Khan becomes apparent

At the banquet, Khan explains the nature of his journey from Earth, going in search of "adventure", believing there was nothing left on Earth. Spock comments on the Eugenics Wars as a conflict to end tyranny, while Khan replies that it was an effort to unite Humanity, calling his era "a time of great dreams, great aspirations"; while there were dozens of petty dictatorships, Khan declares one would have ruled eventually, like Rome under Caesar , " think of its accomplishments! ", he intones. Kirk bluntly asks why Khan fled, asking if he was afraid, goading Khan to declare, " We offered the world order ! " to which Kirk responds by asking "We?", noting Khan's reference to a master race. Khan congratulates Kirk on his discovery of Khan's intent, then says he says he is "fatigued" again, and returns to his quarters.

McGivers appears at Khan's quarters, and apologizes for how he was treated at the dinner; Khan comments their reaction is understandable, given that he is something of a "mystery" to them. McGivers confesses that she knows exactly who he is, and wonders if he is going to like living in her century, to which Khan replies that he will have to remold it to his liking. Showing the darker side of his nature, Khan tells McGivers he intends to take control of the Enterprise and demands her help, bullying her into submitting to his desire; unwilling to lose him, she promises to do anything he asks.

Act Three [ ]

" From 1992 through 1996, absolute ruler of more than a quarter of your world. "

In the briefing room , Kirk, Spock, McCoy, and Scott consult the historical records and determine that their guest is Khan Noonien Singh , one of the genetically engineered tyrants of the Eugenics Wars, and the last to be overthrown. From 1992 to 1996 , he was absolute ruler of one quarter of the Earth, from Asia to the Middle East . Scott admits he's always held a "sneaking admiration for this one", with Kirk and McCoy adding that his rule lacked the usual massacres and internal wars endemic to tyrants; Spock counters that he also severely curtailed freedoms, and is alarmed at the romantic tone of the Humans towards a ruthless dictator. Kirk replies that they can be against him and admire him all at the same time. " Illogical, " Spock says. " Totally, " Kirk responds. The captain then orders security to place a 24-hour guard on Khan's quarters, effective immediately.

Khan, wearing a Starfleet uniform

Later, Kirk visits Khan in his quarters. Khan is wearing a Starfleet uniform , with a red shirt like that worn by the ship's engineers or security guards, and is "lost in thought". He comments on his door being locked from outside with a guard posted. Kirk admits it was "unusual treatment" for who he is, and wishes to know the truth about Khan's departure from Earth. Khan replies that he and his followers sought a new life and a chance to build a new world, plus "other things" he did not believe Kirk, who he considered mentally and physically inferior, would understand. Khan then comments on how little mankind has changed despite its technical advancements, and that he and his people would do well in this century. After Kirk leaves, Khan breaks out of his quarters by forcing the sliding door open with his bare hands, and then brutally knocks out the guard outside, taking his phaser . Meanwhile, McGivers holds transporter chief Kyle at phaser-point, beaming Khan over to the Botany Bay to revive his people.

Security alerts Kirk that Khan has escaped; shortly afterwards, communications become jammed, the turbolifts disabled, and life support on the bridge cut off. Kirk calls engineering to find out why, and is answered by Khan, who now controls engineering with his followers and has cut off life support — demanding that Kirk surrender the ship to him, or die of suffocation.

Act Four [ ]

The bridge crew watches as Kirk suffocates

The bridge crew suffocates to the point of passing out. Kirk and Spock are the last to fall unconscious; before passing out, Kirk, making a log entry, states he takes full responsibility for Khan taking over his ship. When the crew awakens, they are being held at phaser-point by Khan's men in the briefing room while Khan holds Kirk captive in McCoy's decompression chamber ; and the rest of the bridge crew in the briefing room , who watch helplessly as the video screen shows Kirk suffocating.

Khan threatens to kill the captain unless the bridge crew cooperates with the augments. None of the captive crew agree to join him and Khan becomes infuriated by their resistance, threatening them all with suffocation. McGivers then excuses herself, unable to watch the torture of Kirk and the brutal way that Joaquin , one of Khan's henchmen, treats Uhura — violently striking her across the face. As Khan continues to rage, the video screen goes blank as the channel to the decompression chamber is unexpectedly cut. Joaquin demands of Uhura how to regain the picture, but she refuses to respond and he prepares to strike her once again. Khan stops Joaquin with a gesture, telling the crew that Kirk is dead and Spock be taken in to die next.

Meanwhile, McGivers comes to Kirk's aid by using a hypospray to knock out the guard who was watching him in the decompression chamber. She frees Kirk from the chamber, and urges him not to hurt Khan. Spock and an augment arrive just then. Kirk surprises and confronts Khan's man who is subsequently incapacitated by Spock using a Vulcan nerve pinch .

In the briefing room, Khan realizes something is wrong when he cannot contact his men, specifically, Rodriguez , Ling , and McPherson . Kirk and Spock then succeed in flooding the ship with knockout gas , but Khan is able to avoid the gas by escaping to engineering and cutting it off, rigging the ship to blow up with an overload. Kirk rushes to stop Khan with a phaser, but Khan ambushes the captain and crushes the phaser with his bare hands, as easily as one would crumple a piece of paper. The two men come to blows in engineering, with Kirk eventually defeating the genetically engineered man by knocking him out with a makeshift club, and saving the Enterprise from destruction.

Later, at a formal hearing , Kirk drops all charges against Khan and his people, considering it a "waste" to put Khan in a penal colony, and gives him the offer of taming the uninhabited world of Ceti Alpha V an offer which Khan accepts referencing a quote from Milton's Paradise Lost that "it is better to rule in Hell than to serve in Heaven." Marla McGivers is given the option of court martial or accompanying Khan and his people. Khan warns her it will be difficult at first to survive, to find food, and Marla chooses to join Khan and his people. As soon as Khan and his people leave, Kirk and Spock express an interest in returning to Ceti Alpha V in a hundred years to learn "what crop will sprout from the seed they planted".

Log entries [ ]

• Captain's log, USS Enterprise (NCC-1701)

Memorable quotes [ ]

" I fail to understand why it always gives you pleasure to see me proven wrong. " " An emotional Earth weakness of mine. "

" Your attempt to improve the race through selective breeding. " " Oh, now wait a minute. Not 'our' attempt, Mr. Spock. A group of ambitious scientists'. I'm sure you know the type. Devoted to logic, completely unemotional… "

" Care to join the landing party, Doctor? " " Well, if you're actually giving me a choice… " " I'm not. "

" I signed aboard this ship to practice medicine, not to have my atoms scattered back and forth across space by this gadget. "

" Insufficient facts always invites danger, Captain. "

" Where am I? " " You're in … " (Khan squeezes McCoy's neck) " You're in bed, holding a knife at your doctor's throat. " " Answer my question. " " It would be most effective if you would cut the carotid artery just under the left ear. "

" Khan is my name. " " Khan, nothing more? " " Khan. "

" Superior ability breeds superior ambition. "

" Would you reveal to war-weary populations that some eighty Napoleons might still be alive? "

" Such men dare take what they want. "

" Tyranny, sir? Or an attempt to unify Humanity? " " Unify, sir? Like a team of animals under one whip? "

" You are an excellent tactician, Captain. You let your second-in-command attack while you sit… and watch for weakness. " " You have a tendency to express ideas in military terms, Mister Khan. This is a social occasion. " " It has been said that social occasions are only warfare concealed. "

" You fled. Why? Were you afraid? " " I've never been afraid. " " But you left at the very time mankind needed courage. " " We offered the world order ! "

" Go or stay, but do it because it is what you wish to do. "

" He was the best of the tyrants and the most dangerous. "

" There were no massacres under his rule… " " And as little freedom! " " No wars until he was attacked… " " …Gentlemen?! "

" We can be against him and admire him all at the same time. " " Illogical. " " Totally. "

" It appears we will do well in your century, Captain. "

" The trip is over. The battle begins again. Only this time it's not a world we win. It's a universe. "

" Your air should be getting quite thin by now. Do you surrender the bridge? " " Negative. " " Academic, Captain. Refuse and every person on the bridge will suffocate. "

" Nothing ever changes, except man. Your technical accomplishments? Improve a mechanical device and you may double productivity but improve man and you gain a thousandfold. I am such a man. "

" My vessel was useless. I need you and yours to select a colony planet, one with a population willing to be led by us. " " To be conquered by you… a starship would make that most simple, wouldn't it? "

" Each of you in turn will go in there! Die while the others watch! "

" It does not matter, the captain is dead. Take Mr. Spock next. "

" If I understood your manuals, that's an overload in progress. Your ship flares up like an exploding sun within MINUTES! "

" I have five times your strength. You're no match for me! "

" Those men went on to tame a continent , Mister Khan. Can you tame a world? "

" I will take her . And I've gotten something else I wanted. A world to win, an empire to build. "

" It is better to rule in Hell than serve in Heaven. "

" It would be interesting, Captain, to return to that world in a hundred years and to learn what crop has sprung from the seed you planted today. "

Background information [ ]

Story and script [ ].

• "Space Seed" writer Carey Wilber used the 18th-century British custom of shipping out the undesirables as a parallel for his concept of "seed ships", used to take unwanted criminals out to space from the overpopulated Earth (hence the name " Botany Bay "). In his original treatment, the Botany Bay left Earth in 2096, with one hundred criminals (both men and women) and a team of a few volunteer lawmen aboard. ( The Star Trek Compendium , p. 57)
• Also in Wilber's original treatment, the Khan character was a Nordic superman named "Harold Erricsen". This evolved in the first draft, where the character first introduced himself as "John Ericssen" but was later revealed to be Ragnar Thorwald, who had been involved in "the First World Tyranny". Thorwald was more brutal in this version of the story, where he dispatched the guard outside his quarters with a phaser . ( Star Trek Magazine  issue 120 , The Star Trek Compendium , pp. 57-58)
• Gene Roddenberry questioned Wilber's notion of wasting a high-tech spaceship and expensive resources on criminals – just as Kirk and Spock pose the same question in the episode itself – and came up with the concept of "a bunch of Napoleons" sent to space in exile. ( These Are the Voyages: TOS Season One )
• James Blish , forced to work from non-final script drafts at the time, still used the name "Sibahl Khan Noonien" in his novella adaptation of the episode for the 1968 Bantam Books ' anthology Star Trek 2 , which indicated that the name change was a late decision.
• According to an archived version of StarTrek.com , the official Star Trek website, earlier versions of the script had the SS Botany Bay as a CZ-100 class ship, located by the USS Enterprise in the Coalsack Nebula , and the class designation nearly persisted into the final script. [1] The script Blish had to work with still contained the "CZ-100" designation, which made it into his novelization of the episode, though the reference to the Coalsack Nebula had been removed.
• A line to be said by Kirk at the end of the episode was scripted but cut from the filmed episode, saying he hoped Khan and his followers would not come looking after them. James Blish included this as the last line of his write-up of the episode in Star Trek 2 . [2]
• George Takei ( Sulu ) does not appear in this episode. Neither does Walter Koenig ( Pavel Chekov ), owing to Koenig not yet having joined the series.
• John Arndt ( Fields ) was a regular extra; he also played unnamed crewmen in " Miri " and " Dagger of the Mind ". When Arndt appeared in " Balance of Terror ", his character was named "Fields". His part seems to have been edited out of this episode. ( citation needed • edit )
• The background actor playing the Augment who is hypoed by McGivers in sickbay previously appeared as a member of the Alfa 177 science team in " The Enemy Within "; he went on to later appear as a Klingon in the final planet scene in Kor 's office in " Errand of Mercy " and as another Klingon in " Day of the Dove ". The identity of this extra is unknown.
• Although only one hallway of the Botany Bay is seen in detail, the design crew took the time and effort to build the beginnings of several other corridors with their own life support canisters, despite their only being seen for a few seconds.

Effects [ ]

• The Botany Bay model was actually designed by Matt Jefferies before he came up with the Enterprise . He described it as an "antique space freighter" and put it aside for a chance to use it in the series. ( These Are the Voyages: TOS Season One )
• The effects scenes featuring the Enterprise and the Botany Bay were filmed at Film Effects of Hollywood .
• The creation of this episode evidently reused a lot of music from earlier episodes. For instance, most of the music used in this installment was taken from " Charlie X ", composed by Fred Steiner . Some of Alexander Courage 's cues from " The Cage " were reused too, most notably the " Talosian illusion" theme. One piece of music from " Where No Man Has Gone Before " was reused in the climactic fight scene in Engineering between Kirk and Khan.

Deleted scene [ ]

• A scene featuring a female character named "Baker", who was a friend of Marla McGivers , was scripted and filmed, with Baker played by Barbara Baldavin (who previously appeared as Angela Martine in " Balance of Terror " and " Shore Leave "), but it ended up as a deleted scene . Several sources still claim Baldavin as appearing in this episode as "Baker". [3] Portions of this deleted scene are available to watch in Star Trek: The Original Series - The Roddenberry Vault .

Reception [ ]

• Jeff Russo cited this as one of his favorite episodes and scores from TOS . ("Standing in the Shadow of Giants: Creating the Sound of Discovery ", DIS Season 1 DVD & Blu-ray special features) Actually, this episode did not feature an original score, rather stock music from previous episodes, most notably " Charlie X " by Fred Steiner .
• The book Star Trek 101 (p. 17), by Terry J. Erdmann and Paula M. Block , lists this episode as one of "Ten Essential Episodes" from the original Star Trek series.

Continuity and trivia [ ]

• The preview trailer for this episode has the stardate as 3142.3.
• Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan is a sequel to this episode, while Star Trek Into Darkness portrays a different set of events leading to Khan's introduction to the 23rd century .
• In this episode, Spock is shown using the Vulcan nerve pinch in sickbay on one of Khan's Augments. When Spock tries using the same technique on Khan in Star Trek Into Darkness , however, it doesn't work. One explanation is that Khan found a way to make himself immune to it.
• The Eugenics Wars , and the notion of genetically augmented Humans, also served as background for TAS : " The Infinite Vulcan " as well as several fourth season episodes of Star Trek: Enterprise : " Borderland ", " Cold Station 12 ", and " The Augments ".
• In "The Augments", Khan and his followers are referenced by Malik .
• When he accepts the choice of living on the planet, Khan alludes to the rebellious angels' exile to Hell in John Milton 's Paradise Lost . Kirk clarifies by quoting part of Satan's speech: " Here we may reign secure; and in my choice / To reign is worth ambition, though in Hell: / Better to reign in Hell than serve in Heaven " (Book 1, 261-63).
• This episode contains several references to future Earth history that created issues when real life caught up with the mid-1990s timeframe of the so-called "third world war" mentioned by Spock. Specifically, Star Trek: The Next Generation and Star Trek: First Contact (the latter of which was coincidentally released in 1996 , the supposed year of the Botany Bay 's launch) established that the third world war actually occurred in the first half of the 21st century, and the Eugenics Wars of the 1990s were a different conflict. Finally, SNW : " Tomorrow and Tomorrow and Tomorrow " established that due to multiple time travel incursions over the years, history was changed so that the conflict, which originally occurred in the 1990s, was not only delayed until the first half of the 21st century as part of the world war, but that Khan himself would not even have been born yet by 1996, instead being a young child in the early 2020s.
• Although the character of Chekov had not yet been created by the time of this episode's making and therefore does not appear in this installment, Khan remembered him years later, in The Wrath of Khan .
• This is the only appearance of Transporter Chief Kyle in which he has no dialogue.
• At the banquet, Kirk, Spock, McCoy, and Scott are the only officers wearing dress uniforms.
• This is the only episode in which Scott wears his dress uniform without his ceremonial tartan kilt.
• Lieutenant McGivers wears no braid on the sleeves of her uniform.
• Khan goes through a record five changes of costume for a male cast member of the original series. Firstly, he is draped in gold mesh when he is brought back to consciousness; he is then in a short-sleeved sickbay tunic while recuperating; during his scene with McGivers in her quarters and while at dinner, he is seen in a jacket with oval patterns; while consulting with Kirk in his quarters, he is in an Enterprise engineering tunic; and finally, when he returns to the Botany Bay , he wears the red jumpsuit of his fellow exiles.
• In this episode, " The Menagerie, Part I ", and " The Menagerie, Part II ", one can see the other end of the briefing room set – a wall with a viewing screen was added in. Usually, the room is only seen from the end nearest to the door. The rotating viewer, usually seen on the top of the table, is missing here.
• One of the instruments on the back wall of the Botany Bay eventually found its way to the transporter room, as a scanner (with an added viewer that was similar to the one on Spock's science station) in the second season .
• The unique engineering "clubs," one of which Kirk used to subdue Khan during their fight, were never used or even seen in another episode, nor is the collection of ancient medical instruments that adorns the wall of sickbay. The mirror that figures during McGivers' hairdo scene is seen again in " The Deadly Years ".
• The cryogenic chambers from the Botany Bay were recycled and built into the sickbay set from season 2. Also, one of them served as the decompression chamber in " The Lights of Zetar ".
• Footage of the Botany Bay was later recycled as the ore freighter Woden in " The Ultimate Computer ".
• Kirk's phaser is accidentally knocked off his belt when he smashes the glass to free the reviving Khan aboard the Botany Bay . The phaser can be seen falling to the floor (when viewed in slow motion) as Kirk uses the flashlight (that Scotty had been carrying in his right hand) on the window. Scotty can be seen grabbing the flashlight off the transporter console just before they beam over.
• There is a fairly egregious continuity error in this episode. In the transporter room, Scott (wearing a red shirt) and Kyle (wearing blue) are manning the controls at the beginning of the scene. Scott leaves to join Kirk, McCoy, and McGivers on the transporter pad, presumably leaving Kyle to operate the controls. Yet, the red-sleeved arm of Scott is seen activating the transporter (via recycled footage from " The Enemy Within ").
• When William Shatner accidentally knocks his phaser prop off his belt as he breaks the glass to Khan's cryogenic chamber, DeForest Kelley can be seen glancing down toward it and then up again several times. Presumably, he was not sure if the take had been ruined or was expected to continue. Given the time that would have been involved in replacing the glass, he appears to have erred on the side of caution.
• One questionable take from this episode occurs when the camera pans over the mostly unconscious bridge crew as Kirk records his captain's log with commendations for the fallen crew. There are seven visible people on the bridge, but there seem to be eight in total (with the navigator, later seen in Khan's prisoner's row but not in the bridge sequence). From the beginning of the pan, it shows Spock, Uhura, Brent (played by Frank da Vinci ), Leslie (played by Eddie Paskey ), a red-shirted extra (played by Ron Veto ), Spinelli , and then Kirk. Kirk reads off the names of only five crew members: Uhura, Thule , Harrison , Spinelli, and Spock. It seems that one reference is intended to be to the Eddie Paskey character, but that is unlikely since Kirk mentioned both with the rank "technician first class" and the Leslie uniform has lieutenant stripes. While it is odd that Leslie (and the unnamed-in-this-episode navigator who is sometimes referred to as " Hadley ") was skipped in the mentions, it leads to the conclusion that the red-shirted man was Harrison (or possibly Thule, who remains unseen, unless it was meant to refer to blue-shirted Brent).
• The conversation between Khan and Kirk in sickbay is reprised in the ST : episode " Ephraim and Dot " (incidentally giving the Enterprise sickbay a previously unseen window).
• The changes to the timeline established in SNW : " Tomorrow and Tomorrow and Tomorrow " also serve as rationale for Spock and Uhura and Kirk being unaware of who Khan is, despite all having served with La'an Noonien-Singh and SNW : " Ad Astra per Aspera " indicating Khan's name was well-known by the TOS era.

Apocrypha [ ]

• Although Kirk inquires as to the exact date of the launch of the Botany Bay , he never receives an answer. The novel The Rise and Fall of Khan Noonien Singh, Volume Two revealed that it was launched from Earth on January 5 , 1996 and began its journey through space six days later, though decades later, the episodes " Farewell " and " Strange New Worlds " would imply this dating to be implausible.
• There are several non-canon explanations for the fact that, even though Chekov doesn't appear in this episode, Khan remembers him, in The Wrath of Khan , from the timeframe of this episode. All of these explanations point to some off-screen contact between the two characters. In To Reign in Hell: The Exile of Khan Noonien Singh , for example, it is revealed that Chekov led a failed attempt to retake Engineering from Khan.
• A cat version of "Space Seed" was featured in Jenny Parks ' 2017 book Star Trek Cats .

Production timeline [ ]

• Story outline "Botany Bay" by Carey Wilber : 29 August 1966
• Revised story outline "Space Seed": 1 September 1966
• First draft teleplay by Wilber: 26 October 1966
• Second draft teleplay: early- December 1966
• Revised teleplay by Gene L. Coon : 7 December 1966
• Final draft teleplay by Coon: 9 December 1966
• Revised final draft teleplay: 12 December 1966
• Second revised final draft teleplay by Gene Roddenberry : 13 December 1966
• Day 1 – 15 December 1966 , Thursday – Desilu Stage 9 : Int. Bridge
• Day 2 – 16 December 1966 , Friday – Desilu Stage 9 : Int. Bridge , McCoy's office , Sickbay
• Day 3 – 19 December 1966 , Monday – Desilu Stage 9 : Int. McGivers' quarters , Wardroom (redress of Briefing room ), Briefing room
• Day 4 – 20 December 1966 , Tuesday – Desilu Stage 9 : Int. Briefing room , Khan's quarters , Corridors
• Day 5 – 21 December 1966 , Wednesday – Desilu Stage 9 : Int. Corridors , Transporter room , Engineering
• Day 6 – 22 December 1966 , Thursday – Desilu Stage 10 : Int. Botany Bay ; Desilu Stage 9 : Int. Decompression chamber
• Original airdate: 16 February 1967
• Rerun airdate: 24 August 1967
• First UK airdate (on BBC1 ): 27 September 1969
• First UK airdate (on ITV ): 31 January 1982

Remastered information [ ]

• "Space Seed" was the eleventh episode of the remastered version of The Original Series to air. It premiered in syndication the weekend of 18 November 2006 . For the revamped episode, a highly detailed model of the Botany Bay was created, aged and weathered appropriately.
• The next remastered episode to air was " The Menagerie, Part I ".

Video and DVD releases [ ]

• " Space Seed " is released on Super 8 film, 1970s
• RCA CED Videodisc released Space Seed & The Changeling 1981
• UK VHS release ( CIC-Arena Video ): catalog number VHL 2057, April 1983
• Original US Betamax release: 1985
• UK VHS release (two-episode tapes, CIC Video ): Volume 13 , catalog number VHR 2306, release date unknown
• US VHS release: 15 April 1994
• UK re-release (three-episode tapes, CIC Video): Volume 1.9, 30 December 1996
• Original US DVD release (single-disc): Volume 12, 23 May 2000
• As part of the TOS Season 1 DVD collection
• As part of the TOS Season 1 HD DVD collection
• As part of the TOS Season 1 Blu-ray collection
• As part of the Star Trek: The Original Series - Origins Blu-ray collection

Links and references [ ]

Starring [ ].

• William Shatner as Kirk
• Leonard Nimoy as Spock

Guest stars [ ]

• Ricardo Montalban as Khan
• Madlyn Rhue as Marla

Featuring [ ]

• DeForest Kelley as Dr. McCoy
• James Doohan as Scott
• Blaisdell Makee as Spinelli
• Nichelle Nichols as Uhura
• Mark Tobin as Joaquin
• Kathy Ahart as Crew Woman
• John Winston as Transporter Technician

Uncredited co-stars [ ]

• Barbara Baldavin as Baker (scenes deleted)
• Bobby Bass as a Enterprise security guard
• William Blackburn as Hadley
• Robert Buckingham as Human Augment
• Dick Cangey as Otto
• Frank da Vinci as Brent
• Joan Johnson as Human Augment
• Robert H. Justman as Security Guard (voice) [4]
• Eddie Paskey as Leslie
• Jan Reddin as an Enterprise operations table attendant
• Frieda Rentie as a Enterprise lieutenant
• Ron Veto as Harrison
• Joan Webster as a Enterprise nurse
• Elite Guards 1 , 2 , 4 , 5 , 6 , and 7
• Enterprise command crew woman
• Enterprise command table attendant
• Enterprise crewman 1
• Enterprise crewman 2
• Enterprise crew woman
• Gary Combs as stunt double for William Shatner
• Chuck Couch as stunt double for Ricardo Montalban

References [ ]

20th century ; 1990s ; 1992 ; 1993 ; 1996 ; 2018 ; ability ; absolute ruler ; adventure ; air ; Alexander the Great ; ambition ; " ambitious scientists "; anesthesia gas ( neural gas ); animal ; answer ; area ; argument ; arm ; armory ; Asia ; atom ; atmosphere ; atmospheric controls ; Australia ; authority ; barbarism ; battle stations ; beats per minute ; bed ; bioscanners ; bioscanners report ; boarding party ; body ; " Bones "; Botany Bay ; Botany Bay , SS ; Botany Bay sector ; brain ; bust ; Caesar, Augustus ; carotid artery ; century ; Ceti Alpha V ; Ceti Alpha star system ; chance ; charge ; choice ; choke ; circuit ; colony planet ; commendations ; communication channel ; communications officer ; compliments ; computer system ; conclusion ; contact ; continent ; convalescence ; courage ; CQ ; crew woman ; crop ; curiosity ; dark ages ; DY-100-class ; DY-500-class ; danger ; date ; death ; deck ; decompression chamber ; deportation ; dictator ; dictatorship ; dinner engagement ; doctor ; door ; dozen ; dream ; dust ; ear ; Earth ; efficiency ; emotion ; empire ; engineer ; engineering officer ; engineering section ; engineering specialist ; English language ; Ericson, Leif ; error ; estimate ; Eugenics Wars ; European ; evolution ; expedition ; exploding sun ; fact ; failure ; Flavius ; formal hearing ; fleet admiral ; freedom ; French Army uniform ; full alert ; gadget ; Gamma 400 star system ; genetics ; gladiator ; group ; hair ; heading ( course ); heart ; heartbeat ; heart flutter ; heart rate ; heart valve ; heat ; Heaven ; Hell ; historian ; history texts ( history books ); hobby ; hour ; hull ; Human ; Human history ; idea ; inch of mercury ; India ; intruder control circuit ; intruder control system ; irritation ; knife ; landing party ; Latin ; leader ; library tape ( record tape ); light ; Life Sciences ; life support system ; life support canister ; liftoff ; Ling ; log book ; logic ; Lucifer ; lung ; lung efficiency ; malfunctioned ; manual ; massacre ; marooning ; McIvers ; McPherson ; mechanical device ; medical specialist ; medicine ; mercury ; meteor ; Middle East ; Milton, John ; military terms ; mind ; minute ; mistake ; Morse code ; name ; Bonaparte, Napoléon ; nation ; nature ; nuclear power ( atomic power ); Oriental ; overload ; oxygen ; Paradise Lost ; patient ; penal colony ; penal deportation vessel ; percent ; permission ; person ; photograph ; physical power ; planet ; pleasure ; population ; power ; product ; productivity ; profession ; programming ; psychologist ; question ; rebirth ; record ; recuperative power ; registry ; regulations ; relay junction ; reorientation center ; respiration pattern ( breathing ); Richard the Lion Heart ; Rodriguez ; romance ; romanticism ; Rome ; savage ; scalpel ; scar ; scientist ; Scotsman ; second ; second-in-command ; section ; Sector 25712 ; security alert ; seed ; selective breeding ; sensor ; shore ; short circuit ; Sikh ; sleeper ship ; social occasion ; space ; space vessel ; specimen ; spray bottle ; standby alert ; Starbase 12 ; Starbase 12 planet ; starship ; star system ; strangulation ; strength ; suffocation ; supermen ; surrender ; suspended animation ; tactician ; technical library ; technical manual ; technician first class ; theory ; thing ; thousand ; throat ; Thule ; towing ; tractor beam ; training ; transistor units ; transporter beam ; transporter technician ; treatment ; turban ; turbo elevator ; tyrant ; universe ; voice ; Vulcan neck pinch ; war ; warrior ; weapons department ; whip ; world war ; year

Deleted references [ ]

Baker (deleted material) ; Hanson ; physics lab ; rec room

External links [ ]

• " Space Seed " at Memory Beta , the wiki for licensed Star Trek works
• " Space Seed " at Wikipedia
• " Space Seed " at MissionLogPodcast.com , a Roddenberry Star Trek podcast
• " Space Seed " at the Internet Movie Database
• 1 Daniels (Crewman)

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Trek Back – Star Trek: The Original Series ‘Space Seed’

‘Space Seed’ introduced us to one of the greatest villains in Star Trek history in Khan Noonian Singh and brought us the mythology of the Eugenics Wars.

First aired : 16 February 1967, Teleplay by Gene L. Coon and Carey Wilber , Story by Carey Wilber , Directed by Marc Daniels

54 years today we were introduced to one of the greatest Star Trek villains throughout the entire history of the franchise. One so menacing and well developed that he came back to haunt the crew of the USS Enterprise once again in 1982’s The Wrath of Khan , often considered the best of the spin of feature films.

‘Space Seed’ begins with the USS Enterprise finding a ship in space, adrift but with faint life signs on board. That ship is the Botany Bay which fled Earth in the year 1996. Beaming over to investigate with Kirk is Scotty, McCoy and the ship’s historian called McGivers. What greets them when they beam over is a ship filled with stasis pods, technology long since abandoned, filled with men and women. They revive one of the pods due to a malfunction and take the survivor onboard the Enterprise. The man they have brought back is a man with a hidden agenda and a past he doesn’t wish to speak about. That man is Khan Noonian Singh. Khan, Kirk soon learns, is a tyrant from the 20 th Century and it isn’t long before Khan is seducing McGivers and fighting to take over the ship. The performance of Ricardo Montalban who plays Khan is what really makes this episode stand out. He is powerful, seductive and commanding. It’s no surprise that when they wanted a villain to revitalise the film franchise, they looked to bring back this great actor and character.

“When I first played Khan (on television) I really enjoyed it. The show was treated with all seriousness by everyone and that spirit got to me.” Montalban to journalist Ian Spelling during a 1994 interview for the New York Times Syndicate .

For me though, there is more to this episode than a great plot and characters. Back in November last year, I looked at the TOS episode ‘ Journey to Babel’ for one of our Trek Back features. During that review, I mentioned the importance the episode had on the future of the franchise. It introduced us to the Tellarites and the Andorians, who later become the founding members of the Federation and I applauded its world-building which would later become the foundations for future stories. ‘Space Seed’ is very similar in that regard. It is not only one of the best episodes of the Original Series; it also creates mythology and alternative history to the Star Trek universe that brings in an extra layer of depth to what we are watching. I am of course referring to the Eugenics Wars, the time of genetically engineered supermen who ruled the Earth. Khan Noonian Singh is one of those genetically engineered men who rises to power and rules over a quarter of the planet from Asia to the Middle East.

Khan is one of the few Star Trek characters whose back story is developed further, and while it might be not considered official canon, his rise to power and fall is well documented in other mediums. Books like the ‘ Rise and Fall of Khan Noonian Singh’ by Greg Cox give us more details on the events leading up to the Eugenics Wars as told in the style of a spy novel with the aid of one Gary Seven . Later, following the events of ‘Space Seed,’ we learn what happens to Khan when he is left stranded on Ceti Alpha V thanks again to the work of Greg Cox with his novel ‘ To Reign in Hell’ . Khan also features in various IDW comics and graphic novels and was even brought back (albeit a little ill-fatedly) in the Kelvin Timeline played by Benedict Cumberbatch in Star Trek: Into Darkness . The aftereffects of the Eugenics Wars are also felt in Star Trek: Enterprise in the three-part story arch that also featured augmented humans.

‘Space Seed’ at the time of its initial screening, may have just been another Star Trek episode but it developed the Star Trek universe in ways no one could have imagined back in 1967 and it forms one of the key building blocks to the universe that we love so much.   

More from Trek Central:

• Trek Back: Star Trek TNG ‘Tapestry’
• Trek Back: Star Trek Voyager ‘The Void’
• Trek Back: Revisiting The DS0 Pilot ‘The Emissary’
• Trek Back: ‘Trials and Tribble-ations’
• Trek Back: ‘Journey to Babel’.

What are your thoughts on ‘Space Seed’ and where does it rank in your list of Original Series episodes? Get involved with us via our social media channels:

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http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Recap/StarTrekS1E22SpaceSeed

Star Trek S1 E22 "Space Seed" » Recap

Original air date: February 16, 1967

The episode which was the basis for Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan .

It all begins when the Enterprise comes across the S.S. Botany Bay , an apparent derelict from the 1990s , which the characters handily remind each other was when Earth was nearly destroyed in a world-wide war which was not World War III . This war was caused by scientists creating genetically-superior humans . These superhumans decided to Take Over the World , but ultimately ended up fighting amongst themselves.

Kirk, Bones, Scotty and Lt. Marla McGivers (Madlyn Rhue, our Girl of the Week ) beam onto the Botany Bay , finding it full of Human Popsicles . Ricardo Montalbán , who we're told is Indian , wakes up and McGivers falls in Love at First Sight . In Sickbay, he's discovered to be superhuman, holds a knife to McCoy's throat and says his name is " Khan ", but refuses to answer any other question. Kirk decides it's a good idea to let Khan look at all the technical information on the Enterprise . Meanwhile, McGivers gets to have a rather lame love scene with Khan in which we learn she wears her hair in a 1960s updo (which looks uncannily like a wig) because it's "comfortable."

Kirk and Spock question Khan some more and he as good as admits that he was one of the superhuman Evil Overlords from the '90s. McGivers takes Khan's side and apologizes to him for how rude everyone else was. He then manipulates her into agreeing to help him hijack the ship. With her help, he unfreezes his Evil Minions and takes over Engineering. It turns out he actually learned a bit from those tech manuals and cuts off life-support systems to the bridge. After everyone has passed out, he treats them to Kirk's torture in a decompression chamber, offering to let him live if someone joins him.

At this point, McGivers has had enough and sets Kirk free , begging him to let Khan live. This leads to Kirk and Khan's Stunt Doubles having a big Professional Wrestling -style fight which ends in Khan's defeat despite his superior strength due to Kirk breaking off a mechanical lever from the ship as an Improvised Weapon . Kirk and Khan agree that he and his followers will be dumped on the savage planet Ceti Alpha V, providing Khan the opportunity to build his own empire. McGivers decides to go with Khan rather than face court-martial. Kirk and Spock speculate about what will become of them:

Spock: It would be interesting, Captain, to return to that world in a hundred years and learn what crop had sprung from the seed you planted today . Kirk: Yes, Mr. Spock. It would indeed.

Space Tropes:

• All Girls Want Bad Boys : McGivers certainly does, which is how Khan is able to manipulate her.
• All There in the Script : In the original script, the Botany Bay's log stated that the ship was originally headed for the Tau Ceti star system. note  Which is 12 light-years away. Even after two centuries a ship would arrive there if it were traveling at only 6% the speed of light, which is slower than the fastest theoretical propulsion technology theorized by the time the actual '90s rolled around. Examination of the ship reveals a damaged steering system, which has sent the Botany Bay careening off-course into deep space.
• Admiring the Abomination : This seems to be the reason Kirk keeps underestimating Khan. In fact, while discussing Khan in the briefing room, Kirk, Bones and Scotty give Spock a good shake when they admit a certain admiration for Khan, even if they still acknowledge he's evil. Spock is vocally uncomfortable romanticizing Khan's history, and he's got good reason to be, considering what Khan's planning that very moment.
• Affably Evil : Khan. He's surprisingly charming and polite for being a former dictator. Or not, considering how many dictators have come to power through charm and charisma.

• Ambition Is Evil : As Spock describes Khan and his fellow augments, "Superior ability breeds superior ambition."
• Badass Bookworm : McCoy tells Khan to " make up [his] mind " how to kill him and even tells him the "most effective" way to do it . Even Khan is impressed. McCoy : Well, either choke me or cut my throat. Make up your mind. Khan: English. I thought I dreamed hearing it. Where am I? McCoy : You're in bed, holding a knife at your doctor's throat. Khan: Answer my question. McCoy : It would be most effective if you would cut the carotid artery, just under the left ear. Khan: (releases him) I like a brave man. [lowers the scalpel] McCoy : (humbly) I was simply trying to avoid an argument.
• Kirk. He beats the tar out of a supposed "superman" with nothing but his bare fists and a PVC pipe. Note that immediately before this, Khan tells Kirk he can't hope to win in a fistfight , "I have five times your physical strength." That makes Khan stronger than Spock , who we've seen hand Kirk his ass several times; Vulcans are about three times as strong as humans.
• Scotty scores a one-punch knockdown of one of Khan's henchmen, before escaping the briefing room.
• From Dr. Bashir I Presume? (DS9 5x16) : "Two hundred years ago, we tried to improve the species through DNA resequencing. And what did we get for our trouble? The Eugenics Wars. For every Julian Bashir that can be created, there's a Khan Singh waiting in the wings. A superhuman, whose ambition and thirst for power have been enhanced, along with his intellect. The law against genetic engineering provides a firewall against such men, and it's my job to keep that firewall intact."
• Born in the Wrong Century : Marla feels this of herself, preferring to be in the more "adventurous" 1990's.
• Catching Up on History : Khan does this by reading through the Enterprise's computer logs that contain the last 200 years of history that he missed.
• Clash of Evolutionary Levels : The genetically-engineered supermen certainly consider it their right, and in Khan's case even duty , to rule over humanity. Because they are superior.
• Death Glare : One of Khan's Mooks smacks Uhura when she hesitates to carry out Khan's order. Good thing Marla intervenes, because by the looks of Uhura's face, she was about to seriously beat that guy's ass.
• "Die Hard" on the Enterprise : The Ur-Example of this as far as the Star Trek franchise goes (and there would be a lot more examples - we're looking at you, Enterprise ). Kirk and his crew have to sneak through the Enterprise to undermine Khan and his followers.
• Diagnosis from Dr. Badass : Dr. McCoy , with a newly-awakened Khan holding a scalpel to his throat, merely tells him that the recommended procedure for a quick kill would be to sever the carotid artery. After Khan praises McCoy for bravery, he simply states that it would be a quicker death than the jugular vein that was Khan's initial target.
• The 1990s-set Eugenics Wars are described by Spock as, "your last so-called world war." From this, we can presume that the Eugenics Wars is the conflict that's meant when Spock mentions World War III in " Bread and Circuses ." Of course, this would be retconned by Star Trek: The Next Generation , which moved World War III to the mid-21st century.
• The fact that sleeper ships became obsolete in 2018 would seem to imply that that's the year that Faster-Than-Light Travel was invented. James Blish 's 1968 episode novelization outright states that, "they didn't have the warp drive until then," and as late as 1985, The Official Star Trek Quiz Book places the discovery of warp drive in 2018. This is, of course, at odds with current canon, in which the warp drive was invented in 2063. Michael Okuda's official Retcon is that sleeper ships were made obsolete by "advances in sublight propulsion technologies," which seems unlikely given the vast distances in space. It is possible Marla is only referring to Solar System planets, which do currently take multiple years for Earth spacecraft to visit.
• Khan is described as a leader in the Cryptic Background Reference of the Eugenics Wars and physically superior to any average man. Eugenics in general may be better understood as Survival of the Fittest, Selective Breeding and/or elimination of unwanted traits, thus Khan's abilities appear to be natural from birth and the Enterprise crew express modest admiration to who Khan is and the era he was from. It wasn't until the DS9 episode " Doctor Bashir, I Presume " that affirm the Eugenics Wars was related to Genetic Engineering Is the New Nuke and that Khan was basically a LEGO Genetics science project, and that resulted in vague No Transhumanism Allowed Federation laws (reiterated in some Star Trek: Enterprise episodes). Star Trek: Strange New Worlds then said that these laws were quite militant and Federation society in general had strong Fantastic Racism towards augmentation of any kind.
• The Eugenics Wars are not explained very clearly, said to be connected to Earth's last great war but the date of 1996 eventually caused the chronology to separate the Eugenics Wars of the 1990's with World War III in the 2050's. Khan was said to be one of several dictators in that war, and comparatively more moderate than his genocidal counterparts. Khan's infamy as a TV and movie villain caused him to be upgraded to being the only notable figure in the conflict and at its center. By Star Trek: Strange New Worlds it affirms that there has been Time Travel messing with Khan's originally stated time period and moves him closer to the 2040's but the broad events will still result in a Close-Enough Timeline .
• Everyone Knows Morse : The Botany Bay is transmitting the letters "CQ", which Uhura recognizes immediately. To be fair, she is the Communications Officer, so knowing morse code is her job. However, Kirk appears to recognize Morse as well and even shuts Uhura down as she's translating it, saying "we're hearing it, Lieutenant" as if the entire bridge understands.
• Evil Counterpart : One of the reasons Khan became so popular; he is a perfect match for Kirk in both fighting prowess and strategic capability.
• Evil Overlord : Khan, with charisma to spare. You think this episode is bad, wait'll you see Wrath Of Khan!
• "Facing the Bullets" One-Liner : When Khan wakes up in sickbay, he purloins a scalpel; when Dr. McCoy returns he grabs him by the throat and holds it to his neck. Bones remains calm enough to respond, "Well, either choke me or cut my throat. Make up your mind!" Khan is impressed by his courage.
• One of the novels note  The two-volume The Eugenics Wars: The Rise and Fall of Khan Noonien Singh by Greg Cox makes a truly heroic effort to fit it into real history, explaining how the wars could have happened with no one knowing about them (however that requires omitting a lot of the history the episode recounts on this).
• The Star Trek: Khan comic miniseries goes the Alternate History route instead, depicting Khan and his followers nuking Washington DC and Moscow — in 1992!
• Star Trek: Strange New Worlds , meanwhile, suggests that the Eugenics Wars have been moved forward in time to the mid-21st century, overlapping with World War III, as a result of the Temporal Cold War. In the episode, " Tomorrow And Tomorrow And Tomorrow ", Khan is about 10 years old in 2022.
• This episode establishes that slower-than-light ships like the Botany Bay will be obsolete in 2018. In the actual year 2018, humanity did not have sleeper ships or even leave the solar system.
• Fangirl : McGivers is one for, as Khan puts it, "bold men from the past", such as Leif Erikson , Richard The Lion Heart , Napoléon Bonaparte , and Khan himself . She even draws Fan Art of them!
• Forced to Watch : In one of Khan's nastier moments, he makes the crew watch Kirk suffocate in an effort to force them to follow him. And he plans to break the crew by continuing to do so . Khan : Each of you in turn will go in there! Die, while the others watch!
• The fact that Khan's people are in stasis in a ship called the Botany Bay would raise alarm bells, as Botany Bay was a prison colony in Australia.
• Unintended at the time, but Spock's musing on what they would find upon returning to the planet on a later occasion essentially serves as a Sequel Hook leading into Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan .
• Freudian Slip : Marla tells Khan how fascinated she is by men of...that is, the world of the past.
• Godwin's Law : Conspicuously inverted. Khan is frequently compared to historical figures, but they're all pre-20th century figures with mixed historical reputations like Alexander and Napoleon. He is never compared to 20th century figures like Hitler and Stalin, whose reputations are more firmly negative. Presumably, that would have ruined the theme about Khan being somewhat romanticized.
• The Guards Must Be Crazy : Khan, a superstrong megalomaniac, is being held in a room with one guard outside the door. He busts out and flattens the guard in short order. At least in the resulting trial, the Red Shirt bailiffs are too smart to allow that stunt again and have multiple ones holding him at phaser point to make sure he behaves himself.
• High-Heel–Face Turn : McGivers , after a manner of speaking. She still loves Khan, but she is unwilling to watch him execute her captain and the other officers.
• "I Can't Look!" Gesture : Uhura turns off the viewing screen on which Khan is showing them Kirk suffocating.
• Hey Kirk, really think it's a good idea to let the superpowered stranger get complete access to the technical blueprints of the ship?
• Hey Kirk, do you think the girl who is enamored with the ambitious superman who is able to manipulate people should be allowed to hang out with him that much?
• Hey Kirk, why is only one guard watching a genetically-enhanced superhuman?
• Hey Khan, what compelled you to let the only non-genetically superior member of your team, who explicitly expressed discontent in watching her former captain die, to roam freely within the ship at that precise moment?
• However, fifteen years later, Khan returns as the villain in the second Trek feature film, Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan . Not only do the events in that film greatly influence the rest of the TOS-era movies, but the second , third , and fourth films are popular enough to convince Paramount to launch the TNG era , which continue today in the Nu-Trek era. "Space Seed" and TWoK also set up several plot points for both the subsequent TV installments and the reboot movies .
• Taken together, all of this makes "Space Seed" possibly the most important episode in Trek history, elevating Star Trek itself from a popular 1960's science-fiction series, to a multi-billion dollar, global franchise.
• Khan as a dictator during the Eugenics Wars mentioned in this episode was initially treated as a Cryptic Background Reference in the distant past, with later parts of the franchise having to shuffle around the continuity due to handily lasting the 30 years needed to reach Khan's stated time period. Eventually it conflated the Eugenics Wars as one aspect of World War III that nearly destroyed Earth but set the stage for First Contact , with Star Trek: Strange New Worlds stating that Khan was at the center of it all (while also saying various Time Travel adventures has altered the details ).
• Instantly Proven Wrong : When the Enterprise first approaches the Botany Bay , Spock says that the mysterious vessel couldn't be from Earth... until Uhura picks up an Earth Distress Call . Kirk: I thought you said it couldn't possibly be an Earth vessel. Spock: I fail to understand why it always gives you pleasure to see me proven wrong. Kirk: An emotional Earth weakness of mine.
• Instant Sedation : Of the Knockout Gas variety. Khan escapes the briefing room before it can affect him. Scotty also escapes, but clearly got a mouthful and is noticeably weakened. And of course, Starfleet hyposprays can put even a genetically-engineered superman under before they're done hissing.
• Kick the Dog : One of Khan's men slaps Uhura after she refuses to follow one of Khan's orders. She shoots him a Death Glare in response.
• Kirk, as usual. Not even a silly little thing like suffocation can stop Jimmy-boy from serving up the ham.
• Khan has all the pomposity and charisma you'd expect from an Evil Overlord . Especially when you upset him.
• Letting Her Hair Down : Marla does this for Khan after he criticizes her updo.
• A Lighter Shade of Black : While still an Evil Overlord , Khan is said to have been the most benevolent of all the genetic supermen, ordering no massacres and never waging wars until he was attacked.
• Meaningful Name : The Botany Bay is named after Great Britain's first penal colony in Australia.
• Meditation Powerup : Khan performs some brief breathing exercises when he first regains enough strength to stand up and just before he prepares to forcibly pull the door of the quarters he's confined in open.
• Names to Run Away from Really Fast : Come on, Kirk, his name is Khan . Why Don't Ya Just Shoot Him?
• Nice Job Breaking It, Hero : The ending becomes this in retrospect, as it sets up the events of The Wrath of Khan .
• No Good Deed Goes Unpunished : Kirk takes in Khan and his men after he finds them floating in space and on the verge of dying when their ship systems fail. Khan returns the favor by attempting to kill Kirk and take over his ship . Much, much later, in Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan , Chekov calls out Khan for this, pointing out that Khan and his people were marooned precisely because of this. Speaking of Kirk, not too much longer after said scene with Chekov, Kirk's son David gets murdered, immediately followed by the Enterprise 1701-nothing biting the dust. This all culminates in Kirk's demotion at the end of The Voyage Home.
• Pointed out by Spock In-Universe . The human command crew view Khan through distant centuries, remembering him from their history classes fondly as the least evil of the Eugenics Wars' genetic supermen and they have the impression he was 'firm but fair'. Spock has a different and, it turns out, more accurate perspective that Khan was still a ruthless tyrant. This is probably meant to reflect how people romanticize historical figures like Napoleon and, indeed, Genghis Khan, as well as the old saying that Mussolini 'made the trains run on time' (in fact, McGivers lovingly lists Napoleon as one of the figures whom Khan reminds her of).
• That said, Kirk argues that they may admire him on some level but are still aware of who he is. Given that episode ends with Kirk exiling him on a uncivilized planet, preventing him from harming anyone but still giving him a chance to create civilization on his terms, the story arguably supports his view of Khan more than Spock's (this also echoes what happened to Napoleon-he was exiled twice to different islands).
• Not Even Bothering with the Accent : Ricardo Montalban, a Spanish-Mexican actor, was playing a Punjabi Sikh, but made no attempt to sound like one.
• Obvious Stunt Double : The fight between Ricardo Montalbán 's stuntman and whoever was doubling for William Shatner (possibly Gary Combs).
• Obviously Evil : Khan might as well have "Supervillain" stamped on his forehead.
• Planet Baron : Khan becomes this after he is defeated but given a planet to colonize and rule, though we learn in The Wrath of Khan that the planet later died, prompting Khan to seek revenge on Kirk for marooning him there.
• Prefers Going Barefoot : Khan's female followers wear form fitting outfits, but no shoes.
• Pride : Khan's Fatal Flaw .
• Prison Ship : Khan and his followers were put on the Botany Bay and launched out of the solar system. The ship is named after an Australian penal colony.
• Put on a Bus : Khan and his followers. It came back , though .
• Recycled Soundtrack : The creation of this episode evidently reused a lot of music from earlier episodes. For instance, most of the music used in this installment was taken from " Charlie X ", composed by Fred Steiner. Some of Alexander Courage's cues from " The Cage " were reused too, most notably the "Talosian illusion" theme. One piece of music from " Where No Man Has Gone Before " was reused in the climactic fight scene in Engineering between Kirk and Khan.
• Sacred Hospitality : Khan tramples all over it.
• Sealed Evil in a Can : Khan Noonien Singh and his cryogenically frozen followers.
• Sleeper Starship : Khan and his crew were kept in stasis aboard the Botany Bay due to it being launched before the warp drive was invented.
• Small Role, Big Impact : Within this episode Khan is a Villain of the Week , if quite a bit more complex and charismatic than most and concludes the story with a Worthy Opponent relationship with Kirk. This made him deemed viable to return as the Big Bad in Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan , which in turn has made him referenced in various forms across the rest of the franchise.
• Smug Super : Khan, full stop. He has no problem telling Kirk and Co. to their faces that they are "honestly inferior."
• The Social Darwinist : This is Khan full stop —and a large part of the reason he is so horrible.
• Stealth Pun : The Morse code signal that the Botany Bay is transmitting is "CQ" or "seek you." note  In ham radio circles this is a fairly standard way to request a conversation.
• Super-Speed Reading : One of Khan's powers, which he demonstrates by reading through over 200 years of history in the Enterprise's computer files in a matter of minutes.
• Super-Strength : To a minor degree. Khan brags that he has five times the strength of Kirk, a fit but average-sized man, and Bones says that in his professional medical opinion, Khan "can lift both of us with one arm." We see him knock out a guard in one punch, crush a phaser in his hands, pull open the door to his quarters on the Enterprise unaided, and effortlessly throw Kirk across the room.
• Sure, Let's Go with That : McGivers tells Khan, "I know exactly who you are," and Khan looks pretty worried until she continues, "Leif Ericsson, Richard the Lion-Heart, Napoleon..." and her other romanticized heroes, to Khan's immense relief.
• Take Over the World : Seemingly Khan's raison d'etre; in fact, he mentioned to his awakened followers that the entire universe could be theirs, once they have the Enterprise.
• Taking You with Me : With Khan's plan to take the Enterprise going south, he activates the Self-Destruct Mechanism , forcing Kirk to take him out and shut the sequence down.
• Temporary Substitute : Sulu doesn't appear in this episode. He was replaced by Makee K. Blaisdell as Lt. Spinelli.
• Too Annoyed to Be Afraid : After Khan wakes up, he grabs McCoy by the throat and holds a scalpel to his throat. McCoy shows no fear, tartly telling Khan to "either choke me or cut my throat, make up your mind".
• Übermensch : Khan and his followers are physically and mentally superior to ordinary humans.
• Virtue Is Weakness : When Marla McGivers asks to be excused from seeing her captain and the other officers executed, Khan comments "I had hoped you would be stronger."
• Would Hit a Girl : Khan and his underlings.
• The depiction is obviously cheesy, but the idea was that Kirk knew 23rd century fighting techniques far more advanced than anything Khan has ever seen. He's much stronger, but inexperienced.

Video Example(s):

S.s. botany bay.

Captain Kirk, Dr. McCoy, Scotty, and Lt. McGivers investigate an old sleeper ship from the year 1996.

Example of: Sleeper Starship

• Star Trek S1 E21 “The Return of the Archons”
• Recap/Star Trek: The Original Series
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A friendly reminder regarding spoilers ! At present the expanded Trek universe is in a period of major upheaval with the continuations of Discovery and Prodigy , the advent of new eras in gaming with the Star Trek Adventures RPG , Star Trek: Infinite and Star Trek Online , as well as other post-57th Anniversary publications such as the ongoing IDW Star Trek comic and spin-off Star Trek: Defiant . Therefore, please be courteous to other users who may not be aware of current developments by using the {{ spoiler }}, {{ spoilers }} OR {{ majorspoiler }} tags when adding new information from sources less than six months old (even if it is minor info). Also, please do not include details in the summary bar when editing pages and do not anticipate making additions relating to sources not yet in release. THANK YOU

"Space Seed" was the 24th episode of Star Trek: The Original Series , the 24th episode of the show's first season , first aired on 16 February 1967 . The episode was written by Carey Wilber MA and Gene L. Coon MA , directed by Marc Daniels MA and novelized in Star Trek 2 by James Blish .

• 2.1.1 Episode characters
• 2.1.2 Novelization characters
• 2.2 Starships and vehicles
• 2.3.1 Shipboard areas
• 2.4 Races and cultures
• 2.5 Technology and weapons
• 2.6 Materials and substances
• 2.7 States and organizations
• 2.8 Ranks and titles
• 2.9 Other references
• 3 Chronology
• 4.1.1 Novel adaptations
• 4.1.2 Video releases
• 4.2.1 Novelization
• 4.3.1 Enterprise personnel
• 4.3.2 Khan's "supermen"
• 4.4.1.1 Translations
• 4.5 External links

Summary [ ]

On stardate 3141.9, the USS Enterprise comes across a ship floating in space . It is found that it is the SS Botany Bay , a ship lost during the end of the Eugenics Wars in the late 1990s decade . When the crew discover this vessel, historian Marla McGivers , Captain Kirk , Scotty , and Doctor McCoy all beam aboard to see who is still alive.

References [ ]

Characters [ ], episode characters [ ], novelization characters [ ], starships and vehicles [ ], locations [ ], shipboard areas [ ], races and cultures [ ], technology and weapons [ ], materials and substances [ ], states and organizations [ ], ranks and titles [ ], other references [ ], chronology [ ], appendices [ ], related media [ ].

• Depicts the coordinates and maps of the Ceti Alpha system.

Novel adaptations [ ]

Video releases [ ]

Background [ ]

Novelization [ ].

• In the novelization, Khan's full name is Sibahl Khan Noonien .
• Also, the last CZ-100 class vessel was produced in 1994 , and used for travel within the Sol system .
• Human warp drive was invented in 2018 .
• Khan fought the Eugenics Wars from 1992 to 1996 .
• The Alpha Centauri Expedition was the first to leave the Sol system and took place in 2018 .
• Lieutenant Marla McGivers is listed as a Systems officer .
• While it is implied that Khan killed Lieutenant Adamski in the novelization, the conclusion of the episode where Kirk drops all charges against Khan makes it highly unlikely, in the canon truth of the matter, that Khan permanently dispatched any crewman. In fact, by the time of The Wrath of Khan , it seems Kirk failed to log any record of the incident, which would be hard to explain if any personnel had been lost under such unexplained circumstances.

Enterprise personnel [ ]

Khan's "supermen" [ ]

Connections [ ]

Timeline [ ], translations [ ], external links [ ].

• " Space Seed " article at Memory Alpha , the wiki for canon Star Trek .
• Space Seed article at Wikipedia , the free encyclopedia.
• ↑ The character of Clifford Brent was not named in the episode but the same actor, wearing an officer 's Starfleet uniform , was addressed as Brent in TOS episode : " The Naked Time ". The same actor also played the character of Vinci .
• 1 USS Voyager (NCC-74656-A)
• 2 Ferengi Rules of Acquisition
• 3 Lamarr class

10 Best Captain Kirk Episodes in 'Star Trek: The Original Series'

A good Captain in Star Trek is the embodiment of the ideals of the Federation. Captain James T. Kirk ( William Shatner ) came first, so he set the standard. He taught all of us Trekkers what it means to believe in this future: standing up to bigotry, treating everyone as equals, and always helping when possible. Equality in Star Trek is not leaving the less fortunate to suffer; it is lifting each other up so that they, too, can go forward and lift others.

Captains must also be tested, forged, and tempered. Kirk relishes conquering a challenge. He has faced sacrifices that tempered him and taught him when to bluff to the last breath and when to have mercy. The crew has absolute loyalty and trust in Kirk, and they know that to serve him is to stand by the same ideals as their Captain. To do otherwise would be to fail him. The following are shining examples of what it means to live by the values of Star Trek. As well as reasons why Captain Kirk of Star Trek: The Original Series will always be one of the finest Captains in Starfleet .

Star Trek: The Original Series

Release Date September 8, 1966

Creator Gene Roddenberry

Cast Nichelle Nichols, Walter Koenig, William Shatner, George Takei, Leonard Nimoy, Deforest Kelley, James Doohan

Main Genre Sci-Fi

Genres Action, Adventure

"Obsession"

Season 2, episode 13.

This is Kirk's Captain Ahab moment long before Khan , but how he handles it shows that while he is not faultless, he can be brought back to reason. In this episode, Kirk confronts a familiar creature, one he previously battled and felt he had failed to defeat. He feels guilt and shame about the incident. When young Ensign Garrovick ( Stephen Brooks ) shows the same hesitation, Kirk is harsh, and the young ensign quickly shows the same shame. The Captain is at first uncharacteristically illogical in his obsession with the creature's demise.

It's only once he sees that a phaser blast does not affect the beast that he's able to forgive himself, and in doing so, the young ensign can forgive himself as well. This shows that the Captain can still make mistakes. He, too, is human, but he can still learn. He doesn't stay stubborn and hateful; he learns, adjusts, and forgives.

"A Taste of Armageddon"

Season 1, episode 23.

In "A Taste of Armageddon," Kirk and Spock ( Leonard Nimoy ) land on a planet that has learned how to sanitize war. The society of Eminiar VII is at war with a neighboring planet, but in a way that avoids damage to their buildings and materials. Computers initiate the attacks and provide the leaders with the projected casualties if the attack had been real. The people then surrender themselves to suicide booths. They consider this a cleaner and superior way to go to war.

Kirk is disgusted once he fully comprehends the situation. He decides to destroy the suicide booths , despite the possible consequences, to force them to face the horrors of war once again. Thousands have died. Kirk knows if they see the truth of war again—the ugliness of it—they will be forced to strive for peace. "That's all it takes...knowing that we're not going to kill today."

"The Corbomite Maneuver"

Season 1, episode 10.

"The Corbomite Maneuver" is a classic episode, often cited as one of Star Trek's best . It opens with Kirk in his quarters. Faced with dietary restrictions from Doctor McCoy ( DeForest Kelley ), and served by Yeoman Janice ( Grace Lee Whitney ), Kirk tells McCoy the only female he can worry about is The Enterprise. It's a slice-of-life moment, giving us a glimpse of the Captain's downtime and his commitment to the ship .

The Enterprise then comes across a new foe seemingly intent on trapping them. Kirk won't abide an unwinnable scenario, so he bluffs his way through. The crew is surprised to meet Balok ( Clint Howard ), a jovial character who only wished to learn about the ship's inhabitants by testing them. When Lt. Bailey volunteers to stay with Balok and teach him about us, Balok asks if he's Earth's best. Bailey answers no, that he will make mistakes, but Kirk states that he'll "...find out more about us that way." After all, to err is to be human.

"The Cloud Minders"

Season 3, episode 21.

Kirk and Spock land on a planet ruled by a literal upper class . Below them live the Troglytes, a people responsible for mining the planet's goods but prevented from enjoying the toils of their labor. The Enterprise is there on a mission for zenite, which can save another planet from a plague. Unfortunately, the citizens of Stratos made the deal while the people in charge of mining were busy fighting for their freedom.

Kirk is repulsed to see the High Advisor Plasus and his daughter Droxine (who claimed that Stratos was rid of violence) use torture, a violent and futile tactic , on one of the fighters. Plasus considers the Troglytes less evolved and incapable of learning civility, but McCoy quickly finds that the mines are filled with a gas that lowers IQ. When Plasus refuses to let Kirk dispense filtered masks, the Captain takes the masks straight to the Troglytes. No matter the politics and the zenite, he cannot stand seeing such inequity.

"The Omega Glory"

Season 2, episode 23.

Responding to a distress signal, Kirk finds a member of Starfleet, Captain Tracey ( Morgan Woodward ), manipulating two cultures in the hopes of commandeering what he believes to be their fountain of youth. Kirk has no desire to take down a fellow Captain, but he firmly believes that his morality outweighs that of any individual . The message, written by Gene Roddenberry himself, is undeniably overhanded. Its intention must nonetheless be acknowledged.

When Kirk begins to quote the Constitution, the words ring clear and sincere. "We the People of the United States, in Order to form a more perfect Union, establish Justice, insure domestic Tranquility, provide for the common defense, promote the general Welfare, and secure the Blessings of Liberty....They must apply to everyone, or they mean nothing!" To Spock and Bones, he states, "Liberty and freedom must be more than just words." There are few instances in which the message is so absent of subtext or metaphor. Here, Roddenberry has Kirk say it plainly, hoping that viewers will hear it.

"Balance of Terror"

Season 1, episode 14.

"Balance of Terror" shows Kirk once again facing bigotry, but this time on his own bridge . The Enterprise faces an unknown ship led by a Romulan Commander played brilliantly by Mark Lenard , who would later play Spock's father, Sarek. When the crew sees their likeness to Vulcans, Lt. Stiles ( Paul Comi ), whose family had lost members to Romulan attacks, grows suspicious of Spock and his pointy ears. Kirk immediately makes it clear what he thinks of prejudice aboard his ship.

Kirk and the Romulan Commander then enter an intense battle of wits. While the Romulan ship has cloaking capabilities and powerful plasma torpedoes, the Enterprise is swifter and more maneuverable, packing quite a punch herself. The two commanders grow a healthy respect for one another's shrewd strategy as the game unfolds. The Enterprise is ultimately victorious, and the Romulans choose to self-destruct, showing the crew of the Enterprise their resolve as warriors. The encounter is later revisited in Star Trek: Strange New Worlds with Captain Christopher Pike ( Anson Mount ).

"The Enemy Within"

Season 1, episode 5.

A transporter malfunction tore Kirk's psyche asunder, creating two physical forms of the Captain. One embodies kindness and timidity, while the other exudes aggression and a cavalier attitude. This episode gives Shatner a chance to chew up the scenes with some Olympian acting and shows what Kirk would be like if he were to lose balance. When the "bad" Kirk attacks Yeoman Janice, his crew's devotion is again shown in her hesitation to blame the Captain or "get him in trouble." Spock immediately deduces that there must be an imposter aboard because the possibility of his Captain committing such a heinous act is illogical.

When Kirk fears that his darker half has all of his best traits, McCoy reminds him that his softer side is the bravest. It takes courage to stand by your principles. As the situation comes to a head, he is given a choice: risk death by attempting to rejoin his worse half or deprive the Enterprise of her Captain. For Kirk, it is no choice at all.

"Space Seed"

Season 1, episode 22.

"Space Seed" begins Kirk's most significant arc as a character and sows the seed for the greatest Star Trek movie : The Wrath of Khan . The Enterprise happens on the U.S.S. Botany Bay, a ship from the 20th century. Kirk finds the vessel full of genetically modified warriors, led by Khan, who is played exquisitely by Ricardo Montalban . Lt. Marla McGivers, the ship's historian, is undone by an immediate attraction to this living embodiment of the ancient Sikh warriors of her texts.

Despite Khan's ability to lure Marla to his side, Kirk clocks Khan's instincts and sees the danger inherent. Kirk must stay in step with Khan's intellect without any genetic advantages or lose the ship entirely. There are multiple instances throughout the show where Kirk outsmarts robots and A.I., but none deliver the challenge that Khan does. Kirk regains command of the Enterprise with help from his crew and still offers Khan mercy: a planet of his own with which to make his destiny. He goes, a sign of the respect Khan now holds for Kirk.

"Let That Be Your Last Battlefield"

Season 3, episode 15.

"Let That Be Your Last Battlefield" perfectly encapsulates the road of futility that prejudice will take you down . Commissioner Bele ( Frank Gorshin, fresh off 1966's Batman as The Riddler ) and Lokai ( Lou Antonio ) are two beings locked in an eternal duel, all because one is black on the right side and the other on the left. Bele seizes control of the ship to escort Lokai to their home world of Cheron, but Kirk chooses to activate the ship's self-destruct sequence rather than let anyone take his Enterprise. "You can use your will to drag this ship to Cheron, but I command the computer. MINE is the final command ."

Once control of the ship is back in his hands, he offers mercy yet again. He explains that the Federation is ruled by peace and implores them to consider finding a new purpose. But the two are so entrenched in their hatred that they choose instead to continue to pursue each other, presumably until the end of time, on a dead planet, ravaged by their resentment.

"Court Martial"

Season 1, episode 20.

The original trial episode, "Court Martial," started a fan-favorite tradition in the form of the courtroom drama. Kirk stands accused of murder by a crewman's daughter, Jame ( Alice Rawlings ). He recalls perfectly not jettisoning the pod until he had activated red alert and had no choice . Yet, the computer's record doesn't match his recollection. Kirk, unafraid to dig for the truth and steadfast in the knowledge that he would never doom a man without cause, demands a trial.

During the trial, Spock explains, "It is impossible for Captain Kirk to act out of panic or malice. It is not his nature." Even an angry young daughter is later shaken by her conviction and pleads with Kirk's defense attorney, Cogley ( Elisha Cook ), to help him. Kirk has no resentment toward her for the accusation. Even once he finds the man responsible for putting him in this position, he wants only to help him. "Court Martial" shows Kirk strong and steady in his principles, his crew's utter faith in him, and his unfailing belief in mercy over violence. Star Trek continues the tradition most recently through Strange New Worlds ' second season.

NEXT: What We Know About Captain Pike's Next Voyage in 'Star Trek: Strange New Worlds' Season 3

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Space Seed (Episode)

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Space Seed is the 24th episode in season 1. As you proabably don't know the episode order is incorrect Anyway I found the full episode for you! -- Brynmawrphil12 ( talk ) 19:38, July 26, 2014 (UTC)brynmawrphil12

Star Trek (TV Series)

Space seed (1967), ricardo montalban: khan.

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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.

Khan Noonien Singh : You are an excellent tactician, Captain. You let your second-in-command attack while you sit and watch for weakness.

Captain James T. Kirk : You have a tendency to express ideas in military terms, Mr. Khan.

[pauses] 

Captain James T. Kirk : This is a social occasion.

Khan Noonien Singh : [laughs]  It has been said that, uh, "social occasions" are only warfare concealed. Many prefer it more honest, more... open.

Captain James T. Kirk : You fled. Why? Were you afraid?

Khan Noonien Singh : I've never been afraid.

Captain James T. Kirk : But you left at the very time mankind needed courage.

Khan Noonien Singh : [angrily]  We offered the world *order*!

Captain James T. Kirk : We?

Khan Noonien Singh : [smiles admiringly, realizing he has revealed more than he would wish]  Excellent. Excellent.

Captain James T. Kirk : What's your name?

Khan Noonien Singh : Khan is my name.

Captain James T. Kirk : Just Khan? Nothing else?

Khan Noonien Singh : Khan.

Khan Noonien Singh : [to Joaquin]  It does not matter. The Captain is dead. Take Mr. Spock next.

Khan Noonien Singh : Nothing ever changes, except man. Your technical accomplishments? Improve a mechanical device and you may double productivity, but improve man and you gain a thousandfold. I am such a man.

Captain James T. Kirk : Mr. Spock, I believe our heading takes us near the Ceti Alpha star system.

Mr. Spock : Quite correct, Captain. Planet number five there is habitable, although a bit savage, somewhat inhospitable.

Captain James T. Kirk : But no more than Australia's Botany Bay colony was at the beginning. Those men went on to tame a continent, Mr. Khan. Can you tame a world?

Khan Noonien Singh : Have you ever read Milton, Captain?

Captain James T. Kirk : Yes. I understand.

Khan Noonien Singh : [to Marla]  All bold men from the past. Richard, Leif Ericson, Napolean. A hobby of yours, such men?

[He uncovers a work in progress - Khan wearing a turban] 

Khan Noonien Singh : I am honored, Thank you. But I caution you: such men dare take what they want.

Lt. Marla McGivers : I don't know if you're going to like living in our time.

Khan Noonien Singh : Then I'll have to remould it to my liking.

Lt. Marla McGivers : [Khan moves in to embrace Marla]  Please don't.

Khan Noonien Singh : [pushes her away]  Go. Or stay, but do it because it is what you *wish* to do!

[awkward pause] 

Khan Noonien Singh : Well?

Lt. Marla McGivers : I'll stay a little longer.

Khan Noonien Singh : How many minutes do you graciously offer?

Lt. Marla McGivers : I only meant...

Khan Noonien Singh : This grows tiresome. You must now *ask* to stay.

Lt. Marla McGivers : [timidly]  I'd like to stay... please.

Khan Noonien Singh : Joaquin, the trip is over. The battle begins again, only this time it's not a world we win. It's a universe.

Khan Noonien Singh : Captain, although your abilities intrigue me, you are quite honestly inferior. Mentally, physically. In fact, I am surprised how little improvement there has been in human evolution. Oh, there has been technical advancement, but, how little man himself has changed.

Khan Noonien Singh : Yes, it appears we will do well in your century, Captain.

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The Enterprise discovers a derelict vessel which turns out to be an Earth ship dating back to a series of wars in the 1990s in which Earth's population was threatened by a group of genetically engineered superhuman beings. The inhabitants of the rogue ship, though they try to conceal the fact at every opportunity, are the only surviving oppressors from that war. Their leader, Khan, wishes to resume their reign of terror, beginning with a takeover of the Enterprise.

The Original Series, seizoen 1

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Published Nov 24, 2013

GUEST BLOG: The Evolution of "Space Seed," Part 4

Gene Roddenberry, of course. It will be Roddenberry who fixes the final version of “Space Seed” without credit. Handwritten notes show that Roddenberry had some interesting ideas he wanted to add to the script that unfortunately were not included in the final result. One that is especially intriguing is the idea that Khan would have a problem with Spock because interspecies mating “might sully the human race.” This would have been an especially fascinating theme in “Space Seed” if it had been used, especially considering it is Spock who ultimately defeats Khan’s plans in Nicholas Meyer’s Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan .

In these handwritten notes is the name “Khan,” an ethnicity change which was the result of the brilliant casting of Ricardo Montalban, and the words “Sikh” and “genetically purebred.”

Believe it or not, even in the Roddenberry/Coon script, Khan is not yet “Khan Noonien Singh.” He is Sibahl Khan Noonien (a name that will appear in James Blish’s adaption to the episode written from this draft of the script). The DeForest Research company (no relation to DeForest Kelley), which was tasked with checking scripts for errors and other potential problems, suggests a change in the name to “Govin Bahadur Singh” to closer approximate Sikhism traditions. Roddenberry and Coon then change the name to its final form, keeping Noonien because Roddenberry hoped the name would be recognized by a World War II friend that he wish to reconnect with. After three months of rewrites, Khan has arrived!

One of our favorite pages in all of Gene Roddenberry’s archives is a script page that includes the names Ericssen, Thorwald, and Kahn (sic) with scratch outs and handwritten notes. For us, it symbolizes the tortured route that the “Space Seed” script took on its journey into Star Trek history.

The final script, the result of Wilber’s idea, Coon’s improvements, Robert Justman’s suggestions and Roddenberry’s polish, is arguably one of the most important written and filmed. Without “Space Seed” there would have been no Wrath of Khan. Without the incredible success of Wrath of Khan , which had the highest-grossing box office opening weekend in film history to that time, the future of the Star Trek franchise would have been very different. And without Wrath of Khan , Star Trek Into Darkness would be a very different film, if any future Star Trek films had ever existed in the first place.

The writing of the script is the first, and arguably, most important aspect of preproduction of a Star Trek episode because everything depends on the script, which acts as a blueprint for the special effects artists, wardrobe designers, and set designers.  In our next chapters on the incredible story of the making of “Space Seed,” we will discuss the contributions of William Ware Theiss and his amazing costumes, and the special effects of the Botany Bay!

_______________________________________________________________________________________

Maria Jose and John Tenuto are both sociology professors at the College of Lake County in Grayslake, Illinois, specializing in popular culture and subculture studies. The Tenutos have conducted extensive research on the history of Star Trek , and have presented at venues such as Creation Conventions and the St. Louis Science Center. They have written for the official Star Trek Magazine and their extensive collection of Star Trek items has been featured in SFX Magazine . Their theory about the “20-Year Nostalgia Cycle” and research on Star Trek fans has been featured on WGN News, BBC Radio, and in the documentary The Force Among Us . They recently researched all known paperwork from the making of the classic episode "Space Seed" and are excited to be sharing some previously unreported information about Khan's first adventure with fellow fans. Contact the Tenutos at [email protected] or [email protected]

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Space Seed (TOS‪)‬ Secrets of Star Trek

SST316: Khan! Dom Bettinelli and Jimmy Akin discuss the introduction Khan Noonian Singh; his magnetic (and improbable?) ability to sway Marla McGivers; and Dr. McCoy’s surprisingly cool response to Khan’s threat of physical harm. Get all new episodes automatically and for free: Follow by Email | Listen to this episode and subscribe on YouTube. https://youtu.be/BpLfOPAXtXY Help us continue to offer the Secrets of Star Trek. Won’t you make a pledge at SQPN.com/give today? Links for this episode: * Leave us a review on Apple Podcasts! * You can watch all Star Trek series on Paramount+ and some are available on Netflix or Amazon. * Get the official Secrets of Star Trek t-shirt at sqpn.com/merch. * Purchase Star Trek books and Blu-ray/DVDs of Star Trek series and movies at the Secrets of Star Trek Store. * Join the conversation at the SQPN Facebook page. * Be part of the StarQuest Discord community at SQPN.com/discord * Send your feedback or comments to [email protected] Want to Sponsor A Show? Support StarQuest’s mission to explore the intersection of faith and pop culture by becoming a named sponsor of the show of your choice on the StarQuest network. Click to get started or find out more.

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