Summary
Walter Koenig calls the way Captain James T. Kirk (William Shatner) died inStar Trek Generations"unforgivable". Koenig reprised Pavel Chekov in the opening scene ofStar Trek Generations, and, like William Shatner, it was the last time Walter canonically portrayed his iconicStar Trekcharacter. Koenig currently joinsThe 7th Rulepodcast for a monthly review ofStar Trek: The Original Seriesepisodes with hosts Cirroc Lofton and Ryan T. Husk.
OnThe 7th Rulepodcast’s review ofStar Trek: The Original Seriesseason 2, episode 6, “The Doomsday Machine”, Cirroc Lofton, Ryan T. Husk, and Walter Koenig were impressed with guest star William Windom, who played Commodore Matt Decker. Traumatized by the planet-killer robot wiping out the crew of the USS Constellation, Decker goes on a suicide mission to destroy the Doomsday Machine.Koenig contrasted Decker’s ultimately heroic sacrifice with the underwhelming wayStar Trek Generationskilled off Captain Kirk.Check out Walter’s quote and watchThe 7th Rulevideo below:
It makes me think [of] Star Trek: The Next Generation’s first movie… the way they wrote off Captain Kirk was, I think, just unforgivable. He should have died trying to save the ship… He dies on a bridge or something, and he falls down, and he’s dead. If they’re going to kill off somebody as important as Captain Kirk, then it should be heroic.
Now, WIlliam Windom, his mind is going and he’s in bad shape, but at least you understand why he’s doing this and you’re able to feel for him. He has an extraordinary sense of guilt because his crew was all killed. Now, I really think it wouldn’t have taken that much… that Kirk should have had a heroic ending. Could’ve, should’ve. If he was going to die, he should have died trying to save the ship or something of that nature.
Star Trek Generations Ending & Kirk’s Death Explained
Star Trek Generations not only passed the torch to the cast of The Next Generation, it also revealed the ultimate fate of Captain James T. Kirk.
Why Walter Koenig Is Right About Captain Kirk’s Star Trek Generations Death
Kirk’s death didn’t satisfy anyone
Walter Koenig is a writer who understands good storytelling, and he’s right about Captain Kirk’s death inStar Trek Generationsnot befitting a hero of Kirk’s stature.Killing off Kirk was a mandate from Paramountas part of passing theStar Trekmovie franchise from Captain Kirk’s original crew toStar Trek: The Next Generation’s cast. However, writers Ronald D. Moore and Brannon Braga, as well as producer Rick Berman, created a scenario where Kirk dies in an underwhelming fashion while teaming up with Captain Jean-Luc Picard (Patrick Stewart) to stop madman Dr. Tolian Soran (Malcolm McDowell).
What’s significant about Kirk’s death is that it has stuck for 30 years.
It’s disappointing thatStar Trek Generationsdidn’t conjure a way for Captain Kirk to step aboard Captain Picard’s USS Enterprise-D and see thenext generation of his beloved Starship Enterprise. William Shatner also didn’t get to interact with theStar Trek: The Next Generationcast other than Patrick Stewart. However, what’s significant about Kirk’s death is that it has stuck for 30 years, andStar Trekhas not canonically resurrected William Shatner’s Captain. ButWalter Koenig understandably takes umbrage that guest star Commodore Decker inStar Trek: The Original Serieswent out on a bigger blaze of glorythan Captain Kirk did inStar Trek Generations.
