Star Trek at 50: Space Seed

Season 1

Episode 23: Space Seed
Filmed: December 1966 

First Air Date: February 16, 1967

Karen: Star Trek had a number of impressive guest stars, but perhaps none as striking as Ricardo Montalban. His powerful portrayal of the genetically-enhanced tyrant Khan Noonien Singh was unforgettable, and the raw energy between he and Shatner as Kirk was one of the reasons that this episode was chosen, out of the entire series, to form the basis for the second Star Trek film. Producer Harve Bennett was looking for something in the old episodes that would make for an exciting movie; he certainly found it in "Space Seed."

Karen: Khan is a mystery at first, but Kirk and Spock soon suss him out. He is one of a group of scientifically created super-humans who ruled Earth in the 1990s during a period known as The Eugenics Wars (obviously we are living in an alternate timeline). Apparently these super men and women decided that they should be running the show. As Spock puts it, "Superior ability breeds superior ambition." Eventually however, 'normal' folks prevailed. Khan and 72 of his fellows blasted off into space to escape being put on trial (or just shot, one supposes).  And that's how the Enterprise came upon them, adrift for a few hundred years in space. A normal man would feel gratitude and contentment at being revived from an endless sleep. But not Khan. No, right from the start, he begins plotting to take over Kirk's ship. Could there ever be a place for such a man in the enlightened era of the Federation?  

Karen: Montalban is a pleasure throughout the episode. His Khan is a being of power, amoral, existing only to fulfill his destiny -to rule. He reminded me of nothing less than a great white shark, ruthlessly pursuing his primal function. In some ways, Khan is a great Dr. Doom - seeing as how we've yet to get a fully realized Victor Von Doom on screen, Khan is not a bad template. He doesn't see himself as a villain; indeed, he thinks that what he was doing was right -"We offered the world order!" Khan says, slamming his fist on the table during the formal dinner. It is only natural and right that he should rule; he is superior. That others can't see this must perplex him to no end. Montalban throws himself into the role with everything he has, and is a great counterpoint to Kirk. Shatner, at this stage, was still very much controlled, capable of subtlety and quiet strength. His Kirk is a man of action, but also great intelligence and perception. The scenes in the dining room and  the one in Khan's quarters are all dialog, but you can feel a tremendous exertion of will between the two of them. The one place this episode falls flat, unfortunately, is the fight sequence towards the end where clearly stunt doubles have replaced the two actors. This would happen repeatedly in the first season.

Karen: McCoy and Scotty also had some fine moments in this episode. When Khan is recovering in Sickbay, he feigns unconsciousness, and when McCoy comes to check on him, he grabs him and holds a scalpel to his throat. McCoy remains cool as a cucumber and tells him that cutting the carotid artery on the left side would be the quickest way to kill him. It's a great bit for the character and for actor DeForest Kelly. We see much more of Scotty in this episode than in previous ones -he was becoming more popular with the showrunners, who saw the potential not only of the chief engineer but of the man who played him, James Doohan. While Scotty gets off a few quips, my favorite moment of his is after the Enterprise command crew has been taken hostage by Khan. Kirk and Spock have escaped, and they flood the room where Khan and his men are holding the crew with a knockout gas. Scotty jumps up to run out of the room, but pauses, turns back around, and socks one of Khan's men in the jaw and then runs out! It's that gratuitous punch that tells us so much about this character. Uhura also has a nice moment of defiance when Khan demands she turn on a viewscreen. No Sulu in this one, and of course, no Chekov, who didn't appear until season two, which is one of the faux pas of Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan, when Khan recognizes the Russian.

Karen: One thing that always bothered me about this episode is Marla McGivers. What a worthless officer.  She falls apart over Khan, betrays the ship, then just as quickly betrays Khan -this is a truly spineless and awful character. Necessary for the plot I suppose but she makes me cringe. Also, everyone talks about the great love story here, and much of Khan's motivation in Wrath of Khan is supposed to be about his desire for revenge on Kirk over losing this woman he loved so deeply. But in the episode, Khan treats her horribly. He manipulates her and physically abuses her (he forces her on her knees by crushing her hand). I don't see love here -I see a powerful man taking advantage of a weak woman. Whatever became of this relationship, I'm pretty sure it was a dysfunctional one. 


Karen: Once again, Marc Cushman's excellent book These Are The Voyages Vol.1 has some interesting information about this pivotal episode. The original story, by writer Carey Wilbur, featured a group of 20th century criminals who had been put into suspended animation and launched into space; it was Gene Roddenberry who added the idea of making the criminals super-humans, and that created the hook that made Khan so intriguing. Gene Coon came in to do a major overhaul of Wilbur's script, making the Enterprise crew sound like the people we know and love, as well as working out a number of rough spots. Originally Khan was to be called 'Harold Ericsson' and was envisioned as a Viking-like  antagonist.It was Roddenberry who, in the very final draft made the name change (supposedly to that of a long lost friend). McGivers started out as a Communications Officer; Coon changed her to a historian, to give her an intrigue with men of the past. Roddenberry conceived of a 'Dark Ages' in the late Twentieth Century -a very un-Star Trek like idea, one that contrasted with the generally hopeful vision of the future that the show portrayed. This ultimately became The Eugenics War.

Karen: Certainly "Space Seed" is a highlight of the first season, and I would argue one of the best episodes of original Trek -maybe of all of Trek? That is due in no small part to the work of Ricardo Montalban - one of the most memorable of Star Trek's guest stars.

Addendum: I couldn't let it go unmentioned that today is the 47th anniversary of the Apollo 11 crew landing on the moon (and yes, it really did happen). 

Here men from the planet Earth first set foot upon the Moon, July 1969 AD. We came in peace for all mankind.

Karen says: Welcome to the Sanctum, part 4

Welcome back to part 4 of my own little magical mystery tour of my comics room, or The Sanctum, as I like to call it. Today we'll be looking at the southwest corner, which is home to both the Justice League of America and all things Star Trek.

Besides Marvel Comics, Star Trek is probably the other major influence on my childhood. When I say Star Trek, I'm talking old school here: the original show, with the legendary team of Kirk and Spock (and McCoy too). Although I did enjoy Next Generation, and I really liked Deep Space Nine, classic Trek is and always shall be, my favorite.

On my bookshelf here you will see a signed photo of Kirk and Spock. For some reason I really dug the black and white picture, and managed to get it signed by William Shatner and then a year later, signed by Leonard Nimoy. It's one of my favorite items in my collection.

On the table in front of the photo are a variety of Trek knick-knacks, including a Spock button I purchased way back in 1975 at the San Diego Comic Con -my first convention -and some poker chips from the Las Vegas Hilton, former home of the Star Trek Experience. There's also a nice communicator replica that a friend got for me. As a kid I had a ton of Trek toys, models, Mego figures, etc, but that stuff is all gone now. Mostly I just have my books and autographed photos.

On the wall to the left of that photo are autographed pics of Shatner and Ricardo Montalban. I was very lucky to see Montalban at a Star Trek Creation Convention in Pasadena; I believe it was his only convention appearance. He was a wonderful speaker; I enjoyed his honesty, as he said there was no work for "crippled old mexicans" in Hollywood! Still, despite his obvious frustrations, he was a perfect gentleman, and despite being in considerable pain from back problems, he signed hundreds of autographs, and was gracious and friendly when I spoke to him.

I have gotten Shatner's autograph three times now. Although I have an insane admiration and love for The Man, he can be somewhat indifferent when signing. I did manage to get his attention one time when I mentioned that I loved his film Incubus, a film where all of the dialogue was in Esperanto. That got a very strange look from him. I don't know if he thought I was joking, or if he was afraid I was serious and possibly dangerous.

Nimoy on the other hand has been very friendly the couple of times I have met him. Unlike his Spock role, he seems to be a very warm guy. I also met George Takei (Sulu) outside of a convention panel one time and had a brief conversation with him, which resulted in taking a photo together. A year later, I returned to the convention and brought the photo for him to autograph. He looked at it and said, "I remember this!" and we chatted briefly, much to the annoyance of the folks in line behind me! Another good egg was the late James Doohan (Scotty). Back in the days before the Trek cons became so commercialized - ie, back when autographs were free! - I was able to meet Doohan a couple of times. He was a gregarious guy and loved talking to people. After one show in San Francisco, I spotted him in a gourmet market at Fisherman's Wharf, strolling around shopping. People came up to him and he was just as nice as could be.

Then on the other hand...I hate to say this, because the character of Uhura is so dear to me, but Nichelle Nichols was not the nicest person I ever got to sign. I think the reason for this was, the photo I asked her to sign was a group shot from Star Trek II, and her face was partially in shadow. All I know is, when I slid the photo before her, she looked at it, then looked up at me with a frown. She then turned to a friend sitting next to her and pointed to the picture. Her friend then also frowned at me. She signed it but said nothing to me. A few years later at another convention, the program explicitly stated that "Ms. Nichols will not sign photos where her face is obscured". Well OK!

The other residents of this area are the Justice League. I absolutely love the Bruce Timm Justice League cartoon and these large and small figures are here because of that. The glasses are ancient history. I got them from Taco Bell back in the mid70s. At one time I had all of them - the set included not just the ones here but also Superman and Wonder Woman - but only Aquaman, Batman, and Robin have survived. Unfortunately we didn't know back in those days not to put these glasses in the dishwasher! Because of that they are quite faded, but I still enjoy having them around to look at.

Up above this area of the room, I have some small sci fi posters, and a couple of copies of Famous Monsters of Filmland magazine, signed by the late, wonderful Forrest Ackerman. I had been hoping to get Ray Harryhausen's autograph on the same magazines at the same time but unfortunately I was in the wrong place at the wrong time. Maybe some day though...

Last but not least, although it's not technically part of the sanctum, my tiki mug shelf would be in the sanctum if I still had any wall space! These tiki mugs, shot glasses, coasters, and swizzles sticks come from a variety of tiki bars (and stores) chiefly in California and Arizona. What's ironic about all this is I'm not actually a drinker -I just like the way they look! I'm particularly fond of the top shelf, which includes a nifty rocket decanter, as well as robot and space-alien mugs. A good source for cool tiki mugs is Tiki Farm (http://www.tikifarm.com/index.asp). There's just something about the tiki aesthetic; it fits in perfectly with comics, sci fi flicks, and monsters! One of these days, I'll have to provide a tour of the Orbit Room, my outdoor tiki patio/lounge. But we'll save that for another time! I hope you all enjoyed this little glimpse at one woman's idea of heaven.