Star Trek: 10 Reasons Kirk Is Better Than Picard

By John K Kirk /

8. Loyalty

A captain needs a loyal crew. The question here is: which captain has the most loyal crew? It€™s a very powerful and useful trait that assures the loyalty and the effectiveness of the people who serve under that leader. Both captains are well-represented in this category. Kirk€™s crew were willing to risk their own safety to rescue him even after he was declared missing in action in the episode €œThe Tholian Web€. The same can be said of Picard when captured by the Borg in the episode €œThe Best of Both Worlds€. But, the difference between the two incidents is the way in which the crew reacts individually. To Picard€™s crew, it€™s a matter of professionalism. Options are discussed; plans are drafted and then, methodically, executed in a completely impersonal yet professional manner. To Kirk€™s crew, it€™s a personal matter. Spock, justifying his decision to stay and fight the Tholians as a logical one, is accused of being stubbornly loyal. In €œAmok Time€, Spock also displays his unabashed devotion to this captain in an uncharacteristic show of emotional relief when he learns that he has not killed his captain. His yeoman wants him to look at her legs, his weapons officer constantly vies for his attention and the chief medical officer regards the captain€™s health as his own personal challenge. Each member of the crew has some sort of personal link to Kirk, which is a stark contrast to Picard€™s detached and aloof yet respectful relationship with his crew. It€™s pretty clear that Kirk€™s crew has a deeper and more meaningful sense of loyalty to their captain.