14 Dumbest Things In Star Trek V: The Final Frontier
2. Kirk’s Ignored Pain
So, what exactly is happening with Sybok when he rassles with Kirk over the weapon in the hangar deck. He seems to be enjoying toying with this weaker human. This is actually a side of Sybok we sadly never see again, because it hints he's not all goodness and light.
But that unexplored characterization aside, why does Sybok rassle at all? Why not just pull his patented, “I can feel your pain” thing with him right then and there? He has zero compunction about doing it to the ambassadors, the bridge crew, and then Bones and Spock. Why not just quell any resistance by “freeing” Kirk?
Better yet, why does Sybok wait to attempt do this to any of them until they’re aboard the Enterprise rather than when he’s down on the planet surrounded by his zealot followers? He can’t have known the Enterprise has an easily-overcome barely-skeleton crew. He should have expected to face hundreds, ergo he shouldn’t be taking the risk that Kirk can’t somehow flip the situation in his favor. The whole thing reeks of plot contrivance.
Surprisingly, that's not the dumbest thing of all.