7 Times Someone Caught The Idiot Ball In Star Trek II: The Wrath Of Khan

"Caught me with my britches down" is the quaint phrase Kirk uses to explain why he got his ship toasted during his and Khan’s first battle. What he doesn’t mention is that several people told him to pull his drawers up multiple times before a single shot was fired.

A lot of excuses have been offered up as to why Kirk doesn’t raise shields at this critical moment when the Reliant is slowly creeping up to point-blank range. He’s rusty. He’s too trusting of a supposed ally ship with his ex-crewmate and friend on board. He doesn’t care for rules and regulations. None of this makes the scene any less cringey as Kirk gets warning after warning that things are not right.

First, the Reliant has made a hostile move towards a civilian base, illegally coming to take their research. Second, they’re obviously jamming communications in the area. Kirk himself says it’s "damn peculiar", but, for some reason he doesn’t trust his gut.

Suddenly the Reliant is approaching them, but refusing to communicate. They’re lying about the condition of their chambers coil, whatever that is. Saavik bluntly says regulations demand they raise shields. Kirk, instead, takes what seems to be the lesser stance of raising defense fields.