Star Trek Into Darkness: 10 Things That Make No Sense
8. I Believe In You
The wacky Starfleet promotions are still a common occurrence in Into Darkness. You think the writers would have learnt from the criticisms about the last film that field experience appears to count for nothing and you could be promoted to Captain on the whim of any commanding officer.
In this film, the Enterprise has 6 captain changes. First Kirk is the captain, he then loses command and Pike takes over. Spock is transferred off the Enterprise before being transferred back where Kirk is in command again. After a short stint where Sulu gets to be Captain, Kirk passes command to Spock before taking back the captaincy at the end of the film. It is a wonder that the Enterprise crew can keep up with all the changes, it must make it really difficult to built a stable framework based on loyalty when the person in charge changes with every course correction.
Pike also saves Kirk from going back to the Academy by telling the Admirals that he would like him to be his first officer because he believes in him. Kirk screws up almost everything he is sent to do but Pike keeps telling us that he sees greatness in him and that he believes in him.
As an audience, are we supposed to take him at his word that he sees greatness in Kirk? Kirk hasnt demonstrated any greatness, he seems arrogant and not ready in anyway to be the Captain of a ship. But like some sort of devote evangelist Pike believes in him, and that is all it takes to convince Starfleet that Kirk deserves another chance. I might try that if I ever end up in court.