10 Crossover Events In The Star Trek Universe (Pre-Star Trek Picard)

2. Captain James T. Kirk, Star Trek Generations

When: Star Trek Generations

The first outing for the TNG crew on the big screen was a solid if slightly off affair. Suffering from the usual issues that face a movie spin off, some characters received too much screen time while others not enough. The script, while good, paled in comparison to ‘All Good Things…’, the final episodes of the series.

The movie also had to deal with the establishment of these characters as movie characters, shortening dialogue scenes to punch up the action. And no one seemed to be able to pick which type of uniform they wanted to wear from one scene to the next.

The film is remembered for several stand out set pieces – the introduction of the Enterprise-B, the destruction of the Enterprise-D and Data’s lifeforms song.

Why It Was Great

Do you really need to ask? Captain Kirk and Captain Picard punch a bad guy together after going horseback riding! It’s the stuff of fanboy dreams!

William Shatner was offered the role as a way to pass the torch to the next generation crew. Leonard Nimoy passed on appearing, citing the role as too small and bland (proved by the fact that his lines were given to Scotty almost in total). DeForest Kelly was unable to secure the required insurance to appear as he was suffering ailing health and so his role was handed to Chekov. But Kirk – Kirk had to be in the film. And Kirk had to die.

But more than that, Kirk had to show Picard what it meant to live. Their shared scenes in the Nexus displayed the difference between their two styles. Kirk is the older, more seasoned officer – one who is, initially, ready to retire and settle down. Picard is the duty-bound officer who has never wanted anything more than to be the best Captain that he can be.

But in their short time together, they offer something of a solution to each other. Picard helps Kirk realise that all he wants in the end is to live, to make a difference. Kirk in turn helps Picard realise that there is fun to be had, even in the direst of circumstances and that duty is not the end of service.

The death of Kirk has long been a source of resentment for many fans (instead of a Captain on the bridge we end up with a bridge on the Captain) but in its own way, the scene is beautiful.

The torch is handed over as the light fades on TOS and shines on the movie era of TNG. Then, fittingly and beautifully scored, Captain Picard buries Captain Kirk, placing his com badge on the lonely cairn.

For its flaws, Star Trek Generations did the best it could to handle that death and Kirk was sent off with honour.