10 Most Brutal Acts Of Revenge In Star Trek

1. Star Trek The Wrath Of Khan

Khan Star Trek
Paramount Pictures

Khan - the superhuman so nice, he's featured twice.

Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan is arguably the best of all Trek films to date. The story is one of epic revenge, sought by the man who feels more than wronged by Admiral Kirk. He feels as though Kirk's actions led to the direct death of his wife and the loss of his chance at life. This Khan is a very different beast from the monster of JJ Abrams' film. He is cool, collected and most of all, he is brilliant. He takes on Kirk and is only let down by his lack of experience in space. In a ship to ship battle, the Enterprise wins the day.

But, Khan is not defeated. Crippled and burned, he drags himself across the deck of the bridge. He activates the Genesis Device, quoting Moby Dick as he dies.

'...from hell's heart, I stab at thee. For hate's sake, I spit my last breath at thee.'

Khan is the man responsible for the death of Spock. There is no greater sin in the Star Trek universe than to take Spock away from Kirk. Abandoned on what became a desolate planet, Khan waited. He plotted. Fate stepped in and he was freed. There was nothing left him but his revenge. He hunts Kirk. He hurts Kirk.

His one wish was to inflict the damage on Kirk that he had visited on him. As he watches the Enterprise attempt to slink away, he smiles and dies, his dream achieved. The most succesful act of revenge in Star Trek history ensures Khan's place as the greatest villain in the entire franchise.

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Contributor
Contributor

Seán is the host and head writer/presenter for TrekCulture, as well as a writer/presenter on WhoCulture and WhatCulture Horror. He has authored two novels, dozens of short stories, and hundreds of articles for WhatCulture. He holds a Master of Arts in Creative Writing from University College Dublin. As part of his work with TrekCulture, Seán has been invited to participate in collaborations with Roddenberry Entertainment, as well as contributing to several Star Trek community projects. An avid fan of Star Trek, Doctor Who, and the horror genre at large, Seán's expertise has helped develop these channels to the successes they are today. As host of the Ups & Downs series on TrekCulture, Seán has become internationally recognised for his positive yet critically informed approach to reviewing every episode of modern Star Trek, ensuring he is one of the go-to voices in the Trek community. Favourite Quote to describe himself: "I'm serious about what I do, just not always about the way that I do it"