10 Worst Ever First Officers In Star Trek

4. Commander James T. Kirk

Star Trek The Original Series Mirror Mirror Kirk Salute
CBS Media Ventures

Hopping universes for a moment and here we analyse the actions of a certain James T. Kirk, the once and future captain of the I.S.S. Enterprise. In the context of the mirror universe, as an officer, he pretty much did everything that was expected of him. He rose through the ranks, becoming the first officer under Christopher Pike. There, he bided his time, establishing some crew alliances, then assassinated his former commander. 

As a mirror universe officer, we say full marks Jim, fair play.

As first officer to Christopher Pike, we cry foul. Sure, Chekov may have allowed his captain to be killed due to a wee bit of negligence, but he didn't actually pull the trigger. Kirk has no such excuses. 

Kirk's ascension to the big chair on the Enterprise serves as a warning to all others who serve with him, and a reminder that command can be a burden - no matter which universe you're currently attempting to dominate. Still, at least he reigned for a long, long time, with no challengers, and all was well.

Hey Spock, what are you doing with that Tantalus Device...

In this post: 
Star Trek
 
Posted On: 
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"