10 Worst Things Captain Kirk Has Ever Done
4. Starting A War With The Klingons
A successful Starfleet captain must, we imagine, have confidence, but Kirk’s self belief goes beyond gumption to downright belligerent self belief. In season one’s “Errand of Mercy”, Kirk and Spock wind up on a peace loving planet, and Kirk goes out of his way to start a war against the Klingons (making their first appearance), even as the planet’s inhabitants beg him not to. Leadership!
The peace loving citizens of the planet Oragnia insist that Kirk and Spock don’t fight the invading Klingons - Kirk, naturally, concludes that he knows best. No means yes in this instance, and so he starts a guerilla campaign against the iconic foes, which quickly spirals out of control. Kirk no doubt means well, but dismissing the wishes of the folks whose planet you’ve just landed on seems pigheaded and dangerous (notably the episode came out as the Vietnam war reached its zenith).
The episode ends with the revelation that the Organians are in fact highly advanced beings who just didn’t want much to do with Kirk or the Klingons, and quickly end hostilities with their mental powers. Kirk’s reaction to not being allowed to fight any longer, naturally, is to have a sulk.