12 Most Heart-Breaking Star Trek Moments Ever

2. Star Trek III: The Search For Spock - The Destruction Of The USS Enterprise

Another unforgettably heartbreaking moment in this film that has to stand out as the penultimate event in the Star Trek film franchise, this is a truly shocking moment of sadness. Following the death of his son, Kirk rigs the Enterprise to self-destruct, as the automated systems Scotty created are overwhelmed by the enemy Klingon Bird of Prey's phaser barrage. It is his only weapon and his last resort to save his companions and the lives of Saavik and Spock on the planet's surface.

The Enterprise explodes, taking the Klingon boarding party with it. Kirk and his crew have been transported to the surface where they are reunited with Saavik and Spock.

Suddenly, a shooting star can be seen in the sky above them. Kirk looks up and stares at it, accompanied by Dr. McCoy. Kirk continues to star at the ship that has served him and his crew so well for so many years and asks McCoy what has he done?

McCoy€™s hand finds its way to his friend€™s shoulder in a comforting gesture reserved for times of utmost sadness. The scene is a truly saddening one €“ the Enterprise careening to the planet€™s surface in a fiery torrent. McCoy replies:

€œWhat you always do, Jim: turn death into a fighting chance to live.€

The gravity of that statement clearly outlines the profoundly sad event. Spock is found and eventually returned, but at what cost? The answer to that question is his son and his ship.

Contributor
Contributor

John Kirk is a Teacher-Librarian and currently a History/English Teacher with the Toronto District School Board. But mostly, John teaches Geek. Comics, Sci-Fi (Notably Star Trek), Fantasy and Role-Playing and table-top games all make up part of John’s repertoire, There is a whole generation of nerds-in-embryo who rely on him to make sense of it all, to teach that with great power comes great responsibility, that the force will be with us always and that a towel IS the most useful thing to have in one’s possession. When John isn’t in the classroom, he can be found in his basement writing comic reviews for www.popmythology.com and features for Roddenberry Entertainment's www.1701news.com.