1. Star Trek II: The Wrath Of Khan - Kirk's Eulogy
Delivering a eulogy is one of the saddest duties a person ever has to do. This moment has to be the saddest one in the entire Star Trek franchise. Spocks heroic sacrifice, while truly tragic, is made pale when compared to Kirks emotional speech at his best friends funeral. Kirks face is a mask of impassive control as he struggles to deliver the words that will honour his friend. The mood is sombre in this scene as it should be, but the combination of details like the mournful dirge of bagpipes in the background, the funereal hymn Amazing Grace and Kirks final and ironic compliment that of his friends soul, his was the most human, all present a truly heartbreaking moment in Trek history that has yet to be matched in terms of effect and gravitas. When Kirks voice breaks at the end of the service, there are reactions by all of the crew: Uhura sobs, Saavik suddenly takes a sharp breath and both McCoy and Scott all lower their heads in respect. Spocks death deeply affected all the crew members and was the most unforgettable and monumentally heartbreaking moment of the entire franchise. This moment is canonical to all Trek fans and represents its most tragic event. The ensuing original Trek films all rested on the foundation of this event and it remains to this day the most remembered event in its history. These are the events that stand out as the most heart-breaking moments across the franchise. They show that Star Trek as a universally relatable experience that all viewers can appreciate. This is a true drama that, while it tells heroic tales and displays virtues of a utopian future, it can also be one that speaks to the depths of despair that humanity is also capable of experiencing. There is an event in this list that everyone can relate to. As you watch these traumatic events, you can't help but make comparisons to your own life as you consider the effect the events above have had on these characters. That commonality also makes these stories yours. What event in the above list - or any other Star Trek episode or film - can you claim as your own?
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.
