Kirk never turned evil! He just got into an ego-driven power struggle with his old ship’s captain, almost derailing a vital mission to save Earth. Then he authorised the creation of a doomsday weapon, which he left unguarded and undefended. Then he tried to fix that mistake by rushing over with a training ship full of cadets, only to get attacked by another old mistake he never kept tabs on. Then he stole that same ship…
But he made up for all that by breaking the chronological prime directive, losing control of his ship to mutineers, and allowing his racism to nearly start a war with the Klingon empire.
So really, who are we to judge.
I could do the same analysis for Admiral Janeway, but I’m afraid she would shoot me, Tuvix me, or write me out of history.
Kirk never turned evil! He just got into an ego-driven power struggle with his old ship’s captain, almost derailing a vital mission to save Earth. Then he authorised the creation of a doomsday weapon, which he left unguarded and undefended. Then he tried to fix that mistake by rushing over with a training ship full of cadets, only to get attacked by another old mistake he never kept tabs on. Then he stole that same ship…
Oh, shit, you’re right.
I think “highest level of incompetence” describes it better
But he made up for all that by breaking the chronological prime directive, losing control of his ship to mutineers, and allowing his racism to nearly start a war with the Klingon empire.
So really, who are we to judge.
I could do the same analysis for Admiral Janeway, but I’m afraid she would shoot me, Tuvix me, or write me out of history.
We could do it for a lot of captains. Picard and Pike would be the only two that are noble enough it might be less convincing.