- Directed by Marc Daniels
- Story by Carey Wilber
- Teleplay by Gene L. Coon and Carey Wilber
- February 16, 1967
- NBC
Episode Cast
- Captain James T. Kirk-William Shatner
- First Officer and Science Officer Commander Spock-Leonard Nimoy
- Chief Medical Officer Lt. Commander Leonard “Bones” McCoy-DeForest Kelley
- Chief Engineer Montgomery “Scotty” Scott–James Doohan
- Communications Officer Lt. Nyota Uhura-Nichelle Nichols
- Helmsman Lt. Hikaru Sulu-George Takei
- Khan Noonien Singh-Ricardo Montalbán
- Lt. Marla McGivers-Madlyn Rhue
- Spinelli-Blaisdell Makee
- Joaquin-Mark Tobin
- Crew Woman-Kathy Ahart
- Transporter Technician-John Winston
The Enterprise encounters a sleeper ship holding genetically engineered people from Earth’s Eugenics War.
As with any good story, things begin with a mystery that just begs the crew to investigate. Early Star Trek didn’t delve too much into its fake history with this being one of the first instances where it did. As I understand it there was an initial push to keep things vague as to the point in history which this series occurred and what led up to it. Stardates were just numerical nonsense that sounded real.
For the purposes of the story the main cast certainly got pushed into the background with the guest characters of Khan Noonien Singh (Ricardo Montalbán) and Lt. Marla McGivers (Madlyn Rhue) getting serious screentime. This is really THEIR story though the cast does play a part.
On the surface Space Seed is about a charismatic megalomaniac trying to take over the Enterprise and start doing terrible things again. What you are really getting is a look at the human fascination with evil and the terrible figures of history. Not entirely but largely.
In a scene shortly after discovery McCoy (DeForest Kelley) demonstrates his characteristic wit and intelligence with a recovering Khan in the sickbay. In a bit of macabre humor while Khan has his hand on McCoy’s throat the doctor prescribes the best way to kill him. A perfect McCoy moment.
Historian McGivers at first does not know who she is dealing with despite Khan being one of the best-known tyrants of his era but she certainly looks DTF with him. Khan for his part does not turn her away but engages in some serious will breaking. It is classic emotional abuse compressed into a length of time that is friendly to a weekly series. Givers not going “That’s Khan” though might bring her eyesight or skills into question. It would kinda be like a history teacher not recognizing Hitler.
The emotional abuse element in the episode really jumps out at me. McGivers is obviously intimidated by Khan because of her fascination with history at the minimum. There is the scene when she nervously offers stay for a few minutes then he tells her to go and then he makes her feel bad and there is a back and forth of him jerking her around. It is classic abuse behavior occurring until he breaks her. If you view McGivers as an abused woman you understand why she not only stood by Khan but also why she helped Kirk. Read about real life abuse cases of the worst kind and you will see.
Kirk (William Shatner) is not missing from this. He and Khan spend a great deal of time feeling each other out. They are equals in a sense. Each the antithesis of the other. Kirk pokes at Khan’s ego while Khan probes with questions and statements. One is not stronger because the other is weaker nor are both equally weak.
Being that things needed to be wrapped up by the end of the hour there is some idiocy done for an exciting finale that can quickly restore the status quo. Control of the Enterprise has just been back wrested from Khan meaning NOBODY has a full understanding of what he did or may still have control of yet the crew yammers on over an open line about what they are doing allowing Khan to set up an easy ambush in engineering for Kirk. Spock (Leonard Nimoy) knows better! That and the stunt doubles used in the climactic fight are my two big complaints.
The ending of marooning Khan on Seti Alpha V with his abused girlfriend is a very Star Trek ending though it does not take into account the character’s evil. While Khan is a man out of time and applying modern law might not be appropriate, he was a tyrant responsible for countless deaths so I am conflicted.
Space Seed is a great episode that introduces in an iconic villain to Star Trek and deals with some very human concepts that exist that we would like not like to acknowledge. One more in a long line of excellent episodes.
Warren Watched A Movie 