Khan looking menacing in Star Trek The Original Series
By
Craig Elvy
Published 18 minutes ago
Craig began contributing to Screen Rant in 2016 and has been ranting ever since, mostly to himself in a darkened room. After previously writing for various outlets, Craig's focus turned to TV and film, where a steady upbringing of science fiction and comic books finally became useful. Craig has previously been published by sites such as Den of Geek.
Craig is an approved critic on Rotten Tomatoes.
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/craig-elvy-5b31a3381/
Sign in to your ScreenRant account
Summary
Generate a summary of this story
follow
Follow
followed
Followed
Like
Like
Thread
Log in
Here is a fact-based summary of the story contents:
Try something different:
Show me the facts
Explain it like I’m 5
Give me a lighthearted recap
First appearing in 1967's "Space Seed," Khan became one of sci-fi's most notorious villains thanks to Star Trek: The Original Series. Ricardo Montalban's character went on to appear on the big screen in what is widely considered Star Trek's best movie, was rebooted for a new audience in the 2010s, and started a legacy that can be felt everywhere from Strange New Worlds to Lower Decks.
With Khan a crucial pillar of the Star Trek timeline, "Space Seed" remains one of the most important The Original Series episodes to rewatch in 2025. And while some elements have certainly aged poorly, "Space Seed" can still be considered a thoroughly entertaining piece of television, culminating in a classic fist fight between Khan and Captain Kirk.
That's Clearly Not William Shatner Fighting Khan In "Space Seed"
Kirk stunt performer fighting Khan in Star Trek The Original Series
Nine times out of ten, modern technology can enhance the experience of rewatching TV from the 1960s, whether by sharpening the image, giving the soundtrack more body, or subtly improving the special effects. Occasionally, however, technology can expose flaws that otherwise went unnoticed, and so it proves in Star Trek: The Original Series' "Space Seed."
During the big showdown pitting Kirk against Khan, the camera switches between close-ups of the two characters battling and a longer shot of the entire engineering room that serves as their arena. During these longer shots, the stunt performer stepping in for William Shatner is not just visible, but glaringly obvious. Even without the pause button or the crispest high-definition picture, the man fighting Khan looks like a totally different member of the Enterprise crew. The Shatner impersonator stands facing the camera for a good few seconds, giving viewers a clear view of his face.
Star Trek: The Original Series is notorious for scenes where the transition between actor and stunt performer is questionable, but "Space Seed" is among the hardest to miss. And that's a shame because it really does pull the viewer away from a timeless Star Trek fight. It's one thing to forgive the air punches and Kirk smashing Khan with a feeble-looking piece of plastic, but when the captain appears to swap places with a totally different officer, it's hard to focus on anything else.
In Star Trek's defense, "Space Seed" was never meant to be viewed in such detail. On a '60s TV set, the Kirk and Khan stunt doubles would have been little more than two shapes in bright clothes flinging each other across a room. Even with a lingering shot on the face of Shatner's double, the difference would have been obscured by the picture quality of the era. DVD releases changed all that, and Kirk vs. Khan got a particularly raw deal, making "Space Seed" a rare instance of a Star Trek episode that's better when watched the way Gene Roddenberry intended.
285
9.0/10
8/10
Star Trek: The Original Series
10 stars 9 stars 8 stars 7 stars 6 stars 5 stars 4 stars 3 stars 2 stars 1 star Like Follow Followed TV-PG Drama Action Adventure Sci-Fi Release Date 1966 - 1969-00-00 Network NBC Showrunner Gene Roddenberry Directors Marc Daniels, Joseph Pevney, Ralph Senensky, Vincent McEveety, Herb Wallerstein, Jud Taylor, Marvin J. Chomsky, David Alexander, Gerd Oswald, Herschel Daugherty, James Goldstone, Robert Butler, Anton Leader, Gene Nelson, Harvey Hart, Herbert Kenwith, James Komack, John Erman, John Newland, Joseph Sargent, Lawrence Dobkin, Leo Penn, Michael O'Herlihy, Murray Golden Writers D.C. Fontana, Jerome Bixby, Arthur Heinemann, David Gerrold, Jerry Sohl, Oliver Crawford, Robert Bloch, David P. Harmon, Don Ingalls, Paul Schneider, Shimon Wincelberg, Steven W. Carabatsos, Theodore Sturgeon, Jean Lisette Aroeste, Art Wallace, Adrian Spies, Barry Trivers, Don Mankiewicz, Edward J. Lakso, Fredric Brown, George Clayton Johnson, George F. Slavin, Gilbert Ralston, Harlan Ellison
7 Images
William Shatner in photo as Captain James T. Kirk in Star Trek
Leonard Nimoy as Spock and the Horta in Star Trek The Original Series
Dr McCoy and Nancy smiling together in Star Trek
Nichelle Nicholas as Uhura talking to Leonard Nimoy's Spock in Star Trek
Dr Mark Piper (Paul Fix) helps up Captain James Kirk (William Shatner) in Star Trek TOS Where No Man Has Gone Before
Star Trek Miri and Captain Kirk
Enterprise at Delta Vega in Star Trek TOSClose
Cast
See All-
William Shatner
James T. Kirk
-
Leonard Nimoy
Spock
Expand
Collapse
-
Star Trek: The Original Series
We want to hear from you! Share your opinions in the thread below and remember to keep it respectful.
Be the first to post Images Attachment(s) Please respect our community guidelines. No links, inappropriate language, or spam.Your comment has not been saved
Send confirmation emailThis thread is open for discussion.
Be the first to post your thoughts.
- Terms
- Privacy
- Feedback
2 days ago
Pokémon Legends: Z-A's Mega Zeraora Is A Sword & Shield Game-Changer
2 days ago
Robin Hood Season 2 Hopes Addressed By Star As Show Nears Season 1 Finale
2 days ago
March 5, 2026 Will Be A Very Sad Day For Star Trek Fans
2 days ago
Alan Tudyk Reveals What He Misses Most About Cancelled 98% RT Sci-Fi Show
Trending Now
The Fantastic Four: First Steps Confirms How Team Comes To The MCU - Theory
10 Superhero Movie Sequels So Good, They Put The Originals To Shame
Why Wicked: For Good Changed "Wonderful" By Including Glinda Explained By Writer
