Part II : Kirk Versus Spock—The Captain of the Enterprise Always Wins the Episode

Photo by Gage Skidmore

One of the things that has made Star Trek endure is the duking it out that takes place between Kirk and Spock at the end. The successful formula always had the two giants trying to gain the upper hand in the interpretation of events. So in case you hadn't noticed, the winner usually lands Kirk in the win column, while Spock can't figure out why he's left licking his wounds.

Here is the second installment of my series.

Whom Gods Destroy

After Captain Garth shows his true colors in defeat to Kirk, Captain and First Officer are left to spar, and it’s Kirk who starts out at a loss. “Tell me something. Why was it so impossible to tell the difference between us,” Kirk exasperates.

Spock seeing the opening, he breaks out in front. “It was not impossible, Captain. Our presence here is proof of that,” Spock reasons sarcastically.

Of course, the captain isn’t ready to concede just yet. “Yes, and congratulations. What took you so long,” Kirk begins his ascent.

Spock is still up to the task and sticks to his strength. The interval of uncertainty was actually fairly brief, Captain. It only seemed long to you. I was waiting for a victor in the hand to hand struggle, which I assumed would be Captain Garth. Because of your depleted condition. Failing a resolution to the struggle, I was forced to use other means to make my determination,” Spock’s logic leads.

At the same time, defeat seems at hand in the myriad of expressions Kirk exudes. Nonetheless, Kirk takes his turn at the dais. “I see. Mister Spock. Letting yourself be hit on the head, and I presume you let yourself be hit on the head, is not exactly a method King Solomon would have approved,” Kirk lectures.

But winning sometimes means not playing fair, and cutting short an argument serves as well as any debate point. Kirk’s communicator signaling the final shift, Spock's hesitation then seals the deal, and once again has the Vulcan rethinking his logic.

Yeah, it never gets old.

The Squire of Gothos

You would think bringing sense to the silliness of the Squire of Gothos would give the Kirk-Spock back and forth a rest. But Jim Kirk doesn’t believe in the no-compete scenario either. Of course, Spock can never resist the temptation to one-up his captain, and he engages this time without cause.

“For the record, how do we describe him? Pure mentality? Force of intellect? Embodied energy? Superbeing? He must be classified, sir," Spock begins the futility.

So Kirk plays along. “God of war, Mister Spock.”

Taken aback, the first officer doesn’t yet realize the descent has begun, and tries to keep up. “I hardly find that fitting,” Spock replies.

So James T. kicks it up a notch. “Then a small boy, and a very naughty one at that,” Kirk continues.

“It will make a strange entry in the library banks,” Spock is now fading.

The rearview mirror then fully gets its turn as Kirk engages the warp engines. “Then he was a very strange small boy. One the other hand, he was probably doing things comparable to the same mischievous pranks you played when you were a boy,” Kirk takes command... “Dipping little girls' curls in inkwells. Stealing apples from the neighbours' trees. Tying cans on…”

Spock’s confusion, and Kirk’s knowing pause looks like the Captain has applied the inertial dampers. “Forgive me, Mister Spock. I should have known better,” Kirks appears to pose capitulation.

But Jim Kirk doesn’t occupy the chair for nothing. Spock now flashes the eye brow in apparent victory. However the first officer doesn’t yet realize that his Captain has again held the day, and more importantly, has provided another lesson in humanity.

Leadership, success, and stature often has some very base origins, and Spock will soon realize the curriculum. The man who has bested him again was once the boy tying the cans and dipping tails.

I just wish we could see the look on Spock’s face when it finally sinks in.

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