MovieChat Forums > Star Trek (1966) Discussion > Kirk's sense of recall is amazing.

Kirk's sense of recall is amazing.

posted 8 years ago by cind5
13 replies | jump to latest

In the episode ARENA, he remembered his basic chemistry and knew how to use it perfectly. Hey, I took chemistry in HS and don't remember a thing. Even if he took a course during his Acemedy days, he only took it it because he had to have it to graduate.
In the SPECTRE OF THE GUN, he not only remembers the date of the shoot out at the O.K. Corral, he not only remembers all the participants, but the ones who died. I've watched a ton of movies about Wyatt Earp and read a couple of books and still can't remember. His memory is almost Vulcan like.

Spenser with an "S", like the poet.

[–] jxh13 8 years ago

In the episode ARENA, he remembered his basic chemistry and knew how to use it perfectly. Hey, I took chemistry in HS and don't remember a thing. Even if he took a course during his Acemedy days, he only took it it because he had to have it to graduate.

I wonder. In "Friday's Child," they improvise bow and arrows from materials at hand. It seems possible that his military training at the Academy included lessons on how to concoct weapons in unusual circumstances. Note that his studies in military chemistry probably differed significantly from the experiences you an I may have had in high school.

Kirk's prime characteristic has always been his resourcefulness, I think. Memory is perhaps another aspect of this. He improvises a weapon to beat Khan, his hand-to-hand skills were often imaginative, and, who knows what he was going to do to roboLurch with that stalagmite in "What Are Little Girls Made of?" Prompted by the Metron hint, it seems reasonable to me that Kirk remembered the formula.

In the SPECTRE OF THE GUN, he not only remembers the date of the shoot out at the O.K. Corral, he not only remembers all the participants, but the ones who died. I've watched a ton of movies about Wyatt Earp and read a couple of books and still can't remember. His memory is almost Vulcan like.

Kirk had a special interest in history, apparently. Remember that the Melkotians derived the scenario from his memories, so the details would have been familiar. The Excalbians were able to mold a pretty convincing Abe Lincoln from Kirk's memories, not just historical details, but character, personality.

Kirk is in his mid-30s, in his prime physically and mentally, and one of twelve men chosen to command a starship. He *was* exceptional, and, as you point out, his memory was one aspect of this.

[–] SuperDevilDoctor 8 years ago

Kirk is in his mid-30s, in his prime physically and mentally, and one of twelve men chosen to command a starship. He *was* exceptional, and, as you point out, his memory was one aspect of this.

A real-life military commander, at the height of his powers in his 30s (ruler of France, master of Europe, greatest living general -- all by age 35) was also renowned for his phenomenal memory: Napoleon Bonaparte.

Send her to the snakes!

[–] chris109 8 years ago

Actually, it was Spaukkkk who told him about Billy Claiborne surviving the gunfight.

SPOCK: But did not William Claiborne survive the battle at the OK Corral?

[–] kerryedavis 8 years ago

Reminded him, anyway. Once prompted, Kirk also knew. So he was distracted by Chekov's apparent death.

[–] magolding-94772 8 years ago

I have always suspected that Kirk's knowledge of the Gunfight at the OK corral had something to do with his ancestors who settled the Old West.

KIRK: (reading from a newspaper pinned up) October 26, 1881. Tombstone, Arizona.
MCCOY: Tombstone. Hell for leather, right out of history.
KIRK: But why here? And why now?
SPOCK: Captain, the Melkot said you were the pattern. He looked into your mind and selected what he considered the proper time and place for our punishment.
KIRK: Because my ancestors pioneered the American frontier.
SPOCK: Yes. The violence of your own heritage is to be the pattern for our execution.

So Kirk did have ancestors "who pioneered the American frontier".

Note that in a reproduction of the Gunfight at the OK Corral in "Spectre of the Gun" the Erps seem unusually sinister compared to their usual depiction. This could be because the Clantons were the losers so the other side had to appear menacing to our heroes acting the part of the Clantons.

Or it could be because Kirk's image of the Gunfight at the OK Corral was formed by family stories about specific ancestors involved with a specific time and place in the settling of the est, ancestors who had a specific surname. Maybe McLowery, Claiborne, or Clanton.

[–] narnia4 8 years ago

In the later Trek series, kids are portrayed as being educated in complex subjects at early ages. Kids in the future are apparently supposed to be much more intelligent than children today. The most obvious example is Wesley Crusher, but occasionally there will be a guest star shown doing advanced astrophysics as homework or something.

If you apply what we see in those later series to TOS, then it's possible that the Enterprise is filled with multi-talented geniuses with a great deal of knowledge about many different subjects. With that in mind, and factoring in Kirk's fondness for U.S. History (grew up in Iowa, Lincoln is a personal hero, a big fan of the U.S. Constitution, etc.), it doesn't seem to be too big of a stretch that Kirk should remember those things (especially about the OK Corral).

Of course, the show isn't always consistent. Sometimes Kirk seems perfectly familiar with 19th and 20th century Earth, while at other times he needs some help from Spock.

[–] kerryedavis 8 years ago

Well, to be fair, even "average" kids today in school deal with all kinds of technology that wasn't even imagined 100 years ago.

[–] chris109 8 years ago

The most obvious example is Wesley Crusher

That is a worship word. Yang worship. You will not speak it.

[–] timmytony80 8 years ago

Kirk was a Science Officer, like Spock, on the USS, I forget. Just before assuming Command of the Enterprise. And rem' guys, they're on a science/military expedition.

Besides, The Gunfight At The O.K. Corrail is only the most famous gunfight in history.

[–] chris109 8 years ago

USS I Forget. Is that a constitution class vwessel?

[–] ben-thayer 8 years ago

Kirk was a Science Officer, like Spock, on the USS, I forget.

Kirk served as an Ensign on the Republic, and as a lieutenant on the Farragut, some sources say as a member of the phaser crew and others say the navigator.

However I don't recall any references to Kirk serving as a science officer, nor can I find any reference to him holding this position before assuming command of the Enterprise.

[–] TheOldGuyFromHalloween3 8 years ago

people in the future are smarterer

Steelers fans are pathetic douchebags

[–] timmytony80 8 years ago

NO! Vikings Fans Are! But I like the Vikings! Now the Falcons (Team) are DOUCHBAGS! At least the 2009 Falcons, anyway! Hey, are you really The Old Guy From Halloween 3? And which Halloween 3?