Star Trek
(1966–1969)
While on patrol in deep space, Captain Kirk and his crew find and revive a genetically engineered world conqueror and his compatriots from Earth's 20th century.
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Title: Space Seed (16 Feb 1967)
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Cast
| Episode complete credited cast: | |||
| William Shatner | ... | ||
| Leonard Nimoy | ... | ||
| Ricardo Montalban | ... | ||
| Madlyn Rhue | ... | ||
| DeForest Kelley | ... | ||
| James Doohan | ... | ||
 |
Makee K. Blaisdell | ... |
Spinelli
(as Blaisdell Makee)
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| Nichelle Nichols | ... | ||
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Mark Tobin | ... | |
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|
Kathy Ahart | ... |
Crew Woman
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John Winston | ... | |
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Plot Summary
|
Plot Synopsis
Storyline
The Enterprise comes across the SS Botany Bay, an ancient Earth spaceship from the 20th century traveling through deep space with a group of genetically engineered humans in suspended animation (a remnant from Earth's Eugenics Wars of the 1990s). Visiting this vessel automatically revives Khan, a charismatic Sikh warrior-type with five times the strength and ambition of regular humans, who immediately attracts the attentions of ship's historian Lt. Marla McGivers. While Kirk and Spock slowly learn he is Khan Noonien Singh, the last and greatest of Earth's tyrants, Khan uses both Marla and the ship's library to revive his superhuman compatriots and take over the Enterprise. Written by statmanjeff
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Details
Country:
USALanguage:
EnglishRelease Date:
16 February 1967 (USA) See more »Filming Locations:
Desilu Studios - 9336 W. Washington Blvd., Culver City, California, USACompany Credits
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Technical Specs
Runtime:
Sound Mix:
MonoColor:
ColorAspect Ratio:
1.33 : 1
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Mr. Spock: I note he's making considerable use of our technical library.
Captain James T. Kirk: Common courtesy, Mr. Spock. He'll spend the rest of his days in our time. It's only decent to help him catch up. Would you estimate him to be a product of selective breeding?
Mr. Spock: There is that possibility, Captain. His age would be correct. In 1993, a group of these young supermen did cease power simultaneously in over 40 nations.
Captain James T. Kirk: Well, they were hardly supermen. They were ...
[...]
See more »
Did You Know?
Trivia
The Augment hypoed by McGivers in sickbay was previously seen as a member of the Alfa 177 science team in Star Trek: The Enemy Within (1966). He is later seen as a Klingon in the final planet scene in Kor's office in Star Trek: Errand of Mercy (1967) and as another Klingon in Star Trek: Day of the Dove (1968). The identity of this extra is not known. See more »Goofs
When Kirk contacts the ship after reviving Khan, he refers to the group as the "landing party". When the ship replies they call them the "boarding party". See more »Quotes
Captain James T. Kirk: This Khan is not what I expected of a twentieth century man.Mr. Spock: I note he's making considerable use of our technical library.
Captain James T. Kirk: Common courtesy, Mr. Spock. He'll spend the rest of his days in our time. It's only decent to help him catch up. Would you estimate him to be a product of selective breeding?
Mr. Spock: There is that possibility, Captain. His age would be correct. In 1993, a group of these young supermen did cease power simultaneously in over 40 nations.
Captain James T. Kirk: Well, they were hardly supermen. They were ...
[...]
See more »
During the first season of the original series there is no way that the producers had a thought about a movie sequel to this series. We all know how tenuous even a second season was for this expensive show. Thanks to the fans they took a chance and the rest is history. In this episode, the charismatic Ricardo Montalban plays Khan, a genetically engineered being whose purpose for existence, along with his crew, is domination. Shades of Hitler and other historical conquerers. The Enterprise and James T. Kirk always seem to err on the side of compassion, and this gets them into hot water in this episode. Upon entering Khan's ship, their suspended animation modules are opened and he fills his lungs with air and starts his conquest. His response to kindness is to manipulate it to his own purposes. His first act when he awakens in sick bay is to threaten McCoy with a knife. McCoy tells him how to sever the carotid artery and this makes Khan laugh and, hence, spare the good doctor. A beautiful young crewman, who has already started to drool over Khan (women weren't always portrayed as that evolved on this show), is enlisted by the manipulator to assist him. He is cruel and she is submissive. She will play a part later. Of course, once he has a foothold, he takes over the ship, bringing his once sleeping crew to the Enterprise, starting to dismantle the ship. The strength of performances and some very good writing help this episode becomes one of the better ones. It is a battle of wits between Kirk and Kahn that makes this work. I need to watch "The Wrath of Khan" again.