Captain James T. Kirk, portrayed by William Shatner, is renowned as an unyielding hero in Star Trek: The Original Series. However, in season two’s poignant episode, “The Ultimate Computer,”we see a rarely encountered vulnerability. As the captain of the USS Enterprise, Kirk embarks on a monumental five-year journey across the galaxy, where his legendary status has been built on thrilling encounters, significant First Contacts with alien civilizations, battles against foes like the Klingons and Gorn, and engaging romances with a variety of characters.
In the highlighted episode, Kirk faces a surprising setback at the hands of Starfleet when the brilliant inventor Dr. Richard Daystrom (played by William Marshall) arrives aboard the Enterprise to trial his M-5 Multitronic computer. This groundbreaking artificial intelligence effectively takes control of Kirk’s ship, compelling him to relinquish his command. Even his trusted first officer, Spock (Leonard Nimoy), finds himself captivated by M-5’s capabilities. Yet, the repercussions of this experiment ultimately spiral out of control, revealing the grave injustices that Starfleet inflicts upon Kirk prior to this technological debacle.
Kirk’s Most Undeserved Treatment by Starfleet
The Insult of “Captain Dunsel”
In this particular episode, Commodore Wesley (Barry Russo) openly favors the M-5, dismissing Kirk’s considerable experience and skills. This bewildering underappreciation demoralizes Kirk, as he grapples with the alarming notion that an AI might usurp his role as captain. The moment M-5 begins to demonstrate initial success validates his greatest fears. To compound this humiliation, Commodore Wesley cruelly refers to him as “Captain Dunsel,”a term denoting a useless component. Kirk’s reaction captures the depth of this insult, showcasing the emotional toll it takes on him.
While the M-5’s logic leads to questionable selections for landing party assignments—prioritizing necessity over narrative—Kirk’s selections are often motivated by the narrative needs of the show’s storytelling. Ultimately, Kirk finds redemption as the experiment goes awry, demonstrating the crucial human elements—empathy, morality, and sound judgment—that M-5 lacks. Daystrom’s unraveling mental state parallels the machine’s malfunction, underscoring the absence of humanity in its programming. Despite emerging from the conflict proven right, Kirk’s reputation suffers a harsh blow, receiving undue ridicule even as he saves lives. The treatment he endures is starkly unfair.
Kirk’s Career: A Series of Highs and Lows
Court-Martial Drama
In “The Ultimate Computer,”Starfleet’s treatment of Kirk feels particularly egregious, standing out among the many challenges he faces throughout his Starfleet career. While Kirk often emerges victorious in his adventures, he has endured his share of calamities. From being court-martialed and kidnapped to fighting for his life and witnessing the hijacking of the USS Enterprise, Kirk’s trials are numerous. Notably, he also endures a mind swap with Dr. Janice Lester (Sandra Smith) in the season three finale, “Turnabout Intruder.”
The trials continue with Kirk’s heart-wrenching losses in the Star Trek movies, as he endures the death of his close friend Spock in Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan and feels the devastation of losing his son, David Marcus (Merritt Butrick), in Star Trek III: The Search for Spock. Additionally, Kirk’s fate unfolds tragically in Star Trek Generations. However, the condescension displayed towards him in “The Ultimate Computer”remains frustrating, especially given his repeated acts of heroism in the face of adversity.
The Repetition of Mistakes in Starfleet
The Threat of AI in Starfleet
In “The Ultimate Computer,” Captain Kirk underscores a significant truth: no AI, however sophisticated, can replicate the nuances of human intuition, bravery, and empathy. Nevertheless, Starfleet continues to repeat the same errors. The disastrous attempt to deploy an AI-commanded Texas Class starship fleet in Star Trek: Lower Decks underscores this ongoing dilemma, resulting in the USS Aledo morphing into a lethal force. Additionally, a decade prior to this episode, Starfleet encountered calamity with Control, the A.I. designed for threat assessment, which aimed to eradicate organic life in the galaxy as showcased in Star Trek: Discovery.
Despite the resentful slights endured by Kirk, he ultimately saves Starfleet from its misguided decisions. In contrast, Lt. Commander Data (Brent Spiner) emerges as a rare and positive embodiment of AI, mirroring the best aspects of humanity. Still, Data’s malevolent counterpart, Lore (also played by Brent Spiner), serves as a reminder of the dangers faced. Unfortunately, Starfleet seems perpetually to overlook the valuable lesson imparted by Captain Kirk during this episode of Star Trek.