The Worst Star Trek Acting Moment Is Secretly Its Best

Let’s dive right into the heart of William Shatner’s so-called “bad” acting in The Wrath of Khan: when he dramatically screams “KHANNN!” in a scene that has been endlessly parodied in pop culture and countless fan conversations. What most fans never acknowledge, though, is that Kirk in this scene is continuing his bluff against Khan…the one where he and Spock pretended that the ship was far more damaged than it actually was.

When Kirk screams his foe’s name in apparent rage and frustration, he is helping sell the idea that he was utterly defeated, which is a big part of why Khan is so surprised to see him later.

Outside of the scene where Kirk is actively trying to fool Khan, William Shatner’s acting in The Wrath of Khan is great, arguably only being eclipsed by the late, great Leonard Nimoy. From the very beginning of the movie, for example, he perfectly embodies a lifelong Starfleet officer struggling with middle age. He successfully got his command back in the previous movie to save Earth for seemingly one last time, but he now has to deal with being a desk jockey admiral whose legendary starship is now being used for training missions. 

In this context, the actor is wonderfully believable as someone worried about being eclipsed by young guns like Saavik, which is just one more reason his birthday gets treated (as Dr. McCoy so astutely notes) like a funeral. If you think William Shatner’s acting is bad, just go back and watch this birthday scene and how it perfectly captures the essence of an aged war horse in deep pain that he can’t share with even his closest friends. Kirk is a victim of his own greatness, dealing with the existential pangs of having his best adventures behind him, and Shatner never fails to bring that pain to life.

Of course, this early plot sets up the big themes of the movie, with Project Genesis creating life from lifelessness. Working with Carol Marcus and his own son helps Kirk feel young again, and he finds meaning in Spock’s sacrifice…specifically, the meaning that everyone has a chance to defy age every day by growing and embracing change.

Speaking of Spock’s sacrifice, William Shatner’s acting is amazing here, and for as good as Nimoy’s largely physical acting is, the reason this scene is such a major tear-jerker is that Shatner embodies the deep, aching pangs of someone losing the best friend he ever had.

Obviously, William Shatner has a very distinct acting style stretching back to The Original Series, and it’s not going to be everyone’s cup of tea. However, stylized acting is not bad, and the movie that supposedly demonstrates the worst of Shatner’s excesses actually showcases immense and nuanced talent. This man is Star Trek, and he spends almost every scene imbuing Kirk with the pioneering spirit that helped Gene Roddenberry put this franchise on the map.