Star Trek

Space Seed

Season 1, Episode 22, Aired 2/16/67

Episode Summary

The Enterprise picks up a crew of genetic supermen from the 20th century... and their leader, Khan, plans to create a new empire.

9.0

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Cast & Crew

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Leonard Nimoy

Mr. Spock
William Shatner

Captain James Tiberius Kirk
Bobby Bass

Guard (uncredited)

Fan Episode Reviews (8)

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McCoy offers up his ear to a man who does not exactly appreciate Vincent Van Gogh’s work

5.8

"Mediocre"

By hrtonslv, Nov 14, 2011 Report Abuse

Now I'm guessing the only reason this episode got rated this high is because Star Trek II, the Wrath of Khan" was such a hit. I'm not knocking the episode. But I find it highly questionable it is in the same category as "Mirror, Mirror" or "Balance of Terror". Ricardo Montelban's performance was wonderful, I must say. If only I could get a woman to unconditionally devote herself to me like that. Wasn't too thrilled with the end fight Khan and Kirk had. After all, Khan had "10 times Kirk's strength"moreless

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7 3
A good but not great episode....

7.5

"Good"

By uk6strings, Mar 19, 2011 Report Abuse

"Space Seed" is an enjoyable episode but it has its problems (including a lame storyline regarding the ship's curvy Historian and a ridiculous idea of a 1990s Eugenics War) and just plain doesn't match up to other Star Trek episode heavyweights (way out of league with the likes of The City On The Edge Of Forever, Mirror Mirror, and The Trouble With Tribbles). Richardo Montalban is perfect in the unforgettable role of Khan. The character of Khan is the episode's real highlight but I am confused as to why the character is considered one of the Cpt. Kirk's ultimate enemies since the two hardly share any screen time together. In fact the best scene of the episode involves a showdown not between Khan & Kirk but between Khan & Dr. McCoy. "Space Seed" is not as good an episode of Star Trek as everyone seems to think it is - obviously hyped up because of the popularity of the film Star Trek II: The Wrath Of Khan.moreless

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The Enterprise discovers a ship full of genetically engineered criminals.

7.0

"Good"

By Celedorian, Dec 16, 2010 Report Abuse

This is, of course, famous for being the prequel to the second Star Trek feature film (often cited as the greatest Trek film of them all), with Ricardo Montalbn as Khan. The episode, introducing the evil superman, has a bit of a weak screenplay is nothing special as a result. While Montalbn gives a great performance (as does Madlyn Rhue), the original idea for the story a Renaissance man from the past being out of place in the future is buried amid the action. That said, it's not a clunker; it has some interesting sci fi concepts and enough twists and turns to keep the viewer engaged until the closing credits role.moreless

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1 1
The Enterprise comes across a freighter that has been drifting in space for 200 years, and houses a frozen race of 'super humans'. But their leader, dictator Khan, plans to create a new empire. A quite good episode, although I'd say not a complete classicmoreless

8.5

"Great"

By Jay-Spacedust, Dec 16, 2010 Report Abuse

This review contains minor spoilers.

This is one of Original 'Star Trek's most well-known episodes, much due to its big screen sequel 'Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan' (1982), which is often regarded as the best of the big-screen outings; certainly for the original crew at least.

The story is a reasonable one, and undoubtedly the best thing about the episode is Richard Montalban as Khan. He gives a mesmerising performance, and ranks as one of Original 'Trek's best guest performers.

If the episode has any flaws, it is that the middle section is rather dragged out and over-talky. The opening scenes when Khan and his people are discovered are good, and the ending (which I'll get on to in a moment) certainly picks up, but the middle section falls between the two.

The later sections of the episode, as Khan and his people take over the Enterprise, prove to be the best moments of the episode. We have seen aliens and various other super-beings take over the ship, but with the human (albeit genetically enhanced) Khan it is something different, and feels more like a genuine threat.

The final, inevitable showdown between Kirk and Khan takes place in engineering. Again. How many 'final fights' take place in engineering?! There are loads including the previous-but-one broadcast episode, "Court Martial'. And again, I did find the obvious stunt-double work to be distracting - they didn't even seem to try and hide their faces on this one.

I find this to be a mostly good episode, but maybe not a complete classic; and I do agree to an extent with another reviewer that this episode may have got a high rating only due to its connection with its popular big screen sequel. It's good, but certainly not in the same league of some of the other first season classics (in my opinion). But not bad either.moreless

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2 1
Enterprise picks up the crew from a drifing space ship sent into space centuries ago. The crew are refugees from the Eugenics Wars and is lead by the main man, Kahn.moreless

9.3

"Superb"

By Remo49, Dec 16, 2010 Report Abuse

I know some people find this episode none too great but I loved it. This is the episode that spawned, "Star Trek: The Wrath of Khan", some Trek Enterprise episodes and numerous fan fics. Ricardo (Fine corinthian leather and Boss! Boss! The plane, boss!) Montalban gives a great performance as Khan, a genetically created human who has, "five times your strength" and superior intelligence. Fortunately for Kirk and company he has a large ego too. Apparently he's also a charmer because a crew member, Lt. McGivers, a historian who just happens to be a specialist of Kahn's time period, falls for him big time. (By the way I'm just curious but what's a historian doing on a star ship? Does she know the history of every planet in the Federation?) She helps him try to take control of the ship but has a change of heart when Khan tortures Kirk in a pressure chamber because the crew has locked out some controls of the ship and he wants to persuade the crew to give him the controls. She saves Kirk and as a thank you she is allowed to join Khan and his boys and girls in exile on a hostile planet rather than face a court martial. Personally I liked what Khan said to Kirk when he was told life would be very hard on the planet, "Are you familiar with Milton, Capt. Kirk?"
Kirk nods, "I understand." Scotty asks him about this and Kirk tells him that Khan was referring to Paradise Lost where Satan tells God, "Tis better to rule in hell than serve in Heaven."
I thought this episode was well worth watching.moreless

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Trivia, Notes, Quotes and Allusions

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Trivia
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- Trivia: The ship that Khan stole was of the DY-100 class. The S.S. Botany Bay's number was DY-103. Edit
- Despite the fact they say that McGivers is knowledgeable about the late 20th century, she seems to know almost nothing about the Eugenics Wars, and there is no indication of any 20th century paintings, statuary, etc., in her quarters. Edit
- When Khan first asks McCoy to speak to the captain, the doctor depresses the button on the com panel, and without him saying a word, the bridge answers. The com isn't a "hotline" to the bridge, so it wouldn't have connected there unless he called for it specifically. Edit
Notes
ADD NOTES
- Although Chekov was not on the show when this episode aired, Khan still recognizes him in Star Trek II. It is a general fan consensus that Chekov was on the ship during "Space Seed," but was not assigned to the bridge yet. Walter Koenig jokes that he believes Chekov accidentally made Khan wait an uncomfortably long period of time to use the bathroom. Edit
- The SS Botany Bay DY100 model shown in this episode was reworked and featured in the second season episode "The Ultimate Computer" as the Woden (NCC-325), an old-style automated Federation Antares-type ore freighter and is used as target drone. Edit
- Ceti Alpha V, where Kirk exiles Khan, McGivers and the rest of the Eugenics Wars' augments from the S.S. Botany Bay, is featured in the Star Trek: Enterprise episode "Twilight", as the planet where the remnants of humanity gathered after Earth's destruction by the Xindi weapon.
  Edit
Quotes
ADD QUOTES
- McCoy: The Eugenics Wars of the 1990s. Spock: Your attempt to improve the race by selective breeding. McCoy: Oh no not our attempt, Mr. Spock. A group of ambitious scientists. Edit
- Kirk: Those men went out to tame a continent, Khan. Can you tame a world? Khan: Have you ever read Milton, Captain? Kirk: Yes, of course. Edit
- Kirk: (to McGivers, referring to Khan) Given the choice between court martial, and accompanying him there, which do you choose? McGivers: I'll go with him, Sir. Khan: A superior woman. I will take her. Edit
Allusions
ADD ALLUSIONS
- Khan: Have you ever read Milton, Captain? Kirk: Yes. I understand. ... The statement Lucifer made when he fell into the pit: "It is better to rule in hell than serve in heaven." Actual quote is "Better to reign in Hell, than serve in Heaven." John Milton, Paradise Lost, Book I, line 263 Kahn preferred a rough world, such as Ceti Alpha V, to the heaven of Kirk's world. Edit

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