We Star Trek fans are no strangers to the way the franchise regularly offers up gut-wrenching scenes that break our hearts, no matter how many times we see them. Who can forget the tragic (yet necessary) death of Edith Keeler in “The City on the Edge of Forever” (S01E28), or Data losing his daughter Lal in “The Offspring” (ST: TNG S03E16).
However, few other Trek episodes and movies gut punch us like Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan. This film packs plenty of action and sci-fi adventure into its 1 hour and 3 minute runtime,
But our heroes also face devastating losses that change their lives forever. Let’s revisit these moments with hankies in hand by recalling three of the saddest lines we encountered when Khan exacted his revenge on Kirk and the Enterprise.
1. “Sir, it is difficult!”
When the Reliant’s crew visits what they believe is Ceti Alpha VI, only to find it turned to dust and Khan and his people living like refugees on the barren Ceti Alpha V, Khan captures Captain Terrell and his first officer, Pavel Chekov. Once Khan infects their brains with Ceti eels and they begin to obey Khan’s orders, he orders Terrell to kill Jim Kirk. Terrell looks sick and in pain as he starts to fight the eel’s influence. After Khan orders him again, Terrell slowly lifts his phaser, and in a tearful voice says, “Sir, it is difficult—” before turning the weapon on himself rather than having to carry out Khan’s orders.
Also as disturbing in this scene is the eel oozing its way out of Chekov’s ear in the aftermath of Terrell’s death. For 1982, the effects were impressive if a bit too realistic!
“He stayed at his post when the other trainees broke and ran.”
This line would’ve had a greater impact if we’d known that Cadet Peter Preston was Montgomery Scott’s nephew. This information, along with a deleted scene with Admiral Kirk, is in the novel adaptation but cut from the film.
Even without this information, Scotty watching Dr. McCoy work on Peter, who is clearly dying from radiation burns, is pretty devastating. Scotty says, “He stayed at his post when the other trainees broke and ran.” The boy dies moments later, leaving a bloody handprint on Kirk’s uniform like a reminder of the sacrifices people make in the call of duty.
“I feel young.”
You probably expected any line from Spock’s death scene here. There’s no question that whole scene doesn’t rip the heart out of every Trekkie, but after Kirk’s eulogy, there’s a line that I find even more poignant. Bones asks Kirk how he feels. Kirk replies, “Young. I feel young.”
I used to take this line literally when I was younger. Then, when I lost my mother to cancer in 2023, I understood that what Kirk truly meant is that he’ll have to live with Spock’s loss every day, and that the future without his friend seems as long as that of a young person. Kirk’s tone, a mix of soft humor, regret, and a bit of hope, resonates now more than ever.
Can you think of any moments from Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan that stay with you? Visit our Facebook page and let us know!
