The Fascinating Connection: Unveiling Kirk & Seven of Nine's Shared Star Trek Story
Kirk & Seven Of Nine's Star Trek Stories Highlight the Journey to Becoming Captain of the Enterprise, while Other Captains' Paths Remain Unexplored Discovery's Burnham Also Proves Her Worthiness
Summary
Lt. Kirk and Commander Seven of Nine both have unique journeys to becoming Captains of the USS Enterprise, a newer kind of macro story in Star Trek.
In J.J. Abrams' Star Trek 2009 film, the narrative delves into Kirk's journey from being a Starfleet Cadet to assuming the role of Acting Captain of the Enterprise. This particular storyline sets itself apart from what was portrayed in the TV series.
The modern era of Star Trek emphasizes the progression of Captains and how they earn their positions, deviating from the more conventional approach of introducing fully established Captains right from the start.
Star Trek's James T. Kirk (played by Paul Wesley) and Seven of Nine (played by Jeri Ryan) may not have many similarities at first glance, but they share a significant common experience. In Star Trek: Strange New Worlds, Lieutenant Kirk is recently promoted to First Officer aboard the USS Farragut, setting him on a path towards becoming the Captain of the USS Enterprise. Similarly, in the finale of Star Trek: Picard season 3, Commander Seven of Nine achieves the rank of Captain and takes command of the USS Enterprise-G. The journey of how Kirk and Seven earned their commands represents a new overarching story being explored in the Star Trek universe.
The 2009 reboot film Star Trek, directed by J.J. Abrams, offers the first real insight into the process of captaincy on the Enterprise. In the alternate Kelvin Timeline, James T. Kirk (played by Chris Pine) is a cadet at Starfleet Academy who covertly boards the USS Enterprise to assist in combating a Romulan attack on Vulcan. Over the course of the film, Kirk rises through the ranks at an astonishing pace, eventually assuming the role of Acting Captain of the Enterprise. Following his heroic efforts in saving Earth from the Romulan Nero, Kirk is officially promoted to the position of Captain. Although the TV series in the Star Trek franchise have not attempted to replicate Kirk's rapid ascent from cadet to captain, the journey to the captain's chair on the Enterprise is now explored in the storylines of both Star Trek: Picard and Strange New Worlds.
Kirk & Seven Of Nine's Star Trek Stories Are About Earning Being Captain of the Enterprise
In Strange New Worlds, once the series concludes, James T. Kirk will succeed Christopher Pike as the Captain of the Enterprise. This marks the path Kirk is currently embarking on. Lieutenant Kirk joins the USS Enterprise in season 2 of Strange New Worlds with the specific purpose of learning the intricacies of leadership from Captain Pike. Although Kirk is unaware at this point that the Enterprise is his ultimate destiny, his deep admiration for the flagship and his rapport with its crew are already evident. In contrast to J.J. Abrams' portrayal, the ascent of Prime Timeline Kirk to the role of Captain is a less sensational journey. However, once James takes command, it will feel truly deserved, a sentiment that was lacking in Chris Pine's depiction.
The journey of Seven of Nine towards becoming the Captain of the USS Enterprise-G in Star Trek's 25th century is an even more extraordinary and improbable tale. After the USS Voyager's return to Earth from the Delta Quadrant, Starfleet did not warmly embrace the reclaimed Borg Drone. Instead, Seven spent years engaged in peacemaking efforts with the Fenris Rangers in the Beta Quadrant. Eventually, Seven joined Starfleet, but her role as First Officer on the USS Titan-A proved challenging due to her fraught relationship with Captain Liam Shaw. However, Seven possesses the qualities needed for command, and she was appointed as Captain of the Enterprise following Shaw's demise. If Star Trek: Picard's proposed spinoff, Star Trek: Legacy, comes to fruition, Captain Seven's next chapter will be expounded upon.
Why Other Enterprise Captains Aren't Shown Earning Their Commands
The origin of how a Captain of the Enterprise earns their command is a relatively new addition to the Star Trek storyline. In the past, the Captains were introduced as already in control of the renowned starship. This includes Captain James T. Kirk, who was firmly in charge when Star Trek: The Original Series debuted. However, the stories of how and why Captain Jonathan Archer, Captain Christopher Pike, Captain Jean-Luc Picard, and even Captain John Harriman of USS Enterprise-B earned their positions as the leader of the Enterprise have yet to be shared.
This is likely because Star Trek still adheres to the 1960s concept, where the Captain of the Enterprise is an unquestionably capable commander and the central hero of the TV series. The exploration of how Kirk or Picard became Captains of the Enterprise, which was not explored when Star Trek: The Next Generation premiered in 1987, was not a question that interested the series' creators, beginning with Gene Roddenberry. It is only in the recent era of Star Trek, sparked by J.J. Abrams' 2009 film depicting Kirk and the origin of the Enterprise, that the journey to the Captain's chair of the Enterprise has become a story that the current creative teams behind Star Trek wanted to explore.
Discovery's Burnham Also Earned Being Captain
Star Trek: Discovery season 3 concluded with Michael Burnham (Sonequa Martin-Green) assuming the role of Captain on the USS Discovery. This pivotal moment showcased the show's overarching narrative, which centered around Burnham's arduous journey to earn the prestigious position of commanding her starship. Taking inspiration from J.J. Abrams' films, Discovery portrays Burnham as a flawed action heroine similar to Chris Pine's Kirk. Despite her grave mistakes, Burnham undergoes a redemptive path that ultimately leads her to the Captaincy of the USS Discovery. This narrative blueprint is also evident in the character arcs of Seven of Nine in Star Trek: Picard and Kirk in Strange New Worlds.
Prior to Burnham's ascent to the Captain's chair, Star Trek: Discovery also delved into Commander Saru's (Doug Jones) pursuit of leadership. Saru, formerly the First Officer, relinquished his position as Captain of the Discovery in order to support Burnham in realizing her destiny. Similarly, Strange New Worlds will present James T. Kirk's undeniable calling, while exploring the intriguing journey that paved his way to becoming Captain of the Enterprise. Additionally, Star Trek: Legacy will reveal Seven of Nine's newfound role as Captain of the Enterprise-G. Overall, the Star Trek franchise recognizes the gratification audiences derive from witnessing the transformation of iconic characters into Captains of their starships, paralleling the satisfaction experienced by the characters themselves.
