When it comes to the villains of Star Trek, the original series, the show’s writers provided a diverse range of antagonists, from Klingons to Romulans and other unusual aliens, such as the Talosians. However, they also drew on human history to create foes for Captain Kirk and his crew to encounter, so let’s revisit a few that stepped from the pages of history and into the final frontier.
1. Jack the Ripper
In “Wolf in the Fold” (S02E14), Scotty's shore leave on the planet Argelius turns into a whodunit when he’s accused of murdering a dancer. Scotty claims to have blacked out during the murder, and two more take place before a disembodied spirit reveals itself as Redjac—another name for Jack the Ripper.
The idea of a serial killer spirit traveling into space is ahead of its time and might have even inspired movies where outer space was the main setting for at least one film in the franchise (Jason X, Hellraiser: Bloodline). Despite the odd framing, “Wolf in the Fold” does have some truly tense moments that call back to the killer’s very real history.
2. Apollo
Greek gods and goddesses have captured the imaginations of poets, playwrights, and filmmakers for centuries, including the Star Trek scriptwriters. In “Who Mourns for Adonis” (S02E04), a giant green hand captures the Enterprise and demands Kirk and a few other crewmembers come to the planet’s surface. A being appears and claims to be the Greek god Apollo.
The writers may have chosen Apollo because he’s one of the most recognized Greek gods. The themes make us question free will and whether it is better to exist in paradise or struggle with reality.
The Earps and Doc Holliday
In “Spectre of the Gun” (S03E06), Kirk and the crew ignore a space buoy in an attempt to contact an alien species called the Melkot and instead find themselves flung back to Earth of the past. Kirk eventually discovers that he, Spock, Scotty, McCoy, and Chekov are in Tombstone, Arizona, and cast as the doomed members of the gunfight at the OK Corral.
Westerns were extremely popular at this time in television history, and both DeForest Kelley and Leonard Nimoy had appeared in several series before being cast in Star Trek. The familiarity of the classic TV Western, mixed with a futuristic setting, makes it one of the more watchable episodes of season 3.
Which of these historical figures is your favorite? Do you have another bad guy based on history? Visit our Facebook page and let us know!