Captain James T. Kirk pulled what looked like some lead piping from one of the engineering consoles of the USS Enterprise to finally bash Khan Noonien Singh into submission during their intense and seemingly one-sided battle during the Star Trek: The Original Series episode “Space Seed.” Even with Kirk’s improvised weapon, it wasn’t a fair fight, though. So, how is it that Lt. Marla McGivers stands toe-to-toe with an improved, seemingly invincible human being right out of The Eugenics Wars? Well, that’s exactly what she does in each and every episode of the new audio drama, Star Trek: Khan.
Actress Wrenn Schmidt picks up Marla’s mantle, which was carried beautiful nearly 60 years ago by Madlyn Rhue in “Space Seed.” In the new Star Trek podcast, though, Marla is given a chance to not only stand up to Khan, but she actually becomes an equal partner in their unlikely relationship. After all, Marla is only human, and Khan is physically and intellectually her superior. However, theirs is quite the love story being told, and Trekkies can listen to Marla doing much more than holding her own with Khan in what should be a very lopsided union. Schmidt said in an interview (via StarTrek.com):
"Who's the person that can go into a room with someone [Khan] that looms large in our imagination historically like Napoleon or Julius Caesar and actually go toe to toe with them. She [Marla] seemed really, really interesting. And I loved also that she had such an incredible journey in the series, that she starts out very much being treated as a second-class citizen, and then slowly becomes part of this community [on Ceti Alpha V], but with, of course, a lot of obstacles along the way."
Yes, Marla relies on her own life experiences and Starfleet training to become a formidable member of Khan’s Augments, who, like him, all have superior abilities. Nevertheless, Marla stands as an equal with Khan during the course of the audio drama, even though it should be an impossibility. This is true in both their marriage and as Marla is perceived by most of Khan's people, particularly as the audio drama reaches episodes 4 and 5.
And it’s a masterful thing Marla is doing by appealing to Khan’s humanity on so many occasions rather than trying take him on in a stubborn or hostile manner. Remember when Zachary Quinto’s Mr. Spock went toe-to-toe with Benedict Cumberbatch’s Khan in Star Trek Into Darkness? Heck, even with all his Vulcan powers, Spock nearly lost that fight, and he would have had Lt. Uhura (Zoe Saldana) not intervened.
Although, Uhura didn’t appeal to Khan’s humanity like Marla. No, she just turned up the intensity on her phaser! Now, have you had the chance to listen to the Star Trek: Khan podcast yet? If you have, what do you think about Marla’s ability to match wits with the leader of the Augments at almost every single turn? Share your thoughts and comments with us on the Redshirts Always Die Facebook and X pages.
Live long and prosper, Trekkies!