A Classic Star Trek: The Original Series Fight Has Aged Very Poorly (It’s Technology’s Fault)

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Khan first appeared in the 1967 Star Trek episode “Space Seed” and quickly became one of science fiction’s most famous villains. Played by Ricardo Montalban, the character gained even more recognition in what many consider the best Star Trek movie. He was later reintroduced to a new generation in the 2010s, and his influence continues to be felt throughout the franchise, including in series like Strange New Worlds and Lower Decks.

Khan is a key figure in the history of Star Trek, making the The Original Series episode “Space Seed” a must-watch even today. Although some aspects haven’t held up over time, it’s still a very enjoyable episode, famously ending with a memorable fight between Khan and Captain Kirk.

That’s Clearly Not William Shatner Fighting Khan In “Space Seed”

As a big fan of older shows, I usually think modern tech helps when you revisit classics from the ’60s – things look sharper, sound better, and even little effects can get a boost. But sometimes, tech can actually highlight problems you never even noticed before. That definitely happened when I rewatched “Space Seed,” an episode of the original Star Trek. It kinda showed its age in a way I hadn’t picked up on before.

During the fight between Kirk and Khan, the camera alternates between close-ups of their struggle and wider shots of the engineering room where it takes place. In those wider shots, it’s very noticeable that William Shatner isn’t performing his own stunts. Even without slowing down the video or having a super clear picture, the stunt double looks like a different person from the regular Enterprise crew. For several seconds, the double even faces the camera, giving viewers a clear look at his face.

Many scenes in the original Star Trek series have obvious switches between actors and stunt performers, but the episode “Space Seed” is particularly noticeable. This is unfortunate because it distracts from what is otherwise a classic Star Trek fight sequence. While viewers might overlook things like weak punches or a flimsy prop, it’s harder to ignore when Captain Kirk suddenly seems to be replaced by a different officer. This makes it difficult to stay immersed in the action.

The episode of Star Trek called “Space Seed” wasn’t designed for the close scrutiny we give it today. Back in the 1960s, the fight scenes with Kirk and Khan would have just looked like blurry figures moving around. Even a clear shot of William Shatner’s stunt double wouldn’t have been noticeable with the limited picture quality of older TVs. However, when the episode was released on DVD, those flaws became much more obvious. This makes “Space Seed” unusual – it’s one of the few Star Trek episodes that actually works better when seen as it was originally intended, on a smaller, less detailed screen.

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2025-11-22 23:47