My take on the villain in the new Trek film.
I'm not one of those "No Khan! Make a new villain!" trek fans. I knew walking in to Trek09 that clamoring for a new story instead of a retelling of something from TOS was just kind of pointless. It's Kirk and crew! We've already lost the "new" take. So having Khan be the villain doesn't really bother me in the slightest. He might actually work! What I am concerned about is how they'll portrayal Khan in the end. Here's what I'm hoping they won't do.
- Khan is a bona fide bad guy.
He wasn't. He was just someone who wanted to get away from those who said he couldn't rule. Even when he ruled a quarter of Earth in the 90s, there were no massacres under his rule and no war until outside forces attacked him.
- Khan is killed
If this alternate reality wants to paint itself as something where anything can be different, my first thought would be to not kill Khan. Why should Khan end up being the bad guy that Kirk and crew must defeat? Why not have Khan be a potential ally? Gah, it's just.. I don't know. I always saw the original Khan as a tragic character who could have brought something unique to the galaxy had that bloody planet not blown up.
- Khan wants to conquer/destroy Earth
This is the big one. One of my complaints towards Trek09 was that it put Earth in the center stage as the planet that must be saved no matter the circumstances. I never liked stories that revolved around saving present day Earth, because it should be for all intents and purposes impossible, and pointless. This is the United Federation of Planets. Humanity has more allies and more at their disposal than their own ships. And the other obvious reason I don't like "Earth is in danger!" stories is that it doesn't do anything. If the mission is "To boldly go where no one has gone before", why do we always keep coming back? And if Khan does want to retake Earth, I fear it will be grossly out of character. He did not want to rule on Earth after his nation fell so he decided to venture out into space to find another world, only to have that interrupted by the Enterprise. Even when he seized command of the Enterprise, he still didn't want Earth. Even when he had the Genesis device, he never once talked about taking Earth back or destroying it. Since this film has JJ "I love all things Earth, let's throw in a scene with a hotrod, Nokia and rap songs!" Abrams, I think that's what the film will boil down to. Another freaking "Earth is in Danger!" story line.
- Khan is a bona fide bad guy.
He wasn't. He was just someone who wanted to get away from those who said he couldn't rule. Even when he ruled a quarter of Earth in the 90s, there were no massacres under his rule and no war until outside forces attacked him.
- Khan is killed
If this alternate reality wants to paint itself as something where anything can be different, my first thought would be to not kill Khan. Why should Khan end up being the bad guy that Kirk and crew must defeat? Why not have Khan be a potential ally? Gah, it's just.. I don't know. I always saw the original Khan as a tragic character who could have brought something unique to the galaxy had that bloody planet not blown up.
- Khan wants to conquer/destroy Earth
This is the big one. One of my complaints towards Trek09 was that it put Earth in the center stage as the planet that must be saved no matter the circumstances. I never liked stories that revolved around saving present day Earth, because it should be for all intents and purposes impossible, and pointless. This is the United Federation of Planets. Humanity has more allies and more at their disposal than their own ships. And the other obvious reason I don't like "Earth is in danger!" stories is that it doesn't do anything. If the mission is "To boldly go where no one has gone before", why do we always keep coming back? And if Khan does want to retake Earth, I fear it will be grossly out of character. He did not want to rule on Earth after his nation fell so he decided to venture out into space to find another world, only to have that interrupted by the Enterprise. Even when he seized command of the Enterprise, he still didn't want Earth. Even when he had the Genesis device, he never once talked about taking Earth back or destroying it. Since this film has JJ "I love all things Earth, let's throw in a scene with a hotrod, Nokia and rap songs!" Abrams, I think that's what the film will boil down to. Another freaking "Earth is in Danger!" story line.