Captain Kirk’s 5 Biggest Klingon Enemies, Ranked

Captain James T. Kirk (William Shatner) encountered many Klingons throughout Star Trek: The Original Series, but some proved more formidable than others. Since its debut in Terms of Service season 1, episode 26, “Errand of Mercy”, the Klingons have become one of the Star Trek most iconic exotic species. Although the Klingons became allies at the time of Star Trek: The Next Generation, they were one of the United Federation of Planets’ most formidable enemies during Captain Kirk’s time on the USS Enterprise.

In Star Trek In the first Klingon episode, Kirk faced off against Commander Kor (John Colicos), who proved to be a smart and ruthless opponent. In Terms of Service In Season 2’s “The Trouble with Tribbles,” Kirk and his team encounter Koloth (William Campbell), which results in an all-out brawl. In Star Trek final season, Kirk faces Kang (Michael Ansara) in “Dove Day”. Klingons also serve as villains in two Star Trek films, pitting Kirk against Kruge (Christopher Lloyd) and General Chang (Christopher Plummer).

5

Captain Koloth

Star Trek: The Original Series, Season 2, Episode 13 – “The Trouble with Tribbles”

When the starship Enterprise is summoned to a deep space station to protect a shipment of grain, the crew attempts to take advantage of shore leave on the station alongside a crew of Klingons. Kirk is tired of being on the station with the Klingons, but the Organian Peace Treaty established in “Errand of Mercy” remains in effect. Captain Koloth assures Kirk that his officers will remain peaceful. This agreement quickly falls apart when a Klingon officer insults the Enterprise and a fight breaks out.

Captain Kirk cancels shore leave, while the Tribble initially offered to Lieutenant Uhura (Nichelle Nichols) multiplies into thousands of Tribbles. As Kirk, Spock (Leonard Nimoy) and Dr. McCoy (DeForest Kelley) work to control the Tribbles, they uncover a plot by an undercover Klingon named Arne Darvin (Charlie Brill) to poison the grain shipment. About that, Koloth demands a formal apology from Kirk for the way the Klingons were treated.

As one of Star Trek funnier episodes, “The Trouble with Tribbles” has a much lighter tone than “Errand of Mercy” or “Day of the Dove”. Due to this, Koloth seems a little less formidable than Kor and Kang. Still, Koloth engages in the same verbal fight with Kirk, proving that he is more than capable of keeping up with the Enterprise captain. “The Trouble with Tribbles” also suggests that Kirk and Koloth previously met, but their first meeting was never shown on screen.

4

Commander Kang

Star Trek: The Original Series, season 3, episode 11 – “Day of the Dove”

When the USS Enterprise encounters a powerful energy being that feeds on violence, the entity pits Captain Kirk and his crew against Commander Kang and his officers. The entity manipulates the memories and emotions of both crews, fueling each other’s anger and even providing weapons for them to fight. Kirk and Spock detect the entity and attempt to stop the fight, but have little success.

As Kirk and Spock try to get to Kang, they find his wife, Mara (Susan Howard), and convince her of the truth. When Kirk finally catches up to Kang, the Klingon Commander is initially skeptical and challenges Kirk to a duel. As the two fight each other, Kirk finally convinces Kang to lay down his sword. The two leaders then order their officers to stand down, even laughing with each other to weaken the energetic being.

Kang proves to be an intelligent and formidable adversary for Kirk, as he hurls insults and threats, defends himself in a fight, and even tortures Ensign Pavel Chekov (Walter Koenig). Like most Klingons during this period, Kang hates the Federation, but he doesn’t let that hatred completely blind him. When he realizes the truth of the situation, he makes a smart decision, noting that “Only a fool fights in a burning house.”

3

Commander Kor

Star Trek: The Original Series, Season 1, Episode 26 – “Errand of Mercy”

In Star Trek’In “Errand of Mercy”, the Enterprise is sent to Organia to prevent the Klingons from taking control of the strategic location. A Klingon fleet arrives on Organia shortly after the Enterprise, forcing the Enterprise to retreat and leaving Kirk and Spock stranded on the planet. Kirk and Spock then pose as Organians and work to sabotage the Klingon occupation. As self-proclaimed military governor, Kor uses a mind-sifting device to probe Spock’s mind, but Spock’s Vulcan mental discipline allows him to outwit the machine.

Even though Kirk pretends to be an Organian, Kor sees through his rebellious spirit, finding an equal in him before he even learns his true identity. After Kor discovers Kirk’s identity, he sits down to talk, expressing his admiration for Kirk and the Federation. Still, he threatens Kirk and Spock, eventually saying: “I respect you, Captain, but this is war, a game we Klingons play to win.” Kirk and Kor then go back and forth, the conversation full of energy as both men try to outsmart the other.

In the end, the Organians reveal themselves to be powerful, incorporeal beings and put an end to the growing hostilities, forcing both sides to negotiate a ceasefire. Throughout this entire ordeal, Kor interrogates Spock and imprisons Kirk, but the Organians stop the war before any actual combat takes place. As Kor laments, a battle between Kor and Kirk “it would have been glorious” but that never happens.

2

General Chang

Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country

Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country tells the story of how the Federation and the Klingon Empire finally reached peace. After the destruction of the Klingon moon Praxis, the Empire seeks peace with the Federation. The Enterprise then meets with Klingon Chancellor Gorkon (David Warner) and the two ships head towards Earth. During the journey, a camouflaged Klingon Bird of Prey fires on Gorkon’s battlecruiser, and two Klingons mortally wounded the Chancellor.

As the shots appeared to come from the Enterprise, Gorkon’s chief of staff, General Chang, finds Kirk and McCoy guilty of the High Chancellor’s murder. Kirk and Bones are sentenced to the Rura Penthe penal colony. As revealed later, Chang himself was actually one of the conspirators behind the assassination, and he also tried to kill Kirk and McCoy in Rura Penthe. Chang’s experimental Bird of Prey later attacks the Enterprise after it arrives in Khitomer for peace negotiations.

After framing Kirk for murder and trying to kill him, Chang came close to defeating the Enterprise captain, but Kirk’s crew stood by his side and helped him triumph. With his love of Shakespeare, Chang seems smart and cunning, but he’s also willing to get his hands dirty. This, combined with Chang’s intense hatred for the Federation, made him one of the most dangerous Klingons Kirk has ever faced.

1

Commander Kruge

Star Trek III: The Search for Spock

In Star Trek III: The Search for Spock, Commander Kruge dealt the most devastating blow to Captain Kirk. After the events of Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan, Kirk’s son David Marcus (Merritt Butrick) and Vulcan Saavik (Robin Curtis) began investigating the planet Genesis. Created when Khan Noonien Singh (Ricardo Montalban) activated the Terraforming Genesis Device, the planet Genesis became increasingly unstable and soon self-destructed.

Since Spock’s coffin was dropped on the Genesis planet at the end of Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khanthe Genesis Device resurrected Spock, but he remains without his katra (or Vulcan soul). Upon learning about the Genesis Device, Commander Kruge travels to the planet Genesis and takes David, Saavik and Spock hostage. Meanwhile, Kirk and his crew steal the Enterprise and travel to the planet Genesis to reunite Spock’s katra with his body.

When the Enterprise arrives, Kruge attacks and disables the ship. He then orders the death of one of the hostages and David dies protecting Saavik. Kirk then sacrifices the Enterprise to kill a Klingon boarding party and descends to the planet to fight Kruge. In the end, Kirk kills Kruge, but he cannot recover his son or his ship. Kruge was directly responsible for David’s death and indirectly responsible for the destruction of the Enterprise, making him the most formidable Klingon Star Trek: The Original Series’ Captain Kirk has already faced, and the Klingon Kirk hated most.