Kirk Making the Kobayashi Maru Test Too Easy

[Snaploud]

I seem to recall it implied somewhere that original Kirk only made the Kobayashi Maru test possible to win (not easy). Somehow, that felt more right to me than this movie version in which new-Kirk made it easy to beat the program.

I did find his blase' manner rather fun to watch, but it left me feeling less sympathy for him during the academic ethics hearing.

 

[OtterVomit]

I had always imagined that Kirk made the test at least SEEM hard, so everyone was blown away when he actually beat it. I am not sure if I gained that impression from a canonical source or if its just how I always imagined it.

The way Kirk approached the test in the movie was somewhat of a disappointment for me, but whatever.

 

[trampledamage]

I don't think Kirk's approach to the Kobayashi Maru was ever covered in detail in the TV/movies. If I remember correctly from the books, what he did was make it so the Klingons said "Kirk? The Captain Kirk? Well then, here's your ship. Sorry to have bothered you."

In that version and this new one, what he did was tinker with the programing of the simulation to make it winnable for him.



ETA: I like this version - he's done the test twice already and presumably tried everything he can to save the Maru. In altering the software he's saying (as he did in The Wrath of Khan) that he doesn't agree with the premise of the test, that if it's not winnable by fair means, he'll win it by foul. And from that point on, he had no reason to take it seriously.

 

[T'Paul]

If he had changed it to be barely winnable he would have looked like a huge dick when the truth came out. As is, he only kinda looks like a dick.

 

[MvRojo]

I liked how he did it in the film. He was rebelling against the "no-win" test, so he wanted to make his win blatantly obviously. That's why I think he had the attitude he had during it. He wanted to rub it in.

 

[number6]

I seem to recall it implied somewhere that original Kirk only made the Kobayashi Maru test possible to win (not easy). Somehow, that felt more right to me than this movie version in which new-Kirk made it easy to beat the program.

This is all we have:

Kirk reprogrammed the computer so it was possible to rescue the crew.

Spock said Kirk's final solution was unique, having the virtue of never being tried.

There is nothing to suggest that this was some kind of solemn affair. In fact, Shatner and Nimoy's performance of the banter after the simulation in TWOK would seem to suggest otherwise.

I did find his blase' manner rather fun to watch, but it left me feeling less sympathy for him during the academic ethics hearing.

I see it as a college student taking the piss out of a particular test after having taken it twice, especially as an over achiever flummoxed by a test he can't quite "ace."

We've all had those moments in our early twenties, haven't we??

 

[omnirad]

I think the fact that Cadet Kirk hammed up his performance so much showed that he wasn't hiding the fact that he was 'cheating'. He was giving them the raspberry! With an apple.
That's Kirk!

 

[TrekLost]

I have to admit, changing the simulation to remove the Klingon's shields is what I would have done too. Either that or modified it so that reinforcements arrived to help me just in the nick of time.

 

[Admiral Buzzkill]

If he had changed it to be barely winnable he would have looked like a huge dick when the truth came out. As is, he only kinda looks like a dick.

This is an excellent point.

To make it look like he was just trying to impress people through dishonesty, by hiding what he'd done would really damage the character.

As it is, one can at least infer that he's trying to make the point that he holds the premise of the test in some contempt. He expects people to know what he's done.

I believe Peter David did something similar but in different terms in his recounting of Kirk's cheat: Kirk programmed the computerized "enemy commander" to recognize him as "the famous Captain Kirk" as a joke and knowing that it would tip the fact that he'd been playing with the program.

 

[Docbrown777]

Either way it was a pretty good scene. I laughed.

 

[DarthPipes]

If he had changed it to be barely winnable he would have looked like a huge dick when the truth came out. As is, he only kinda looks like a dick.

This is an excellent point.

To make it look like he was just trying to impress people through dishonesty, by hiding what he'd done would really damage the character.

As it is, one can at least infer that he's trying to make the point that he holds the premise of the test in some contempt. He expects people to know what he's done.

I believe Peter David did something similar but in different terms in his recounting of Kirk's cheat: Kirk programmed the computerized "enemy commander" to recognize him as "the famous Captain Kirk" as a joke and knowing that it would tip the fact that he'd been playing with the program.

Yes, you're right. I do recall the Peter David novel and in that version, Kirk doesn't even engage the enemy. When confronted about what he did by April, he admits he doesn't believe in the no-win scenario and doesn't try to hide what he did. Even during the assembly in the film, he doesn't exactly try to hide his actions.

 

[DaveyNY]

At first I was kinda WTF...??...

But when the sim finished, it dawned on me that He Wanted Them to Know he Cheated..

 

[OtterVomit]

If he had changed it to be barely winnable he would have looked like a huge dick when the truth came out. As is, he only kinda looks like a dick.

Very good point.

 

[DiSiLLUSiON]

But when the sim finished, it dawned on me that He Wanted Them to Know he Cheated..

Exactly.

If he didn't, he would be a dick. As it stands, he's simply smug, and rightly so.

 

[PKTrekGirl]

If he had changed it to be barely winnable he would have looked like a huge dick when the truth came out. As is, he only kinda looks like a dick.

Very good point.

I think so too.

This way, there was no mistake as to his intent. He was not trying to win by deceitful cheating. He was trying to win at what was a blatantly unwinnable challenge...but making it blatantly winnable.

Very smartly done, IMO.

 

[Jeri]

Kirk's cocky attitude about the reprogram is the saving grace; as somebody pointed out already, he made no attempt to hide the fact.

He didn't feel he was cheating, and that's why there's no sympathy needed at the hearing. It was all out there, as far as he was concerned. He didn't believe in the no-win scenario.

Spock's pulling no punches about George Kirk's no-win scenario was riveting -- and the key to Jim Kirk's motivation. It was a tight, well-done scene; and as soon as the point was made, they had someone interrupt with an urgent message and it was on to another focus.

 

[Trekker4747]

In the Starfleet Academy Game (which I realize isn't "canon") Kirk reveals he cheated by reprograming the simulation to have the Klingons be more impressed with running into Captain Kirk and then letting him deal with the ship out of honor for him.

In this movie events, at first, I wasn't happy with the way it was potrayed but then I also realized he wanted them to know he was cheating. He wanted to thumb his nose at the test, and his instructors, and tell them the test wasn't fair and make his "case" that he doesn't believe in no-wins.

In that context it was well done and played, and I smiled through it everytime I've seen the movie. (And anyone who kne Kirk likely knew we'd get to see the Kobayashi Maru Test in this movie with the knowledge of the academy being in this film.)

Nicely done.

 

[EnsignRicky]

Along with Sulu's gag leaving the space dock, this scene was just another reminder of how much the writers really liked Galaxy Quest. What was with the apple, all out of Coke?

 

[Trekker4747]

Along with Sulu's gag leaving the space dock, this scene was just another reminder of how much the writers really liked Galaxy Quest. What was with the apple, all out of Coke?

Kirk was eating an apple while telling Carol Marcus/Savvik about his Kobayashi Maru experience in TWK.

Some call this an homage.

 

[Tikkun]

Kirk's cocky attitude about the reprogram is the saving grace; as somebody pointed out already, he made no attempt to hide the fact.

He didn't feel he was cheating, and that's why there's no sympathy needed at the hearing. It was all out there, as far as he was concerned. He didn't believe in the no-win scenario.

Spock's pulling no punches about George Kirk's no-win scenario was riveting -- and the key to Jim Kirk's motivation. It was a tight, well-done scene; and as soon as the point was made, they had someone interrupt with an urgent message and it was on to another focus.

I kinda wanted to see the commendation for original thinking.

Didn't look like this crowd was going to give him one - which may be another change from prime to nu.

I liked the scene, but it also bugged me. I think I would have liked to see Kirk and Spock bumping heads over it before Kirk changed the programming, as well as some indication that he could outprogram Spock. As it was, it was both too much and not enough. There's hints of a personal rivalry that could have been nicely exploited - maybe ended up on the cutting room floor.