Summary
Captain James T. Kirk (William Shatner) gave Captain Jean-Luc Picard (Patrick Stewart) important advice inStar Trek Generations, and I think Jean-Luc should have passed Kirk’s advice on to Captain William T. Riker (Jonathan Frakes) inStar Trek: Nemesis. Kirk met Picard inStar Trek: The Next Generation’s first feature film. That historicStar Trekevent saw the two Captains of the USS Enterprise team up to stop a madman named Dr. Tolian Soran (Malcolm McDowell) from destroying the Veridian star system. Tragically, Kirk died stopping Soran, but not beforehe imparted words of wisdom to the Captain of the Enterprise.
Following the USS Enterprise’s historic five-year mission inStar Trek: The Original Series, Captain Kirk was promoted to Rear Admiral in 2270. Kirk was named Chief of Starfleet Operations, but he was ill-suited to sitting behind a desk. Kirk yearned to be back in command of his beloved Starship Enterprise, and he used his pull to do just that inStar Trek: The Motion Picture.InStar Trek IV: The Voyage Home, Admiral Kirk was demoted back to Captain, but it was really what Jim wanted all along.Captain Kirk commanded the USS Enterprise-Afor seven more years before it was truly time for him to give up the center seat. Time travel via the interdimensional Nexus allowed Kirk to join Picard for one last heroic mission inStar Trek Generations,where Jim gave Jean-Luc his personal career advice.
Star Trek Generations Ending & Kirk’s Death Explained
Star Trek Generations not only passed the torch to the cast of The Next Generation, it also revealed the ultimate fate of Captain James T. Kirk.
Captain Kirk’s Advice Should Have Been Passed By Picard To Riker
Riker became Captain in Star Trek: Nemesis
InStar Trek Generations,Captain Kirk urged Captain Picard,“Don’t let them promote you. Don’t let them transfer you. Don’t let them do anything that takes you off the bridge of that ship, because while you’re there… you can make a difference.”I believe Captain Picard should have told Commander Will Riker the same when he became Captain of the USS Titan inStar Trek: Nemesis. Although Riker didn’t get to succeed Picard asCaptain of the Enterprise, I think it would have been fitting and resonant if Jean-Luc evoked Kirk’s memory by advising Will not to give up being Captain easily if Starfleet comes calling with a promotion to flag officer.
Kirk’s career advice to Picard should have become a kind of heirloom that gets passed down.
Giving up the Captaincy of the Starship Enterprise was Kirk’s biggest career regret, and Jim would have preferred to spend his life seeking out new worlds and new civilizations. Picard was very much like Kirk in terms of his devotion to his Starship Enterprise.Picard was Captain of the USS Enterprise-D and E for a total of 17 continuous years, withRiker serving as his First Officerfor 15 of those years. Clearly, Picard did take Kirk’s advice to heart, perhaps to Riker’s regret, considering how long he waited to take over for Picard as Captain of the Enterprise. But Kirk’s career advice to Picard should have become a kind of heirloom that gets passed down, with Kirk to Picard to Riker as a natural progression.
It’s possible Picard did tell Riker Kirk’s advice at some point afterStar Trek Generations,but it never canonically happened on screen.
Picard Ignored Kirk’s Advice And Became An Admiral Anyway (But Riker Is Still Waiting)
Jean-Luc Picard could not remain Captain of the Enterprise forever. Picard finally accepted a promotion to Admiral in 2381 when Starfleet assigned him to lead the United Federation of Planets' evacuation of the Romulan people as their sun went supernova. Four years later, Picard resigned in protest when the Federation prematurely ended their rescue mission afterrogue synths attacked Marsand dealt Starfleet a crippling blow. A bitter Picard would spend the next 14 years in self-imposed retirement before returning to action and prominence in 2399, as seen inStar Trek: Picard’s 3 seasons.Unlike Kirk, however, Picard did not yearn to be Captain of the Enterprise again.
Despite his successful stint in command of the USS Titan, Captain Will Riker is still waiting for his promotion to Admiral. Surprisingly, the extra pips did not arrive despite Riker’s heroics inStar Trek: Picardseason 3. However,both Picard and Riker were able to adjust to life away from being Captain of a starship more successfully than James T. Kirk did.In his ideal world, Kirk would have been Captain of the Enterprise until his dying breath, and his advice to Picard reflected that wish. I feel Picard passing Kirk’s words on to Riker would have formed a fitting chain, and perhaps Riker could have then shared Kirk’s words with Captain Seven of Nine (Jeri Ryan), thematically tying Kirk’s ideals throughStar Trek: The Original Series,Star Trek: The Next Generation, andStar Trek: Picard.
