Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan
There are direction to explain how Khan Noonien Singh ( Ricardo Montalban ) recognizes Commander Pavel Chekov ( Walter Koenig ) inStar Trek II : The Wrath of Khan . Directed by Nicholas Meyer and released in 1982,The Wrath of Khanwas a cinematic sequel to the classicStar Trek : The Original Seriesseason 1 sequence , " Space Seed , " which introduce the genetically engineered warlord Khan , setting the leg for Montalban ’s iconic character to become one ofStar Trek ’s great baddie .
Star Trek II : The Wrath of Khancontains an enduring plot holethat has long flummoxedStar Trekfans : When Chekov and Captain Clark Terrell ( Paul Winfield ) balance beam onto Ceti Alpha V ( believing it ’s Ceti Alpha VI ) , they meetKhan , who was strand almost 20 yearsbefore byCaptain James T. Kirk ( William Shatner)and the USS Enterprise . Khan tells Chekov,“I never forget a face,“recognizing the Russian Starfleet Officer even though Walter Koenig does n’t joinStar Trek : The Original Seriesas Ensign Chekov until season 2 .
Even Though Chekov Hadn’t Appeared Yet, He Was Likely Aboard The Enterprise During “Space Seed”
Chekov Officially Appeared In Star Trek: The Original Series Season 2
Although Khan recognizing Chekov has been weigh a plot of ground gob for decades , a more reasonable explanation is thatStar Trek II : The Wrath of KhanretconnedStar Trek : The Original Series'“Space Seed"so that Ensign Chekov was already aboard the USS Enterprise . Chekov ’s first on - screen appearance was inStar Trek : The Original Seriesseason 2 , but that does n’t mean the untested Russian Ensign did n’t previously connect Captain Kirk ’s crew .
Walter Koenig ’s Pavel Chekov had quite an interesting life and Starfleet vocation throughout Star Trek : The Original Series and its subsequent film .
To hijack the Starship Enterprise , Khan meditate its technological manual . It ’s logical to put on the genetically orchestrate brainiac also perused the Enterprise ’s gang manifest . How else would Khan know on the dot who he and his following would be up against when they took over the ship ? Even if Khan and Chekov never cope with face - to - face inStar Trek : The Original Series , the augmented tyrant could have recalled the young Ensign from his Starfleet personnel department Indian file .
Walter Koenig Has His Own Explanation For Khan Recognizing Chekov
Where Chekov Was During “Space Seed,” According To Walter Koenig
Walter Koenig manoeuver out the secret plan hole of Khan recognizing Chekov early during the output ofStar Trek II : The Wrath of Khan . In the decennary since , Koenig has fielded fan ' questions about how Khan knew Chekov countless times , and he has concocted many humorous tongue - in - boldness explanation , include oneWalter gave toScreenRantduring our interviewabout Koenig joiningThe 7th Rulepodcast . See Walter ’s citation below :
Walter Koenig : No , no , I was . I ’m sorry , John . I was in Star Trek in its first time of year . Chekov was working in the steam boiler elbow room . And he was so sick with a condition called malapropski ’s malady . He was cover in the bathroom and there for hr and hours . Where Poor Mr. Khan ’s genetically engineered kidneys about to break loose pounded pitifully on the bathroom door pray , begging to be let in until in the end the door opened , Chekov mistreat out , Khan grabbed him , and said , " Your face ! I will never forget . " That ’s the truth . So help me .
However , Walter Koenig ’s joke rationale fundamentally backs the idea thatStar Trek II : The Wrath of Khanretconned when Ensign Chekov joined the USS Enterprise duringStar Trek : The Original Series . Chekov must have already been aboard when the Enterprise bug Khan ’s ship , the SS Botany Bay .
Custom image by Yeider Chacon
Khan Noonien Singh went on a violent disorder in Star Trek II : The Wrath of Khan , but how did Starfleet make the mistake that release Khan anyway ?
After all , the Starship Enterprise ’s crew complement numbers 400 Starfleet Officers , so it ’s understandable if a young Ensign Chekov did n’t start to assert himself untilStar Trek : The Original Seriesseason 2 , when he begin serving on Captain Kirk ’s bridge circuit .
Chekov Was The Final Piece Of Star Trek’s Original Cast Puzzle
Ensign Chekov Injected Youth Into The USS Enterprise’s Crew
Retcons apart , Walter Koenig did n’t joinStar Trek : The Original Series ' castas Ensign Chekov until season 2 , but Pavel was the neglect part of classicStar Trek ’s teaser . As Chekov , Koenig injected juvenility intoStar Trek ’s ensemble , since every other Enterprise main character was a veteran pro in their 30s or old . Anton Pavlovich Chekov was a welcome substitute for recurring characters like Lieutenant Kevin Reilly(Bruce Hyde ) , who appeared inStar Trek : The Original Seriesseason 1 .
Anton Chekov is certainly memorable , so , of course , Khan never forgot his cheek .
Just as important , Walter Koenig brought humor toStar Trek : The Original Series . Ensign Chekov was vastly proud of his Russian heritage and often claimed that his people accomplish scientific marvel accredit to others . Chekov physically evoke The Monkees to attract to younger viewers , and the Russian Ensign was a monitor that the Cold War of the sixties era was long over byStar Trek ’s twenty-third century . Chekov is surely memorable , so , of course , Khan never bury his face when they satisfy inStar Trek II : The Wrath of Khan .
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