Warning: SPOILERS for Star Trek: Discovery season 4, episode 1, "Kobayashi Maru."
Captain Michael Burnham's (Sonequa Martin-Green) heroics in the Star Trek: Discovery season 4 premiere show that she doesn't believe in the no-win scenario; however, her approach is fundamentally different from that of Captain James T. Kirk (William Shatner), who also famously didn't believe in accepting such a scenario. Captain Burnham is tested in Star Trek: Discovery's season 4 premiere when she risks her own life to rescue people trapped in a space station, including Lt. Sylvia Tilly (Mary Wiseman) and Ensign Adira Tal (Blu del Barrio). This is compared to the Kobayashi Maru test, which in Star Trek lore is best associated with Kirk, who "won" the unwinnable simulation.
Star Trek introduced the intriguing concept of the no-win scenario in the form of the Kobayashi Maru test in Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan. The Kobayashi Maru is a simulation that cadets who hope to command a starship take at Starfleet Academy; it presents a scenario involving the rescue of a freighter while the ship is attacked by Klingons. There is no way to beat the test without everyone on the crew getting killed. The Kobayashi Maru is a test of character and teaches prospective Captains that there are situations beyond their control. However, Cadet Jim Kirk beat the Kobayashi Maru exam by reprogramming the simulation so he could win. Although Kirk cheated, he got a commendation for innovative thinking. In the alternate Kelvin timeline of J.J. Abrams Star Trek 2009 movie, Kirk (Chris Pine) also cheated to beat the Kobayashi Maru.
The Kobayashi Maru test is referenced in Star Trek: Discovery's season 4 premiere. Although Captain Burnham saved most of the people on the space station, there were a few deaths that she takes responsibility for. Burnham's heroics are questioned by the new Federation President, Laira Rillak (Chelah Horsdal), who came aboard the USS Discovery as an observer. The President admonished the Kirk-like Captain Burnham for her risk-taking, noting that, even though she did succeed in her mission, she got by on pure luck. While it's commendable Burnham refused the idea that she couldn't save anyone, her methods are "huge swings of the pendulum." But Michael doesn't believe in the no-win scenario any more than Captain Kirk did, and she has no problem accepting the "pyrrhic victory" the Kobayashi Maru trains Starfleet Officers to avoid.
Unlike Captain Kirk before Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan, however, Michael Burnham had already faced a no-win scenario. Star Trek: Discovery began with Michael's huge mistake that instigated the Klingon War of 2256 and her attempt to correct her error resulted in the death of her Captain, Philippa Georgiou (Michelle Yeoh), and ended with Burnham imprisoned as Starfleet's first mutineer. Michael has since gained absolution and she went on to save the galaxy twice a thousand years apart, which ultimately earned her the Captaincy of the Discovery. So because Burnham has already failed a no-win scenario and paid the price, she has become fearless is putting her abilities to the test so that Michael and the Discovery's crew can accomplish the impossible.
For his part, Captain Kirk admits that he never truly faced a no-win scenario before he battled Khan (Ricardo Montalbán) in Star Trek II. Kirk has always prided himself on "rushing in where angels fear to tread" and pulling off miraculous feats to save the galaxy. But Spock (Leonard Nimoy) sacrificing himself to save the Starship Enterprise from Khan finally forced Kirk to face the no-win scenario he avoided ever since Starfleet Academy. Before Spock's death, Kirk simply felt the 'rules' didn't apply to him and he had the luxury of not believing in the no-win scenario. In Star Trek II, Kirk finally learned the lesson that Michael Burnham learned the hard way at the Battle at the Binary Stars in Star Trek: Discovery season 1.
Being defeated by their respective no-win scenarios made Burnham and Kirk better Captains. Yet they both will still take whatever risk is necessary to accomplish their mission. While the Kobayashi Maru may train Starfleet Officers to be prudent Captains, strict adherence to the test's lessons doesn't make for an exciting lead character of a Star Trek series. Indeed, facing no-win scenarios is part of being a Star Trek Captain, but Kirk also goes by the philosophy that "risk is our business." Thankfully, Star Trek: Discovery's Captain Burnham believes this as well.
Star Trek: Discovery releases new episodes Thursdays on Paramount+.
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November 22, 2021 at 12:00AM
