Episode 156: The Kobayashi Maru | Star Trek: The Wrath of Khan, Mythology & Shakespeare

“Do you know the Klingon proverb that tells us revenge is a dish that is best served cold? It is very cold in space.” That’s right, friends, for the first time in our three years of podcasting, we are heading where no man has gone before and taking on the beloved Star Trek franchise with a deep dive into 1982’s Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan. Considered the best of the Star Trek films, The Wrath of Khan is simply dripping with literary references, from the works of William Shakespeare and the King James Bible to Milton’s Paradise Lost and Herman Melville’s Moby Dick. How do all these dizzyingly complex texts inform the philosophy at the heart of the story? How does this science fiction film conform to age-old revenge stories while also functioning as a naval war story in space? How do reason and passion—two powerful thematic forces in the Star Trek universe—find harmony in the characters of James T. Kirk, Spock, and the inimitable Khan? Beam up with us for the answers to all these questions and more… Part 3 of a short series on sci-fi in movies and television. — The Midnight Myth stands with Black Lives Matter and those protesting social injustice across our country. Please join us in supporting those who will not stay silent. Open your wallet if you are able. Consider supporting the NAACP’s Legal Defense and Education Fund, the Southern Poverty Law Center, Reclaim the Block, your local Black Lives Matter Chapter or Bail Fund. Or directly support the families of George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, or Tony McDade. Seek out and support Black-owned businesses in your area. Looking to get educated about systemic racism, police violence, and white privilege? Find book, film, and podcast recommendations at bit.ly/ANTIRACISMRESOURCES. — Support us at www.patreon.com/midnightmyth Check out our merch store for Midnight Myth, Boomerangerang, and Wheel of Ka tees and totes! Learn more, view sources and inspiration, and sign up for e-mail updates at www.midnightmyth.com Twitter Facebook Instagram If you enjoy the podcast, please consider leaving a rating or review on Apple Podcasts or wherever you listen! --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/midnightmyth/support