Walter Koenig praises William Shatner’s willingness to take possibilities as Captain James T. Kirk in Star Trek: The Authentic Sequence. Koenig performed Ensign Pavel Chekov in two seasons of Star Trek: The Authentic Sequence and joined Shatner on the large display for seven Star Trek characteristic movies.
Each month, Walter Koenig joins Cirroc Lofton and Ryan T. Husk on The seventh Rule podcast, the place they evaluate Koenig’s episodes of Star Trek: The Authentic Sequence. February 2026’s The seventh Rule episode critiques Star Trek: The Authentic Sequence season 2, episode 22, “Return to Tomorrow,” which visitor stars Diana Muldaur, who would later play Dr. Katherine Pulaski on Star Trek: The Subsequent Era.
On The seventh Rule, Cirroc Lofton spoke about his gratitude that he will get to observe basic Star Trek with Walter Koenig, and to expertise the “magic” of William Shatner, who Lofton praises for “guiding” viewers by way of the typically outlandish circumstances of Star Trek: The Authentic Sequence, however Shatner makes it plausible.
Walter Koenig concurred with Cirroc and supplied his personal appreciation for William Shatner. Walter praised Invoice’s “robust sense of versatility” and willingness to typically present audiences the “petty” facet of Captain Kirk, which Koenig feels is uncommon in a number one man. Learn Walter’s quote and watch The seventh Rule video beneath:
Invoice Shatner within the function of Captain Kirk took extra possibilities with that character in dimensionalizing him, and displaying us a facet that was just a little… not so complimentary than most main actors. Most main actors try to be Egar Bergen. Are you aware who Edgar Bergen was? He was a ventriloquist, and the purpose of ventriloquism was to not let your mouth transfer whenever you spoke for the puppet.
Most main actors type of try this, [but] Invoice took possibilities on a regular basis. I imply, for him, it wasn’t possibilities. He knew what he may do. He had a robust sense of his versatility. However I all the time appreciated [that]. There have been a few instances, like within the first Star Trek film, when he was just a little on then petty facet. When he needed the captaincy again at [Stephen] Collins’ expense. And I assumed, good for him. Good for him for letting us see that, letting us see that he wasn’t Douglas Fairbanks, Jr.
Star Trek: The Authentic Sequence season 2’s “Return to Tomorrow” is an particularly memorable outing for William Shatner because it consists of his well-known “Threat is our enterprise!” monologue. This second has endured as memes and gifs on the Web and has change into a seminal second for Captain Kirk.
But Kirk additionally had his “petty” moments, such because the occasion in Star Trek: The Movement Image that Walter Koenig referenced. Admiral Kirk was decided to make use of his authority to take again command of the USS Enterprise, demoting Captain Will Decker (Stephen Collins) to Commander, despite the fact that Decker was extra skilled with the newly refitted starship.
Due to William Shatner’s expertise and his layered performances all through the a long time, James T. Kirk wasn’t simply an indomitable area hero. Kirk was a posh character with a fantastic capability for good, but additionally harbored doubts, fears, and flaws. Kirk actually embodied what it means to be human.
Walter Koenig, together with different members of Star Trek: The Authentic Sequence‘ solid, has a historical past of points with William Shatner. Lately, nevertheless, Koenig has spoken extra fondly of his time working with Shatner, maybe as a result of, by way of The seventh Rule, Walter is reliving his days on the unique Star Trek almost 60 years in the past.
Fortunately, William Shatner and Walter Koenig, together with George Takei, are nonetheless with us. As Star Trek celebrates its sixtieth anniversary, the impression and affect of Star Trek: The Authentic Sequence takes on a good better significance. William Shatner’s Captain Kirk will all the time be the gold customary that each different main actor in Star Trek follows.
- Launch Date
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1966 – 1969-00-00
- Showrunner
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Gene Roddenberry
- Administrators
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Marc Daniels, Joseph Pevney, Ralph Senensky, Vincent McEveety, Herb Wallerstein, Jud Taylor, Marvin J. Chomsky, David Alexander, Gerd Oswald, Herschel Daugherty, James Goldstone, Robert Butler, Anton Chief, Gene Nelson, Harvey Hart, Herbert Kenwith, James Komack, John Erman, John Newland, Joseph Sargent, Lawrence Dobkin, Leo Penn, Michael O’Herlihy, Murray Golden
- Writers
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D.C. Fontana, Jerome Bixby, Arthur Heinemann, David Gerrold, Jerry Sohl, Oliver Crawford, Robert Bloch, David P. Harmon, Don Ingalls, Paul Schneider, Shimon Wincelberg, Steven W. Carabatsos, Theodore Sturgeon, Jean Lisette Aroeste, Artwork Wallace, Adrian Spies, Barry Trivers, Don Mankiewicz, Edward J. Lakso, Fredric Brown, George Clayton Johnson, George F. Slavin, Gilbert Ralston, Harlan Ellison