37 Years Later, Captain Kirk’s Second Enterprise Doing The Impossible Still Makes No Sense

1 week ago 19

Published May 14, 2026, 3:00 PM EDT

John Orquiola is a New & Classic TV Editor, Senior Writer, and Interviewer with a special focus on Star Trek. John has over 5,000 published articles at SR, and he has interviewed the biggest names in Star Trek on the red carpet and VIP events, among other beloved shows, movies, and franchises.

Captain James T. Kirk's (William Shatner) second Starship Enterprise did the impossible in Star Trek V: The Final Frontier, and it still makes no sense 37 years later. Directed by William Shatner from a story he conceived, Star Trek V was released in 1989 and was a box office disappointment. Star Trek V holds a 22% Rotten rating and 25% audience score on Rotten Tomatoes.

In Star Trek V: The Final Frontier, Captain Kirk's USS Enterprise-A was hijacked by Sybok (Lawrence Luckinbill), a Vulcan renegade and the half-brother of Captain Spock (Leonard Nimoy). Sybok needed a starship to fulfill his mad quest to breach the Great Barrier at the center of the galaxy. On the fabled world of Sha Ka Ree, Sybok believed he would find God.

On Sha Ka Ree, Kirk, Spock, Dr. Leonard "Bones" McCoy (DeForest Kelley), and Sybok didn't find God on Sha Ka Ree. Instead, a powerful alien posing as God (George Murdock) needed a starship to escape his prison. Yet to enable Star Trek V's underwhelming conclusion, the Starship Enterprise defied logic, which was indicative of the flaws of William Shatner's lone Star Trek directing effort.

Captain Kirk’s USS Enterprise-A Did The Impossible In Star Trek V

Once Sybok commandeered the USS Enterprise-A and took control of Captain Kirk's crew, Star Trek V could have included an epic voyage to the center of the galaxy, which was protected by the Great Barrier. Illogically, the Starship Enterprise made the trip to the Great Barrier in 6.7 hours at Warp 7, which constituted about 40 minutes of Star Trek V's runtime.

The Complete Star Trek Timeline Explained

Star Trek's timeline spans a thousand years of Starfleet and the United Federation of Planets, with alternate realities and time travel galore.

Sybok's starting point was Nimbus III, the so-called "planet of galactic peace," which was located in the Neutral Zone. So, from there, the Starship Enterprise somehow warped to the center of the Milky Way galaxy in under 7 hours. Never mind that, despite a working warp drive, the Enterprise-A was established to be malfunctioning.

Logic flew out the window in Star Trek V's quest for narrative expediency, and this continued when the Starship Enterprise reached the Great Barrier. Despite Mr. Sulu's warning that "No ship can survive this," the Enterprise passed through the Great Barrier within moments and without incident. So did a Klingon Bird-of-Prey in pursuit.

Star Trek V offers no explanation for any of this besides lazy filmmaking. The USS Enterprise-A's miraculously expedient voyage to Sha Ka Ree and back is as indicative of Star Trek V's baffling lack of attention to detail as Captain Kirk's second Constitution-class Enterprise somehow having 78 decks.

USS Enterprise-A Had A Surprising Movie Arc In 3 Star Trek Movies

Captain Kirk's USS Enterprise-A appeared in three Star Trek movies, which is just as many as its predecessor, the refitted USS Enterprise NCC-1701. Kirk's second Enterprise had a fascinating arc in its three movie appearances, including accomplishing what should have been the impossible feat of penetrating the Great Barrier.

Stardate 47988.1 · Crew Assessment The Final Frontier
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☠EnemiesResistance is…

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The USS Enterprise is the most iconic starship in science fiction. What is the registry number of Captain Kirk’s original Enterprise from The Original Series?

ANCC-1701-D BNX-01 CNCC-1701 DNCC-74656

✓ Correct! NCC-1701 is the registry of Kirk’s original Constitution-class Enterprise. The “-D” suffix belongs to Picard’s Galaxy-class ship, NX-01 is Archer’s Enterprise, and NCC-74656 is Voyager.

✗ Red alert! The answer is NCC-1701. Kirk’s original Constitution-class Enterprise carried this now-legendary registry. NCC-1701-D is Picard’s Enterprise from TNG, NX-01 is Captain Archer’s, and NCC-74656 belongs to Voyager.

Kirk’s most trusted officer is a half-human, half-Vulcan science officer famous for his logic and iconic salute. Who is this legendary character?

AData BSpock CTuvok DSarek

✓ Correct! Mr. Spock, played by Leonard Nimoy, is the half-Vulcan science officer whose “Live long and prosper” salute became a cultural icon. His struggle between logic and emotion defines the heart of the Original Series.

✗ Red alert! The answer is Spock. Data is an android from TNG, Tuvok is Voyager’s Vulcan tactical officer, and Sarek is Spock’s Vulcan father. Only Spock is the half-human, half-Vulcan first officer of Kirk’s Enterprise.

Starfleet’s most important regulation forbids interference with the natural development of alien civilizations. What is this guiding principle called?

AThe Temporal Accord BGeneral Order One CThe Omega Directive DThe Prime Directive

✓ Correct! The Prime Directive (also known as General Order 1) is Starfleet’s most sacred law. It prohibits interfering with less-developed civilizations — though Kirk, Picard, and Janeway have all famously bent or broken it when lives were at stake.

✗ Red alert! The answer is the Prime Directive. While “General Order One” is technically another name for it, the Prime Directive is the universally known term. The Omega Directive and Temporal Accord are separate, more specialized Starfleet protocols.

“Resistance is futile.” This chilling declaration belongs to a cybernetic collective that assimilates entire civilizations into its hive mind. What is this fearsome species called?

AThe Borg BThe Dominion CThe Romulans DSpecies 8472

✓ Correct! The Borg are Star Trek’s most terrifying villains — a hive-mind collective that forcibly assimilates species and technology. Captain Picard was famously assimilated and transformed into Locutus in the landmark TNG episode “The Best of Both Worlds.”

✗ Red alert! The answer is the Borg. The Dominion is the Gamma Quadrant empire from DS9, the Romulans are a rival empire, and Species 8472 is actually one of the few species that the Borg themselves fear. Only the Borg declare “Resistance is futile.”

Captain Jean-Luc Picard commands the Enterprise-D in The Next Generation and later received his own series, Star Trek: Picard. Which acclaimed actor portrays him?

AWilliam Shatner BAvery Brooks CPatrick Stewart DScott Bakula

✓ Correct! Sir Patrick Stewart brought gravitas, Shakespeare, and Earl Grey tea to the captain’s chair for seven seasons of TNG, four films, and three seasons of Star Trek: Picard. His “Make it so” is one of TV’s most iconic catchphrases.

✗ Red alert! The answer is Patrick Stewart. William Shatner plays Captain Kirk, Avery Brooks is Captain Sisko on Deep Space Nine, and Scott Bakula captains the NX-01 Enterprise. Only Sir Patrick Stewart portrays the legendary Jean-Luc Picard.

Starfleet vessels travel faster than light by bending space around them using a matter-antimatter reaction. What is this propulsion system called?

ATranswarp Drive BWarp Drive CSlipstream Drive DSpore Drive

✓ Correct! Warp Drive is the standard faster-than-light propulsion in Star Trek, powered by dilithium-regulated matter-antimatter reactions. Zefram Cochrane invented it in 2063, which led to humanity’s first contact with the Vulcans.

✗ Red alert! The answer is Warp Drive. Transwarp is an advanced Borg technology, Slipstream is an experimental quantum drive, and the Spore Drive uses mycelial network navigation (from Discovery). Standard Starfleet vessels use Warp Drive.

At Starfleet Academy, cadets face a notorious no-win scenario designed to test their character under impossible circumstances. James Kirk is the only cadet who ever beat it — by cheating. What is this test called?

AThe Prometheus Trial BThe Omega Simulation CThe Corbomite Maneuver DThe Kobayashi Maru

✓ Correct! The Kobayashi Maru is an unwinnable rescue simulation that tests how cadets handle certain death. Kirk reprogrammed it so he could win — earning a commendation for original thinking. It was memorably featured in Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan.

✗ Red alert! The answer is the Kobayashi Maru. The Corbomite Maneuver is a TOS episode, not an Academy test. The Kobayashi Maru is the famous no-win scenario that Kirk defeated by reprogramming the simulation — because he doesn’t believe in the no-win scenario.

In the widely regarded greatest Star Trek film, a genetically enhanced superhuman from Earth’s past seeks revenge against Captain Kirk. “KHAAAAN!” Who is this iconic villain?

AKhan Noonien Singh BGeneral Chang CQ DGul Dukat

✓ Correct! Khan Noonien Singh, played by Ricardo Montalbán, is Star Trek’s greatest villain. First appearing in the TOS episode “Space Seed,” he returned in The Wrath of Khan (1982) for a devastating revenge plot that cost Spock his life.

✗ Red alert! The answer is Khan Noonien Singh. General Chang is a Klingon from Star Trek VI, Q is TNG’s omnipotent trickster, and Gul Dukat is DS9’s Cardassian antagonist. Only Khan inspired Kirk’s legendary scream across the cosmos.

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The USS Enterprise-A was unveiled at the end of Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home, and its brief shakedown cruise revealed a slew of mechanical problems that Scotty (James Doohan) was still dealing with when Star Trek V: The Final Frontier began. To be fair, Enterprise-A's round trip to the center of the galaxy is an impressive, even legendary accomplishment.

Captain Kirk's replacement Enterprise's final mission was securing peace between the Klingon Empire and the United Federation of Planets in Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country. Afterward, the USS Enterprise-A was decommissioned after only 7 years in service, compared to its predecessor, which launched in 2245 and was in service for 40 years, with a handful of refits.

I actually enjoy Star Trek V: The Final Frontier, despite its many glaring flaws. The USS Enterprise-A's mission to Sha Ka Ree may not make sense, but it's best to just throw up your hands and shrug off its silly aspects. Regardless, I find William Shatner's Star Trek movie to be rewatchable comfort food.