History Film / StarTrekIITheWrathOfKhan

* AllAbusersAreMale: Averted in the book, as all Saavik knows is that she’s a ChildOfRape by a Romulan guard and a Vulcan prisoner, but is unsure if the rapist is her mother or father.

** It's notable that David knows who Kirk is, based on his early dialogue explaining his distrust of Starfleet. He brings him up, not Carol. And refers to him as "that overgrown Boy Scout (she) used to hang around." David's a smart man, he might have had his suspicions already. After things calmed down, he might have analyzed his mother's and Kirk's reactions ("is that David?" from Kirk, and when David accuses him of killing the Regula scientists, Carol immediately defends Kirk, with a pointed "you're just making this more difficult.") and confronted his mother off screen.

* ManHug: Kirk and David. Awwwk-waardd. [[note]] {{Justified|Trope}} in that this was a father and son who hadn't even heard of/seen each other until a day ago, and the latter hated the 'military type', until he saw he was wrong. Any way you cut it was going to be awkward. [[/note]]

* AllThereInTheManual: The film's {{deleted scene}}s and {{novelisation}} contains two major plot points that are not in the film (at least not the [[TheLawOfConservationOfDetail original theatrical release]]): the first is that Saavik is half-Romulan, which explains her displaying emotion; the second is the establishment of a romance between Saavik and David Marcus, which is only lightly hinted at in the film and its sequel.

* AesopCollateralDamage: Unlike in the original series, where Kirk went into ItsAllMyFault easily but there were very few deaths in total; what he did with Khan, and Khan’s ensuing revenge, left a large death toll, including Spock, David and the Enterprise. More detail in the books is given to Carol mourning her lover amongst the scientists killed, and Scotty/his family’s grief over Peter dying.

--->'''Khan:''' You see, their young enter through the ears, and wrap themselves around the cerebral cortex. This makes the host very susceptible to a... suggestion. Later, as they...''grow''...follows madness... and death.

** [[spoiler:Spock won't be coming home from this one.]] There are several examples of HeroicSacrifice in ''Franchise/StarTrek'', but this one is by far taken the most seriously and played the most straight. Even ''WesternAnimation/FamilyGuy'' takes this one seriously. That should tell you just how highly it's regarded.

* ForgottenPhlebotinum: This film introduces the Genesis device. [[Film/StarTrekIIITheSearchForSpock As we'll see]], the planet it creates disintegrates within a couple weeks, thus rendering it useless for its original purpose ({{terraform}}ing). But surely the heroes of ''Series/StarTrekTheNextGeneration'', ''Series/StarTrekDeepSpaceNine'', and ''Series/StarTrekVoyager'' might have found it useful as a handy-dandy instant [[SuperweaponSurprise Borg Cube Killer]]. [[note]]This is [[AllThereInTheManual addressed in the novelizations]] of this movie and ''Film/StarTrekIIITheSearchForSpock.'' Vance Madison and Del March were actually the leading scientists on the project and they can briefly be seen in the scene where they argue about what they should do; Vance is the quiet black man, and Del is the restless one with slightly shorter sleeves. When they realize that their research is about to be taken from them they erase it all from the station's computer banks. Khan kills both of them after he discovers the device is gone and the plans erased. By the end of ''Star Trek III'' the only person with any working knowledge is Carol, and she's vowed to keep it to herself, though she admits no one could replicate the project without Madison and March.[[/note]]

* ForgottenPhlebotinum: This film introduces the Genesis device. The planet it creates disintegrates within a couple weeks, thus rendering it useless for its original purpose ({{terraform}}ing). But surely the heroes of ''Series/StarTrekTheNextGeneration'', ''Series/StarTrekDeepSpaceNine'', and ''Series/StarTrekVoyager'' might have found it useful as a handy-dandy instant [[SuperweaponSurprise Borg Cube Killer]]. [[note]]This is [[AllThereInTheManual addressed in the novelizations]] of this movie and ''Film/StarTrekIIITheSearchForSpock.'' Vance Madison and Del March were actually the leading scientists on the project and they can briefly be seen in the scene where they argue about what they should do; Vance is the quiet black man, and Del is the restless one with slightly shorter sleeves. When they realize that their research is about to be taken from them they erase it all from the station's computer banks. Khan kills both of them after he discovers the device is gone and the plans erased. By the end of ''Star Trek III'' the only person with any working knowledge is Carol, and she's vowed to keep it to herself, though she admits no one could replicate the project without Madison and March.[[/note]]

The plot features the charismatic genetically-engineered tyrant Khan Noonien Singh of the original ''Series/{{Star Trek|TheOriginalSeries}}'' episode "[[Recap/StarTrekS1E22SpaceSeed Space Seed]]", fifteen years after the events of the episode (matching the real-life gap between that episode and this film). Khan escapes his exile with [[ItsPersonal revenge]] against the man who sent him into exile, [[TheKirk Starfleet Captain James Tiberius Kirk]] as his main goal, and [[TakeOverTheWorld establishing a galactic]] [[TheEmpire Empire]] as his secondary goal, using a stolen [[{{Terraform}} compact terraforming device]] as a [[HostileTerraforming weapon to seal his victory]]. Meanwhile, ''Admiral'' Kirk has been [[ThePeterPrinciple promoted beyond his usefulness]] and is facing a mid-life crisis (apparently having forgotten everything from the first film). It doesn't get any easier for him when a young woman he once knew turns up [[LukeYouAreMyFather with his son]].

** When Carol calls Kirk to demand answers for why ''Reliant'' is trying to seize Genesis, she uses nothing but pronouns and vague statements ("they", "the order", etc.) which only serve to confuse Kirk, since he has no idea what she's talking about or any context. The signal is jammed eventually, but they converse long enough that Carol could have given some specific details if she only thought to do so. When Kirk subsequently runs into the ''Reliant'', which is mysteriously uncommunicative, he fails to connect the dots and associate the ship's odd behavior with Carol's earlier message about Genesis being taken.

** Carried by the Reliant crew as they mistake Ceti Alpha V for Ceti Alpha VI (imagine mistaking Earth for Mars), and by Chekov for not remembering that Khan was left on. In their defense, Ceti Alpha VI was destroyed, Ceti Alpha V's orbit was shifted to be closer to Ceti Alpha VI's, and they are both in an out-of-the-way system that was not well surveyed, and Ceti Alpha V had formerly been a life filled planet, but was devastated by the orbit shift to more closely resemble Ceti Alpha VI.

---> '''Chekov:''' ''[reading ship's name on seatbelt]'' Botany Bay... ''[[OhCrap Botany Bay]]''... oh no...

---> '''Khan:''' ''[furious][[SuddenlyShouting '''THIS''' IS CETI ALPHA V!]][calmer]'' Ceti Alpha VI exploded - six months after we were left here. The shock shifted the orbit of this planet, and everything was laid waste. ''Admiral'' Kirk never bothered to check on our progress. It was only the fact of my genetically-engineered intellect that allowed us to survive.

** At the climax of the movie, when ''Enterprise''[='s=] warp drive is damaged and the ship is in danger of being consumed by the Genesis device detonation, [[spoiler:Spock sacrifices himself to save everyone by manually fixing the warp core, giving himself a lethal dose of radiation in the process.]] When Kirk sees him in the dilithium chamber, he tries to charge in to get him out but is restrained by Bones and Scotty.
-->'''Bones''': No! You'll flood the whole compartment!
-->'''Kirk''': He'll die!
-->'''Scotty''': Sir, he's dead already.

* VillainousBreakdown: In response to Kirk's BatmanGambit.
-->'''Kirk''' (over comms, condescending): Khan. I'm ''laughing'' at the superior intellect.\\
'''Khan (simmering with rage):''' ...full impulse power.\\
'''Joachim:''' [[https://youtu.be/nTeSl7m6nhI?t=227 No, sir! You have Genesis, you can have anything you wa--]]\\
'''Khan:''' '''[[https://youtu.be/nTeSl7m6nhI?t=231 ''Full power,(god)damn you'']]!'''''

* TheWhyWaitCombatant: Kirk is relying on this response from Khan. The Enterprise is heading into the Mutara Nebula, where none of the Reliant's tactical advantages will matter. Kirk NEEDS Khan to follow him, because if he breaks off, they have a starship and can go anywhere they want with a Doomsday Weapon on board. So, he goads Khan with a taunt. Khan swallows the bait, hook, line, and sinker.
-->'''Kirk:''' ''(over comms)'' This is Admiral Kirk. We tried it once your way, Khan. Are you game for a rematch? Khan, I'm ''laughing'' at the "superior intellect".\\
'''Khan:''' ''(seething)'' Full impulse power.\\

'''Khan:''' ''(grabs Joachim)'' '''FULL POWER!!''' ''(throws Joachim across the bridge and takes the helm)'' DAMN YOU!

->'''Kirk:''' Khan, you bloodsucker. You're gonna have to do your own dirty work, do you hear me? Do you? (...) Still, ''old friend''. You've managed to kill just about everyone else, but, like a poor marksman, you keep missing the target! (...) Khan, you've got Genesis, but you don't have me. You were going to kill me, Khan! You're going to have to come down here. You're going to have to ''come. down. here''.\\
'''Khan:''' I've done far worse than kill you. I've ''hurt you''. And I wish to go on...'' hurting'' you. I shall leave you as you left me, as you left ''her''... marooned for all eternity, in the center of a dead planet. ''Buried alive''...! ''Buried alive''...!\\
'''Kirk:''' [''Trembling with rage''] ...'''[++KHAAAAAAAAAN!!!++]'''

* CostumeEvolution: This film introduced radically different Starfleet uniforms compared to the tunics and slack worn in TOS and the SpaceClothes in ''Film/StarTrekTheMotionPicture''. Everyone worn maroon double-breasted jackets with black pants and a belt, with department insignia sometimes indicated by the color of the collar. The very sharp look made them reused for all later Original Series movies and InUniverse some version of the uniform and general style was used for the next 70 years[[note]][[Series/StarTrekTheNextGeneration Captain Picard]] can be seen wearing one as an ensign in the [=TNG=] episode "Tapestry,” while the [[spoiler:possible future Pike]] wears one in the ''[[Series/StarTrekStrangeNewWorlds Strange New Worlds]]'' episode “A Quality of Mercy” [[/note]].

* CostumeEvolution: This film introduced radically different Starfleet uniforms compared to the tunics and slack worn in TOS and the SpaceClothes in ''Film/StarTrekTheMotionPicture''. Everyone worn maroon double-breasted jackets with black pants and a belt, with department insignia sometimes indicated by the color of the collar. The very sharp look made them reused for all later Original Series movies and InUniverse some version of the uniform and general style was used for the next 70 years[[note]][[Series/StarTrekTheNextGeneration Captain Picard]] can be seen wearing one as an ensign in the [=TNG=] episode "Tapestry"[[/note]].

[[quoteright:274:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/star_trek_ii_the_wrath_of_khan.png]]
[[caption-width-right:274:''[[{{Tagline}} At the end of the universe, lies the beginning of vengeance.]]''[[labelnote:*]]And yes, that's really his chest.[[/labelnote]]]]

->'''Kirk:''' Khan, you bloodsucker. You're gonna have to do your own dirty work, do you hear me? Do you? (...) Still, ''old friend''. You've managed to kill just about everyone else, but, like a poor marksman, you keep missing the target! (...) Khan, you've got Genesis, but you don't have me. You were going to kill me, Khan! You're going to have to come down here. You're going to have to ''[[PunctuatedForEmphasis come. down. here]]''.\\

-->'''[=McCoy=]:''' [[Literature/TheBible According to myth, the Earth was created in six days]]. [[CreatingLifeIsBad Now watch out! Here comes Genesis! We'll do it for you in six minutes!]]

* KillEmAll: In the opening ''Kobayashi Maru'' sequence, the TOS crew dies, except for Kirk, who is absent and unmentioned. Then a door opens, Kirk walks out of a cloud of light and smoke, everybody picks themselves up, and the viewers [[LikeYouWouldReallyDoIt realize they've been had.]]

The plot features the charismatic genetically-engineered tyrant Khan Noonien Singh of the original ''Series/{{Star Trek|TheOriginalSeries}}'' episode "[[Recap/StarTrekS1E22SpaceSeed Space Seed]]", fifteen years after the events of the episode (matching the real-life gap between that episode and this film). Khan escapes his exile with [[ItsPersonal revenge]] against the man who sent him into exile, [[TheKirk Starfleet Captain James Tiberius Kirk]] as his main goal, and [[TakeOverTheWorld establishing a galactic]] [[TheEmpire Empire]] as his secondary goal, using a stolen [[{{Terraform}} compact terraforming device]] as a [[HostileTerraforming weapon to seal his victory]]. Meanwhile, ''Admiral'' Kirk has been [[ThePeterPrinciple promoted beyond his usefulness]] and is facing a mid-life crisis (apparently having forgotten everything from the first film). It doesn't get any easier for him when a [[HotScientist young woman]] he once knew turns up [[LukeYouAreMyFather with his son]].

* SoapOperaRapidAgingSyndrome: Given the youthful appearance of Joaqim and the rest of Khan's followers (compared to Khan himself who clearly looks at least fifteen years older), there has been speculation that this group is actually not his original followers but their children, a concept used in the expanded universe novel "To Reign in Hell" by Greg Cox. [[note]]However, they clearly look more than fifteen years old. And even assuming that they began having children immediately after being exlied on Ceti Alpha V (which would be a foolhardy choice at best considering the initial work required to at least make the world livable), the oldest child born wouldn't be older than thirteen or fourteen.[[/note]] Conversely, the comics and novelization of the movie suggest that they are indeed Khan's original followers and that Khan himself has simply aged prematurely due to the immense stress of his situation (losing his wife and most of his crew while having to fight to keep the survivors alive for 15 years on a DeathWorld).

* PlotHole: Khan immediately recognizes Chekov, even though the ensign wasn't a character on the show at the time Kahn's episode took place, and didn't join the cast until the following season. A common fan theory is that Chekov was part of the crew during the first season, but not assigned to the bridge or any other location seen by the audience. Creator/WalterKoenig joked that he believes Chekov accidentally made Khan wait an uncomfortable amount of time to use the bathroom. He also says he spotted the hole immediatly when he was given the script, but he wasn't about to mention it to the producers and give up such a large role in the story for Chekov.

* DramaPreservingHandicap: While Kirk managed to outsmart Khan, and the ''Enterprise'' wasn't as damaged as Khan was led to believe, it was still badly damaged, and Spock pointed out that the ship was still no where near fully operational.