History Main / TheKirk

* ''Franchise/StarWars'': Obi-Wan Kenobi displays elements of this {{trope}} in the {{Prequel}} Trilogy, alongside [[AntiHero Anakin Skywalker]]'s TheMcCoy with various members of the Jedi Council serving as TheSpock. In the Original Trilogy Luke became The Kirk, but only in ''Film/ReturnOfTheJedi'', because byt hat point he has learned controlled emotions. For example, Obi-wan told him that he has to kill his father in order to bring peace, but Luke gives a logical suggestion that maybe he can be saved because Vader didn't kill Luke, and if was truly evil he would have killed him. His [[TheLeader leadership]] skills have also improved over the last two movies.

* The eponymous Hellboy in ''Film/{{Hellboy|2004}}'' is this, especially when contrasted with Abe Sapein (TheSpock) and Liz (TheMcCoy).

They usually share a lot of the traits of the ReasonableAuthorityFigure, but depending on the [[SlidingScaleOfIdealismVersusCynicism slant]] of the series he might lapse into [[MoralDissonance less than heroic decisions]], or end up choosing one of his two friends over the other more often. That said, the [[TheChainsOfCommanding burden of deciding what course of action to take can be heavy]], while the task of bringing his friends around to accept said decision is complicated as well. At the least, he's mostly immune to DeathByPragmatism. Done well, both TheSpock ''and'' TheMcCoy will simultaneously approve of the end result. With poor characterization, may become the StandardizedLeader.

* In the SEBEC path of the original ''VideoGame/{{Persona 1}}'', [[HelloInsertNameHere The Boy with the Pierced Ear]] is faced with a series of {{Moral Dilemma}}s. While his buddy [[TheMcCoy Masao]] leaps to decisions driven by raw emotion, [[TheSpock Kei Nanjo]] would rather [[ShootTheDog do what is necessary]] [[CruelToBeKind regardless of how cruel it may appear]]. The choices he makes have [[MultipleEndings far-reaching consequences]].

* Superman in ''WesternAnimation/JusticeLeague''/''WesternAnimation/JusticeLeagueUnlimited'' has this role, albeit more moderate in the aspect of taking harsh decisions or having the last word (as the Justice League does not have a chain of command in itself and all members are equals), even so with Batman as TheSpock and Wonder Woman as TheMcCoy, the dynamic is clearly there.
* The title character of ''WesternAnimation/AtomicBetty''plays this role in the FreudianTrio that also includes [[TheSpock X-5]] and [[TheMcCoy Sparky]]. As the leader of the team, Betty plays the reasonable middleman to the other two's frequent bickering, making the final decisions in the trio's adventures usually based on what Sparky and X-5 have suggested.

* This {{trope}} is named for [[TheCaptain Captain James T. Kirk]] of ''Series/StarTrekTheOriginalSeries''. Notably, the original [[TheCaptain Kirk]] [[TakeAThirdOption took a lot of third options]] like [[UnwinnableTrainingSimulation the Kobayashi Maru]], but other times these decisions were likely to make many races angry in the future, leading some to think dick move.

* ''Franchise/StarWars'': Obi-Wan Kenobi displays elements of this {{trope}} in the {{Prequel}} Trilogy, alongside [[AntiHero Anakin Skywalker]]'s TheMcCoy with various members of the Jedi Council serving as TheSpock. In the Original Trilogy Luke became The Kirk, but only in ''Film/ReturnOfTheJedi''. Because he has controlled emotions. For example Obi-wan told him that he has to kill his father in order to bring peace, but Luke gives a logical suggestion that maybe he can be saved because Vader didn't kill Luke, and if was truly evil he would have killed him. His [[TheLeader leadership]] skills have also improved over the last two movies.

* In Anime/{{Tamagotchi}}, Kuchipatchi fits this trope, he isn’t as smart as Mametchi, but he isn’t as selfish as Memetchi.

They usually share a lot of the traits of the ReasonableAuthorityFigure, but depending on the [[SlidingScaleOfIdealismVersusCynicism slant]] of the series he might lapse into [[MoralDissonance less than heroic decisions]], or end up choosing one of his two friends over the other more often. That said, the [[TheChainsOfCommanding burden of deciding what course of action to take can be heavy]], while the task of bringing his friends around to accept said decision is complicated as well. At the least, he's mostly immune to DeathByPragmatism. Done well, both TheSpock and TheMcCoy will approve of this result. With poor characterization, may become the StandardizedLeader.

* In the SEBEC path of the original ''VideoGame/{{Persona}}'', [[HelloInsertNameHere The Boy with the Pierced Ear]] is faced with a series of {{Moral Dilemma}}s. While his buddy [[TheMcCoy Masao]] leaps to decisions driven by raw emotion, [[TheSpock Kei Nanjo]] would rather [[ShootTheDog do what is necessary]] [[CruelToBeKind regardless of how cruel it may appear]]. The choices he makes have [[MultipleEndings far-reaching consequences]].

* In
''Series/DoctorWho'', The Doctor'' has fallen into this {{trope}} so far, he can no longer be deduced as either an [[AntiHero anti-hero]] or [[AntiVillain anti-villian]]. He will give his life (but has not been able to, yet) to save anyone, any race (minus the Daleks), and planet, or any specific cascade inspired by certain snake haired monsters of Greek mythology from an alien race known to exterminate any other race... You get the idea.

* In the ''[[Roleplay/GlobalGuardiansPBEMUniverse Global Guardians]]'', Guardsman is the The Kirk, even though he's not the team leader. Achilles, the actual team leader, is TheSpock, while Arachne and Ultra-Man are TheMcCoy.

* Nancy Drew is commonly written as being The Kirk between cousins Bess Marvin and George Fayne.

* This {{trope}} is named for [[TheCaptain Kirk]] of ''Series/StarTrekTheOriginalSeries''. Notably, the original [[TheCaptain Kirk]] [[TakeAThirdOption took a lot of third options]] like [[UnwinnableTrainingSimulation the Kobayashi Maru]], but other times these decisions were likely to make many races angry in the future, leading some to think dick move.

* ''[[Series/DoctorWho The Doctor]]'' has fallen into this {{trope}} so far, he can no longer be deduced as either an [[AntiHero anti-hero]] or [[AntiVillain anti-villian]]. He will give his life (but has not been able to, yet.) to save anyone, any race (minus the Daleks), and planet, or any specific cascade inspired by certain snake haired monsters of Greek mythology from an alien race known to exterminate any other race... You get the idea.

* Lee Adama in ''Series/{{Battlestar Galactica|2003}}'' usually brings the moral clarity to situations where other characters' judgement is blinded by prejudice or fear.

* Quinn Mallory in ''Series/{{Sliders}}'' acts as The Kirk in most episodes making a middle point position to Arturo's [[TheSpock Spokish]] personality and Rembrandt's [[TheMcCoy McCoy behavior]].

[[folder:Videogames]]

* Creator/{{Bioware}} games often present you, the player character, with this position particularly in later games. For instance in VideoGame/MassEffect1 you are faced with a situation where you can hold back, save human lives and strike at a more opportune moment. Or attack ''now'', saving alien lives but potentially landing your allies in hot water.

* The eponymous Hellboy in ''Film/{{Hellboy}}'' is this, especially when contrasted with Abe Sapein (TheSpock) and Liz (TheMcCoy).

* Capt. Tom Chandler on ''Series/{{The Last Ship}}'' is often going all Capt. Kirk by leaving his ship in capable hands when he goes to invade islands with his squad.

*** Also, Sheppard gets all the [[GirlOfTheWeek hot]] [[GreenSkinnedSpaceBabe alien]] [[EverythingsBetterWithPrincesses princesses]]. The GenreSavvy [=McKay=] makes sure to [[LampshadeHanging point this out]], comparing Sheppard to Kirk himself.

* Capt. Tom Chandler on ''Series/{{The Last Ship}}'' is often going all Capt. Kirk by leaving his ship in capable hands while he {{Chew Bubblegum|"is all outta bubblegum!"}}

* Believe it or not, Jack O'Neill of ''Series/StargateSG1'' wasn't really his quartet's Kirk; that honor fell to Samantha Carter and occasionally Daniel.

* President Wayne Palmer in ''Series/TwentyFour'' was The Kirk to Tom Lennox's Spock and Karen Hayes' [=McCoy=] and found their differing viewpoints useful in his decision-making process.

''"CaptainsLog, stardate [[Music/TommyTutone 8675309]]: [[OnceAnEpisode Once again]] I find myself faced with [[SadisticChoice an impossible dilemma]]. Do I save the planet [[SugarBowl Pupolon]] by [[SaveThePrincess rescuing the]] [[TheHighQueen High Priestess]], despite her Klingon captors doubtlessly [[InescapableAmbush waiting in ambush]]? Or do I ignore their plight and, by [[TheEndOfTheWorldAsWeKnowIt letting it be destroyed]], obey the [[AlienNonInterferenceClause Prime Directive]] and get the {{Aesoptinum}} needed to protect TheFederation? My friends and officers [[TheSpock Spock]] and [[TheMcCoy McCoy]] have been [[DebateAndSwitch debating this at length]], with no clear answer.\\\

''"CaptainsLog, stardate 8675309: [[OnceAnEpisode Once again]] I find myself faced with [[SadisticChoice an impossible dilemma]]. Do I save the planet [[SugarBowl Pupolon]] by [[SaveThePrincess rescuing the]] [[TheHighQueen High Priestess]], despite her Klingon captors doubtlessly [[InescapableAmbush waiting in ambush]]? Or do I ignore their plight and, by [[TheEndOfTheWorldAsWeKnowIt letting it be destroyed]], obey the [[AlienNonInterferenceClause Prime Directive]] and get the {{Aesoptinum}} needed to protect TheFederation? My friends and officers [[TheSpock Spock]] and [[TheMcCoy McCoy]] have been [[DebateAndSwitch debating this at length]], with no clear answer.\\\

* According to co-writer Roberto Orci, the 2009 ''Film/StarTrek'' film maintains this {{trope}}, but swaps [[TheCaptain Kirk]] and [[TheMedic McCoy]]: