History Main / TheKirk

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 the result. With poor characterization, may become the StandardizedLeader.

->'''John''': I don't wanna be like you. I don't wanna stoop that low. Kirk wouldn't stoop that low.\\
'''Scorpius''': That was a television show, John. And he made Priceline commercials. But if you insist, then look to Kirk the way he really was: savage when he had to be.

--> "[[TheMedic McCoy]] in a way represents for us, or represented for us, the extremes of The Kirk and The Spock. If [[TheSpock Spock]] is [[StrawVulcan extreme logic]], ... extreme science, and [[TheCaptain Kirk]] is extreme emotion and intuition, here you have a very colorful doctor, essentially [[TheHeart a very humanistic scientist]]. So he, in a way, is literally and figuratively a representation of [[EmotionsVsStoicism two extremes]] that often served as the glue that held [[FreudianTrio the trio]] together."

* Ben himself from ''WesternAnimation/Ben10AlienForce'' is The Kirk alongside Gwen and Kevin, especially in the first season. Strangely, Gwen and Kevin barely fit as the TheMcCoy and TheSpock respectively (both are intelligent and emotional) and can switch the roles depending on the situation. By ''[[WesternAnimation/Ben10UltimateAlien Ultimate Alien]]'' it's hard to peg any of the three as any one of the archetypes, though Ben is definitely the TheSpock in the season one finale since he decides [[spoiler: Kevin has to be stopped by any means necessary]] and TheMcCoy Gwen is [[spoiler: trying to save Kevin from himself]].

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. With poor characterization, may become the StandardizedLeader.

* [[TeamMom Meg]] in ''LittleWomen'' often takes this role in TheGloriousWarOfSisterlyRivalry between Jo and Amy.

''"CaptainsLog, stardate 8675309: 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.\\\

** With Stiles as TheSpock and Isaac as TheMcCoy? Similarly, Lydia and Allison could stand in as TheSpock and TheMcCoy, respectively.

* Season 1 of ''Series/{{The 100}}'' has Chancellor Jaha as the Kirk inbetween Abby's [=McCoy=] and Kane's Spock.
** In Season 2, Clarke fills the role of the Kirk inbetween Lexa as the Spock and Abby still being TheMcCoy, though Clarke ends up agreeing with Lexa more often than not.

** When he isn't blinded by his own prejudice and fear, that is.
** Arguably, same would go for [[Series/BattlestarGalactica1978 the original Apollo]], being the most moral character on the show.

* Alien X in ''WesternAnimation/Ben10AlienForce'' that takes this concept more than a little too literally...
** Ben himself is The Kirk alongside Gwen and Kevin, especially in the first season. Strangely, Gwen and Kevin barely fit as the TheMcCoy and TheSpock respectively (both are intelligent and emotional) and can switch the roles depending on the situation. By ''[[WesternAnimation/Ben10UltimateAlien Ultimate Alien]]'' it's hard to peg any of the three as any one of the archetypes, though Ben is definitely the TheSpock in the season one finale since he decides [[spoiler: Kevin has to be stopped by any means necessary]] and TheMcCoy Gwen is [[spoiler: trying to save Kevin from himself]].

* Alyosha of ''Literature/TheBrothersKaramazov'', who, oddly enough, was played by WilliamShatner in the movie version.

[[caption-width-right:300:[[Creator/WilliamShatner I...can't...de...cide...butimust!]]]]

Rounding out the archetypal FreudianTrio with TheSpock and TheMcCoy, The Kirk must balance these opposing personalities while being able to take their advice and choose between them (or literally, [[TakeAThirdOption choose "between them"]]) without being overcome either by emotion or dispassionate logic, representing what in [[UsefulNotes/SigmundFreud Freudian psychology]] is called the ego.

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

* According to Sheldon in ''Series/TheBigBangTheory'', Leonard is the Kirk and he is TheSpock, it can be infered that Penny is TheMcCoy.

* Jeffrey Sinclair and later John Sheridan has this same role in ''Series/BabylonFive'' as commanders of the eponymous space station, the SpinOff show ''Series/{{Crusade}} has the same character with Captain Gideon from ''Excalibur''.

* Season 1 of ''Series/{{The 100}}'' has Chancellor Jaha as the Kirk inbetween Abby's McCoy and Kane's Spock.
** In Season 2, Clarke fills the role of the Kirk inbetween Lexa as the Spock and Abby still being the McCoy, though Clarke ends up agreeing with Lexa more often than not.

** Ben himself is The Kirk alongside Gwen and Kevin, especially in the first season. Strangely, Gwen and Kevin barely fit as the TheMcCoy and TheSpock respectively (both are intelligent and emotional) and can switch the roles depending on the situation. By UltimateAlien it's hard to peg any of the three as any one of the archetypes, though Ben is definitely the TheSpock in the season one finale since he decides [[spoiler: Kevin has to be stopped by any means necessary]] and TheMcCoy Gwen is [[spoiler: trying to save Kevin from himself]].

* [[MakingASplash Gali]] often fills this role in ''{{Franchise/BIONICLE}}''. Although her TrueCompanions are considerably more than a FreudianTrio, the two Toa she is most commonly seen interacting with are [[TheStoic the emotionally distant]] [[AnIcePerson Kopaka]] and HotBlooded [[PlayingWithFire Tahu]].

* Robin (aka the Avatar) from ''FireEmblemAwakening'' is this for Chrom's [[TheMcCoy McCoy]] and Lucina's [[TheSpock Spock]]. Many of the game's big decisions (especially the ending) are made by the Avatar in the end.

* [[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 ''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.

* [[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 ''ReturnOfTheJedi''. Because he has controlled emotions. For example [[TheObiWan 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.