We have reached the penultimate episode of Star Trek: Khan. It’s hard to believe we’ve been experiencing Khan’s time on Ceti Alpha V for eight weeks. And as we take another step towards the inevitable final chapter, Khan discovers a shocking truth in ‘Original Sin’.
WARNING – spoilers ahead for Star Trek: Khan Episode 8 ‘Original Sin’.
Out Of Time
‘Original Sin’ begins with Doctor Rosalind Lear (Sonya Cassidy) recording a log. With Marla McGivers (Wrenn Schmidt) deceased, any remaining log entries available to Lear are scattered and inconsistent. These logs span the five years between McGivers’ death and the launch of the rescue ship, Venture.
Midway through her log entry, Lear is interrupted by a call from Captain Sulu (George Takei). The Excelsior has received new orders, and her Captain wants to know when they can depart Ceti Alpha V. Lear asks for more time and promises to be in touch shortly, confirming how much time she needs.
The historian resumes her log, but is clearly shaken by Sulu’s message. She reveals that the remaining logs confirm the crew of the rescue ship was selected. Those remaining on the planet, including Khan (Naveen Andrews) and his daughter Kali, would return to the surface ahead of the launch. Survival in the caves would not be possible post-launch due to the damage caused by the Venture. Then Lear pauses her recording, starting to panic, saying she’s out of time and has failed. What she has failed to achieve, we’ll need to wait until Episode 9 to find out…
For The Love of Coleridge
In another part of the Excelsior, Ensign Tuvok (Tim Russ) is also reviewing McGivers’ logs. As he begins playback, we are transported back in time to Ceti Alpha V, the day before the rescue ship’s launch. Madot (Zuri Washington) is recording her own log for Ursula (Mercy Malick). She describes some of Kali’s characteristics and how they mirror those of Khan. Then we learn Madot and Ursula have been estranged since Kali’s birth. Madot has been recording several of these logs in the hope that Ursula will one day listen and learn, what she has of love.
We learn more about Kali in her following interactions with both Madot and Khan. She enjoys literature, in particular Shakespeare; unfortunately, she does not share her late mother’s love of Coleridge. This is another trait she shares with Khan; however, he still insists on pursuing Coleridge’s works with her in McGivers’ memory.
And we are exposed to another part of Khan I didn’t expect to see when I started listening to this series – the loving, protective, playful father. As Kali pretends to sleep, Khan teases a need to fill her daily ration of tickles before tickling her in earnest. It’s a beautiful moment between father and daughter, suggesting some part of his better self survived McGivers’ death.
The Best Laid Plans
After Khan bids his daughter goodnight, he heads to a gathering of his followers and the Elboreans. This is where the tone of ‘Original Sin’ takes a turn.
During the gathering, they discuss the plan for the rescue ship’s launch. The original plan was for Delmonda (Olli Haaskivi) to command the mission while Khan stayed to lead the remaining survivors on Ceti Alpha V. In a shocking twist, unknown to Delmonda till that moment, Khan announces a change. The Elborean leader will stay behind, while Khan commands the mission and takes his daughter with him. The augment leader is now showing his ruthless nature, the one we’re familiar with from The Wrath of Khan.
After the gathering, Delmonda confronts Khan about the change of plan and why he was not consulted first. Khan reveals he had planned this from the moment Kali was born. He did not trust that the Elboreans would continue building the ship had they known. Delmonda is angry, unable to fathom why Khan still mistrusts him and his people after so many years. And he decides, with Khan leaving the planet soon, the time is right to reveal a terrible truth.
Delmonda’s Shame
Yes, we finally discover the cause of Ceti Alpha VI’s destruction and subsequent planetary devastation on Ceti Alpha V. Delmonda shares his memories of the event with Khan, who witnesses the moment it all went wrong. The Elboreans’ engines were failing, and they had a choice. Let it fail mid-jump and be stranded in space. Or exit in the Ceti Alpha system in the hopes they could survive on Ceti Alpha V until repairs were made.
When Delmonda’s ship engines failed after entering the system, the resulting energy discharge destroyed Ceti Alpha VI. He knew this would happen, but did it anyway, not knowing Khan and his people were already settled on Ceti Alpha V.
Khan is enraged at this revelation and attacks Delmonda in a vengeful fury. But the Elborean leader is saved by Kali, who rushes to his aid and begs her father to stop. It is clear that Delmonda and Kali have a strong bond, and Kali does not want to see him harmed. Khan leaves the confrontation, sharing gratitude (possibly false) for Delmonda’s insights. Delmonda offers Khan a sincere farewell to a good friend, mirroring one of the most famous lines in Star Trek history.
“I have been and always shall be yours, Khan.”
Delmonda (Olli Haaskivi) reaffirms his friendship towards Khan (Naveen Andrews) in Star Trek: Khan Episode 8, ‘Original Sin’
The End Is Nigh
A lot happens throughout ‘Original Sin’. We have Lear’s anxiety reaching a tipping point at the start of the episode. And at the end of the episode, the historian goes rogue, beaming down to Ceti Alpha V with Tuvok in hot pursuit.
Back in time, we have Khan’s betrayal of Delmonda as he plans to leave Ceti Alpha V with Kali in tow. Delmonda is angry, Khan is vengeful, and Kali is torn between her friend and her father. Madot is distraught at the prospect of losing Kali, whom she’s raised from birth. And the prospect of nowhere near enough rations being available for the remaining survivors has the augments divided. Some are ready to betray and murder the Elboreans, while others consider the very notion abhorrent.
Then the final twist in the tail, which will only add to fuel a climactic finale in Episode 9. Exiled and presumed dead for five years, Ivan (Maury Sterling) has returned. And he can’t have anything good planned for Khan.
Theories
Star Trek: Khan has woven a beautiful story across the last eight episodes. It brings new perspectives to one of the most established villains in the franchise. The series has also set up some interesting characters and plots of its own, which have generated theories ahead of Episode 9.
We have Delmonda, who, at the end of ‘Original Sin’, has been removed from the rescue team leaving the planet. But we know from Lear’s conversations with Tuvok that Delmonda is the source of McGivers’ logs. How did he escape Ceti Alpha V and get the logs to her? And perhaps more importantly, why Lear? Well, I believe Lear is not who she appears to be.
My theory is that Lear is none other than Kali, on a mission to prove there was more to her father than history remembers. I think Ivan will confront Khan in Episode 9. And, in an attempt to save his daughter, Khan will send Kali on the Venture with Delmonda as protector. This would be Khan’s final act as a father, leaving him marooned on Ceti Alpha V to become the villain we meet in The Wrath of Khan. Thankfully, we don’t have long to wait to discover how it all ends! The finale of Star Trek: Khan is available from Monday, 3rd November, on YouTube and wherever you listen to your podcasts.
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