MovieChat Forums > Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan (1982) Discussion > Did David know that Kirk was his father?

Did David know that Kirk was his father?

posted 4 years ago by JackalopeCash57 (92)
12 replies | jump to latest

I have always had this question rolling around in my mind. Early on in the movie, after Carol Marcus has her "skype" chat with Terrell and Chekov, her and David have a brief scene in which David brings up how he does not trust Starfleet. In this scene, he mockingly refers to Kirk as the "overgrown boy scout." Now, the way he said this could pass as him trying to crack a joke at the expense of a father whom he did not respect or it could have been him just cracking a joke about a member of Starfleet that he did not like. Did he know Kirk was his dad yet?

[–] wrlord (1146) 4 years ago

I think he figured it out during the course of the movie.

[–] jekporkins (1973) 4 years ago

I think he knew and I don't think Carol kept it a secret from him. That's why he has such contempt and animosity from the getgo.

[–] PaladinNJ (21513) 3 years ago

That’s the way I saw it as well

[–] JepGambardella (494) 4 years ago

I just re-watched the movie yesterday. I didn't remember this particular sub-plot. To me it's clear that he did NOT know until the end of the movie, when his mother must have told him off camera.

[–] Ripkens25 (2025) 4 years ago

David was rather scrawny to be the son of Kirk. Couldn’t they have found a more strappin lad? (He was a good actor though, I’ll give him that).

[–] Otter (24464) 3 years ago

Maybe David was lucky enough to get his build and metabolism from his mother.

[–] huwdj (4567) 3 years ago

I understood it as he always knew Kirk was his father but chose not to acknowledge it until the end of the film. But I think it's clumsily done and either interpretation is valid - at least until some outtakes show up.

[–] TheTwoYutes (238) 3 years ago

He was too busy catching AIDS to care.

[–] Galactus03 (4373) 3 years ago

Stfu...That's cold ..smh...

[–] ATG6 (3000) 3 years ago

Yes, and he resented Kirk for abandoning him.
But Kirk must have had a lot of love children around the galaxy.

[–] Daf (153) 2 years ago

No, David doesn't know. (Or at least, nobody has told him; he probably has his suspicions).

In the tunnel to the Genesis cave, Kirk asks Carol (very quietly): "Why didn't you tell him?"

Carol doesn't deny it: "How can you ask that? Were we together? Were we going to be? You had your world, and I had mine, and I wanted him in mine. Not chasing through the universe with his father."

[–] FootOfDavros (8197) 2 years ago

Yes, I think David was aware of who Kirk was at some point prior to the film.

It seems clear from the dialogue that he didn't know about Kirk at a young age but the "overgrown boy scout" line would seem to indicate Carol told David about Kirk when he reached a certain age and used this negative portrayal to justify not telling him in his young childhood.

David has clearly held this negative viewpoint of Kirk resentfully since Carol told him as it has cheated him out of having a figure growing up. However the end of the film is beautiful in a way as David realises the picture Carol has painted of Kirk was somewhat simplistic and he states that he is proud to have him as his father.