Walter Koenig praises William Shatner’s willingness to take chances as Captain James T. Kirk in Star Trek: The Original Series. Koenig played Ensign Pavel Chekov in two seasons of Star Trek: The Original Series and joined Shatner on the big screen for seven Star Trek feature films.
Every month, Walter Koenig joins Cirroc Lofton and Ryan T. Husk on The 7th Rule podcast, where they review Koenig’s episodes of Star Trek: The Original Series. February 2026’s The 7th Rule episode reviews Star Trek: The Original Series season 2, episode 22, “Return to Tomorrow,” which guest stars Diana Muldaur, who would later play Dr. Katherine Pulaski on Star Trek: The Next Generation.
On The 7th Rule, Cirroc Lofton spoke about his gratitude that he gets to watch classic Star Trek with Walter Koenig, and to experience the “magic” of William Shatner, who Lofton praises for “guiding” viewers through the sometimes outlandish circumstances of Star Trek: The Original Series, but Shatner makes it believable.
Walter Koenig concurred with Cirroc and offered his own appreciation for William Shatner. Walter praised Bill’s “strong sense of versatility” and willingness to sometimes show audiences the “petty” side of Captain Kirk, which Koenig feels is rare in a leading man. Read Walter’s quote and watch The 7th Rule video below:
Bill Shatner in the role of Captain Kirk took more chances with that character in dimensionalizing him, and showing us a side that was a little… not so complimentary than most leading actors. Most leading actors are trying to be Egar Bergen. Do you know who Edgar Bergen was? He was a ventriloquist, and the point of ventriloquism was to not let your mouth move when you spoke for the puppet.
Most leading actors sort of do that, [but] Bill took chances all the time. I mean, for him, it wasn’t chances. He knew what he could do. He had a strong sense of his versatility. But I always appreciated [that]. There were a couple of times, like in the first Star Trek movie, when he was a little on then petty side. When he wanted the captaincy back at [Stephen] Collins’ expense. And I thought, good for him. Good for him for letting us see that, letting us see that he wasn’t Douglas Fairbanks, Jr.
Star Trek: The Original Series season 2’s “Return to Tomorrow” is an especially memorable outing for William Shatner since it includes his famous “Risk is our business!” monologue. This moment has endured as memes and gifs on the Internet and has become a seminal moment for Captain Kirk.
Yet Kirk also had his “petty” moments, such as the instance in Star Trek: The Motion Picture that Walter Koenig referenced. Admiral Kirk was determined to use his authority to take back command of the USS Enterprise, demoting Captain Will Decker (Stephen Collins) to Commander, even though Decker was more experienced with the newly refitted starship.
Thanks to William Shatner’s talent and his layered performances throughout the decades, James T. Kirk wasn’t just an indomitable space hero. Kirk was a complex character with a great capacity for good, but also harbored doubts, fears, and flaws. Kirk truly embodied what it means to be human.
Walter Koenig, along with other members of Star Trek: The Original Series‘ cast, has a history of issues with William Shatner. In recent years, however, Koenig has spoken more fondly of his time working with Shatner, perhaps because, through The 7th Rule, Walter is reliving his days on the original Star Trek nearly 60 years ago.
Thankfully, William Shatner and Walter Koenig, along with George Takei, are still with us. As Star Trek celebrates its 60th anniversary, the impact and influence of Star Trek: The Original Series takes on an even greater significance. William Shatner’s Captain Kirk will always be the gold standard that every other leading actor in Star Trek follows.
Release Date
1966 – 1969-00-00
Showrunner
Gene Roddenberry
Directors
Marc Daniels, Joseph Pevney, Ralph Senensky, Vincent McEveety, Herb Wallerstein, Jud Taylor, Marvin J. Chomsky, David Alexander, Gerd Oswald, Herschel Daugherty, James Goldstone, Robert Butler, Anton Leader, Gene Nelson, Harvey Hart, Herbert Kenwith, James Komack, John Erman, John Newland, Joseph Sargent, Lawrence Dobkin, Leo Penn, Michael O’Herlihy, Murray Golden
Writers
D.C. Fontana, Jerome Bixby, Arthur Heinemann, David Gerrold, Jerry Sohl, Oliver Crawford, Robert Bloch, David P. Harmon, Don Ingalls, Paul Schneider, Shimon Wincelberg, Steven W. Carabatsos, Theodore Sturgeon, Jean Lisette Aroeste, Art Wallace, Adrian Spies, Barry Trivers, Don Mankiewicz, Edward J. Lakso, Fredric Brown, George Clayton Johnson, George F. Slavin, Gilbert Ralston, Harlan Ellison
