Star Trek: Who Is Krall?

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Star Trek: Who Is Krall?

Key Takeaways

  • Krall was once Captain Balthazar M. Edison & felt abandoned by the Federation.
  • Krall sought revenge by draining lifeforce and plotting to wipe out the Federation.
  • Despite his tragic end, Krall’s character added depth to Star Trek Beyond.

As a seasoned Trekkie with a lifetime of Starfleet adventures under my belt, I must say that Krall from Star Trek Beyond is a formidable addition to the pantheon of great antagonists that graced our screens over the years. His backstory as Captain Balthazar M. Edison, feeling abandoned by the Federation after being stranded on Altamid for decades, resonates deeply with me, as I too have experienced the isolation of being a Starfleet officer on the edge of known space.

Every remarkable tale requires an outstanding adversary, and Star Trek is no different in this regard. Even those unacquainted with Star Trek know about Khan Noonien Singh, the ruthless Augment tyrant who relentlessly pursued revenge against Captain Kirk in Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan. Another memorable antagonist is Q, the all-powerful and mischievous being who has made appearances across various series like The Next Generation, Deep Space Nine, Voyager, Lower Decks, and Picard. Then there’s Gul Dukat, the complex and sinister Cardassian warlord from Deep Space Nine, one of the most formidable villains to emerge. Crafting an antagonist as iconic as these can be challenging for new entries, but Krall from Star Trek Beyond certainly fits the mold.

In “Star Trek Beyond,” the third film from the Kelvin series (currently the final one), we follow the crew of the USS Enterprise as they encounter a relentless new adversary, who leaves them marooned on an enigmatic planet, challenging their faith in the Federation. The question arises: Who is this antagonist, Krall, and what grievances does he hold against the Federation?

Krall Was Once Captain Balthazar M. Edison

Star Trek: Who Is Krall?

Approximately a hundred years prior to the chronology of “Beyond”, Balthazar M. Edison initially served in the MACO division of the United Earth Armed Forces. Throughout his military career, he bore witness to countless casualties during the Xindi and Romulan conflicts. When the Federation was established, he transitioned to Starfleet and held the command position on the USS Franklin. In the year 2164, his vessel encountered a wormhole and suffered a crash-landing on Altamid. He and two of his crew members, Anderson Le and Jessica Wolff, were the sole survivors. At the moment of impact, Altamid was devoid of inhabitants. Nevertheless, the former inhabitants had left behind an abundance of technology, including multitudes of spacecrafts and a robotic labor force. The trio managed to endure on this desolate planet.

Krall Felt Obsolete and Abandoned by the Federation

Star Trek: Who Is Krall?

Initially, Edison’s distress signals to the Federation were ignored, leaving him resentful. Considering his past experiences in war and the loss of life he had witnessed, he felt betrayed by the Federation for forcing him to make peace with alien civilizations he had previously fought against. Later, Edison, Le, and Wolff discovered energy transfer technology, enabling them to siphon life energy from passing aliens after looting their ships. This action, however, cost them their humanity, causing them to develop physical traits of their victims and transforming into Krall, Manas, and Kalara.

Krall is Foiled

Star Trek: Who Is Krall?

Towards the closing scenes of “Beyond”, Krall transforms into a more human-like form, having trained countless victims from the Enterprise. This transformation allowed him to masquerade as a Starfleet officer. Despite the interference with his Swarm ships’ communications caused by the playing of the Beastie Boys’ “Sabotage” over a VHR radio, there was still a possibility that he could use the Abornath in Yorktown. However, Kirk managed to intercept him, and ultimately, Krall and the lethal Abornath were expelled into space. Interestingly, despite his animosity towards the Federation, Krall perished while wearing a Starfleet uniform, and following the consumption by the Abornath, only the insignia was left behind. Furthermore, engaging with Krall provided Kirk with a fresh outlook on his role as captain, leading him to reconsider his initial feelings of disillusionment and desire for a vice admiral position. In the end, he decided against taking up the vice admiral post, instead choosing to remain a captain because, as he put it, “admirals don’t fly”.

Star Trek has seen its share of unforgettable villains throughout its history, and Krall is no exception. Formerly of Starfleet, he harbors justifiable grudges that have driven him to abandon any semblance of human empathy. Despite his tragic demise, it’s regrettable that we won’t encounter him in future episodes because his hatred blinded him from seeing beyond his own anger. Nevertheless, his solitary appearance was quite impactful, and he proved to be a formidable adversary to round off the Kelvin series (for now).

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2024-10-06 19:05