After the lacklustre first film, this sequel makes the threat much more personal. Meyer remembers that it was the relationship between the core characters that worked so well in the series and there is a much stronger focus on the characters, especially Kirk and Spock. But equally the decision to emphasise the naval militaristic nature of the Enterprise helps to make the entire crew much more relatable to the audience and the confrontations between Khan and Kirk are tense and resolved in a fashion that feel natural rather than relying on a "deus-ex-machina" device that can often spoil Trek. Notwithstanding Montalban's wonderfully operatic performance, there is a very melancholic feeling that permeates the film, as Kirk contemplates age, death and feeling redundant. Excepting a moment of anger that is often ridiculed, Shatner has never been better as Kirk, and his scenes with Nimoy near the end of the film are still emotional and moving even on repeat viewings and a knowledge of what is to come. They are a wonderful evocation of a friendship that has stood the test of time and were so good they formed the start of the sequel. Still the best of all the Trek films.