The Star Trek Into Darkness Scene That Aged So Poorly Damon Lindelof Had To Apologize

While "Star Trek" has released several television shows over the years, the franchise has boldly ventured into the world of cinema several times with mixed results. Some of the "Star Trek" movies are most assuredly better than others, and while a few big screen entries from the franchise ultimately fail to resonate with fans, certain titles like "Star Trek Into Darkness" get plenty of attention, even long after their release.

Altogether the "Star Trek" films have brought in over $2 billion worldwide, with "Star Trek Into Darkness" being the biggest contributor to that impressive figure (via The Numbers). The second "Trek" flick directed by J.J. Abrams holds its own as the highest-grossing "Star Trek" motion picture and is Certified Fresh on Rotten Tomatoes.

The sequel to the 2009 reboot had the Enterprise crew back in action, and this time it was personal. The intrepid explorer's efforts to stop the villainous Khan (Benedict Cumberbatch) from destroying humankind resulted in yet another entertaining sci-fi thrill ride from the long-running franchise. The film had a star-studded cast, Oscar-worthy visual effects, and an action-packed story with Benedict Cumberbatch playing one of the franchise's most iconic villains. There are undoubtedly numerous reasons to get excited about the 2013 feature film, but there are also a few that make people a bit uneasy. A certain scene even caused the writer, Damon Lindelof, to issue an apology to fans.

Before she disappeared from the franchise, Science Officer Carol Marcus (Alice Eve) took part in a scene that helped the film earn its PG-13 rating, which may or may not have been totally necessary. About halfway through the movie, Marcus and Captain James T. Kirk (Chris Pine) discuss the suspicious torpedoes while she preps to leave the ship. At one point in the scene, Marcus is changing, and Kirk turns around to see her in a state of undress, giving the audience a full view of the beautiful actress in nothing but her undergarments.

Writer Damon Lindelof admitted the ordeal was handled poorly and posted his regrets about the unmotivated NSFW moment on Twitter (via The Guardian). "I copped to the fact that we should have done a better job of not being gratuitous in our representation of a barely clothed actress ... What I'm saying is I hear you, I take responsibility and will be more mindful in the future."

But not everyone involved feels that way, especially the actress herself. "The feeling I shouldn't have done it, or that it was exploitation, was confusing to me," Eve told Inverse about the response from the scene. "I'm proud of that scene, and all the work I did."

Despite Eve having a positive experience, Lindelof believes he could have done better. Whether it elicits feelings of pride or remorse, there is no question that the Carol Marcus Into Darkness tease is a good candidate for another notable moment in "Star Trek" history that stunned audiences.