I love Sheridan and Adama (both), but I need to vote for someone who can beat Mal Reynolds, so it's Picard. He may actually be my favourite anyway. (Nothing against Mal Reynolds by the way, but never one of the best space captains. Maybe if the show had gone on for multiple seasons).
I love a lot of these characters, but I have to go with Picard as my favorite. He could make some annoying mistakes (I hated some of the stupid "prime directive" situations they put him and later ST captains through) but in general he was awesome and I think that, if it came down to a completely fair fight, he could beat (out captain?) anyone else on the list. It wouldn't be easy, but I think he'd come out on top.
Well in a snese he is, he does command a ship (sort of) and goes where he wants in it (sort of). Though minor nit-pick the Character is called The Doctor not Doctor Who. I'd also echo another comment which Adama are we talking about. the original Adama had it way easier than the re-imagined version. Commander Sinclair (B5). Commander Straker (UFO)
if i were a crewmember of any rank i'd feel most comfortable under the command of Captain Picard. Picard was always this level headed officer who tried to find a peaceful solution to any potentially volatile situation but if push came to shove he was a brilliant combat leader too. Close second would be Sisko for much of the same reasons being taught by the same academy that produced Picard. There are many others but many of them are pure military commanders like Adama or Sheridan which i'd like on my side when the shooting starts but for overal well roundedness it would have to be either Picard or Sisko. However i'd drop anything to go out to party with Malcom Reynolds, Han Solo or Shatner Kirk
Pussy got stabbed by a psycho Romulan Kirk would have taken out all the Romulans on that ship save for the few women, seduced them AND had the time to bang them before blowing up the ship and call it a day
Adama, but I interpreted "best" as "most awesome / badass / charismatic", not "most capable / principled / noble". And certainly not "most philanthropic", as he clearly has sympathy for the figurative devil. Adama not only has a big heart but also just oozes charisma; he's the leader you would gladly follow into perdition's maw itself. The perfect word for Bill Adama, as played by Edward Olmos, is "spellbinding". X 1000. Didn't some carpenter get nailed to a couple of pieces of wood by the Romans once?
Good point overall, but you've got both Janeway and Julie Parrish on the one hand, and Sisko and Adama on the other. You could add Sam Carter, Kira Nerys, Commander Shepard (Mass Effect), Honor Harrington, Lando Calrissian, and Hikaru Sulu to add some more variety though.
^ And it's not the OP's fault that those kinds of acting jobs were primarily offered to white men (and marionettes).
Adding Robeau is like adding Henry Deacon to the "Who's your favorite Eureka character?" poll. Unfair for any other contenders.
I went for Sheridan but only because I don't regard The Doctor as a captain. Picard comes a very close second to Sheridan.
Its spelled "Sisko," with a K, not a C. Also, I call shenanigans on not includin' first names for all the characters, callin' Solo a captain, or includin' Jack from SG-1, since he didn't really command a ship, just a team.
My faves: Shatner's James T. Kirk Babylon 5's Commander Sinclair and Captain Sheridan Stargate's Colonel Jack O'Neill Still, Kirk takes the prize.