Would a Captain Sulu series have killed trek?

mahler5 · April 6 2008, 09:48 PM

Should they have gone with a Captain Sulu based series instead of Voyager?
What would the effect on Trek have been?
Thoughts?

J. Allen · April 6 2008, 09:56 PM

I believe a Captain Sulu series would have worked 15 years ago. I would have certainly watched it, as I was in love with the Excelsior at the time and considered Sulu to be a Captain with mucho gravitas. I think the effect of such a series would have been a positive one, at least for me. I love the movie era Star Trek, it's my favorite. I love the ships, the uniforms, the technology, I love it all, and I would have happily continued on to whatever Trek afterward to see what awaited me.

With VOY, I didn't feel that way. Less than a season into it I started fading. I was still on a TNG high and didn't like the darker feel of DS9 (yet) but didn't like the clinical, bland feel of VOY (still don't). Now, your mileage may vary, but after VOY, I was hesitant to see what was next, because it just seemed, oh, I don't know, foreboding because if VOY had become milquetoast (and for me it was certainly that), what would follow?

So for me, yes a Captain Sulu series would have had a more positive effect. As for the franchise, I believe so as well.

J.

zenophite · April 6 2008, 11:04 PM

I don't think Takei had the presence necessary to make such a series work well. He's ok but just not as the main lead.

smetna · April 7 2008, 02:42 AM

I am not sure it would have killed trek, but I am not sure that George could have handled a lead position in a major tv series.

Admiral Buzzkill · April 7 2008, 02:47 AM

It would have taken Trek off TV at least three years earlier than the way things turned out. Hey, we could have had the first "nuTrek" movie out in theaters by 2006!

April 7 2008, 03:02 AM

It depends...

What if the characters, stories, writers and production staff were exactly the same?

Just Sulu and the Excellsior replaced Voyager and Janeway?

Admiral Buzzkill · April 7 2008, 03:50 AM

Takei instead of Mulgrew?

In the toilet. And I'm no fan of Mulgrew's.

Aragorn · April 7 2008, 04:53 AM

Considering how UPN wanted their Star Trek (to hold them up as a network and play it safe) and the type of shows B&B put out, would it basically be Voyager-quality and Voyager-type scripts for Excelsior?

I thought a Takei/Excelsior series could've worked -- until I saw him on Voyager and realized how crappy he would've been as a lead.

I would've liked to have seen a series set during the red uniform era, but a better choice might've been to see a Harriman show. How does a rookie captain react to 1) the changing times in the Federation, and 2) Kirk dying on his watch. With Alan Ruck, I also think it might've been a good chance for the captain not to be the lead of the show. Make it more of an ensemble where the captain gets the "and" credit. Maybe make the first officer the star.

Jack Bauer · April 7 2008, 06:56 AM

Takei doesn't have the chops to be the lead. He's merely a supporting player.

Mark_Nguyen · April 7 2008, 04:21 PM

I thought the same, then I saw him on Heroes. I think he'd have done fine, given better dialogue than what he was seated with on Voyager. It's too late now of course, but I think that in the 90s it would have been fun.

Mark

zenophite · April 7 2008, 04:44 PM

I think it's important to note though that Takei is not a central player on Heroes and has had most of his lines in a foreign language. Even with that I think it is fairly easy to see that Takei is strictly a supporting actor.

doubleohfive · April 7 2008, 06:08 PM

The only way it would have worked is if William Hung played Sulu. And sang at the end of each episode.

Takomaguy · April 7 2008, 06:45 PM

J. Allen wrote:

I believe a Captain Sulu series would have worked 15 years ago. I would have certainly watched it, as I was in love with the Excelsior at the time and considered Sulu to be a Captain with mucho gravitas. I think the effect of such a series would have been a positive one, at least for me. I love the movie era Star Trek, it's my favorite. I love the ships, the uniforms, the technology, I love it all, and I would have happily continued on to whatever Trek afterward to see what awaited me.

With VOY, I didn't feel that way. Less than a season into it I started fading. I was still on a TNG high and didn't like the darker feel of DS9 (yet) but didn't like the clinical, bland feel of VOY (still don't). Now, your mileage may vary, but after VOY, I was hesitant to see what was next, because it just seemed, oh, I don't know, foreboding because if VOY had become milquetoast (and for me it was certainly that), what would follow?

So for me, yes a Captain Sulu series would have had a more positive effect. As for the franchise, I believe so as well.

J.

15 years ago, huh?

Would you hired the Village People to sing the theme song, too?

Seriously though, I think a Captain Sulu show might have worked set in the 24th Century if Cary-Hiroyuki Tagawa had played the Sulu's grandson. Especially, if Star Trek ever took and edgy turn.

Some may say he's getting up in year but he still looks like he could kick some ass.

zenophite · April 7 2008, 08:08 PM

^^^ Commodore or admiral Sulu maybe? But I wholeheartedly agree he would be kick ass! I would definitely watch that!

Takomaguy · April 7 2008, 09:17 PM

zenophite wrote:

^^^ Commodore or admiral Sulu maybe? But I wholeheartedly agree he would be kick ass! I would definitely watch that!

"Admiral Sulu." It's got a ring to it...

April 6 2008, 09:48 PM	#1
mahler5 Lieutenant Commander	Would a Captain Sulu series have killed trek? Should they have gone with a Captain Sulu based series instead of Voyager? What would the effect on Trek have been? Thoughts?

April 6 2008, 09:56 PM	#2
J. Allen Trekkie™ Location: A Quantum State	Re: Would a Captain Sulu series have killed trek? I believe a Captain Sulu series would have worked 15 years ago. I would have certainly watched it, as I was in love with the Excelsior at the time and considered Sulu to be a Captain with mucho gravitas. I think the effect of such a series would have been a positive one, at least for me. I love the movie era Star Trek, it's my favorite. I love the ships, the uniforms, the technology, I love it all, and I would have happily continued on to whatever Trek afterward to see what awaited me. With VOY, I didn't feel that way. Less than a season into it I started fading. I was still on a TNG high and didn't like the darker feel of DS9 (yet) but didn't like the clinical, bland feel of VOY (still don't). Now, your mileage may vary, but after VOY, I was hesitant to see what was next, because it just seemed, oh, I don't know, foreboding because if VOY had become milquetoast (and for me it was certainly that), what would follow? So for me, yes a Captain Sulu series would have had a more positive effect. As for the franchise, I believe so as well. J. __________________ -------------------- "Laser effects, mirrored balls; John Williams must be rolling around in his grave!" - Homer Simpson

April 6 2008, 11:04 PM	#3
zenophite Rear Admiral Location: AlphaVerse	Re: Would a Captain Sulu series have killed trek? I don't think Takei had the presence necessary to make such a series work well. He's ok but just not as the main lead. __________________ The reason we have two ears and only one mouth, is that we may hear more and speak less. - Zeno of Cittium (334-262 BC)

April 7 2008, 02:42 AM	#4
smetna Cadet	Re: Would a Captain Sulu series have killed trek? I am not sure it would have killed trek, but I am not sure that George could have handled a lead position in a major tv series.

April 7 2008, 02:47 AM	#5
Admiral Buzzkill The Man Location: Defying Gravity	Re: Would a Captain Sulu series have killed trek? It would have taken Trek off TV at least three years earlier than the way things turned out. Hey, we could have had the first "nuTrek" movie out in theaters by 2006! __________________ I had steak and a loaded baked potato for dinner on Sunday. As a steak I enjoyed it a lot, but as macaroni and cheese I thought it was disappointing.

STAR TREK

CSI

ABOUT US

April 7 2008, 03:02 AM	#6
Garrovick Guest	Re: Would a Captain Sulu series have killed trek? It depends... What if the characters, stories, writers and production staff were exactly the same? Just Sulu and the Excellsior replaced Voyager and Janeway?

April 7 2008, 03:50 AM	#7
Admiral Buzzkill The Man Location: Defying Gravity	Re: Would a Captain Sulu series have killed trek? Takei instead of Mulgrew? In the toilet. And I'm no fan of Mulgrew's. __________________ I had steak and a loaded baked potato for dinner on Sunday. As a steak I enjoyed it a lot, but as macaroni and cheese I thought it was disappointing.

April 7 2008, 04:53 AM	#8
Aragorn Admiral	Re: Would a Captain Sulu series have killed trek? Considering how UPN wanted their Star Trek (to hold them up as a network and play it safe) and the type of shows B&B put out, would it basically be Voyager-quality and Voyager-type scripts for Excelsior? I thought a Takei/Excelsior series could've worked -- until I saw him on Voyager and realized how crappy he would've been as a lead. I would've liked to have seen a series set during the red uniform era, but a better choice might've been to see a Harriman show. How does a rookie captain react to 1) the changing times in the Federation, and 2) Kirk dying on his watch. With Alan Ruck, I also think it might've been a good chance for the captain not to be the lead of the show. Make it more of an ensemble where the captain gets the "and" credit. Maybe make the first officer the star.

April 7 2008, 06:56 AM	#9
Jack Bauer Fleet Admiral Location: Jack Bauer	Re: Would a Captain Sulu series have killed trek? Takei doesn't have the chops to be the lead. He's merely a supporting player. __________________ *"See you in another life, brotha." - Desmond David Hume - Lost*

April 7 2008, 04:21 PM	#10
Mark_Nguyen Commodore Location: Calgary, Alberta	Re: Would a Captain Sulu series have killed trek? I thought the same, then I saw him on Heroes. I think he'd have done fine, given better dialogue than what he was seated with on Voyager. It's too late now of course, but I think that in the 90s it would have been fun. Mark __________________ Mark Nguyen - Producer The 404s - Improv Comedy Group Oh, I like that Trek thing too...

April 7 2008, 04:44 PM	#11
zenophite Rear Admiral Location: AlphaVerse	Re: Would a Captain Sulu series have killed trek? I think it's important to note though that Takei is not a central player on Heroes and has had most of his lines in a foreign language. Even with that I think it is fairly easy to see that Takei is strictly a supporting actor. __________________ The reason we have two ears and only one mouth, is that we may hear more and speak less. - Zeno of Cittium (334-262 BC)

April 7 2008, 06:08 PM	#12
doubleohfive Fleet Admiral Location: Los Angeles, CA	Re: Would a Captain Sulu series have killed trek? The only way it would have worked is if William Hung played Sulu. And sang at the end of each episode. __________________ "I have never made but one prayer to God, a very short one: "O Lord make my enemies ridiculous." And God granted it." -Voltaire

April 7 2008, 08:08 PM	#14
zenophite Rear Admiral Location: AlphaVerse	Re: Would a Captain Sulu series have killed trek? ^^^ Commodore or admiral Sulu maybe? But I wholeheartedly agree he would be kick ass! I would definitely watch that! __________________ The reason we have two ears and only one mouth, is that we may hear more and speak less. - Zeno of Cittium (334-262 BC)