why was ensign kim not promoted at all in 7 years?

[Guy Gardener]

He had agreed to play the same guy for possibly seven years and maybe several movies.

Arrested development is not sexy.

Like Garret wanted to be pigeon holed into the same stories he was when he was 20 as the little girl who plays Naomi is getting promoted to admiral controlling the imaginary fates of imaginary civilizations.

[teacake]

Let's say they did promote him. Why does he think this will give him more stories other than possibly a bit of a story in which he does something that earns him the promotion.

[Dream]

teacake wrote:

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What I don't get is why Wang asked in the first place. Asked to have more storylines, sure, but asked to be promoted?

Sulu pretty much asked to be made Captain, even if it meant less screen time for him in TUC. It's a respect thing.

[teacake]

Yes I am sure every person in the street thinks of him as Captain Sulu.

[Guy Gardener]

Naked guy with a sword in the end credits to TOS is my first thought.

[teacake]

He makes me close my eyes and think of botany.

[mswood]

bluepicard27 wrote:

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it seems kinda counter-productive to have an actual commisioned starfleet officer stay the same rank whilst making people like tom paris,chakotay lieutenants, and lt commanders respectively

Besides Torres (whom you don't mention), both Paris and Chakotay were given the rank they had already achieved before they left Starfleet.

[mswood]

teacake wrote:

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Yes I am sure every person in the street thinks of him as Captain Sulu.

SO, if the guys just literally only out for a paycheck then that makes sense. But if you are actually an actor who wants to to earn a living and cares about development of your character its completely rational. Even if its just for how you portray your character (like how actors in their own minds expand their own backstory), and no one ever notices it or if it never leads to a story idea. Its still impacts how you portray your character.

[Dukhat]

Probably because the writers and producers didn't give a crap about his character. Hell, they wanted to fire Wang halfway through the series, but that stupid People Magazine came out with their stupid "sexiest people" issue, and they fired Jennifer Lien instead.

[Therin of Andor]

Dream wrote:

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Sulu pretty much asked to be made Captain, even if it meant less screen time for him in TUC.

No he didn't. He did refuse to sign for ST II if Sulu was just piloting the ship and delivering "Aye sir" dialogue, so Harve Bennett promised to add a scene where Kirk tells Sulu about his promotion, to captain of USS Excelsior (long before anyone knew the ship would featured in the next film). While that one scene didn't end up making the final cut, it did give a suggestion that future movies might be more fulfilling.

For ST III, he was pleased to get the scene flipping the guard.

For ST IV, he was pleased to do the scene in the Huey, plus he was promised a scene with his great great grandfather (a child in 20th century San Francisco), a scene that didn't get filmed due to failing light and a stubborn child actor.

He didn't request to be a captain in ST VI, but was pleasantly surprised when he read the script, and that the "Hikaru" first name (from "The Entropy Effect" novel that first highlighted Sulu's loftier career aspirations). The writers knew that the promotion would appeal to the actor as something more interesting to do than piloting the ship.

[teacake]

Dukhat wrote:

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Probably because the writers and producers didn't give a crap about his character. Hell, they wanted to fire Wang halfway through the series, but that stupid People Magazine came out with their stupid "sexiest people" issue, and they fired Jennifer Lien instead.

REALLY? When did that happen?

[Dukhat]

teacake wrote:

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REALLY? When did that happen?

This has been pretty well documented before. In a nutshell, Wang was showing up for work late, having a lousy attitude, etc. The producers wanted to trim the cast anyway, so they were going to fire him and kill Harry Kim off, but then People Magazine came out with their "50 most sexiest people" issue, and Wang was in it. Fearing they'd have egg on their face if they fired Wang now, they fired Lein instead.

Therin of Andor wrote:

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...so Harve Bennett promised to add a scene where Kirk tells Sulu about his promotion, to captain of USS Excelsior (long before anyone knew the ship would featured in the next film)

However, I don't think that at the time, the Excelsior mentioned in that scene was supposed to be the "great experiment," but rather just a generic ship, correct?

[teacake]

Sorry Dukhat, I was having a naughty moment there since this Wang--->Lien topic has been the subject of literally thousands of posts.

[Dukhat]

teacake wrote:

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Sorry Dukhat, I was having a naughty moment there since this Wang--->Lien topic has been the subject of literally thousands of posts.

Ah, ok. You should have put in a in there to let me know you were joking

(I don't usually post in the VOY forum, sorry )

[teacake]

I wasn't taking the piss at you or your comment so much as the topic itself and the VOY forum