Sulu -- the forgotten lover and racism of the times?

[Harvey]

It is worth pointing out here that Takei was contracted as a regular during the first two seasons (though not for every episode).

 

[T'Bonz]

Eh. He had at least one daughter, so evidently Sulu got some somewhere along the way.

 

[TREK_GOD_1]

Every major male character on Star Trek got a love interest except Sulu. Kirk was routinely shown to have them, Spock had several, McCoy had old flames, Chekhov got his, and even Scotty, who would rather spend time with technical manuals, tried to get it on with some women. But not Sulu. Racism of the times?

Racism from...? NBC? Desilu? Roddenberry? I'm afraid you are reaching. In the 1960s, it is inarguable that the most significant recipient of racism in American society was the African American--particularly if male, but with all of the struggle and fire taking place from the playground to the corridors of Washington, we witnessed black male characters involved in romances before Star Trek (Cosby in I Spy), and during the run of the series (Don Mitchell in Ironside, Clarence Williams III from The Mod Squad). The point being if racism was a factor in preventing the development of romantic relationships on US television screens, it would have likely had an effect on black characters before anyone else.

That, and considering how Roddenberry and NBC (also home to I Spy & Ironside) were not actively avoiding development of minority characters, and one cannot readily pursue racism as the motive for Sulu's lack of romances on TOS.

Finally, as Sir Rhosis noted, Takei was originally intended for one such script, but was booted in favor of a better actor (Doohan). That is not racism, but selection based on apparent job performance.

 

[CorporalCaptain]

Racism

No.

 

[Gassy Man]

Eh. He had at least one daughter, so evidently Sulu got some somewhere along the way.

But that wasn't shown until 20 years after TOS. And there was still no romance -- just the appearance of a daughter. Once again, the romance was skipped. And for all we know, she could have been a test tube baby.

 

[Gassy Man]

What ticks me off is people calling racism when anyone of color doesn't get the same as someone else (not of color?). If you spend all your time looking for racism that's all you'll see.

This is how I see it, as well.

Besides (since it's been brought up), in the overall big picture, Sulu is show to have had time to have a family by the time of Generations, so it's arguable that he's had a chance to be more in love than any of the rest of the regular characters!

But no romance onscreen. Once again, that was bypassed.

 

[Gassy Man]

Every major male character on Star Trek got a love interest except Sulu. Kirk was routinely shown to have them, Spock had several, McCoy had old flames, Chekhov got his, and even Scotty, who would rather spend time with technical manuals, tried to get it on with some women. But not Sulu. Racism of the times?

Racism from...? NBC? Desilu? Roddenberry? I'm afraid you are reaching. In the 1960s, it is inarguable that the most significant recipient of racism in American society was the African American--particularly if male, but with all of the struggle and fire taking place from the playground to the corridors of Washington, we witnessed black male characters involved in romances before Star Trek (Cosby in I Spy), and during the run of the series (Don Mitchell in Ironside, Clarence Williams III from The Mod Squad). The point being if racism was a factor in preventing the development of romantic relationships on US television screens, it would have likely had an effect on black characters before anyone else.

That, and considering how Roddenberry and NBC (also home to I Spy & Ironside) were not actively avoiding development of minority characters, and one cannot readily pursue racism as the motive for Sulu's lack of romances on TOS.

Finally, as Sir Rhosis noted, Takei was originally intended for one such script, but was booted in favor of a better actor (Doohan). That is not racism, but selection based on apparent job performance.

So . . . because African Americans were making strides, Asian Americans somehow were coming out ahead? What?

This article on the late James Shigeta, a contemporary of George Takei and the only Asian American male actor during the period that Hollywood even attempted to turn into a romantic lead, details some of the troubles Asian American male actors had being taken seriously, especially in playing romantic characters. For that matter, name an Asian American male actor back then who was shown in a romantic role on series television.

http://blogs.wsj.com/speakeasy/2014...geta-changed-the-image-of-asian-american-men/

 

[Gassy Man]

Apparently, things have not changed much in 50 years. These articles suggest the problems for Asian American male actors and/or how getting films made with an Asian American male lead are virtually impossible . . . with the odds going up significantly if you recast a role as a white character:

http://jezebel.com/5992922/why-arent-asian-actors-getting-leading-roles-in-hollywood

http://seattletimes.com/html/opinion/2019041450_guestderektingxml.html

http://newamericamedia.org/2014/01/...huns-asians-while-new-media-embraces-them.php

Of course, the easy thing to do is just be dismissive of any claims that suggest there might be problems for Asian Americans, especially males, in Hollywood.

 

[Zaminhon]

Just think of how cool Kung Fu would have been if Bruce Lee were cast. Not casting him was one of the biggest boneheaded moves in TV history.

 

[Commishsleer]

Eh. He had at least one daughter, so evidently Sulu got some somewhere along the way.

But that wasn't shown until 20 years after TOS. And there was still no romance -- just the appearance of a daughter. Once again, the romance was skipped. And for all we know, she could have been a test tube baby.

Clearly this was just an attempt by Paramount 20 years later to cover their obvious racism with Sulu's character. Then still clearly not wanting to have an Asian character have any romance they just throw in a daughter and we're expected to fall for it.


Perhaps the reason we didn't see Sulu in romances is that he was filming Green Berets for a considerable time and some of his juicier parts were given to Chekov.

 

[Green Shirt]

Chekov was sort of the George Harrison of the cast

He was more Ringo than George.

 

[Shat Happens]

Why there must be all these sex and relationship issues everywhere?

I turned the tv on to watch a science fiction adventure series, not a soap opera.

 

[plynch]

Even in S1 Sulu and Uhura diminish, esp after Coon comes on and we focus more on the Big 3 and have less time "below decks." Being away hurt his role, as did Chekov's frankly more interesting and lively role, although it is annoying at times.

Uhura got no romance or feature ep. She and Sulu's lines could have (and sort of were sometimes) spoken by any other bridge officer. Yeah, Chapel did, but that's why she was there, originally as a guest role, right?

Sometimes things just go a certain direction. Scotty got bigger. Sulu diminished.

 

[The Old Mixer]

He was more Ringo than George.

Yet more to the point, he was more Monkee than Beatle.

 

[Nerys Myk]

He was more Ringo than George.

Yet more to the point, he was more Monkee than Beatle.

And as time went on he was more Peter than Davy.

 

[HIjol]

Could it possibly be that Takei himself was behind the lack of romance and on-screen time with the opposite sex. Could it have been his wish?

Lob Not Ye Threadbombs.

Just a thought.

 

[CorporalCaptain]

Sulu flirts with one of the space hippies in "The Way To Eden."

 

[TREK_GOD_1]

Every major male character on Star Trek got a love interest except Sulu. Kirk was routinely shown to have them, Spock had several, McCoy had old flames, Chekhov got his, and even Scotty, who would rather spend time with technical manuals, tried to get it on with some women. But not Sulu. Racism of the times?

Racism from...? NBC? Desilu? Roddenberry? I'm afraid you are reaching. In the 1960s, it is inarguable that the most significant recipient of racism in American society was the African American--particularly if male, but with all of the struggle and fire taking place from the playground to the corridors of Washington, we witnessed black male characters involved in romances before Star Trek (Cosby in I Spy), and during the run of the series (Don Mitchell in Ironside, Clarence Williams III from The Mod Squad). The point being if racism was a factor in preventing the development of romantic relationships on US television screens, it would have likely had an effect on black characters before anyone else.

That, and considering how Roddenberry and NBC (also home to I Spy & Ironside) were not actively avoiding development of minority characters, and one cannot readily pursue racism as the motive for Sulu's lack of romances on TOS.

Finally, as Sir Rhosis noted, Takei was originally intended for one such script, but was booted in favor of a better actor (Doohan). That is not racism, but selection based on apparent job performance.

So . . . because African Americans were making strides, Asian Americans somehow were coming out ahead? What?

Missing the clear as day point. You are charging racism, but aim that finger at a group--in a period where you have failed to demonstrate it to be a hard line fact, otherwise that would have been a (necessary) part of your opening post. Not only have you failed to demonstrate how the key players (NBC, Roddenberry or Desilu) practiced racism in regard to a Sulu romance, but the reason for a Sulu shift to Scott was stated as performance related. As a minority, I'm sorry, but in that decade, if anyone would have been the recipient of such treatment, it would not be an Asian American actor before the group in the center of racial firestorm in social/political life of that time. That was the one and only racial focus of the era on the national level--which was not lost on TV networks. That ground was broken on that front was a miracle.

Unlike A long pattern of perception where African Americans were concerned, Asian American actors showing any hint of sexuality was not the taboo / perceived threat on U.S. TV as it was for the other group. While one can argue an Asian American actor could have been overlooked, that is not in the same virulent category as racism, where the very thought of a particular group's sexuality was considered threatening.

Where is your real life racial roadblock--of that decade-which prevented Sulu's romance? Why are you not referring to the smoking NBC and/or Desilu and/or Roddenberry smoking gun?

Even in Takei's lost chance, again, there is a rational motive for shifting the character from Sulu to Scotty--no racism, yet you argue that he (Takei) was the victim of such treatment.

Where is the evidence?

Sulu flirts with one of the space hippies in "The Way To Eden."

..and she was white--which was major on US television, no matter how short the scene. Can anyone recall similar, positive scene on 1960s TV for an African American actor--and was not a "message" / drama scene or episode on race?

 

[Commishsleer]

Sulu flirts with one of the space hippies in "The Way To Eden."

He also took the show girls off Spock's hands in "Shore Leave".

 

[Marsden]

I think Gassy is right, it's racism and we should all stop watching the show, that will certainly hurt their ratings and may even get it cancelled, but they will learn their lesson, when their advertisers stop buying commercials it will hit them right in the wallet!

Maybe we can even write some letters, demand equal treatment for Sulu next season if it isn't cancelled.