A post I made in another thread got me to thinking I might not share the same classifications of characters as others do. I'd even be interested in knowing what the forum moderator thinks about the subject of character classifications. We hear a multitude of terms used to describe them. The most common are "Main" "Regular" & Guest". I'm not even sure I know how the term "Regular" applies. Is it the same as main cast? or can it mean we regularly see them? How long must we regularly see them for it to apply? You get my drift lol
The terms I use are a bit more specific, but not as popular. The main cast, AKA "Principle" cast are the likes of Picard, Riker, Data, Worf, Troi, Beverly & Geordi... This would even include discontinued characters like Yar or Wesley, who would even go on to reprise their roles later, turning them into a recurring guest role. However, that doesn't change what they were initially, imho.
I also consider that, regardless of how she was billed, Pulaski was a principle character, because despite her short stay & abrupt/controversial introduction, she replaced a principle character & its functional aspect as well. She also featured just as heavily in that role as a main cast member might, & there might have been an intention for her to remain in that role indefinitely, at one time. If you replace Radar as company clerk with Klinger, Klinger is now a principle player. If you replace the ship's doc with someone who factors in just as much... principle player
The "Guest" category is a pretty specific group, as I see it, that only applies to characters like Jellico, & Fajo, or even Spock, Sarek, & Scotty as it relates to TNG. It can even include characters that get revisited, like Moriarty, Damon Bok, Vash & K'Ehleyr or even Worf's Mom, if you think about it. Come to think of it, Sarek revisited too...
To me, once a guest character is showing up more than twice, they fit into another category, which I call "Recurring", the likes of Troi's mom, Worf's son, Q, & even Data's brother Lore. It's tough distinction to make, because some guest spots only come back twice, but factor in more heavily than a recurring one. I'd say that K'Ehleyr was as much or more a significant character, than Soong, even though Soong appeared more times.
Finally there's "Supporting" cast. Among this group, I include the likes of Guinan, Ro Laren, Barclay, The O'Briens, & even Nurse Ogawa. These are characters who are more than just guests or recurring. They are woven into the fabric of the show in such a way as to imply consistency, regularity, belongingness. They fit into the works. They don't just recur. They have a place there. They can sometimes also be featured in more significant ways, but that is not really their distinction or function
Then there's oddities, like Robin Lefler, who I got the impression she was intended to be a recurring character, perhaps like Barclay, but only showed up twice... OR Admiral Nechayev, who while having showed up 4 times, & fit into the works like a supporting character, really only was a guest spot... I guess. What do you think?
The terms I use are a bit more specific, but not as popular. The main cast, AKA "Principle" cast are the likes of Picard, Riker, Data, Worf, Troi, Beverly & Geordi... This would even include discontinued characters like Yar or Wesley, who would even go on to reprise their roles later, turning them into a recurring guest role. However, that doesn't change what they were initially, imho.
I also consider that, regardless of how she was billed, Pulaski was a principle character, because despite her short stay & abrupt/controversial introduction, she replaced a principle character & its functional aspect as well. She also featured just as heavily in that role as a main cast member might, & there might have been an intention for her to remain in that role indefinitely, at one time. If you replace Radar as company clerk with Klinger, Klinger is now a principle player. If you replace the ship's doc with someone who factors in just as much... principle player
The "Guest" category is a pretty specific group, as I see it, that only applies to characters like Jellico, & Fajo, or even Spock, Sarek, & Scotty as it relates to TNG. It can even include characters that get revisited, like Moriarty, Damon Bok, Vash & K'Ehleyr or even Worf's Mom, if you think about it. Come to think of it, Sarek revisited too...
To me, once a guest character is showing up more than twice, they fit into another category, which I call "Recurring", the likes of Troi's mom, Worf's son, Q, & even Data's brother Lore. It's tough distinction to make, because some guest spots only come back twice, but factor in more heavily than a recurring one. I'd say that K'Ehleyr was as much or more a significant character, than Soong, even though Soong appeared more times.
Finally there's "Supporting" cast. Among this group, I include the likes of Guinan, Ro Laren, Barclay, The O'Briens, & even Nurse Ogawa. These are characters who are more than just guests or recurring. They are woven into the fabric of the show in such a way as to imply consistency, regularity, belongingness. They fit into the works. They don't just recur. They have a place there. They can sometimes also be featured in more significant ways, but that is not really their distinction or function
Then there's oddities, like Robin Lefler, who I got the impression she was intended to be a recurring character, perhaps like Barclay, but only showed up twice... OR Admiral Nechayev, who while having showed up 4 times, & fit into the works like a supporting character, really only was a guest spot... I guess. What do you think?
