What TOS-era character could have captained the Enterprise-B?

[Riley]

Apparently tie-in media for Picard claimed Saavik did get command of the USS Titan in 2290. However, everyone forgets that Saavik's birthyear is roughly 2264, meaning she'd be 26 in 2290 and 29 in 2293, all absurdly young ages for someone to get command outside of Kelvin Kirk.

Thankfully, the tie-in media for Picad is even easier to disregard than Picard itself!

 

[Nude Colonel Stuart]

Yes. That really pissed me off the first time I saw Generations. The filmmakers expected me to get more choked up about Data finding his damn cat than about the death of James T. Kirk. They just had no idea.

Captain, I suspect JonnyQuest may not have owned a personal pet. Sometimes they can become our sons. And many pets are more loyal than cats.

 

[UssGlenn]

You could go full circle and give Barret's Number one command of the Enterprise B. But the Audiences would confuse her with Luxwana, and she's probably be an admiral anyway.

 

[Nude Colonel Stuart]

You could go full circle and give Barret's Number one command of the Enterprise B. But the Audiences would confuse her with Luxwana, and she's probably be an admiral anyway.

I've never been a Barrett buff, even on BEAVER, though I do prefer her Number One to Chapel or the one I called ''Anthrax'' Troi in the presence of friends.

 

[BozoThePerson]

Let's put aside that Berman/Braga/whomever else wanted Harriman and his crew to look inept so that Kirk could save the day. In fact, let's even go so far as to put aside what we saw in Generations. It's the first Enterprise without Kirk as captain in decades, and Starfleet is looking for seasoned officers for the position. They also don't care if said officers once served with or have ties to James T. Kirk.

While I think Chekov would be nice symbolically since he was with Kirk his entire career and worshipped Kirk, I'm not sure he's up to captain a new Enterprise.

I have a few suggestions:

Sulu, who might be offered the E-B after proving himself with the Excelsior.

Styles, who was obviously a capable officer since he was given Excelsior originally. I wonder how Kirk would feel about that?

Lt. Stiles, who came from a long tradition of Starfleet officers and was in the command division.

Kyle, who was a commander in Ops in TWOK but who could have easily switched to command at some point after the Reliant incident.

Kevin Thomas Riley, who actually got a first name unlike Stiles and Kyle and who once introduced himself as "captain of the Enterprise." Since he's one of my favorite minor TOS characters, he'd be my pick.

I'd think Rand or Uhura would be a good choice

 

[SantaTom]

Let's put aside that Berman/Braga/whomever else wanted Harriman and his crew to look inept so that Kirk could save the day. In fact, let's even go so far as to put aside what we saw in Generations. It's the first Enterprise without Kirk as captain in decades, and Starfleet is looking for seasoned officers for the position. They also don't care if said officers once served with or have ties to James T. Kirk.

At the risk of being pedantic, there was a 2.5 year period where Decker was the captain of the Enterprise and another period of indeterminate length where Spock was captain, both at times when Kirk was an admiral serving at Starfleet Command.

 

[SatrianiRules]

Logically, should be Chekov. He was a first officer in TWOK so it always seemed strange that he went back down to somewhat menial postings afterwards.

and by ST6 he was reduced to bumbling comic relief,
Interesting how Lt. Valeris, a first year officer knew more about Enterprise operations than a guy that served 20yrs on the ship.

 

[Riley]

At the risk of being pedantic, there was a 2.5 year period where Decker was the captain of the Enterprise and another period of indeterminate length where Spock was captain, both at times when Kirk was an admiral serving at Starfleet Command.

My point was not clearly made here. I seem to recall that Berman didn't want a TOS character as captain of the Enterprise-B, hence the new character of John Harriman. Berman was not at all a fan of TOS or its characters.

 

[Santa Kang]

My point was not clearly made here. I seem to recall that Berman didn't want a TOS character as captain of the Enterprise-B, hence the new character of John Harriman. Berman was not at all a fan of TOS or its characters.

Imagine the backlash if Sulu, Uhura or Chekov were in the center seat!!! Bullet dodged. Well done Mister Berman.

 

[Adventerprise]

The Enterprise need not be a dynasty. If Kirk had any surviving kids, the writers' temptation would be strong ("another Kirk in the center seat!").

 

[Santa Kang]

The Enterprise need not be a dynasty. If Kirk had any surviving kids, the writers' temptation would be strong ("another Kirk in the center seat!").

Not sure if Braga and Moore were ever that deep down the rabbit hole.

 

[Riley]

The Enterprise need not be a dynasty. If Kirk had any surviving kids, the writers' temptation would be strong ("another Kirk in the center seat!").

I don't think that would have been any worse than Harriman. A Kirk kid in command (or even just serving aboard) could have led to a new series set on the E-B. I'd have preferred that to Enterprise.

 

[Adventerprise]

His only known kids, David Marcus and Miramanee's unborn baby, both had died by that point. Any new Kirk Jr. would come out of thin air (as Sulu's daughter did, I suppose).

 

[Santa Kang]

His only known kids, David Marcus and Miramanee's unborn baby, both had died by that point. Any new Kirk Jr. would come out of thin air (as Sulu's daughter did, I suppose).

Well David was out of thin air too. Happens a lot on Star Trek and fiction in general.

 

[SantaTom]

My point was not clearly made here. I seem to recall that Berman didn't want a TOS character as captain of the Enterprise-B, hence the new character of John Harriman. Berman was not at all a fan of TOS or its characters.

During Berman's tenure, each of the seven primary TOS characters made an appearance with the lone exception of Uhura. We also got Rand, Sarek, Kor, Kang, Koloth, and even Arne Darvin.

If Berman really disliked the TOS characters, he had a funny way of showing it.

 

[Riley]

During Berman's tenure, each of the seven primary TOS characters made an appearance with the lone exception of Uhura. We also got Rand, Sarek, Kor, Kang, Koloth, and even Arne Darvin.

If Berman really disliked the TOS characters, he had a funny way of showing it.

The fact that they appeared is secondary to how they were treated. Kang, Kor, Koloth, and Arne Darvin were all on DS9 after Berman had turned over most of his control to Piller and eventually Behr.

Let's break the others down:

Chekov: was only featured because Koenig agreed to take the part that was written for Kelley. His lines and function in GEN were unchanged from what was written for McCoy. I'd say that's poor treatment at best and insulting at worst.

Scotty: same for Doohan, who took the part written for Nimoy. Some of his lines and his function in the story were unchanged from what was written for Nimoy. This is also insulting.

Meanwhile, Scotty was treated horribly in "Relics." It's an insult to his character and makes the TNG crew look awful. Berman had a big part in that.

Spock: Spock, perhaps the greatest Trek character after Kirk, was criminally underused. The progress he had made with Sarek in TOS and the TOS films was tarnished. This is more poor treatment.

Sulu and Rand: they were treated better than the other TOS characters because it was an anniversary episode and because the episode had to maintain continuity with Star Trek VI.

James T. Kirk: the heart of Star Trek was treated like a plot device. He was sidelined after his first unnecessary "death" until he was unceremoniously killed again.

McCoy: he was treated best of all because Roddenberry was involved with and co-wrote "Encounter At Farpoint." He was never seen or referred to again (even though it would have made sense to do so when Spock and Scotty appeared).

Berman hated TOS. If you need further proof, spend some time reading background information about TNG, Berman, Braga, and Ron Moore on Memory Alpha.

 

[Santa Kang]

The fact that they appeared is secondary to how they were treated. Kang, Kor, Koloth, and Arne Darvin were all on DS9 after Berman had turned over most of his control to Piller and eventually Behr.

Let's break the others down:

Chekov: was only featured because Koenig agreed to take the part that was written for Kelley. His lines and function in GEN were unchanged from what was written for McCoy. I'd say that's poor treatment at best and insulting at worst.

Scotty: same for Doohan, who took the part written for Nimoy. Some of his lines and his function in the story were unchanged from what was written for Nimoy. This is also insulting.

Meanwhile, Scotty was treated horribly in "Relics." It's an insult to his character and makes the TNG crew look awful. Berman had a big part in that.

Spock: Spock, perhaps the greatest Trek character after Kirk, was criminally underused. The progress he had made with Sarek in TOS and the TOS films was tarnished. This is more poor treatment.

Sulu and Rand: they were treated better than the other TOS characters because it was an anniversary episode and because the episode had to maintain continuity with Star Trek VI.

James T. Kirk: the heart of Star Trek was treated like a plot device. He was sidelined after his first unnecessary "death" until he was unceremoniously killed again.

McCoy: he was treated best of all because Roddenberry was involved with and co-wrote "Encounter At Farpoint." He was never seen or referred to again (even though it would have made sense to do so when Spock and Scotty appeared).

Berman hated TOS. If you need further proof, spend some time reading background information about TNG, Berman, Braga, and Ron Moore on Memory Alpha.

How much was Berman involved in the actual writing of any of those episodes? Did he tell Moore "Make sure Scotty look like a out of touch fool" in Relics?

 

[Jedi Marso]

Chekov is the logical choice. (Answering the OP)

 

[Santa Kang]

Chekov is the logical choice. (Answering the OP)

Then who would do the medicine?

 

[Jedi Marso]

Then who would do the medicine?

Dr. Chapel.