Anyone Think That Patrict Stewart Was Overrated As An Actor?

[Dayton3]

I always thought so. I never got this impression of Stewart being as some described him as the "best actor on television" at times during ST:TNG.

He could be great in episodes written specifically for him such as "The Inner Light" but I thought he never really commanded attention when he wasn't the focus of the show.

 

[Admiral Bear]

He's a fine actor, but didn't come across as one in TNG because the show didn't stretch him in any way, or most of the time allow him to show that he could act all the rest of the cast off the screen.

It's not difficult for good actors to look wooden when they're given poor material to work with. TNG was only ever a day job for Stewart, something which paid his bills and allowed him to do theatre for which he got and still gets paid relative peanuts.

 

[JNG]

He could be great in episodes written specifically for him such as "The Inner Light" but I thought he never really commanded attention when he wasn't the focus of the show.

Perhaps this was deliberate. Actors used to sharing the stage know the moments to hog the limelight and the moments not to. Picard/Stewart was not supposed to be as central as Kirk/shatner had been to the original show--on or offscreen.

 

[SuperSaint]

What a ludicrous statement. What did he ever do to you, run over your dog or something?

 

[Amaris]

I didn't like his work in Insurrection or Nemesis, but I chalk that up to scripting. I have always enjoyed his portrayal of Jean-Luc Picard. He was a complex, authoritarian man who brooked no argument when a decision had been made, but had a softer side that appreciated the finer details of the universe around him. His love of archaeology, culture, history, his keen sense of honor and integrity. Patrick Stewart turned the lines on a page into a real, flesh and blood man that was all of these things, so yes, you could say I think he's a fine actor.

J.

 

[Kegek]

I didn't like his work in Insurrection or Nemesis, but I chalk that up to scripting. I have always enjoyed his portrayal of Jean-Luc Picard. He was a complex, authoritarian man who brooked no argument when a decision had been made, but had a softer side that appreciated the finer details of the universe around him. His love of archaeology, culture, history, his keen sense of honor and integrity. Patrick Stewart turned the lines on a page into a real, flesh and blood man that was all of these things, so yes, you could say I think he's a fine actor.

What he said. For me, Picard is simply unparalled - he's the best acted and written captain in Star Trek, and frankly the best protagonist in science fiction television. Patrick Stewart deserves his share of that praise.

 

[WillsBabe]

I don't think that he was over-rated as an actor. I think that he was a compelling and engaging presence on screen. He wasn't my favourite character but I could certainly appreciate him. I think that there were weaknesses sometimes in her performance. I sometimes think that his emotional stuff doesn't ring true for me - I'm thinking of Sarek and First Contact. But that's just minor stuff. On the whole I think he's excellent in TNG. In other things I sometimes think he misses the mark (although rarely on stage, in my opinion).

 

[The Old Mixer]

and frankly the best protagonist in science fiction television.

Hmmm...I may have agreed before Edward James Olmos and Mary McDonnell on Battlestar Galactica.

 

[theenglish]

I have to agree with many of the posters here. He is simply one of my favorite Science Fiction actors. Much of the first few seasons of TNG are only watchable because of him.

 

[Forbin]

I have nothing bad to say about his actin ability, but I'm certainly sick to death of seeing him cry.

 

[Whoa Nellie]

Wil Wheaton once made a comment about how acting in a scene with Patrick Stewart was like playing hockey with Wayne Gretzky.

Warmest Wishes,
Whoa Nellie

 

[Nerys Myk]

and frankly the best protagonist in science fiction television.

Hmmm...I may have agreed before Edward James Olmos and Mary McDonnell on Battlestar Galactica.

I think Olmos has slipped into parody.

 

[DizzyMan]

I don’t think “Patrict Stewart Was Overrated”. Nor do I think Patrick Stewart was overrated. Have you seen him in other roles?

He’s a great actor. If you’re going to criticise acting on TNG, he’s the last person you should be looking at. Without wanting to insult anyone, he’s in a different league to some of them.

 

[Saxman1]

Thanks to Stewart, Picard was the finest Captain in the entire Trek Universe. If anything, I think he's terribly underrated.

 

[CaptainStoner]

I don't see him being over-rated either. He's definetly A-grade material nearly all of the time, I don't know what more you could ask.
I also think that Picard is one of the more difficult characters of that cast to play. I see Picard, Data, and Troi as the most initially difficult to play without coming off completely silly. The kind of dialog they get, the exposition.

 

[Tactical Drone]

"Anyone think that Patrick Stewart was overrated as an actor?"

no

 

[saxarocks]

no, not at all. he is a wonderful actor when given good material. he is a traditional stage actor, so his style is a bit different than that of those who started in film. he was one of the best Othellos of modern time, if you ever get the chance to see a recording of his performance you will understand why i say that.
recently, i was lucky enough to see him as the lead in Macbeth on Broadway. it was the most powerful live performance i have ever seen, as well as one of the most physically rigorous.
but i dont just like him because he does a lot of shakespeare. i loathe shakespeare, and there are very few actors that have the ability to hold my interest in the play. so i think he is a very good actor, and no, he is not overrated.

 

[Kirby]

Wil Wheaton once made a comment about how acting in a scene with Patrick Stewart was like playing hockey with Wayne Gretzky.

I now have this mental picture of Picard slamming Wesley Crusher up against a wall, and Wesley slowing sinking to the floor with a bloody and broken nose and his teeth falling out.... sweet.

 

[Warp14]

I might have joined the 'Patrick Stewart overrated camp' until I saw him as Xavier in X-Men.


Once I stopped comparing him to the serious-campy range of Shatner, I saw him as the engaging actor he was.

Engaging? Geez.

 

[Super Grover]

Are you kidding, have you seen him do comedy, he is a brilliant comedic actor.