Disguised? [SPOILERS!]

[CorboMight]

The standing assumption is that that's a robot cop that catches up with young James Tiberius Kirk.

[EDITING TO ADD:] I do not support the idea of a robot cop. [/END EDIT]

What says it's really a cop?

What if it's someone *disguised* as a cop? What if he doesn't want to be identified, so wears a full face covering helmet?

Compare, in trailer #2, two sound bites, listen to them side by side.

"What is your name," (@ 00:28) and "The wait is over." (@ 01:37)

Tell me what you hear.

-- CorboMight

 

[SalvorHardin]

The standing assumption is that that's a robot cop that catches up with young James Tiberius Kirk.

No, the assumption is that it's a man wearing some sort of (maybe iron manlike) face mask and uniform.

 

[M'Sharak]

The standing assumption is that that's a robot cop that catches up with young James Tiberius Kirk.

[EDITING TO ADD:] I do not support the idea of a robot cop. [/END EDIT]

I don't believe it's a robot. The stride and movement we see in the brief appearance in the trailer are decidedly non-mechanical.

What says it's really a cop?

What if it's someone *disguised* as a cop? What if he doesn't want to be identified, so wears a full face covering helmet?

Compare, in trailer #2, two sound bites, listen to them side by side.

"What is your name," (@ 00:28) and "The wait is over." (@ 01:37)

Tell me what you hear.

I have not gotten the impression that they are the same, but I'll give it another look (and listen.)

 

[Rat Boy]

Ah, I get it...

Nero as cop: "What is your name?"

Kirk: "My name is James Tiberius Kirk!"

Nero as cop: "Shit, I was looking for James R. Kirk! Carry on kid."

 

[Photoman15]

The standing assumption is that that's a robot cop that catches up with young James Tiberius Kirk.

[EDITING TO ADD:] I do not support the idea of a robot cop. [/END EDIT]

I don't believe it's a robot. The stride and movement we see in the brief appearance in the trailer are decidedly non-mechanical.

What says it's really a cop?

What if it's someone *disguised* as a cop? What if he doesn't want to be identified, so wears a full face covering helmet?

Compare, in trailer #2, two sound bites, listen to them side by side.

"What is your name," (@ 00:28) and "The wait is over." (@ 01:37)

Tell me what you hear.

I have not gotten the impression that they are the same, but I'll give it another look (and listen.)

Data's stride was non-mechanical as was Korby's androids.

 

[wamdue]

I wouldn't be too surprised if it is Neo, also I notice there is a point in Kirks life, where the changing of a tiny detail could lead to his death. (see Turn Left & Whatever Happened to Sarah Jane)

 

[T J]

Ah, I get it...

Nero as cop: "What is your name?"

Kirk: "My name is James Tiberius Kirk!"

Nero as cop: "Shit, I was looking for James R. Kirk! Carry on kid."

 

[TOSTNGDS9VOYENT]

No, probably just a helmet with built-in PA system. I would image, as dusty as it is, riding a motorcylce, that a helmet like that would come in handy. Maybe it even keeps him cool. Then again, maybe it JUST LOOKS COOL for the movie.

 

[Franklin]

No, probably just a helmet with built-in PA system. I would image, as dusty as it is, riding a motorcylce, that a helmet like that would come in handy. Maybe it even keeps him cool. Then again, maybe it JUST LOOKS COOL for the movie.

That hover-cycle may go fast enough that he needs total face proctection. Hope there's a cooling device in it, though. It's Iowa, after all. Say it's July. 98 degrees F. 88% humidity. Would you wear it, otherwise?

Is it Nero? Nah. He'd know it's Kirk. (Or why's he chasing him?)

More likely, this is just a short "setting Kirk's character" scene. From what little we've seen, and from what Pike has said about him, he probably had several minor run-ins with the law in his early life.

 

[USS Excelsior]

You would think they would have face recognition tech to identify civilians without having to ask.

 

[SalvorHardin]

You would think they would have face recognition tech to identify civilians without having to ask.

That would mean there is some Big Brother database somewhere with every civilians face and data cataloged for the cop to access.

I don't see it...

 

[Timo]

That would mean there is some Big Brother database somewhere with every civilians face and data cataloged for the cop to access. I don't see it...

One'd assume such things would be commonplace in the 23rd century, though, even in the Star Trek 23rd century, and considered perfectly benign. Then again, our TOS heroes never managed to crack a mystery by browsing through visual records; such records typically were incomplete, difficult to access, and only confused things further, having typically been forged by villains anyway.

Also, even if JTK was automatically identified, there could still be polite but firm protocol in place for making a formal confirmation. Or then a robotic cop has been carefully programmed to imitate the obnoxious, low-smarts manner of classic highway patrol, just because that's what works best psychologically.

And while JJverse may beg to differ, the Trek future might be such a peaceful place that it doesn't make sense to employ even Demolition Man level live cops. The very few violators can best be dealt with by these androids, and perhaps a small wetware team that is alerted if the perp is a real threat.

Really, the idea of a robocop is fun enough, and not IMHO against the spirit of Star Trek. Sure, TOS may have been noisy about not giving too much power to machines, but this scene seems to end up with James Tiberius Kirk as the moral winner anyway...

Timo Saloniemi

 

[Chaos Descending]

The standing assumption is that that's a robot cop that catches up with young James Tiberius Kirk.

No, that's not the standing assumption at all.

The standing assumption is that it's a cop in a suit with a helmet/mask.

 

[JoeZhang]

You would think they would have face recognition tech to identify civilians without having to ask.

That would mean there is some Big Brother database somewhere with every civilians face and data cataloged for the cop to access.

I don't see it...

Me neither, it's unpossible!

 

[Sharr Khan]

You would think they would have face recognition tech to identify civilians without having to ask.

If they did that's one future I'd want to not be part of... way 1984-ish.

Yeah I'm pretty sure its a guy in a suit not a robot.

Sharr

 

[NCC-1967]

I don't know... I've seen a screengrab of the policeman's mask and it does look too mechanical to be just a helmet.
On the other hand, why would a robot need... boots?

 

[shapeshifter]

Watch the cops entire body as he takes a couple steps forward, Data could not emulate such human looking movements so I highly doubt some robot created a hundred years (approximate!) earlier could do better. Think!

 

[Nardpuncher]

^^^ If there's one thing we've learned is that you can't support arguements about this movie by citing other episodes as precedent.

Maybe Spock from the future is in the suit, trying to protect young Kirk!

 

[Peacemaker]

My guess is that it's Pike, and Pike will become a father figure for Kirk, which would explain their relationship in The Menagerie in a deeper way that Pike simply being Enterprise's captain before Kirk. IMO, Pike becomes his mentor and pushes him like a father does his son.

 

[Eric Cheung]

That would mean there is some Big Brother database somewhere with every civilians face and data cataloged for the cop to access. I don't see it...

One'd assume such things would be commonplace in the 23rd century, though, even in the Star Trek 23rd century, and considered perfectly benign.

Such things are never benign.

And while JJverse may beg to differ, the Trek future might be such a peaceful place that it doesn't make sense to employ even Demolition Man level live cops. The very few violators can best be dealt with by these androids, and perhaps a small wetware team that is alerted if the perp is a real threat.

Really, the idea of a robocop is fun enough, and not IMHO against the spirit of Star Trek. Sure, TOS may have been noisy about not giving too much power to machines, but this scene seems to end up with James Tiberius Kirk as the moral winner anyway...

Timo Saloniemi

Supposedly in the 24th century alien tourists of Earth are subject to pick pockets. I think it was mentioned in the VOY episode "Non Sequitur." Or am I mis-remembering that. It's been 13 years since I saw that one.