I've always wondered why we never got a proper Caitian character in any of the live actions movies TV series. Caitians do appear in Star Trek IV and V but they are largely background characters. I always thought that it would be interesting to explore this species.
Why no Caitian characters in live action Trek?
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I'd think they'd be one of the most impractical aliens to feature regularly. It would either be an actor burried in makeup, worse than Michael Dorn or Armin Shimerman ever had to do, or an extremely expensive CGI character.
And, yes, I would think it could be fantastic to see. I just don't think it would be feasible.
And, yes, I would think it could be fantastic to see. I just don't think it would be feasible.
Oops, accidental post.
there's also the fact of copyright issues from TAS in the early days of TNG and GR's decision to decanonise TAS and refuse to allow references to it.
i'd love to see a Caitian and a Triexian too!
i'd love to see a Caitian and a Triexian too!
It wasn't copyright issues over Caitians, although at the time of TNG, Filmation was being wound down and ownership of all Filmation products were in a state of flux. But GR decanonizing TAS probably had more to do with distancing himself from DC Fontana and David Gerrold at the time: they were suing him for co-creatorship of TNG.
The makeup guys who did the aliens in ST IV deliberately added two felinoid Starfleet officers, and FASA RPG designates them as Caitians.
http://www.geocities.com/therinofandor/ufpbio/Cait.html
ST V features a triple-breasted cat dancer (get it?), who later drowns in the pool table (get it?). Shatner humour.
In an old interview with Gene Roddenberry, he discusses the possibility of Majel Barrett doing a dual role, as Dr Chapel and M'Ress, in ST:TMP, but Majel refused to consider being put in all that hairy makeup.
Called an Edoan in TAS background notes. Peter David decided to call Arex's people Triexians. There is an alien in ST IV, called a Bzzit
Khaht, that was more of a puppet than a costume and - except for his ears - is quite reminiscent of Arex.
http://www.geocities.com/therinofandor/ufp/BzzitK.jpg
So, too, is the female bridge alien on the USS Kelvin in JJ's ST.
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Maybe because they could never find an actress sexy enough to do a Caitian justice.
IMO the idea of a race of 'cat people' called the Caitians is at best a gimmick, at worse idiotic. Leave that kinda thing to Lucas ...
Any more idiotic than a librarian called Mr Atoz (A to Z)..., a forgetful girl called Lethe..., a Christmas encounter with a woman named Noel..., an android called Data?
Well, at least Data was named by a reclusive jerk who probably thought it was funny...
I never thought of the Caitians as that particularly interesting. If animal traits are going to be grafted onto an alien species, I can think of dozens more fascinating than cats. I mean, I have two cats, and I love 'em and all, but they're pretty much just like people except profoundly retarded.
No.
I never thought of the Caitians as that particularly interesting. If animal traits are going to be grafted onto an alien species, I can think of dozens more fascinating than cats. I mean, I have two cats, and I love 'em and all, but they're pretty much just like people except profoundly retarded.
Therin of Andor said:
No.
So is the idea that virtually every species encountered is essentially humanoid. The oft-repeated complaint about Star Trek's "Forehead of the week" exists for a reason.
If you want true(er) aliens, in large numbers, you need to look at either Star Wars or Babylon 5 or Dr. Who or even Hitchhikers Guide. Obviously we see mostly humanoid aliens with the "forehead of the week" because of budget reasons - but also because the show itself is about exploring our humanity. I have no problem with these sorts of aliens in the context of these shows. They even came up with a good in-universe explanation for it: The Preservers.
As I see it, the Preservers operated in several waves. The first wave was in genetic seeding on many worlds - prompting the development of similar life-forms throughout the galaxy. Later waves spread successful life-forms around some more. The last wave spread successful or endangered cultures around (reference the TOS episode with the Native American tribes that had been transplanted). In such a context, it is easy to see various "familiar" creatures evolved (naturally or preserver-aided) to become full-fledged space-faring civilizations in their own right.
They shouldn't run headlong into closed doors then.
Okay, granted, she was about six weeks old when she did that, and it's more motor control than I exhibited at the time.
Okay, granted, she was about six weeks old when she did that, and it's more motor control than I exhibited at the time.
Therin of Andor said:
No.
Me neither - well, maybe the drowning in the pool (table) but not the other bit.
A "cat dancer" is a term for an exotic dancer. Shatner wanted a cat dancer in the bar in ST V, so he asked that she actually be a cat. And he asked for her to have three breasts, to be even more erotic.
The joke is an old one; the most famous felinoid "cat dancer" would be:
http://www.omahathecatdancer.com/omaha_history.htm
And yeah, the "pool" table has pool balls in it, but it's a transparent table filled with water. So she drowns in a pool table.
Thank you for the explanation.
Well, while the movies would have a better budget for it the TV shows wouldn't. There was a reason we never saw an Andorian as a recurring character until ENT, the makeup technology wasn't up to part with bringing them to life so you can imagine how difficult it would be for a Caitian.
Too, it would be difficult to emote under THAT much makeup. Even the Jem'Hadar aren't that covered up.
Too, it would be difficult to emote under THAT much makeup. Even the Jem'Hadar aren't that covered up.
Well, Odo was both under heavy makeup AND a high-price CGI character and that was more than a decade ago, so it's not so far-fetched.
And as far as emotions are concerned, that's more a question of acting than anything else. Think about V for Vendetta. Hugo Weaging was able to relay emotions through a rigid full-face mask.
I always thought that Vincent (Ron Perlman's character in TV's "Beauty and the Beast") made a pretty good felinoid makeup.
http://wpcontent.answers.com/wikipedia/en/9/91/Hamilton-perlman-BandB.jpg
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