Uhura and the Communications Post

[Jeyl]

The fact that you keep saying it doesn't make it true.

So being hit with a couple of Torpedoes from the Narada that easily penetrate the Enterprise's shields isn't as bad as ship debris that's just floating there. Makes perfect sense. And isn't there something on the almost every star ship that's sole purpose is to deflect debris that was in the ship's path? Oh, ya. the MAIN DEFLECTOR DISH!

So really, the instruments that aided the Enterprise in the debris field were already in place.

 

[davejames]

Maybe by "having a more substantial role" people meant that you can, you know, get some idea about what kind of person she is, rather than just see her sitting and doing communications work? Just a thought...

Agreed. She may not have gotten a LOT to do in the movie, but she still came across as more of a real, complex human being than the original Uhura did.

We saw her fend off Kirk's advances, bully Spock into posting her to the Enterprise, step forward to translate messages for Pike, comfort Spock when he needed it most, and question Kirk's command ability (on an almost continuous basis. lol).

For the most part, all the original character did was answer hails, sing, and emotionally overreact to everything.

 

[Jeyl]

We never saw Winona Kirk at her station on the Kelvin -- does that mean she did nothing in the film and was a useless character?

Well, the writers sure felt she was useless after giving birth since they didn't even try writing her anywhere else in the film. Heck, she wasn't even around when Kirk was awarded for saving Earth and becoming Captain of the flagship of the federation. Maybe she died? If that was the case, shouldn't the line have been "Your parents would be proud." instead of just the father being proud?

The writers wrote her into the story for only one single purpose. Give birth to Kirk. That's it. We'll use one line of dialogue to explain why she isn't there and never have her in the story again. It's almost as bad as Padme in revenge of the sith who conveniantly dies of a broken heart because Lucas couldn't figure out a convincing way of ending her character. These writers decided to just up-front forget about her.

 

[JustKate]

I gotta disagree, Davejames, at least somewhat. I really think we got to know the original Uhura pretty well - but that's because of the actress who played her, not the largely throw-away lines she was given to say. Nichols really projected a lot of personality despite some mundane material.

 

[SonicRanger]

We never saw Winona Kirk at her station on the Kelvin -- does that mean she did nothing in the film and was a useless character?

Well, the writers sure felt she was useless after giving birth since they didn't even try writing her anywhere else in the film. . . The writers wrote her into the story for only one single purpose. Give birth to Kirk. That's it.

It would be hard to show the birth of Kirk without having his mother there.

 

[davejames]

I gotta disagree, Davejames, at least somewhat. I really think we got to know the original Uhura pretty well - but that's because of the actress who played her, not the largely throw-away lines she was given to say. Nichols really projected a lot of personality despite some mundane material.

Yeah I agree she was able to let her personality shine through a lot of the time-- and often came across as a pretty tough, strong-willed character-- but she was still very much a background player who we never really got to know.

I certainly would have LIKED to have seen Nichols do more, of course (and definitely think she would have been capable of it), but unfortunately it just wasn't to be.

 

[JustKate]

^ Oh, I agree Nichols most definitely wasn't used to her full (or even half...or quarter...or eighth) potential. I just can't agree that we already know more about new Uhura - after just a few minutes of screen time - than we learned about original Uhura in three years' worth of TV episodes.

 

[SonicRanger]

^ Oh, I agree Nichols most definitely wasn't used to her full (or even half...or quarter...or eighth) potential. I just can't agree that we already know more about new Uhura - after just a few minutes of screen time - than we learned about original Uhura in three years' worth of TV episodes.

Perhaps. But pick two TOS episodes at random and ask yourself if we learned more about nUhura or Uhura Prime within the span of two hours. Or better yet, look at how little she was used in other Trek films, especially TWOK or TSFS.

 

[JustKate]

Oh, I know, I know. I agree completely. Basically, I was just calling you on what I see as a slight exaggeration in your "still came across as more of a real, complex human being than the original Uhura did." New Uhura didn't. But it wouldn't take much for her to, considering the material that poor Nichols had to deal with.

 

[davejames]

Well, the writers sure felt she was useless after giving birth since they didn't even try writing her anywhere else in the film. Heck, she wasn't even around when Kirk was awarded for saving Earth and becoming Captain of the flagship of the federation. Maybe she died? If that was the case, shouldn't the line have been "Your parents would be proud." instead of just the father being proud?

The writers wrote her into the story for only one single purpose. Give birth to Kirk. That's it. We'll use one line of dialogue to explain why she isn't there and never have her in the story again. It's almost as bad as Padme in revenge of the sith who conveniantly dies of a broken heart because Lucas couldn't figure out a convincing way of ending her character. These writers decided to just up-front forget about her.

I agree it would have been cool to see her again (especially me being a big Jennifer Morrison fan ), but frankly, with all the old age makeup they would have had to put on her, it probably would have been too distracting anyway.

And plus, it's not like this was a high school graduation; it was a Starfleet Academy hearing. I mean, I don't know a lot about the Army, but I don't think they invite the family every time a cadet graduates or moves up in rank.

 

[Jeyl]

I mean, I don't know a lot about the Army, but I don't think they invite the family every time a cadet graduates or moves up in rank.

No, only fathers. "He lived his days to see you take command of the Enterprise"

 

[SonicRanger]

Oh, I know, I know. I agree completely. Basically, I was just calling you on what I see as a slight exaggeration in your "still came across as more of a real, complex human being than the original Uhura did." New Uhura didn't. But it wouldn't take much for her to, considering the material that poor Nichols had to deal with.

Just to clarify, I didn't say that. davejames did.

 

[SonicRanger]

I mean, I don't know a lot about the Army, but I don't think they invite the family every time a cadet graduates or moves up in rank.

No, only fathers.

I doubt they sent an invitation to his deceased father.

Even if they did, he, unsurprisingly, didn't seem to attend.

 

[davejames]

^ Oh, I agree Nichols most definitely wasn't used to her full (or even half...or quarter...or eighth) potential. I just can't agree that we already know more about new Uhura - after just a few minutes of screen time - than we learned about original Uhura in three years' worth of TV episodes.

Yeah it's true we don't really know what makes her tick as a human being yet. I'm just saying she was still given a much wider variety of things to do in this movie (even in her brief screen time) than we used to see of the character.

 

[Jeyl]

It would be hard to show the birth of Kirk without having his mother there.

But they didn't show the birth of Kirk. We only heard it over the coms. Also it'd be too graphic for a PG-13 movie.

 

[Jeyl]

I doubt they sent an invitation to his deceased father.

Oh, for crying out loud. I was quoting Spock who said that in the prime universe, Kirk's Dad got to see his son take command of the Enterprise.

 

[JustKate]

Oh, I know, I know. I agree completely. Basically, I was just calling you on what I see as a slight exaggeration in your "still came across as more of a real, complex human being than the original Uhura did." New Uhura didn't. But it wouldn't take much for her to, considering the material that poor Nichols had to deal with.

Just to clarify, I didn't say that. davejames did.

Oops, sorry - I knew that. It would have been nice if I'd reflected this knowledge in my post, however.

 

[Alrik]

And plus, it's not like this was a high school graduation; it was a Starfleet Academy hearing. I mean, I don't know a lot about the Army, but I don't think they invite the family every time a cadet graduates or moves up in rank.

Actually, family is very much welcome (and basically expected) at Graduation. As far as an officer recieving command of a ship. Yeah, this would be considered a big thing as well, and very much open to the family.

 

[davejames]

I mean, I don't know a lot about the Army, but I don't think they invite the family every time a cadet graduates or moves up in rank.

No, only fathers.

I doubt they sent an invitation to his deceased father.

Even if they did, he, unsurprisingly, didn't seem to attend.

And the original father "seeing him take command" doesn't he was literally at the Starfleet ceremony to see Kirk be given the keys to the Enterprise. It could have been just a rhetorical thing.

 

[davejames]

Actually, family is very much welcome (and basically expected) at Graduation. As far as an officer recieving command of a ship. Yeah, this would be considered a big thing as well, and very much open to the family.

Ah, well I stand corrected then. Thanks.

Still though, I got the impression in the movie that this wasn't a standard graduation ceremony anyway. It was the wrapping up of Kirk's earlier hearing, and the captaincy was just an impromptu thing that was tacked on at the end.