Captain Robau: Should He Be Further Explored in Books and even on TV?

[Admiral_Young]

Re: Captain Robau: Should He Be Further Explored in Books and even on

I would love books about Captain Robau and the USS Kelvin. I think a TV series around the Kelvin would be kind of cool but I would test the market with a mini-series first just like BSG did. I'd also be interested in Kelvin books taking place in the prime universe as well. With perhaps a mention of Robert April as well.

 

[EnsignRicky]

Re: Captain Robau: Should He Be Further Explored in Books and even on

Actually, what we need is a physical representation of Captain Robau. Something we can wear around our necks, hang over our beds, mash into vampire's faces; You know, stuff like that.

 

[Mr. Laser Beam]

Re: Captain Robau: Should He Be Further Explored in Books and even on

^ Excellent idea. They could have this:

Spoiler: novel?

Crucible: Robau

.

 

[JarodRussell]

Re: Captain Robau: Should He Be Further Explored in Books and even on

Recasting Robau would kill some of the Robau mystique.

You mean like recasting Kirk and Spock?

Give it a rest. Kirk and Spock are not the subjects of this thread.

Why? The point is recasting those icons was no problem, so recasting a 5-minute character is no problem either.

 

[urbandk]

Re: Captain Robau: Should He Be Further Explored in Books and even on

You mean like recasting Kirk and Spock?

Give it a rest. Kirk and Spock are not the subjects of this thread.

Why? The point is recasting those icons was no problem, so recasting a 5-minute character is no problem either.

The difference is that Kirk and Spock were characters developed over decades. There is a large base created by writers, directors, and the original actors upon which the new actors can build.

Robau is a bit of a cipher, but I speculate that the Robau=badass movement has a lot to do not with Robau's particular heroics--after all, he got punked by the Rommies five minutes into the movie, and other captains have been equally heroic without a Castillo=badass movement--but rather the Robau=badass movement has to do with Farhan Tahir's specific portrayal and little else.

Therefore, I think it is likely that to recast Robau, unlike the other roles you cited, would diminish the Robau mystique.

EDIT: And in addition--correct me if I'm wrong because I haven't followed your posts too closely--I think that you're not a big fan of the new movie, so, in your opinion, recasting Kirk and Spock probably did diminish their mystique. From that opinion, wouldn't it follow that recasting Robau would have a similar effect, assuming that less history to draw on would make the role even more actor-centric? (c.f. Saavik)

Of course you could argue that more history makes the role more actor-centric, but in the case of this pop phenomenon "Robau=badass" comparing Robau to Kirk and Spock would be comparing apples to oranges. The roles of Kirk and Spock are far less two dimensional.

Perhaps there is a middle ground in which recasting is less of a problem. The recasting problem doesn't have to follow a linear metric from easier to harder but might instead be harder-easier-harder contingent on the length of time a given actor portrayed a respective role.

 

[JarodRussell]

Re: Captain Robau: Should He Be Further Explored in Books and even on

The Robau mistique is completely artificial, made up here and nowhere else. The "Facts about Captain Robau" thread was started long before anyone had seen a second of the actor's portrayal. It was all based on the picture of that bald guy with a little background description on the "Boldly Go" Intel website.

Good thing you cite Saavik, because I couldn't care less about they recast that actress, and she had an even bigger role than Robau.

 

[ITL]

Re: Captain Robau: Should He Be Further Explored in Books and even on

The Robau mistique is completely artificial, made up here and nowhere else. The "Facts about Captain Robau" thread was started long before anyone had seen a second of the actor's portrayal.

And that's why it's awesome.

It's what we call "A bit of fun". We like fun.

 

[urbandk]

Re: Captain Robau: Should He Be Further Explored in Books and even on

The Robau mistique (sic) is completely artificial, made up here and nowhere else. The "Facts about Captain Robau" thread was started long before anyone had seen a second of the actor's portrayal. It was all based on the picture of that bald guy with a little background description on the "Boldly Go" Intel website.

That was the point of my argument: to recast Robau would dispense with the mystique that was specific to Tahir (EDIT: in this case, a promo image of Tahir).

Good thing you cite Saavik, because I couldn't care less about they recast that actress, and she had an even bigger role than Robau.

I wasn't citing her in reference to your particular opinion (which I don't know), but rather as an example of a role briefly portrayed by an actor that became linked to that actor without much time or development. Some people did care; thus irrespective of whether you care, the role is an example of the phenomenon to which I referred.

 

[urbandk]

Re: Captain Robau: Should He Be Further Explored in Books and even on

Also, in a refinement to my earlier harder-easier-harder idea, I think it would be quite simple to recast someone who briefly appears about whom no one cares. In this case it would follow a simple easier-harder metric. The harder-easier-harder idea only applies when that character has a following.

 

[Cyke101]

Re: Captain Robau: Should He Be Further Explored in Books and even on

The Robau mistique (sic) is completely artificial, made up here and nowhere else. The "Facts about Captain Robau" thread was started long before anyone had seen a second of the actor's portrayal. It was all based on the picture of that bald guy with a little background description on the "Boldly Go" Intel website.

That was the point of my argument: to recast Robau would dispense with the mystique that was specific to Tahir (EDIT: in this case, a promo image of Tahir).

Good thing you cite Saavik, because I couldn't care less about they recast that actress, and she had an even bigger role than Robau.

I wasn't citing her in reference to your particular opinion (which I don't know), but rather as an example of a role briefly portrayed by an actor that became linked to that actor without much time or development. Some people did care; thus irrespective of whether you care, the role is an example of the phenomenon to which I referred.

I just want to add the fact that Saavik was supposed to return in TUC. The producers tried to get Kirstie Alley back specifically because of that phenomenon, to try and restore Saavik to quite a few fans who were displeased with Robin Curtis. When Alley became a star and her asking price was too high, they dropped the character of Saavik rather than approach Robin Curtis to reprise the role. Even behind the scenes, there's testimony to that phenomenon.

Additionally, I'll go back to Capt. Harriman. John Ruck is a fine actor, but unlike Robau, Harriman (or Capt. Cameron to my friends) has no mystique whatsoever. He never really had much of a lasting presence. Yet not only does he have his line of books, but Of Gods and Men kept Ruck on board as Harriman. And this is all about a guy with zero spine and little redeeming value in the five minutes that he's onscreen. What happens when you deal with a character *with* heroic appeal, a guy who, with Kirk's father, saved hundreds of lives?

 

[Timo]

Re: Captain Robau: Should He Be Further Explored in Books and even on

I'm firmly in the "Hell no!" camp, due to the very nature of the character.

Captain Robau was probably the only Starfleet side character in the history of Star Trek who wasn't portrayed as spineless, stupid, evil or all of the above in order to make the main cast look good. If Captain Robau becomes a series regular, even in a book series, then Star Trek no longer has a side character who wasn't portrayed as spineless, stupid, evil or all of the above.

That would be a loss, verily.

Timo Saloniemi

 

[urbandk]

Re: Captain Robau: Should He Be Further Explored in Books and even on

I'm firmly in the "Hell no!" camp, due to the very nature of the character.

Captain Robau was probably the only Starfleet side character in the history of Star Trek who wasn't portrayed as spineless, stupid, evil or all of the above in order to make the main cast look good. If Captain Robau becomes a series regular, even in a book series, then Star Trek no longer has a side character who wasn't portrayed as spineless, stupid, evil or all of the above.

That would be a loss, verily.

Timo Saloniemi

Verily.

 

[cooleddie74]

Re: Captain Robau: Should He Be Further Explored in Books and even on

By definition, a Robau/Kelvin series set before Nero's arrival would exist in the Prime timeline. BUT...and here's the really sweet thing that would feed into the appetites of both the Prime universe fanbase as well as brand-new viewers familiar with little more than the new movie and altered timeline...it would, in a sense, count as a show based in BOTH realities. The timeframe would fall within the original history most Trekkers are familiar with and love, while the characters themselves stem from the new movie and consequently become associated with the new universe. This way, Trekkers of all sides have their cake and eat it too.

 

[M'Sharak]

Re: Captain Robau: Should He Be Further Explored in Books and even on

The Robau mistique is completely artificial, made up here and nowhere else. The "Facts about Captain Robau" thread was started long before anyone had seen a second of the actor's portrayal. It was all based on the picture of that bald guy with a little background description on the "Boldly Go" Intel website.

Started even before that, actually, when the character was still known only as "Federation captain". The notion of "badass" was much in the air at the time, and not only as pertaining to the character who would be played by Tahir.

Also, as ITL points out:

<snip>

And that's why it's awesome.

It's what we call "A bit of fun". We like fun.

Exactly. It's fun, and the "Facts About Captain Robau" was started, in fact, as a parody of the "Facts About Chuck Norris" lists which had been around the internet for some time prior.

You, on the other hand, JarodRussell, bring instead serious, surly and argumentative to nearly every thread in which you participate. It is anti-fun, whether you intend it so or not, and over time it begins to wear, and it is that which I wanted you to give a rest.

 

[cooleddie74]

Re: Captain Robau: Should He Be Further Explored in Books and even on

EXACTLY. M'Sharak makes a good point there. Just sit back, relax and have fun with all of this. Sure, part of the origin of Robau Rage is artificial and empty. But that's little different from the manufactured cult followings so many other characters across pop culture have after just one or two appearances in movies, music or TV series. We must remember that Faran Tahir is a somewhat popular character actor of recent years who's cultivated a bit of a small and loyal following with his badass film roles, however limited and brief. Tahir is also---in real life---a very down-to-earth, approachable and nice guy so THAT also feeds into his popularity and Robau's as well. He cultivates both a badass screen persona that people seem to like as well as a Mr. Nice Guy personality in the real world.

 

[Cyke101]

Re: Captain Robau: Should He Be Further Explored in Books and even on

I'm firmly in the "Hell no!" camp, due to the very nature of the character.

Captain Robau was probably the only Starfleet side character in the history of Star Trek who wasn't portrayed as spineless, stupid, evil or all of the above in order to make the main cast look good. If Captain Robau becomes a series regular, even in a book series, then Star Trek no longer has a side character who wasn't portrayed as spineless, stupid, evil or all of the above.

That would be a loss, verily.

Timo Saloniemi

As much as I want to disagree with your final opinion, I have to admit that, as usual, your logic is impeccably sound. Point goes to Timo

 

[cooleddie74]

Re: Captain Robau: Should He Be Further Explored in Books and even on

^
Which is why perhaps a one-shot online or DVD film of Robau and the Kelvin might serve his image best in the long term. That way Robau fans get another adventure of the USS Kelvin and George Kirk but we don't have to run the risk of Tahir's character being watered down and wussified over the course of weeks or months as we explore more about his background and he is "humanized" per se.

 

[urbandk]

Re: Captain Robau: Should He Be Further Explored in Books and even on

^
Which is why perhaps a one-shot online or DVD film of Robau and the Kelvin might serve his image best in the long term. That way Robau fans get another adventure of the USS Kelvin and George Kirk but we don't have to run the risk of Tahir's character being watered down and wussified over the course of weeks or months as we explore more about his background and he is "humanized" per se.

Wussification would be inevitable.

 

[cooleddie74]

Re: Captain Robau: Should He Be Further Explored in Books and even on

^
Which is why perhaps a one-shot online or DVD film of Robau and the Kelvin might serve his image best in the long term. That way Robau fans get another adventure of the USS Kelvin and George Kirk but we don't have to run the risk of Tahir's character being watered down and wussified over the course of weeks or months as we explore more about his background and he is "humanized" per se.

Wussification would be inevitable.

Then we'd be having to post "Facts About Robau's Decline" threads in here. And that would royally suck balls.

 

[Sector 7]

Re: Captain Robau: Should He Be Further Explored in Books and even on

By definition, a Robau/Kelvin series set before Nero's arrival would exist in the Prime timeline. BUT...and here's the really sweet thing that would feed into the appetites of both the Prime universe fanbase as well as brand-new viewers familiar with little more than the new movie and altered timeline...it would, in a sense, count as a show based in BOTH realities. The timeframe would fall within the original history most Trekkers are familiar with and love, while the characters themselves stem from the new movie and consequently become associated with the new universe. This way, Trekkers of all sides have their cake and eat it too.

I like cake!