Who is a good Asian role models in Trek...?

[Hoshi_Mayweather]

Actually, that title should/could be 'Who are some good Asian role models in Trek'?

I'm sure there will be one asking for a 'white' role models, Native American role models, Hispanic...etc...

I'm actually curious, though:

*Harry Kim
*Keiko O'Brien
*Alyssa Ogawa
*Caithlin Dar
*Hikaru Sulu
*Demora Sulu
*Hoshi Sato

 

[kes7]

Considering your username, I'm amazed you left Hoshi Sato out. I liked her.

 

[Hoshi_Mayweather]

Considering your username, I'm amazed you left Hoshi Sato out. I liked her.

You're right!!!!

It should have been obvious...

 

[Kegg]

Caithlin Dar is a cameo in one movie and also a Romulan, so I'd exclude her on the same basis what I did Worf and Tuvok in the other thread. I guess as outsiders who are nonetheless played by members of a given race they could still be seen as positive role models, but that'd be them - even if Caithlin was a regular Asian her role is much too tiny to matter.

The OP raises a good question, actually - looking over that list, truthfully Star Trek has lacked any really strong or compelling Asian characters. It has an iconic one with Mr. Sulu, but that's not quite the same thing.

Aside from Sulu the only real contenders are Kim and Sato, and honestly neither are that compelling. I do like Sato, though, but I think that's because of Linda Park. *cough* Er...

Hey, that Mr. Sulu! He's got a cool voice and he's good at fencing. He also gets to captain a starship, and he's played by George Takei. Why not? I'm going with that guy.

Also for what it's worth, I like Keiko O'Brien. I know a lot of people don't, but I do.

 

[Joshua Howard]

I'm going with Sulu, as he seems to be the only Asian character who really sticks in my mind.

Nevertheless, as a role model, I'm not so sure. When I hear his name, I envision a sweaty man fencing. The added dynamic of the actor who played him being gay adds to a certain stigma that just won't go away and lends more to comedy than role model. There's just not really any good examples of Asian Trek characters really doing or saying anything that makes me want to take up my bed and follow.

 

[Nardpuncher]

OP, you answered your own question quite well in the first post.
I would add that there are a Chinese and a Japanese character in the Vanguard novels.

Though I'm not Italian I always wondered at where all the Italians were. Not too many in Trek.

 

[A beaker full of death]

This thread and the other make me sad.

 

[Hoshi_Mayweather]

OP, you answered your own question quite well in the first post.
I would add that there are a Chinese and a Japanese character in the Vanguard novels.

Though I'm not Italian I always wondered at where all the Italians were. Not too many in Trek.

I was thinking about adding the Asian characters from the novels...

As for Italian characters? You can start an 'Italian role models in Trek,' I'm sure some of the posters can recall some in Trek fiction...

The ones I recall is 'Spinelli' from TOS 'Space Seed', and Nurse Gabrielle Carlotti from the comics focusing on Pike's Enterprise...

 

[Thestral]

Also for what it's worth, I like Keiko O'Brien. I know a lot of people don't, but I do.

I'm with you, I've just never understood the Keiko-hate.

 

[DevilEyes]

OP, you answered your own question quite well in the first post.
I would add that there are a Chinese and a Japanese character in the Vanguard novels.

Though I'm not Italian I always wondered at where all the Italians were. Not too many in Trek.

I was thinking about adding the Asian characters from the novels...

As for Italian characters? You can start an 'Italian role models in Trek,' I'm sure some of the posters can recall some in Trek fiction...

The ones I recall is 'Spinelli' from TOS 'Space Seed', and Nurse Gabrielle Carlotti from the comics focusing on Pike's Enterprise...

Well if Tuvok and Worf count as black (?), then you might say that nuSpock is half-Italian American. Sort of.

 

[StarryEyed]

Sulu, Kim and Sato are fine role models.

The role of Keiko O'Brien would be useful in divorce-prevention. If every man seeking a marriage license was compelled to first watch every Trek episode with Keiko in it, a lot of divorces could be prevented because the man would run away screaming before marrying in the first place.

 

[Thestral]

The role of Keiko O'Brien would be useful in divorce-prevention. If every man seeking a marriage license was compelled to first watch every Trek episode with Keiko in it, a lot of divorces could be prevented because the man would run away screaming before marrying in the first place.

See, this is what I mean. Where does this come from? Why?

 

[Nerys Ghemor]

The role of Keiko O'Brien would be useful in divorce-prevention. If every man seeking a marriage license was compelled to first watch every Trek episode with Keiko in it, a lot of divorces could be prevented because the man would run away screaming before marrying in the first place.

See, this is what I mean. Where does this come from? Why?

They should have known right from the get-go that their desires and what they wanted to get out of life and of marriage were fundamentally incompatible. BIG difference between Sisko and Yates, who both had similar outlooks on life, and on what it means to be married and in Starfleet or civil freight service, and were thus compatible with each other. Instead Keiko KEPT bringing it up and beating Miles over the head of it, when she should have known what she was getting into right from the start when she married a Starfleet man. (And similarly, O'Brien went into that marriage KNOWING that the claim Starfleet had over him would not sit well with her.)

 

[StarryEyed]

The role of Keiko O'Brien would be useful in divorce-prevention. If every man seeking a marriage license was compelled to first watch every Trek episode with Keiko in it, a lot of divorces could be prevented because the man would run away screaming before marrying in the first place.

See, this is what I mean. Where does this come from? Why?

Because Keiko was a whiny, fickle, individuality-sucking life-leach. She may have made a fine friend (taken in small doses) and a good botanist but I would rather marry a targ.

A couple is not One. They are two individuals in a partnership. Keiko showed no awareness of that. She tried to own Miles like a tricorder. Who would want to put up with that when Quark has Vulcan Love Slave Part II?

 

[T'Girl]

I vote for Hoshi Sato, role models should be smart. She was at least smart enough to be scared shitless of being on a starship. Probably didn't have a decent dump all first season.

 

[Red Ranger]

To answer the question, I'd have to say Sulu. He was the first, he was badass when Asian characters weren't allowed to be badass -- this was before Bruce Lee and the 1970s, after all.

Sulu fenced, he knew about ancient weapons like handguns, he was in the center seat a few times, and he has that great voice. Frankly, the revelation that he's gay doesn't matter to me. I'm able to separate the character from the actor.

I always liked Harry Kim, and feel bad that they didn't give him more stuff to do. There are two eps where he stands out, but for different reasons. In The Thaw, he has to confront the evil Clown generated by the computer environment. And in Timeless, we saw a more daring and confident Harry from an alternate timeline.

I also liked Hoshi Sato, her innocence and her somewhat naive outlook. As a translator, despite her doubts, she always did well for Archer. And it certainly helps that she's attractive.

Red Rum!

 

[sbk1234]

The role of Keiko O'Brien would be useful in divorce-prevention. If every man seeking a marriage license was compelled to first watch every Trek episode with Keiko in it, a lot of divorces could be prevented because the man would run away screaming before marrying in the first place.

See, this is what I mean. Where does this come from? Why?

I tend to believe that most people who have problems with Keiko are not married, or don't have a lot of experience with adult relationships.

 

[StarryEyed]

The role of Keiko O'Brien would be useful in divorce-prevention. If every man seeking a marriage license was compelled to first watch every Trek episode with Keiko in it, a lot of divorces could be prevented because the man would run away screaming before marrying in the first place.

See, this is what I mean. Where does this come from? Why?

I tend to believe that most people who have problems with Keiko are not married, or don't have a lot of experience with adult relationships.

I was married for ten years. My ex and I parted rather amicably. No legal fight, no screaming or throwing of chairs, just a mutual realization that we were not the same two people we were when we married and were no longer compatible.

Keiko was smothering. I suppose some men could accept that but I never could. That's the kind of person who has problems with Keiko. Not people who are inexperienced but people who's own individuality means something to them. Also, people who lack the patience to raise a child who's supposed to be an adult. People who expect a spouse to be an equal - not a neurotic child in an adult's body.

 

[Michael]

Also for what it's worth, I like Keiko O'Brien. I know a lot of people don't, but I do.

I'm with you, I've just never understood the Keiko-hate.

Neither did I. I liked Keiko just fine.

Oh, and Kegg, with you having a Wixiban avatar, this finally feels like home again.

Because Keiko was a whiny, fickle, individuality-sucking life-leach. [...] A couple is not One. They are two individuals in a partnership. Keiko showed no awareness of that. She tried to own Miles like a tricorder.

Keiko was smothering. [...] Also, people who lack the patience to raise a child who's supposed to be an adult. People who expect a spouse to be an equal - not a neurotic child in an adult's body.

What the fuck, how the hell did you form that image of Keiko? I mean, I saw each and every appearance of that character in both The Next Generation and Deep Space Nine and not once did they portray her as particularly 'whiny' or 'fickle'. Can you cite episodes/scenes where you felt this happened? Also, I don't get where anything she ever did made her come off as 'individuality-sucking', 'smothering' or 'a neurotic child in an adult's body'. Did we watch the same series? I can't think of one instance where I got that impression.

 

[Myasishchev]

Keiko, Sulu and Ogawa were good role models.