Things that really took you by surprise

[SalvorHardin]

Aren't we a little bit oversimplifying and wrongly diminishing the importance of Uhura's station and job on the bridge by constantly referring to it as just "answering the phone" ?

She's part of the bridge crew, on the newest-best starship in the fleet and was top of the tops at the Academy.


I don't doubt that she should get to kick some ass but lets not overreact.

 

[Sci]

Aren't we a little bit oversimplifying and wrongly diminishing the importance of Uhura's station and job on the bridge by constantly referring to it as just "answering the phone" ?

It's a simplification, but it illustrates an important point: Unless the character is given something else to do, having the only female lead serve only as communications officer plays into extant American stereotypes of women only being able to serve as secretaries.

 

[Kegg]

But if you're going to have her do that anyway, why not just give her the Chief of Security title, then? I mean, if she's beaming down to alien planets and kicking alien butt, she's already doing what we'd see her doing as Chief of Security anyway.

Well... because it's not necessary? Giving her a new job is admittedly a needless complication as having her in an action scene doesn't need more explanation.

Her job as-is has been saved by going the Hoshi Sato route of saying she's a language specialist. I'm fine with that, and don't see much point in reversing that (indeed, the implication is she's one of the brainier members of the crew... and that is the opposite of sexist.)

 

[Alpha_Geek]

The entire Kelvin story suprised me. In so many other Trek tales, any ship other than Enterprise is pretty much is a spacecraft wrapped in a giant red shirt.

With XI, we got a good glimpse into another ship o' the line. We saw that other crews are competent, capable, and sometimes are commanded by badassery incarnate. Granted, the overwhelming odds didn't work in the favor of Kelvin, but that ship died fighting and she got her people to safety.

 

[davejames]

Her job as-is has been saved by going the Hoshi Sato route of saying she's a language specialist. I'm fine with that, and don't see much point in reversing that (indeed, the implication is she's one of the brainier members of the crew... and that is the opposite of sexist.)

Agreed. Next to Spock, she was probably the brainiest and most intellectual character in the movie (something her underwear scene does nothing to diminish, btw). She almost came across as something of a nerd in fact, which I thought was pretty cool.

 

[davejames]

The entire Kelvin story suprised me. In so many other Trek tales, any ship other than Enterprise is pretty much is a spacecraft wrapped in a giant red shirt.

With XI, we got a good glimpse into another ship o' the line. We saw that other crews are competent, capable, and sometimes are commanded by badassery incarnate. Granted, the overwhelming odds didn't work in the favor of Kelvin, but that ship died fighting and she got her people to safety.

Yeah I liked that too. It was nice to see another captain who was so strong and noble and inspiring.

Of course to be fair, we WERE supposed to empathize with them as their ship got destroyed. I'm sure in future movies other Starfleet captains will be just as incompetent, weasely, and power-hungry as ever.

 

[thumbtack]

I'm sure in future movies other Starfleet captains will be just as incompetent, weasely, and power-hungry as ever.

Well, Robau was impaled and had his ship destroyed with very little effort on Nero's part. That seems in keeping with Star Trek's portrayal of non-Enterprise Captains to me.

 

[Shazam!]

But it is sexist to deny the only major female character the opportunity to do more than just monitoring communications.

They're not sitting there going "let's not let Uhura do anything" : /

If there's nothing for her to do, there's nothing for her to do. You may as well say it's racist to have Sulu doing nothing.

 

[Sabataage]

Aren't we a little bit oversimplifying and wrongly diminishing the importance of Uhura's station and job on the bridge by constantly referring to it as just "answering the phone" ?

It's a simplification, but it illustrates an important point: Unless the character is given something else to do, having the only female lead serve only as communications officer plays into extant American stereotypes of women only being able to serve as secretaries.

I know. They should have had her sit next to the captain's chair and say shit like: "I sense danger." She would have been way more useful then.

 

[Aragorn]

Dude, this thread is about "things that really took you by surprise", and I posted what took me by surprise. Don't jump to conclusions so damn easily.

You're the new Captain Robert April here. What other conclusions can be made about every single one of your posts?

 

[Harv]

Spock saying 'You are assuming that Nero knows how events are going to unfold, while Nero's very presence here starting with the destruction of the Kelvin has created a new stream of events that neither party can predict'.

It was an incredibly surreal experience for me because the trailers, as much as I loved them, confused me because I seriously had no idea what they were doing with the movie. I mean, I knew it was a prequel, but how it would fit in the Trek timeline I just didn't know.

As I watched the movie I, almost subconsciously, knew the significance Nero had on the universe, but only then it was it really brought to light for me.

 

[T'Girl]

Aren't we a little bit oversimplifying and wrongly diminishing the importance of Uhura's station and job on the bridge by constantly referring to it as just "answering the phone" ?

Prime Uhura was ordered to the navigation station by Kirk without a second thought, was included in a diplomatic landing party, beams-down to talk-down a drugged up McCoy, can haggle tribbles, knows how to handle a knife, and I believe was the Enterprise's unofficial morale officer.

nu-Uhura, at minimum, is packing all that too.

 

[SilentP]

I'm sure in future movies other Starfleet captains will be just as incompetent, weasely, and power-hungry as ever.

Well, Robau was impaled and had his ship destroyed with very little effort on Nero's part. That seems in keeping with Star Trek's portrayal of non-Enterprise Captains to me.

Well, Robau was impaled, but he didn't act like a pussy doing it, or portrayed as incompetent , and while the Narada did give the Kelvin a pounding, the Kelvin was destroyed because it rammed the Narada. Compare that to the Grissom in ST III or Captain Harriman (or whoever the captain for the Enterprise-B was meant to be) then see if the comparison still holds.

 

[Shazam!]

nu-Uhura

I'm only going to say this one more time and if doesn't catch on, I give up...

Nuhura.

 

[M'Sharak]

nu-Uhura

I'm only going to say this one more time and if doesn't catch on, I give up...

Nuhura.

I like this version, as it avoids the glottal stop/hiccup effect. I'd only suggest a different way of capitalizing it.

nuHura would follow from nuTrek, but doesn't look quite right. nUhura?

 

[cooleddie74]

I had no problems with nUhura at all.

 

[SalvorHardin]

I'd like to take this opportunity to say that I really dislike the "nu" and will do my best to avoid using it.
And not just for Trek

 

[M'Sharak]

I'd like to take this opportunity to say that I really dislike the "nu" and will do my best to avoid using it.
And not just for Trek

Eh, it didn't start with Trek or the re-imagined BSG, and it's probably not going to go away any time soon. As long as it's here, it can't hurt to have a little fun with it.

 

[trevanian]

Dude, this thread is about "things that really took you by surprise", and I posted what took me by surprise. Don't jump to conclusions so damn easily.

You're the new Captain Robert April here. What other conclusions can be made about every single one of your posts?

Truth in content is the obvious one.

 

[startrekrcks]

well do you think JJ Abrams did a good job with Trek I do and may it continue for many more years to come