The Next Captain

[Hathaway Brown]

But it still sells in the rest of the world. I would say that its a safe bet that those channels that already show Trek would probably purchase a new show regardless of Enterprises cancellation. The success of Trek XI would easily ensure there would be interest in a new show regardless of the characters.

 

[goofy]

I don't care that the general 'vanilla' public might consider it "unpalatable", but I'd love to have an alien captain, a female X.O. with an established same-sex life partner or perhaps Hermat (ie: Burgoyne) life partner. This ~is~ Star Trek rather than "NCIS" or "CSI: N.Y."

 

[The Inquisitor]

You could go for an Asexual captain (a lot of my mates are Asexual but not through choice).

 

[BillJ]

...a female X.O. with an established same-sex life partner...

Once again... what does it actually add to the story? People keep pushing their own personal agendas' without knowing how their proposed 'characters' fit into the narrative.

 

[goofy]

BillJ: While I respectfully disagree with you about "personal agendas", as the O.P. (Bry) asked a specific question and we're all offering a straight answer to a straight-forward question.

Which I believe was:

"I think that for the next series the Captain should be homosexual, and definately played by a gay actor/actress.

Anyone else out there agree?

-Bry"

I just feel there needs to be a certain measure of "mixing it up" in trek fic. Instead of the characters being put together in the usual/expected archetypes.

Secondly, I definately know how my own characters fit into my attempts at fics.

We need characters in non-pro & pro fics respectively with just as much development / backgrounds as were developed for Riker and Troi, Picard and his brother, Geordi and his missing mom on the U.S.S. Hera, et al. but this time we need to start throwing some different pitches.

We need original characters in non-pro fics that better reflect The GLBT relationships now openly accepted in 2011, everywhere from elementary schools to universities in real life, that have only been glanced at thus-far (ie: Lt. Sean Liam Hawk and his partner Ranul Keru in "Section 31: Rogue") in pro-lit and TNG / DS9 TV episodes (ie: Riker & The J'naii).

 

[Hathaway Brown]

...a female X.O. with an established same-sex life partner...

Once again... what does it actually add to the story? People keep pushing their own personal agendas' without knowing how their proposed 'characters' fit into the narrative.

It adds just as much to the story as a straight character who's married would.

There's no difference.

It would be easier in a setting that included families (ie. DS9 or TNG) although it's possible to do it on a "standard" ship. The Riker's on Titan for example, but that is reliant on their story already being known.

Regardless of that though, the discussions that Riker has with Troi about the difficult decisions of being skipper would be just the same if Troi were male (or visa versa!).

 

[BillJ]

...a female X.O. with an established same-sex life partner...

Once again... what does it actually add to the story? People keep pushing their own personal agendas' without knowing how their proposed 'characters' fit into the narrative.

It adds just as much to the story as a straight character who's married would.

There's no difference.

It would be easier in a setting that included families (ie. DS9 or TNG) although it's possible to do it on a "standard" ship. The Riker's on Titan for example, but that is reliant on their story already being known.

Regardless of that though, the discussions that Riker has with Troi about the difficult decisions of being skipper would be just the same if Troi were male (or visa versa!).

But Riker and Troi serving on the same vessel is very unrealistic, as she reports to him in the chain of command... one of the very things that turned me off to the Titan novels. Kinda why the present-day military frowns on fraternization, as it can 'complicate' the decision-making process. Hell, Next Gen did an entire episode centered on the concept.

It's Star Trek (sci-fi action/adventure) not The Love Boat (relationship drama).

 

[Hathaway Brown]

Not going to argue with you there. Although their marriage is a minor footnote of annoyances for me when it comes to the Titan books. What I was saying though is that you could still have the same scenario with the characters discussing the issues at hand, furthering the storyline, regardless if they were gay or straight.

 

[goofy]

Bill & Hathaway: I agree with you both, (the fact that its' unrealistic,) but that's one of the pleasures of the escapism of Trek.

Also one of the reasons I loved the Piano/Flute duet between Picard and his love interest (Actor Wendy Hughes) as Lt. Commander Nella Daren in "Lessons". And why I enjoyed the Crusher-Picard aspect of TNG, and their visits to the Dixon Hill holo-fantasy together.

TNG's "Lessons" episode does depict the complications of Captains in relationships of all flavors, sizes, and shapes, including how that can "complicate" command decisions when there's families aboard and partners of any kind serving together.

But trek-lit needs some exciting suspense and sexy self-denial of romantic fulfillment, especially in non-pro lit. In the end though, I'm all for Gay / Lesbian C.O.'s and their partners serving together, if only for one specific mission. Preachy or not, personal agendas or not.

 

[Hathaway Brown]

Like I said though, Riker and Troi being married is a drop in the well compared to the rest of the issues the Titan has.

But I'll grant you that it is after all a work of fiction and just about anything goes, and it certainly seems to! It was the character that "looked like granny's table lamp" that was the last straw with me.

Anywho, I digress... another way to look at it is, who says a gay character on TV has to have any romantic interlude(s)? If its not necessary for the plot then why bother?

 

[Expendable]

Like I said though, Riker and Troi being married is a drop in the well compared to the rest of the issues the Titan has.

But I'll grant you that it is after all a work of fiction and just about anything goes, and it certainly seems to! It was the character that "looked like granny's table lamp" that was the last straw with me.

Anywho, I digress... another way to look at it is, who says a gay character on TV has to have any romantic interlude(s)? If its not necessary for the plot then why bother?

There have been plenty of examples of gay characters not getting into relationships. If they were to treat it like Picard, then you'd have a point. If they were to deny that such a thing exists, then there seems to be a much bigger problem.

 

[Captaindemotion]

While not touching on Trek, this article is germaine to this discussion, as it deals with Hollywood's reluctance to cast gay actors even as gay people:

http://www.guardian.co.uk/film/2011/jan/04/hollywood-gay-actors-ramin-setoodeh

 

[BillJ]

While not touching on Trek, this article is germaine to this discussion, as it deals with Hollywood's reluctance to cast gay actors even as gay people:

http://www.guardian.co.uk/film/2011/jan/04/hollywood-gay-actors-ramin-setoodeh

I'm not sure the reporter did alot of homework... they point to Rupert Everett not getting any work in Hollywood after coming out in 1989. But IMBb seems to say something different...

http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0000391/

 

[Captaindemotion]

^ Then again, a lot of the commentators writing below the article itself are observing that Everett's lack of work might be down to his lack of talent ... The original article in Newsweek might be worth checking out; I just thought I'd throw in this link to move the discussion along.

 

[Anji]

He, she, it can be whatever he, she, it is as along as they can command the Enterprise.