Riley vs. Chekov

[A.V.I.A.F.]

Personally, I liked the chemistry between Riley and Sulu and I always found Chekov to be a bit of a bore with his "inwented in Wussia" nonsense. I realize that Koenig was brought in because of the whole Davy Jones thing, but I often wonder if the show wouldn't have been better served had Riley been kept on as the recurring navigator. I find that Hyde brought a great deal of youthful energy to the episodes in which he appeared and I think his character could have been developed further.

What do you think?

 

[Zycho32]

Personally, I liked the chemistry between Riley and Sulu and I always found Chekov to be a bit of a bore with his "inwented in Wussia" nonsense. I realize that Koenig was brought in because of the whole Davy Jones thing, but I often wonder if the show wouldn't have been better served had Riley been kept on as the recurring navigator. I find that Hyde brought a great deal of youthful energy to the episodes in which he appeared and I think his character could have been developed further.

What do you think?

Taking the question in a vacuum*...

The Riley character benefited strictly from being a 'guest character' for two episodes, which provided extensive screen time and script focus, both of which provide ample opportunity for character depth to be shown. Chekov by comparison had a few moments of genuine focus but all in all he was about as important plot-wise to Sulu which in turn kept him on the sidelines and have him few moments to have a genuine emotional impact.

Put Riley in that particular role, and maybe he has a better chance to better develop his character just based on what he did beforehand in those two episodes. But honestly, I think it's a wash.


*- Based on the meager reading material I have in regards to the making of TOS, Bruce Hyde was contracted for a Pilot at the time but could be used for up to two episodes on any existing TV Series that Desilu had. Star Trek turned out to be those two episodes, if I'm not mistaken. (I'm sure somebody browsing IMDB is gonna correct me)

That said, Hyde was also primarily a stage actor and while he acted up until 1970, I'm reasonably sure he stuck to mainly stage as opposed to television. So his availability or willingness might've been in question.

Another factoid to remember, and this is just to bring anyone else up to speed, Chekov wasn't meant to get the amount of screen time, or screen relevance, that he did get- he was essentially getting what was meant to be had by Sulu- George Takei missed a sizeable amount of time during the Second Season because he had a role in Green Berets and they went overschedule.

 

[MarsWeeps]

You forgot the most important thing....could Hyde scream like a little girl?

 

[Gary7]

Actually, Takei wasn't away all that much. It amounted to about 5 episodes give or take a few.

Bruce Hyde was a better actor than Koenig, in my opinion. But then, Koenig didn't get all that much screen time to develop his character. Remember, back then anybody outside of Kirk, Spock, McCoy, and Scotty didn't matter all that much. So, if Bruce Hyde had taken the place of Chekov, I think he would have faced the same lack of screen time. As Jason said, "it's a wash."

 

[Bones_McCoy21]

You forgot the most important thing....could Hyde scream like a little girl?

Good point

 

[TorontoTrekker]

The Riley character benefited strictly from being a 'guest character' for two episodes, which provided extensive screen time and script focus, both of which provide ample opportunity for character depth to be shown.

I think you nailed it - guest stars, even those playing characters who would normally be minor, get much more focus than the secondary regular cast members. Who knows what Walter Koenig might have been able to do with a meatier part?

(Though I do think Hyde is the better actor.)

That said, Hyde was also primarily a stage actor and while he acted up until 1970, I'm reasonably sure he stuck to mainly stage as opposed to television. So his availability or willingness might've been in question.

Actually, he had more academic interests. He went back to university and got his Ph.D. in 1990, and subsequently became a college professor. He teaches Communications and Theatre at St. Cloud University in Minnesota. (http://www.stcloudstate.edu/cmst/faculty_info/hyde_bruce.asp)

He doesn't do a lot of convention appearances so far as I know, but if you ever get a chance to hear him speak, take it. I saw him about 20 years ago at a Shore Leave in Baltimore, and his talk was fascinating.

 

[Mutai Sho-Rin]

In defense of Walter Koenig, however, his Bester character on Babylon 5 was masterful.

 

[CoveTom]

If I recall correctly, the character in "Conscience of the King" wasn't even originally written to be Reilly. But, as was pointed out above, Desilu had a commitment from Bruce Hyde and when they cast him, it was decided that since he had just guest starred a few episodes earlier, they should simply make it the same character.

That perhaps helped give his character a bit more depth, even in only two appearances, because he got to pick up qualities of what were actually written as two different characters meant as two different guest starring roles.

 

[Keith1701]

Riley

 

[plynch]

Thethread title made me sad, in terms of what might have been. Riley's great. Chekov has his moments, but the schtick gets really old.

 

[Valin]

Thethread title made me sad, in terms of what might have been. Riley's great. Chekov has his moments, but the schtick gets really old.

"Sctick" was inwented by a little old lady in Leningrad.

 

[A.V.I.A.F.]

In defense of Walter Koenig, however, his Bester character on Babylon 5 was masterful.

Oh I agree that Koenig is a fine actor and I believe that he is probably a very thoughtful and insightful man (based on the interviews I have seen with him). I just think that the character he was given to play was a bit stagnant and repetitive and I would have really liked to have seen more of Riley's "I can do anything" devil-may-care attitude.

Ironically, we see this quite a bit with the portrayal of Chekov in JJ's film. nuChekov is still bright and outspoken, but he has a touch of Riley's piss and vinegar to boot!

 

[plynch]

Though Sulu was portrayed as incompetent. Both Sulu and Chekov in the film felt kinda forced. It woulda been okay by me not to have every character make a token appearance. Or save one or two for movie 2 if it ever comes out.

 

[Redfern]

They're saving Arex and M'Ress for next time. Arex's awkward situation will be receiving receiving a uniform with only two sleeves and two pants legs. M'Ress will look like a schmuck getting her tail caught in a too rapidly closing turbolift door!

Sincerely,

Bill

 

[Therin of Andor]

Arex's awkward situation will be receiving receiving a uniform with only two sleeves and two pants legs. M'Ress will look like a schmuck getting her tail caught in a too rapidly closing turbolift door!

Did you hear something? by Therin of Andor, on Flickr

 

[Anji]

I would've gone with Riley. Seems there was more tension between he and Kirk and it would've made for better science fiction.