A Crucial Query about Deep Space 9

[Oddish]

This is what I always wonder about: wouldn't the impression of Sisko, a broken widower with a son, be ruined if he showed up looking like Hawk?

An excellent point. And I'd be wondering how he managed to hide an 8-inch nickel plated 357 Magnum in that skintight uniform.

 

[Sci]

In the documentary, Kerry McCluggage admits outright that the look was a result of conversations about Brooks looking too "street." Perhaps distancing Sisko from Hawk was an issue, but it was not the most important issue.

It was remarkable how economical McCluggage was with his bigotries. Racism and classism, all in one sentence!

This is what I always wonder about: wouldn't the impression of Sisko, a broken widower with a son, be ruined if he showed up looking like Hawk?

Why? Can bald men with goatees not be heartbroken fathers?

 

[Bad Thoughts]

Why? Can bald men with goatees not be heartbroken fathers?

The problem is that at least in Brooks' case, the look betrayed too much confidence. Indeed, the doc and 50 Year Mission pointed out that the Hawk look showed a man that was more in control than what Sisko was supposed to be in the pilot.

 

[Oddish]

It was remarkable how economical McCluggage was with his bigotries. Racism and classism, all in one sentence!



Why? Can bald men with goatees not be heartbroken fathers?

Indubitably, yes. But, would Hawk (a violent enforcer who regularly works for assorted organized criminals) seem like a heartbroken father? And yes, in his bald/goatee incarnation, Sisko is very Hawkish. We needed those three years of hairy Sisko to create distance from the role in question.

 

[Sci]

Indubitably, yes. But, would Hawk (a violent enforcer who regularly works for assorted organized criminals) seem like a heartbroken father? And yes, in his bald/goatee incarnation, Sisko is very Hawkish. We needed those three years of hairy Sisko to create distance from the role in question.

I've never seen an episode of Spencer for Hire or A Man Called Hawk; I don't have any associations to distance him from. All I know are three things: 1. Avery Brooks is visibly more comfortable when he's allowed to shave his heard and grow a goatee; 2. Brooks's increased comfort coincides with more compelling acting choices in those seasons; 3. Whatever one may think about creating distance from Hawk, the real reason Paramount made him grow out his hair was to make him look less "threatening" to racist white viewers.

 

[Oddish]

I've never seen an episode of Spencer for Hire or A Man Called Hawk; I don't have any associations to distance him from. All I know are three things: 1. Avery Brooks is visibly more comfortable when he's allowed to shave his heard and grow a goatee; 2. Brooks's increased comfort coincides with more compelling acting choices in those seasons; 3. Whatever one may think about creating distance from Hawk, the real reason Paramount made him grow out his hair was to make him look less "threatening" to racist white viewers.

Precisely. You haven't seen those shows. If you'd been a regular Spencer viewer, you'd have realized how iconic and memorable and downright SCARY Hawk was. He was just as memorable as... well, bald Sisko.

 

[Bad Thoughts]

Whatever one may think about creating distance from Hawk, the real reason Paramount made him grow out his hair was to make him look less "threatening" to racist white viewers.

I am not disputing this. What I am saying is that the three different looks are emblematic not only of the character's development, but also of the changing approach of the writers to the character as they evolved him from a broken man to a great leader, both military and religious. Many artists have operated at first under restrictions grounded in prejudice, only to flourish fully when those restrictions were lifted. Their earlier work was never invalid.

 

[C.E. Evans]

This is what I always wonder about: wouldn't the impression of Sisko, a broken widower with a son, be ruined if he showed up looking like Hawk?

I think it would depend on how Brooks played Sisko at the beginning. A good actor can even sell Santa Claus as a broken man if it fit the story.

 

[Oddish]

I can say... yes, very possibly. I watched Spencer often, and Hawk was easily the most memorable part of it.* And for me, even after three years, it was a little weird to see him show up in a Starfleet uniform.


*That and there were always scenes when someone was always pointing a gun at a bad guy, and Spenser persuaded them to put the gun down, and then the bad guy went for a gun of his own, and Spenser shot him dead. It got very tiresome after awhile.

 

[garakvsneelix]

I've never seen an episode of Spencer for Hire or A Man Called Hawk; I don't have any associations to distance him from. All I know are three things: 1. Avery Brooks is visibly more comfortable when he's allowed to shave his heard and grow a goatee;

And for me, this really fits a lot with the fact, that Sisko starts to feel well at Deep Space Nine and wasn't satisfied about his new mission on the station at first.

 

[Reyman]

Avery Brooks was a terrific as a Klingon.

Maybe he can return to Trek as a Klingon.

 

[STEPhon IT]

Ok, here it is, that critical question...

What was Sisko's best look?

The "it's in my contract", a full head of hair and clean shaven look of early on?

The "let's bend the rules a bit", full head of hair and neat goatee from late Season 3?

Or the "Hawk is back and you will learn to like it", shaved head and goatee?

Or even "Haven't you ever seen a Klingon before?" of early season 5? Threw it in, couldn't resist.

I think I know which will win, but as Donald Trump has painfully proved, surprises do happen.

Note: Not going to do a TNG one. Picard's look didn't change, and Riker with beard vs. Clean Shaven Riker would be like a bat'leth duel between Worf and a tribble.

I thought his best look was clean shaven with hair, he looked completely different from his very iconic role as Hawk on "Spenser: For Hire and it's spinoff "A Man Called Hawk". I loved his tone and presence as Commander Sisko and I appreciated Brooks listening to the hire ups to bring in a character who look and feel like a military officer. I like men who are clean shaven, and Brooks had it for me. I don't think his character was as interesting when he was bald but the stories shifted to my dislike for the series. So I'm bias with Sisko's look and character presence from the 1st 3 seasons, goatee excluded.