That might be your magnum opostus.
Beltran: Being Vocal About Chakotay
- Thread starter TrekToday
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You know that's the only way I manage choke down J/P. There's something tragic about having fertile sex at the pinnacle of evolution and then turning your back on your offspring just because they look icky.
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This is Star Trek Deckerd.
I think I just discovered the reason why I couldn't remember Chakotay being even present in that scene...
And I just remember some other scene from "Investigations" (season 2). When Chakotay was informed by Tuvok and Janeway that Paris acted like a complete asshole for the past months to make his leaving the ship more credible (in order to reveal Michael Jonas as a spy for those who don't remember the episode). He asked Janeway why he wasn't filled in, and she answered that they needed a good show (which is a very weak reason IMO). And now guess what his reaction was....
I am not sure if a dumbfounded look counts as a reaction at all.
Why did he not explode? Why wasn't he at least a little bit angry? Why didn't he argue or question that strategy? Because it was Tuvok's idea and he doesn't stand a chance against his logic?
Why was this "not being trusted" (obviously because he was a Maquis and his former crew were the main suspects) of no consequences?
What did they think when they wrote that scene?
I am not sure if a dumbfounded look counts as a reaction at all.
Why did he not explode? Why wasn't he at least a little bit angry? Why didn't he argue or question that strategy? Because it was Tuvok's idea and he doesn't stand a chance against his logic?
Why was this "not being trusted" (obviously because he was a Maquis and his former crew were the main suspects) of no consequences?
What did they think when they wrote that scene?
Maybe a better actor could but Beltran, just like every actor on the show had to go to try outs in front of the producers and casting agents. Out of the thousands that showed up to try out for the roll, they watched him act and they still picked him. So it was TPTB that picked a wooden actor and then kept him for all 7 seasons. If you hire someone that isn't capable of doing the job, is it their fault or yours?
I don't dislike him, although I wouldn't say I like him, either. It's Beltran's acting I'm not thrilled with at all.
I don't dislike Chakotay at all. He's easy on the eye and doesn't get in the way much.
Oh. I almost made a cigar store indian joke.
^ Haha.
Oh, I'm well aware. It seems the directors weren't quite sure how to direct him, either.
Oh, I'm well aware. It seems the directors weren't quite sure how to direct him, either.
Everyone here makes good points -- bad writing for Chakotay's character, meh acting from Beltran when they gave him stuff with which he could have chewed up the scenery. What I really wanted to see was the ex-Captain made to be the #2 (man, that's hard on the ego -- I've watched it in RL when people get promoted past someone ...). The guy who ditched Starfleet when it messed with his principles. That terrific scene in Caretaker when he wants to go after Tom -- where all did that go? Into the lore of fan fiction, together with all the other missed opportunities, that's where ...
But take Robbie McNeill. Tom Paris was given an actual arc throughout the series. You have to piece it together from the writing, but it's there in his acting as well as in the occasional episodes. Watch how his face changes from the ironically clenched don't-hurt-me-I-don't-give-a-damn jaw in the early episodes to when he feels secure in his role, and back again when he does that bad-boy act for Janeway prior to Investigations. McNeill's line deliveries can be a story in themselves. Bride of Chaotica -- "And remember, you're the Queen ..." (coming a week after Janeway trashed the Prime Directive, a week in turn after jailing and demoting him for pretty much the same thing), that delivery has bite. (I wrote a whole story around that one moment, believe it or not, it's called At the Bottom of a Glass. Link below.) Or the way Tom swallows Chakotay's moronic, dangerous orders in "One Small Step", given he's already been demoted for refusing to follow "superior orders" -- you can see the internal stream of four-letter-words. That's acting.
I don't know whether the writing/directing comes before the acting, but they do feed off one another, and by Season 7 Chakotay is a piece of cardboard, and Beltran phones in his lines. Too bad. The character had such potential.
But take Robbie McNeill. Tom Paris was given an actual arc throughout the series. You have to piece it together from the writing, but it's there in his acting as well as in the occasional episodes. Watch how his face changes from the ironically clenched don't-hurt-me-I-don't-give-a-damn jaw in the early episodes to when he feels secure in his role, and back again when he does that bad-boy act for Janeway prior to Investigations. McNeill's line deliveries can be a story in themselves. Bride of Chaotica -- "And remember, you're the Queen ..." (coming a week after Janeway trashed the Prime Directive, a week in turn after jailing and demoting him for pretty much the same thing), that delivery has bite. (I wrote a whole story around that one moment, believe it or not, it's called At the Bottom of a Glass. Link below.) Or the way Tom swallows Chakotay's moronic, dangerous orders in "One Small Step", given he's already been demoted for refusing to follow "superior orders" -- you can see the internal stream of four-letter-words. That's acting.
I don't know whether the writing/directing comes before the acting, but they do feed off one another, and by Season 7 Chakotay is a piece of cardboard, and Beltran phones in his lines. Too bad. The character had such potential.
A friend and I were writing a TNG parody some years ago, and we completely agreed that Riker should be written as stupid as we possibly could manage. His name was "Bill Biker" and the only time anyone remembered his name was actually "Will" was when the Captain ordered, "Fire at will!"Nothing, that's the problem Chakotay!
And lose the tattoo, you're a Starfleet officer, not a biker.
Woot!
I've been enjoying your Tom Paris stories, and can't wait to see each new chapter when it gets posted! Are you going to have Seven join the ship at some point?(we have corresponded over at fanfiction.net, but you know me by another name there)
I'll echo what others have said and agree that I don't dislike Chakotay, but I don't have the same disposition towards his character as I do someone like Janeway.
As AF said, Chakotay had lots of potential, but it just wasn't handled (or written) well. Chakotay did not get many episodes that focused on his character, and the ones that did were not done very well. I'll admit that I do not mind the episode "The Fight", as I feel like it gives Chakotay some much needed introspection (although I suspect that I may be in a severe minority here
).
In terms of acting, Beltran does have some good moments, but there are times where I think he could have given a little more. There is something about his tone that I feel just doesn't match Janeway's when she's commanding the bridge. As an example, take the end of "Dark Frontier" when Chakotay is in command and orders B'Elanna to collapse the transwarp conduit. When he gives the order to fire, I just feel like his tone comes across a little flat in that scene.
When Janeway says "Fire!" you know that shit's about to get serious.
Another thing about Chakotay is that I feel like his character was used as a springboard for Janeway. He supported her and was her trusted colleague, but she was the one who got most of the writer's attention (at least before season 4
). I wish that they had found a way to balance that, and there should have been way more tension between them in terms of a Maquis having to serve under a Starfleet captain.
As AF said, Chakotay had lots of potential, but it just wasn't handled (or written) well. Chakotay did not get many episodes that focused on his character, and the ones that did were not done very well. I'll admit that I do not mind the episode "The Fight", as I feel like it gives Chakotay some much needed introspection (although I suspect that I may be in a severe minority here
).In terms of acting, Beltran does have some good moments, but there are times where I think he could have given a little more. There is something about his tone that I feel just doesn't match Janeway's when she's commanding the bridge. As an example, take the end of "Dark Frontier" when Chakotay is in command and orders B'Elanna to collapse the transwarp conduit. When he gives the order to fire, I just feel like his tone comes across a little flat in that scene.
When Janeway says "Fire!" you know that shit's about to get serious.
Another thing about Chakotay is that I feel like his character was used as a springboard for Janeway. He supported her and was her trusted colleague, but she was the one who got most of the writer's attention (at least before season 4
). I wish that they had found a way to balance that, and there should have been way more tension between them in terms of a Maquis having to serve under a Starfleet captain.
Is the "Golden Eagle Award" some kind of Scouting achievement?
The last two are nominations - no awards.
And I looked up the Golden Eagle Award in Wikipedia. And I really wonder how he got it, because:
The Golden Eagle Award [...] is an accolade by the Russian National Academy of Motion Pictures Arts and Sciences of Russia [...]. The national Russian accolade gives out in 20 categories each January for motion pictures and TV series produced in Russia during the previous year.
I didn't know there were nuclear wessels on Voyager.
