Best Saavik Poll

[Admiral Shran]

Based on the seemingly overwhelming opinion in the "Best Saavik: Kirstie Alley vs. Robin Curtis" thread that a poll should have been included, I've taken it upon myself to do the deed.

Vote for your favorite Saavik!

 

[137th Gebirg]

Kirstie Alley, always!

 

[iguana_tonante]

Uh. Alley again, I guess.

 

[GNDN]

For the character of Saavik (disregarding which actress portrayed a more "authentic" Vulcan) I have to go with Alley.

 

[Sector 7]

Whadya know? I'm in the majority for a change! I liked Kirstie in the original role and was disappointed that she was replaced. Perhaps this jaded my opinion.

 

[CoveTom]

Kirstie Alley.

Robin Curtis is a fine actress. And she played a fine Vulcan. But she didn't play Saavik. The character in TWOK is totally different from the character in TSFS and TVH. If they were going to keep it the same character, despite the change in actresses, then Curtis should have tried to play the same character Alley did, not change it.

IMHO, they should have hired Robin Curtis, and had her play a Vulcan, but not kept the character of Saavik. Make it a new character.

 

[KeepOnTrekking]

Kirstie Alley WAS Saavik. Period.

Robin Curtis is a fine actress. And she played a fine Vulcan. But she didn't play Saavik. The character in TWOK is totally different from the character in TSFS and TVH. If they were going to keep it the same character, despite the change in actresses, then Curtis should have tried to play the same character Alley did, not change it.

Agreed. Robin said that she made it a point NOT to watch TWOK and was directed by Nimoy on how to play the character. The word "dryer" seems to leap to mind from her interviews. She made an interesting Vulcan but not a Vulcan /Romulan Saavik.

 

[CoveTom]

I'm actually surprised at Nimoy. He fought throughout the series to maintain the integrity and continuity of his character. How would he have liked it if a director had wanted him to play Spock totally differently? In fact, he fought those battles many times. So it seems odd to me that when put on the other side of the camera, he wouldn't want to either maintain the characterization of Saavik or change it to being a different character.

The Saavik of TWOK was a half-Vulcan/half-Romulan. Even if that wasn't stated in dialogue that made it to the final cut, it was in the script, it was filmed, and Meyer directed Alley's performance on that basis. She is clearly playing a Vulcan/Romulan mix. To suddenly change the character to full Vulcan is jarring.

 

[JeffM]

Kirstie Alley. Perfect half Vulcan for the perfect Star Trek movie.

Curtis just couldn't fill the shoes, poor thing.

 

[timelord1010]

Had to vote for Kristie Alley. Robin Curtis played Saavik as a full Vulcan when the character was written as half Romulan.

 

[WillsBabe]

Kirstie Alley's. I've had a girl crush on her since I was 16. Say no more.

 

[BillJ]

Curtis.

 

[Ultramann]

Better question would be if Curtis played Saavik first and THEN Alley played her, which would we prefer having seen Curits first?

 

[CoveTom]

^ I don't think it's so much which actress played her first. I think it's the difference in the way they were directed to portray the character. Had Alley been directed to play a full, emotionless Vulcan, I think she could have done it. Had Curtis been directed to play it as a half-Romulan with a hint of emotion, I think she could have done that too. It's the fact that they were each directed differently that makes it so jarring. I don't have a problem with Robin Curtis as Saavik. I have a problem with the fact that Nimoy didn't have her play Saavik the way Meyer did.

 

[Admiral Shran]

Yet, the editing of TWOK leaves the viewer with the impression that Saavik is a full Vulcan, not half Vulcan/half Romulan.

Since that was the way she was directed to play the character, I don't hold it against Alley. However, I do hold it against the character. Since they decided to make her a full Vulcan in the editing room, they should have also toned down the emotionality of Saavik in the editing as well.

As result, since we're left with two essentially full Vulcan performances, Curtis does the better job.

 

[JonnyQuest037]

Better question would be if Curtis played Saavik first and THEN Alley played her, which would we prefer having seen Curits first?

I can answer this question, since I did see Curtis' Saavik first. I skipped TWOK in its original theatrical run, and didn't have my interest in Trek reignited until I went to see TSFS a couple years later. I never got to see TWOK until I got the videotape for Christmas a year or two after that, and I've liked Alley's Saavik better for as long as I can remember. She's better written than TSFS's version of the character, and Alley's portrayal is lot more interesting (YMMV, of course).

 

[Anika Hanson]

Kirsty Alley's

 

[WillsBabe]

I was watching TSFS the other day after many many years not having seen it. I was pleasantly surprised how much I enjoyed Curtis' performance, but I still enjoy KA's Saavik more.

 

[CoveTom]

I do think Curtis is a decent actress, and it's a shame she gets so much crap heaped on her because she happened to have to take over the role from Alley and people liked the TWOK interpretation better. Unfortunately, about all I know of Curtis' acting career is her stint in the Trek movies, her guest spot on TNG, and a guest spot from the 80's on Knight Rider.

 

[Admiral Shran]

Eh, she also had a guest spot on an episode of Babylon 5.