Captain Decker?

[Neutral Zone]

I watced the Star Trek: The Movie the other for first time in ages. And the same question came to mind again.

Given the chance would Decker have made a good captain of the Enterprise either in a movie setting or in a series?

I came to the conclusion that the answer would be 'no', I thought that he was too weak, he did not have the same drive and cunning of Kirk and later Picard.

Does anyone think that he would have made a good captain?

 

[Mr. Laser Beam]

Stephen Collins didn't get the chance to really develop Decker, but I think he would have made a good captain. Riker (who was obviously based on Decker) managed fairly well in TNG...

 

[Procutus]

And, Decker was meant to be Kirk's XO in the Phase II series, which means that on occasions, he would've been in command of the ship during Kirk's absence. So I think given the chance, he would've risen to the occasion.

 

[Myasishchev]

<----He at least does pervy glare better than anyone other captain.

I think he'd have been all right. Better than Janeway or Archer, to be sure. On par with Picard or Kirk, maybe. I doubt he would have beaten the Sisko.

 

[Therin of Andor]

And, Decker was meant to be Kirk's XO in the Phase II series, which means that on occasions, he would've been in command of the ship during Kirk's absence. So I think given the chance, he would've risen to the occasion.

Shatner had made it known he might have wanted to drop back to irregular appearances as a promoted Admiral in "Phase II", after the first 13 episodes. So the development of Will Decker might have been an interesting arc.

 

[Brutal Strudel]

He'd have made a great captain, a worthy successor to Kirk--which is why Kirk chose him.

 

[Procutus]

I doubt he would have beaten the Sisko.

Sisko was the man. Kirk had the 23rd century, Sisko ruled the 24th.

 

[KlingonPredator]

Decker would have been interesting...I wonder how the "official" logs ruled his fathers'death or did he know the truth?

 

[DarKush]

I would've liked to have seen more of Decker. I can't say how good he might've been but I think he would've been okay in the big chair. I think its a shame that TMP and then the Chronology really didn't give Decker any space to be established, either on film or on print. Would it really have made a difference if TMP took place in 2275 or 2280 as opposed to 2270? And what was the deal with Decker only being captain during the shakedown phase? I think it would've added more dramatic tension if Decker was established as a captain, with his own crew, a mix of TOS/new characters and having the Big Three come back on border eliciting more mixed emotions from Decker's crew. And there could be more of a power struggle between Decker and Kirk. That would've been interesting to see or read about. Oh well.

 

[Therin of Andor]

I think it would've added more dramatic tension if Decker was established as a captain, with his own crew, a mix of TOS/new characters.

Check out "The Lost Years" saga installment, "A Flag Full of Stars". Brad Ferguson has Decker take his crew on a brief mission in the saucer section only!

There's also "Night Whispers", a Diane Duane short story in the "Enterprise Logs" anthology.

 

[Red Ranger]

I think he would've been good. I wonder if Stephen Collins would've grown a beard! Hmmm! -- RR

 

[Therin of Andor]

I think he would've been good. I wonder if Stephen Collins would've grown a beard! Hmmm! -- RR

A cleft chin others pay big money to have enhanced with silicon - and you want him to grow a beard? Frakes covered up his cleft chin, much to my surprise.

 

[flightmech73]

I think he would've been real good. He did jump in and save their ass during the worm hole they got themselves in. And after stood up to Kirk when he got yelled at for countering his orders. Then Spock shows up and steals another job from him. Poor Guy never got the chance.

 

[Bones2]

No wonder he dived in and joined with V'Ger - didn't seem like there was much left for him. Aside from a uniform where you could see too much secondary hull.

 

[Yeoman Randi]

Stephen Collins didn't get the chance to really develop Decker, but I think he would have made a good captain. Riker (who was obviously based on Decker) managed fairly well in TNG...

Forgive me if i am being a total dolt here...but what makes you say that Riker was based on Decker? I've never heard that, nor had i ever made the connection before.

 

[Bones2]

The Riker/Deanna relationship (at least at the start of TNG) was very much how Decker/Ilia was going to be in Phase II. So I understand.

 

[flightmech73]

The Riker/Deanna relationship (at least at the start of TNG) was very much how Decker/Ilia was going to be in Phase II. So I understand.

That's the point I would've made as well. As far as I know alot of TNG stories were recycled from phase 2 ideas

 

[Ryan Thomas Riddle]

The Riker/Deanna relationship (at least at the start of TNG) was very much how Decker/Ilia was going to be in Phase II. So I understand.

That's the point I would've made as well. As far as I know alot of TNG stories were recycled from phase 2 ideas

Only two episodes were recycled Phase II stories: "The Child" (season two) and "Devil's Due" (season four).

 

[flightmech73]

The Riker/Deanna relationship (at least at the start of TNG) was very much how Decker/Ilia was going to be in Phase II. So I understand.

That's the point I would've made as well. As far as I know alot of TNG stories were recycled from phase 2 ideas

Only two episodes were recycled Phase II stories: "The Child" (season two) and "Devil's Due" (season four).

I thought it would've been more but I guess they didn't have to many written out anyway. Thanx for the heads up.

 

[FormerLurker]

TOS/TNG

Kirk/Picard
Decker/Riker
Spock/Data
McCoy/Crusher
Uhura/Yar
Sulu/Worf
Scotty/Geordi
Chekov/Wesley