That would fit the precedent set by Trek XI.
Chekov.
- Thread starter Arpy
- Start date
That would fit the precedent set by Trek XI.
ST-One
Vice Admiral
And which of the other movies put a spotlight on this?
If anything, I would have preferred them to save Chekov for the sequel. I know they wanted to showcase the 'Big 7' but, while I enjoyed the character, I would not have missed him if he'd been absent. New fans could not have missed him, and for the nerds, there is an obvious reason for him to be absent (he's too young at this point in time and Chekov wasn't around for at least the first year of the TOS mission (although he was on board, off camera at the time of Khan's incursion in Season 1, which was year 2)). I don't think any of us can say that the film itself would have sufffered if he'd been absent.
I know people say that they didn't know that there would be a sequel but I'm sure the same was true when they made the Batman movies but they didn't feel compelled to include Robin, just in case.
I would have preferred them to showcase Rand as a security guard instead of Chekov so that we could have had a second female crewman in a minor role and then feature a correctly aged Chekov in the sequel where there was a bit more time to introduce him. I'm ambivalent about the wunderkind element of his character, especially as TOS Chekov was actually a bit dense, but I didn't like the scene where Chekov was casually placed in charge of the bridge at a time of crisis.
BTW - Most of the others haven't had their ages changed. The problem is that if they promote them to be department heads with no prior experience it will strip some credibility from the characters. Being good at their jobs should lead to promotion eventually but is not the only reason for promotion (hopefully some time will lapse between the two movies to cover this). Plus Kirk is becoming a Captain only 3 years ahead of schedule but he is becoming Captain with 7 years less experience, no diplomatic credentials, and a tendency for risk-taking far beyond TOS Kirk. I watched 'the Hurt Locker' the other day and I was taken with the parallels between NuKirk and James, especially the different way the people around him reacted. NuTrek looks extremely childish by comparison. If I was in the lower decks I'd be really worried!
I know people say that they didn't know that there would be a sequel but I'm sure the same was true when they made the Batman movies but they didn't feel compelled to include Robin, just in case.
I would have preferred them to showcase Rand as a security guard instead of Chekov so that we could have had a second female crewman in a minor role and then feature a correctly aged Chekov in the sequel where there was a bit more time to introduce him. I'm ambivalent about the wunderkind element of his character, especially as TOS Chekov was actually a bit dense, but I didn't like the scene where Chekov was casually placed in charge of the bridge at a time of crisis.
BTW - Most of the others haven't had their ages changed. The problem is that if they promote them to be department heads with no prior experience it will strip some credibility from the characters. Being good at their jobs should lead to promotion eventually but is not the only reason for promotion (hopefully some time will lapse between the two movies to cover this). Plus Kirk is becoming a Captain only 3 years ahead of schedule but he is becoming Captain with 7 years less experience, no diplomatic credentials, and a tendency for risk-taking far beyond TOS Kirk. I watched 'the Hurt Locker' the other day and I was taken with the parallels between NuKirk and James, especially the different way the people around him reacted. NuTrek looks extremely childish by comparison. If I was in the lower decks I'd be really worried!
None of the other movies did, put it was still integral to his character on TOS. Moreso than the v/w thing. In fact, only Trek IV put a spotlight on that before XI.
Chekov on TOS was a one-note ethnic joke with a bad accent. There's nowhere to go but up.
And don't forget a bad wig.. At least Shat's looked like real hair...
Chekov on TOS was a one-note ethnic joke with a bad accent. There's nowhere to go but up.
And don't forget a bad wig.. At least Shat's looked like real hair...
wait....
that wasn't Koenig's OR Shatner's real hair???
It wasn't a wig: Chekov was fused with a tribble in a transporter accident.
Chekov hasn't had time to be established as a viable character. Maybe it'll happen in the next movie, but shoehorning those scenes in among all the other stuff they need to accomplish in a mere two hours will be tough.
Original Chekov had the advantage of being on a TV series, where character development didn't have to be such a hit and run thing.
Original Chekov had the advantage of being on a TV series, where character development didn't have to be such a hit and run thing.
Yep. I'm with Temis on that one. There is only so much you can put in a movie.
And PikeFan, don't give me a mental picture!!! I will never get free of it!!
And PikeFan, don't give me a mental picture!!! I will never get free of it!!
Sorry, in case my meaning wasn't clear, since I was being rather obtuse, my interpretation was all along that, at least in TOS, Chekov was being groomed to take over Spock's role as science officer. This is another one of the things they got right in nuTrek.
I agree. I got the impression that Chekov was meant to be a naive, slightly inept know-it-all. He often quotes scientific trivia in his early appearances. I think his promotion to 'security chief' in TMP is the aberration in his career. He did use shields in his role as navigator (and probably weapons if they didn't want to give the actor at the helm a line) but he never showed much aptitude for combat or security procedure. He has always seemed to lack common sense, which is essential for a security role. Uhura on the other hand would have made a great security chief (personality-wise, her combat prowess was always lacking in the sixties as she was a lady). Chekov's embarassing investigation in TUC reinforces this image. In TWoK he was returned to a more scientific role and it suited him much better.
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