Counselor Hugh Cambridge

[Kilana2]

Yup, those 2 plus Chen...

Hmm. I wasn't particularly fond of Chen until now, but I'm ready to give her a chance.

It worked with Cambridge as well. He used to snub people when I first came aboard Voyager and I thought `What an odd customer´, but that changed over time. He has depth. I have come to like him by now.

 

[apollo1984]

Personally I liked him, from what I remember of reading of the voyager novels he is unorthodox and very opinionated which is always a good "devils advocate" for a captain.

He was also the guy who finally got Chakotay out of his bubble of whatever after the death of Janeway, as a councillor he will do things you don't like but often its a case of "sometimes you got to crack a few eggs to make omelettes" and sometimes that's exactly what people need.

 

[Kilana2]

Personally I liked him, from what I remember of reading of the voyager novels he is unorthodox and very opinionated which is always a good "devils advocate" for a captain.

He was also the guy who finally got Chakotay out of his bubble of whatever after the death of Janeway, as a councillor he will do things you don't like but often its a case of "sometimes you got to crack a few eggs to make omelettes" and sometimes that's exactly what people need.

A good counselor doesn't reveal you any solutions, he/she helps you to find your own way in the sense of empowerment. This is what Hugh did with Chakotay.

 

[Claudia]

Cambridge worked for me (especially in Full Circle) - until his ridiculous jealousy concerning Seven and Axum. Exactly how often does Seven have to tell him that she loves him in Protectors? And he still doesn't believe her?

I think one has to be quite callous not to feel something for a former lover - especially if you get dreams of him being tortured. So I expected some empathy there, not that jealousy or, even more so in Acts of Contrition, that "she went back to Earth, so the relationship is over"-stuff. Of course, once Seven returns they will have lots of issues to work through, but giving up on a relationship like that? Cambridge lost quite a bit of my regard here. (But then again, it's no secret that I wasn't happy with Protectors and Acts of Contrition on the whole, so... *g*)

 

[Kilana2]

Cambridge worked for me (especially in Full Circle) - until his ridiculous jealousy concerning Seven and Axum. Exactly how often does Seven have to tell him that she loves him in Protectors? And he still doesn't believe her?

I think one has to be quite callous not to feel something for a former lover - especially if you get dreams of him being tortured. So I expected some empathy there, not that jealousy or, even more so in Acts of Contrition, that "she went back to Earth, so the relationship is over"-stuff. Of course, once Seven returns they will have lots of issues to work through, but giving up on a relationship like that? Cambridge lost quite a bit of my regard here. (But then again, it's no secret that I wasn't happy with Protectors and Acts of Contrition on the whole, so... *g*)

Axum seems to be very possessive. And the Doctor? He prefers Seven to be rather in Axum's arms than in Cambridge's. Guys start to fight over Seven. It will be interesting, how Atonement continues...

 

[Klaus]

I was a bit annoyed with the depth of his jealousy too, but Seven strikes me as the embodiment of an old Pete Townshend line, "Somebody saved me, cause if I'd had her for just an hour I'd have wanted her forever" lol... and not, as Hugh noted, for purely pulchritudinous motives. She's obviously fascinating and uniquely compelling.

 

[Claudia]

Axum seems to be very possessive. And the Doctor? He prefers Seven to be rather in Axum's arms than in Cambridge's. Guys start to fight over Seven. It will be interesting, how Atonement continues...

Of course, Axum is possessive - but then again, he didn't have the advantage of being embedded in a supportive system once the Collective was gone. He's been experimented on, and I don't think even he knows reality from dream. Seven serves as an anchor for him, and of course he'll do anything to keep her with him. Doesn't mean that that it's not sick what he's doing, but I can at least somehow understand where he's coming from. (And it helps that I actually liked Axum in Unimatrix Zero - the one thing that I liked about that episode...)

And the Doctor, well, maybe he thinks that having Seven with Axum would mean Seven would leave the ship, so he himself doesn't have to see her and her relationship with another man every day. Remember he isn't really of sound mind right now, either.

Yes, Beyer definitely has her work cut out for her. *g*

 

[Mage]

I'm a bit on the fence when it comes to Hugh. He's had some great moments, helping our established characters come to terms with their issues, and his humor at times is very well written.

But.... as a character himself, he hasn't really developed. Sure, we've seen a new side to him thanks to his relation with Seven, but most of it is a fear of loosing her, even though we have no clue yet where that fear comes from. Usually, for someone to have that kind of fear/jealousy, there's past experience that develops something like that.

Basicly, he's still the same guy as when we first met him. I would like some more development, some more background. Right now, he just is.

 

[Kilana2]

I'm a bit on the fence when it comes to Hugh. He's had some great moments, helping our established characters come to terms with their issues, and his humor at times is very well written.

But.... as a character himself, he hasn't really developed. Sure, we've seen a new side to him thanks to his relation with Seven, but most of it is a fear of loosing her, even though we have no clue yet where that fear comes from. Usually, for someone to have that kind of fear/jealousy, there's past experience that develops something like that.

Basicly, he's still the same guy as when we first met him. I would like some more development, some more background. Right now, he just is.

Counselor Astall had no development at all and went off the ship before the Borg incursion. Compared to her we saw a lot of Cambridge. The next novels will show if there is a future for Seven and Hugh.

 

[Akiraprise]

I like Cambridge. But I usually always take a liking to the surly, tell it how it is, characters in any show or novel.

 

[Mage]

I'm a bit on the fence when it comes to Hugh. He's had some great moments, helping our established characters come to terms with their issues, and his humor at times is very well written.

But.... as a character himself, he hasn't really developed. Sure, we've seen a new side to him thanks to his relation with Seven, but most of it is a fear of loosing her, even though we have no clue yet where that fear comes from. Usually, for someone to have that kind of fear/jealousy, there's past experience that develops something like that.

Basicly, he's still the same guy as when we first met him. I would like some more development, some more background. Right now, he just is.

Counselor Astall had no development at all and went off the ship before the Borg incursion. Compared to her we saw a lot of Cambridge. The next novels will show if there is a future for Seven and Hugh.

Just because we see a lot of a certain character, doesn't mean that character develops.

 

[Kilana2]

Just because we see a lot of a certain character, doesn't mean that character develops.

Kirsten Beyer keeps on writing Voyager novels. Maybe we see more character development with Hugh.

I fear that the focus lies with the main characters.

And I guess you're right: we see Sharak, Sam Wildman and Nancy Conlon, but only little development.

 

[Mr. Laser Beam]

He was also the guy who finally got Chakotay out of his bubble of whatever after the death of Janeway, as a councillor he will do things you don't like but often its a case of "sometimes you got to crack a few eggs to make omelettes" and sometimes that's exactly what people need.

Perhaps, but if I had serious issues I don't know if I'd feel comfortable talking to somebody like that. I take things very personally and I might have an unexpected reaction if Cambridge started copping an attitude with me.

 

[Elias Vaughn]

EDIT: As for Cambridge, I like him. He's a rich character. I've never watched "House" (I watch hardly any television) so I have no familiarity with the existing character his mannerisms are apparently a nod to.

I feel the House comparisons are overstated. Cambridge has some of House's irreverence, snark, and rebelliousness, but he's far more empathetic and emotionally/socially functional, he's not a drug addict, and he's English rather than American. He's based more on Hugh Laurie in general than House in particular.

I'd argue that his most recent interactions with Seven and jealousy of Axum indicate he's not really emotionally functional. He's a less House-like House, but it's still pretty blatant.

Having said that, I love Cambridge. He's not even one of my favorite lit-only characters, he's one of my favorite Trek characters.

 

[Christopher]

^But there's a difference between the normal kind of love and jealousy that most people feel and the kind of sociopathic detachment that characterized House. Although I haven't read that novel yet, so I don't really know what you're describing. (I started reading it a few months ago, but got distracted by other stuff, including my next ENT novel, so I let it trail off. I keep meaning to start over, but other stuff is still in the way.)

 

[Kilana2]

That's why I asked before: what happens when a counselor needs a counselor?

Even T'Lana had to admit that she needed help.

Hugh was always busy with helping other people. His problems have to be addressed, lest he burns himself out.

Hugh's options are: talking about his feelings with friends (and Chakotay comes close to a friend) or talking with another counselor of the fleet in the DG. I doubt that he would choose the latter, as psychologists are often the worst patients.

 

[JD]

I just realized I haven't posted in here yet. I really like Cambridge, he's definitely one of my favorite new Voyager characters.

 

[Idran]

That's why I asked before: what happens when a counselor needs a counselor?

They just see another counselor; like Troi seeing Hegol Den in Destiny. Psychologists might be bad patients, but they also understand better than lay people how important professional therapy can be.

 

[Kilana2]

That's why I asked before: what happens when a counselor needs a counselor?

They just see another counselor; like Troi seeing Hegol Den in Destiny. Psychologists might be bad patients, but they also understand better than lay people how important professional therapy can be.

T'Lana was right in her decision to seek out help. Alas, she didn't survive the Borg incursion.

So we will see if Hugh seeks out the help of one of his fellow counselors in the fleet.

 

[Elias Vaughn]

^But there's a difference between the normal kind of love and jealousy that most people feel and the kind of sociopathic detachment that characterized House.

Well, sure, Cambridge isn't literally House displaced into the 24th century, but the parallels are still pretty blatant.

I just want him to do a differential diagnosis one time...