startrekrcks
Fleet Captain
I had no problem with Kirk becoming captain but why did they make him captain too early post your thoughts here
Do you think Kirk was made captain early
- Thread starter startrekrcks
- Start date
Do we really need yet another discussion thread on this matter ?
It's been done to death.
It's been done to death.
True, it's been done to death, but it is fun to complain. All this could've been avoided with a few alterations in the script and storyline, like so:
-A brief bridging scene, indicating about nine or 10 years had passed since the Academy, and establishing that Kirk has had a career and was now a full commander, brought on by Pike as his new first officer;
-In the beginning of the movie, Spock should have also been a cadet who comes up with the Kobayashi Maru scenario as his "thesis" for starship command. Then, after the bridging scene, we see he's now a full commander, too; and
-Establish with one line of dialogue that Kirk and Spock have been bitter rivals over the years because of how Kirk messed with the Kobayashi Maru scenario whose paths have crossed.
Red Rum!
-A brief bridging scene, indicating about nine or 10 years had passed since the Academy, and establishing that Kirk has had a career and was now a full commander, brought on by Pike as his new first officer;
-In the beginning of the movie, Spock should have also been a cadet who comes up with the Kobayashi Maru scenario as his "thesis" for starship command. Then, after the bridging scene, we see he's now a full commander, too; and
-Establish with one line of dialogue that Kirk and Spock have been bitter rivals over the years because of how Kirk messed with the Kobayashi Maru scenario whose paths have crossed.
Red Rum!
No, it really isn't fun.
And just in case... he was made captain early and I'm not fond of this aspect of the movie.
You're just a stick in the mud, bud! Enjoy the kvetching! You know you want to!
--RR
startrekrcks
Fleet Captain
well wasn't he a hero for saving Pike
Yes, it was early. No, it didn't ruin the movie for me.
Hey, I just thought of a new board feature - give everybody (or, everybody above a certain rank) a list of ten canned answers we can use for infinitely-repeated threads. "Delta Vega, WTF?" Reply with #7!
Hey, I just thought of a new board feature - give everybody (or, everybody above a certain rank) a list of ten canned answers we can use for infinitely-repeated threads. "Delta Vega, WTF?" Reply with #7!
I haven't seen those threads, but in a nutshell, how can you possibly defend the promotion of a cadet to the rank of captain?
With nerd wet dream "but he saved the world" argument.
And the "just enjoy the movie for what it is" argument.
And the "just enjoy the movie for what it is" argument.
That's pretty much my thinking too. I would have preferred the writers give Kirk more time to grow into the role, but I also understand you can't have Kirk play second fiddle (or contrive ways for him to take temporary command) for two movies in a row.
Besides, it's the 23rd century. The training is probably so good Starfleet CAN make exceptions like that now and then.
Because Star Trek is most closely modeled on 19th century naval adventures, where fast promotion of big damn heroes is a staple of the genre.
Horatio Nelson for example, went from Lieutenant in April 1777, to his first command in July 1777. His rapid promotion came at least in part because senior officers believed in him and championed him to the brass, just like Pike seems to have done with Kirk.
Given that real people in the 19th century British navy got promoted with great rapidity if they were brilliant commanders, it happening to the biggest hero of a FICTIONAL SPACE OPERA seems fine to me.
Looking at it like that it doesn't seem so bad!
Completely ignoring that Nelson had been already had been aboard several ships for 6 years, that he was Acting Lieutenant in April 1777 and had to take an examination to become a real Lieutenant and that he was not given the command of the flagship, and that there is a huge fucking difference between commanding a 19th sailing ship, a 21th century aircraft carrier and a 23rd century starship.
I think it was a little bit too soon myself. I don't care that much, but I think it would've been interesting to bring back Pike as Captain for another mission with Kirk as 2nd officer.
