The humans of the 23rd century are traveling around the galaxy encountering new lifeforms all of the time. I'm pretty sure they can handle some whales that originate on their own planet.
Dr. Gillian Taylor
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The humans of the 23rd century are traveling around the galaxy encountering new lifeforms all of the time. I'm pretty sure they can handle some whales that originate on their own planet.
Her NOT being tense was a rare occurrence in this film. My sister and I used to rewind and laugh at her over-the-top reaction shots (from a VHS home recording of the TV premiere of the film on ABC IIRC). If I ever wanted to make sis laugh, all I would need to do is randomly yell, "while still bearing unborn calves!" That was probably the most serious line of the film, but the delivery just made us laugh as kids. I think her overacting was Shat-tastic!
Maybe I'll blurt it out at the thanksgiving table and see if my sister still remembers...LOL
10 minutes in she was put on the 23rd century equivalent of Ativan. I mean, yeah, it's annoying when your boss is kind of an asshole but flipping out, calling him a "son of a bitch!," smacking him and then storming out of the building to your beat-up truck (hell of a vehicle for a doctor to have) is a bit over the top.
And, really, would there have been a "media circus" over the whales being hauled off?
And, really, would there have been a "media circus" over the whales being hauled off?
What's even funnier is that as much as she apparently cares about the whales, she sure doesn't give an ounce of concern for all those birds she almost runs over.
Catherine hicks in general is a grating actor.
She can be, for sure...but as I said, she's pretty good in a fear/horror context! I wasn't a massive fan of Child's Play, but when she went to remove the batteries from the doll, only to discover there were none in it, her reaction was great!
Well, she's a cetaceanist not a avianist.
(I've no idea if those are actual terms, but you get my drift.
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Gillian probably signed on with the Federation Naval Patrol.
Which, I admit, had not been 'invented' by the writers at that point, but retroactively, it fits.
Which, I admit, had not been 'invented' by the writers at that point, but retroactively, it fits.
The species had been extinct for 300 years. According to Spock, they were indigenous only to Earth. So there was nobody in the galaxy except for Gillian who knew anything about them. Gillian even said so herself, and Kirk agreed with her.
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It is also possible that the science vessel is there to study her. She is a person out of time. Not only is she pretty much the only human expert of humpback whales in the 23rd century, she also has 300 years of catch up learning to do. The Federation might just as well keep her around not only to study the two (soon to be at least three) whales, but also study a "primative" 20th century human female and see how she adapts to the late 23rd century.
The gentleman who plays Bob was a scoutmaster in my local region in the 1990s. She did really hit him, by his request to get the shot done.
The gentleman who plays Bob was a scoutmaster in my local region in the 1990s. She did really hit him, by his request to get the shot done.
I'll give you that, but wouldn't it have been more productive to study Gillian on Earth instead of on a spaceship, so she could still be handy if something happened to the whales?
>>SNORT!!!<<
This point about Catherine Hicks playing Dr. Taylor as "kooky" did not go past me, either. I wasn't annoyed by it, for its own sake, but rather, because it seemed to want to be compensating (some) for the fact that Gillian's got nothing going on for herself, outside of the whales. This movie really should've given us more reason to care about Taylor outside of her being The Whale Watcher. She has no life. She's far too trusting and that's about it, for depth of character here, and we're meant to care about this woman. Oh, dear! Didn't think of that! Just act kooky, Cathrine, this is a "comedy," you'll do fine. And outside of her obligation to the whales, we have no reason to care about her. NO reason to. I mean, look, Hicks plays her straight, which is good, she tries to invest Gillian with sweetness, but she's got nothing to work with. Nor do we, the audience.
They do look quite cute in that photo.
But not really a match. Is this the only time in Star Trek that Kirk got the brush off ?
I disagree (surprise, surprise) that we the audience do not care about Gillian. I care more about her than Anji, the Romulan girl in NEM, Valeris, probably David.
I don't think Gillian was unlikeable. At least she didn't take crap from Bob or Kirk.
I will gladly admit that I am not a guru of all things STAR TREK, but I tell you true: I don't remember another occassion where Kirk got, as you say, "the brush off." I was never really impressed with any of Kirk's conquests, anyway, with the possible exception of that slave girl from Bread & Circuses. Truly an exceptional beauty who was way too cool for this bit part, but no matter ... the point is: Kirk never got shot down! The only time he was passed over by a Smokin' Hottie was when Chekov got with Kirk's yeoman, on the planet of Vaal! How did this even happen? Because ... it was in the script.
But Dr. Gillian Taylor, that's a whole other story. I don't want to keep repeating myself about how this character has nothing going on, but her chat with Bob was a complete waste of an opportunity. We KNOW that she cares about the whales, this has been WELL established, before their dramatic Railing Scene. This fact did not need to be underscored, but that's exactly what this scene is about. Now, to be fair, it's not beyond possibility that there's more to this scene that got cut out. But I find it a little hard to believe that she has NO life, outside of her job, especially because this movie's trying so hard to make us want to like her. And Bob could've been put to much more universal use, by fleshing out the Taylor character with some interesting backstory. Even just a line, or two ...
But Dr. Gillian Taylor, that's a whole other story. I don't want to keep repeating myself about how this character has nothing going on, but her chat with Bob was a complete waste of an opportunity. We KNOW that she cares about the whales, this has been WELL established, before their dramatic Railing Scene. This fact did not need to be underscored, but that's exactly what this scene is about. Now, to be fair, it's not beyond possibility that there's more to this scene that got cut out. But I find it a little hard to believe that she has NO life, outside of her job, especially because this movie's trying so hard to make us want to like her. And Bob could've been put to much more universal use, by fleshing out the Taylor character with some interesting backstory. Even just a line, or two ...
For real about Kirk. He tells everybody not to splurge, but he's the one who apparently doesn't have any money left for pizza and beer.
The tickets for the Whale Tour were expensive.
Yeah, back then about $30 each. There's most of the $100 right there.
Personally speaking, I cared for Valeris in a different way because she was a villain. But I certainly liked Gillian more than Donatra (?), David, and most ESPECIALLY Anji.
Who knew being a whale biologist/tour guide could be so lucrative?
I don't think she saw much of that money.
Well, let's see. One hundred dollars divided between the seven of them is about $14.25 apiece...
And I still say Gilllian should've gotten fired. It would have given her a motivation to abandon her time, as well as endear her to the audience (at least those of us who've been there before!
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And I still say Gilllian should've gotten fired. It would have given her a motivation to abandon her time, as well as endear her to the audience (at least those of us who've been there before!
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