Eggs with a side of Brooks

[Bad Thoughts]

In all the episodes I watched, he talks, smiles and moves like a broken 18th century automaton.

Say you've never seen an automaton without saying you've never seen an automaton.

 

[fireproof78]

Yes, I know, I wanted to avoid controversy so I stated my remark in such general terms that it's (almost) a truism.

To make it a bit more specific though: Patrick Steward or Kate Mulgew failing to convince me when playing their roles of Picard or Janeway respectively are very rare occurrences (I'm talking here about actor/actress ability to sell the scenes, not necessarily the scripts they had to play though), though it has happened in a few instances. With Brooks' Sisko that proportion of 'failing to convince me' scenes is significantly higher (though still comparatively rare).

I agree. I can think of a couple of times with Shatner, Stewart or Mulgrew were the illusion is less than convincing. With Brooks they stand out a little less for me.

 

[Bad Thoughts]

Whether anyone thinks he succeeded or failed, Brooks performance was in line with Morgan Freeman, Robert Guillaume, and any of the other actors inspired by Sidney Poitiers.

 

[Gary Mitchell]

Hello friends. This is my 1st post in THE TREK BBS.

I started watching Star Trek on TV at the late 60s.
Having already watched every other Star Trek show available (TOS, NG, VOY, movies, etc.), I have recently tried to finally watch DS9 and I have just (painfully) finished all episodes of Season 1. I was avoiding to do that for many years, because all my former attempts to watch a DS9 episode with this bad “actor” Avery Brooks as Commander Benjamin Sisco just made me very annoyed. I have never had problems watching and enjoying another Star Trek show ever, and I am watching Star Trek since a really long time. What is happening in DS9, having this specific “actor” on the show and watching him on screen, is something repulsive. I just can’t stand to continue watching DS9, Season 2.

I think Avery Brooks is not an actor at all. He could be possibly good in some other job, but in my opinion he is not qualified as being an actor. He simply seems to be unable to act normally, like any other actors we have seen in the franchise through the years. To avoid misunderstanding, I am not referring to the fact that he is a black man, because this is irrelevant. There are many good black actors and I can appreciate their acting performance. Tim Russ for one example, is a black man who gave us a very good acting performance as Tuvoc. Jake Sisco (as another example) is more normally acting on screen than his “father” Benjamin.

Avery Brooks can’t speak or laugh normally, like any other normal person easily can. He can’t move normally; he is unnatural stiff like he can’t really control his own body. His face expressions are always wrong, fake and inconsistent. That man on screen reminds me of a psychopath, who is trying to pass like a normal person, but it’s pretty obvious that he is not quite a normal person. All the other actors in DS9 perform pretty well, and the same also happens on all the rest Star Trek shows. Avery Brooks as Benjamin Sisco is a unique, bad exception in the franchise.

I am wondering how could Directors and Producers of DS9 TV show overlook such an awful acting, coming from a man who is claiming to be a professional actor. Why did they assign the important Station Commander role to such an unsuitable person ? There are thousands of talented black actors in USA and I can’t really understand why they chosen and thrown this inadequate “actor” against the “Star Trek, Deep Space 9” audience and fans. What is your opinion ?

So, you decided on your very first day here with your very first post to put down and even call repulsive the lead actor of Deep Space 9 in the sub-forum dedicated to that show?
I'll be nice and just leave you with a golf clap.

 

[FanST]

 

[Vger23]

I thought Brooks was off-the-charts good in "Emissary..." so I don't buy into the thought that he "wasn't acceptable in Season 1."

 

[Qonundrum]

LOL - have you known many pretend space adventure Commanders?

Not unnatural for him. Plenty of actors are remembered for the idiosyncratic styles. Take Christopher Walken. Are you going to tell me. That he. Is a bad ACTOR?

And, from across the pond, there's - for one - Paul Darrow. Pretty much stole the show in "Blake's 7", especially as the years went on. He sorta needed to...

 

[kkt]

Say you've never seen an automaton without saying you've never seen an automaton.

Yes, a cuckoo clock would be an advanced example of an 18th century automaton.

 

[kkt]

People who rate Avery Brooks' bad acting as "acceptable" or even "excellent" might be referring to some DS9 seasons from 2 through 7.
I say this because I have just finished Season 1 (a fairly painful task for me, as I wrote in my 1st post) and I haven't noticed a single episode where Avery Brooks' performance was even slightly "acceptable", let alone "good" or “awesome”.
In all the episodes I watched, he talks, smiles and moves like a broken 18th century automaton.

Picard or Janeway were many Light Years ahead in acting performance…
Kim or Chakotay were indeed far less than perfect in acting performance, but still way above him.

I respect that you are expressing your opinion, but my opinion is quite different. Perhaps you're not used to the more theatrical style that was the norm until very recent times.

Voyager often didn't work for me, based on seasons 1-3 which is when I gave up. A lot of it was writing failure, though, as Mulgrew's acting seemed pretty good.

 

[Relayer1]

...or Janeway were many Light Years ahead in acting performance

Couldn't stand her. She just grated on me.

But yeah well, that's just...like your opinion man !

 

[JamesRye]

I always thought Avery Brooks was incredible, from Season 3 onwards. Seasons 1-3, I think he's decent enough, but on occasion, the writing let him down. Having said that, he's pretty great in the pilot. Holds his own against Sir Patrick of Stewart in his prime.

 

[Oddish]

Voyager often didn't work for me, based on seasons 1-3 which is when I gave up. A lot of it was writing failure, though, as Mulgrew's acting seemed pretty good.

Voyager was an example of what happens when you get a great premise, a stellar cast, and showrunners who can't even count to thirty-eight.

 

[StarMan]

People who rate Avery Brooks' bad acting as "acceptable" or even "excellent" might be referring to some DS9 seasons from 2 through 7.
I say this because I have just finished Season 1 (a fairly painful task for me, as I wrote in my 1st post) and I haven't noticed a single episode where Avery Brooks' performance was even slightly "acceptable", let alone "good" or “awesome”.
In all the episodes I watched, he talks, smiles and moves like a broken 18th century automaton.

Picard or Janeway were many Light Years ahead in acting performance…
Kim or Chakotay were indeed far less than perfect in acting performance, but still way above him.

Okay.

Look, I can appreciate where you're coming from only having S1 under your belt. Suffice to say, Brooks really came into his own once the show figured itself out and he was given more leeway in his interpretation of Sisko.

The show only gets better from here and hits its stride in S3.

 

[TheSeeker]

@Faster Than Light, starting off with a rant like that on your first post on the BBS is really not a good look. It's fine if you don't like someone as an actor, but you're not doing much for your credibility by comparing him to a psychopath. And was there really any need to bring race into this? It seems to be unnecessarily inflammatory, and people are taking notice. Tread carefully.

 

[TheSeeker]

Fan criticisms of Brooks have never been anything but (poorly) disguised racism.

I don't think it's remotely fair to carpet-bomb criticism of Brooks' acting with claims of racism. Some of his acting choices work for some and not for others.

Agreed. I understand racism is a big problem, but doing a simple drive-by to yell "racism" isn't really conducive to a productive discussion.

That said, I doubt much of value will come from this thread.

Also agreed. I'll be keeping an eye on this thread.

 

[cooleddie74]

[*Walks into thread*]

Sigh.

[*Walks out of thread*]

 

[The Wormhole]

People who rate Avery Brooks' bad acting as "acceptable" or even "excellent" might be referring to some DS9 seasons from 2 through 7.
I say this because I have just finished Season 1 (a fairly painful task for me, as I wrote in my 1st post) and I haven't noticed a single episode where Avery Brooks' performance was even slightly "acceptable", let alone "good" or “awesome”.
In all the episodes I watched, he talks, smiles and moves like a broken 18th century automaton.

Am I to infer from this that you haven't yet watched seasons 2 through 7? If so, than you really should hold off your criticisms of Avery Brooks and his acting. Even Patrick Stewart didn't do his best work in TNG S1.

Well, truthfully, no one did their best work in TNG S1...

 

[Nerys Myk]

Brooks is brilliant.

 

[XCV330]

Am I to infer from this that you haven't yet watched seasons 2 through 7? If so, than you really should hold off your criticisms of Avery Brooks and his acting. Even Patrick Stewart didn't do his best work in TNG S1.

Well, truthfully, no one did their best work in TNG S1...

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and the oscar nomination for best Rimmick in a production with Rimmick goes to Robert Schenkkan

 

[Turtletrekker]

[*Walks into thread*]

Sigh.

[*Walks out of thread*]

Pretty much.