• Welcome! The TrekBBS is the number one place to chat about Star Trek with like-minded fans.
    If you are not already a member then please register an account and join in the discussion!

Favorite and Least Favorite Unique Lead Characters

RaisedEyeBrow

Lieutenant Junior Grade
Newbie
Well, we know that Star Trek has a host of unique, alien characters, but I would like to ask: Which are your favorite and least favorite unique lead characters in the various Star Trek series?

Actually, for the most part, the unique lead characters in Star Trek have always been my favorite characters. But starting with TOS, my favorite unique character in that series was the original, Spock. :techman:

And in the next series, Star Trek: The Next Generation, I would say that Data was my favorite unique character.

And next in Star Trek: Deep Space Nine, hands down, Odo was my favorite unique lead character in that series. I really loved that character.

But next, in Star Trek: Voyager, I believe that Nelix and perhaps Kess were supposed to have been the unique lead characters in that series. (And I won't count Tuvok, because Star Trek has already had a Vulcan as one of the lead characters in a previous series.) But in my opinion, both Neelix and Kess fell short, and neither one of them did too much for me. However, I thought that the Holographic Doctor was a very interesting, unique character in that series whom they could create a lot of interesting storylines for. But when the series finally got the Seven of Nine character, I felt that the series finally reached their zenith with more balanced and interesting characters. Seven was exactly what Voyager needed, and from that point on, the show went from mediocre to great. Plus, I was happy to see Kess go (bye, bye Kess) and then eventually Neelix. However, I will admit that I did like Neelix better than I did Kess because there was just something about Kess that was just bland.

But anyway, I'm not even sure if I should mention the series, Enterprise, since I rarely watched it. But once again, I won't mention T'Pol, since as I said before, we already had a Vulcan as one of the unique lead characters in previous Star Trek series, and which now doesn't make her as unique. However, that leaves us with the other unique lead character on Enterprise, Dr. Phlox... But I guess I could say that his name kind of speaks for itself. Phlox? :( But sorry, I wasn't exactly crazy about him.

But moving on to Discovery, Mr. Saru is one of those characters who after first seeing him, you kind of think: What the what? However, after I started to see more of Mr. Saru and started to get to know his better character, I now would have to say that Mr. Saru is probably my favorite unique lead character of any Star Trek series. Because first you have someone who is very unique looking... and I mean VERY unique looking where you have those cool swaying arms and those one of kind pair of feet, which remind me of horse hooves. Plus, he's very tall and slender, and almost in a gangly way, even though at the same time it makes him look very unique and cool. Additionally, not too long ago, I was thinking about why I like this character so much and I thought about how he is a balanced character. Meaning in his speech and demeanor. But interestingly in the fourth season of Discovery, one of the other characters actually told Saru that he was balanced. :techman:

But I think that those are all the Star Trek series (although, I have never watched any of the Paramount+ cartoon series) and of course the Picard series has Seven it and all the other lead characters are human, except for the Romulan warrior kid.

So, who are your favorite and least favorite unique lead characters in the Star Trek series?
 
From the title, I thought this was going to be about those main characters who didn't eventually appear in another series. That might actually be an interesting question because, clearly, the ones that crossed over (or got their own, like Picard) did so because they were so popular. As such, Spock, a perennial favorite, would be excluded because of SNW, Picard and Seven of Nine because of PIC, Worf because of DS9... I guess I'll have to think about that.
 
Yes, each series had at least one character who could provide an outside perspective on humanity, or something like that. I think that's what OP is focusing on here. My favorite would still be Spock in TOS.

Kor
 
How much do we really need Hollywood TV writers' "outside perspective on humanity?"

Ah well...

Favorites: Spock, TOS. And Spock! SNW.

Least favorite? Who knows? Anyone on DS9 other than Quark, I suppose.
 
My least favorite lead character in the franchise is Archer, but I'd hardly call him "unique." I suppose Phlox might fit the bill; even though a buttcrack for a forehead is hardly unique in "Star Trek," he's the only lead character with a buttcrack forehead, so I guess that counts as "unique."
 
Last edited:
From the title, I thought this was going to be about those main characters who didn't eventually appear in another series.
Hmm? I really don't see how, but I guess were all different and think differently.

That might actually be an interesting question because, clearly, the ones that crossed over (or got their own, like Picard) did so because they were so popular.

Well, perhaps that's an idea where you could start another thread.

FAs such, Spock, a perennial favorite, would be excluded because of SNW, Picard and Seven of Nine because of PIC, Worf because of DS9... I guess I'll have to think about that.

Precisely. And that is why I didn't mention any of them.
*Prepares for pages of debate on what "unique" means*

Looks like you are so right, 1001001. Because with everyone being Star Trek fans on this board, I thought this thread would be a no brainer. Especially with the examples that I used in the OP... But apparently not.

Yes, each series had at least one character who could provide an outside perspective on humanity, or something like that. I think that's what OP is focusing on here. My favorite would still be Spock in TOS.

Kor

You got it, bro. :techman: Also, I don't know if you noticed in my OP, but you can mention more than one character. Plus, you can even name the ones that you didn't like.

My lwast favorite lead character in the franchise is Archer, but I'd hardly call him "unique." I suppose Phlox might fit the bill; even though a buttcrack for a forehead us hardly unique in "Star Trek," he's the only lead character with a buttcrack forehead, so I guess that counts as "unique."
Sigh! :(
 
You should have seen the emoticons that I used in my post. However, since I'm not a two-week member yet, I couldn't use them. Although, I do think that we need emojis at this board. But something that I might suggest after my two-week period.
 
Hmm? I really don't see how, but I guess were all different and think differently.



Well, perhaps that's an idea where you could start another thread.



Precisely. And that is why I didn't mention any of them.


Looks like you are so right, 1001001. Because with everyone being Star Trek fans on this board, I thought this thread would be a no brainer. Especially with the examples that I used in the OP... But apparently not.



You got it, bro. :techman: Also, I don't know if you noticed in my OP, but you can mention more than one character. Plus, you can even name the ones that you didn't like.


Sigh! :(
Trying to type at 3 am was a bad idea on my part.
 
*Prepares for pages of debate on what "unique" means*
I'm more stumped by what is meant by "lead", as my favorite unique character for DS9 was Garak, but he wasn't nearly as much a lead as Quark, so maybe him then for that series

My overall favorite is still Spock & my overall least favorite is probably Phlox
 
My favourite unique character is Dax but the one from Star Trek VI with the weird feet and odd way of speaking.
My second favourite unique character is the Doctor from Voyager, but not the main one on the show, not the guy who created him, not the one that's on the Equinox, not the one that's on DS9, not the one that's in First Contact, not the ones who are for some reason dilithium miners even though it probably would have more sense to just dump those guys and replace them with hologrammed machinery, not the one who's a backup and lives in the future, not the ones from alternate timelines, not the one's that are in fake holonovels by Tuvok or Seska or the real Doctor or Tom Paris or when he's an android in that one by those randos, but the one who Harry creates and just recites the medical encyclopedia or whatever. Emergency Medical Hologram Replacement Program. I always remember his classic catchphrase: "Chapter one, the animal cell. All the tissues of the body originate from a microscopic structure, the fertilised ovum, which consists of a soft jelly-like material enclosed in a membrane and containing a ves-"
 
I remember in TV Guide's article introducing Voyager, they stated that Neelix was "likely to be the breakout character" of the series, whatever the heck that means.
 
I remember in TV Guide's article introducing Voyager, they stated that Neelix was "likely to be the breakout character" of the series, whatever the heck that means.

It means they expected him to be the most popular character in the series.
As far as I understand, a "breakout character" is a character who is not the central main character, nor are they played by the top-billed actor, but they turn out to be the fan favourite.
The earliest example in ST would be Spock. Others are Data and, on VOY, Seven and the Doctor.
 
Last edited:
I remember in TV Guide's article introducing Voyager, they stated that Neelix was "likely to be the breakout character" of the series, whatever the heck that means.
They break out from the ranks of the underling cast as a viewer favorite. Data is the quintessential example. Not written to be a heavily focal character the way Picard & Riker had been, but was received so favorably that he ultimately overtook Riker in recognition, & was the 2nd lead by the time of the film productions.

Every show wants to capture that lightening in a bottle, but it really isn't something you can plan for, so that statement is moronic IMHO... & the resulting laughability of the reality of how Neelix was received ought to demonstrate why

I suppose Frasier Crane would maybe be one of the most prominent examples, having broken out into his own spinoff that ran nearly as long, from having been written as a minor love affair for the female lead on the parent show.

Oh yeah... Robin William's Mork too
 
TOS: Spock by default.
TNG: Barclay, a hero for the guy who DOESN'T have his s*** together.
DS9: Odo, a man alone.
VOY: Toss-up between several characters.
ENT: Porthos! So CUTE!
DIS: Saru. First Kelpian in Starfleet, and first alien captain. And the first of his kind to survive "puberty".
LD: Boimler, because I'm just as hapless as he is.
PIC: Elnor. Romulan Samurai.
PRO: Murf. Also super cute.
SNW: The gruff Aenar chief engineer, of course.
 
Hmm? I really don't see how, but I guess were all different and think differently.



Well, perhaps that's an idea where you could start another thread.



Precisely. And that is why I didn't mention any of them.


Looks like you are so right, 1001001. Because with everyone being Star Trek fans on this board, I thought this thread would be a no brainer. Especially with the examples that I used in the OP... But apparently not.



You got it, bro. :techman: Also, I don't know if you noticed in my OP, but you can mention more than one character. Plus, you can even name the ones that you didn't like.


Sigh! :(
You should have seen the emoticons that I used in my post. However, since I'm not a two-week member yet, I couldn't use them. Although, I do think that we need emojis at this board. But something that I might suggest after my two-week period.
Although, I do think that we need better emojis at this board. (eyes rolling)

This is the third time I’ve had to address you about this. Consolidate your replies into one post. This is considered spamming.

No more friendly warnings. Next time it’s a formal one.
 
Favorite probably Data. Honorable mentions to Spock, Odo, Seven and Saru.

Least favorite is tougher. I might go with Lorca because the twist that made him unique ruined his character completely. But Mr Passive Genocide Phlox is up there. And Neelix, because they used his character to just be irritating too much.
 
My least favorites:
TOS: Spock, by default. And no, not a typo, he was my favorite, too.
TNG: Early series Troi. She grew on me, though.
DS9: Bashir, considered eligible because of his genetic scrambling.
VOY: The EMH, because sentient holograms open up a really messy can of worms.
ENT: Phlox had a menagerie, which was awesome. T'Pol had a catsuit, which was deplorable. So, T'Pol. I did like her, though.
DIS: None.
LD: The ship's counselor. Is it racist to say give him a cracker to shut him up?
PIC: Oh. Not an exclamation.
PRO: Dal still irritates me. But that shows room for character growth.
 
If you are not already a member then please register an account and join in the discussion!

Sign up / Register


Back
Top