Good acting from William Shatner?
- Thread starter Ragitsu
- Start date
Balance of Terror always showcases the best of Trek, but I think Shatner is in great form:
ETA:
Kirk also does well wrestling with his conscience in "Conscience of the King."
ETA:
Kirk also does well wrestling with his conscience in "Conscience of the King."
Also, "Trouble with Tribbles."
It's not very hard to find good acting by Bill. In fact, every episode of the series has at least one scene in which he's excellent; most have many. "Obsession" is one Shatner tour de force that is infrequently mentioned. Same for "Operation: Annihilate."
Kirk became flintier in the third season, the character less engaging. TMP had flashes of the television Kirk, but only flashes. Nimoy was able to get solid performances from Shatner–more consistently that Shatner the director could get from himself (although V boasts two excellent scenes for Kirk).
Shatner is a gifted actor and his work is never dull, but not every performance is his best work.
The OP "question" is an intentional insult. I'm not buying into this snotty premise.
There's a lot of good in Shatner's performances across the three seasons of the original Star Trek. I think he does a damned fine job in "The Conscious of the King".
There is no rule at TrekBBS which prohibits insulting actors, producers, etc. They are de facto public figures, and uncomplimentary remarks are just part of the deal.
In going on-record by posting in this thread, you absolutely have. "Not buying into" the premise would look either like closing the thread without comment or like never opening it in the first place.
having seen a lot of your replies and comments in various threads i am honestly curious, is there some part of Star Trek you do like or admire on its merits?
If you want some examples of bad acting why not stick to TNG? Most of it was a bit meh for my liking but still the characters were nice and the actors were nice. Watch Beverley and Troi in a scene together.
You know Shatners acting is one of the fundamental reasons that Star Trek has become the success t has. He started it all. The enegy the humour, the charm he put into the role. One of my favourite scenes is in Amok time where he stands on the bridge hand on hips after he's discovered that Spock has headed the ship for Vulcan and without a shout or a harsh word you know how much trouble Spock is in. Its not just the acting, its his presence, charm, wit, humour, non-verbal behaviour.
If I have to pick I'd say two of his best episodes are Amok Time and City.
Theres a gif around I've seen but I can't remember which episode its in where Kirk is wearing the wrap around shirt and he heads for the transporter room and you just know Kirk's in charge and is heading out to kick ass.You don't see Wil Riker ruling a scene like that.
You know Shatners acting is one of the fundamental reasons that Star Trek has become the success t has. He started it all. The enegy the humour, the charm he put into the role. One of my favourite scenes is in Amok time where he stands on the bridge hand on hips after he's discovered that Spock has headed the ship for Vulcan and without a shout or a harsh word you know how much trouble Spock is in. Its not just the acting, its his presence, charm, wit, humour, non-verbal behaviour.
If I have to pick I'd say two of his best episodes are Amok Time and City.
Theres a gif around I've seen but I can't remember which episode its in where Kirk is wearing the wrap around shirt and he heads for the transporter room and you just know Kirk's in charge and is heading out to kick ass.You don't see Wil Riker ruling a scene like that.
Shatner hit a grand slam in Where No Man Has Gone Before, which is even more impressive considering this was his first time playing Kirk.
I think Shatner's aall time best ever performance was when he played Sam Kirk's corpse.
Seriously, I think he was best in the first season. Not that he was bad in the 2nd or 3rd, it's sjust that to me, he did season one the best, a little better than the other two.
Way back in 1966 when Star Trek was about to premire, I have a vague memory of someone saying they were lucky to get an actor as good as Shatner to star in the show.
I think it was my mother who said that and I think she was saying it in the vein of, "How did they get such a good actor to star in a silly science fiction TV show?" My mother wasn't into science fiction, all she knew about was stuff like Voyage to the Bottom of the Sea and Lost in Space.
Robert
Seriously, I think he was best in the first season. Not that he was bad in the 2nd or 3rd, it's sjust that to me, he did season one the best, a little better than the other two.
Way back in 1966 when Star Trek was about to premire, I have a vague memory of someone saying they were lucky to get an actor as good as Shatner to star in the show.
I think it was my mother who said that and I think she was saying it in the vein of, "How did they get such a good actor to star in a silly science fiction TV show?" My mother wasn't into science fiction, all she knew about was stuff like Voyage to the Bottom of the Sea and Lost in Space.
Robert
Maybe she'd seen Shatner on The Ed Sullivan Show, re-enacting a scene from The World of Suzie Wong with France Nuyen ("Elaan of Troyius").
Or maybe she saw Alfred Hitchcock Presents. I liked this episode:
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0508205/
Yup.Did the OP abandon this party after kicking the hornet's nest.
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