Greatest sci-fi/fantasy character of all time?

[Captaindemotion]

Mr Spock.

Alien and still human. Intellectual and also a man of action. Seemingly emotionless yet full of passion. Apparently dour yet possessed of a dry wit. A fantasy figure who it is somehow possible to identify with and relate to. Super-smart but able to admit when he's wrong. A character who could have been parodic and OTT yet is entirely credible, through brilliant writin and acting. A sci-fi icon, recognisable even to people who have never seen Star Trek.

Much as I love Vader, Han Solo, Captain Kirk, Gandalf etc, Spock is the only logical choice.

 

[Neroon]

One proof of the greatness of Spock in this discussion is how he's become an archetype of a sort. Look at all of the shows - even Trek ones - following Star Trek that had some character with such a dual-nature character.

 

[Jim Steele]

The Doctor, predates Spock, pisses in his ear. And Sherlock Holmes. They piss together.

 

[Neroon]

I still see more archetype-like influence with Spock than I do with the Doctor, though. then again I haven't watched or read everything out there, either.

 

[Jim Steele]

I still see more archetype-like influence with Spock than I do with the Doctor, though. then again I haven't watched or read everything out there, either.

True, The Doctor would seem to be the sum of all archetypes. I love Spock, truly I do, but I find the Doctor far more compelling character.

I'd argue that both of them are grandchildren of Sherlock Holmes and Doctor Jekyll.

 

[Lonemagpie]

The Doctor, predates Spock, pisses in his ear. And Sherlock Holmes. They piss together.

And in Holmes' case, Spock admits that himself!

 

[Neroon]

I still see more archetype-like influence with Spock than I do with the Doctor, though. then again I haven't watched or read everything out there, either.

True, The Doctor would seem to be the sum of all archetypes. I love Spock, truly I do, but I find the Doctor far more compelling character.

I'd argue that both of them are grandchildren of Sherlock Holmes and Doctor Jekyll.

Such are the manifold benefits of regeneration!

 

[DWF]

I still see more archetype-like influence with Spock than I do with the Doctor, though. then again I haven't watched or read everything out there, either.

True, The Doctor would seem to be the sum of all archetypes. I love Spock, truly I do, but I find the Doctor far more compelling character.

I'd argue that both of them are grandchildren of Sherlock Holmes and Doctor Jekyll.

Such are the manifold benefits of regeneration!

And he's looked like Sherlock Holmes in the past.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/doctorwho/classic/gallery/fourthdoctor/18.shtml

 

[Captaindemotion]

Coincidentally, both Leonard Nimoy and Tom Baker, the Fourth - and arguably most iconic - Doctor have played Holmes onstage.

Neither character is totally original. Spock owes a bit to Holmes but I think the original depiction of the Doctor owed a bit to HG Wells' time traveller and even to Captain Nemo. I personally saw the 1996 telemovie's claim that the Doctor was half-human as an attempt to make him more like Spock for a US audience. The Tennant era has also been influenced by Spock, IMHO - the emphasis on his loneliness and the differences between him and his human companions. Also, remember when River Soong (a Rodenberry influenced name, surely?!) proved her closenss to The Doctor by knowing his name? Shades of Jill Ireland asking Spock his name and him telling her that she could not even pronounce it? Well, I thought so anyway ...

Don't get me wrong, I really like Doctor Who (and wish I'd seen more of the old series) and I think he's one of the greatest ever sci-fi characters. A compelling argument that he is the greatest can be made - at the end of the day, it's all just opinion anyway. I personally wouldn't say he's the greatest because I think the fact that there have been ten Doctors (not counting Matt Smith and Peter Cushing) is a bit of a cheat.

Yes, they've all had a certain Doctor-ness and all, bar Colin Baker and Sly McCoy have been great (IMHO). But the Doctor has changed from Hartnell's grumpy, slightly sinister Edwardian-era-esque old man to Tennant's estuary English-speaking noughties skinny boy, with the likes of Troughton's cosmic hobo, Peter Davison's young fogey and Chris Eccleston's sarky Manc coming in between. He is as much 10 characters as one. Whereas Spock has always been played by Nimoy (not counting flashbacks in STV or young Spocks in STIII and not counting the as-yet unseen Quinto). He has grown, matured and developed as any person or character would, but all consistently and believably, again, as any person would. So, that's why he urinates in the Doctor's (tragically non-pointed) ear, for my latinum.

 

[Count Zero]

Since the good Doctor has already been nominated, I'll nominate Roj Blake because he's an idealistic humanist and an authority figure at the same time.

 

[commodore64]

Mr. Spock

 

[Temis the Vorta]

Definitely Spock, a great take on the "outsider" archetype with that dual-nature internal tension that makes a character fascinating in his own right, regardless of the quality of the writing or who he's on screen with.

If only Lucas hadn't frakked up the prequels, Anakin Skywalker/Darth Vader had a shot at taking away Spock's title. But as it is, nobody even comes close to ole Spocko. Cannot wait to see him reincarnated on the big screen this spring.

 

[FalTorPan]

I can't pick a single greatest sci-fi/fantasy character of all time, because I have no idea what the criteria would be.

 

[Sky]

Mr Spock.

Alien and still human. Intellectual and also a man of action. Seemingly emotionless yet full of passion. Apparently dour yet possessed of a dry wit. A fantasy figure who it is somehow possible to identify with and relate to. Super-smart but able to admit when he's wrong. A character who could have been parodic and OTT yet is entirely credible, through brilliant writin and acting. A sci-fi icon, recognisable even to people who have never seen Star Trek.

Much as I love Vader, Han Solo, Captain Kirk, Gandalf etc, Spock is the only logical choice.

Yup.

He said it so well I have nothing to add.

 

[Klaus]

Spock and the Doctor are plainly great choices, and my opinion of Goodgulf the wizard can be seen by a glance to the left ...

But I nominate Sam Gamgee...

 

[Hyperspace05]

Gandalf

 

[Rii]

I'd have difficulty choosing ten, let alone one.

Muad'Dib hasn't been mentioned yet, I'll go with him.

 

[Kelso]

 

[RyanKCR]

Leeloo Minai Lekarariba-Laminai-Tchai Ekbat De Sebat

Lady Amalthia

Ilia Probe.

 

[Captaindemotion]

Mr Spock.

Alien and still human. Intellectual and also a man of action. Seemingly emotionless yet full of passion. Apparently dour yet possessed of a dry wit. A fantasy figure who it is somehow possible to identify with and relate to. Super-smart but able to admit when he's wrong. A character who could have been parodic and OTT yet is entirely credible, through brilliant writin and acting. A sci-fi icon, recognisable even to people who have never seen Star Trek.

Much as I love Vader, Han Solo, Captain Kirk, Gandalf etc, Spock is the only logical choice.

Yup.

He said it so well I have nothing to add.

Thank you.