Really ??????Why didnt Kirk just double drop kick him into the brigg ?
Poor show James T
Harcourt Fenton Mudd, whats the point of this guy ?
- Thread starter Delta Vega
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Really ??????Why didnt Kirk just double drop kick him into the brigg ?
Poor show James T
He's a conniving pirate, smuggler, pimp. One can see the character archetype in some Westerns from the period.
The point of his character is function as the central focus and voice in which to allow the writers to take TREK stories in the realm of Farce.
A.V.I.A.F.
Captain
I like Mudd and the two TOS episodes that featured him. I also agree, however, that he seemed to lack a sufficient evil streak to be believable as a true villain to Kirk and Co.
Mudd is a comic villain, a classic lovable rogue. That doesn't mean he isn't capable of causing Kirk some serious grief.
"Pimp? I resent that appellation, sir. I provide the joys of female companionship to lonely male settlers, with the objective of holy matrimony!"
Was he really meant to be a villain though? He was more a quick con artist. He was out to make a quick dollar, but I never got the vibe that he was really inclined to be a villain as much as just a comedic character.
A.V.I.A.F.
Captain
Well, that`s just it! He was more of a comedic character than anything else, and if his antics would have remained as minimal in I, Mudd as they had been in Mudd`s Women, then that would have been fine. But in I, Mudd, we are expected to believe that he has hatched a plan to take over the Enterprise and strand the entire crew on a planet of androids. I think that there was an attempt at gravitas there on Mudd`s part when he says something to the effect that they'll be there "for the rest of their lives," cue evil laugh. It was just hard to buy.
In fact, his antics in Mudd's Women were, I think, intended to create a heavier mood. After all, Mudd--through his actions and backdoor dealing--is essentially holding up the supply of those precious dilithium crystals. Yet, at the same time, we are supposed to think of him as a comedic bumbling buffoon. It just seems out of balance.
Hmh? Mudd in his second episode wasn't a villain bent on hurting our heroes. He was a desperate guy trying to escape from the android hell; the plan to hijack the Enterprise was probably mostly Norman's doing anyway, even if Mudd brainstormed the basic idea in order to get his good buddy Kirk to help him out.
Mudd was scared out of his wits in "I, Mudd", hardly the archetypal supervillain. Again, the sympathies of the audience were largely on him - even if his comeuppance was also welcomed in the end.
Timo Saloniemi
Mudd was scared out of his wits in "I, Mudd", hardly the archetypal supervillain. Again, the sympathies of the audience were largely on him - even if his comeuppance was also welcomed in the end.
Timo Saloniemi
Very simply, HFM is an Agent Of Chaos. Drop him into any situation, and whatever might have been simple and orderly before suddenly becomes anything but.
Call me Ms. Obvious here, but to me, Mudd was just supposed to be, you know, fun. And he is. "I, Mudd" is one of my favorite episodes, and it is certainly (IMO) one of the most successful humorous episodes. Goodness knows I like obsessing over Trek trivia as much as the average BBS gal/guy, but is any other point really necessary? What's wrong with a character being created just for fun?
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Most / All of the above, probably.
And the plan - whether it was Harry's idea, Norman's idea or a combination - wasn't to get revenge on Kirk.
I wish they would have done a Wrath of Khan-style movie with Harry Mudd, a grand sendoff for the character. Not entirely serious, but high stakes like a poker game as the interstellar pirate and a full crew of scurvy pirates would force Kirk into some interesting maneuvers and schemes that would make the corbomite maneuver look like child's play.
It always intrigued me how a charlatan like Mudd could float around the universe untroubled in any small craft available yet our intrepid Enterprise crew couldnt go 10 minutes without attracting the nearest bad guys.
Beverly Crusher's granny lived on a Human colony with strong Scottish cultural roots. Harry could have been born to a similar environment, just Welch.
Rush always drives down the right side of the street, just like a good American driver should.
If I remember correctly, Bob Greenberger reported in one on the DC Comics letter columns that the writers of TNG were working on an outline for an episode that would feature Mudd. But then they found out the actor had passed.
It coulda been great...
It coulda been great...
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Um, er - ah... yeah.
One of those TOS story arcs which now make me wonder, why am I a Fan?
One of those TOS story arcs which now make me wonder, why am I a Fan?
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