Missed opportunities to revisit old characters

[alpha_leonis]

So all of the "Big Seven" main characters survived the transition from TV to big-screen. During the run of the movies, Khan and Sarek both played important roles (plus Amanda Grayson, briefly) -- we also saw cameos from Rand, Chapel, and Kyle.

What other characters from the classic episodes also *should* have made the transition to at least one movie?

My first thought would have been one of the most famous Klingons -- but then Kor, Kang and Koloth eventually had a DS9 episode in their honor (though I still think a movie would have done them credit. Certainly one of them would have been a lot less cartoonish of an adversary for TSFS or TFF.)

My other votes: "Number One" from "The Cage" could have made a great Admiral for one of the movies (though I understand Majel Barrett may have had issues with how Gene Roddenberry was being pushed aside -- that's why she was so limited as Dr. Chapel during that period.)

Or: The Romulan Commander from "The Enterprise Incident". She could have been great in the traitorous role they gave to (who-the-hell-is)Nanclus in TUC (or at the very least, Sub-Commander Tal, working in her memory.)

Other thoughts?

 

[2takesfrakes]

Considering that other original series characters would've had to have been "updated" for the movies, it's probably best that they kept them to an absolute minimum. However, of the TOS species that were shown, forgive me for not having committed their name to memory, but the Cat People from the cartoon, made a cameo in the Federation Council, for STAR TREK IV. There was absolutely no reason to stuff a panther into a STAR FLEET uniform, but there it is ... the absurdity of it, the complete lack of imagination regarding it is almost vulgar. But at the same time ... very sweet in its sentimentality and for its nostalgia.

 

[Grant]

I always thought that McCoy should have been trying to get to Genesis by hiring Mudd to take him there instead of the stupid big-eared alien.

His only purpose was to talk backwards ala' Yoda.


"Genesis allowed in NOT!"

Get it? hardy har har.

 

[Grant]

Considering that other original series characters would've had to have been "updated" for the movies, it's probably best that they kept them to an absolute minimum. However, of the TOS species that were shown, forgive me for not having committed their name to memory, but the Cat People from the cartoon, made a cameo in the Federation Council, for STAR TREK IV. There was absolutely no reason to stuff a panther into a STAR FLEET uniform, but there it is ... the absurdity of it, the complete lack of imagination regarding it is almost vulgar. But at the same time ... very sweet in its sentimentality and for its nostalgia.

Agreed it was such a waste when they came back on DS9 all "updated"

 

[austen_pierce]

Most of the good characters I'm thinking of didn't survive their TOS appearances (Roc, Romulan Balance of Terror Commander)

Agree with Female Romulan Commander from The Enterprise Incident

 

[Christopher]

IIRC, Carol Marcus in TWOK was originally going to be Janet Wallace from "The Deadly Years." That's why STID's writers had Carol use Wallace as her alias, as an in-joke.

I think the problem with bringing back old guest stars is that the moviemakers preferred more prominent actors. They might not have decided to bring back Khan if Ricardo Montalban hadn't been a big star at the time due to Fantasy Island. Christophers Lloyd and Plummer were bigger names than John Colicos or Michael Ansara.

Not to mention that it would've gotten repetitive if too many of the movies were built around characters that had past baggage with the leads based on events from TOS. If they'd brought back Kor or Koloth instead of using Kruge, that would've been two movies in a row about Kirk fighting someone who had an old grudge against him. Just as well they didn't, then.

 

[RoJoHen]

Not a character from the original show, but I definitely think TUC would have been more shocking if Valeris had actually been Saavik.

 

[Grant]

Not a character from the original show, but I definitely think TUC would have been more shocking if Valeris had actually been Saavik.

Wow, where did you come up with that idea?

 

[Borjis]

I always thought that McCoy should have been trying to get to Genesis by hiring Mudd to take him there instead of the stupid big-eared alien.

His only purpose was to talk backwards ala' Yoda.


"Genesis allowed in NOT!"

Get it? hardy har har.

That scene always cracks me up, but would've also been great to have Roger back in the role of Mudd.

 

[Kirby]

I always thought that McCoy should have been trying to get to Genesis by hiring Mudd to take him there instead of the stupid big-eared alien.

That would have been great. I also wanted to see Cyrano Jones in that bar sitting next to that person with the Tribble.

 

[FormerLurker]

I always thought that McCoy should have been trying to get to Genesis by hiring Mudd to take him there instead of the stupid big-eared alien.

His only purpose was to talk backwards ala' Yoda.


"Genesis allowed in NOT!"

Get it? hardy har har.

That scene always cracks me up, but would've also been great to have Roger back in the role of Mudd.

It would have been a poignant sendoff for both character and actor as well, as he died later that year.

 

[alpha_leonis]

Random trivia based on my original post:

Memory Alpha says that the TNG producers considered bringing back the "Enterprise Incident" Romulan commander for "Face of the Enemy", but the original actress JoAnne Linville wasn't available.

It's a good point that bringing back one of the Big Three Klingons for TSFS would have been overkill in the "grudge-holding enemy" department. But certainly it would have worked better for TFF instead? There was enough separation between the two movies, and certainly Todd Bryant as the Klingon captain wasn't a "big name actor" like Christopher Lloyd or Christopher Plummer. True, TFF was a bad movie, but bringing back one of the classic Klingons (even in updated makeup) couldn't have made it *worse*.

One other thought: for Spock's Fal-Tor-Pan ceremony in TSFS, why did they create a new character of T'Lar as the High Priestess? Why not have brought back T'Pau in that role? True, Celia Lovsky had passed away by then, but they obviously had no problem recasting roles (Saavik had just been recast even since the prior movie!)

 

[Christopher]

^Why would it have been T'Pau, though? T'Pau wasn't a high priestess, she was a matriarch in Spock's clan and, judging from the dialogue, a prominent figure in Vulcan politics. T'Lar was more of a spiritual leader or mystic. You wouldn't expect Bill Clinton to perform an exorcism.

 

[diankra]

Most of the good characters I'm thinking of didn't survive their TOS appearances (Roc, Romulan Balance of Terror Commander)

Agree with Female Romulan Commander from The Enterprise Incident

By Roc, do you mean the What are Little Girls Made of android, or something I'm forgetting? If the former, then a bit of plot-pointing could have explained it, though I think the actor was already departed by then.

 

[alpha_leonis]

^Why would it have been T'Pau, though? T'Pau wasn't a high priestess, she was a matriarch in Spock's clan and, judging from the dialogue, a prominent figure in Vulcan politics. T'Lar was more of a spiritual leader or mystic. You wouldn't expect Bill Clinton to perform an exorcism.

But that was the point of her character, IIRC. Kirk and McCoy didn't expect T'Pau to officiate at the Pon Farr, either, but she did.

 

[Christopher]

^Why would it have been T'Pau, though? T'Pau wasn't a high priestess, she was a matriarch in Spock's clan and, judging from the dialogue, a prominent figure in Vulcan politics. T'Lar was more of a spiritual leader or mystic. You wouldn't expect Bill Clinton to perform an exorcism.

But that was the point of her character, IIRC. Kirk and McCoy didn't expect T'Pau to officiate at the Pon Farr, either, but she did.

They didn't expect her because of her political importance. Being important is not the same thing as being qualified to perform an extremely advanced telepathic procedure.

 

[Avro Arrow]

Not a character from the original show, but I definitely think TUC would have been more shocking if Valeris had actually been Saavik.

Wow, where did you come up with that idea?

I don't think RoJoHen came up with it... it was one of the early ideas for TUC. There's some write-up about it at Memory Alpha here. (Although I'm really glad they didn't go with that Kirk-Saavik baby idea. )

 

[HIjol]

^Why would it have been T'Pau, though? T'Pau wasn't a high priestess, she was a matriarch in Spock's clan and, judging from the dialogue, a prominent figure in Vulcan politics. T'Lar was more of a spiritual leader or mystic. You wouldn't expect Bill Clinton to perform an exorcism.

I would pay Large Latinum to watch Bill Clinton perform an exorcism...

I think it would have been cool for them to try to get Lloyd back...maybe he would say ghobe', but one never knows...

 

[Grant]

I always thought that McCoy should have been trying to get to Genesis by hiring Mudd to take him there instead of the stupid big-eared alien.

His only purpose was to talk backwards ala' Yoda.


"Genesis allowed in NOT!"

Get it? hardy har har.

That scene always cracks me up, but would've also been great to have Roger back in the role of Mudd.

It would have been a poignant sendoff for both character and actor as well, as he died later that year.

Actually Carmel died in 1986, but he had only been doing voice-over work since 1982. TSFS shot in late 1983.

I don't know if there was a reason he didn't do any on-screen work after 1982---perhaps his weight got out of control or other health matters.

Even if he couldn't have done onscreen work it might have been a laugh if just as McCoy sits down with the alien his communicator beeps and Harry's voice comes on and says,

"Dr. McCoy do you still need to hire a ship?" and McCoy replies

"Too late Mudd, I've found another pilot."

It's funny I can't stand Mudd's Women OR I, Mudd, but I love Harry/Carmel.

Wish he had gotten a send off as he was the ONLY non Starfleet recurring character in live action TOS.

 

[Armored Saint]

You wouldn't expect Bill Clinton to perform an exorcism.

Damn!

I always thought that McCoy should have been trying to get to Genesis by hiring Mudd to take him there instead of the stupid big-eared alien.

McCoy used to trust more a big-eared alien than Mudd. :P

Not to mention that it would've gotten repetitive if too many of the movies were built around characters that had past baggage with the leads based on events from TOS. If they'd brought back Kor or Koloth instead of using Kruge, that would've been two movies in a row about Kirk fighting someone who had an old grudge against him. Just as well they didn't, then.

I also supposed it would too hermetic with people not so familiar with TOS. TWOK was about aging Kirk and co., so it's normal to bring an old adversary, but after that it would have been "Nah, forget that new Star Trek movie, it's again with a villain from an episode I didn't see". Rand or Kyle presence was enough to please the fans without destabilizing the others.

At least Koloth and Kor returned in the first DC comics serie.