Most Underrated Character
- Thread starter indycar
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Kirk. Like it or not, he was the central character. The star, back when shows had stars. It bugs me that people don't get that.
Public perception sizes these characters up pretty well. I wouldn't say many of them are "underrated" by my understanding of the term. Arguably some of them are overrated.
Nurse Chapel's relationship with Spock is only half remembered. Again, if I'm pushed for answer, there it is.
Nurse Chapel's relationship with Spock is only half remembered. Again, if I'm pushed for answer, there it is.
On this one, I voted for Uhura. Many just see her as a glorified telephone operator in a miniskirt that says she's frightened all the time. I see a person who is well-liked by the crew that's in-demand for her singing in her downtime. She can get away with teasing Spock in "Charlie X" and calling him on the carpet for his outward insensitivity in "The Man Trap" when one of the landing party is reported as dead. She is talented and smart enough to learn how to play Spock's lyre. She has Spock's confidence is fixing the communication equipment in "Who Mourns for Adonais?" She's not afraid to stick to her morals and not whip the thrall in "Gamesters of Triskelion" even if it meant her taking his place. She has the courage to admit that's she frightened when stuck in the savage mirror universe but does her duty as she dangerously flirts with Sulu-2 and disarms Marlena-2 without a problem.
Strong response.
This sort of thing is going to vary with how one defines "underrated". If we were voting for "underutilized," then I'd go for Uhura or Sulu. "Underrated" I'd take as meaning something more like "not appreciated enough among the fanbase".
On that note I'm voting for McCoy. Maybe it's just a vocal minority, but in recent years I've seen what seems to be a trend of newer/younger viewers not getting what the character was about, and thinking that he was just an unlikable bigot. Add to that how the character dynamic in the latest incarnation of Trek has shifted so that he no longer occupies his classic place in the Big Three...he's well portrayed as an individual character, but a little more lost in the ensemble at this point.
On that note I'm voting for McCoy. Maybe it's just a vocal minority, but in recent years I've seen what seems to be a trend of newer/younger viewers not getting what the character was about, and thinking that he was just an unlikable bigot. Add to that how the character dynamic in the latest incarnation of Trek has shifted so that he no longer occupies his classic place in the Big Three...he's well portrayed as an individual character, but a little more lost in the ensemble at this point.
Shinzon.. Unfortunately, there is no such character there in the list. Like Tom Hardy 
Uhura
I was just watching Charlie X last week and marveled at her singing voice. Nichols had a great voice, and she really shined in the movies, with what she was given at least.
I was just watching Charlie X last week and marveled at her singing voice. Nichols had a great voice, and she really shined in the movies, with what she was given at least.
I went for Rand because she had the most squandered potential. Chapel was not underrated, she was pretty dire. While Sulu and Uhura needed more episodes to showcase them, they did have a fair few moments of genius. Rand's comic potential was not used enough and her wider abilities as an astronaut were only hinted at.
This is a great answer. "Underutilized" is a much better definition for what most people seem to be talking about than underrated. All of the characters from TOS were loved so they can't really be underrated - at least that's how I think about it. Looking at later series, someone like Riker, who is considered a bit boring/stagnant by some, would be a better example of underrated.
Totally agree on the McCoy points as well. His part of the triumvirate is always the first to be dismissed.
I always saw McCoy kind of the voice of the audience. You have Kirk who has to make the decisions, Spock who is the logical one, and McCoy who was the voice of the average fan, smart but guided by emotions rather than logic. The dynamic between the three was really well written.
Mind if I ask how old you are?
I've observed that young people have completely different takes on TOS characters than older people.
I'm an old fart. 53
What's you observation of the perception difference between generations? The only youth I know are my kids. It's always interesting to hear about the various povs folks have.
I've found younger fans tend to disfavor more colorful characters like McCoy or Pulaski - and even dislike bold individualists like Kirk in favor of more congenial "management" type. This is a generalization, of course; there are many individual exceptions.
interesting. I'm trying to think of recent popular characters who fit into the McCoy Pulaski vein. Can't really think of one.
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