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Paul Wesley's incarnation of James T. Kirk

This Kirk is some 10 years younger than Kirk of TOS.
That may be the case for the Kirk we see in this next season, but that is certainly not the case for the last episode we saw as that was an alternate version of an TOS episode.
This is how Shatner looked some 10 years earlier than in TOS.

Compare to Nu Kirk...


Pretty damn close, imo.
Maybe somewhat in appearance, but certainly not in his performance. There is nothing in this actor's mannerisms or inflections that reminds me of Kirk from this era. They could have called him Captain Smith and no one would have been the wiser. Chris Pine was a far better representation of Kirk than this guy.
 
That may be the case for the Kirk we see in this next season, but that is certainly not the case for the last episode we saw as that was an alternate version of an TOS episode.

Maybe somewhat in appearance, but certainly not in his performance. There is nothing in this actor's mannerisms or inflections that reminds me of Kirk from this era. They could have called him Captain Smith and no one would have been the wiser. Chris Pine was a far better representation of Kirk than this guy.
Perhaps more than 20 minutes of screen time playing an alternate version of the character is needed to make a proper assessment? Just a thought.
 
I imagine it would be an interesting process for an actor taking on a roll so strongly identified with another actor, with the performances never having left the public consciousness. Most everyone has a strong impression of who Kirk is, but how much is Shatner, how much is perception through the years, and how much is on the pages of the script?

I think it will take some time for Wesley to find his version of Kirk. I look forward to watching the process.
 
There is nothing in this actor's mannerisms or inflections that reminds me of Kirk from this era. ..Chris Pine was a far better representation of Kirk than this guy.
Exactly how I felt about Pine.

An outright Shat impression would be inappropriate, but you've got to have at least a nod towards his speech patterns and mannerisms.
 
Nimoy Quinto and Peck.

But Shatner, Pine and Wesley too.

They may not be long lost twins, but they've got to be handwaveable as the same character.
I don't see much Nimoy in Peck, other than dark hair and dark eyes. Yet some how he manages to be Spock. Quinto looks more like Nimoy, but he's not as good a Spock as Peck.
Shatner, Pine and Wesley are all cut from the same leading man cloth. Hunter, Greenwood and Mount are from that same cloth as well. All bring different things to Kirk and Pike.
 
Any differences in performances can be chalked up in-universe to growing up or experiencing different events during their careers, turning them into different people when we see them in the newer content. Pine's Kirk grew up without his father and became an overachieving delinquent. Wesley's Kirk didn't take command of the Enterprise 1701 in 2265 and helm the five-year-mission we saw in TOS and thus never became friends with Spock, McCoy, Scotty or any of the others as their commanding officer and confidante. Those officers never wore off on Kirk to make him the man we knew from TOS, TAS and the movies.
 
If similarity is unimportant, why bother making them similar in appearance ?
Why not?

And other than hair color, just how similar are they really? Peck, for example, is a big, buff, conventionally handsome dude. Nimoy was none of that. And I couldn't tell you about stuff like eye color. I haven't paid attention.
 
Why not?

And other than hair color, just how similar are they really? Peck, for example, is a big, buff, conventionally handsome dude. Nimoy was none of that. And I couldn't tell you about stuff like eye color. I haven't paid attention.
Agree Peck and Nimoy are nothing alike. I thought the actor in the movies was more like Nimoy. However, I like Peck's version also. I am a happily married heterosexual man, but even I know Peck is very good looking (my wife agrees).

I like how Star Trek fans are not satisfied. He was on one episode and like I said an alternate version like another poster said and he has gotten so much hate. Give the guy a chance.

Personally, I would have picked someone a little younger and maybe a bit more buff, but it is not a deal breaker. My wife was a big Vampire Diaries fan and she is excited.

The actor that plays Jack Crusher is almost 40 and he plays a 22 year old. He did a great job though and although it bothered me a bit...I accepted it and really liked it.
 
Wesley would look more like Kirk if they lighten his hair and eyebrows;

wesley2.png


More importantly though, he just needs more energy in his performance. Shatner was a ball of energy as Kirk, right from the start.

That's what made Pine work so well in 2009.
 
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