So is Capt Shaw the new, reigning biggest a##hole in Trek?

[Turd Ferguson]

let’s not forget, yes he’s a ships Captain. But from the descriptions of the Titan it doesn’t appear to be a front line “major” ship like the Enterprise or a little butt kicker like the Defiant. It’s closer to an explorer ship like Voyager or the Equinox.

so putting a Captain with PTSD with an XO that used to be a Borg (and that command was forced to give a commission too by two influential Admirals) is lower risk, high reward.

Starfleet also probably thought being on routine scan/explore/catalogue duty wouldn't require Shaw and Seven to be around each other all day every day (like Picard/Riker, Janeway/Chakotay). Maybe Shaw takes day shift, Seven takes night shift. And, as the mission goes on, Starfleet assumes Shaw will slowly work his way through his PTSD seeing Seven and adjusting to her and seeing she's a valuable asset to the crew.

 

[Tuskin38]

Starfleet also probably thought being on routine scan/explore/catalogue duty wouldn't require Shaw and Seven to be around each other all day every day (like Picard/Riker, Janeway/Chakotay). Maybe Shaw takes day shift, Seven takes night shift. And, as the mission goes on, Starfleet assumes Shaw will slowly work his way through his PTSD seeing Seven and adjusting to her and seeing she's a valuable asset to the crew.

According to Terry, Shaw chose Seven. We’ll just have to see if that gets mentioned in dialogue

 

[Dar70]

According to Terry, Shaw chose Seven. We’ll just have to see if that gets mentioned in dialogue

Oh it will get mentioned. Everytime Terry says something it's in an episode. Lol

Of course Shaw is now becoming the likeable A##hole. I would not mind a show based on him with Seven as his first officer to be honest.

 

[Dar70]

Uniformly well-lit like the Ent-D bridge isn't a problem; lightbulbs literally shining in everyone's eyes stretches suspension of disbelief too far for me.

The big problem is....they no longer use incandescent lights. Led light are ALWAYS blinding. Just too bright. Throw them out as much as new production like to do and yeah it's pretty bad.

 

[The Wormhole]

Of course Shaw is now becoming the likeable A##hole.

I'm still not sure I'd call Shaw "likable." He might be a bit understandable, given we have some insight into the traumas of his past, but that doesn't make him likable.

 

[Turtletrekker]

I wouldn't go with "likable" either. You saw the looks on the faces of his crew after his confrontation with Picard. None of them were saying, "gosh that's a really likeable guy".

As a captain, I can't argue with any of his command decisions even if they aren't the ones I would have made myself.

I am so very glad that Seven called Shaw out on the respect issue, and I hope he takes it to heart. That will go a loooong way in my book.

He is an interesting and fascinating character. One that I've come to want to know more about and see more of. But "likable"? Nah, he's still an asshole. But I also feel as if he could be at the turning point of a very meaningful and interesting character arc, one that I'm looking forward to seeing fulfilled.

 

[Mr. Laser Beam]

I wouldn't go with "likable" either. You saw the looks on the faces of his crew after his confrontation with Picard. None of them were saying, "gosh that's a really likeable guy".

Perhaps not, but they did seem to sympathize with him and the pain of the story he had just told. They weren't like "What an asshole".

I'm still not sure I'd call Shaw "likable."

I would! I've liked him ever since the first episode. He may be one of my favorite Trek captains ever!

 

[fireproof78]

He is an interesting and fascinating character. One that I've come to want to know more about and see more of. But "likable"? Nah, he's still an asshole. But I also feel as if he could be at the turning point of a very meaningful and interesting character arc, one that I'm looking forward to seeing fulfilled.

Indeed. I grow quite fatigued of "Oh, every character has to be likable." Well, I don't know everyone in my small circle is likable so it's nice to have that change and that Shaw is still on an arc of growth. It's a good way to engage me, even if I don't like the character.

 

[The Wormhole]

While Todd Stashwick does a great job playing Shaw, as a character Shaw is still very much an Ass.

Perhaps not, but they did seem to sympathize with him and the pain of the story he had just told. They weren't like "What an asshole".

Looked more to me like they were looking at Shaw with some very serious disapproval in their eyes. I do not get the impression the Titan's crew holds Shaw in high esteem at all.

 

[Nerys Myk]

While Todd Stashwick does a great job playing Shaw, as a character Shaw is still very much an Ass.

Looked more to me like they were looking at Shaw with some very serious disapproval in their eyes. I do not get the impression the Titan's crew holds Shaw in high esteem at all.

At least he knows he's an ass.

 

[The Wormhole]

"It seems Asshole replaced charm a long time ago." I'll admit, that was a good line.

 

[fireproof78]

At least he knows he's an ass.

I mean, that's helpful.

Watching one of the interviews I can't help but chuckle because it's like "Oh, he's so grounded." And I'm like, so being an ass is being "grounded." Since when did people want grounded characters in Trek and this is being hailed as a good thing? He's an ass! He's the admiral of the week that Picard argues with. He's the Jellico that we disagree with and needs to eat crow and grovel to Riker.

This is evolved humanity?

I find Shaw intriguing but his inclusion in Trek is odd ball to say the least.

 

[Turtletrekker]

"It seems Asshole replaced charm a long time ago." I'll admit, that was a good line.

So was "Nice" after Picard called him "a dipshit from Chicago".

 

[XCV330]

 

[Starkers]

Indeed. I grow quite fatigued of "Oh, every character has to be likable." Well, I don't know everyone in my small circle is likable so it's nice to have that change and that Shaw is still on an arc of growth. It's a good way to engage me, even if I don't like the character.

Absolutely. Was Walter White likeable? (maybe occasionally but less and less as the show progressed) Was Lou Bloom in Nightcrawler likeable? Not remotely yet I still fine him an incredibly compelling character.

I like Shaw, maybe because he isn't your typical starship captain and seems more real because of that, as someone said he is at least self aware enough to know he's an arsehole, and to understand why, even if he seems to have accepted this facet of his personality rather than making any attempt to change it. Also most of the actions he took were to protect his crew, and I like that he isn't above admitting he's wrong. He didn't have to put Riker in command, if he was being a complete dick or really didn't trust Riker or Picard he could have, presumably, devolved command to whoever his second officer was. To flip this imagine if some random admiral and captain had come about Ent D back in the day trying to get the ship to do some off the books mission. Imagine Riker had helped them and Picard threw him in the brig, now imagine Picard's injured in battle. Who would he give command to? Admiral Arsehole or Data? (Realised as I wrote this that I guess I'm talking about The Pegasus if Riker had continued to back Pressman.)

 

[Agony_Boothb]

Todd Stashwick is a very handsome man

 

[Magistos]

Someone can be a gold plated butthole and still be trustworthy and make good decisions.

I feel like that's where Captain Shaw is.

 

[XCV330]

I just want one final Short Trek where the typical call goes out to a crew

Comms officer: "Sir.. Starfleet command is asking us to go on a dangerous mission to the neutral zone to pick up a questionable shuttle full of scientists that havent been seen in 20 years"

Shaw: "no"

end credits.

 

[fireproof78]

Absolutely. Was Walter White likeable? (maybe occasionally but less and less as the show progressed) Was Lou Bloom in Nightcrawler likeable? Not remotely yet I still fine him an incredibly compelling character.

I'll take your word for it.

I like Shaw, maybe because he isn't your typical starship captain and seems more real because of that,

Interesting.

 

[XCV330]

You might not like Shaw, but you probably stand a better chance of staying alive on a ship with a captain like Shaw. He might not like you but he'll probably be fair on your evals as its easier to be fair than to go through the effort of fucking you over. You might not like him but he won't require any social interaction with you and will be willing to delegate his job duties the way he ought to. He'll retire on schedule and everyone will know you're celebrating him leaving more than a body of work no one will really care about, and that's ok. People like Shaw are real. Like them, or not, they have their coping mechanisms and keep things going. I still want to see a slightly younger version of him on Lower Decks.