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

Probably not, if what we've seen so far is any indication. It still doesn't say much for his character if his initial objections about the safety of his crew and ship can be so easily overridden by the suggestion that he might pick up some secondhand fame.

 

He might be looking for some "Low Hanging Fruit" to get fame.
Saving the lives of "2x Old Legends" is easy fame.

 

Shaw is my new favorite character. He's absolutely in the right most of the time. In fact, I've come to sympathize with the guy. Since Picard and Riker arrived, he's:

1. Been lied to and conned by two senior members of Starfleet.

2. Had his direct orders disobeyed by his 1st officer and basically mutinied against.

3. Been shamed for putting his crew above the needs of four people he doesn't know, one being an interstellar criminal.

4. Had his command completely usurped by said crusty, lying Admiral.

I'm on Team Shaw

 

I think it's less glory-hounding than that, while he's right in principle that Picard and Riker got their own fool selves in trouble at his expense, that wouldn't keep Shaw from being seen as a 25th-century John Harriman if he just let them die as a consequence of their own actions.

 

Yeah, that's the flip side of the issue - maintaining his reputation is more important than the good of the ship. In fairness, I also think there might have been some attempt to regain equilibrium as well - how humiliating must it be to have your second mutiny against you not for galaxy ending stakes or immediate life or death consequences, but because their not-even-bestie had an errand to run? Saving Riker and Picard, in some measure, might feel like showing Seven she was wrong to let them go in the first place. I don't know if that's better per se, but I find it more understandable for someone who's trying to feel like he's actually got control over his dang ship.

 

I just watched a non-spoiler review of the first six episodes from Jessie Gender, and she instructs us all to be patient with Liam Shaw. He has one of the most compelling arcs of the season. Given that my major issue with Shaw is also something that would be a major issue with Jessie, the dead naming of Seven, the fact that she is willing to praise the character as she has sparks my interest.

 

These are killing me! Keep 'em coming!!!

 

If 5 of his crew die fighting Vadic then he was dead right.
Given he has melded with Spock you would think Picard knows "the needs of the many outweigh the needs of the few, or the one"

 

There is a big difference between what a person knows and their willingness to apply it.

 

I recommend a transfer to a California class ship. Shaw is the perfect Captain for second contact missions.

 

I liked Shaw in the first episode and like him more after this one. Maybe after he cuts his teeth into some combat (assuming he survives the season), maybe he can get transferred to the Enterprise-F or Voyager-B or Defiant-C and kick some ass, Kirk/Picard/Riker-style (Hopefully in his own spinoff)

 

I can't help but picture that scene where the Borg are fighting the Romulans and the Ceritos just fecks off.

 

AMEN!!!! I completely agree. He has every right to be the way he is. I would love to figure out why he picked Seven as his first officer unless Starfleet assigned her to him without his input.

 

Yup. Matalas said as the season goes on you'll start to sympathize with him. The people accusing him a deadnaming never will but the rest of us will. You are absolutely right he was right on every decision and knew going to save picard and Riker would put his crew in danger which of course it has. If any crew member dies on the Titan it won't be shaws fault.

 

They have to write him as hard to like, otherwise we'd be mad at our heroes for stealing his ship.

He has room to grow. He could still come around. Who doesn't love a good redemption story?

Indeed. Shaw needs to make this right.

 

It was incredible. The twit hadn't finished two sentences and I already wanted to wring his neck. It's like he saw Admiral Clancy and had the sheer f--king hubris to tell her "hold my beer."

 

Personally I'm Loving Capt. Shaw!! He's a breath of fresh air with his directness and his energy as well as his concerns for his ship and crew. The Jellico comparisons are completely off as all Jellico cared about was himself and his career. Shaw stands for and with his crew. I can't wait to see more of his adventures and his background especially in novel form, preferably written by Dayton Ward or David Mack or John Jackson Miller. There's definitely more to his actions and decisions than simply being an A-hole. He should also get his own series in some form, along with the rest of the Titan-A crew.

 

Eh, that's not true at all.

 

It's one thing to be concerned about the crew. It's quite another to wrap them in bubble wrap.

Shaw has this naive notion that if he and Titan stay within the lines and do what they're told, bad stuff won't happen (Voyager and Enterprise would beg to disagree).

He likes the perks and prestige of being Captain. He likes being able to eat steak every night of the week if he wants. He likes the status of being Captain.

Putting his life on the line? Doing the actual WORK of being Captain? Not so much. (His own crew doesn't respect him. He masks his cowardice with "But what about the crew?")

IMHC, he's gunning for a promotion to Enterprise (and he's not going to let anything --or anyone -- stand in his way).

The Delta Quadrant would eat him for breakfast.