Stillborn Sulu Show

[PCz911]

(Sorry for the alliteration). All the talk of Scott bakula and a show for him, combined with the vitrol over kurtzman trek , had me thinking about counterfactual scenarios….

Given all we know now, what are your thoughts on a stand alone Sulu TV show after The Undiscovered Country?

Observations:
- The TNG cast had essentially transitioned to the big screen by then
- the latter Berman Trek shows were “unsteady” in their writing and creativity.

Position:
I would argue that a TV show with some of the B team actors would have actually breathed some new life into the franchise. It would leverage existing and beloved characters and be a counter to the Berman burnout

What are your thoughts?

 

[Takeru]

No, George Takei is a mediocre actor, he could not have carried a show, it wouldn't have worked. This was never going to happen, if Paramount had wanted a 23rd century show they would have developed one without him.

 

[BillJ]

- the latter Berman Trek shows were “unsteady” in their writing and creativity.

This obviously torpedoes a Sulu series, because those same writers and producers would've been making the show.

Overall? No. Takei, no offense, simply doesn't have the chops to be a lead.

 

[Ssosmcin]

I thought it was about the never heard of other daughter he tried to have, but was stillborn. Damn, I thought, we're going dark here.

Turns out I just need therapy

 

[Kor]

...

What are your thoughts?

"Surely not!"

Kor

 

[Sketcher]

Someone would've griped about canon violations at one point or another.

 

[Pauln6]

Takei is a good actor, he just does intensity well, and Sulu isn't that intense. He was great in World Enough and Time. I think a trilogy of TV movies would have worked better than a series.

 

[Markonian]

We should’ve had a Star Trek: Excelsior series alongside Star Trek: Voyager. It is a sin that can never be rectified.

 

[Dukhat]

The Undiscovered Country was in 1991. If Paramount had seriously considered making a Sulu series after that, there would have been several years of preproduction, production and post-production before we ever saw it. That would take it to around 1993. Guess what premiered in 1993? Deep Space Nine.

So basically what you’re asking is, would I have rather had a Sulu series, or Deep Space Nine?

I know what my answer is.

 

[Allyn Gibson]

The Undiscovered Country was in 1991. If Paramount had seriously considered making a Sulu series after that, there would have been several years of preproduction, production and post-production before we ever saw it. That would take it to around 1993. Guess what premiered in 1993? Deep Space Nine.

So basically what you’re asking is, would I have rather had a Sulu series, or Deep Space Nine?

I know what my answer is.

Alternatively... there was zero story reason why Voyager had to be contemporary with TNG and DS9. It could have been about a movie-era ship getting pulled into the Delta Quadrant, a ship like, oh, I dunno, the Excelsior...

Production reason, on the other hand, Voyager was 24th-century for prop and costume reuse.

I think I'd have rather had a Harriman and the -B television series than a Sulu series in the mid-90s, though. Alan Ruck > George Takei.

 

[BillJ]

Alternatively... there was zero story reason why Voyager had to be contemporary with TNG and DS9. It could have been about a movie-era ship getting pulled into the Delta Quadrant, a ship like, oh, I dunno, the Excelsior...

Production reason, on the other hand, Voyager was 24th-century for prop and costume reuse.

I think I'd have rather had a Harriman and the -B television series than a Sulu series in the mid-90s, though. Alan Ruck > George Takei.

Yes to something from the Lost Era. No to Sulu or Harriman as the leads.

 

[Laura Cynthia Chambers]

Rand gets a captaincy?

 

[BillJ]

Rand gets a captaincy?

No. Just create a new character that fits the story you want to tell.

 

[Dukhat]

Alternatively... there was zero story reason why Voyager had to be contemporary with TNG and DS9. It could have been about a movie-era ship getting pulled into the Delta Quadrant, a ship like, oh, I dunno, the Excelsior...

Production reason, on the other hand, Voyager was 24th-century for prop and costume reuse.

I think I'd have rather had a Harriman and the -B television series than a Sulu series in the mid-90s, though. Alan Ruck > George Takei.

While I would have loved a Lost Era show, I would not have wanted either Takei or Ruck to be the star. If anything, I would have wanted the next captain after Harriman, or the captain before Rachel Garrett.

 

[Ssosmcin]

Rand gets a captaincy?

Lordy, no. Every single TOS crewmember does not need to become a captain.

Besides, Grace's performance in TUC was really stale. She wouldn't have been able to carry a series based on that work.