• Welcome! The TrekBBS is the number one place to chat about Star Trek with like-minded fans.
    If you are not already a member then please register an account and join in the discussion!

Strengths/weaknesses of each captain

I believe you are forgetting Chris Pike in this list of captains.

Well to be fair we haven't seen much of him in action, just one episode and bits and pieces from the latest film lol! I don't think we could accurately place his strengths and weaknesses with such scarce information
 
Picard

Strength - Reasoning and wisdom, as well as diplomacy
Weakness - Can be overly moral

Whatnow? Moral = concerned with principles of right and wrong. I disagree that someone can be 'overly moral'. Self-righteous, maybe, believing that you alone know what is right for everyone, but 'overly moral' does not work.

Picard was too steadfast in weighing up the right and wrong in issues. Life is not that black and white.
 
Exactly. Picard was the kind of man who'd say, "I don't care if it means we lose billions of innocent lives to the enemy--I Will Not Abandon My Morals And Principles, And Will Not Bend Them Under Any Circumstance!"

And then he ends up doing what is necessary, after tons of soul searching.

And then, next ep, he's back to his original attitude.
 
Kirk: Regulary Known To Break The Prime Directive

Once again... I'd like to see a source for this.

Sometimes I wonder if people who ascribe certain traits and actions to Jim Kirk have actually watched Star Trek: The Original Series.
 
Kirk: Regulary Known To Break The Prime Directive

Once again... I'd like to see a source for this.

Sometimes I wonder if people who ascribe certain traits and actions to Jim Kirk have actually watched Star Trek: The Original Series.


Sure I have, when I said regular I meant on more than a couple of occasions during a Starship Mission (As in 5 year mission)

As for your source...

http://memory-alpha.org/wiki/Prime_directive#23rd_century
 
Kirk: Regulary Known To Break The Prime Directive

Once again... I'd like to see a source for this.

Sometimes I wonder if people who ascribe certain traits and actions to Jim Kirk have actually watched Star Trek: The Original Series.


Sure I have, when I said regular I meant on more than a couple of occasions during a Starship Mission (As in 5 year mission)

As for your source...

http://memory-alpha.org/wiki/Prime_directive#23rd_century

As you see at the top "Noted Violations and Possible Violations". In each instance there was an "out" that allowed Jim Kirk to continue on without facing charges for violating the Prime Directive. If the "out" exists in the language of the Prime Directive, then it isn't a Prime Directive violation. And several of those mentioned as Prime Directive violations are only so using the 24th century interpretation.

From The Return of the Archons

SPOCK: Captain, our Prime Directive of non-interference.
KIRK: That refers to a living, growing culture. Do you think this one is?

From Bread and Circuses

SPOCK: Then the Prime Directive is in full force, Captain?
KIRK: No identification of self or mission. No interference with the social development of said planet.
MCCOY: No references to space, or the fact that there are other worlds, or more advanced civilisations.

So what we have is primarily is Jim Kirk cleaning up messes created by other Starfleet officers, Federation observers or Klingons.
 
Once again... I'd like to see a source for this.

Sometimes I wonder if people who ascribe certain traits and actions to Jim Kirk have actually watched Star Trek: The Original Series.


Sure I have, when I said regular I meant on more than a couple of occasions during a Starship Mission (As in 5 year mission)

As for your source...

http://memory-alpha.org/wiki/Prime_directive#23rd_century

As you see at the top "Noted Violations and Possible Violations". In each instance there was an "out" that allowed Jim Kirk to continue on without facing charges for violating the Prime Directive. If the "out" exists in the language of the Prime Directive, then it isn't a Prime Directive violation. And several of those mentioned as Prime Directive violations are only so using the 24th century interpretation.

From The Return of the Archons

SPOCK: Captain, our Prime Directive of non-interference.
KIRK: That refers to a living, growing culture. Do you think this one is?
From Bread and Circuses

SPOCK: Then the Prime Directive is in full force, Captain?
KIRK: No identification of self or mission. No interference with the social development of said planet.
MCCOY: No references to space, or the fact that there are other worlds, or more advanced civilisations.
So what we have is primarily is Jim Kirk cleaning up messes created by other Starfleet officers, Federation observers or Klingons.

I agree with your points, however, Kirk readily didn't have the moral inhibitions displayed by other Captain's in relation to the Prime Directive and although he has broken it and the mission has been successfull, it should still count as a weakness since he could have in theory broken the Prime Directive and caused more harm than good
 
Has been manipulated because of his big weird libido.

Like to see a source on this one. Please.

"Requiem for Methuselah"-Kirk falls in love- rather quickly in a tense situation- with a woman he eventually finds out be an android-and insists that he loves her and she loves him.

He then moves somewhat aggressively towards Flinn, her maker.

He gets into a fight with Flinn, when Spock warns him not to, considering the situation, he says "stay out of this, we're fighting over a woman".

She told BOTH of them to stop and she said it was HER choice, but and Kirk sort of understands, but he still urges her to go with him. Spock was still warning both of them to reconsider their actions.

Kirk admitted that he had been used by Flint to bring out emotion in the android Rayna.
 
Has been manipulated because of his big weird libido.

Like to see a source on this one. Please.

"Requiem for Methuselah"-Kirk falls in love- rather quickly in a tense situation- with a woman he eventually finds out be an android-and insists that he loves her and she loves him.

He then moves somewhat aggressively towards Flinn, her maker.

He gets into a fight with Flinn, when Spock warns him not to, considering the situation, he says "stay out of this, we're fighting over a woman".

She told BOTH of them to stop and she said it was HER choice, but and Kirk sort of understands, but he still urges her to go with him. Spock was still warning both of them to reconsider their actions.

Kirk admitted that he had been used by Flint to bring out emotion in the android Rayna.

I agree, Kirk has caused trouble by thinking with his Dick and thats one of his weaknesses
 
Sure I have, when I said regular I meant on more than a couple of occasions during a Starship Mission (As in 5 year mission)

As for your source...

http://memory-alpha.org/wiki/Prime_directive#23rd_century

As you see at the top "Noted Violations and Possible Violations". In each instance there was an "out" that allowed Jim Kirk to continue on without facing charges for violating the Prime Directive. If the "out" exists in the language of the Prime Directive, then it isn't a Prime Directive violation. And several of those mentioned as Prime Directive violations are only so using the 24th century interpretation.

From The Return of the Archons

From Bread and Circuses

SPOCK: Then the Prime Directive is in full force, Captain?
KIRK: No identification of self or mission. No interference with the social development of said planet.
MCCOY: No references to space, or the fact that there are other worlds, or more advanced civilisations.
So what we have is primarily is Jim Kirk cleaning up messes created by other Starfleet officers, Federation observers or Klingons.

I agree with your points, however, Kirk readily didn't have the moral inhibitions displayed by other Captain's in relation to the Prime Directive and although he has broken it and the mission has been successfull, it should still count as a weakness since he could have in theory broken the Prime Directive and caused more harm than good

So you're saying it's a weakness that he did not worship it like his 24th century counterparts?

From The Drumhead

SATIE: Captain, do you believe in the Prime Directive?
PICARD: Of course.
SATIE: In fact, it's Starfleet General Order Number One, is it not?
PICARD: Your point, Admiral?
SATIE: Would it surprise you to learn that you have violated the Prime Directive a total of nine times since you took command of the Enterprise? I must say, Captain, it surprised the hell out of me.

People around here make it sound like Jim Kirk went out of his way to violate the Prime Directive. Which is the furthest thing from the truth. As I said before... there is not one instance where you can prosecute Jim Kirk for a "Prime Directive violation".

With the exception of The Apple, there is not one instance where the Prime Directive "deck" wasn't already stacked against Jim Kirk from the beginning of the mission.
 
Has been manipulated because of his big weird libido.

Like to see a source on this one. Please.

"Requiem for Methuselah"-Kirk falls in love- rather quickly in a tense situation- with a woman he eventually finds out be an android-and insists that he loves her and she loves him.

He then moves somewhat aggressively towards Flinn, her maker.

He gets into a fight with Flinn, when Spock warns him not to, considering the situation, he says "stay out of this, we're fighting over a woman".

She told BOTH of them to stop and she said it was HER choice, but and Kirk sort of understands, but he still urges her to go with him. Spock was still warning both of them to reconsider their actions.

Kirk admitted that he had been used by Flint to bring out emotion in the android Rayna.

So you have one out of seventy-nine episodes. Knew you were coming with that one. :techman: But because something happens to someone once does not make it a character trait. And I still don't see how it makes Kirk a guy with a "big, weird libido".

Unfortunately, it's these types of character traits that Abrams and company are big on. Kirk as the bad boy rule-breaker and guy who gets the ladies.

So I can see the plot of Star Trek 2012 revolving around a woman manipulating Kirk to destroy her enemies on a Prime Directive protected planet. Kirk goes in and levels half the planet before learning his lesson.

Then we all cheer because this Jim Kirk learned how important the Prime Directive is. And he'll be better than the other one who broke it all the time.
 
Last edited:
"Requiem for Methuselah"-Kirk falls in love- rather quickly in a tense situation- with a woman he eventually finds out be an android-and insists that he loves her and she loves him.
I agree, Kirk has caused trouble by thinking with his Dick and thats one of his weaknesses
With respect, more like a case of Kirk thinking with his heart.
SPOCK: Then the Prime Directive is in full force, Captain?
KIRK: No identification of self or mission. No interference with the social development of said planet.
MCCOY: No references to space, or the fact that there are other worlds, or more advanced civilisations.
So what we have is primarily is Jim Kirk cleaning up messes created by other Starfleet officers, Federation observers or Klingons.
Why did Spock ask if the prime directive was in effect? Or was his actual question pertaining to it being "in full force?"

I personal think that the prime directive came into effect sometime between Friday's Child and A Piece Of The Action, I don't mean that's when the Star trek writers invented it, literally that's when the Federation put it into effect. It didn't exist during Friday's Child. It cleans up a lot of Kirk's "violations" if there were no prime directive law until half way through season two.


.
 
"Requiem for Methuselah"-Kirk falls in love- rather quickly in a tense situation- with a woman he eventually finds out be an android-and insists that he loves her and she loves him.
I agree, Kirk has caused trouble by thinking with his Dick and thats one of his weaknesses
With respect, more like a case of Kirk thinking with his heart.
SPOCK: Then the Prime Directive is in full force, Captain?
KIRK: No identification of self or mission. No interference with the social development of said planet.
MCCOY: No references to space, or the fact that there are other worlds, or more advanced civilisations.
So what we have is primarily is Jim Kirk cleaning up messes created by other Starfleet officers, Federation observers or Klingons.
Why did Spock ask if the prime directive was in effect? Or was his actual question pertaining to it being "in full force?"

I personal think that the prime directive came into effect sometime between Friday's Child and A Piece Of The Action, I don't mean that's when the Star trek writers invented it, literally that's when the Federation put it into effect. It didn't exist during Friday's Child. It cleans up a lot of Kirk's "violations" if there were no prime directive law until half way through season two.


.

I think Spock asked because we already knew that at least some of the officers and crew from the S.S. Beagle had survived and were living in the Magna Roman society.

The Prime Directive would have to be in effect at least as early as The Return of the Archons, which is mid-late season one. Plus I think the facts of each episode where the Prime Directive may have applied absolve Kirk of any wrong doing.
 
I think Kirk was thinking with his heart, but he let it happened so quick, considering the situation he was in.

If this was a one time occurrence, I would have let that instance slide, but considered all the women he romanced or been with, it was kind of hard to ignore this time.

In "Elaan of Troyius", Elaan is a beautiful, but obnoxious member of a royal family.

She insults people, threatens them with death, and thinks others are beneath her.

Apparently she had been raised that way.

She threatens Kirk, insults him repeatedly. When he stands up to her, she suddenly acts sorry, and starts crying.

Kirk moves up closely to her, and affectionately removes her tears with his fingers. That's when he comes under her spell.

If Kirk were more cautious, he would wondered if it was another one of her ploys-she previously threw a knife at him!

The real manipulation began when she got him to remove her tears.

And here's the controversy; Kirk may have heard the ambassador say her tears could manipulate a person.
 
Last edited:
What would you say were the strengths/weaknesses of each captain? For me, it's as so:

Kirk

Strength - Charismatic and likeable
Weakness - Too cavalier and maybe too unorthodox

Picard

Strength - Reasoning and wisdom, as well as diplomacy
Weakness - Can be overly moral

Sisko

Strength - No nonsense, takes no crap from anybody and is a strong and confident man
Weakness - Obsession, and even ego. The Michael Eddington arc indicates this

Janeway

Strength - Intelligent and protective of her crew (almost in a motherly sense)
Weakness - Can be erratic, and even overly moral like Picard

Archer

Strength - Determined and won't stop until he gets what is required
Weakness - Too indecisive sometimes, and distrusting.
Weakness

Archer
Strength: Accepts responsibility, however great the burden (see Xindi arc).
Weakness: He rarely takes advice from people with more experience.

Kirk:
Strength: His loyalty to friends and crew.
Weakness: He can't imagine failure. As a consequence, he's reckless.

Picard:
Strength: He's highly intelligent.
Weakness: He's rigid.

Sisko:
Strength: He can adapt.
Weakness: I'm stumped on this one because it's been so long since I saw DS9.

Janeway:
Strength: She's emotionally strong.
Weakness: She takes chances not just with her own life, but with other people's lives.
 
Low points for the c.o.'s:

Kirk falls for Flint's "daughter"; Picard goes Ahab in "First Contact"; Sisko dances with the devil "In the Pale Moonlight", Janeway strands her crew in the Delta Quadrant and proceeds to make many years' worth of bad decisions, culminating in _Admiral_ Janeway's time travel mission that saved only her favorite crewmembers from dying (what a cunt!); and Archer stealing Casey Biggs' warp drive, something only a petty thug would do.

Kirk had a momentary lapse of professionalism, while following his penis, but the rest of those jerks have a lot to answer for, IMO.
 
If you are not already a member then please register an account and join in the discussion!

Sign up / Register


Back
Top