The appeal of Sisko

[TiberiusMaximus]

^Seconded...I've always liked the way DS9 shows the imperfections of it's human characters more so than the other series for the most part.

When the situation calls for TOUGH action, he doesn't wuss out or back down (unlike Picard).

Being less likely to punch someone in the face does not make one a wuss. Sisko may be bolder and more likely to end a situation with a fight, but if push comes to shove Picard is perfectly capable of being tough.

Back on topic, Sisko's appeal (at least to me) was his reality...not as in good acting, but the different dimensions of his character. He showed the entire gamut of human emotions - anger, pride, stubbornness, heartbreak, love, a sense of adventure, compassion, happiness...

Having said that, I didn't always care for his moments of obsession - they gave depth to the character but I found it annoying. He is still one of my favorite captains, though, either tied or a close second with Picard.

 

[Sykonee]

Sisko was a badass, but then, so were Kirk, Picard, Janeway and Archer.

Archer never really struck me as a badass. Got his ass kicked bad, yes.

 

[Pemmer Harge]

/\ I'd say Archer was more of an action hero than any captain since Kirk. Arguably that's because Enterprise relied so heavily on shoot-outs and fist-fights, but still. Plus, he did all that stuff in Zero Hour. I don't have much time for the character or the show, but he was still a badass, I'd say.

 

[Stone_Cold_Sisko]

I liked the little things about Sisko, like the fact that he would geek out like a Trekkie over that baseball player, Buck Bokai

 

[Tulin]

He started out as boring, progressed to become unlikeable and amoral, and was badly acted throughout. So they Mary Sued him and made him a god.

Worst character in the show.

QFMFT

Never, never, never, never, NEVER, NEVER, MOTHER FUCKING NEVER have I seen such an annoying character deified by such a large group of fans, so undeservedly.

I DO NOT get the Sisko appeal.

Personally, I have ALWAYS felt it was the whole white guilt "I have to like them because they're black so I don't appear racist" PC bullshit thing.

Seriously, there's VERY little else there for me to understand SO MANY people saying they love him.

 

[Cornholio]

I agree that the best thing about the Sisko is that (unlike the other Captains except for Kirk) he doesn't take any crap from anybody.

except Kassidy.

Regarding the Eddington arc, I didn't love it, mainly because I think the writers failed to integrate Eddington into the show more beforehand and make him a bigger part of the crew, so his betrayal didn't mean all that much because he was something of a bit player.

umm, well said and stuff. Eddington just kinda popped in from nowhere. Sisko must've had some like, really thin skin or something to be bothered so much by that guy.

I'm quite partial to boring, badly-acted characters that mutate into Mary-Sues at the last minute.

That describes Jadzia exactly IMO.

yeah, yeah, I umm, agree wholeheartedly. I don't see how Sisko could be described as a Mary Sue. he was s'posed to be the main character.

although I'd kinda agree with flemm 'bout the bad acting and stuff. I like, cringed anytime I heard that umm, obviously fake laugh, and there was plenty of times that Avery Brooks seemed like he'd umm, rather be somewhere, anywhere else. but that's like, more of a reflection on Brooks than on the character of Sisko.

 

[TiberiusMaximus]

^^Um, no. I'm not racist and not being racist is all I need to avoid appearing so. I like Sisko for the reasons I stated above.
I like and/or dislike people based on their personality, not their skin color or anything else. And that works both ways. Maybe some white fans of Sisko say they like him just so they don't appear racist, but I don't. I honestly like the character.
And personally, I think bad acting comes with the Trek territory. Trek has it's moments, but there are better acted shows. So I don't mind the 'bad acting' because that's what all Trek is like, more or less.

 

[Neutral Zone]

Even though I like DS9 I never cared much for Sisko but I will say one appeal he had and that he was a srong leader weith emotions, didn't take crap from anyone but could be soft when required a bit remeniscent of Janeway.

 

[flemm]

Personally, I have ALWAYS felt it was the whole white guilt "I have to like them because they're black so I don't appear racist" PC bullshit thing.

That's just as ridiculous as suggesting that those who vehemently dislike the character or Brooks' acting only have that opinion because they are racist. After all, to invert your logic, how could anyone dislike such an awesome character unless they are racist? Personally I prefer to believe that those who dislike Brooks' performance merely have bad taste

although I'd kinda agree with flemm 'bout the bad acting and stuff.

That's not my opinion. I was responding in a facetious manner to USS Bones' comment. Personally I thoroughly enjoy Brooks' performance as Sisko, especially once the writers start to get a handle on the character (Sisko is rather amorphous for the first season and a half or so). Sisko in seasons 4-7 is 100% awesome.

 

[indolover]

He started out as boring, progressed to become unlikeable and amoral, and was badly acted throughout. So they Mary Sued him and made him a god.

Worst character in the show.

QFMFT

Never, never, never, never, NEVER, NEVER, MOTHER FUCKING NEVER have I seen such an annoying character deified by such a large group of fans, so undeservedly.

I DO NOT get the Sisko appeal.

Personally, I have ALWAYS felt it was the whole white guilt "I have to like them because they're black so I don't appear racist" PC bullshit thing.

Seriously, there's VERY little else there for me to understand SO MANY people saying they love him.

OK, so if one doesn't like Kirk, it means they're anti-Semetic?

Or if one doesn't like Janeway, they are misogynistic?

To me, Sisko was a well-acted and well-written character. IMO, the best captain, along with Picard.

 

[indolover]

Personally, I have ALWAYS felt it was the whole white guilt "I have to like them because they're black so I don't appear racist" PC bullshit thing.

That's just as ridiculous as suggesting that those who vehemently dislike the character or Brooks' acting only have that opinion because they are racist. After all, to invert your logic, how could anyone dislike such an awesome character unless they are racist? Personally I prefer to believe that those who dislike Brooks' performance merely have bad taste

although I'd kinda agree with flemm 'bout the bad acting and stuff.

That's not my opinion. I was responding in a facetious manner to USS Bones' comment. Personally I thoroughly enjoy Brooks' performance as Sisko, especially once the writers start to get a handle on the character (Sisko is rather amorphous for the first season and a half or so). Sisko in seasons 4-7 is 100% awesome.

I think Sisko always was forthright in the early seasons, but i think from season 4 Brooks nailed his character. It coincided the shaved head and beard, so I'm not sure if it was conscious on the writers/producers part, or even Brooks himself.

 

[Cornholio]

although I'd kinda agree with flemm 'bout the bad acting and stuff.

That's not my opinion. I was responding in a facetious manner to USS Bones' comment. Personally I thoroughly enjoy Brooks' performance as Sisko, especially once the writers start to get a handle on the character (Sisko is rather amorphous for the first season and a half or so). Sisko in seasons 4-7 is 100% awesome.

oops.

sorry 'bout that.

double dumbass on me.

althought I do stand by my previous statement, I will umm, take this opportunity to say that there were times when I thought Brooks did a heckuva job with the Sisko character. just that when he was bad, he was really bad.

umm, carry on or something...

 

[Nerys Ghemor]

Personally, I have ALWAYS felt it was the whole white guilt "I have to like them because they're black so I don't appear racist" PC bullshit thing.

That has absolutely ZERO to do with it. It's as simple as the fact that of all the Trek captains, I believe he has the character and qualifications that would make me trust him as my commanding officer. And NO other Trek captain makes the cut. You could change any of them to look any way you want, but as long as the writing of who they are and what decisions they make stays the same, my vote will remain with Sisko.

 

[Tosk]

Personally, I have ALWAYS felt it was the whole white guilt "I have to like them because they're black so I don't appear racist" PC bullshit thing.

That has nothing to do with the character. It only speaks to your character.

I DO NOT get the Sisko appeal. [...]
Seriously, there's VERY little else there for me to understand SO MANY people saying they love him.

I don't really get the appeal of people like Usher or Samuel L. Jackson either, but I don't just blindly chalk it up to some kind of reverse racism.

People just have different tastes.

I think Sisko always was forthright in the early seasons, but i think from season 4 Brooks nailed his character. It coincided the shaved head and beard, so I'm not sure if it was conscious on the writers/producers part, or even Brooks himself.

I seem to recall (but don't quote me on it) that Brooks himself said that when they let him adopt the look he wanted, he felt more at home in the character. I'd bet that had a lot to do with it.

 

[G2309]

Bad actor? He was the best acted Captain with the exception of Patrick Stewart. I like Scott Bakula but he did an awful job of playing Archer. Shatner's ok but overated.
What made Sisko great

A good family man which he balanced with his career

Good diplomat

Faced difficult situations and lived with the consequences.

Genuinely funny.

Helped design one of the best ships in starfleet

Intimidated Worf.

I could go on and on. As for the white guilt comment its ridiculous and offensive to the fans who like him.

 

[ares93]

loved when he beat up Q. great episode :-)

 

[TiberiusMaximus]

...when he was bad, he was really bad.

umm, carry on or something...

I have only one thing to say to you: "It's REEEEEEEAAAAALLLLLL!!!!"

Yeah, when he was bad, it was REEEEAAAALLLLYYY bad.

 

[G2309]

Season 4 episode "The visitor"
When he was good he was really good.

 

[TiberiusMaximus]

^Yes, yes he was.

 

[StarryEyed]

To me, it's because he's human. He's really tough and a really good leader but you can see that this man has flaws and human weaknesses. Kirk, Picard, and Janeway are all larger than life characters who I could not identify with. Sisko can be larger than life at times too but his vulnerabilities make him a very believable character.

Archer was the next closest as being a believable human being who I could identify with but he was totally unbelievable as a starship captain. I don't blame Bakula; he was miscast.