The Next Captain Should Be . . . (Fill In The Blank)!

[Red Ranger]

People,

OK, I know most of you are focused on the next film. However, I think if the film is successful they will either do another live-action or animated ST series (as has already been reported).

I wanted to pose a thought. If you had the ability to influence the decision, what kind of captain would you like to see for another ST series?

Me, I'm torn between having another human captain and an alien captain. But considering all six of the previous captains have been human, and all born and raised on Earth (with 5 out of 6 of them from North America), I think it would be interesting for the next human captain to be from a colony world, and that the first time he/she saw Earth was when he/she went to Starfleet Academy.

For my own biases, I'd like that person to be ostensibly of Latino descent, but more of a cross-cultural human owing to his background as a colonist. In other words, his influences ought to be more varied than just be, say, an aficionado of Latin American or North American culture, with maybe a touch of the "outsider" sensibility of a non-Earth born colonist.

If an extraterrestrial captain, I'd like to see: (a) a Vulcan, (b) a Bolian, or (c) an entirely new, enigmatic species we've never seen, maybe a recent addition to the Federation, so we can learn about his race just as his crew does.

It will be interesting to read your ideas.

Red Ranger

 

[Good Will Riker]

An Asian American male captain. Portrayed by someone who is confident, handsome, and expressive like James Shigeta ("Flower Drum Song," "Die Hard") in his prime.

 

[Admiral2]

^^^I'll see you and raise you an Asian female captain, played by Michelle Yeoh, if a human captain is in the offing.

 

[SeamusShameless]

I want to see an Andorian as captain, or Wesley Crusher.

 

[Skywalker]

Admiral2 said:
^^^I'll see you and raise you an Asian female captain, played by Michelle Yeoh, if a human captain is in the offing.

:thumbsup:

 

[Good Will Riker]

^^^

Michelle Yeoh ain't bad. At least most would think twice before messing with her.

Red Ranger said:
For my own biases, I'd like that person to be ostensibly of Latino descent, but more of a cross-cultural human owing to his background as a colonist. In other words, his influences ought to be more varied than just be, say, an aficionado of Latin American or North American culture, with maybe a touch of the "outsider" sensibility of a non-Earth born colonist.

Red Ranger,

We think alike in these matters.

As for my candidate for a Latino American captain, after having seen him portray Lieutenant Rodriguez on "NYPD Blue" as well as his athleticism in "Rapa Nui," my vote goes to Esai Morales.

 

[Red Ranger]

Good Will Riker said:
^^^

Michelle Yeoh ain't bad. At least most would think twice before messing with her.

Red Ranger said:
For my own biases, I'd like that person to be ostensibly of Latino descent, but more of a cross-cultural human owing to his background as a colonist. In other words, his influences ought to be more varied than just be, say, an aficionado of Latin American or North American culture, with maybe a touch of the "outsider" sensibility of a non-Earth born colonist.

Red Ranger,

We think alike in these matters.

As for my candidate for a Latino American captain, after having seen him portray Lieutenant Rodriguez on "NYPD Blue" as well as his athleticism in "Rapa Nui," my vote goes to Esai Morales.

And we know Esai Morales can do angst real well -- like when he yells out Ritchie Valens' name out in "La Bamba" -- "RIIIIIIITCHHHHHIEEEEEEEE!" I don't see Esai attaching himself to Star Trek, though. I like the guy who played the Captain in "The Shield." Lot of talented Latino actors who can pull off authority figures.

 

[Venardhi]

I think character is more important than appearance, race or species. We've had the man's man, the gentleman, the family man, the err. . . woman and finally the low-fat smoothie of the first four. The captain needs to be a character, not just the actor who plays him trying to fit into the script of the week.

 

[Red Ranger]

Venardhi said:
I think character is more important than appearance, race or species. We've had the man's man, the gentleman, the family man, the err. . . woman and finally the low-fat smoothie of the first four. The captain needs to be a character, not just the actor who plays him trying to fit into the script of the week.

Venardhi,

I think if you reread my first post, you'll see I have a definite idea of the human character -- a cultural everyman who embraces different points of view, not someone who only represents a particular culture. I believe that's the kind of human that would develop centuries from now. I also think that's the kind of person who would make a good captain, a more well-rounded individual.

As for his demeanor, if he's a colonist who's had to rough it for part of his life before he goes to Starfleet Academy, he might have a somewhat more cynical view of life, having been a frontier type, rather than the usual pie-in-the-sky, Earh-is-paradise Federation type. Maybe even someone who may enforce the prime directive, but might interpret it less literally than a Captain Picard, but not disregard it like Captain Kirk or Captain Janeway. In other words, a more balanced, nuanced approach.

I've made no secret of my preference (I have my own Star Trek type story where there's a Latino as the main character). (Incidentally, in novels like Poul Andersen's "Starfarers" and in Robert Heinelein's "Starship Troopers," there are prominent Hispanic characters, so it's not unprecedented.)

Having said that, it's also why I also would like to see an extraterrestrial captain, ideally from a species we've never seen, with a unique outlook on the Federation and exploration.

Red Ranger

 

[Thomas E. Johnson]

I always wanted to see Gene Hackman as the Captain on Star Trek myself. Don't know about what race I'd like to see though.

 

[voss749]

I would like the next Captain to be a charming scoundrel
in the tradition of Rhett Butler. A mans and a ladies man.

The kind of man in an earlier era would be a privateer and even now uses his connections he makes as a starship captain to get involved in many business oppurtunities and personal relationships. Such a man would have at least 1 ex-wife and possibly some illegitimate children out there.

Yet at the same time he shows an uncanny understanding of history and economics and how the system works. He also is a damn good captain.

 

[Venardhi]

Red Ranger said:

Venardhi said:
I think character is more important than appearance, race or species. We've had the man's man, the gentleman, the family man, the err. . . woman and finally the low-fat smoothie of the first four. The captain needs to be a character, not just the actor who plays him trying to fit into the script of the week.

Venardhi,

I think if you reread my first post, you'll see I have a definite idea of the human character -- a cultural everyman who embraces different points of view, not someone who only represents a particular culture. I believe that's the kind of human that would develop centuries from now. I also think that's the kind of person who would make a good captain, a more well-rounded individual.

As for his demeanor, if he's a colonist who's had to rough it for part of his life before he goes to Starfleet Academy, he might have a somewhat more cynical view of life, having been a frontier type, rather than the usual pie-in-the-sky, Earh-is-paradise Federation type. Maybe even someone who may enforce the prime directive, but might interpret it less literally than a Captain Picard, but not disregard it like Captain Kirk or Captain Janeway. In other words, a more balanced, nuanced approach.

And thats a good character idea. Better than most. My previous post was in response to the eternal "I want a Pakistani/Andorian/Transexual/Paraplegic/Mormon/Kelvan/Dolphin captain" posts.

 

[kirk40]

I'd like to see a star trek series based entirely from the point of view another alien race, as series about the missions of a romulan warbird, for example, or the adventures of a klingon crew during the dominion war, or maybe a series about an andorian during the "enterprise" era.

 

[Venardhi]

But WHY? Having a cast of aliens would inevitably involve humanizing them to the point where their alien-ness was only wallpaper. Thats why movies so often have either the alien introduced into the familiar human world or the familiar human introduced into the alien world. That way the audience has someone to connect with while retaining the not-quite-rightness of the unfamiliar in the story.

 

[Red Ranger]

Venardhi said:

Red Ranger said:

Venardhi said:
I think character is more important than appearance, race or species. We've had the man's man, the gentleman, the family man, the err. . . woman and finally the low-fat smoothie of the first four. The captain needs to be a character, not just the actor who plays him trying to fit into the script of the week.

Venardhi,

I think if you reread my first post, you'll see I have a definite idea of the human character -- a cultural everyman who embraces different points of view, not someone who only represents a particular culture. I believe that's the kind of human that would develop centuries from now. I also think that's the kind of person who would make a good captain, a more well-rounded individual.

As for his demeanor, if he's a colonist who's had to rough it for part of his life before he goes to Starfleet Academy, he might have a somewhat more cynical view of life, having been a frontier type, rather than the usual pie-in-the-sky, Earh-is-paradise Federation type. Maybe even someone who may enforce the prime directive, but might interpret it less literally than a Captain Picard, but not disregard it like Captain Kirk or Captain Janeway. In other words, a more balanced, nuanced approach.

And thats a good character idea. Better than most. My previous post was in response to the eternal "I want a Pakistani/Andorian/Transexual/Paraplegic/Mormon/Kelvan/Dolphin captain" posts.

Venardhi,

Har har hardy har har! I know that's what you were saying so, for a change, I took a different tack because I also don't just want to put in minority characters just for the sake of having them there. In fact, the character should come first. However, you say that as if there's something wrong with alternative casting. I don't see it that way. It's unfortunate that you belittle such a well-intentioned goal.

Also, may I point out that there's nothing wrong with trying to show characters (albeit in the future) that don't conform to modern-day stereotypes. And according to statistics, Latinos in the U.S. are now the largest "minority," so a nod to this growing group isn't a bad thing.

I've heard the argument from some posters that we should show "a color-blind future." One small way to do that is to show minorities in roles that defy stereotypes, instead of the lazy kind of writing you see in shows set in our era, today, in the here and now, even if the show takes place in the future.

But I do appreciate your compliment on the type of main character I'd like to see in ST. We don't need another Kirk or Picard.

Red Ranger

 

[Red Ranger]

kirk40 said:
I'd like to see a star trek series based entirely from the point of view another alien race, as series about the missions of a romulan warbird, for example, or the adventures of a klingon crew during the dominion war, or maybe a series about an andorian during the "enterprise" era.

Kirk40,

I actually like this idea. Not sure people would buy it. I have to reluctantly agree with Venardhi and say that without a human touchstone, it might not capture some people's interest. I would have liked to have seen an entire ep of one of the other series done from the point of view of an adversary. Imagine a whole Dominion-centered ep of DSN, for example. I think they kind of did an almost-all Andorian ep on ENT, as I recall, where the Andorians capture the Vulcan ambassador and tortured him. Still, given the right writing, this approach could work, too.

Red Ranger

 

[Venardhi]

I'm not saying those people shouldn't be there. But their race or any other factor of WHAT they are should come second to their story and their character arc. Your character happens to be of latin descent, it is part of who he is, but it doesn't define him.

 

[Dale]

Mackenzie Calhoun, from Peter David's New Frontier series of books... of course David says he doesn't want to see it happen... but the characters are edgy enough and the plots fantastic enough to make for some really entertaining TV, especially if it were an animated series.

 

[Anthony]

There will be another series.
The captain will be human, male and North American in origin, not alien or a female.

The action will take place aboard a Constitution-class vessel, probably the Enterprise.

The adventures will continue, on a weekly basis those as established in the new movie.

The action will take place in the same era, namely, the 23rd Century, where it belongs.

 

[voss749]

One of the problems trek has had since TNG is they make plain vanilla characters who just as easily be any ethnicity with no change in writing.

Imagine if they had a chinese captain character played by someone like Chow Yun-Fat or Michelle Yeoh whos character has traditional chinese values. Chinese culture has lasted for 4000 years, it wouldnt last until the 24th century???