I don't know that it was very believable.
It just didn't bother me much, in the context of the story. No one I know is considering a career in Starfleet, so how the organization works is of only passing interest at most.
Things you didn't like
- Thread starter Enterpriserules
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I don't know that it was very believable.
It just didn't bother me much, in the context of the story. No one I know is considering a career in Starfleet, so how the organization works is of only passing interest at most.
I challenge your friends to do better.
Well, not everyone of the cadets was in command training - Uhura was in Xenolinguistics f.e. You do need a crew for every ship after all as well, not just a commanding officer.
I thought that was quite well solved - McCoy starting at the academy with Kirk, but not at the same age. I always wondered during TOS about the remarks of him being a country doctor... How could/should he be that if all he's known was Starfleet?
Fine. Come get them off my fucking couch for a start.
Not really.
Kirk implied he'd graduate the academy in three years. Assuming he would've been cleared for cheating on the Kobyashi Maru terst -and Trek history tells us he would have been for "original thinking" Kirk would've likely graduated that year - as an Ensign.
To jump several promotions directly to captain, and not only that captain of the "flagship" (as stated by Pike) and not only that Captain of the flagship by bumping a distinguished, respected and vastly more experienced officer (Pike) is pretty damn fantastic.
I love this movie, I do, but really this whole idea reeks of implausibility.
It wouldn't have changed a thing to after Kirk's decoration ceremony to flashforward five years after Pike's mission and then have Kirk take over command (of course this would need an explanation for Spock's non promotion, but even TOS needs to explain that) when Pike retires/after his accident.
At least then Kirk would be around the "right age" to take command of the ship, plausibly.
It would've been more logical and made more sense and even a bit more "in line" with established history.
As it is, we've got a kid running the ship with a far too young captain.
I think what irked me is that Kirk came across very much as "Anakin Skywalker" to me, especially in the corvette scene.
He was a total brat the Kobayashi Maru test. I figured that Kirk cheated in the test, but they went bananas afterwards trying to figure out why. Instead it's "OK, cut the power and put it back on to show where Kirk's program comes in, while the little asshole shows his total disdain for Starfleet."
And they gave this guy a ship at the end?
He was a total brat the Kobayashi Maru test. I figured that Kirk cheated in the test, but they went bananas afterwards trying to figure out why. Instead it's "OK, cut the power and put it back on to show where Kirk's program comes in, while the little asshole shows his total disdain for Starfleet."
And they gave this guy a ship at the end?
Kirk's aim seemed to be to flaunt that he was cheating -since he felt the test itself was a cheat.
You hate it? Oh, I'm sorry, you probably meant to say "very much dislike it", and then proceeded to give your arguments as to why, exactly, you disliked it so much, so that other people -- like me -- could have a discussion with you.
I'm sorry I didn't notice that, I'm such a goofbag sometimes...
Yeah, I agree with that.
Either that, or I'd love to play poker with the guy.
Becoming an officer in Starfleet is more like getting a job at a corporation than our current military hierarchy. It is just different than what we are use to, that's all. A fictional future where anything can happen.
I saw the movie today (hate seeing movies with big crowds) and I loved it. It was awesome. Trek hasn't felt this fresh and invigorated in a long time.
But the only big thing that I didn't like was Kirk's uber-promotion 5 grades directly to captain. I mean, what the fuck? You CAN make a case for it but the Enterprise is the FLAGSHIP for crying out loud and they leave it in the hands of little more than a gutsy kid.
He saved Earth and he saved his captain and got everyone home okay (minus the idiot who didn't open his chute on the planet dive), but that should just be a commendation medal and one promotion tops. Not a full jump to command the flagship over dozens of officers.
But the only big thing that I didn't like was Kirk's uber-promotion 5 grades directly to captain. I mean, what the fuck? You CAN make a case for it but the Enterprise is the FLAGSHIP for crying out loud and they leave it in the hands of little more than a gutsy kid.
He saved Earth and he saved his captain and got everyone home okay (minus the idiot who didn't open his chute on the planet dive), but that should just be a commendation medal and one promotion tops. Not a full jump to command the flagship over dozens of officers.
You know what the weird thing about that whole captain business is?
We explicitly hear Pine saying that, if Kirk would be the best officer he could be, he would be out of the academy in 4 (did it in three) and make captain by 4.
So even when all circumstances are optimal, it would still take four years, according to Pine?
We explicitly hear Pine saying that, if Kirk would be the best officer he could be, he would be out of the academy in 4 (did it in three) and make captain by 4.
So even when all circumstances are optimal, it would still take four years, according to Pine?
Or just an example of very implausible stretching of cred in an otherwise excellent film.
Experience DOES count, especially in military service.
Experience DOES count, especially in military service.
I'm beginning to suspect that Pike could have buggered Chekov on the captain's chair during the ship's launch sequence and the most common complaint about the movie would be "Kirk was promoted too fast." 
Exactly.
Pike just forgot to mention the giant space porcupine escape clause.
Indeed, the rank structure is more ceremonial than official and seems more to "force" a bit of a chain of command.
But basicaily you don't "get a promotion" unless you've proven your worth -not because you're ready for one. Which is how people seem to go several years without promotions. It also seems -unless possibly in extreme circumstances- one has a lot of control over their own positions which is how we see officers serving on the same ship, in the same position, for decades.
Aside from a short stint as first officer of another ship, Chekov was a "lowly" navigator/weapons officer for his entire career!
So if we supposite all of this is being true -disregarding the more military Strarfleet we seen under Meyer- it *might* be possible for Kirk to get such a big promotion given his actions but it still seems a stretch.
He said "have is own ship in 4", which doesn't mean he couldn't have become captain earlier than that
Actually Pike says that Kirk could graduate in four years and have his own ship in eight.
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