Robin Curtis was a genius recasting. I've always liked her better than Kirstie Alley in the role of Saavik and Curtis seemed much more Vulcan and effective as a supporting character.
What are your controversial Star Trek opinions?
- Thread starter Amasov
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I was always a Kirstie Alley Saavik fan.
Don't get me wrong, I love Robin Curtis as an actor. I met her at a con decades ago and she's a truly kind and awesome person. As a character though, I found her portrayal of Saavik as being a bit too Vulcan, which I understand was an intentional choice by Nimoy during his direction of her performance. To this day, she still doesn't seem to appreciate her own delivery of the "David is dead" line and it comes up in interviews almost every time.
Saavik was always meant to be half-Romulan and I found Alley's portrayal of that deeply-rooted and barely-contained emotional volcano brilliantly acted. She subtly stews and steams and grinds her teeth at certain situations and her tears at the funeral were 100% believable, IMO. The novelization by Vonda McIntyre really dug into the meat of that character trait. She completely lost her shit right before the funeral in front of the torpedo casket and struggled to regain composure before the service started. I know her Romulan side was considered by some to only be considered quasi-canon, but there is actual filmed footage that still exists to this day of Spock mentioning it outside the Enterprise-class simulator at the beginning that made it into some post-theatrical TV broadcasts back in the 80's. This was along with the extended Peter Preston scene during the inspection, being in-dialogue mentioned as Scotty's nephew, amongst other things.
That and (full disclosure admission) I always kind of had a massive teenage crush on Alley back then. That wry smile of hers and slightly-raised eyebrow always did it for me. I watched damn near every episode of Cheers after she joined that cast. I suspect that would have colored my personal bias to a certain degree.
Don't get me wrong, I love Robin Curtis as an actor. I met her at a con decades ago and she's a truly kind and awesome person. As a character though, I found her portrayal of Saavik as being a bit too Vulcan, which I understand was an intentional choice by Nimoy during his direction of her performance. To this day, she still doesn't seem to appreciate her own delivery of the "David is dead" line and it comes up in interviews almost every time.
Saavik was always meant to be half-Romulan and I found Alley's portrayal of that deeply-rooted and barely-contained emotional volcano brilliantly acted. She subtly stews and steams and grinds her teeth at certain situations and her tears at the funeral were 100% believable, IMO. The novelization by Vonda McIntyre really dug into the meat of that character trait. She completely lost her shit right before the funeral in front of the torpedo casket and struggled to regain composure before the service started. I know her Romulan side was considered by some to only be considered quasi-canon, but there is actual filmed footage that still exists to this day of Spock mentioning it outside the Enterprise-class simulator at the beginning that made it into some post-theatrical TV broadcasts back in the 80's. This was along with the extended Peter Preston scene during the inspection, being in-dialogue mentioned as Scotty's nephew, amongst other things.
That and (full disclosure admission) I always kind of had a massive teenage crush on Alley back then. That wry smile of hers and slightly-raised eyebrow always did it for me. I watched damn near every episode of Cheers after she joined that cast. I suspect that would have colored my personal bias to a certain degree.
I've always liked Robin Curtis in the role, but then I watched Search for Spock first so it's no surprise that she's the real Saavik to me. I know Kirstie Alley's Saavik is supposed to be the same person, but I wasn't sold on it. Ziyal on DS9 worked better for me, perhaps because the character was still growing up and was buried under makeup.
Ziyal's a rare case of a character being recast twice, because it seems that even producers who are okay with recasting draw the line there. They could've had Kim Cattrall play a third Saavik in Star Trek 6 against Roddenberry's objections, but instead we got a new character, and honestly, I think they made the right choice in the end.
Ziyal's a rare case of a character being recast twice, because it seems that even producers who are okay with recasting draw the line there. They could've had Kim Cattrall play a third Saavik in Star Trek 6 against Roddenberry's objections, but instead we got a new character, and honestly, I think they made the right choice in the end.
Worf's son Alexander was recast a couple of times and I think it worked. Same deal as Ziyal, I think. Significant differentials in age + thick makeup + uncommon episodic appearances = easy acceptance. Neither versions of Saavik had any of those things going for her, which is why it seemed a more jarring change to the fandom.
So, let me get this straight. MI5’s cunning plan is to get a bunch of guys who look nothing alike to pretend to be “James Bond” and follow some “character history “ to avoid raising suspicion, but no one on the other side has ever noticed they’re different guys? Now I understand stand why the British no longer have an Empire.
I think Wesley is doing a fine job.
Tomorrow and Tomorrow and Tomorrow sealed the deal.
This isn't an either/or. It depends on the context. If you want to show young Kirk in SNW or whatever spins off from it, fine, go with Paul Wesley. If you want to show Kirk post-GEN (for the sake of argument, since that's what I was talking about), I don't think it should be Paul Wesley in old-age makeup. Go with William Shatner, if you're going to do that. But if you're going to have a younger Kirk in a reboot or a prequel, then yes, go with the re-casting. Go with Pine. Go with Wesley. Even Harve Bennett understood that when he tried to get his Starfleet Academy movie going.
If they eventually have a Kirk whose portrayal I like better than William Shatner's, I'll say so. Just like with James Bond and just like with Batman.
If they eventually have a Kirk whose portrayal I like better than William Shatner's, I'll say so. Just like with James Bond and just like with Batman.
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I dunno, I think I'd rather watch Highlander 2 again than The Outrageous Okona or The Alternative Factor.
You never know what enemy forces are spying on "James Bond", so keeping up the act is important.
Especially given how many diverse missions from the (past/present/future) he may be dealing with & encountering folks who might send people to do recon on "James Bond"
That's a entirely different conversation that is off-topic for this thread.Now I understand stand why the British no longer have an Empire.
So, let me get this straight. MI5’s cunning plan is to get a bunch of guys who look nothing alike to pretend to be “James Bond” and follow some “character history “ to avoid raising suspicion, but no one on the other side has ever noticed they’re different guys? Now I understand stand why the British no longer have an Empire.
They did this on Due South. Actor doesn't want to come back for season 3, they bring in a new cop to pretend to be the old cop as the old cop is on an undercover operation trying to take down the mob. Somehow this was to protect his identity.
Yeah, definitely a cunning plan from General Director Baldrick.
That's why you got to keep your Alias in tact & working.
1. Gordi wasn't out of line in Galaxy's child. If anything Doctor Braun was outof line for calling him outon essentially finding his porn directory.
2. I wished Janeway and Chakotey had gotten together.
3. Jelico should have gotten an entire season as captain since that would've explored the idea of him having to come to terms with having pissed off his entire crew and possibly feeling like he's to blaim for Picard's extended leave. Dealing with what is essentially a bully having to have all that unpacked and peeled apart would've been facinating.
4. Discovery and the klingOrcs could have worked.
5. Sisko as Space Jesus was really weird and offputting given this was literally non-corporeal aliens annointing him as their speaker.
6. I wish we'd gotten more of Riker's transporter clone as a reoccoring character.
7. Year of Hell would've been 1000% better if the consiquences had been allowed to stand and they had to live with what happened insteado f the giant looming reset switch.
8. The borg were overused.
9. I actually like star trek 5. Is it flawed? Yes. Still a fun goofball movie.
10. The Pakleds really were underused as a species til lower dekcs and by then 'hey it's a comedy show le'ts play up them being stupid.' Given hey can make anything seeminly work with anything else i'd call that honestly pretty genius.
2. I wished Janeway and Chakotey had gotten together.
3. Jelico should have gotten an entire season as captain since that would've explored the idea of him having to come to terms with having pissed off his entire crew and possibly feeling like he's to blaim for Picard's extended leave. Dealing with what is essentially a bully having to have all that unpacked and peeled apart would've been facinating.
4. Discovery and the klingOrcs could have worked.
5. Sisko as Space Jesus was really weird and offputting given this was literally non-corporeal aliens annointing him as their speaker.
6. I wish we'd gotten more of Riker's transporter clone as a reoccoring character.
7. Year of Hell would've been 1000% better if the consiquences had been allowed to stand and they had to live with what happened insteado f the giant looming reset switch.
8. The borg were overused.
9. I actually like star trek 5. Is it flawed? Yes. Still a fun goofball movie.
10. The Pakleds really were underused as a species til lower dekcs and by then 'hey it's a comedy show le'ts play up them being stupid.' Given hey can make anything seeminly work with anything else i'd call that honestly pretty genius.
Interestingly, Falk was not the first or even second actor to play Columbo.
The first was was Bert Freed (1960, on The Chevy Mystery Show episode "Enough Rope" by Richard Levinson and William Link), and he was followed by Thomas Mitchell (1962, in Prescription: Murder on stage).
The Chevy Mystery Show - Wikipedia
Columbo - Wikipedia
This is true. But I truly, deeply pity whomever is one day tasked with resurrecting the character. Falk's take on Columbo was arguably the most unique, quirky and impactful performance by any actor in a television role in the history of the medium, and those brown shoes are going to be a gigantic hurdle to fill successfully.Interestingly, Falk was not the first or even second actor to play Columbo.
The first was was Bert Freed (1960, on The Chevy Mystery Show episode "Enough Rope" by Richard Levinson and William Link), and he was followed by Thomas Mitchell (1962, in Prescription: Murder on stage).
The Chevy Mystery Show - Wikipedia
en.wikipedia.org
Columbo - Wikipedia
That's already happened on stage. None other than Dirk Benedict (original Starbuck) as well as John Guerrasio have both played the role since Falk, according to the link above.
But, yes, to your overall point, I agree, Falk's are tough shoes to fill. It's hard to imagine anyone becoming a new, beloved performer in the role. That's for several reasons. Obviously, one is, it hasn't happened. Two, we* love him so much in the role. Three, we can't think of anyone who would do the job better. Probably other reasons, too.
These dynamics apply in other situations too.
* - If you** don't love him in the role like we do, then obviously I'm not talking about you.
** - general you
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I'm in the camp that, without exception, all of the actors in SNW playing TOS characters are doing a fantastic job. It doesn't mean I like the TOS performances any less than how much I liked them before SNW or any other recast. It doesn't mean I need to compare one to the other. The SNW people are doing there own thing, and I'm able to roll with it and enjoy it, is all that means, really.
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