Why is command wearing blue?

[Kaziarl]

Well, I don't recally seeing many details. It was pretty dark those first few scenes. But IIRC, Kevin was supposed to be a science vessel right? (Atleast I think I head something along those lines.) Maybe Robau, bad ass as he was, had a blue uniform because he was a science officer.

As an example, Spock was a part of the command staff, but he wore blue. Scotty was as well, and wore red.

Perhaps something is different in regards to becoming captain, but no one really knows.

 

[cooleddie74]

Was it just me, or was Admiral Pike's new dress uniform at the very end of the movie somewhat reminiscent of the one Kirk wore at the start of TMP? The one with the slate-grey and white colors and sorta dull overall impact? I wonder if Abrams and his people saw scenes from TMP and thought it'd be a good idea to do a partial riff on the first Kirk outfit from that film.

 

[M'Sharak]

Well, I don't recally seeing many details. It was pretty dark those first few scenes. But IIRC, Kevin was supposed to be a science vessel right? (Atleast I think I head something along those lines.) Maybe Robau, bad ass as he was, had a blue uniform because he was a science officer.

On the official site, it says in the ship's dossier that Kelvin-type vessels were primarily used for survey missions, so that could easily fit with having it crewed and commanded by people with science backgrounds.

On the other hand, the security officer was also wearing blue, so who knows?

 

[Kaziarl]

Well, I don't recally seeing many details. It was pretty dark those first few scenes. But IIRC, Kevin was supposed to be a science vessel right? (Atleast I think I head something along those lines.) Maybe Robau, bad ass as he was, had a blue uniform because he was a science officer.

On the official site, it says in the ship's dossier that Kelvin-type vessels were primarily used for survey missions, so that could easily fit with having it crewed and commanded by people with science backgrounds.

On the other hand, the security officer was also wearing blue, so who knows?

That was the security officer? I suppose it works, I'd certainly stop dead in my tracks if he/she/it was chasing me down the corridor, either that or run head first into a wall out of fear.

Gotta say, they did a great job with the aliens in this one.

 

[JuanBolio]

Well, I don't recally seeing many details. It was pretty dark those first few scenes. But IIRC, Kevin was supposed to be a science vessel right? (Atleast I think I head something along those lines.) Maybe Robau, bad ass as he was, had a blue uniform because he was a science officer.

On the official site, it says in the ship's dossier that Kelvin-type vessels were primarily used for survey missions, so that could easily fit with having it crewed and commanded by people with science backgrounds.

On the other hand, the security officer was also wearing blue, so who knows?

Actually, I remember reading on the Intel site that he/she/it was the navigator, and hence would be in the command/navigation division.

 

[ALF]

There was a thread months ago, before the movie hit the theaters (try a search for "The Kelvin's uniforms" if you want to check it out.) I think most people just figured that 25 years was long enough that a couple of changes in uniform design and departmental color scheme could have taken place between then and the time of the episodes of the original series.

Mmm, sorry. I did search but didn't find it. I try not to be duplicatin' the old threads. I wanted to start a thread on the medical chick with weird eyes. I thought she was really cool. Of course, there's no image yet on Memory Alpha so I can't illustrate... you know who I mean. So I searched the forums for "weird eyes" and I couldn't find anything. Then I realized it probably wasn't much of a topic anyway. I mean, what's there to say.
"Medical doctor lady had weird eyes."
"yah, that was cools111"
"I didn't like her weird eyes, they weren't cannon[sic], Matt Jefferies says [link]"... blah blah etc. That's what that thread would be like.

Same reason command wore red in TNG: it looked better on the actors.

Er, this is the only theory that explains it. I hear a security dude was wearing blue, too... and those pics from TMP are interesting as well. The Kelvin-era uniforms did look very cool.

 

[M'Sharak]

Well, I don't recally seeing many details. It was pretty dark those first few scenes. But IIRC, Kevin was supposed to be a science vessel right? (Atleast I think I head something along those lines.) Maybe Robau, bad ass as he was, had a blue uniform because he was a science officer.

On the official site, it says in the ship's dossier that Kelvin-type vessels were primarily used for survey missions, so that could easily fit with having it crewed and commanded by people with science backgrounds.

On the other hand, the security officer was also wearing blue, so who knows?

Actually, I remember reading on the Intel site that he/she/it was the navigator, and hence would be in the command/navigation division.

Nope, security officer. The Intel "boldly go" site is no longer up, but you can see the caps made from it here and here.

Memory Alpha also has her down as Security Officer:

http://memory-alpha.org/en/wiki/Alnschloss_K'Bentayr

 

[JuanBolio]

On the official site, it says in the ship's dossier that Kelvin-type vessels were primarily used for survey missions, so that could easily fit with having it crewed and commanded by people with science backgrounds.

On the other hand, the security officer was also wearing blue, so who knows?

Actually, I remember reading on the Intel site that he/she/it was the navigator, and hence would be in the command/navigation division.

Nope, security officer. The Intel "boldly go" site is no longer up, but you can see the caps made from it here and here.

Memory Alpha also has her down as Security Officer:

http://memory-alpha.org/en/wiki/Alnschloss_K%27Bentayr

Hmm... maybe they got it wrong, then. He was in what is classically the navigator's seat, and the guy in red who is listed as the "helmsman" on the Intel site (the young guy on the captain's right) seemed to be doing the shooting/defensive moves. That's the same seat that Kirk's weapons officer sat at during the Kobayashi Maru test.

 

[M'Sharak]

There was a thread months ago, before the movie hit the theaters (try a search for "The Kelvin's uniforms" if you want to check it out.) I think most people just figured that 25 years was long enough that a couple of changes in uniform design and departmental color scheme could have taken place between then and the time of the episodes of the original series.

Mmm, sorry. I did search but didn't find it. I try not to be duplicatin' the old threads.

I don't see it being a problem having a new thread. (The old thread is here if you want to have a look.)

I wanted to start a thread on the medical chick with weird eyes. I thought she was really cool. Of course, there's no image yet on Memory Alpha so I can't illustrate... you know who I mean. So I searched the forums for "weird eyes" and I couldn't find anything. Then I realized it probably wasn't much of a topic anyway. I mean, what's there to say.
"Medical doctor lady had weird eyes."
"yah, that was cools111"
"I didn't like her weird eyes, they weren't cannon[sic], Matt Jefferies says [link]"... blah blah etc. That's what that thread would be like.

I liked her, too, and it seems now that a few photos and scans of press clippings have been added to the "Starfleet doctor" actress' website (weren't there last time I checked) so it may be worth taking a look (I've linked to the non-Flash version.)

 

[Kaziarl]

I liked her, too, and it seems now that a few photos and scans of press clippings have been added to the "Starfleet doctor" actress' website (weren't there last time I checked) so it may be worth taking a look (I've linked to the non-Flash version.)

From your link (its off of a scanned article, so I can't copy/paste, nor can I link the image):

Stunning actress Sonita Henry has become an obssession form millions of Star Trek fans (Trekkies or Trekkers depending on the level of insanity)

Too dang funny.

 

[M'Sharak]

From your link (its off of a scanned article, so I can't copy/paste, nor can I link the image):

Stunning actress Sonita Henry has become an obssession form millions of Star Trek fans (Trekkies or Trekkers depending on the level of insanity)

Too dang funny.

This one?

 

[Kaziarl]

That just goes to the top of the gallery, the same picture as your avatar. The page I'm referring to is in the right hand column, second one down.

 

[I am not Spock]

It didn't bother me. If the department colours/uniforms changed between TOS season three and TMP; again between TMP and TWOK; and between TUC and TNG; I can accept them changing in the 80 years between ENT and the beginning of XI.

To paraphrase McCoy: 'I know Starfleet uniform designers, they LOVE to change things'!

Actually, the Kelvin uniforms in 2233 reminded me of the future uniforms we saw in TNG's 'All Good Things', DS9's 'The Visitor', and VOY's 'Endgame'.

 

[Mr. Laser Beam]

Was it just me, or was Admiral Pike's new dress uniform at the very end of the movie somewhat reminiscent of the one Kirk wore at the start of TMP?

Yep, they did that on purpose.

 

[JarodRussell]

I always found the constant change in uniforms pretty ridiculous. How many times do uniform designs change in real military?

Voyager was the only ship that had the same uniforms for 7 years, and that's just because she was stranded in the Delta Quadrant. Picard's Enterprise(s) went through 4 uniform designs in 8 years. They even had two different uniforms scattered randomly across the officers at the same time in Generations, which is the peak of unbelievability, I guess.

So the TWOK design is the "most successful" uniform design, it stayed from the 2280s to the 2350s. While all the others barely made it 3-4 years average.

Was it just me, or was Admiral Pike's new dress uniform at the very end of the movie somewhat reminiscent of the one Kirk wore at the start of TMP?

Yep, they did that on purpose.

Can you cite a source? I'm all ears for an interview with the costume designer.

 

[ALF]

I guess the Kelvin's uniforms did close the "unknown gap" between Enterprise and TOS although only slightly.

M'Sharak's avatar is cool.

 

[Alpha_Geek]

It just occured to me on board the Kelvin that command (George Kirk, Robau) are wearing blue.

Was this discussed before?

Maybe Kelvin was primarily a scientific vessel?

 

[I am not Spock]

I always found the constant change in uniforms pretty ridiculous. How many times do uniform designs change in real military?

Voyager was the only ship that had the same uniforms for 7 years, and that's just because she was stranded in the Delta Quadrant. Picard's Enterprise(s) went through 4 uniform designs in 8 years. They even had two different uniforms scattered randomly across the officers at the same time in Generations, which is the peak of unbelievability, I guess.

So the TWOK design is the "most successful" uniform design, it stayed from the 2280s to the 2350s. While all the others barely made it 3-4 years average.

Was it just me, or was Admiral Pike's new dress uniform at the very end of the movie somewhat reminiscent of the one Kirk wore at the start of TMP?

Yep, they did that on purpose.

Can you cite a source? I'm all ears for an interview with the costume designer.

The change in uniforms every couple of years in Starfleet is probably because, I assume, the toy companies wanted to pump out a new line of figurines!

The TWOK era ones, indeed, are the most long-lived, surviving for decades. The First Contact/late DS9 ones lasted for quite a while, too.

I didn't so much mind the crew wearing both TNG season 7 and DS9/VOY jumpsuits in Generations, because it showed a kind of transition period between the two designs. Just like we saw background extras wearing early TNG jumpsuits in later TNG episodes.

 

[Corinthian7]

Haven't read all the replies, but the thought hit me right away that the Command uniforms on the Kelvin were based on the fact ALL of Archer's crew (and the crew of its sister ship, late in the ENT series) were BLUE.

Notice that during the TOS film period, the uniforms were all red, and nearly a century later (TNG) when Starfleet went back to a tri-color system, red became the Command color, apparently left over from the earlier (TOS movie) red uniforms.

Makes sense that on the Kelvin, the Archer-era uniform color became the color for Command.

Twenty years later, the three colors used on the Archer-era stripes were used as the basis for the uniform colors on starships, and maybe elsewhere.

I like this theory. I think I might adopt as part of my personal 'canon'!

 

[I am not Spock]

^ Indeed, that is a good theory. I will subscribe to this one.