Why were the other characters so hostile to Christine Chapel?

[BillJ]

Can we please get back on topic?

The fun of any given topic is that they can hit on many related subjects and those can take on a life of their own.

I can't say that I ever noticed any hostility towards the show. But I did see times where she was shooed away by a more senior officer, this is seen at the end of Amok Time.

 

[sevenstars]

It's really not hard to see why some fans were so hostile towards Chapel. She had the same crush on Spock as many of them did, and as such was a bit of an impediment to their fantasies.

If you mean, she was competition-- mmm, no. That's not how fantasy works.

Here's how fantasy works: Christine Chapel? (if you take any notice of her at all, which is unlikely): Oh oh, transporter accident. What a shame.

But I think you're essentially right. Why? BECAUSE CHRISTINE CHAPEL WAS A DRIP. The problem was not that she had a crush on Spock-- it was that she made having a crush on Spock look totally pathetic.

 

[CaptainMatt]

Never thought of Chapel or her Spock crush as looking pathetic, myself. I just thought it was a sad case of loving someone who does not love you back, kind of like Dr Who and his modern companions like Rose or Martha Jones.

 

[Therin of Andor]

If you mean, she was competition-- mmm, no. That's not how fantasy works.

I know several TV soap opera actresses. When a lead male character has a new female character expressing interest in him, that actress gets hate mail.

 

[sevenstars]

That's not fantasy, honey, that's delusion.

 

[Gothowitz]

The problem was not that she had a crush on Spock-- it was that she made having a crush on Spock look totally pathetic.

I always thought that the Chapel character and mooning over Spock was created so that GR could get his mistress back on the show and slowly elevate her "importance" so he stop her nagging.

 

[Anji]

I don't remember hearing anything about Maj being a nag, so I'm wondering where you got your information from???

I think if there had been a Season 4 or 5 the writers may have developed the relationship a little bit more.

And I do think Spock did love her back.

 

[Therin of Andor]

I don't remember hearing anything about Maj being a nag, so I'm wondering where you got your information from???

The story of Majel nagging GR to get her a role in ST relates to the creation of Lwaxana Troi. She threatened him with the couch at one point, but all in fun. He came home after hearing the pitch for TNG's "Haven" and told Majel he'd found her the perfect role - and she wouldn't have to act!

Majel herself told this story at many conventions.