Your impressions of Zephram Cochrane...the drunk?

[3D Master]

fascinoma said:

presence said:
Ok, so I'll say it. Cochrane in First Contact was not only a drunk, but juvenile. He was interesting as a character, but as a scientist who made the breakthrough into warp technology -- he was not believable. It would have been a breakthrough for this guy to find his breakfast. Are people flawed, yes, and this guy was way past flawed.

To my mind? Of course he was believable! The problem here was, not enough background was shown on the character. Cochrane struck me as bitter and broken, not juvenile.

Here is how I see the arc of Cochrane's character, as presented in canonical sources:

1. I infer that something happened to Cochrane to make him the way he was in FC. Maybe a bitter divorce (does it to the best of men) or death of a wife and/or child. Maybe someone tried to screw him over. He becomes disillusioned as a scientist and decides to just go after the money. Again, can happen to the best of people, particularly when someone screwed them over once... idealism is hard to hold onto.

World War III; nuclear holocaust and devastation, half the world a nuclear waste land, that enough of something "happening" for ya?

 

[GMDreia]

3D Master said:
World War III; nuclear holocaust and devastation, half the world a nuclear waste land, that enough of something "happening" for ya?

Needs to be more personal than that... he has to have lost his wife and half his family.

 

[Anwar]

I hope you're being a tad sarcastic...

 

[3D Master]

fascinoma said:

3D Master said:
World War III; nuclear holocaust and devastation, half the world a nuclear waste land, that enough of something "happening" for ya?

Needs to be more personal than that... he has to have lost his wife and half his family.

Sorry, but no need. Living in a nuclear waste land is more than personal enough to make some lose hope; if he had any to begin with. 21st Trek century isn't a nice place.

 

[alchemist]

I still disagree with the ending with regards to the development of the Cochrane character (or lack thereof). Think how much less poignant the ending of the original Metamorphosis would have been if Cochrane had said (in reply to Kirk's “The Enterprise is waiting, Mr. Cochrane.”):

“Captain, you WILL make sure that Ms. Hedford, I mean the Companion, has some good library tapes to read, won’t you? I mean, she did take care of me all of those years. I’d hate to see her die of loneliness after we depart.”

Instead of:

“I can't take her away from here. If I do, she'll die. If I leave her, she'll die of loneliness. I owe everything to her. I can't leave her. I love her.”

With regards to the non-regular players in FC, Lilly's character was developed better than Cochrane's.

 

[cobraburnout]

I had no problem with Cochrane in FC. If I were living in that time period I'd drink too. Several people I know didnt even know Cochrane was in TOS. I enjoy seeing the surprise on thier face when I tell them about it.