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Thursday, May 21, 2009

Something that Made Me Boggle

Okay, someone posted a list of things that they want to see in the next Star Trek movie. This is not the boggling part, because that's what geeks do. I totally have my list! (It includes lots of Spock, as I'm sure shocks you.)

But one of the things on the list made me go "Bwuh?!"

The dynamic between Kirk, Uhura, and Spock was used JUST enough in the first film and it should definitely be a part of the second film. In fact, Uhura's relative disappearance in the final act of Star Trek was disappointing. So, if the best way to bring her back into the fold is to play up the triangle like Bryan Singer did with Wolverine-Jean Grey-Cyclops in the second X-Men film, then go for it. But be careful. We do not want to see One Tree Hill: The Final Frontier. The concerns that the cast of Star Trek would look too much like a CW pilot were unfounded. Don't make them founded again.
(From here.)

So they want Spock to spend most of the movie mind-controlled while Kirk and Uhura make eyes at each other? And then Uhura dies in a really stupid way because, honestly, if she can hold back fucking water like that, I'm pretty sure she could have lifted the goddamn plane instead. Less force involved. And y'know, she could have been ON IT too. (Sorry, I have issues with the end of X-2)

I didn't hate the movie, rant aside, but it's not a very good basis for how triangles should work.

Besides, I'd like to think they can do something with Uhura that doesn't make her a competition trophy. I liked the understated way the romance was used in the first movie, and how it didn't minimize her actual ship-type contributions. Why can't she have an increased role based on her badass translation skills instead? It's fairly easy to think of situations where that's useful, even with a Universal Translator.

On a pettier note, the love triangle would annoy me because one of the things I loved about the movie was how disinterested Uhura was in Kirk. Not every girl goes after the playboy after all. Just because a guy is likeable and charming, or the big man on campus, doesn't mean he's good boyfriend material. Uhura's wiser than that. And really, like Hal Jordan, Kirk can only benefit from acquaintance with a few women completely immune to his charm.

Besides, Spock's hotter anyway. :-)

5 Comments:

  • At May 22, 2009 5:16 AM, Anonymous Susan (aka Legible Susan) said…

    Totally agree with you on all points!

    Re. not falling for Kirk: I really like the green Orion cadet (Gaila?) and the way Kirk gets sort-of called on his double standard. Yes, women can do that thing too!

     
  • At May 22, 2009 10:37 AM, Anonymous Anonymous said…

    Shanter-Kirk did a lot of playing around, but I don't recall him ever making a play for another guy's girl. So unless we're changing that part of his character (and, to be fair, growing up without his father does justify it) it'd be out of character for him to keep after Uhura after he knows she's with Spock.

    Plus he'd deserve to have Spock kick his ass, and Spock could.

    --Jack of Spades

     
  • At May 22, 2009 11:24 AM, Blogger ticknart said…

    Plus, after the fight in the bar, Kirk didn't chase Uhura, except to find out her name.

    There are plenty of other space women out there who aren't involved with his second in command.

    Really, if they want an interesting love triangle in the second movie they should use the Romulan commander from "The Enterprise Incident," or someone like her.

     
  • At May 25, 2009 3:52 PM, Blogger Rocketlex said…

    I always assumed they paired Uhura and Spock up specifically so that Kirk wouldn't have a love interest. This way, true to form, he could have a new love interest at every planetary encounter they have.

     
  • At June 05, 2009 2:33 PM, Blogger Greg Sanders said…

    Totally agree. I don't tend to be much of a love triangle fan in any event, but playing one up seems like a particularly bad idea here.

     

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