The Great Captain Debate

Community
#1

Kirk or Picard?

This question, often used by Trek Fans, Nerds, Geeks, us, can place the person who answers into a very specific box in the questioner’s mind. Yet I find that this is not the question that truly is at the heart of the Great Captain Debate, for there are many more captains, and many more genres, which deserve merit. Indeed, there are many others that we as a social group often find ourselves discussing.

Hence this thread is not so much to begin a conflict between (arguably) the two most famous Trek captains, but more to debate who your favourite captain is, and why. Any Captain, from any genre, is fair game.

I’ll be honest, it’s tough for me to think of my favourite, so I’ll pick one of them.

Captain: John Sheridan
Genre/Show: SciFi - Bablyon 5
Why: Sheridan is the sort of Captain who leads from the frontlines. He’ll ride fire with his fighter squads, he’ll get in there with hand to hand combat, he’ll threaten a Vorlon face to face. He’s not afraid to try new tactics, he does not believe in impossible scenarios. He cares for his people, but also his principles. There’s good reason why he became the one to lead the galaxy into its third age. I wonder how he’d have dealt with the Kobyashi Maru…

#2

As far as Trek goes, I find it hard to go past Sisko, even though he’s generally regarded as number 4 on that particular list (behind Kirk, Picard and Janeway but ahead of Archer)

When I was halfway through your post I was thinking Sheridan as well. Helluva guy :slight_smile:

I’ve always been fond of Captain Allister Caine, although that’s a somewhat controversial (and obscure) choice.

#3

As far as Star Trek goes I would prefer a spear through the leg than watch anything even related to the show so no Captains :slight_smile:

My favourite Captain would be Nathan Bridges Captain of the Seaquest. (ignoring season 2 which was so bad Roy Schneider grew a beard in the hope no-one would recognise him).

I liked how he balanced the Scientific vs Military, was rarely flustered and managed to act as a father figure without coming off as a two dimension character.

#4

The best captain is called Jack.

#5

I have to admit that I have a small soft spot for Captain Han Solo, the scoundrel with a well hidden heart of gold.

Don’t you mean best captains are called Jack? :wink:

#6

Captain Lionel Wafer, from The Pirates Mixed-Up Voyage. Handsome and hairy. Sigh…

#7

Honor Harrington, that is all.

#8

Captain Jack ‘Lucky’ Aubrey from the Aubrey and Mauturin series.

Adding more fuel to the fire that Jack is a splendid name for Captains.

(I may be especially partial to the name Jack. Ahem. :wink: )

#9

Mal Reynolds.

#10

Captain Carrot Ironfoundersson, of the Ankh Morpork City Watch. You don’t need a boat or a spaceship to win this debate (or my heart swoon ).

#11

What he said.

#12

Seconded.

#13

Captain “Hawkeye” Pierce. MD
MASH
A silly man, with a strong wit, likes to mess with people. conversely likes to take care of people, especially his men and the injured and do the right thing (in the end).

probably not my fav of ALL time, but deserves a mention.

#14

So that’s where you got the name!

#15

I’m going to second Captain Jack Aubrey.

Should there be a thread for doctors, as well? Because Dr Maturin is rather awe-inspiring.

#16

So that’s where you got the name![/quote]
:wink:

Although Margaret Mahy pinched the name from an actual person, a ship’s doctor and naturalist.

#17

What he said.[/quote]

Ditto. Makes me want to watch Firefly right now. In fact…

#18

Yeah but, the Ships’ Doctors

Dr Leonard McCoy - snarls, patches, mends, falls in love, delivers babies to women who could break his neck and, when Khan Noonien Singh held a scalpel to his throat, calmly faced the maniac down while suggesting better cutting technique to get the carotid artery. Because McCoy is bad ass.

The EMH - Um, fussy? Great drive to become human?

Dr Simon Tam - very, very pretty. Also, good to his sister, and learning how to tote a gun.

Dr Steven Maturin - short, scrawny, deft hand with a foil and a pistol, once performed life-saving surgery on himself, demonstrably able to keep a beautiful woman happy in bed, passionate naturalist, and once removed all doubt that he might be a Secret Agent Guy by the sheer ineptness of his (sincerely given) speech to the French naturalist society. Also bad ass.

#19

Surely the best doctor is The Doctor?

#20

Best Doctor is Dr Helena Russell.

10 points to anyone old enough to remember the show without having to resort to Google :-0)