What is it with T'Pol? I've heard various derogatory comments about her, usually along the lines of being a 'vulcan bimbo with implants'. So was she really? Was being an incredibly sexy woman something that took away from her character? Or her catsuits? Was she really a bimbo? To all of those, I would answer no. I found her to be a very interesting character. She was torn between her long repressed emotions and the opening up encouraged by her contact with human culture. She seemed pretty clever to me, but of course as a Vulcan sometimes too restricted by always relying on logic, at the expense of intuition. Certainly she couldn't have been the science officer if she wasn't good at her job, and usually I found that to be the case. I felt the actress did a good job, showing her to be confident but also vulnerable at times. The catsuits were great. I found it much less blatant than what they did with arrogant Seven of Nine in Voyager. What about you guys?
Is T'Pol really so bad as people say?
- Thread starter jimoinj
- Start date
I didn't have any problems with her.
Sometimes I think that the people who complain about a "Vulcan bimbo with implants" simply can't get over their preconceived notions of "beautiful/sexy women can't be smart." For all the flack both T'Pol and Seven took, I think the problem is that some people can't get past their looks while others can appreciate the characters for both their looks and brains.
As for Blalock herself.... I thought she nailed the role of T'Pol perfectly. I've never seen anything else she's done, so she might be horrible in other roles (I don't know). I've also heard that she can come off as something of an airhead at conventions. But all that aside, I honestly don't see the problem with how she acted on ENT.
Sometimes I think that the people who complain about a "Vulcan bimbo with implants" simply can't get over their preconceived notions of "beautiful/sexy women can't be smart." For all the flack both T'Pol and Seven took, I think the problem is that some people can't get past their looks while others can appreciate the characters for both their looks and brains.
As for Blalock herself.... I thought she nailed the role of T'Pol perfectly. I've never seen anything else she's done, so she might be horrible in other roles (I don't know). I've also heard that she can come off as something of an airhead at conventions. But all that aside, I honestly don't see the problem with how she acted on ENT.
Yep. For me the gripe against her was the bad writing. As a male, I had no issue with her being a bimbo female (although she didn't look that great under the pixie wig and ears anyway).
Maybe for some people it was '7 of 9 syndrome", being instantly turned off by the blatant inclusion of a hot female in that kind of similar role, but for me it was all just bad writing. She was just not a good Vulcan. She was always crying or shouting or pouting. Just like every other Vulcan on ENT.
number6
Vice Admiral
She was terrible.. I mean how could she have gotten that coveted job, when there are so many would-be Vulcan Science Officers within our very midst!! How could that rat bastard and murderer of the franchise, Bermaga, realise that the very epitome of Thespian Genius resides right here. Put us in that catsuit, Bermaga, and we'll show you how it should have been and the highly rated televisual feast you deprived of your loving fanbase!!! I'm so angry I just kicked an orphan.
^
I liked T'Pol. Her coming apart in season three was really well done. I didn't like the "drug addict" reason, but I thought Jolene did a great job. Her frozen up in the captain's chair and just staring ahead helplessly as the ship came apart in "Azati Prime" was excellent.
The Pon Farr with Phlox was awful - but I blame the writers.
I liked T'Pol. Her coming apart in season three was really well done. I didn't like the "drug addict" reason, but I thought Jolene did a great job. Her frozen up in the captain's chair and just staring ahead helplessly as the ship came apart in "Azati Prime" was excellent.
The Pon Farr with Phlox was awful - but I blame the writers.
No. People are intimidated, she was very forceful and arrogant and normally that role is only assigned to male characters that a predominantly male audience can accept.
And if you stick with her character she actually starts to become very likeable in season 3-4 when she begins to embrace her role on Enterprise(and of course the situation with Trip).
Like most of Star Trek: Enterprise, people assign really broad, knee jerk reactions to the show/characters without watching it through and getting to know and like it.
And if you stick with her character she actually starts to become very likeable in season 3-4 when she begins to embrace her role on Enterprise(and of course the situation with Trip).
Like most of Star Trek: Enterprise, people assign really broad, knee jerk reactions to the show/characters without watching it through and getting to know and like it.
Jolene. *blood boiling* *but in a bad way*
First of all, her acting is beyond horrible. Most of the time she is just standing there with a stick in her ass trying to display an "emotional struggle". But that would actually all be tolerable if they hadn't put her in the catsuit. At least no one would care about her lines. -.-
The sexploatation REALLY gets on my nerves. -.-
Secondly...before all you males say anything...yes, I am jealous of her. Ha! Beat ya to it!
First of all, her acting is beyond horrible. Most of the time she is just standing there with a stick in her ass trying to display an "emotional struggle". But that would actually all be tolerable if they hadn't put her in the catsuit. At least no one would care about her lines. -.-
The sexploatation REALLY gets on my nerves. -.-
Secondly...before all you males say anything...yes, I am jealous of her. Ha! Beat ya to it!
This was. Expected. I'm so depressed. -.-
From what I have seen so far(Late first season and early second) Blalock is a really terrible actress. There is something about her delivery that is so fucking bizarre it takes me out of the show.
^ Why are you talking about Shatner?
As long as we're nitpicking, you really need to brush up on your grammar, spelling and punctuation.
Bermaga is plural.
Incorrect:
How could that rat bastard and murderer of the franchise, Bermaga, realise that the very epitome of Thespian Genius resides right here.
Correct:
How could those rat bastards and murderers of the franchise, Bermaga, not realize that the very epitome of Thespian Genius resides right here?
It strikes me that, in some cases, an actor's performance is a bit like a rorschach test for some fans/commentators in that a reaction may say something about the fan/commenter as much as it says something about the actor. I can't see hating an actor, a writer, a producer, a show-runner, etc., over a television show. I don't think that anyone in this thread has been really nasty on this point, but I am reminded of discussions in some other threads and thought I would just put in my two cents while it was on my mind....
I liked T'Pol and enjoyed Jolene's performances in the role. I do think that the character got better as the writers and the actress fleshed out the character, just as happens in many television shows (TNG, in particular!).
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Or TOS
Sorry, next to Spock T'Pol is my favorite Vulcan character ever. Blalock did a great job.
I think it was mostly bad writing in her case. And... the fake boobs were too obvious... when you know that when someone take off their shirt, a bunch of padding will fall out, I'd think even for guys it would ruin the illusion. But maybe not.
I liked her at the start- a bit awkward, but very smart and dignified. Then they tried to "sexualize" her in human ways that went against her species... realized that it wasn't really helping and couldn't figure out how to backtrack. We know eventually humans and Vulcan's do have relationships, but this was... weird.
She's not my favourite actress, but at least at the start, I thought she did a good job.
I liked her at the start- a bit awkward, but very smart and dignified. Then they tried to "sexualize" her in human ways that went against her species... realized that it wasn't really helping and couldn't figure out how to backtrack. We know eventually humans and Vulcan's do have relationships, but this was... weird.
She's not my favourite actress, but at least at the start, I thought she did a good job.
Vulcans are probably the most sexualized "species" in Trek - more than humans most of the time, sad to say.
^ OMG, are you suggesting that some people have thought of Spock in a sexualized manner? THE HORROR! 
Guilty! GUILTY! GUILLLLLTEEEEEEY!^ OMG, are you suggesting that some people have thought of Spock in a sexualized manner? THE HORROR!
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