Most Underrated Character
- Thread starter indycar
- Start date
None of them. Public perception has them well sized up.
OK, if I was pushed for an answer, some of Wesley's return guest appearances are good but the character doesn't get much credit for those.
OK, if I was pushed for an answer, some of Wesley's return guest appearances are good but the character doesn't get much credit for those.
Dr. Crusher. If I wanted one of the Doctors to treat me, my first choice would be Pulaski, but my second would be Crusher.
Of the choices presented, I'd have to say Tasha Yar. She did seem kind of one-note with her "... I fled my planet's rape gangs" to any new ear she discovered, but she had so much potential. And besides, who doesn't love a good catfight? I know "Code of Honor" is contentious, but when Yar and her opponent went inside their ProWrestling Cage Match with their odd pin-cushion gloves tipped with poison and the whole bit, smacking eachother around and such ... I was paying attention, that scene. I thought they spoilt it, though, with Bev's timely assistance $aving the day and turning the tables round. Had the fight been suitably blood-thirsty, I'm confident there would've been more fights like it.
The only other really memorable fight Yar had was with a couple of Ferengi on a misty planet set. She gave one a kick with her long legs and shouted, "don't try it, Shorty!" And that was kind of the extent of it. But it was kind of funny, actually. I liked it when Q hit her with a cold wave in the pilot episode ... that was kind of cool. The only thing I didn't like was when she gave herself to Data ... willingly and then such big deal was made of it after, like his admissions about their intimacy in "Measure of a Man," and at other times. Although, I still chuckle, when she marches up to Data and goes, "... it didn't happen!"... and then darts away.
The only other really memorable fight Yar had was with a couple of Ferengi on a misty planet set. She gave one a kick with her long legs and shouted, "don't try it, Shorty!" And that was kind of the extent of it. But it was kind of funny, actually. I liked it when Q hit her with a cold wave in the pilot episode ... that was kind of cool. The only thing I didn't like was when she gave herself to Data ... willingly and then such big deal was made of it after, like his admissions about their intimacy in "Measure of a Man," and at other times. Although, I still chuckle, when she marches up to Data and goes, "... it didn't happen!"... and then darts away.
I voted Wesley, but really either of the Crushers.
My vote goes to Beverly. At first glance she may seem bland, but she's so not. She added some much needed conflict to the crew, especially with the captain. Some of my favorite scenes in the series is when she would butt heads and challenge him, along with their friendship/ romantic feelings for each other. She also had a stubborn streak which would occasionally get her in trouble along with an over protectiveness of her son. I loved her bedside manner with her patients and her dedication to them. It's a shame she wasn't utilized more in the series, because there is a lot to work with right there
Bev - she's a better starship captain than most. In Descent she did an excellent job running the Enterprise, yet they still treat her like an idiot. "Now, Beverly, if anything goes wrong, make sure to hussle that cute ass back to Federation space so they can save ya. All righty?"
Instead she ignores those orders and fights the Borg (or pseudo-Borg, if you prefer), beating the hell out of them.
In Suspicions, where she backed the Ferengi inventor, I thought when Kurak attacked her in the lab it was a good opportunity for the Dr. to put Worf's Klingon combat training to use. Too bad she didn't fight back in that scene, but at least she did wipe the floor with Jo'Bril at the end, proving she has the sand to incinerate someone with her phaser if necessary.
Also missing at the very end of that show was Crusher smashing that goofy tennis racket over Guinan's head.
Instead she ignores those orders and fights the Borg (or pseudo-Borg, if you prefer), beating the hell out of them.
In Suspicions, where she backed the Ferengi inventor, I thought when Kurak attacked her in the lab it was a good opportunity for the Dr. to put Worf's Klingon combat training to use. Too bad she didn't fight back in that scene, but at least she did wipe the floor with Jo'Bril at the end, proving she has the sand to incinerate someone with her phaser if necessary.
Also missing at the very end of that show was Crusher smashing that goofy tennis racket over Guinan's head.
That Descent episode was nuts. All the crew on the planet to look for psycho-Data, the doc in charge with a bunch of nervous rookies with a ship on the prowl that's far more powerful than them. There certainly was no need to have Picard on the surface.
Seems like they would've sent the scrubs to the surface to look for Data, especially with the Borg in the area. I know it was done to give Gates McFadden something to do, but it never made any sense.
I definitely think it is Beverley. She seems quite bland but she simply isn't. She adds some needed conflict to many scenes, arguing from a humanitarian point of view instead of a purely logical one. I enjoy her passion [she is always willing to speak up and voice her opinions] while I also feel she is one of the warmest characters in all of Trek. She really is a doctor who would put your mind at ease.
I also have to mention Wesley as a runner-up who I always liked [hell, I like Neelix too] and was a good character who improved as the seasons passed.
I also have to mention Wesley as a runner-up who I always liked [hell, I like Neelix too] and was a good character who improved as the seasons passed.
Having watched S1 again, Wesley was always saving the day and being a pain pretty much up to the point where Picard said "SHUT UP WESLEY"
After that, he's fairly normal, no superpowers.
Picard rules.
Geordi LaForge.
So much potential in the first season. After that first season, they didn't really know what to do with him...except metaphorically cut off his man parts where every woman turns him down except one that is visibly portrayed by a black woman. Yes, he supposedly married someone named Leah (or Leia) but was it Leah Brahms? Leia Organa? Who?
Not to mention, whether he married into the Rebel Alliance/The Resistance or not. That was an alternate reality that may or may not have happened.
In "Arsenal of Freedom" they gave him temporary command. It would have been awesome to see him come across the bitchy engineer that gave him trouble in a later episode where said bitchy engineer had to 'learn a lesson' by way of respecting the command structure even if he doesn't agree.
Yes, he was in command of the USS Challenger, but that too was an alternate reality.
In "The Naked Now" he talks about Yar's 'beauty' and one might think the writers were trying to set those two up. Star Trek doesn't always do relationships well (albeit, I do like the Spock/Uhura relationship, even though Uhura is pretty much defined by her relationship with Spock - something that may or may not change with Star Trek Beyond) but that would have been interesting to see, especially in the 1980s if they would actually be bold and 'go for it.'
With all that said, Beverly Crusher was an underrated character, too. I think her personality was brighter in the movies, even though the movies were pretty bad. I also found it cool when she took command at times, although I haven't watched those particular episodes (or episode) in quite awhile.
I remember not liking her attitude in the 1st season. She was kind of, well, bitchy. Especially in the Edo episode where Wesley was going to be executed. I remember feeling like 'Well, he did break the rules. Now he has to pay the price!'
I think her character was a lot 'looser' in the films, the same with Deanna Troi. (Although, Troi's accent became more English than alien). They weren't as stiff as they were in the series.
So much potential in the first season. After that first season, they didn't really know what to do with him...except metaphorically cut off his man parts where every woman turns him down except one that is visibly portrayed by a black woman. Yes, he supposedly married someone named Leah (or Leia) but was it Leah Brahms? Leia Organa? Who?
Not to mention, whether he married into the Rebel Alliance/The Resistance or not. That was an alternate reality that may or may not have happened.
In "Arsenal of Freedom" they gave him temporary command. It would have been awesome to see him come across the bitchy engineer that gave him trouble in a later episode where said bitchy engineer had to 'learn a lesson' by way of respecting the command structure even if he doesn't agree.
Yes, he was in command of the USS Challenger, but that too was an alternate reality.
In "The Naked Now" he talks about Yar's 'beauty' and one might think the writers were trying to set those two up. Star Trek doesn't always do relationships well (albeit, I do like the Spock/Uhura relationship, even though Uhura is pretty much defined by her relationship with Spock - something that may or may not change with Star Trek Beyond) but that would have been interesting to see, especially in the 1980s if they would actually be bold and 'go for it.'
With all that said, Beverly Crusher was an underrated character, too. I think her personality was brighter in the movies, even though the movies were pretty bad. I also found it cool when she took command at times, although I haven't watched those particular episodes (or episode) in quite awhile.
I remember not liking her attitude in the 1st season. She was kind of, well, bitchy. Especially in the Edo episode where Wesley was going to be executed. I remember feeling like 'Well, he did break the rules. Now he has to pay the price!'
I think her character was a lot 'looser' in the films, the same with Deanna Troi. (Although, Troi's accent became more English than alien). They weren't as stiff as they were in the series.
Last edited:
I think Beverly was the most underrated. Followed by Geordi. Since Barclay, Sonya Gomez, Ensign Rager were recurring, one-time, or minor characters I'm not including them though I do think more could've been done with Gomez, Rager, Ensign Gates.
Joel Kirk you definitely hit the nail on the head about Geordi. He was such a eunuch. It took them forever to give him relationships and even a family. I think he's the last character that had his relatives even show up on the show. That being said, I had no problems with him and Aquiel. Renee Jones was always fine to me. And I thought Geordi had more of a pulse with her. She had something of an edge to her, not as orderly or straitlaced as Geordi so that could've led to an interesting contrast of styles and outlooks.
I also think there was an attractive young black engineer that liked Geordi but for some strange reason he gave her no play? His man parts were probably Bolian blue and he didn't give her any consideration? Come on writers.
I never got the Leah Brahms thing. She wasn't all that to me, to be honest, and his thing for her was a bit pathetic even if it kept in line with many nerds' unrequited crushes, myself included. And I guess they put Brahms as his future wife because they had done such a crappy job of giving him many other love interests in seven years so there were so few choices to pick from that the audience was familiar with. I wish the future wife had been Aquiel if it had to be anyone. He had more chemistry with Aquiel than what I saw with Brahms.
I loved when VOY had LaForge as a captain in "Timeless" and at least Trek Lit. paid some homage to that even if it was all too brief.
Here's the Memory Alpha page on Tyler:
http://memory-alpha.wikia.com/wiki/Tyler_(female)
Joel Kirk you definitely hit the nail on the head about Geordi. He was such a eunuch. It took them forever to give him relationships and even a family. I think he's the last character that had his relatives even show up on the show. That being said, I had no problems with him and Aquiel. Renee Jones was always fine to me. And I thought Geordi had more of a pulse with her. She had something of an edge to her, not as orderly or straitlaced as Geordi so that could've led to an interesting contrast of styles and outlooks.
I also think there was an attractive young black engineer that liked Geordi but for some strange reason he gave her no play? His man parts were probably Bolian blue and he didn't give her any consideration? Come on writers.
I never got the Leah Brahms thing. She wasn't all that to me, to be honest, and his thing for her was a bit pathetic even if it kept in line with many nerds' unrequited crushes, myself included. And I guess they put Brahms as his future wife because they had done such a crappy job of giving him many other love interests in seven years so there were so few choices to pick from that the audience was familiar with. I wish the future wife had been Aquiel if it had to be anyone. He had more chemistry with Aquiel than what I saw with Brahms.
I loved when VOY had LaForge as a captain in "Timeless" and at least Trek Lit. paid some homage to that even if it was all too brief.
Here's the Memory Alpha page on Tyler:
http://memory-alpha.wikia.com/wiki/Tyler_(female)
Last edited:
Similar threads
- Locked
