Why no Starfleet uniform for T'Pol when she joined Starfleet?
- Thread starter Kieran
- Start date
It wasn't. There could be many sci-fi reasons (the production reason being that like with Troi and 7 of 9, the producers wanted the busty women to wear outfits that accentuated their curves). In show reasons could be militarily that her commission wasn't official but rather her authority on the ship came from Archer; biological that Vulcans being allergic to human fabrics and political that noone wanted photos of a vulcan in a starfleet uniform to hit Fox News.
Catsuits = ratings 
That would make sense.
Or it could be because of her unique status or some other reason. But who cares, she looked very hot in those special uniforms. 
Well it stands to reason that (catsuit ratings aside) the "outsider" status of the character was to be accentuated by not only a lack of uniform, but also from answering to other authorities outside Starfleet. T'Pol had to answer to the Vulcan High Command, Seven was not even quite human let alone Starfleet, and Troi's position was not only advising staff, but also civilian-oriented - a new concept for starships at the time.
T'Pol especially played a role in which she represented differing interests than Starfleet's. Putting her in uniform would basically mean she had to obey Archer without fail or lose her place on the ship altogether.
It seems there's always these rogue elements in science fiction these days: Ronin and Teal'c (SG-1/A), Tyr & Becka (Andromeda), Cleopatra (Cleo 2525, OMG did I just reference that); Lexa (Mutant X).... I guess it provides good plot tension to throw in a strong independent character as a foil for the "chain of command". That way the audience doesn't feel like they have to actually relate with idealogues or their rules? I'm not sure.
I do know that by romanticizing independence in entertainment characters, children are encouraged to make more "independent" economic decisions in their purchasing (with parents' money of course). PBS did an investigation about this marketing paradigm shift.
T'Pol especially played a role in which she represented differing interests than Starfleet's. Putting her in uniform would basically mean she had to obey Archer without fail or lose her place on the ship altogether.
It seems there's always these rogue elements in science fiction these days: Ronin and Teal'c (SG-1/A), Tyr & Becka (Andromeda), Cleopatra (Cleo 2525, OMG did I just reference that); Lexa (Mutant X).... I guess it provides good plot tension to throw in a strong independent character as a foil for the "chain of command". That way the audience doesn't feel like they have to actually relate with idealogues or their rules? I'm not sure.
I do know that by romanticizing independence in entertainment characters, children are encouraged to make more "independent" economic decisions in their purchasing (with parents' money of course). PBS did an investigation about this marketing paradigm shift.
So what stopped them in Season 4 when she was part of Starfleet. They had a golden opportunity to put her in a uniform then but instead placed stupid braids on her catsuit instead
Personally it didn't bother me too much because I thought she looked a lot better in the catsuits than she did in a uniform, but they still should have addressed the issue in Season 4.
So what stopped them in Season 4 when she was part of Starfleet. They had a golden opportunity to put her in a uniform then but instead placed stupid braids on her catsuit instead
Personally it didn't bother me too much because I thought she looked a lot better in the catsuits than she did in a uniform, but they still should have addressed the issue in Season 4.
Again citing sex appeal. It was the ONLY reason they put her in the catsuit to begin with, kind of ironic really considering the previously established Vulcan attire consisting pretty much of robes, and the Vulcans are probably the least sexed up races in the entire Star Trek universe.
I suppose budget concerns may have played some factor in why they chose to keep her in the catsuit in Season Four, as it would've cost to tailor new costumes for Jolene opposed to just a adding a few embellishments to the wardrobe already available.
But I doubt that would’ve be a serious factor, so I guess we’re simply back to catsuits = ratings
, which frankly given the extent of sophistication the TV networks allot to audiences makes the most sense.
Catsuits = ratings is one of the ratings for sure but not the only one. Anyway, it doesn't bother me. I mean, Troi, Kira, Seven and T'Pol all looked great in their uniforms
-many times distracting me from paying attention to the plot, thankfully the rewind button is always there if I get lost.
I mean, Troi, Kira, Seven and T'Pol all looked great in their uniforms
I think they should've legitmized T'Pol and put her in a Starfleet uniform (a la Twilight) when she received the rank of Commander for that organization.
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Captain X
Rear Admiral
Wow, we actually agree on something...
But to be frank, I never cared for any of the catsuits, because when a person is on duty, they should appear to be professional. Troi eventually did end up in a uniform, though I think the female uniform on TNG was still way too tight and should've been a thicker woolen two-piece just like the male version and simply cut differently so it would fit better (because otherwise it would look baggy). Kira they should've kept her in the first uniform they came up with, or at most that jumpsuit they had her in a little later on, and then there should've been other Bajorans with that uniform variant, since it was supposed to be an actual uniform and all. That's actually one of the beefs I have with T'Pol's "uniform" too - none of the other Vulcans were seen wearing it. I've heard the explanation that they somehow kept her warm, but I'm not buying it because it's very counterintuitive to have a thinner material to act as if it's somehow more insulating than a thicker material. Yes, it could've been Vulcan thinsulate, but in that case it should've been worn under the regular uniform, because otherwise it's like having her wander around in her long johns. As for Seven, pretty much anything other than a catsuit would've done. I actually think that later on they should've had her in a rank-less blue uniform like the Doctor since it seemed to suit her in that time travel episode. But whatever. [/rant]
But to be frank, I never cared for any of the catsuits, because when a person is on duty, they should appear to be professional. Troi eventually did end up in a uniform, though I think the female uniform on TNG was still way too tight and should've been a thicker woolen two-piece just like the male version and simply cut differently so it would fit better (because otherwise it would look baggy). Kira they should've kept her in the first uniform they came up with, or at most that jumpsuit they had her in a little later on, and then there should've been other Bajorans with that uniform variant, since it was supposed to be an actual uniform and all. That's actually one of the beefs I have with T'Pol's "uniform" too - none of the other Vulcans were seen wearing it. I've heard the explanation that they somehow kept her warm, but I'm not buying it because it's very counterintuitive to have a thinner material to act as if it's somehow more insulating than a thicker material. Yes, it could've been Vulcan thinsulate, but in that case it should've been worn under the regular uniform, because otherwise it's like having her wander around in her long johns. As for Seven, pretty much anything other than a catsuit would've done. I actually think that later on they should've had her in a rank-less blue uniform like the Doctor since it seemed to suit her in that time travel episode. But whatever. [/rant]
I agree, and to commemorate the introduction of the first Vulcan into Earth's Starfleet, T'Pol should have been the first to wear Starfleet's new minidress-and-go-go-boots uniform.
T'Pol did wear a Starfleet uniform in "Twilight," didn't she?
So what stopped them in Season 4 when she was part of Starfleet. They had a golden opportunity to put her in a uniform then but instead placed stupid braids on her catsuit instead
Personally it didn't bother me too much because I thought she looked a lot better in the catsuits than she did in a uniform, but they still should have addressed the issue in Season 4.
Again citing sex appeal. It was the ONLY reason they put her in the catsuit to begin with, kind of ironic really considering the previously established Vulcan attire consisting pretty much of robes, and the Vulcans are probably the least sexed up races in the entire Star Trek universe.
I suppose budget concerns may have played some factor in why they chose to keep her in the catsuit in Season Four, as it would've cost to tailor new costumes for Jolene opposed to just a adding a few embellishments to the wardrobe already available.
But I doubt that would’ve be a serious factor, so I guess we’re simply back to catsuits = ratings
The robes were a product of the Movies and carried over to TNG. TOS Vulcans (What little we saw of them) had some interesting fashion choices for their females:
Shiny and clingy with an emphasis on the bustline.
Funky pantsuit with flowing scarves.
Something that both conceals and reveals the female form that looks more suited to the bedroom than the Babel Conference
I really thought T'Pol's third and fourth season outfits were very becoming. That green camo/brindle catsuit in the first two seasons sucked.
BUT, doesn't the Shat look awesome in that picture.
Was that popcorn thing before or after she went through the crack-whore phase? Because that would be an explanation for her becoming sloppy.
Anyway, I wish they would have put her in a Starfleet uniform in season four. I liked her character, but sometimes, her boobs would get in the way and distract me, and that was a little annoying. A uniform would have been... uh, the logical choice. I never really got the frilly pink outfit that looked like a pyjama, anyways. It was so off-character.
Anyway, I wish they would have put her in a Starfleet uniform in season four. I liked her character, but sometimes, her boobs would get in the way and distract me, and that was a little annoying. A uniform would have been... uh, the logical choice. I never really got the frilly pink outfit that looked like a pyjama, anyways. It was so off-character.
Before.Was that popcorn thing before or after she went through the crack-whore phase?
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