So, guys: "Star Trek" has turned 50 this year. And what a 50th year it's been, for better or worse! As such, I believe it is time to examine our beloved Enterprise Seven...or, rather, 14...and see which character has boldly gone the farthest. This is my unbiased, no-personal-favoritism-involved analysis of this beloved franchise, the characters who make it what it is, and the actors who bring them to life. Before we continue, however, I would like to add that I love them all, and the act of ranking these people brought me to tears at times. They're all rather brilliant.
14. Uhura, Reboot (Zoe Saldana)
You should know, this caused me great pain. I love our girl Uhura, in both of her incarnations. But though Zoe Saldana gives an excellent portrayal of Uhura, nothing really makes her stand out from Nichelle Nichols's performance. Sorry, girl. You still rock.
13. Kirk, Original Series (William Shatner)
Shoot me down in a blaze of fire if you wish. I'm not a big fan of Shatner's Kirk. He's slightly creepy, and a bit of a jerk, if I'm being honest here. However, I do give him credence as being the birth of a legend.
12. Sulu, Reboot (John Cho)
I do love John Cho as Sulu. But George Takei is a very hard act to follow. And though Mr. Cho does it splendidly, there is still something that doesn't quite get brought to the reboot films which makes Sulu...Sulu. As a note, this was one of the ones I struggled with.
11. Scotty, Reboot (Simon Pegg)
Couldn't agree more, Scotty. The fact that you are so low on this list is unacceptable. He's hilarious. I adore him. (But, as previously stated, don't I adore them all?) Frankly, our dear Mr. Pegg only ranks 11 on the list because there are other characters who simply stand out more over the course of the series.
10. Spock, Reboot (Zachary Quinto)
His face is an adequate representation of how I feel ranking him merely 10 out of 14. Following Leonard Nimoy is an even harder task than following George Takei, and Zachary Quinto does it marvelously. But, rather like in the case of Mr. Sulu, Spock is still missing something in the reboots that only Leonard Nimoy could bring.
9. Chekov, Original Series (Walter Koenig)
Look at him. He's highly disappointed in me. Chekov is a beautiful Russian man, and I love Walter Koenig's portrayal of him (though let's face it, my true Chekov fangirling will come later). But for all of his beautiful Russian awesomeness, our beloved ensign feels a victim of bad storytelling. Chekov's addition in the second season - though I will not complain - seems entirely random, and, for me, didn't reallly lose that feel for the entire original series.
8. Sulu, Original Series (George Takei)
Ah, Mr. Takei. My respect for you, sir, and your portrayal of Hikaru Sulu, knows no bounds. In fact, the only reason he doesn't rank in the top half is because, in a travesty of justice, Sulu did not get nearly enough time to shine, especially with that marvelous swordsmanship of his.
7. Scotty, Original Series (James Doohan)
This bold, brash Scotsman may or may not have engineered his way into my heart as my favorite Original Series character. He pulls off this role expertly, and somehow manages to survive the red shirt ordeal daily. Props to you, Mr. Doohan!
6. Kirk, Reboot (Chris Pine)
Once again, shoot me down in a blaze of fire. I find Chris Pine's Kirk to be a better character than William Shatner's. One, he's less creepy. Two - and this is no fault of Mr. Shatner's - his backstory is a better explanation for why Kirk is...well, Kirk.
5. Chekov, Reboot (Anton Yelchin)
As I forcibly hold back my fangirling, allow me to explain why our Mr. Chekov the Younger ranks so much higher than his predecessor. Merely going off of their first appearances in the 2009 film versus the second season of the Original Series, it's the age factor. An eighteen-year-old will play a seventeen-year-old better than a thirty-one-year-old will play a twenty-two-year-old. Also...Yelchin brought a tad bit more Russian-ness to the role. I could go on for hours about him being a brilliant actor in general, but we'd be here all night and there are four more characters to cover. I will say this: rest in peace, sir. We will miss you greatly.
4. Uhura, Original Series (Nichelle Nichols)
This. Woman. Don't get me started...or, on second thought, do. Not only did she birth a legend in the role of Nyota Uhura, but she also paved a road for all women in the film industry. Most women on Original Trek fit the role of damsel quite nicely. Not this lady. She takes none of Kirk's crap, yet still manages to remain entirely feminine. Be still my beating fangirl heart! And there is the rather large detail of the first interracial kiss on television. Good heavens, have I fangirled over her more than Chekov? Yes, I have. That is how epic she is.
3. Bones, Reboot (Karl Urban)
My beloved Dr. McCoy, portrayed by the gloriously snarky Karl Urban. Of the reboot actors who just miss surpassing their predecessor, Mr. Urban comes the closest. I was asked how I was going to pick this one, since he and DeForest Kelley are basically the same person. But I'm going to say, of all of them, he best brings to the role all of the things we love about Bones from the Original Series, and still manages to make it his own. Well done, sir!
2. Bones, Original Series (DeForest Kelley)
Ooh, this one was close. But I will give Mr. Kelley the top spot as Bones, and second overall, because he just made the character, and that's all there is to it. Once again, well done, sir. You make Georgians everywhere proud.
1. Spock, Original Series (Leonard Nimoy)
He is the icon of "Star Trek." More so even than Kirk. If you think "Trek," you think Spock. And you think Mr. Nimoy. He took a very complex character and made him so very Vulcan...and yet so very human, too. And for that, we Trekkies thank him.
So in this, the 50th year of this beloved series, we look back on those who started it all, and those who continued their legacy. To the Enterprise 14, may ten of you live long and prosper...and may four of you rest in the stars, forever boldly going in our hearts.
