The Caffeinated Neurotic

It's 4 AM here in California and I'm up with a rabid dose of insomnia, thus I've been thinking of ways to keep entertained. Since Trek fandom has been rather slow lately, I thought, why not try to get the fires burning once more with a hearty discussion (i.e. lovefest)...

So, what are your absolute favorite character moments? The moments that stand out in your head that make you think 'god, I love this character'. I'll start the process by using the TOS cast as an example. Feel free, however, to use any Trek character moments from any of the shows (or movies).

Favorite Character Moments:


Kirk: Kirk has so many moments. It's hard to pick one. I mean, the man has saved the universe many times over. So I find it kind of ironic that my moment for him, considering all he accomplished, is a relatively light-hearted one... His poker bluff to the aliens in "Corbonite Maneuver". I love that moment. It's a really great example of his dynamic personality, his great tactical skills, and his ability to come up with, usually by the seat of his pants, creative problem solving.

Spock: Spock, like Kirk, has so many great moments that it is difficult to choose, so I'm going to go with the big one... his sacrificing himself in 'The Wrath of Khan' so that his shipmates can live. "The needs of the many..." Spock is a character of considerable ethics, and I would hazard to say that never has there been a finer example in all of Trek of such extreme honor and dignity, nor of living by example.

McCoy: Such a passionate character, and the one-liners he delivered where almost always gold. So considering his great wit, its odd that I'm picking a rather sombre moment for him. And that moment would be in the "Immunity Syndrome" when he volunteers to man the shuttle that would take him to his death. Incidentally, one of my very favorite Spock and Bones exchanges is in this episode as well: M: "Shut up, Spock! We're rescuing you!" S:"Why, thank you ... Captain McCoy."

Scotty: Love the guy. He was even more passionate about his work than McCoy. Scotty also had a lot of great moments, but for whatever reason, whenever I think of him, I think of one scene in particular, one that always manages to bust me up... It comes from "Trouble with Tribbles". So these Klingons walk into a bar, itching for a fight. Scotty, who likes to consider himself the voice of reason, wisely tells his colleagues not to give in to the taunting. First they try to rile Scotty and his companions by insulting Captain Kirk. The colleagues are dying to defend Kirk's honor, but Scotty shakes his ever-so-wise head and tells them to chill. Next the Klingons insult the Enterprise.... and it was ON! Scotty threw the first punch. Heh, that's great stuff, right there. PS: this scene was followed by the best Scotty/Kirk exchange ever, imho.

Uhura: let me preface this by saying, when I was a kid, I totally looked up to Uhura. She was my role model. Here's one example of why... So, "Naked Time". Sulu, a rugged manly man in full bloom of his manhood, leaps onto the bridge of the Enterprise wielding a sword, as men are prone to do (<- heh, sorry, couldn't resist), drunk of a space pathogen (as the crew of the Enterprise was prone to do ;)) and gets all caveman by offering to protect his, quote, 'fair maiden' Uhura and gets Mr. Grabby-hands with her. And Uhura... shoves his butt away with the fast quip of, "Sorry, neither." What can I say, I like my women feisty. ;)

Sulu: I was tempted to pick the same scene as Uhura, because a drunk, sword weilding Sulu was too cute for words. (I also enjoy his 'nerdgasm moments, i.e. antique gun in "Shore Leave", plant in "Man Trap") but my favorite Sulu moment comes from "Undiscovered Country" when Sulu is asked point blank by Starfleet where the Enterprise is, and he... feigns total ignorance. So loyal to his previous captain, that one. If Sulu went to Hogwarts, he'd be a Hufflepuff.

Chekov: Incidentally, Chekov actually provided a scene that stuck with me in a terrifying way. I was a small child when 'The Wrath of Khan" came out, okay, that bug in the ear thing was creepy! Creepy, I tell you! Scared me to death. I wouldn't go near any insects after that. Had actual nightmares that bugs would crawl into my ear while I was sleeping. In conclusion, Nicholas Meyer owes me months of therapy on his tab. ;) But that's not my favorite Chekov moment, and for obvious reasons (reason being that scene is freakin creepy, just saying. Bugs. Ewww). No, my favorite Chekov moment comes from "Voyage Home"... Kirk, worried for his fallen comrade who had been so close to dying, asks Chekov for his name and rank, just to make sure he's okay. Commander Chekov, convinced that nearly dying is really no excuse to hold back on the sass, replies that his rank is 'Admiral'. *sing-song voice* Oh, he's a cheeky boy.


So, I've shown you mine, now you show me yours... ;)