Visions of The Future- Top 5 Most Iconic Sci-fi Characters of the 20th Century

Remember way back in April, when I made a similar post about the characters of the 19th century? Well, this is like that but with 20th century characters. Sound simple? I thought so too, until I sat down to write the list.

Here is what I managed to come up with after weeding out some characters that I thought were iconic, and leaving what are,(hopefully), the legends of modern mythology.

5. The Doctor (Doctor Who)-

A character that has survived on television over a span of fifty-three years and twelve main actors certainly deserves a spot on this list. What is about the Doctor that continues to compel us? Is it the mystery? The quirkiness? The compassion? Perhaps it is that perfect blend of elements that keeps us asking the question “Doctor Who?”

4. Captain America (Marvel Comics)-

Even as the product of the Second World War, Captain America draws in readers and viewers from all generations. His belief that goodness and nobility still exist, and that there is still a right thing to do is particularly striking in an era of postmodern anti-heroes.

3. Darth Vader (Star Wars)-

I really wanted to put the entire original Star Wars crew at this spot in the list, but eventually, I settled for Darth Vader. Ultimately, the first six films are about his fall and redemption. And aside from R2-D2, no other character designs have reached quite the level of public recognition as that sinister, black mask.

2. Spock (Star Trek)-

Once again, I wanted to put the entire original crew on the list. They embody space age optimism, and the hopes and fears of the final frontier. But Spock is the most iconic, and the most, well, fascinating.

1. Batman and Superman (DC Comics)-

I tried to pick one. I really did. You can’t separate Batman and Superman, though. They represent the two sides of human nature- cynicism and hope. And yet both work together, (ideally), to fight injustice and promote peace.

I’m really interested to hear your opinions on this subject. Who do you think were the most memorable sci-fi characters of the 20th century? Who are your favorites? Take a moment to comment if you feel so inclined.

Keep on glowing in the dark,

Elora

A One-Year, Fifty-Post Special List!

It’s April 16th. Somehow, by some miracle, this blog has lasted for a whole year! Not only that, but it’s also managed to make it to fifty posts! I’m very grateful to be able to write about these things that I love in light of God’s truth, and share my thoughts with other people. It has been a great privilege and a great blessing. If you’ve been reading this blog from the beginning, or if this is the first post of mine you’ve ever read, I’m grateful for you!

Since it’s sort of a special occasion, I thought I’d write a special sort of post. This is something I’ve wanted to do for a while, and I might do some more of them later on. However, never fear, your regularly scheduled sci-fi history posts will resume after this week. For now, thanks for reading, and supporting me in this crazy blogging venture, and I hope you enjoy this Star Trek “starter kit”.

If you are a geek, you probably want to share the objects of your geeky affections with your friends. However, asking your friends to watch 1960s television, or read 1930s literature with you may attract strange stairs. Suppose for a minute, though, that someone finally caves in to your constant nagging, or perhaps you meet a fellow geek who wants to understand the thing you enjoy better. How do you introduce them to your favorite TV series, book subgenre, or set of movies? That’s what this list is for.

As you’ve all figured out by now, I am a huge fan of Star Trek: The Original Series. Oftentimes, I reference the show, then have to explain myself.  Occasionally, someone will offer to watch it with me, in order to attempt to understand my particular brand of weird. If they follow through with this decision, I have to decide which episode/episodes to show them. So, finally, I compiled a list of what I believe to be the ten most “user-friendly” episodes of Star Trek, that give people a good feel for what the series is. All in good fun, of course.

So, whether you are new to the series yourself, are trying to educate a reboot fan, or just want to do a mini-marathon with your nerdy friends for the fiftieth anniversary next year, I hope you enjoy this list.

1. “Let That Be Your Last Battlefield” (S03-E15)-

I wanted my first episode on this list to include the entire main crew that continues to appear throughout the movies and reboot stuff. So yes, I was doing a lot of nitpicking concerning the helm for this spot on the list. “Let That Be Your Last Battlefield” has everyone: Kirk, Spock, McCoy, Scotty, Uhura, Chekov, and Sulu. Aside from characters, this episode also gives a good feel for the bold, no-nonsense way The Original Series addresses the issues of its day. The endless struggle between the two different groups of aliens on Cheron makes a poignant statement about race relations. Plus, Captain Kirk gives some great speeches, and almost self-destructs the entire Enterprise.

2. “Devil in the Dark” (S01-E25)-

The Original Series introduces so many iconic creatures that it was hard to decide which ones to put on this list, much less which ones to put first. Finally, I decided upon the scary but sympathetic, silicon-based Horta. The antagonist that ends up having sympathetic qualities is a recurring  plot device in Star Trek, and the Horta is a good example of it. Plus, Spock performs a harrowing mind-meld, Bones says some iconic lines, and lots of redshirts die.

3. “The Trouble With Tribbles” (S02-E15)-

Perhaps the most iconic Star Trek episode. Everyone loves tribbles, (except for Klingons). Delta airlines even has tribbles in their safety procedures video. Look it up! Aside from the lovable but prolific furballs, this episode is also notable as one of the few Original Series episodes featuring the Klingons. Plus, all the characters are over the top! Bones and Spock banter, Kirk yells at bureaucrats, Scotty punches the Klingons that insult his ship, Chekov says that everything was inwented in Russia. It’s just fun.

4. “Amok Time” (S02-E01)-

The first episode of the second season introduces a lot of the things people regularly associate with Star Trek- the Vulcan salute, the fight music, Chekov. Plus, it has the entire cast, develops the Vulcan race, and features Kirk and Spock fighting!

5. “City on the Edge of Forever” (S01-E28)-

I’ll freely admit that “City on the Edge” is the best episode of the original series. It presents a fascinating time-travel conundrum, and the characters react in a very realistic, human way. It is a great episode of science fiction television, and provides good character development for the characters. So, why didn’t I put it first? Because, I think the real heart of Star Trek- even when the stories aren’t as good as “City on the Edge”- is the characters. When you get to know the characters first, you’ll enjoy them even more in the very best episode, and you’ll still like them even in “The Way to Eden”- if you can make it through all the singing.

6. “Space Seed” (S01-E22)-

Because you want them to understand Wrath of Khan, right? This episode is a great story of the corrupting influence of power, betrayal, loyalty, genetic engineering and suspended animation starring a well-acted and intriguing villain on its own. But when you pair it with the Wrath of Khan, all sorts of themes, ideas, excitement, crying, screaming, and a little bit of confusion, (who was where what season, huh?) ensue.

7. “The Naked Time” (S01-E04)-

Once you get to know a set of characters, it’s fun to watch them act all out of sorts. Like Spock crying, everyone wants to see Spock crying, (it’s sad, though. I feel for the guy). I’m impressed that the writers were able to so develop the characters in the first three episodes, that the differences in this episode were notable. Also, they invent time warp. Plus, Sulu fences everyone he sees, Kirk dotes on the ship, Kevin Riley, and a lot more clothes than the title implies.

8. “Balance of Terror” (S01-E14)-

This is one of those great, thought-provoking episodes of Star Trek that makes you wonder things like: “are the people I hate really all that different from me?” It introduces the alien race, the Romulans, and their tumultuous relationship with the Federation- a conflict that continues to be an important plot point even into the reboot movies.

9. “Mirror, Mirror” (S02-E04)-

This is the quintessential alternate universe episode of science fiction television. You have probably heard or seen jokes about or references to Spock’s beard even if you haven’t seen this episode. It is an interesting look into the twisted “could-be” Star Trek universe, and brings the characters face to face with the darker side of their natures. Also, Uhura slaps Sulu in the face, Spock calls people illogical, Chekov screams (it happens a lot in the series and the movies, so get used to it), and everyone smiles creepily.

10. “By Any Other Name” (S02-E22)-

This is one of those episodes where you get to see all the characters in their element. Well, except for the ones who get turned into salt cubes. They are in their elements too, just those elements happen to be sodium chloride… Anyway, Kirk, Spock, McCoy and Scotty have to work together to stop some aliens from the Andromeda galaxy from taking over our galaxy. It’s good, old fashioned Star Trek fun. Also, they almost self-destruct the Enterprise, Kirk gets the girl and gets in a fight, and the only female redshirt to die in the entire series meets her demise.

Thanks for reading. I hope you had fun reading through this list, because I most certainly had fun writing it. Thanks for your support and encouragement over this past year. If you have any thoughts on great Star Trek episodes, or any ideas of things you want to see on the blog moving forward, let me know in the comments!

Keep on glowing in the dark,

Elora

Character Analysis, Mr. Spock

It was the opening day of my show when I found out about Leonard Nimoy’s passing. I shared some brief words on social media, that day, then expounded on them on my radio show, SpaceTime, that Tuesday. This post is going to be very similar to what I said on SpaceTime. However, it is my first time organizing my thoughts on paper. So, I hope you enjoy this exploration of the character arc of Spock.

How does a character created for a rejected 1960s television pilot become a respected figure in a 2013 blockbuster? How does a an alien from an early sci-fi show that got cancelled after three seasons become a household name- a part of our modern mythology? I’m sure every creative wants to know.

As impossible as it may seem, we find this transformation in the character of Spock. I’m going to briefly explore Spock’s character arc from “The Cage” to Star Trek Into Darkness, and see what has made Leonard Nimoy’s Spock one of the most loved sci-fi characters of the past fifty years.

When we first meet Spock in the unaired Star Trek pilot “The Cage”, he hasn’t quite grown into the stoic-yet-conflicted, logical first officer we know and love. Beginning in 1966, when he is brought back onto the show with Captain Kirk and Doctor McCoy , he represents the intellectual side of the holistic human portrayed by these three men. I discussed the relationship and conflict between them in this past post.

Though Spock represents one aspect of a complete human, as part of the main trio, he also represents a complete human in and of himself. Though Spock is only half-human, he shows the very human struggle between logic and emotion very clearly. Do I listen to my heart or my mind?

While Captain Kirk has to struggle over who on the outside to listen to- Spock (logic), or McCoy (emotion)- Spock has to choose who on the inside to listen to- his human (emotional) half, or his vulcan (logical) half.

This is a struggle that we as humans can all relate to, and it is the struggle we see all throughout The Original Series.

The Animated Series, as goofy as it is, sees the same basic relationship between the three main characters, and the same internal struggle in Spock. However, we also get a peek into Spock’s early experiences that let to his development in TOS in the episode, “Yesteryear”. (Also, there is a seventy-foot Spock clone out there somewhere, that the reboot series should totally revisit. Just saying).

In The Motion Picture, Spock has made his decision. He is going to purge himself of all emotion through the kolinahr ritual. But he fails. This failure plunges him back into the turmoil he experienced in the original series, and he casts his lot with the crew of the U.S.S. Enterprise crew once again. It really seems like he’s happier that way, though.

By The Wrath of Khan, Spock has learned to accept the dichotomy of his existence. He is logical and emotional- Vulcan and Human. He can not dismiss or repress either side of himself. Then, of course, he dies. When his soul is reunited with his body in The Search for Spock, he has to start from scratch.

In the beginning of The Voyage Home, we see a Spock who does not find any relevance in retraining the human part of himself. However, by the end of the movie, he sees the importance of rescuing Chekov from the hospital, even if it is not the most logical move.

The Final Frontier...happened. Alright, ok. Bear with me. Even though Star Trek V isn’t very good, there is an important character moment for Spock- it doesn't even involve gravity boots. His weird half-brother Sybok shows him his greatest pain, a scene which demonstrates the dichotomy between his humanity and his vulcanness. Spock, however, has already come to terms with his deepest pain. He was able to once again reconcile the logic and emotion deep down inside of him.

In Star Trek VI, Spock faces the consequences of his own failure. The young Vulcan officer Valeris, whom he trained to be his successor, turns out to be a warmonger and a spy. Despite this mistake, is Spock still relevant and useful?

It would appear so. In the 2009 Star Trek reboot, Leonard Nimoy’s Spock serves as a mentor and and a counselor to the alternate versions of both Kirk and Spock. His advice to new Spock- to follow his heart and not just his head, not just his head- mirrors the journey Prime Spock took throughout his life.

In Star Trek Into Darkness, Nimoy’s Spock goes against reason, and better judgement, and tells the new Spock how to avoid some of the Khan-related mistakes of his past. The punching and yelling that ensued cannot be blamed on Prime Spock at all.

Logic, emotions, uncertainty, mistakes- these are all things everyone has to sift through and deal with. The thoughtful and nuanced way that Leonard Nimoy portrayed these conflicts in Spock ensure that his character will continue to live long and prosper even after the beloved actor’s death.

Keep on glowing in the dark ,

Elora

kolinahr