Star Trek Beyond

[TPRJones]

While the Sulu of the original TV series was depicted as being straight.

I don't think that's true. I cannot recall any evidence that Sulu was straight. He never had any relationships in the show that I can remember. Maybe some people assumed he was straight but without actual in-show evidence there's no reason for that assumption. A properly-written gay character isn't some swishy stereotype, it's a character that you can go decades without knowing the character is gay because it just never comes up.

He did have a daughter, but without knowing more about her conception that doesn't mean he was straight. And his mirror universe evil twin was all over Uhura, but that is also not evidence about the real universe Sulu because 1) they don't have to be the same orientation, and 2) mirror universe might have not been a safe universe to be gay in so mirror Sulu would have had to hide it.

It's possible I've forgotten something relevant but I don't think so.

As to "twisting" Roddenberry's creation, every single element of the new movies have been a carefully crafted twisting of the original Star Trek designed to deconstruct everything that it was about. It's a little late to complain about it now.

[Leisher]

I cannot recall any evidence that Sulu was straight.

During the "drunk" episode, wasn't you making out with and fighting over some chick?

A properly-written gay character isn't some swishy stereotype, it's a character that you can go decades without knowing the character is gay because it just never comes up.

I think you're stereotyping. There are swishy gays. They don't all act like a straight guy and you're shocked when it's revealed they're gay. Ask Ross Mathews. I think The Birdcage showcased exceptionally well written gay characters. One was the swishy gay, the other was not as obvious.

[TPRJones]

Oh, sure, it's still possible to have a well-written swishy gay character. The Birdcage is an excellent example. But some people insist that every character must be assumed to be straight unless they act like Jack from Will & Grace, otherwise if they turn out to have been gay it must be because it's a retcon.

As to his actions in The Naked Time, I'll have to watch the episode tonight to check. I remember he declared that Uhura was a "fair maiden" and "under my protection", but unless he was leering more than I remember I don't think that's particularly definitive. No more so than how much he wanted to show his sword to those guys he leered at in the hallway, really.

[GORDON]

Well at this point my entire perception of the Star Trek legacy is whether the new Sulu is going to be portrayed as a pitcher or a catcher. This is what I really need and want to know about Star Trek now.

[Leisher]

Ever thought about the bathroom situation on the Enterprise? Men, Women, Transgender, and then all those different alien lifeforms.

Where does the thing that killed Tasha take a shit?

[Malcolm]

Ever thought about the bathroom situation on the Enterprise? Men, Women, Transgender, and then all those different alien lifeforms.

Where does the thing that killed Tasha take a shit?

You mean the tar-skinned mofo or Picard sending her on a doomed last stand mission to the past? Either way, I assume they goto a shuttle bay and strap on a unique harness suit hooked up to a universal biological waste disposal unit, then decompress the bay atmosphere when they're done thereby blowing everything out into space. This explains:

1) why you never see bathrooms or toilets on the ship
2) why they replaced alcohol with synth-ahol ... too many hungover officers dying while taking a shit the morning after.

[Leisher]

I think it would make sense for them to store the waste and eject it into whatever sun they are near. OR they drop it off at a colony for use in farming.

Wouldn't that be the green thing to do, and it is a show about space hippies.

[TPRJones]

Remember, Star Trek is a technoutopia. People no longer have to shit because the contents of their bowels are recovered using transporter technology and fed into the undifferentiated mass buffers of the food replicators.

[Leisher]

That would suck. I was just thinking yesterday while taking a shit and playing tap sports football, that shitting is just about the only "me" time I get.

[GORDON]

I would hate to be the guy who has the job of hosing down all of the spooge out of the holodeck after Riker's been in there.

[Malcolm]

Transporter.

[Malcolm]

Chekov retires.

[Vince]

I think it would make sense for them to store the waste and eject it into whatever sun they are near. OR they drop it off at a colony for use in farming.

Wouldn't that be the green thing to do, and it is a show about space hippies.

Back before TNG came along and screwed up the technology they'd established in the approved Star Trek universe, everything was broken down by the same technology they used in the transporters. And that raw matter was used to make their uniforms (no cleaning laundry, which they screwed up in the 6th movie as well) as well as replicating food out of th same matter.

[GORDON]

Was a really good flick, much better than the last one. There was a pretty decent plot hole that I haven't yet been able to fill in with the power of my imagination, but all in all, very good Star Trek movie.

There was also some epicly cool imagery in this one.... I'll leave it at that.

[Leisher]

I enjoyed it.

They really focused more on the characters finding their place in this universe. One notable exception... Did he die during filming or after filming? His character was almost completely missing. Was that 10 Forward scene a tribute to him?

The villain's toys and methods were cool, but his motivation was weak. There is a nice contrast in Kirk's subplot and the main villain's, but I didn't care for the villain's line of thinking. I think it would have worked better if what happened to him affected his thinking, but he got the motivation before the change. (Intentionally vague.)

Still, a good effort. I know the rumors have Thor coming back somehow in the next one, but I hope they get Shatner in there one more time. Any plot device that brings dad back would seem to be able to bring Shatner back too. Going back to Kirk's subplot here, this would have been a perfect place to have him chat with new timeline Kirk.

Oh, and what would be better going forward, recast Chekov, put a new character there (like the one introduced here), or don't use the character until the next reboot?

[GORDON]

Dump Chekov from now on. Plenty of other things he could be doing in Starfleet. Crew members get reassigned all the time.

[Malcolm]

Transgendered post-op Chekov ftw.

[TheCatt]

I have faith in Lin putting out a good movie, regardless.

I was wrong. I mean, I was entertained, but the solution was kinda dumb. It was their whale moment, although I enjoyed that movie as a kid.

[Leisher]

Dump Chekov from now on. Plenty of other things he could be doing in Starfleet. Crew members get reassigned all the time.

I saw a movie or show recently, that I can’t recall at the moment, but there was a kid who looked exactly like Anton Yelchin.