TWITrek Character Insight No. 14: Nyota Uhura

This is the latest installment in a series of "Character Insight" articles regarding the rich history of characters in the Star Trek universe.  An audio version will appear on the This Week in Trek podcast, available for direct download here.
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Welcome back to Character Insight!  This week, our subject is Lieutenant Nyota Uhura from TOS.



Uhura is the communications officer aboard the Enterprise, a role she holds for nearly thirty years. Her proficiency at operating the communications system is rivaled only by her natural ability in xenolinguistics, which is crucial despite the invention of the universal translator in the 2140's.

Interesting Sidenote: a first pass at a universal translator was released by Microsoft earlier this year and is capable of translating English speech into 26 different languages. http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-2114379/Star-Trek-reality-Microsoft-unveils-Universal-Translator-turns-spoken-English-26-languages.html

Uhura grew up in Africa and is fiercely proud of her heritage, as proven by all the African artifacts and decor in her personal quarters. Before joining Starfleet, Uhura was known in her youth for being a record holder for running the hundred meter dash.

Uhura is no stranger to song and dance. One of the best known scenes featuring the Uhura character was an exotic dance Uhura performed in Star Trek V to seduce guards in Paradise City for Kirk and the crew.

She also sings for the crew on numerous occasions, although that penchant causes the space probe Nomad to wipe out her memory in the episode The Changeling.  The original script of the episode for Charlie X called for Uhura to be a talented mimic, but this was altered to be a singing talent in view of Nichelle Nichols' outstanding singing abilities. In lieu of a quote this week, here is a sample of Uhura singing Beyond Antares.

Uhura appeared in two season 1 episodes with the gold command uniform, but the well-known red uniform was donned by Uhura after that.  The character was named Uhura because Nichols and some of the casting directors were reading the novel Uhuru, which is a swahili word meaning Freedom.

Although Uhura does not form any long-term romantic relationships in TOS, she does share a kiss with Captain Kirk that is notable because it was the first interracial kiss aired during episodic television in the U.S. The mentorship relation between Uhura and Spock in TOS is expanded in the 2009 reboot to be a romantic relationship.

Nichols almost left the show after one season but Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. talked her into staying, and her performance inspired many young African Americans and girls to reach for the stars. This character's legacy is one of the cornerstones of what makes Star Trek special.



Actress: Nichelle Nichols played Uhura, and she has an entertaining Twitter feed that can be followed @RealNichelle.  Zoe Saldana took over the role in the 2009 reboot after appearing in other movies like Avatar.


Until next time, live long and prosper...

TWITrek Character Insight No. 13: William Riker

This is the latest installment in a series of "Character Insight" articles regarding the rich history of characters in the Star Trek universe.  An audio version will appear on the This Week in Trek podcast, available for direct download here.
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Welcome back to Character Insight!  This week, our subject is Commander William Riker from The Next Generation.



Riker is second-in-command on board the Enterprise-D, behind his long time friend Jean-Luc Picard.  Although Riker graduated with high honors from the Academy and had his sights set on commanding a vessel by age 35, he repeatedly turns down offers to command while serving on the flagship with Picard.

Riker earns a reputation for finding unorthodox solutions to tactical situations, such as using a little-known plasma coil flaw to destroy the Duras sisters in the movie Generations. Data calculated that Riker uses traditional tactics only 21% of the time, which is surprising because one would think he'd use them 47% of the time.

Riker is engaged in a long-term relationship with ship's counselor Deanna Troi that originated years before their service together aboard the Enterprise-D.  Although this relationship takes breaks such as when Deanna dates Worf for a period of time, the two Imzadi finally tie the know in Nemesis and serve together as a married couple aboard the U.S.S. Titan.  Further adventures of Riker and Troi can be read in a short series of novels about the Titan, which are worth a read if you like diverse characters.  In those novels, the two have a first child named Natasha.

As a result of a transporter accident on the planet Nervala IV, Riker was genetically duplicated into two identical twins.  This replication decides to go by the name Thomas Riker following his discovery while Will served on the Enterprise.

Riker grew a beard during the second season of the show because he was tired of people telling him how young he looked.  He feels that the beard is a proud, ancient tradition that is a symbol of strength.  Behind the scenes, Jonathan Frakes grew the beard because he personally dislikes shaving.

Riker grew up in Alaska before joining Starfleet.  His mother died when Riker was 2 years old, and his father deserted him at the age of 15.  Riker's ancestors stem back through North American history and include a Colonel Thaddeus Riker, who fought in the American Civil War.

When not walking sideways through doors, Riker often plays poker in weekly games with the senior officers.  Riker is also a jazz music aficionado, frequently playing his favorite songs on the trombone.  In addition to these recurring hobbies, Riker is adept at three dimensional chess, cooking, and theater acting.

Our notable quotes come from Contagion in season 2, and Best of Both Worlds in season 4:

"Fate protects fools, little children and ships named Enterprise"

"I'm sure Captain Picard would have something meaningful and inspirational to say right now. To tell you the truth, I wish he was here, 'cause I'd like to hear it, too. I know how difficult this transition has been for all of you. I can take over for him; but I could never replace Captain Picard, nor would I ever try. Whatever the outcome, I'm sure our efforts in the coming battle will justify his faith in all of us."


"Hey Baby...wink wink"

Actor: Jonathan Frakes played Riker, and he is the only regular cast member to appear on four of the five Star Trek series (DS9, VOY, and ENT).  Frakes has become more of a director in the last 15 years than an actor, and has recently directed episodes of Leverage, Burn Notice, and Make it or Break It.


Until next time, live long and prosper...

TWITrek Character Insight No. 12: Quark

This is the latest installment in a series of "Character Insight" articles regarding the rich history of characters in the Star Trek universe.  An audio version will appear on the This Week in Trek podcast, available for direct download here.
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Welcome back to Character Insight!  This week, our subject is Quark from Deep Space Nine.



Quark is the owner and barkeep of Quark's Bar, Grill, Gaming House, and Holosuite on board Deep Space Nine. Commander Sisko blackmails Quark to keep his business on the station when the Federation takes over in an effort to keep the station running with some sense of continuity.

Quark had to thrive on typical greedy Ferengi business practices and the black market when the station was run by Cardassians.  However, he becomes a generous, honest businessman in seven years of Federation ownership of the station.

In addition to Deep Space Nine, Quark is featured on two episodes of Voyager in which he tries to con Harry Kim and Tom Paris before Voyager's departure. Quark was also supposed to appear in the movie Insurrection, but unfortunately the scene and his awful mirror-ball outfit were left on the cutting floor.




Although Quark comes to appreciate the Federation, he often compares it to root beer: a cloying, bubbly, sickly sweet force bent on corrupting the core of Ferengi culture. Quark tries to make new drinks as a bartender but usually fails, including when he tried to make a caffeine free version of raktajino that he dubbed Quarktajino for the pregnant Kira Nerys.

Quark's name obviously comes from the theoretical particle name by Murray Gell-Mann, but what is lesser known is that the name was borrowed by Gell-Mann from a 1939 James Joyce novel Finnegans Wake.

Quark appeared in the first couple of shows of the series wearing the prosthetic nose designed for the Rom character because his nose was not ready yet. Quark's intended nose shows up in the fourth episode of the series for the first time.

Our notable quote comes from The House of Quark in season 3:

I should've gone into insurance - better hours, more money, less scruples.


Actor: Armin Shimerman played Quark and also played one of the original Ferengi in season 1 of The Next Generation.  Shimerman has acted for 30 years but has made more of a name in the last decade as voice talent in video games like Mass Effect, Bioshock, Starcraft, and Diablo.

Until next time, live long and prosper...

TWITrek Character Insight No. 11: T'Pol

This is the latest installment in a series of "Character Insight" articles regarding the rich history of characters in the Star Trek universe.  An audio version will appear on the This Week in Trek podcast, available for direct download here.
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Welcome back to Character Insight!  This week, our subject is Subcommander T'Pol from Enterprise




T'Pol served as first officer and science officer aboard the Enterprise, similar to the role Spock played in the original series. T'Pol is the first Vulcan to serve an extended portion on an Earth vessel and it takes a long time for the crew to become fully acclimated to her.

T'Pol served an important role as an expert in alien cultures such as the Klingons for the crew of Enterprise. Her telepathic abilities and different physiology helped save the human crew on many occasions during the ten year mission of the ship.

Right before coming aboard Enterprise, T'Pol found that she liked chaotic jazz music so much that it would elicit an emotional response from her. Although it takes longer for Trip to convince her to watch movies with the crew, she eventually attends a movie night and enjoys the film Frankenstein.

T'Pol is a vegetarian, but that does not stop her from sampling all kinds of human dishes, including some of Trip's favorites in Georgia Peaches and popcorn. Speaking of Trip, T'Pol shares a long romance with the commander that is the primary romance of the Enterprise series. T'Pol and Trip have a baby thanks to genetic engineering by Terra Prime, but the baby dies due to genetic engineering mistakes.. 

In a new twist for Star Trek fans, T'Pol appears without clothing in multiple episodes. Even when clothes are present, the subcommander keeps changing the game with a total of 48 different outfits worn during the less than 100 episodes of the show.

Our notable quote comes from Horizon in season 2:

Sub-Commander T'Pol: I don't understand why Humans would feel compelled to frighten themselves.
Captain Jonathan Archer: Gets the heart pumping.
Sub-Commander T'Pol: Cardiovascular activity would be more efficient.


Actor: Jolene Blaylock played T'Pol and it has been her only high profile role in 14 years of acting. Her minor appearances include Stargate SG-1, CSI Miami (yow!), and House.

Until next time, live long and prosper...

TWITrek Character Insight No. 10: James T. Kirk

This is the latest installment in a series of "Character Insight" articles regarding the rich history of characters in the Star Trek universe.  An audio version will appear on the This Week in Trek podcast, available for direct download here.
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Welcome back to Character Insight!  This week, our subject is Captain James T. Kirk from TOS.


Quote: "IIII'M CAPTAIN KIIIIIRK!!!" (Taken from "The Enemy Within")



Anybody who is familiar with Star Trek will likely know Captain Kirk, the brash and bold young captain who leads the Enterprise on its five-year mission that started it all. We see Kirk mature as a captain and eventually move onto Admiral, but Kirk's "do-it-yourself" persona is not suited to a desk job.

The initial character draft by Gene Roddenberry called Kirk "A space-age Horatio Hornblower, with a colorfully complex personality...capable of action and decision that can verge on the heroic - and at the same time lives a continual battle with self-doubt and the loneliness of command."  This loneliness is evidenced by the countless women Kirk easily courts, but has trouble maintaining long-term relationships with.


Kirk was born in Iowa (at least until the 2009 movie changed the timeline). The real town of Riverside, Iowa has an annual TrekFest festival and a Voyage Home Museum dedicated to the future birth of Kirk. This town, which is only about an hour from the birthplace of yours truly, is worth a visit for any Trek fan lost in the cornfields of the Midwest.


The name Kirk was selected from a list of sixteen names for the Captain right before production began, and other possible names for the character included Robert April, Hannibal, Raintree, January, and Timber.  Kirk seems like a good choice from that lot! Kirk's middle name is Tiberius, which was taken from the name of the second Roman Emperor. 

Kirk earns many awards and commendations for his successes in exploration as well as in tactical battles with the Enterprise. When forced into hand-to-hand combat, Kirk's unique wrestling/martial arts fighting styles are sufficient to overwhelm all but the most rugged opponents, such as a Gorn.






Kirk is so quotable, we have two Notable Quotes this week:

"Worlds may change, galaxies disintegrate, but a woman... always remains a woman." ("The Conscience of the King")

"No wants. No needs. We weren't meant for that. None of us. Man stagnates if he has no ambition, no desire to be more than he is." ("This Side of Paradise") 


Actors: William Shatner played Kirk, and he can be most recently found interviewing other Star Trek actors in the documentary "The Captains" as well as in his traveling one-man show "Shatner's World."

Chris Pine took over the role in the 2009 reboot and can also be seen opposite Denzel Washington in the choo-choo thriller "Unstoppable."