Why I Disagree With Spock/Uhura

[idvo]

Disclaimer: I am not making any monetary profit by writing this. I do not own anything related to the Star Trek franchise besides a Blu-ray movie, a few novels, and an audio book. Oh, but if I did…

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[fee_folay]

"I recall that Nichelle Nichols spent 3 years and six movies with no first name, no plots, and no characterization."

Have you seen The Gamesters of Triskilion? Mirror Mirror? Or the Undiscovered Country? TOS Uhura wasn't just a "glorified secretary" despite repeated claims that that was all she was. She did have some kick ass scenes. I certainly wish she had had a few more... and I think everyone agrees that would have been good.

Yes, Saldana got to do more in this new film, but frankly, I strongly dislike most of what she "got" to do. I always liked TOS Uhura. She was competant, strong, professional and classy. I can barely stand NuUhura. How is, "I only thought you slept with farm animals" anything but crass? I think it cheapens her as a character - and it is one of many things she does that grate on me. And before someone says it, it has NOTHING to do with her race or her being a woman. It has to do with her being a stereotypical "aggressive" woman which is the default men tend to write when they want to have an assertive, strong female character and haven't got a clue how to do it. None of the women in this film fared well. They were all more "archtypes" than characters.

Uhura is an important character to me! She was an inspiration to a young girl who dreamed of being an astronaut. She was the reason I studied astronomy in college despite being one of only three women in the classes. I respected her.

I do not yet respect NuUhura. I am hoping that the next film will allow her to shine more as a professional, and not focus so much upon her position as an sex object for both Spock and Kirk, because I want to like her. The potential was there with the mention of her linguistic skills, but I don't feel that potential has been met.