Starlog Entry 4
Christopher Pike
"It turns out that the story of a good man is still one that's worth telling."
Of all the hundreds of characters in the Star Trek franchise, my favorite is Captain Christoper Pike.
Captain Pike is introduced in Star Trek: The Original Series, as a character set to lead the series. However, as mentioned in my first blog, Star Trek moved from first pilot with a new captain, James T. Kirk. This new captain was more charismatic, more engaging, and tested better with audiences. But, that doesn't mean he was the better character.
In the original pilot, we get a small sample of Captain Pike, and we see him as an outstanding leader. Later in the Original Series, we get to see much more of Captain Pike's character, as an episode unfolds an account for his being in a wheelchair. He knowingly exposed himself to radiation, in an effort to save cadets from a training vessel. These episodes offer us a glimpse into the kind of man Christopher Pike is.
It isn't until the second season of Star Trek: Discovery, made decades after our introduction to Pike, that we get to see much more of how Captain Pike became the selfless hero of his future. In the episode "Through the Valley of Shadows," Captain Pike has to see his own future, before their mission can be completed. As stated on syfy.com, "Pike not only has to experience his own tragic future, but has to accept it. It's a deal with the devil, only in this case the devil is Pike deciding he's cool with ending up a vegetable in order to save the entire galaxy." (https://www.syfy.com/syfywire/star-trek-discovery-writers-explain-captain-pikes-future) There are not many characters who would have made the same decision.
Not only this, but through the second season of Discovery, we see that Pike in a good human being, as well as a leader. Even as the highest ranking official on the ship, he listens to opinions around him, getting all the information before making a decision. He doesn't lead in absolute power, as his rank could allow. Pike works and makes decisions for the benefit of the crew and ship, not just himself. Pike exhibits the characteristics we need in our leadership today. I believe Discovery writers made these decisions to show what good leadership is, and to emphasize how The United States might not have that currently.
To further help my point, in captain rankings by Screen Rant, Captain Pike went from sixth best (in a poll in 2012) to second after Star Trek: Discovery. Screen Rant defended the move by stating, "This guy saw his future as a disfigured hunk of meat on a wheelchair, and yet he still pressed on. That's what we call bravery." (wikipedia.com)
Discovery let us as viewers see the best of Pike, when we only got a glimpse before. Pike showed he could be fair, level headed, curious, and a great leader.
Promoted to rank: Lieutenant
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