Community Debate: Worst Captain

Christopher Halsey · Posted Sun 15 May, 2016 7:24 PM

COMMUNITY DEBATE

WORST CAPTAIN

Following on from our last community debate in which we discussed who the greatest Captain was (click HERE if you haven't voted yet) it's now time to decide who is the worst Captain and why you think they are the worst?

Is it that you wouldn't want to serve under them, is it that you don't think they would handle situations as well as their counterparts, is it just that you don't like them as people?

aceman67 · Posted Sun 15 May, 2016 7:33 PM

That is a no brainer. Prime-Universe Kirk.

The character (and the actor who played him, I have ZERO love or respect for Shatner) is a walking ego. He takes huge risk with no guarantee of success, often at the expense of the lives of his crew, even when he does succeed. His 'so afraid to lose that he'll even cheat to win' mentality makes him the worst Captain.

JJ-Universe Kirk also had this problem, but I'm pretty sure that the events of Into Darkness have tempered that version somewhat. Dying tends to have that effect on people.

Caymen Greener · Posted Sun 15 May, 2016 7:39 PM

I almost voted JJ Kirk since his ascension to the chair was faster than a flick of Q's fingers. I know, I know, reasons and time travel and all that. But given they are trying to reach a broader audience with bigger explosions, more jumping around, more boobs, and faster pace, they've made him a strange kind of space hero that just doesn't fit as a normal military commander.

But I voted for Archer. I did not watch much of Enterprise, but I just could not get into him as a character (which could be in how he was written or how the actor portrayed him). But out of all the "styles", Archer bothered me. Ok, Janeway's voice always nagged on me as well, but different.

I guess in truth, Picard and TOS Kirk are my favorites, especially since they make up the prime universe movies, and are just "the guys". Other than these two, the others pale for me.

Christopher Halsey · Posted Sun 15 May, 2016 8:02 PM

Four votes in and it doesn't seem like a great time to be either of the Captains Kirk as they share 75% of the vote between them.

He doesn't seem too bothered though.

Three of Seven · Posted Sun 15 May, 2016 9:41 PM

I voted for JJ Kirk just because he is not allowed to exist! After him, it would be Archer for me, he just didn't gel with me, if you get what I mean. Don't really have any specific reasons why, other than I just didn't like him, seemed weak.

WiseBear · Posted Sun 15 May, 2016 10:08 PM

I have to go with TOS Kirk, just didn't seem fit the chair the same way as the other captains.
Sadly though, I agree with Three Of Seven and Greener, as Archer had to grow into the chair for me.

Dentari · Posted Sun 15 May, 2016 10:43 PM

I'm surprised by all the Kirk hate. He was admired by several individuals on this list and was considered the most famous starfleet captain!

Whilst I really don't hate any Captain on this list (although JJ Kirk certainly tries his best to be worthy of hate), I decided to go with Janeway. She favours coffee over Earl Grey. How could you trust an individual with such poor taste?

Kains · Posted Sun 15 May, 2016 10:52 PM

All this bad mouthing Kirk when there is a perfectly good radio button next to Janeway so the truth can be told?

For shame!

Bar'ol · Posted Sun 15 May, 2016 11:29 PM

Leading style of Kirk just rubs me the wrong way ♥♥♥♥y, arrogant, and over the top. I'm more of a fan of Sisko leading style.

Leoferwic · Posted Mon 16 May, 2016 12:28 PM

It was a close choice between 2 captains but I had to go with Sisko. To be honest, I haven't watched much of DS9 but from what I have seen his personlity and manner of speaking just rub me the wrong way for some reason. JJ Kirk was a close second though...

Christopher Halsey · Posted Mon 16 May, 2016 6:38 PM

I had to go with Janeway, her hypocrisy just annoys me too much.

One minute she's adamant that no matter how bad things get she's going to make sure her crew conducts in-line with Starfleet ideals and principles no matter how much it hurts her own crew but the next minute it's "screw you perfectly reasonable alien race, I'm flying through your territory whether you like it or not!" that is of course during the times when she isn't being a great role model by locking herself in her room and having a good cry whilst the rest of her crew have to do their jobs.

She also has the most boring holodeck preferences. Picard liked to be bad-ass private detective Dixon Hill, Sisko liked his sports, Janeway however liked to serve tea and crumpets to the children whilst teaching them latin.

Aside from that I didn't mind her too much.

Silynn · Posted Wed 18 May, 2016 2:04 PM

For me Janeway is the worst as "Captain" followed closely by Kirk.

I felt Janeway made a lot of bad decisions due to her pride (or principles) that put her ship/crew in danger needlessly.

Kirk is an awful Captain as his ego wrote checks that his poor crew (redshirts) had to cash in (with their lives).

Christopher Halsey · Posted Wed 18 May, 2016 4:00 PM

This is getting interesting. The greatest Captain was pretty much a landslide for Picard, worst Captain is much tighter, right now Kirk and Janeway are tied with 5 votes each, alternative Kirk, Archer and Sisko all have 3 votes.

Connor · Posted Wed 18 May, 2016 4:13 PM

Every iteration of Kirk. Obnoxious, arrogant, egotistical - Kirk was just plain bad as far as Captains go. J.J. Kirk was even more of a nonsensical mess.

That said, I didn't really like Sisko either? I didn't watch a huge amount of DS9, and I don't think he was a 'bad' Captain per se, I just found him unbearably boring for the most part.

Janeway was my personal favourite but I'm in a minority there so far I think...

Christopher Halsey · Posted Thu 19 May, 2016 4:00 PM

We now have Kirk, Alternate Kirk and Janeway all tied with 5 votes. Archer and Sisko tied with 3 votes and still no-one voting Picard.

Community Debate: Worst Captain

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