Please register to participate in our discussions with 2 million other members - it's free and quick! Some forums can only be seen by registered members. After you create your account, you'll be able to customize options and access all our 15,000 new posts/day with fewer ads.
Who do you think is the best commander ever in Sci-Fi History? And when I say "BEST" I mean if you had to pick someone to protect us from a powerful invading alien race....
First of all, I would pick Adama over William Adama any time! The latter I wouldn't turn my back on because I'm sure he might stab it if his emotions said to.
I'd take Nelson over Bridger for the latter couldn't command his way out of a paper bag.
I'd take Kirk (TOS) over the rest because he wasn't caught up in the utopia socialist junk.....but Sisko comes closer to being desirable compared to the others of the post 60's.
Sinclair over Sheridian. Again, the latter is too full of him self to trust......although that show over all was rather full of itself.
I think we can leave the spy bosses out of this though if they were in it, I'd probably take ArchAngel.
I'd think I'd go for Straker. Sure, working for Straker means, often, that if you are lowly in the organization, there isn't much chance for advancement. You need to at least be an astronaut for that. But Straker is like Travis, Straker being the Angel, Travis being the Devil.
Ie,
"Like Travis? No, he was harsh, but you did want to be under his command because you knew that he wouldn't waste your life, wouldn't sacrifice them on a whim.".
Thank you! I've posted this poll on other web sites, and there is always someone who reminds me of omissions and gives me corrections. It's nice to see I'm starting to get the list "caught up."
Thank you! I've posted this poll on other web sites, and there is always someone who reminds me of omissions and gives me corrections. It's nice to see I'm starting to get the list "caught up."
We-ll..........in Battlestar Galactica classic, he wasn't "William Adama".....he was just Adama. Their society was one name only. Further, there is another thing as well. Adama was more like Lord Commander Adama. It wasn't really mentioned in the series (although Cain mentions something like it in the novelization) but between having a seat on the council and being President of the Council....well, William Adama is not just an upgraded version of him.
Anyhow, getting back to names........
It would be like calling Richard Hatch's character "call sign Apollo"; No, his name was Apollo.
But don't get me wrong. You went pretty far in a good way making that list.
I suppose the crux of the argument is one's vision of command.
I have a particular way I look at leadership. It has been influenced by my reading of Drucker on management. But I recognize that military leadership, particularly in ambiguously or openly hostile situations is different from corporate management. A study of leaders in war (WW2, War of Yankee Aggression in particular) tells a different story than Iaccoca or Ford. Dont even get me started about Presidents, most of whom I find absolutely lacking in leadership skills.
I made my choice on the poll because I considered that particular commander a good military leader, able to send subordinates to their deaths if necessary, but always looking for the peaceful solution, and furthermore less involved in politics. I get that Eisenhauer had an incredibly political job, but he was in retrospect an incredible leader.
Star Trek the original was filled with utopian idealism. It was the product of the 60's, after all. Star Trek DS9 was the dark side of the Star Trek universe, because it recognized the necessity of trade, and therefor money (gold plated latinum) and eventually evolved to yet another war against a relentless enemy.
I loved Firefly and Serenity, but I considered it more of a caper kind of series than an exercise in leadership.
Jack O'Neill ...? Now there is an interesting case. I consider him middle management, and middle management has a different reality than senior or executive management. The difference between tactical and strategic.
I like what I am reading about Galactica and Adama. You folks are good. My own take is that Adama was a good leader in general, but Bill Adama is much more realistic. I guess I'm one of those people attracted to the dark side of humanity.
Which doesnt explain why I found Voyager and Captain Janeway my favorite ST variation.
Who do you think is the best commander ever in Sci-Fi History? And when I say "BEST" I mean if you had to pick someone to protect us from a powerful invading alien race....
We-ll..........in Battlestar Galactica classic, he wasn't "William Adama".....he was just Adama. Their society was one name only. Further, there is another thing as well. Adama was more like Lord Commander Adama. It wasn't really mentioned in the series (although Cain mentions something like it in the novelization) but between having a seat on the council and being President of the Council....well, William Adama is not just an upgraded version of him.
Anyhow, getting back to names........
It would be like calling Richard Hatch's character "call sign Apollo"; No, his name was Apollo.
But don't get me wrong. You went pretty far in a good way making that list.
I stand corrected on Commander Adama in the original; however Apollo was Captain Apollo, but he didn't command the entire fleet. An argument could be raised for his inclusion though. I also left out all animated and computer game commanders as they tend to have more limited mass appeal.
Finally, I have been informed (privately) that I have left out two important commanders:
John Robert Crichton Jr. (Farscape)
and
Roj Blake (Blake's 7)
Perhaps this Thread's Moderator can add them to the Poll List?
Please register to post and access all features of our very popular forum. It is free and quick. Over $68,000 in prizes has already been given out to active posters on our forum. Additional giveaways are planned.
Detailed information about all U.S. cities, counties, and zip codes on our site: City-data.com.
Please register to participate in our discussions with 2 million other members - it's free and quick! Some forums can only be seen by registered members. After you create your account, you'll be able to customize options and access all our 15,000 new posts/day with fewer ads.
