star trek sulu fencing

A saber match beginning

Sulu stalks the decks with a foil

Fencing was an ancient Earth sport in which two competitors in protective clothing faced off against each other armed with thin, blunted sword -like weapons . Each of three different weapons (foil, sabre, or épée) had different rules . For example, sabre was the only weapon where one could use their sword in a cutting motion . The aim of the sport was to score points by making "touches" with the weapon on the opponent 's body . The winner was the one who first reached a certain number of points. ( citation needed • edit )

In 2258 of an alternate reality , Hikaru Sulu told James T. Kirk that his combat training was in fencing, which he later demonstrated while fighting Romulans with a sword on the Narada 's drilling rig over Vulcan . ( Star Trek )

Lieutenant Sulu was at one point an enthusiastic fencer. He claimed the sport "tones the muscle, sharpens the eye, improves the posture." In 2266 , when he was affected by the Psi 2000 virus , he chased crewmen around the corridors with a foil. ( TOS : " The Naked Time ")

Captain Jean-Luc Picard was a fencer (Sabre was his weapon of choice, as seen in Season 1 Episode 23 "We'll Always Have Paris") and his opponents aboard the USS Enterprise -D included Commander Riker , Lieutenant Dean , and Guinan . ( TNG : " We'll Always Have Paris ", " I Borg ", " Lessons ")

In 3189 , Gray Tal asked Adira Tal why they confined themself to engineering, when they could be exploring the USS Discovery . Gray suggested fencing as an activity to explore. ( DIS : " Scavengers ")

For "We'll Always Have Paris", Andrew Probert designed a scoreboard, after Production Designer Herman Zimmerman instructed him to do so, and decided to devise a costume design concept for the 24th century fencing outfits, which he informally submitted at about the same time. ( Star Trek: The Magazine  Volume 2, Issue 12 , pp. 42 & 47)

External links [ ]

• Fencing at Wikipedia
• Fencing at Memory Beta , the wiki for licensed Star Trek works
• 1 Bell Riots
• 3 Daniels (Crewman)

TOS: S1 – E4: The Naked Time

STARDATE: 1704.2

This may be one of the most famous episodes from the Original Series. Throughout, most of the cast are sweaty after contracting the strange disease, which we’ll learn about in a second. But this is the episode where Sulu chases his own crewmates around the ship with a fencing foil. This would inspire a scene in the Kelvin-timeline Star Trek (2009) film and many references and even a Christmas ornament.

The story had the crew of the Enterprise exploring a planet (PSI 2000) which Captain Kirk described as an “ancient world, now a frozen wasteland.” The Enterprise was tasked to pick up a team of scientists who had been studying the planet and then observe the planet’s destruction.

One thing that will strike the modern viewer immediately is the silly red biosuits that Spock and his companion, crewman Joe Toromlen wore to inspect the planet. The headpieces were not even attached to the shoulders of the suit itself. Spock wouldn’t be protected from someone else’s sneezes, let alone a freezing atmosphere or hazardous site. Oh well.

Mr. Scott and Mr. Spock working to figure out a solution to the Enterprise’s latest problem. Courtesy of CBS / Paramount

After Spock and Joe returned to the ship, Kirk asked if there was anything that would cause the ship to be in danger while observing the planet’s collapse. Scotty said that unless the crew were “taking showers while dressed” then the ship would be fine.

Later, in Rec Room, Area 3-9, Sulu and Crewman Kevin Riley tangled with Toromlen, who accidentally stabbed himself. The effects of the mysterious, yet undiagnosed disease was causing Joe to act erratically. As they wrestled with Toromlen, Riley and Sulu became infected as well.

A cool thing would happen as the infected crewmembers rubbed their hands together… almost a rattlesnake-like sound. This lets the viewer know that the person was being affected by the disease. Fun!

While the planet started to contract in size, Kirk asked Scotty to tie the controls from the bridge directly to engineering. Meanwhile, Toromlen died in surgery… McCoy cannot explain why this happened, saying that he must not have wanted to live. Kirk then supposes that something must have been missed in the decontamination scans when Joe and Spock have beamed aboard.

Spock sends Riley to sickbay, Lt. Uhura takes over his station. Next, Riley gives the disease to Nurse Chappel and Sulu starts running wild in the corridors of the ship with his sword.

Suddenly, the helm stopped responding, and Kirk was unable to raise anyone in engineering. Just as he was about to enter the turbolift, Sulu burst onto the bridge yelling “Richelieu, at last!” Richelieu is the name of a character in the Three Musketeers. Kirk and Uhura tussle with Sulu, and Spock subdues him with a Vulcan neck pinch. So for trivia’s sake, Sulu became one of the very first characters in Star Trek lore to be neck-pinched.

Somehow, Kirk and Uhura were able not to catch the infection while wrestling with Sulu, even though they make direct skin contact with the helmsman … uhh, swordsman. Hmm.

Scotty uses the phaser to try to cut through the wall in order to access the controls for the engineering door. Courtesy of CBS / Paramount

Scotty tries to burn through the walls to engineering with a phaser. Spock tells him that he’s going too slow. But then McCoy synthesizes an antidote to disease. But not before Nurse Chappel tells Spock that she loves him. Spock then is infected by Chappel. Spock then starts wandering the ship as he whimpers and struggles to control his emotions. 

McCoy gives the antidote to Sulu, who is completely cured. McCoy realizes that the disease is spread through sweat.

Kirk finds Spock feeling sorry for himself, but Kirk explains that if they don’t move quickly, the ship will be destroyed. Spock starts talking about love for his mother and Vulcan customs, then Kirk slaps Spock 2-3 times. It must have been one helluva slap because Spock then came to. Spock then slapped Kirk so hard that he flipped backward over a table.

While Kirk is infected, he starts talking about his love to the Enterprise , as if the ship were a human female. Hmm! As soon as Kirk steps back aboard the bridge, McCoy rips a hole in his uniform to vaccinate the captain from the effects of the disease.

Just as the ship is about to burn in the atmosphere of the planet, Kirk orders a recovered Sulu to point the ship back to where they came from. Spock and Scotty engage the new way to start the ship’s engines (after Riley turned them off while in engineering).

A strange noise affected the crew (and their ears), and caused suffering pain. This experimental formula that Spock and Scotty used to break free from the atmosphere caused the ship to surge back in time — three days in the past. This would be the same formula that would be used later in Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home. The crew realizes that they are going backward in time after their engines “imploded.”

Spock announces that they are back to standard time, but three days in the past. Spock and Kirk then decide that they’ll “risk” going back in time if need be.

It seemed that this ending was a bit strange as if it did not fit the rest of the episode. There was no mention from the captain on how they would log the outbreak of the disease or how it might be treated in the future across other ships. No quarantine announcement. Just time travel and an abrupt ending.

TREK REPORT SUPPLEMENTAL:

This was an excellent entry, featuring a great plot and an exciting finale. Fans got to see almost the complete “original” cast in action, except for Chekov, whose character has yet to be introduced into the show. This, to many, is the episode where Sulu runs wild on the ship — and that’s it. But don’t let this summary fool you, nor the image of a sweaty George Takei. This was a good one — not some cliché, and worthy of some of the very best praise for an Original Series episode.

RATING: 3.5 out of 5

Directed by: Marc Daniels Written by: John D. F. Black Produced by: Gene Roddenberry Associate Producers: Robert H. Justman, John D. F. Black Director of Photography: Jerry Finnerman Production Designer: Walter M. Jefferies Music composed and conducted by: Alexander Courage

William Shatner as Kirk Leonard Nimoy as Spock

CO-STARRING

Stewart Moss as Tormolen Majel Barrett as Christine Bruce Hyde as Riley

DeForest Kelley as Dr. McCoy Grace Lee Whitney as Yeoman Rand

George Takei as Sulu James Doohan as Scott Nichelle Nichols as Uhura William Knight as Amorous Crewman John Bellah as Laughing Crewman

Art Director … Rolland M. Brooks Film Editor … Bruce Schoengarth Assistant Director … Greg Peters Set Decorator … Carl F. Biddiscombe Costumes created by … William Theiss Post Production Executive … Bill Heath Music Editor … Robert H. Raff Sound Editor … Joseph G. Sorokin Sound Mixer … Jack F. Lilly Photographic Effects … Howard Anderson Co. Script Supervisor … George A. Rutter Music Consultant … Wilbur Hatch Music Coordinator … Julian Davidson Special Effects … Jim Rugg Property Master … Irving A. Fenberg Gaffer … George H. Merhoff Head Grip … George Rader Production Supervisor … Bernard A. Windin Makeup Artist … Fred B. Phillips, S.M.A. Hair Styles by … Virginia Darcy, C.H.S. Wardrobe Mistress … Margaret Makau Casting … Joseph D’Agosta Sound … Glen Glenn Sound Co.

Executive in Charge of Production … Herbert F. Solow

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NYCC: George Takei on meeting Harlan Ellison, missing Leonard Nimoy & fencing snafus on 'Star Trek' set

Credit: Rodin Eckenroth/Getty Images

The U.S.S. Enterprise would not have gotten far without Hikaru Sulu at the helm, and Sulu only worked because of the man who portrayed him. George Takei blazed new trails as the character in the Star Trek franchise, appearing in the original series, the first six movies, and even Star Trek: Voyager.

Takei's career expands well past those stars however, as he has acted in such projects as Mulan ,  Kubo and the Two Strings , Archer , has played a version of himself on The Simpsons , and even ventured to the galaxy far, far away with roles in Star Wars: The Clone Wars and the recent Star Wars: Visions . Oh my! 

Takei held a live panel as part of New York Comic Con 2021 and SYFY WIRE was there to learn from the legend himself. 

“I missed you all so much,” Takei began, as the crowd gave him a rousing welcome. He wasted no time in sharing gratitude for the fully-vaccinated audience, mentioning how he was surprised that so many others are currently “fighting to die.” 

“We Star Trek  people, and we who look to the future with optimism, we know better,” he said. “We live long and prosper. And we are gonna stay healthy.” 

Takei said he personally spent the pandemic working on another book. Titled “They Called Us Enemy,” the book is about him being imprisoned by the U.S. during World War II due to racial bias. At the other end of the creative spectrum, he’s soon going to begin working on a new movie with Mel Brooks. He’ll play an animated cat general who fights for a character played by Ricky Gervais. He referenced his recent work on Star Wars: Visions , joking that he’s loyal to Star Trek , but that he’s also “trying to pacify the Star Wars people.” 

A fan asked Takei about the famous sci-fi writer, Harlan Ellison, who wrote the script for the famous Trek episode “The City on the Edge of Forever.” Ellison was famously unhappy with what was done to his script for that episode, and Takei remembers seeing him on the lot “having a rant about someone I don’t know.” He said that he saw him again later, and found Ellison to be perfectly nice. 

There’s one particular episode of Star Trek that Takei was is especially happy with, and it involves a virus that releases inhibitions. It is of course “The Naked Time,” the Season 1 episode where he breaks out his fencing foil. “It was absolutely powerfully written, a tense and dramatic story, and also very science fiction. For me, it was the most fun episode I ever worked on.” 

He’s started fencing lessons a few weeks before filming the episode, but practiced himself on the side. While doing so, he frightened fellow actor James Doohan (Scotty), who thought he was being attacked. Takei said that he was written up for “attacking actors” and is now on record for having attacked James Doohan with a fencing foil. “I was minding my own business,” Takei joked. 

When a fan asked about the dearly departed Trek actor Leonard Nimoy, Takei couldn’t express his love for Nimoy fast enough. “He was an extraordinary man, and an amazingly loyal friend,” he said, recalling seeing Nimoy in the play Equus before doing the same role himself. Nimoy told him that he was better, but Takei maintained “that was an outright lie.” 

Another fan brought up Takei’s work in the Broadway play Allegiance , which once again dealt with anti-Japanese resentments and racism following the attack on Pearl Harbor. “We were completely helpless,” Takei said, adding that his new book deals with the same historical period and his personal experience in it. He said growing up, he learned that he had to be “participatory in a participatory government.” 

Takei learned about democracy at a very young age, and as he said, he knows all too well “how fragile it can be.”

Click here to check out all of SYFY WIRE's continuing coverage of New York Comic Con 2021.  

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Hikaru Sulu

Star Trek (2009)

John cho: sulu.

• Photos (22)

Photos 

Quotes 

Leonard 'Bones' McCoy : Well, congratulations, Jim. We've got no captain and no god-damned first officer to replace him.

Kirk : Yeah, we do.

[Kirk sits himself into the captain's chair] 

Leonard 'Bones' McCoy : What?

Hikaru Sulu : Pike made him first officer.

Leonard 'Bones' McCoy : You gotta be kidding me!

Kirk : Thanks for the support.

Lt. Nyota Uhura : I sure hope you know what you're doing...

Lt. Nyota Uhura : [sarcastically]  ... CAPTAIN.

Kirk : So do I.

James T. Kirk : So what kind of combat training do you have?

Hikaru Sulu : Fencing.

Hikaru Sulu : The fleet has cleared spacedock, Captain. All ships ready for warp.

Christopher Pike : Set a course for Vulcan.

Hikaru Sulu : Aye-Aye, Captain. Course laid in.

Christopher Pike : Maximum warp. Punch it.

[One by one, the rest of the star fleet jumps into warp drive, leaving the Enterprise behind. Sulu frowns at the console, puzzled] 

Christopher Pike : Lieutenant, where is Helmsman McKenna?

Hikaru Sulu : He has lungworms, sir. He couldn't report to his post. I'm Hikaru Sulu.

Christopher Pike : And you are a pilot, right?

Hikaru Sulu : Very much so, sir.

[he trails off, hitting buttons] 

Hikaru Sulu : I'm, uh, I'm not sure what's wrong here.

Christopher Pike : Is the parking brake on?

Hikaru Sulu : Uh, no. I'll figure it out. I'm just...

Spock : Have you disengaged the external inertial dampener?

Hikaru Sulu : [Embarrassed. Without looking at anyone, he punches in the correct sequence]  Ready for warp, sir.

Christopher Pike : Let's punch it.

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How George Takei of 'Star Trek' faced down discrimination

Playing Sulu on "Star Trek: The Original Series" more than 50 years ago launched George Takei not only out to strange new worlds, but on a journey to explore his sexuality and Japanese heritage.

The 83-year-old Takei, despite being an American citizen born in Los Angeles, spent much of his childhood with his family in U.S. internment camps during World War II because they are of Japanese descent. 

"When I was five years old, I had one of the most egregious failures of our democracy thrown in my face," Takei told an online panel during a recent CBS All Access "Star Trek Day" event on Sept. 8, which celebrated the series' launch date in 1966.

Related: What 'Star Trek' has taught us about diversity

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"My parents got me up together with my brother,  a year younger, and my baby sister was an infant. [They told] my brother and I to go wait in the living room. My parents did some last-minute packing back in the bedroom. So the two of us were just gazing out the living room window at the neighbor's. And suddenly we saw two soldiers marching up my driveway, carrying rifles with shiny bayonets on them. 

"They stopped at the front porch," Takei continued, "and with their fists, began pounding on the door … literally at gunpoint, they ordered us out of our home. As it turned out, it was simply because we look like this."

Takei's family lost everything in being sent to these camps, including his father's business bank account. The rest of his childhood was spent behind barbed wire fences, with machine guns pointed at the camp's residents and search lights illuminating any nighttime activity, even visits to the latrine. 

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After the war ended in 1945, Takei's family was released. But because the ordeal left them impoverished, they lived in a hotel in a low-income neighborhood. Takei said that his sister once even asked to go back "home" to the internment camp when somebody in the neighborhood staggered near the family and threw up on the ground.

"When I became a teenager, I became very curious about our imprisonment," Takei said. "I sat down with my father after dinner to find out more about why we were in prison. My father is my hero, because he could have been embittered or just kind of wallowing in misery. My father was not. He said, 'This is a participatory democracy. We have to participate in a participatory democracy. It's a people's democracy.' 

"One day, my father said, let me show you how our democracy has to work," Takei continued. "He drove me downtown to the lease units for presidential campaign headquarters … to get with other people passionately dedicated to making our democracy work and get this great man, this eloquent man Adlai Stevenson, the governor of Illinois, elected."

While Stevenson lost his 1952 and 1956 bids to be president, Takei said that he remembered one thing: "I understood what our system needs is people participating." He urged voters to remember that in November when the next presidential election takes place.

Takei spent years narrating and playing guest roles or bit parts in Hollywood before meeting Gene Roddenberry, the creator of "Star Trek: The Original Series" (or TOS as it's now known).  With "Star Trek," Takei was excited at the prospect of steady employment, he told the online panel. But there was so much more opportunity than employment if Takei was hired.

"He had an amazing vision," Takei said of Roddenberry. "In listening to him describe my character, I knew this was going to be a breakthrough opportunity, both professionally for me, as well as to help break a lot of the stereotypes that we have in this world and particularly in this business, so I desperately wanted the role."

TOS emphasized diversity from the start. Its starring characters included Takei, Black actor Nichelle Nichols (Uhura) and even a Russian character — Pavel Chekov (played by Walter Koenig), who was portrayed as an ally at the height of  Cold War tensions. Roddenberry could be so daring with this diversity, which was unheard of for the time, because the series was set in space, nearly half a millennium in the future. This allowed the "Star Trek" creator to include metaphors for 1960s American life in a futuristic setting.

Happily, the diversity tradition continues as "Star Trek Discovery" is about to introduce its first transgender and nonbinary characters in October , along with premiering a new Black star. But Takei pointed out it was a long journey to get to this point.

On TOS, Takei is probably best remembered for the episode "The Naked Time," in which the crew is taken over by a virus that removes inhibitions. Famously, his character Sulu rushed onto the Star Trek bridge without a shirt and wielding a fencing sword. Takei said that he was glad to be holding a fencing sword and not a Japanese samurai sword, which broke yet another stereotype. 

As a childhood fan of Errol Flynn's fencing in the "The Adventures of Robin Hood" (1938), Takei accidentally found himself making a connection with the iconic swashbuckling film a generation later. In the Yellow Pages, a print listing of businesses from the pre-Internet era, Takei took fencing lessons for "Star Trek" at a spot on Sunset Boulevard. Upon arriving, Takei discovered his instructor had choreographed the very Robin Hood movie he watched as a kid. "I was blown away," he said.

Roddenberry worked hard to break down a variety of stereotypes on the show, which even featured one of television's first interracial kisses which took place between two stars of TOS — William Shatner (Captain James T. Kirk) and Nichols. NBC executives were afraid that the segregated U.S. south would complain about the kiss, and attempted to make the actors shoot a different version of the scene where they would just embrace. The actors deliberately flubbed the alternate takes, ensuring that the kiss would happen as there was no time to reshoot the footage, according to Insider .

Takei, a closeted gay man, was also afraid to speak out about his sexuality during the conservative time period. He wasn't public about his sexuality throughout the series run but, shortly after TOS was canceled in 1968, Takei bravely discussed his sexuality with Roddenberry during a party, when the two men were by a pool, away from the crowd. Roddenberry acknowledged that sexuality is an important part of diversity, Takei said. However, Roddenberry responded: "I can't deal with it [now] because I have to exist on television," Takei said.

Some say that an Australian soap opera, "Number 96" had the first gay and recurring character on television. But that wasn't until 1972, years after "Star Trek" was off the air. 

As Takei explained in the panel, Roddenberry told him that television is a high-risk business because it is based on advertising, so if sponsors are unhappy, the show could lose funding, threatening its longevity. "I can't deal with that and hope to stay on the air; I'm pushing at the edges already," Takei added of Roddenberry's position in addressing LGBTQIA+ representation on television. 

Twenty years later, "Star Trek: The Next Generation" scriptwriter David Gerrold attempted to create an episode (which would have run while Roddenberry was in charge of the show) to metaphorically address the AIDS and HIV crisis. The episode never went forward and Gerrold quit in protest, StarTrek.com said . 

Gerrold has spoken about the canceled episode at fan conventions, the website added, and Roddenberry received requests for an openly gay "Star Trek" character, in part due to Gerrold's efforts. Roddenberry was said to be considering including a gay character in the show's fifth season, but that never went forward as Roddenberry died in 1991. Shortly before his death, however, Roddenberry said he regretted not taking on LGBTQIA+ rights more seriously. 

"My attitude toward homosexuality has changed," Roddenberry told The Humanist in 1991 . "I came to the conclusion that I was wrong [...] I gave the impression of being thoughtless in these areas. I have, over many years, changed my attitude about gay men and women."

Takei officially came out in 2005. While he remained closeted during the years prior, Takei remained an avid activist, speaking out about electoral politics, civil rights and the peace movement during the divisive Vietnam War of the 1960s and early 1970s. Takei was also a member of a group called the Entertainment Industry for Peace and Justice, he said, working with well-known actors such as Jane Fonda and Donald Sutherland. 

Takei watched other actors take on LGBTQIA+ rights, in many cases giving up their lives, careers and even their families for justice, he said.

"And here I was protecting my career and being closeted, which adds another layer of torture," he recalled. "Some of my colleagues knew. But, they knew if they talked about me, then it would hurt my career and they respected my privacy." Since coming out, Takei has been exceptionally active and vocal in supporting the LGBTQIA+ community.

The first openly gay starring characters on "Star Trek" finally came in 2017, with gay actors Anthony Rapp (Paul Stamets) and Wilson Cruz (Hugh Culber) who played a couple in "Star Trek: Discovery." "I think it's a great advance," Takei said. "I'm glad that we finally got there. I wish we had gotten there sooner."

Follow Elizabeth Howell on Twitter @howellspace. Follow us on Twitter @Spacedotcom and on Facebook. 

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Elizabeth Howell (she/her), Ph.D., is a staff writer in the spaceflight channel since 2022 covering diversity, education and gaming as well. She was contributing writer for Space.com for 10 years before joining full-time. Elizabeth's reporting includes multiple exclusives with the White House and Office of the Vice-President of the United States, an exclusive conversation with aspiring space tourist (and NSYNC bassist) Lance Bass, speaking several times with the International Space Station, witnessing five human spaceflight launches on two continents, flying parabolic, working inside a spacesuit, and participating in a simulated Mars mission. Her latest book, " Why Am I Taller ?", is co-written with astronaut Dave Williams. Elizabeth holds a Ph.D. and M.Sc. in Space Studies from the University of North Dakota, a Bachelor of Journalism from Canada's Carleton University and a Bachelor of History from Canada's Athabasca University. Elizabeth is also a post-secondary instructor in communications and science at several institutions since 2015; her experience includes developing and teaching an astronomy course at Canada's Algonquin College (with Indigenous content as well) to more than 1,000 students since 2020. Elizabeth first got interested in space after watching the movie Apollo 13 in 1996, and still wants to be an astronaut someday. Mastodon: https://qoto.org/@howellspace

This Week In Space podcast: Episode 125 — Back to Space School 2024

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• Ed Stauffer People are people and all equal. Hopefully everyone will realize that eventually. LIVE LONG AND PROSPER, GEORGE! Reply
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5 times sulu proved he was the g.o.a.t. (& 5 times he was a complete t.o.a.d.).

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I’m Glad Voyager’s Tom And B’Elanna Are No Longer Star Trek's Only Successful Romance

Star trek officially brands a surprising deep space nine hero as a war criminal, "i finally found you": star trek's beverly & wesley crusher reunion is a tragic twist for wil wheaton's character.

In the expanse of the final frontier, the spotlight usually falls on Captain James T. Kirk and his efforts to right wrongs both ship-wide and galactic. If not Captain Kirk, then the emphasis is on his good friends and close colleagues Mr. Spock and Dr. McCoy , who help and sometimes overshadow the captain in bringing peace to the galaxy.

RELATED:  Star Trek TOS: Your Favorite Episode Based On Your Zodiac Sign

However, many other characters in the Star Trek franchise are not only equally as helpful but have performed their own heroic deeds. Chief among them is Hikaru Sulu, who despite some less-than-stellar moments, has exuded instances of pure awesomeness.

G.O.A.T: Shirtless Fencing

The title of the fourth episode of The Original Series ’ first season was “The Naked Time,” and in one case, a character may have read into that too literally. Infected by a virus that mimics intoxication in the human body, the crew began to act irrationally, leading Sulu to prance around the decks of the Enterprise shirtless.

In canon, the scene established Sulu’s proficiency in fencing, as aside from being bare-chested, he was brandishing a sword. In popular culture, it spawned a series of memes and showed off George Takei’s impressive physique!

T.O.A.D: Space Spaniels

The Star Trek franchise has been home to multiple alien races, from humanoids like Klingons and Romulans to fantastic creatures like Yarnek and the Horta. Although the effects of The Original Series may seem somewhat cheesy by today’s standards, some aliens, like the Mugato and the Gorn , are still threateningly effective in their appearances. And then there’s the Alfa 177 Canine.

Clearly, the special effects budget was tapped out for that week as the “alien” was a cocker spaniel in a fluffy onesie. Unfortunately, Sulu has the ignominious “honor” of tending to this strange new life form on camera.

G.O.A.T: Mirror, Mirror

One of the most popular elements of the Star Trek franchise has been the Mirror Universe, an alternate dimension where violent, evil versions of the “prime” universe reside. It’s figured prominently in Deep Space Nine and now, in Discovery , being the home universe of the popular character, Empress Georgiou.

RELATED:  Star Trek: 10 Best Mirror Universe Characters

The audience’s first introduction to this realm was in The Original Series ’ Season 2 episode, “Mirror, Mirror,” when a transporter malfunction sent Captain Kirk, Doctor McCoy, Scotty, and Uhura there. Aside from running afoul of a goateed Spock, they also had to maneuver around a sly and cunning Sulu, whose badass and cutthroat nature was a fun iteration of the character.

T.O.A.D: Sulu Of The Body

Star Trek could probably have filled a whole season with episodes devoted to the crew falling under mind control, and half of those episodes about mind control at the hands of supercomputers. In the first season episode, “The Return of the Archons,” the Enterprise investigates the disappearance of the USS Archon over the planet Beta III.

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The first inkling something was amiss was Sulu’s demeanor following his beaming down to the planet’s surface. Dressed in 19th-century clothing and sporting a goofy smile on his face, “Sulu of the Body” was not one of the character’s shining moments.

G.O.A.T: Stratospheric Swordsmanship

The Abrams Star Trek films are much maligned amongst die-hard Trekkers, who although applaud the actors’ portrayals, often skewer the dramatic liberties taken with the source material.

Although it may be hard to imagine anyone other than George Takei as Sulu, John Cho did an admirable job in the role. Part of that success may have been due to a pivotal scene in Star Trek that established Sulu as a legitimate hand-to-hand combatant. Parachuting from the Enterprise to Vulcan’s upper atmosphere to stop Romulus miners from destroying the planet, Sulu admirably fought off his attackers with prowess and improvisation.

T.O.A.D: Inopportune Gunplay

The holodeck may be a permanent feature on T he Next Generation , but in  The Original Series  episode “Shore Leave,” an entire planet fulfilled the same function. In this episode, a landing party discovered that all their thoughts and daydreams miraculously came true, and sometimes, to deadly results.

During a particularly tense scene of investigation by Captain Kirk and Dr. McCoy, Sulu decided to imagine up a gun and take practice shots. Not a particularly smart move during a crisis situation and poor Sulu had his gun taken away like a child who played with his toys at the wrong time.

G.O.A.T: Don’t Call Me Tiny

With the spotlight always falling on Kirk, Spock, and McCoy, it’s hard to see Scotty, Uhura, Chekov, and Sulu as equally intrepid and effective Starfleet officers. Thankfully, Star Trek III: The Search for Spock rectified that by illustrating just how badass those characters could be.

RELATED:  Star Trek TOS Movies: The 10 Best Fight Scenes, Ranked

Planning to spring Dr. McCoy from a Starfleet medical holding cell, Sulu was left to disarm and detain two guards who were easily double his size. Being a seasoned Starfleet officer with years of combat experience in dangerous situations, Sulu took care of the guards easily, reminding them to “don’t call [him] “tiny!”

T.O.A.D: Lost In Yosemite

Not all of Sulu’s big-screen outings contained iconically epic scenes like that in Star Trek III . For example, the much-maligned Star Trek V: The Final Frontier contained a scene that sacrificed Sulu’s (and Chekov’s) reputations for some misplaced humor.

RELATED:  Every Star Trek Movie, Ranked By Rotten Tomatoes Score

Vacationing in Yosemite with Kirk, Spock, and McCoy, Sulu and Chekov got lost in that wild frontier. That would be completely understandable, were it not for the fact that as the Enterprise’s respective helmsman and navigator, they were responsible for getting the ship from one side of the galaxy to the other and back. Overall, getting lost in a forest was not a strong showing for Sulu.

G.O.A.T: Captain, USS Excelsior

Perhaps Sulu’s most epic onscreen moment came in Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country . As the new captain of the USS Excelsior , Sulu was privy to the information that his old ship, the Enterprise , was on the way to the Khitomer Conference to reveal the conspiracy that sought to keep the Klingon Empire and the Federation at odds.

Defying Starfleet orders, Sulu took the Excelsior on silent running, looking to help his old captain and crew on their final mission. Along the way, he also found the time to teach a young Tuvok some lessons on loyalty and duty.

T.O.A.D: Creeper

At the end of Star Trek V: The Final Frontier , a delegation of Klingons boards the Enterprise to celebrate the defeat of Sybok and the prospect of galactic peace. As Starfleet officers, Sulu and Chekov are supposed to be the example of decorum and self-control, especially in matters of intergalactic diplomacy.

Instead, they cheapen their reputations yet again by ogling a female Klingon at a formal diplomatic function. Such behavior is beneath a civilized individual, much less a Starfleet officer on duty at such an important event. Granted, this was played for a cheap laugh, but it’s out of character and doesn’t age well.

HONORABLE MENTION - G.O.A.T: George Takei

Sulu’s notoriety has been overshadowed as of late by the actor who originated the role: George Takei. His online presence has not only proven popular with Star Trek fans, but his website is a source of humor and comedy for many avid web-surfers who are not Trekkers.

Moreover, “Uncle George,” (as he’s affectionately referred to by his fans) uses his online fame to heroically champion LQBTQ+, environmental, and social issues for a wide audience. In boldly going to raise awareness and combat injustice, George Takei proves every bit the hero as the role he made famous!

NEXT:  Star Trek (2009): 5 Things It Got Right (& 5 It Got Wrong)

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Published Sep 29, 2016

"The Naked Time"... 50 Years Later

" The Naked Time ," the sixth episode of Star Trek: The Original Series , premiered on September 29, 1966 -- or 50 years ago today. The episode, written by John D.F. Black and directed by Marc Daniels, ranks as a fan favorite thanks in large part to the indelible images of a shirtless Sulu rampaging through the decks of the Enterprise, wielding a foil, Riley "singing" the tune "I'll Take You Home Again, Kathleen," Kirk revealing his love/hate (but mostly love) for the Enterprise, Spock crying and and Chapel professing her love to Spock.

Some fun fact, figures, quotes and anecdotes about "The Naked Time"

"The Naked Time" was, in 1967, nominated for a Hugo Award as "Best Dramatic Presentation."

One of our favorite lines, uttered by Riley: "Have no fear, O'Riley's here... and one Irishman is worth 10,000 of you."

Eddie Paskey speaks his first line of dialogue as Leslie in this hour, Bruce Hyde makes the first of his two appearances as Hyde, and the episode also marks Majel Barrett's debut as Chapel. Actually, ""The Naked Time" is the one and only episode of TOS in which Uhura, Rand and Chapel appeared together.

Those environmental suits that Spock and Tormolen (Stewart Moss) wear? They were crafted out of -- are you ready? -- shower curtains!

Speaking of Stewart Moss, StarTrek.com interviewed the actor last year. He recounted his last scene in the episode, noting that, "emotionally unglued, I have dialogue that is off the wall, questioning our mission in space, building to a self-hatred that ends in a struggle with two other crew members over a butter knife which I fall on, wounding myself and eventually dying. Worried that I’d go over the top, I asked Marc to make sure I wasn’t too big. He told me not to worry, what I was doing was believable. This was just another part in just another television show, nothing extraordinary about it. Little did I know. After the show aired I got a note in the mail from John D. F. Black, the writer and an associate producer on the show, thanking me for making him look good. Much appreciated." Go HERE to read the full interview.

More than a few fans noticed that, in this episode, McCoy tore Kirk's uniform in order to inject him with the hypo, but that in later episodes, hypos were administered straight through any clothing.

An Enterprise bowling alley? Yes, Riley makes mention of it.

Hyde died on October 13, 2015, succumbing to throat cancer, which he'd previously beaten into remission. StarTrek.com had spoken to Hyde in 2014, and of "The Naked Time" he said, "The singing part is what is still most vivid to me. I feel a certain affinity to that song, 'I’ll Take You Home Again, Kathleen.' It was, for a long time, for me like 'Over the Rainbow' was to Judy Garland. I used to be asked to sing that song at every convention I attended." Read the full interview HERE .

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• Star Trek Movies
• Star Trek Movies: Kelvin Universe

Shirtless Fencing Sulu

• Thread starter The Wormhole
• Start date Sep 15, 2008

The Wormhole

Fleet admiral.

• Sep 15, 2008

So all the while we've been discussing things from TOS that should be included in Trek XI, most notably SPOCK SHOUTING ABOUT THE WOMEN!! And yet, we've missed a rather important thing: Sulu fencing shirtless, like he did in The Naked Time. Think about it. Have a scene where any character walks into the Enterprise's gym and sees Sulu there, shirtless, practicing fencing. Or even better, remember a few months back there were rumours that Sulu would get into a sword fight with one of Nero's Romulan goons? What if it's a shirtless sword fight? Sulu and the Romulan meet. They nod heads. They rip their shirts off and then pull their swords out and fight. I think there's potential for something kick ass here. What do you think?  

Vice Admiral

The Wormhole said: Sulu and the Romulan meet. They nod heads. They rip their shirts off and then pull their swords out and fight. Click to expand...

M'Sharak

Definitely herbert. maybe..

The Wormhole said: ... Or even better, remember a few months back there were rumours that Sulu would get into a sword fight with one of Nero's Romulan goons? What if it's a shirtless sword fight? Sulu and the Romulan meet. They nod heads. They rip their shirts off and then pull their swords out and fight. I think there's potential for something kick ass here. What do you think? Click to expand...

Samuel T. Cogley

Just a trivial aside... Takei was on the Howard Stern show recently, and someone had referred to the time they oiled Sulu up for the sword fight. George made it known that was his own sweat, not oil.  

Gep Malakai said: The Wormhole said: Sulu and the Romulan meet. They nod heads. They rip their shirts off and then pull their swords out and fight. Click to expand...

• Sep 16, 2008

M'Sharak said: The Wormhole said: ... Or even better, remember a few months back there were rumours that Sulu would get into a sword fight with one of Nero's Romulan goons? What if it's a shirtless sword fight? Sulu and the Romulan meet. They nod heads. They rip their shirts off and then pull their swords out and fight. I think there's potential for something kick ass here. What do you think? Click to expand...

Jackson_Roykirk

Rear admiral.

Samuel T. Cogley said: Just a trivial aside... Takei was on the Howard Stern show recently, and someone had referred to the time they oiled Sulu up for the sword fight. George made it known that was his own sweat, not oil. Click to expand...

Cat-lovin', Star Trekkin' Time Lady

The Wormhole said: So all the while we've been discussing things from TOS that should be included in Trek XI, most notably SPOCK SHOUTING ABOUT THE WOMEN!! And yet, we've missed a rather important thing: Sulu fencing shirtless, like he did in The Naked Time. Think about it. Have a scene where any character walks into the Enterprise's gym and sees Sulu there, shirtless, practicing fencing. Or even better, remember a few months back there were rumours that Sulu would get into a sword fight with one of Nero's Romulan goons? What if it's a shirtless sword fight? Sulu and the Romulan meet. They nod heads. They rip their shirts off and then pull their swords out and fight. I think there's potential for something kick ass here. What do you think? Click to expand...

Ryan Thomas Riddle

• Sep 17, 2008

Sector 7 said: Gep Malakai said: The Wormhole said: Sulu and the Romulan meet. They nod heads. They rip their shirts off and then pull their swords out and fight. Click to expand...

CommanderRaytas

Disco queeeeeen.

Manly, but not rugged. You can shave and dress up and even moisturise and still be a real man. Cute is better, so all the girls will be confused about who to cheer for during the fight.  

• Sep 19, 2008
• Sep 21, 2008

CommanderRaytas said: Manly, but not rugged. You can shave and dress up and even moisturise and still be a real man. Cute is better, so all the girls will be confused about who to cheer for during the fight. Click to expand...

Timewalker said: For decades I had no idea George Takei is gay. And I found him very attractive. Now that I know, I don't care. He's still attractive, and from what I've read, he is still an incredibly nice person. And I bet he'd still look terrific shirtless, running around with a sword! Click to expand...

• Sep 22, 2008

Sector 7 said: George was always a very nice person, from the first time we talked (he grilled me actually) and throughout my Hollywood ordeal... he was always charming and a good friend. I don't think that will ever change. Click to expand...

Actually, I hope Gertrude the animated plant makes a cameo! -- RR  

• Sep 23, 2008

Red Ranger said: Actually, I hope Gertrude the animated plant makes a cameo! -- RR Click to expand...

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Star Trek: 10 Best Scenes from the Reboot Trilogy, Ranked

When Star Trek returned to big screens in 2009 with a brand-new cast, producers and directors, Paramount likely hoped it would spawn far more than three films. However, that movie, along with Star Trek Into Darkness and Star Trek Beyond were all that came from the big-budget reboot of Gene Roddenberry's universe. While the film series was controversial, there are plenty of great Star Trek scenes in the reboot trilogy. While rumors still linger that a fourth Star Trek film in the Kelvin Timeline is coming, it's been eight years since the crew of the bigger, chunkier USS Enterprise last took flight.

There are legitimate fan complaints, specifically in how the storytelling seems to eschew the hopeful, aspirational aspect of the future. Still, looking at the previous Star Trek films, they also tried to tell "feature size" stories, which meant action, space battles and, sometimes, terrible losses. The new cast didn't have the advantage of a television series preceding them, either. Still, the Star Trek reboot trilogy wasn't all misses, as there were some hits as well. This list breaks down some of the best scenes from the films that highlighted the bigger on-screen action and the quiet, character-driven moments that always made Star Trek so great.

George Kirk Takes Command of the USS Kelvin

Star trek, 2009.

Trevor Roth on Star Trek: Section 31, Michelle Yeoh & the Legacy of the Franchise | SDCC 2024

If any moment in the new trilogy of Star Trek films is important, it's the scene which gives the "Kelvin Timeline" its name . In the Prime Universe, George Kirk's son was born on Earth in Iowa. In the Kelvin universe, because of the Narada coming back in time, the USS Kelvin was dispatched to investigate. George Kirk was promoted to acting Captain when Nero killed the Kelvin's actual commanding officer. He had to oversee the ship's evacuation and buy them time to escape.

This scene is controversial for how it changes the Star Trek canon, but it's nonetheless a great scene. Chris Hemsworth is the young George Kirk and through his performance, audiences can infer how much of the Captain Kirk they knew came from his influence. It is also a quintessentially iconic Star Trek moment. A captain sacrifices everything, including his future with his wife and child, to do his duty and protect his crew .

Scotty Meets Jaylah After the Destruction of the USS Enterprise

Star trek beyond, 2016.

One area of complaint fans had about the Star Trek Kelvin Timeline movies was they did not truly embrace the exploratory side of this universe. In fact, the only true "first contact" viewers get to see is when Simon Pegg's Montgomery Scott first meets Jaylah (Sofia Boutella), the alien woman stranded on Krall's planet. It is an impeccable sci-fi action sequence, and Pegg's humorous take on Scotty works perfectly here.

Jaylah becomes an important part of the film, because she took control of the USS Franklin, the 22nd Century Starfleet vessel Krall was in command of when he was still Balthazar M. Edison (Idris Elba). This scene perfectly establishes the character as one who is eager to fight but not unwilling to make alliances . As far as first contacts in Star Trek go, there have certainly been worse ones throughout the various timelines.

Captain Kirk and Mister Spock's First Away Mission to Rescue Christopher Pike

Typically, a Star Trek away mission involves beaming down to some unknown planet and exploring. Since the first film in the Kelvin Timeline didn't offer much chance for exploration, the first away mission Captain James T. Kirk and Mister Spock went on together was a run-and-gun shootout with Romulans. The entire sequence is a meticulous action piece, with moments of camaraderie and levity where needed.

Despite Kirk and Spock being at each other's throats (literally in the scene where Spock relieves himself of command) this sequence provides some respite. While not yet good friends, the seeds of their eventual dynamic are visible here . From Kirk's cool end-around move from when Spock is doing the mind-meld to the banter on the Prime Universe Spock's Jellyfish ship, it's a taste of what will come. In another nod to The Original Series , Captain Kirk gets into an old-school fight with the hostile aliens. At least Chris Pine was able to keep his shirt on.

Mister Spock and Doctor McCoy Share a Sincere Moment

Star trek's new spock actors praised by leonard nimoy's son.

Leonard Nimoy's Son, Adam Nimoy, praises Zachary Quinto and Ethan Peck's unique portrayals of his father's Star Trek character, Spock.

In The Original Series and through all the films, the playfully hostile dynamic between Doctor Leonard McCoy and Mister Spock is a highlight. As Karl Urban evoked the late DeForrest Kelly with his performance, it was never better than when he was picking on Spock. After seeing Vulcan destroyed in the first film, Zachary Quinto's Spock was a softer touch than Leonard Nimoy's, at least at that age. Still, their banter was a highlight.

After the USS Enterprise was destroyed and crashed on Krall's planet, a sequence of scenes with McCoy and Spock showed the other side of their friendship. In the final moments before they were reunited with Kirk and Scotty, Spock and McCoy shared an important moment. Spock told McCoy that he cared about him, and the good Doctor was pleased he was in this "certain death" moment with his frienemy . At least, until Spock was beamed away.

James T. Kirk and Hikaru Sulu Fight on the Drilling Platform

The 2009 Star Trek film was the first time Gene Roddenberry's universe was realized on screen with a massive budget. This meant gigantic action sequences that other films never had the chance to pull off. One of the best was the fight on the Narada's drilling platform over the planet Vulcan. In a nod to The Original Series , John Cho's Hikaru Sulu went on the mission because of his skill with a sword, even though it was just fencing. He and Jim Kirk were air-dropped onto the platform in an effort save Vulcan.

While they weren't able to prevent the planet's destruction, this is still a great action sequence. S ulu is able to outsmart the Romulans, and he also saves Kirk . Similarly, Kirk's act-first-think-later heroism is on display after he dives off the platform to rescue Sulu as they both plummet to Vulcan's surface. It was a thrilling and fun sequence in the film, raising spirits before the heartbreak of watching Vulcan's destruction.

James T. Kirk Sees the USS Enterprise for the First Time

Star trek 2009.

In Star Trek: The Original Series and the films that followed, it became clear there was only one thing that Captain James T. Kirk ever truly loved. While the Kelvin Timeline failed the Enterprise as a character , it was still a spectacular starship. With the help of Michael Giacchino's rousing score, the moment that Jim Kirk, Doctor McCoy and, thereby, the audience first see the new USS Enterprise is a fantastic one. Even though she wasn't yet his starship, it's clear the moment Kirk first saw the Enterprise was still special.

The vessel's design was different than fans were used to, but it still maintained that iconic Matt Jefferies-created silhouette . While not the six-minute-long introduction the USS Enterprise received in Star Trek: The Motion Picture , this moment was still for the starship lovers in the audience. This version of the Enterprise was truly massive in scope and scale . While Star Trek fans have their favorites, there is no denying that the Kelvin Timeline Enterprise had an impressive debut in the movie.

Mister Spock Gives Captain Kirk a Pep Talk After the Enterprise Is Destroyed

Each season of star trek: picard proved captain kirk was right.

When Captain James T. Kirk met Jean-Luc PIcard he gave him some Starfleet career advice, and each season of Star Trek: Picard proved him correct.

For USS Enterprise fans, Star Trek Beyond is a tough film to watch, since she is destroyed in the first act. However, as important as sci-fi's most beautiful starship is to Star Trek , the vessel isn't what made it last 60 years. The most important part of any story in this universe is the relationship between the characters, and the most important relationship is the one between Kirk and Spock. In a film that has both Kirk and Spock ready to leave Starfleet behind, the moment they are reunited on Krall's planet is everything that's special about this friendship.

It's fair to say the Kelvin Timeline films lacked much of the aspirational outlook on the future as the series. However, that doesn't mean those ideals weren't present at all. At their lowest point, with no working ship, a captured crew and Spock grievously injured, the movie distills Star Trek down to what it's always been. Spock tells Kirk that together they will do what they always do: find hope in impossible moments . It hearkens back to Star Trek III: The Search for Spock when McCoy tells Kirk that what he does best is "turn death into a fighting chance to live."

The Prime Universe Spock Meets His Kelvin Timeline Counterpart

Even if fans believe there is nothing about the new cast that was redeeming, the Star Trek reboot trilogy is special because it gave them Leonard Nimoy as Spock one last time . The Kelvin Timeline began because both Spock and the Narada were flung into the past. This meant that the Prime Universe's Spock was present in this new timeline. He gave the younger Jim Kirk the assistance he needed to achieve his destiny. Yet, one of the best scenes in the Star Trek trilogy is when he does the same for his younger counterpart. After all, he'd also just lost his planet and his mother, without the benefit of all the life experience the Prime Spock had attained over nearly two centuries of adventure.

The short scene began with the younger Spock mistaking the elder Spock for their father, Sarek. While every member of the new Star Trek cast faced pressure because of their iconic predecessors, only Zachary Quinto had to act opposite the person who defined their characters. It's a truly heartwarming scene because of the interplay of their performances, which is ironic given that it's between two emotion-lite Vulcans. Nimoy's Spock is every bit as sharp and witty as fans know, and Quinto's Spock is easily identifiable as a less refined version of that character .

The USS Enterprise Breaks the Prime Directive in the Coolest Way

Star trek into darkness, 2013, every enterprise captain in star trek, ranked.

There is no ship more venerated in Star Trek than the Enterprise, and many officers have served as captain, but how do they rank against each other?

The second film of the reboot trilogy, Star Trek Into Darkness , made many mistakes. Trying to remix the iconic Star Trek II: Wrath of Khan story was ill-conceived at best. Despite being a great actor, Benedict Cumberbatch was not the right casting choice to play a character named Khan Noonien Singh . Still, for all the downsides of this film, it's a fun watch nonetheless. One reason is because of the pitch-perfect opening scene in which Kirk, McCoy, Spock and Uhura (Zoë Saldaña) try to save a pre-warp alien species from an exploding volcano.

The scene is loads of fun. Kirk and McCoy's ill-fated run across the planet's surface to distract the locals is hilarious. Spock's part of the mission is equal parts classic Star Trek sci-fi technobabble and self-sacrifice . It's also the second-best reveal of the USS Enterprise in the Star Trek reboot trilogy. Seeing the ship emerge from the ocean is incredibly cool. It's completely understandable why the aliens would toss away their sacred scroll in favor of worshipping the impressive vessel that saved them from annihilation .

The USS Enterprise Arriving to Save Spock from the Narada

While this moment is technically part of the away mission in which Captain Kirk and Mister Spock save Christopher Pike, it deserves its own entry. Even with the big budget upgrade in the original series of films that began with Star Trek: The Motion Picture and finished with Star Trek: Nemesis , fans never got to see ship combat like this. As Spock prepares to collide with the Narada, he can't be certain it is not a suicide mission. Even though audiences know Spock isn't going to die, seeing the USS Enterprise arrive in the nick of time is thrilling .

Nero figures out the danger Spock poses to the ship, which is why he orders them to "fire everything." If the Red Matter in the ship's hold detonates , the Narada has no hope of survival. Watching the phasers obliterate the Narada's weapons is also thrilling, giving viewers a perspective on space combat they never had before. This is yet another moment where Michael Giacchino's score elevates what's on screen. The rousing Star Trek theme only adds to the triumph of this moment.

Star Trek, Star Trek Into Darkness and Star Trek Beyond are available to own on Blu-ray, DVD and digital, and streams on Paramount+ and PlutoTV.

The Star Trek universe encompasses multiple series, each offering a unique lens through which to experience the wonders and perils of space travel. Join Captain Kirk and his crew on the Original Series' voyages of discovery, encounter the utopian vision of the Federation in The Next Generation, or delve into the darker corners of galactic politics in Deep Space Nine. No matter your preference, there's a Star Trek adventure waiting to ignite your imagination.

Created by Gene Roddenberry

First Film Star Trek: The Motion Picture

Latest Film Star Trek: Nemesis

First TV Show Star Trek: The Original Series

Latest TV Show Star Trek: Strange New Worlds

Cast Nichelle Nichols, Scott Bakula, Kate Mulgrew, Jonathan Frakes, Patrick Stewart, William Shatner, Leonard Nimoy, Avery Brooks, Deforest Kelley, James Doohan

TV Show(s) Star Trek: Animated, Star trek, Star Trek Voyager, Star Trek: Enterprise, Star Trek: Deep Space Nine, Star Trek Lower Decks, Star Trek: Discovery, Star Trek: Picard, Star Trek: Prodigy, Star Trek: Strange New Worlds, Star Trek: Lower Decks

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• Mezco: One:12 Collective Star Trek Sulu

“Oh My!” Mezco’s One:12 Collective Mr. Sulu is out! The amazing 6-inch action figure is the second release in the Star Trek series and is just as good as, if not better than, Spock, the first release. Now bring on Captain Kirk!

Bring on the rest of the crew! Sulu has me hungry for more of the original Enterprise crew: Scotty, Chekov, Uhura, Scotty, and McCoy. The day this crew is completed is the day I will be a happy collector. Growing up, I watched Star Trek reruns and played with Mego ‘s action figures. The original series ran for a brief time a few years before I was born, but the reruns had hit syndication with a passion, and my family tuned in for each and every episode. I was a toddler during the Mego run, but I have fond memories of the toys, and when Mezco announced their line of 6-inch clothed action figures, it took me back to that strange, magical time.

Hikaru Sulu is the second official Star Trek release from Mezco. He was preceded by Spock and may be just as good as Spock. Sulu shares the same base as Spock (review here ) and has almost all the same accessories, with the exception of the fencing sword and accompanying hand, and he has no “live long and prosper” hand. Sulu also comes with an extra head, a “smiling” head, it’s a great addition.

The articulation is solid on these figures. The joints are nice and stiff — they remind me of 12-inch action figures like Hot Toys or Dragon. The elbows are single joints that swivel at the lower bicep. The chest and waist ball and sockets have a great range of motion, and I was impressed by how much “personality” I could get with these joints. The only joints that I felt could use improvement are the ankles. Like with Spock, I feel that there could be more range of movement in the ankles, or maybe there should be more range of motion, but that also might be my expectation of 6-inch action figures over the years.

The clothes are really well done. On 6-inch figures it’s easy for the figures to lose that sense of scaled cloth as the thread/weave is the same as 1:1 clothes. Mezco seems to be going out of their way to avoid this, and it pays off. The clothes almost look like they were made for this scale. The stitching is incredible, making it clear why the cost of these figures is so high: it can’t be cheap to achieve this level of quality.

I’m high on this figure right now. It’s a great figure, a great character, and, having just seen the latest movie, it makes me want the current crew in One:12 Collective as well. For any Star Trek collector, this is a must-have figure.

You can still pick it up today at:

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