Is the Captain Pike we know from Discovery and Strange New Worlds really the same dude from "The Cage"? (startrek.website)

submitted 1 year ago by adamkotsko@startrek.website to c/daystrominstitute@startrek.website

10 comments fedilink hide all child comments

Like basically every current Star Trek fan, I love the character of Captain Pike as Anson Mount portrays him. I wonder, though, to what extent he is actually the same guy from "The Cage." If we had only that episode to work from (which the Discovery and SNW writers initially did), we would know that he is broody, that he struggles with the responsibility he bears for the lives of others, and that he is remarkably able to conjure up emotions like anger and hate on command. Does any of that fit with Pike as we know him now?

One way to answer this question would be to imagine a very literal remake of the original pilot recast with the current actors. Everyone else would basically make sense, but I think seeing the current Pike act out his scenes would be jarring and even a little upsetting.

I'm sure we can come up with in-universe explanations -- he was having a particularly bad day, he's grown as a person, etc., etc. -- but it does seem like the current-day writers are departing pretty abruptly from the ostensible basis for the character. What do you think?

you are viewing a single comment's thread
view the rest of the comments

[-] Corgana@startrek.website 8 points 1 year ago

"The Cage" shows us a brief glimpse at a gruff, no-nonsense Pike who appears closed off if not straight-up unfriendly. "The Menagerie" shows us the same person but presented through the framing of not only a very well respected starfleet captain, but someone Spock would personally risk his entire career for. In this context TOS Pike's rough edges get considerably softened, which brings what we see of the character much more in line with what we've come to expect in SNW.

[-] VindictiveJudge@startrek.website 3 points 1 year ago

"The Cage" also technically isn't part of continuity while "The Menagerie" definitely is. Also helps to smooth out some other stuff, like Pike making sexist comments in "The Cage"; that isn't part of "The Menagerie" so it didn't happen in continuity.

[-] NuPNuA@lemm.ee 2 points 1 year ago

Didn't they literally use clips from "The Cage" in a previously on in Discovery? I'd say that cononised it.

this post was submitted on 11 Aug 2023

33 points (94.6% liked)

Daystrom Institute

5 readers

15 users here now

Welcome to Daystrom Institute!

Serious, in-depth discussion about Star Trek from both in-universe and real world perspectives.

Read more about how to comment at Daystrom.

Rules

1. Explain your reasoning

All threads and comments submitted to the Daystrom Institute must contain an explanation of the reasoning put forth.

2. No whinging, jokes, memes, and other shallow content.

This entire community has a “serious tag” on it. Shitposts are encouraged in Risa.

3. Be diplomatic.

Participate in a courteous, objective, and open-minded fashion. Be nice to other posters and the people who make Star Trek. Disagree respectfully and don’t gatekeep.

4. Assume good faith.

Assume good faith. Give other posters the benefit of the doubt, but report them if you genuinely believe they are trolling. Don’t whine about “politics.”

5. Tag spoilers.

Historically Daystrom has not had a spoiler policy, so you may encounter untagged spoilers here. Ultimately, avoiding online discussion until you are caught up is the only certain way to avoid spoilers.

6. Stay on-topic.

Threads must discuss Star Trek. Comments must discuss the topic raised in the original post.

Episode Guides

The /r/DaystromInstitute wiki held a number of popular Star Trek watch guides. We have rehosted them here:

founded 1 year ago

MODERATORS

williams_482@startrek.website

Equals@startrek.website

LibraryLass@startrek.website

khaosworks@startrek.website