My current obsession is Star Trek. These obsessions come and go, so bare with me while I am on this one.
I enjoyed Star Trek Into Darkness. There are some Star Trek fans that didn't, but I did. That said there were some things that I didn't like. One of those is Carol Marcus.
Why don't I like Carol Marcus? I don't have any problems with her character in Into Darkness. What gives me a foreboding feeling is what the character represents in Star Trek cannon. That is: a romantic interest to Kirk, and the mother of his child. Why is this a bad thing? Let's break it down:
1. There is a reason fairy tales end after happily ever after. Romance isn't interesting unless there is conflict. I don't want Star Trek to become an angsty romance. It's about discovery, humanity, brotherhood, and adventure. I prefer the romantic entanglements as back story.
2. I must confess I don't like the original Kirk. He had a propensity to fall in love with every pretty woman he saw. He was Romeo, confessing his undying love to Rosalind, and having an epic love affair with Juliet a few scenes later. It was irritating. I don't want to dislike AU Kirk, and I fear I will if they turn him from a lone ranger into a Romeo.
3. Why are all the strong female characters in Star Trek romantic interests for the lead male roles?Carol Marcus, by any other name, is an intriguing character. She is an intelligent scientist who, led by her moral compass, betrays her corrupt father. I don't want her to become a Kirk girl.
4. The potential kid is a problem on multiple levels. First, Star Fleet is set up like the military. It isn't hard to believe that a baby on the ship would be a big no-no and instant angsty Kirk/Marcus (see #1). Second, is it so hard to believe Kirk would take steps to ensure he wouldn't accidentally have a kid? Especially after joining Star Fleet, and especially with his promiscuous nature?
In the end Carol Marcus represents the stumbling block that I believe many Trek fans ran into when it came to Into Darkness: expectation. I have a beloved image in my head of the AU Trek characters and I fear the 2016 movie, which I hold in much anticipation, will stone it to death.
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