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Ranked against Janeway, Picard, James Tiberius Kirk, Kelvinverse Kirk, Captain Archer and Sisko.

Only on screen stuff counts, forget about books and comics.

Where does he rank in terms of a hand to hand fighter?

In terms of charisma?

Willingness to sacrifice himself for the greater good?

Being a capable diplomat?

Slash Gallagher wrote: ↑Sun Dec 30, 2018 10:39 am Ranked against Janeway, Picard, James Tiberius Kirk, Kelvinverse Kirk, Captain Archer and Sisko.

Only on screen stuff counts, forget about books and comics.

Where does he rank in terms of a hand to hand fighter?

Ahead of Archer, behind all the rest.

In terms of charisma?

Duking it out with Archer for the title of second last.

Willingness to sacrifice himself for the greater good?

Ahead of Kelvinverse Kirk, ahead of Lorca (if he counts). Maybe ahead of Janeway. Well behind the rest.

Being a capable diplomat?

Dead last.

I don't think Mercer has ever lost at hand-to-hand, so that puts him above even Kirk. But Sisko punched a godlike being and Q never came back,so I have to rank Mercer behind Sisko on that one.

Sisko, Picard, and Janeway actually sacrificed themselves for the greater good. Kirk was last off the Constellation and tried to be the last when luring the vampire cloud, so I have to give him points for risking his life so no one else has to. Mercer hasn't done that yet, so he's tied with Archer.

His diplomatic skills have been sufficient to avoid conflict, so better than Archer. Picard and Kirk had a couple diplomatic victories. I think he ties with Janeway here.

Hand to Hand Combat? Kirk and Sisko tied for first place, Janeway for second, K-Kirk and Picard in Third and Archer is Dead Last.

Charisma? Kirk's on first, Picard's on second, Sisko on Third, K-Kirk in on forth, Janeway in fifth and Archer is Dead Last (though that's more the fault of the writers and not the actor).

Willingness to Sacrifice One Self for


youtu.be/N_q2wBzT6uU

Tied Between all Captains as all of them have done that at one point or another (though Archer and Janeway lose points for doing so for really stupid reasons).

Best in diplomacy? Picard with Kirk and Sisko tied in second place, K-Kirk on third (Mostly thanks to Beyond saving his character) & Janeway and Archer Dead Last.

Winter wrote: ↑Mon Dec 31, 2018 8:51 am...

The list you just gave, well, we already did THAT thread. You're missing someone.

Actually, you're all missing someone. If Ed Mercer is in the mix, then so is the intrepid captain of the N.S.E.A. Protector! Peter Quincy Taggart!!!!!



Yes, the rolling helps.

Taggart is on a par with Sisko and Kirk for being willing to get right into the fight. Even more so than Kirk, Taggart knows that command is a job with as much performance art as anything else. Taggart is bursting with that same charisma, even after a hangover.

Taggart failed as a diplomat - though to be fair, he didn't realize that he was actually negotiating with Sarris. He has been all over the place when it comes to self-sacrifice, but through personal growth was eventually willing to risk everything for his fellow crew.

Taggart is tied with Mercer on one advantage above all the other captains: genre savvy.

Every Star Trek show has existed in this strange bubble where popular culture is just a figment of history. Mercer may make a lot of mistakes on his own, but he is capable of learning from others - and from centuries of unforgettable entertainment.

The jury is still out on what exactly the intent behind The Orville actually was. It stands to reason, that it was never a comedy or parody in the first place and while clearly not being serious SF either, I'd say it leans into that neat middle category of serious SF with some humour. Now, the final product however is either a mix of McFarlane's sense of what actually constitutes mild humour and serious SF or corporate mandated joke-infusion in order to get a sell to the blockheads with the money.