# The "Jar-Jar-Binks" of Star Trek?? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [April 21, 2002, 9:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-jar-jar-binks-of-star-trek/104863 "2002-04-21T21:43:37Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![MagicalSilverKey](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/8797f3/32.png) [@MagicalSilverKey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MagicalSilverKey)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2002, 9:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-jar-jar-binks-of-star-trek/104863/1 "2002-04-21T21:43:37Z")
Who, in your not-so-humble-opinion, is to the **Star Trek** universe, what Jar Jar is to Star Wars? I’m going to have to vote for **Dr. Pulaski** of STNG. Gahhhhh! I HATE her. Snotty, obnoxious, arrogant, cynical hag! She’s not even fit for Bantha fodder. Data has way more emotions and character than that old bat does. Dr. Pulaski, pull that crystalline entity out of your ass, mmkay? next ---
**Author:** ![Ferret\_Herder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/e47774/32.png) [@Ferret\_Herder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ferret_Herder)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2002, 9:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-jar-jar-binks-of-star-trek/104863/2 "2002-04-21T21:46:05Z")
I’m astonished you didn’t pick Wesley Crusher. It seemed like half the plotlines during his time on the Enterprise were driven by either mistakes he’d made or solutions that only he could think of/implement. He was whiny, arrogant, and just plain annoying. ---
**Author:** ![MagicalSilverKey](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/8797f3/32.png) [@MagicalSilverKey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MagicalSilverKey)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2002, 9:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-jar-jar-binks-of-star-trek/104863/3 "2002-04-21T21:50:08Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by DeniseV \* > \*\*I’m astonished you didn’t pick Wesley Crusher. It seemed like half the plotlines during his time on the Enterprise were driven by either mistakes he’d made or solutions that only he could think of/implement. He was whiny, arrogant, and just plain annoying. \*\* Wesley Crusher is my second choice, but Dr. Pulaski is like nails across a chalkboard for me. Despite Wesley’s overwhelming annoying-ness, at least he is somewhat _interesting._ Pulaski is just, zzzzzzzzz. ---
**Author:** ![Mr.Blue\_Sky](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d26b3c/32.png) [@Mr.Blue\_Sky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Blue_Sky)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2002, 9:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-jar-jar-binks-of-star-trek/104863/4 "2002-04-21T21:53:04Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by MagicalSilverKey \* > \*\*Who, in your not-so-humble-opinion, is to the **Star Trek** universe, what Jar Jar is to Star Wars? > > I’m going to have to vote for **Dr. Pulaski** of STNG. Gahhhhh! I HATE her. Snotty, obnoxious, arrogant, cynical hag! She’s not even fit for Bantha fodder. Data has way more emotions and character than that old bat does. Dr. Pulaski, pull that crystalline entity out of your ass, mmkay? > > next \*\* You hit the nail right on the head, my friend. She was a pathetic excuse to revive the Dr. McCoy “crusty old country doctor” routine. They even made her NOT like transporters. In the episode “Unnatural Selection”, they should’ve let the old bat die of decrepitude. ---
**Author:** ![DPWhite](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/d26b3c/32.png) [@DPWhite](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DPWhite)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2002, 10:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-jar-jar-binks-of-star-trek/104863/5 "2002-04-21T22:01:13Z")
I remember when TNG came out. My friends and I would get together, and we would complain about Wesley Crusher in a way that can only be compared to later day complaints about Jar Jar Binks. Pulaski was annoying, but not the kind of run from the room screaming that Wesley and Jar Jar were. ---
**Author:** ![SPOOFE](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c5a1d2/32.png) [@SPOOFE](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SPOOFE)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2002, 10:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-jar-jar-binks-of-star-trek/104863/6 "2002-04-21T22:18:56Z")
Yeah, Wesley Crusher was, as one publication put it, a “smarmy git”. To this day, I’m convinced that the Traveller took him not because he thought Wesley was worthy of anything, but out of pity for both the Enterprise crew and the audience. Of course, the coolest character in the series was Mott the Barber… ---
**Author:** ![Monster104](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/c6cbf5/32.png) [@Monster104](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Monster104)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2002, 11:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-jar-jar-binks-of-star-trek/104863/7 "2002-04-21T23:05:09Z")
No way, that one dude in that episode about something was the coolest guy. Yeah. ---
**Author:** ![shawa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/dfb087/32.png) [@shawa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/shawa)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2002, 11:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-jar-jar-binks-of-star-trek/104863/8 "2002-04-21T23:25:57Z")
If Voyager counts, I vote for Nelix. I hate him. He’s just too damn cheerful. ---
**Author:** ![JThunder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/e95f7d/32.png) [@JThunder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JThunder)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2002, 11:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-jar-jar-binks-of-star-trek/104863/9 "2002-04-21T23:39:38Z")
Pulaski wasn’t that bad, IMO. Okay, so she had all of McCoy’s crustiness and none of the charm, but I did find her tolerable. Wesley was annoying, but nowhere near as bad as Jar Jar. Neelix was just bland, as far as I’m concerned. While Wesley and Neelix are worthy contenders, I don’t think any of them are at Jar Jar’s level. ---
**Author:** ![Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bosda_di_chi_of_tricor/32/16845_2.png) [@Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bosda_Di_Chi_of_Tricor)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2002, 11:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-jar-jar-binks-of-star-trek/104863/10 "2002-04-21T23:56:39Z")
Wesley. Definiatly. Fie on him. 😛 ---
**Author:** ![Merrin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/bb73d2/32.png) [@Merrin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Merrin)\ **Post date:** [April 22, 2002, 12:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-jar-jar-binks-of-star-trek/104863/11 "2002-04-22T00:12:38Z")
Everyone may kill me for this, but in the early seasons, Troi’s moralising got right up my nose, damn it only a program started in the 80’s would put a shrink on a starship. Oh and how come she (and for that matter 7 of 9) didn’t have to wear proper uniforms. Oh that’s right 'cause they are attractive women who would be better suited to skin tight catsuits than a real uniform. Love the shows tho! (Even trained my SO into liking them, can come home now and find her voluntarily watching TNG on her own lol) Merrin ---
**Author:** ![Weirddave](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/919ad9/32.png) [@Weirddave](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Weirddave)\ **Post date:** [April 22, 2002, 12:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-jar-jar-binks-of-star-trek/104863/12 "2002-04-22T00:20:41Z")
Bosda, why is your sig from ADF’s adaptation of the animated script for “The Practical Joker”. OMG, What’s that noise? The Geek Alarm? I’ve never HEARD it so loud! ---
**Author:** ![SPOOFE](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c5a1d2/32.png) [@SPOOFE](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SPOOFE)\ **Post date:** [April 22, 2002, 12:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-jar-jar-binks-of-star-trek/104863/13 "2002-04-22T00:49:23Z")
> [@](#): > > If Voyager counts, I vote for Nelix. I hate him. He’s just too damn cheerful. Neelix was either giddily cheerful or suicidally depressed… that was one manic-depressive alien. ---
**Author:** ![Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bosda_di_chi_of_tricor/32/16845_2.png) [@Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bosda_Di_Chi_of_Tricor)\ **Post date:** [April 22, 2002, 1:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-jar-jar-binks-of-star-trek/104863/14 "2002-04-22T01:21:11Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Weirddave \* > \*\*Bosda, why is your sig from ADF’s adaptation of the animated script for “The Practical Joker”. > \*\* Sorry, it’s a quote from _How Much For Just The Planet_ a very fun Star Trek novel. ---
**Author:** ![shawa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/dfb087/32.png) [@shawa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/shawa)\ **Post date:** [April 22, 2002, 1:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-jar-jar-binks-of-star-trek/104863/15 "2002-04-22T01:29:47Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Merrin \* > \*\*Everyone may kill me for this, but in the early seasons, Troi’s moralising got right up my nose, damn it only a program started in the 80’s would put a shrink on a starship. > > Oh and how come she (and for that matter 7 of 9) didn’t have to wear proper uniforms. Oh that’s right 'cause they are attractive women who would be better suited to skin tight catsuits than a real uniform. > > Love the shows tho! (Even trained my SO into liking them, can come home now and find her voluntarily watching TNG on her own lol) > > Merrin \*\* Not only have I always wondered why Troi doesn’t have to wear a proper uniform, but why does she have to be on the bridge so much? Is it really necessary to have the ship’s counselor on the bridge all the time? ---
**Author:** ![Weirddave](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/919ad9/32.png) [@Weirddave](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Weirddave)\ **Post date:** [April 22, 2002, 1:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-jar-jar-binks-of-star-trek/104863/16 "2002-04-22T01:30:13Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Bosda Di’Chi of Tricor \* > \*\* > Sorry, it’s a quote from _How Much For Just The Planet_ a very fun Star Trek novel. \*\* Right! Ford used the concept again. My bad. ---
**Author:** ![Merrin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/bb73d2/32.png) [@Merrin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Merrin)\ **Post date:** [April 22, 2002, 1:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-jar-jar-binks-of-star-trek/104863/17 "2002-04-22T01:42:16Z")
Troi is probably on the bridge too much because she is just waiting for one of the perfectly well adjusted crew (Worf aside, but he is fun “Growl for me” -Q) to throw a wobbly and launch all photon torpedoes at a disagreeable alien that Picard is yet again trying to calm down. Don’t you just wish he would say “Make them burn Mr Worf, fry them till they scream for mercy, make it so!” (with a quick glance at Troi to check it’s alright to show this much emotion). Or MAYBE that’s just me lol! Merrin ---
**Author:** ![Buck\_The\_Diver](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ac8455/32.png) [@Buck\_The\_Diver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Buck_The_Diver)\ **Post date:** [April 22, 2002, 2:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-jar-jar-binks-of-star-trek/104863/18 "2002-04-22T02:23:21Z")
Another vote for Wesley. Good God…transfer him to Security, paste a red shirt on his skinny torso and send him on the next away mission. ---
**Author:** ![vivalostwages](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/d07c76/32.png) [@vivalostwages](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/vivalostwages)\ **Post date:** [April 22, 2002, 2:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-jar-jar-binks-of-star-trek/104863/19 "2002-04-22T02:35:51Z")
Yet another vote cast for Wussley–er, I mean Wesley. ---
**Author:** ![Daniel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/3ec8ea/32.png) [@Daniel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Daniel)\ **Post date:** [April 22, 2002, 3:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-jar-jar-binks-of-star-trek/104863/20 "2002-04-22T03:09:02Z")
How about the inconsistency of DS9 characters? Julian Bashir was my favorite character from all of Trek, but he lost all depth when they came up with that “genetically enhanced” B.S. in later seasons. He’s just . . . he was so great at first, really human in his boyish crush on Dax and all. But then when they decided he was _faking_ all his ineptitiude?? Just as bad is what they did with Rom. season 1 - Odo solves a crime using this reasoning alone: “Rom is an idiot. He couldn’t fix a straw if it was bent.” then in later years, Nog talks of his father: “My father is a genius. He could have been the chief engineer of a starship if he wanted! But no, he had to be a ‘good Ferengi’.” ugh, not that Nog was that deep of a character to begin with, but there was a point where they decided to make half of the DS9 characters almost superhuman as a permanent plot device; that’s about when I stopped watching. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-jar-jar-binks-of-star-trek/104863.md?page=2)