Since so many of us are staying home, we take a look at which Star Trek characters would provide the best company in these anxious times.
Now that we’ve all been prescribed self-isolation and social distancing, many of us are escaping into television shows and films. From streaming old favourites, to finally checking off unwatched series on our lists, there are plenty of fantasy worlds to disappear into if you find yourself with some extra time on your hands. If there’s one franchise likely to keep you company for a while, it’s Star Trek.
Spanning numerous shows, films and adapted material, you will lose track of time aboard the many starships in the franchise. Each series has compelling characters who you love (and some that you will definitely hate).
As someone who grew up with Star Trek, I can tell you that right now, some of those characters coming to life and joining me on this quarantine would definitely help pass the time with ease. Which of these characters would you like to spend the entire quarantine with? We list ten Star Trek characters (in order of appearance) who would make for great quarantine companions.
10. Leonard ‘Bones’ McCoy (Star Trek: The Original Series)
It’s easy to choose Captain James T. Kirk as the go-to quarantine buddy. He’s funny, fun, heroic and easy on the eye. But let’s be honest – us Trekkies know that Kirk wouldn’t last a day in quarantine. He’d be out in the streets trying to be a hero and probably getting into unnecessary trouble.
Dr. Leonard McCoy, aka Bones, on the other hand, is not only a doctor, but he’s a humorous, laidback kind of guy. McCoy would keep you safe and entertained throughout this time. Think of all the anecdotes he could share about Spock’s Vulcan logic and the Enterprise crew’s daring-dos. If you have to be stuck indoors with one of the original Enterprise crew, DeForest Kelley’s McCoy is the man for the job.
9. Jean-Luc Picard (Star Trek: The Next Generation)
The renaissance man of the Star Trek franchise would be a perfect companion during any trying time. Sir Patrick Stewart is already reading Shakespearean sonnets daily, and his on-screen counterpart would not be far behind.
Picard is calm under pressure and generous to a fault. You’d go on grocery runs together to stock your kitchen and probably those of the entire neighbourhood too – Picard wouldn’t have it any other way. You wouldn’t have time to feel anxious with Picard playing soothing music on his flute, or re-enacting his favourite literary chapters. The man can cook and make a mean Earl Grey (we hope, anyway). And you know, where there’s Picard, Q isn’t far behind. That’s twice the amount of entertainment you bargained for.
8. Dr. Julian Bashir (Star Trek: Deep Space Nine)
Yes, yes, Dr. Bashir is a doctor, which automatically makes him the best choice for a quarantine buddy, but he’s much more than that. First of all, have you seen that face? Imagine waking up to Julian’s soulful eyes every morning?
Julian is also notorious for his playful attitude – he has a James Bond-style holodeck program ready to keep you company, several historical battles recreated to get in your daily exercise, plus a portable dartboard to practice your aim.
He loves to talk and his witticisms will either have you in splits or crawling up the wall. Either way, there will never be a moment’s boredom with Julian around. Did we mention Julian has superpowers? Need we say more.
7. Tom Paris (Star Trek: Voyager)
Ah, Tommy, me boy! The eternal rebel with a heart of gold. Tom Paris is a sweetheart who will not only keep you engaged but will lend you his broad shoulder when this pandemic situation gets too much to handle. Tom is an ace pilot, which means he’ll probably take you up in an airplane when you’ve got cabin fever (assuming it’s safe to do so, of course).
He’ll invite you to his Captain Proton holodeck program, so you can join him and Harry Kim (as Buster Kincaid) on their adventures against the evil Chaotica. Or, you can stroll through the delightful little Irish town, Fair Haven – one of Tom’s original creations that kept the Voyager crew buoyed during the final seasons of their journey home.
If the holodeck is too stressful, you can hang out with Tom’s collection of swing music, or be enlightened by Tom’s phenomenal knowledge of Earth history. There’s nothing quite as calming as Tom’s eager assurances that we’ll get through this. No matter how much vitriol you chuck at him, Tom can handle it. After all, he’s married to B’Elanna Torres.
6. Kathryn Janeway (Star Trek: Voyager)
When you’ve been lost in the Delta Quadrant, living out quarantine is no big deal. Captain Janeway is no stranger to meeting and besting a challenge, which makes her the best person to spend these quarantine days with.
She’s smart and resourceful. If you run out of anything, Captain Janeway can come up with an alternative. Okay, she’s not the best cook, but Captain Janeway never stops trying. You’ll have a lot of meals together, albeit burnt ones. When all else fails, her cutting wit and mean impressions of fellow Starfleet captains should keep you going.
Captain Janeway loves the arts, so I imagine she’ll be first in line to sign up for all the free and discounted art classes now available online. A few weeks with Captain Janeway, and you’ll be the envy of your friends. You’ll have been the most productive and learned person to survive the quarantine.
5. Charles “Trip” Tucker III (Enterprise)
Considering we’re stuck at home; a Starfleet engineer may seem overqualified for the job of an unofficial babysitter. But you can’t argue with the unending charm of Trip. The man has a way with words, likes to flirt but remains respectful of his romantic entanglements.
Trip is pretty selfless, so you can trust him to be the one valiantly braving the crowds to get that last toilet paper roll in stock for you. Trip is a huge fan of the board game Go – just learning the rules of the game will take you a while. Then you’ll spend hours playing it and come out of isolation as a smart strategist.
4. Hikaru Sulu (Star Trek – The Kelvin Timeline)
You could argue that both versions of Sulu (George Takei and John Cho) would make for excellent company, though Cho’s Sulu is less intense and definitely more laid back. The Kelvin timeline Sulu is a great fighter, but he’s also a family man.
Which means he’s unlikely to do anything reckless, but he’ll walk the dog even though he was up all night pacifying any children in the house. Sulu is a very quick thinker, a vital asset when you’re stuck at home and the fuse is busted. You also can’t argue when he looks like the disarming John Cho.
3. Philippa Georgiou (Star Trek: Discovery)
It’s tough to choose between the two Philippa Georgious that have been introduced in the Star Trek universe. But if you’re like me, mirror Philippa Georgiou is definitely the kind of person who will help you while away the time at home.
Georgiou-prime was too straight-laced. What can’t Emperor Georgiou do? She was cruel in the mirror world, but beneath that cold and calculated exterior, she has a soft heart that wants to make the best of her new life in the prime timeline.
She’s going to keep you hooked to all the endless stories she has about the mirror universe (you’ll have to ignore her xenophobia), as well as her experiences with Section 31. Talk about spicing up your life – Georgiou will make every waking moment epic!
2. Cristóbal ‘Chris’ Rios (Star Trek: Picard)
We’ve known Chris for less than one season, but he’s wound his way into our hearts already. Who can blame us? Chris has a sad backstory and a penchant for seeing the best in the worst. His beautiful ship, La Sirena, is compact but has enough space for him to challenge you to soccer games. Beware, Rios is nifty with the ball.
When you’re drained from all that exertion, lie back and listen to Rios’ collection of operas and delve deep into the philosophical side of life and death. But the best thing about Rios is his team of emergency holograms. If Rios’ musings become too intense, why not hang out with the EMH, Ian or Enoch? I’d highly recommend steering clear of Mister Hospitality, though, that guy needs to learn personal boundaries.
1. Seven of Nine (Star Trek: Voyager and Star Trek: Picard)
Seven is such a popular character, I believe even non-Trekkies can point her out in a crowd. When Seven was first liberated from the Borg, she was abrasive and unfriendly. The crew of Voyager stuck by her and with their help – and especially the guidance of the Doctor – Seven became a valuable friend. Not only is Seven extremely strong, an asset when you’re stocking up on supplies for a couple of weeks, but she’s an engaging conversationalist.
She’s a fount of knowledge thanks to her eidetic memory and has a great sense of humour as well. Like plenty of Star Trek characters, Seven loves indoor games. Since you won’t have space to play Velocity, you could spend hours battling Seven at Kadis-kot and Kal-toh. Don’t get too upset if Seven wins everything, she is an xB.
In Star Trek: Picard, Seven’s lightened up quite a bit and we get an inkling into her journey after Voyager, so there’s a lot of catching up you can do about her adventures as a newbie to the Alpha quadrant.
With such a vast list of characters, which Star Trek characters would you like to spend the quarantine with? Let us know in the comments.
For more information about COVID-19, visit the CDC’s website or the website for your state’s Department of Health.