No more naked fencing

Over the last few weeks, I read a few articles stating that John Cho accepted the part of Hikaru Sulu in the new Star Trek movie because of its masculinity. I couldn't fathom what he meant, but after seeing the movie, I totally get it. Cho must have recognised the dearth of manly roles for Asians in Star Trek. It's funny, because ST has been gutsy and even groundbreaking in many other aspects. Kirk/Uhura shared the first interracial kiss on TV, TNG had an interesting episode on an androgynous species (i.e., definitely a metaphor for homosexuality if you watch the ep), and Data went places you never thought an android could go.

But the hard truth is this: the Asian (East and South Asian) male in Star Trek is always a nerd. Look at the classic Sulu fencing scene. Later incarnations of ST didn't improve things for Asian guys. First, we have Voyager's Harry Kim. He's a big nerd with girlfriend problems. The problem being that he has no gf, because blond Tom Paris gets the ladies. Then, we have DS9's Julian Bashir, who's both a nerd and annoying, AND has an artificially enhanced intellect to boot! And oh yeah, he also has little luck with the ladies.

According to Star Trek, in the future, humanity has rid itself of illness, poverty, war, and a lot of other baddies. Yet somehow Asian guys are still science nerds who can't get a date.

When Cho's Sulu tells Kirk that he's trained in fencing, it's for comic effect. I think I might have groaned a little. But it was a trick! Those sneaky screenwriters. Amazingly, this Sulu actually does get to be an action hero, killing a few Romulans and saving Kirk's ass. And to that I say qapla!