So what about it? there’s a plethora of great characters In science fiction. but lets take it step further than just the one who can kill the most, or the hottest; but the greatest all around character created.
So please share your favorites and why
Sarah Connor
Ellen Ripley
Kara Thrace
Laura Roslin
Six
Aeryn Sun
I’ve heard great things about Samantha Carter but I haven’t seen any Stargate so I can’t weigh in on that.
My top 5
- Ellen Ripley
- Laura Roslin
- Sam Carter
- Nyota Uhura
- Buffy
You know? I woulda said her. But I think Nichelle Nichols is so much more impressive than Nyota. Don’t get me wrong. I love Uhura, I blame the era.
Nichelle is an amazing person and role model. I feel bad for putting Uhura in 4th, I think she deserves higher than that, but I agree with you that the era she originated from didn’t do her justice.
yeah, with Uhura (the 60’s version)… it’s easy to confuse the real world importance of her character and actress just being present, with the almost total lack of story contribution of the character. ( if taken as a whole, the over 80 something hours of programming in which she is cast)
Also in contrast to the Ripley’s, Troi’s, Kaylee’s, Kira Nyreese’s, Laura Roslan’s, StarBucks, Zoe’s, heck even the man- looking chick from B5… she doesn’t rate. She is a favorite for political reason, nostalgia reasons, historical reasons, personal inspirational reasons… but not as an all around great character? If one takes only what is canon,… there is not much there. Her character isn’t much more than Kalley ( from BSG, heck Kalley get’s more characterization than we ever get of Uhurah) I like what is there. but she doesn’t fly with the likes of janeway or beverly crusher ( i can’t believe I just typed that…), STarbuck or the likes.
I have to say that the best sci-fi women characters are: ( and I am trying to say great characters… and not just hotness. Also… it’s hard for movie characters to beat out TV characters… just becuase of the nature of characterization in TV vs movies.)
- Dana Scully
- Laura Rosalin
- Starbuck
- T’Pol
- Sarah Conner ( All three versions)
- Jadzia
- Ripley
- Zoe ( firefly)
- 6 ( the whole line)
- Seven of 9
My list:
1- Ellen Ripley -intelligence, courage & guts
2- Dana Scully -intelligence, courage & guts
3- Starbuck -supreme bad-ass
4- Sarah Connor -same
5- Caprica Six & Head-Six - in a class all their own !!
I’m sure I’ll want to add others.
Aeryn Sun
Threads over now people, nothing to see here, move along please.
/thread
I’m surprised nobody’s nominated Leia from Star Wars, Eowyn from LOTR, or Trinity from the Matrix trilogy. I’d have figured they’d at least be somewhere in the top 10 or so
MY top Five
Number five - Number six
Number Four - Trinity
Number three - Alice (Resident evil)
Number two - Sarah Connor
Number one - Ripley (should have listened to Ripley!)
What defines a really great character?
I think it has to do with how they face adversity. In the crucible, when placed under extreme conditions what emerges?
It is difficult to find fault with Ellen Ripley. Some argue that she was orignally written as a male character, as if that in any way would demean her as a female. I disagree. I believe the script was written with gender neutral characters. I vaguely remember RDM mentioning that in one of his podcasts. He wanted to take a similar approach in BSG.
Ellen Ripley is present and in the moment. She listens and observes the situation and then speaks her mind. She knows what the wrong and right decision is. She is kind at times and vicious when appropriate. She is strong in the face of danger and fragile with revealing her fear and mistakes.
She is not only a great female character, she is a great human character.
Alphabetical order:
Lindsey Brigman (The Abyss), Samantha Carter, Sarah Connor, Delenn (how can people not remember how much she rocked!? “Only one human captain has ever survived battle with a Minbari Fleet. He is behind me. You are in front of me. If you value your lives, be somewhere else.”), and Ellen Ripley.
Honorary mention to Bonnie Barstow (can’t wait for the reaction to this name), Major Kira, Aeryn Sun, and River Tam… Bonnie because you could call her a template for Carter. She wasn’t just eye candy waiting to be saved every episode, and one of the first women I can remember who wasn’t. She contributed to the team in a fundamental way.
And Gally/Alita (Battle Angel Alita), Honoka (The Third: The Girl with the Blue Eye), Lina Inverse (Slayers), and Revy (Black Lagoon)
I watch too much TV. Can’t limit myself to 5. Sorry.
If you consider Leia from the extended universe, then maybe. But, base just on the movies? No. She seems spoiled in Ep IV, and too complainy in Ep V. In Ep VI, she killed Jabba in a gold bikini and eventually found out she had Jedi potential, yes. But, she had to be rescued from Ewoks…
Eowyn? I liked Galadriel and Arwen more.
Trinity does have something. But to me, a great female has to be great by herself to a certain extent. She’s a good leader and handy in a fight, but she lacks something compared to Sarah Connor and Ripley. I can’t put a word to it right now.
P.S. Oh man, how could I forget to put Honor Harrington on my list!?
Eowyn was super awesome. Even as a man, I love the line, “I am no man.” Stab! But she’s fantasy to me, not sci-fi. If we’re blurring the lines, I’d certainly include her. Awesome warrior, beautiful, moves on from Aragon right over to Faramir.
I only know of one lady that doesn’t mind shooting things in the face when preggers. Aeryn Sun wins.
Honor Harrington vs Susan Ivanova…I have to go with Ivanova!
“I can only assume I am paying of my karma at a vastly accelerated rate.”
Barbarella !!!
(yeah, I win )
Yea, thats pretty hawt. Big thumbs up! Unfortunately Aeryn Sun has already been declared winner. Move along everybody nothing to see here! :D:p
Whaddya mean nothing to see!?! There are boobies! Real plastic covered boobies!
got to say I love your stick to it-ness on the aeryn thing and of course you are correct she wins this hands down no question but I got to side on frakkintalos here cause… hey boobies!.. I mean being open minded about other opinions… no I meant boobies.
Ah, the good old days. When the plastic was on the outside…