Sulu

Sulu is one of the most enduringly popular characters of the original Star Trek series, despite his minor role in the program. This is probably due to a number of reasons, one being his vivid and realistic personality.

En guarde! Some great comedic moments are provided by Sulu. Most memorable are his antics in "The Naked Time," in which, under the influence of a mysterious disease, he runs around the Enterprise with a foil, frightening everyone in sight with his deadly weapon and swashbuckler fantasies. In other episodes such as "The Return of the Archons" and "This Side of Paradise," we see Sulu as equally 'spaced out' by mind-altering computers and spores. But it is Sulu's normally calm, cheerful attitude that has made him such a well-liked character among fans.

Quite the hobbyist, Sulu shows an interest in botany, fencing, old-Earth handguns, and the martial arts of his native Japan. Such hobbies are seen in the earlier episodes of the series, in which the focus on supporting characters, such as Sulu, is greater than in later episodes. Sulu is first seen in Where No Man Has Gone Before as a physicist, but in every other episode in which he appears he is seen at the helm. Sulu eventually rose to command his own starship, the USS Excelsior. In Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country, Sulu and his crew aid Kirk and the Enterprise in protecting the Federation / Klingon peace process from attack. Sulu's adventurous spirit and cheerful attitude have won him both success in his Starfleet career and a solid, supportive fan base. Many fans feel Sulu's adventures are not over yet, and are fighting to see the development a new TV series based on the adventures of the Excelsior. Visit StarTrekExcelsior.com to learn more about this worthwhile fan-run campaign.