by Mr Smith » Sat Oct 09, 2010 4:35 am
So I inadvertently wrote an essay, but the message is intended to be positive, despite mentioning some of his character flaws. I love Archer, I really do, I think that all of his reactions to situations are justified and he evolves in a manner and pace that makes sense according to the events that are thrown at him. His character development I find the most agreeable.
What I didn't like about Archer is the fact that he's was such an obvious product of the 21st century, inadvertently a vehicle for common -isms and privilege that dominates today's society. I don't like the fact that he was distorted by Hollywood and that Enterprise was so glaringly obvious in being a product of today's societal values, unlike the Trek I always assumed Roddenberry had set out to make (no comment on whether he succeeded or not). Archer began as a pawn in a stupid game, but he eventually outgrew the game and became a strong character who (I think) set himself apart from that dynamic, and you could feel his progress. It was hopeful, without being unrealistic and departing from the original nature of the character. He's a man who's learning, always learning, which is very human and relatable.
I find him the easiest to imagine after the end of the series, too, because his path forward seems very logical and very human, and it's nice to see him change and develop with each new problem and encounter. Going back to the era he reflects most, the 21st century west, the way he developed on the Enterprise acted inevitably as a microcosm of broader society, and in that environment, given his history, I think he evolved in a way that was both believable and desirable, as he left some of his burdens behind and gained new ones. The narrative of his evolving character I actually view, somewhat hopefully, as a reflection of our eventual changing attitudes, as he is invariably the typical American straight white male. The Xindi conflict and the Vulcan arc in particular I love for the way they change him and influenced his later interactions with his crew and other species.
The relationships between him and other characters were also very compelling. There were some elements I found problematic, particularly in regard to his attitude towards aliens and women, another symptom of the societal messages that unfortunately dominate the stage on which the show was created, but, at the same time, his behaviour was believable given his experiences. The way he was written, unlike some protagonists, I never felt forced to agree with his point of view, or afraid to speak up against his flaws. I'm not going to say he was perfect, but he was human, and he did have an undeniable innocence that made him appealing, even as he shed that skin and became something new.
In particular, I always liked that he tried to be a friend in addition to a Captain, and he seemed to pay such close attention to his crew that he noticed things no one else would have. He acted in their best interests, and I never felt he was infallible, especially as he realised that himself. Of course my favourite element is how he relates to Malcolm, in some ways I think they're very much the same; testing the waters of new experiences (personal and professional), venturing into new situations hoping to do something big, and pushing their own sense of self-confidence.
I think overall Jonathan Archer is a good man, and a very interesting character, even when he had to set aside himself to be The Captain. He had a strong sense of morals, and no, he didn't always make the best choice or have the right attitude, as Mareel said, especially in situations where someone was always going to lose, but as a baseline we were always reminded he was human and constantly evolving as all good men do.
I, for one, would have been proud to be a member of his crew and evolve right along with him.
"Is that really how you see me? The eternal pessimist? The grim reaper? I don't want to die, what makes you think I want to die?"
-- I was immediately intrigued by the involvement of Scott Bakula (who also needs a separate thread). I'd been in Trek fandom for many years, but had become a mundane for almost a decade. Scott, and Archer, brought me back to the fandom fold and the rest is history, lol!
, and I have my least favorites too. But I'd rather build up characters I love (and thus encourage my fellow fen), especially since I think that's what this site was created for. AND THANKS TO THE MODS, BTW!! 
HOW ABOUT SOME ARCHER LURV!? 
outfit, nuff said)
