There he was, very smiley and just enjoying wandering amongst ordinary people. He gave me a huge warm smile which I couldn't help but return even before I realised it was George! I automatically waved and he waved back. I was sitting having a coffee with friends when I made eye contact with a man passing by our table. In 2007 I attended my first and only UK Sci-Fi convention (to see my "crush" in person at the time). For whatever reasons, he didn't include his private life which is a shame really because, regardless of his sexuality, it's as much a part of him as any other he did write about and likely just as problematic and interesting. I was quite disappointed however, to be taken on such an insightful, comprehensive journey with him but learnt absolutely nothing about his personal life (other than his running passion and family relationships). Sulu pales in comparison so I could fully understand why a man such as George felt Sulu's character very underused and undervalued and why he constantly suggested progressive ideas for him. I found him to be a much more interesting character than Sulu. His affection and respect for his parents is also very evident and his recognition of their sacrifices for their children is fitting tribute to them. I was pleased and impressed to learn he was playing many other roles in different mediums before, during and after Trek as well as being very involved in local and national politics, being active in progressing multi ethnic causes and was even an Olympic torch runner!. He writes about other major players he worked with along the way very honestly and, for the most part, very complimentarily. His explanation of the political circumstances surrounding the family's internment are educational and the life changing decisions his parents had to make during it, also very eloquently put as are his feelings throughout. I felt as if I could see, hear, smell and taste exactly as if I'd been right there with him! His enthusiasm for and thirst to learn about other cultures, cities, languages, food, architecture, etc, is obvious and quite infectious. I found his writing, especially about this family's internment and his subsequent relocation to California, wonderfully descriptive.
I didn't realise he had been (and probably still is to this day), involved in so many different ventures outside of Star Trek. Not only was he interned with his family in the Japanese American camps as a young boy for several years, but went on to achieve highly successful educational, political, charitable and activist milestones.
I learnt so much about Mr Takei and his many, previously unbeknownst to me, achievements in many different areas. or so I thought until I actually started reading it. This was what I was mostly interested in. I thought it was a re-issued and updated edition to include his achievements since then, such as appearing on the 2008 UK jungle reality show "I'm A Celebrity, Get Me Out of Here", which he was very funny, warm and wise in and which sparked further interest in him and his subsequent social media success. When I first started reading I didn't realise the book had actually been published in 1994 and didn't go beyond then. So I wasn't expecting much other than how he became an actor, got the part and some rehashed behind the scenes stuff. That and many years after, being promoted to Captain in one of the later ST movies. The biggest scene the character ever had was as the bare-chested swashbuckling, foil toting swordsman in the episode in which the crew all caught a virus that manifested their biggest fears/egos. Sulu to me, although an original and long standing/recurring secondary character never seemed to have much to do other than press console buttons.
#George takei oh my star trek series#
I have read The Making Of book and Shatner's books so knew most of the history of the series and the cast interactions on and off set. I am an original Star Trek series fan - my favourites characters being Kirk and Spock.
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