The Star Trek: Warp catchphrase, explained

Star Trek Considered to be the most popular science fiction television series to hit the small screen. Its depiction of the future shows potential dangers, but is inspiring because of the progress humanity has made. Crime and poverty have been eradicated on Earth, and humans have come together to build an equitable society. Even more impressive is the technology created by other advanced cultures on Earth and the galaxy. Spaceships are a common mode of transportation. Instead of vast navies in a planet's oceans, they sail through the seas of the stars.

The most advanced piece of technology any civilization can create Star Trek The universe is a warp drive. Warp technology allows starships to travel through space faster than the speed of light, which is a convenient narrative device. As fast as light is, light from the Sun takes more than five hours to reach Pluto, a celestial body in the same system. Star Trek The characters travel across the galaxy, so to get there in minutes, they use varying degrees of warp speed. Starfleet captains are notorious for using the phrase before their helmsperson begins warp speed.

What is a 'warp catchphrase'?

Every mission Starfleet teams go in the name of science, diplomacy, or exploration, but not every alien race they encounter has the same mentality. Whenever a starship warps off, there's no telling what awaits the crew at their destination. It could be an alien race that has just discovered warp technology, eager to reach the stars. On the other hand, it can be a faction hellbent on war and galactic domination, eg Deep Space NineDominion of. So it is appropriate for the captain to do it Something reassuring or inspiring to say Before the helmsman begins the warp drive. It's like a short pep-talk to pump up the crew for the mission.

Choosing a warp catchphrase

until Star Trek: DiscoveryEach captain made it easy to choose a catchphrase. in search, When the experimental starship USS Discovery received Saru as its new captain, the bridge crew anxiously awaited his selection. was his first choice “Execute,” Which longtime Trekkies know as one of Captain Kirk's catchphrases. However, it felt strange when Saru said this, and the crew wasn't happy about it either.

Choosing a warp catchphrase is not easy. It needs to be inspiring, it needs to roll off the tongue, and it can't be something that sparks laughter from the crew. Moreover, it is difficult to stay with just one phrase, because it is a situational exercise. Sometimes it can be something a little more fun, while other times it needs to express the horror of the situation. So, most captains don't stick with a single catchphrase. However, the show's writers prefer to keep using the same word or phrase to make their job easier.

more importantly, Each captain chooses a phrase that best suits his personality. Someone like Spock doesn't intentionally choose to be funny or lighthearted like “let's get out of here”. He's going to choose something to the point and practical, which he does in one episode Strange New Worlds – sort of. His actual sentence is:

I want to sail… now

Each captain's warp catchphrase

There are many captains featured Star Trek projects, and even more people who have the privilege of using the Warp catchphrase. Some characters have been portrayed by different actors and in different timelines. This is not an exhaustive list, but here are some notable ones:

Captain James T. Kirk

Kirk has had a few different iterations on the big and small screen. In the original TV series, he usually said something along the lines of “Warp factor one.” It's simple and authoritative, as officers are taught to say at Starfleet Academy. On the big screen, there wasn't a single phrase he didn't stick to. Shatner's Kirk changed it, with the phrases “Execution,” “Let's see what he got,” and “That way.” In JJ Abrams' Calvin-verse, Chris Pine's Kirk said, “take us out” Which is not the most memorable sentence.

Captain Christopher Pike

Both Calvin-verse and Strange New WorldsCaptain Christopher Pike, knowing his destiny, is simple yet inspiring. The original iteration of Pike in the original series never had the opportunity to say the Warp catchphrase, so viewers' first exposure to Pike's phrase comes from Bruce Greenwood's version where he says “punch it”. It is not far from the phrase of Anson Mt., “Kill.”

Captain Jean-Luc Picard

Like Captain Kirk, Picard said a variety of phrases before bringing the USS Enterprise into warp speed, but he had a few favorites that even non-Trekkies might recognize as being from here. Star Trek. Picard was probably the most famous “make it so” and “to engage.” The former phrase was more common, as Picard would often say it after giving orders to a crew member.

Captain Janeway

Of all the Starfleet captains, Kate Mulgrew's Janeway probably commanded the most authority with her simple phrasing, especially when she didn't have her morning cup of coffee. made “do” Sounds like an order to be obeyed immediately. Janeway proved to be cunning and resourceful, always one step ahead of the adversaries in the ship's unfamiliar surroundings. So when she asked something to be done, the crew did it, or they risked certain destruction with no hope of cavalry showing up.

Captain Michael Burnham

Michael Burnham, Spock's adopted sister, did not start out as the ship's captain Star Trek: DiscoverySo he didn't have a catchphrase to speak of. She worked under a few other captains who did, though, eventually giving her some inspiration for what would become her warp catchphrase. Captain Lorca, the treacherous captain who was actually from the Mirror Universe, simply said, “Go!”. It suited her character who was practical and to the point. However, the revelation of his true identity shows that he doesn't really care.

When Michael came up with his phrasing, it was clear that he put a little more thought into it. “let's fly” It was both inspiring and a glimpse of his idealistic vision. It's uplifting and fits her personality well. It also fits with the “Red Angel” story that she was at the center of.