Actor Anson Mount is well known for playing the role of Captain Christopher Pike in the new-generation Star Trek shows Star Trek: Discovery and Strange New Worlds. Pike is known for his stellar leadership and inclusive style of managing the ship. Mount’s performance has been acclaimed by many critics and fans alike.
Mount mentioned in an interview that the one difference that makes Pike a stellar captain is his ability to take opinions from other members of the crew and then make a decision. While Pike does have this practice in the show, he is not the only captain to do so. Sir Patrick Stewart’s legendary Captain Picard has done this many times in The Next Generation.
Anson Mount Talks About Christopher Pike’s Leadership Qualities
Anson Mount is known for his roles as Black Bolt in Marvel’s Inhumans and the Western Hell on Wheels. However, he has also been playing the role of Captain Christopher Pike in the new generation Star Trek show Strange New Worlds. The show has been received well by audiences and critics alike, with a third and fourth season already in development.
Captain Pike has been regarded as one of the best captains in the Star Trek universe due to his empathetic and kind nature. Pike acts as the predecessor of the legendary Captain James Kirk but has a completely different kind of leadership quality that makes him a class apart from other iconic captains of the USS Enterprise ships.
Anson Mount spoke to Collider about the one quality that makes Christopher Pike stand out from the show’s roster of captains. He said,
I just love our writer’s instinct to make Pike, really, the first captain we’ve seen who has the ability to turn to his crew and go, ‘I have no idea what’s going on. Does anybody have any idea? Best idea wins, go!’ If Pike had a superpower, it would be turning that bridge crew into a big brain. I think it makes for much more exciting bridge scenes that way.
Pike can often be seen cooking for his crewmates and having interpersonal conversations with not just his close crewmates but also opposing forces, making him one of the most endearing leaders in cinematic history.
Sir Patrick Stewart’s Picard Did Many Things Pike Does In Star Trek: The Next Generation
While Anson Mount’s description of Captain Pike is true and he is an empathetic leader who takes his crewmates’ suggestions before making a decision, he is hardly the first Star Trek captain to do so. Sir Patrick Stewart’s Captain Jean-Luc Picard in Star Trek: The Next Generation has made it a practice to be an inclusive captain throughout the seven seasons.
Picard is often known for his diplomacy and calm-headed leadership approach as opposed to the macho and brash James Kirk. The endearing nature of Picard as a man who is approachable but also decisive has made him one of the most admirable leaders in cinematic history. Picard has a crew of trusted advisors whose suggestions he often considers before acting.
Captain Picard has often given high amounts of respect to not just members such as Worf and Data, but also to counselor Deanna Troi, who until later seasons was reportedly just kept for ‘eye-candy’ in the show. Despite Anson Mount’s claim that Captain Pike was the first USS captain to take others’ suggestions, he has seven seasons and four films worth of events to disprove him.
Star Trek: Strange New Worlds is streaming on Paramount+.
