5 Times Sulu Proved He Was The G.O.A.T. (& 5 Times He Was A Complete T.O.A.D.)

In the expanse of the final frontier, the spotlight usually falls on Captain James T. Kirk and his efforts to right wrongs both ship-wide and galactic. If not Captain Kirk, then the emphasis is on his good friends and close colleagues Mr. Spock and Dr. McCoy, who help and sometimes overshadow the captain in bringing peace to the galaxy.

However, many other characters in the Star Trek franchise are not only equally as helpful but have performed their own heroic deeds. Chief among them is Hikaru Sulu, who despite some less-than-stellar moments, has exuded instances of pure awesomeness.

11 G.O.A.T: Shirtless Fencing

The title of the fourth episode of The Original Series’ first season was “The Naked Time,” and in one case, a character may have read into that too literally. Infected by a virus that mimics intoxication in the human body, the crew began to act irrationally, leading Sulu to prance around the decks of the Enterprise shirtless.

In canon, the scene established Sulu’s proficiency in fencing, as aside from being bare-chested, he was brandishing a sword. In popular culture, it spawned a series of memes and showed off George Takei’s impressive physique!

10 T.O.A.D: Space Spaniels

The Star Trek franchise has been home to multiple alien races, from humanoids like Klingons and Romulans to fantastic creatures like Yarnek and the Horta. Although the effects of The Original Series may seem somewhat cheesy by today’s standards, some aliens, like the Mugato and the Gorn, are still threateningly effective in their appearances. And then there’s the Alfa 177 Canine.

Clearly, the special effects budget was tapped out for that week as the “alien” was a cocker spaniel in a fluffy onesie. Unfortunately, Sulu has the ignominious “honor” of tending to this strange new life form on camera.

9 G.O.A.T: Mirror, Mirror

One of the most popular elements of the Star Trek franchise has been the Mirror Universe, an alternate dimension where violent, evil versions of the “prime” universe reside. It’s figured prominently in Deep Space Nine and now, in Discovery, being the home universe of the popular character, Empress Georgiou.

The audience’s first introduction to this realm was in The Original Series’ Season 2 episode, “Mirror, Mirror,” when a transporter malfunction sent Captain Kirk, Doctor McCoy, Scotty, and Uhura there. Aside from running afoul of a goateed Spock, they also had to maneuver around a sly and cunning Sulu, whose badass and cutthroat nature was a fun iteration of the character.

8 T.O.A.D: Sulu Of The Body

Star Trek could probably have filled a whole season with episodes devoted to the crew falling under mind control, and half of those episodes about mind control at the hands of supercomputers. In the first season episode, “The Return of the Archons,” the Enterprise investigates the disappearance of the USS Archon over the planet Beta III.

The first inkling something was amiss was Sulu’s demeanor following his beaming down to the planet’s surface. Dressed in 19th-century clothing and sporting a goofy smile on his face, “Sulu of the Body” was not one of the character’s shining moments.

7 G.O.A.T: Stratospheric Swordsmanship

The Abrams Star Trek films are much maligned amongst die-hard Trekkers, who although applaud the actors’ portrayals, often skewer the dramatic liberties taken with the source material.

Although it may be hard to imagine anyone other than George Takei as Sulu, John Cho did an admirable job in the role. Part of that success may have been due to a pivotal scene in Star Trek that established Sulu as a legitimate hand-to-hand combatant. Parachuting from the Enterprise to Vulcan’s upper atmosphere to stop Romulus miners from destroying the planet, Sulu admirably fought off his attackers with prowess and improvisation.

6 T.O.A.D: Inopportune Gunplay

The holodeck may be a permanent feature on The Next Generation, but in The Original Series episode “Shore Leave,” an entire planet fulfilled the same function. In this episode, a landing party discovered that all their thoughts and daydreams miraculously came true, and sometimes, to deadly results.

During a particularly tense scene of investigation by Captain Kirk and Dr. McCoy, Sulu decided to imagine up a gun and take practice shots. Not a particularly smart move during a crisis situation and poor Sulu had his gun taken away like a child who played with his toys at the wrong time.

5 G.O.A.T: Don’t Call Me Tiny

With the spotlight always falling on Kirk, Spock, and McCoy, it’s hard to see Scotty, Uhura, Chekov, and Sulu as equally intrepid and effective Starfleet officers. Thankfully, Star Trek III: The Search for Spock rectified that by illustrating just how badass those characters could be.

Planning to spring Dr. McCoy from a Starfleet medical holding cell, Sulu was left to disarm and detain two guards who were easily double his size. Being a seasoned Starfleet officer with years of combat experience in dangerous situations, Sulu took care of the guards easily, reminding them to “don’t call [him] “tiny!”

4 T.O.A.D: Lost In Yosemite

Not all of Sulu’s big-screen outings contained iconically epic scenes like that in Star Trek III. For example, the much-maligned Star Trek V: The Final Frontier contained a scene that sacrificed Sulu’s (and Chekov’s) reputations for some misplaced humor.

Vacationing in Yosemite with Kirk, Spock, and McCoy, Sulu and Chekov got lost in that wild frontier. That would be completely understandable, were it not for the fact that as the Enterprise’s respective helmsman and navigator, they were responsible for getting the ship from one side of the galaxy to the other and back. Overall, getting lost in a forest was not a strong showing for Sulu.

3 G.O.A.T: Captain, USS Excelsior

Perhaps Sulu’s most epic onscreen moment came in Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country. As the new captain of the USS Excelsior, Sulu was privy to the information that his old ship, the Enterprise, was on the way to the Khitomer Conference to reveal the conspiracy that sought to keep the Klingon Empire and the Federation at odds.

Defying Starfleet orders, Sulu took the Excelsior on silent running, looking to help his old captain and crew on their final mission. Along the way, he also found the time to teach a young Tuvok some lessons on loyalty and duty.

2 T.O.A.D: Creeper

At the end of Star Trek V: The Final Frontier, a delegation of Klingons boards the Enterprise to celebrate the defeat of Sybok and the prospect of galactic peace. As Starfleet officers, Sulu and Chekov are supposed to be the example of decorum and self-control, especially in matters of intergalactic diplomacy.

Instead, they cheapen their reputations yet again by ogling a female Klingon at a formal diplomatic function. Such behavior is beneath a civilized individual, much less a Starfleet officer on duty at such an important event. Granted, this was played for a cheap laugh, but it’s out of character and doesn’t age well.

1 HONORABLE MENTION – G.O.A.T: George Takei

Sulu’s notoriety has been overshadowed as of late by the actor who originated the role: George Takei. His online presence has not only proven popular with Star Trek fans, but his website is a source of humor and comedy for many avid web-surfers who are not Trekkers.

Moreover, “Uncle George,” (as he’s affectionately referred to by his fans) uses his online fame to heroically champion LQBTQ+, environmental, and social issues for a wide audience. In boldly going to raise awareness and combat injustice, George Takei proves every bit the hero as the role he made famous!

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