Weekday Post #60: Head to Head – Nicknames

Both Star Wars and Star Trek feature several characters with nicknames. While nicknames are used as genial designations in both films, they are actually far from equal. Which film uses nicknames better? That’s the question that I’ll answer in today’s Head to Head.

Head to Head 2 – Nicknames

Character	Nickname	Evaluation
Anakin Skywalker	Ani	This nickname takes an already stupid name and makes it dumber. However, it may be appropriate for the character since Anakin Skywalker’s pathetic Sith powers can only be described as “girlie” (no offense ladies) and ‘Ani’ is vaguely similar to the feminine name ‘Annie.’
Leonard H. McCoy	Bones	As the chief medical officer of the U.S.S. Enterprise, Dr. McCoy must treat patients with many injuries, including broken bones. The Enterprise frequently encounters shock waves that send crewmembers falling over guardrails so Dr. McCoy has undoubtedly earned his clever nickname from the abundance of broken bones he has set.
C-3PO	3PO	What kind of stupid nickname drops the first syllable but leaves the rest of the name? The only two examples I can think of are ‘3PO’ and known Stars Wars goon, Christopher ‘Topher’ Grace. Sorry C3PO, but a nickname that only reduces a four syllable name by 25% is not going to score you any points in this contest.
No Name	Q	When you come from a race where no one has a name, it is only polite to give your human friends an easy to remember designation for yourself. With manners like that, it’s no wonder that Q is universally regarded as one of the most intelligent life forms in the Star Trek universe.
Jabba the Hutt	Jabba	This nickname serves only to belittle the character’s title. Since the Hutts are one of the few political forces that operate outside of the control of the Galactic Senate, it seems demonstrably discourteous to refer to Jabba casually. If this sort of callous indifference towards authority were to infect the Star Trek world, laypersons would be calling Captain Kirk by his first name. As one of the Star Wars militia’s favorite characters oft-times says, “How wude!”
Commander William T. Riker	#1	Many Star Wars goons express frustration with Commander Riker’s nickname since he is actually second in command. This attitude only demonstrates their ignorance since the name ‘#1’ refers to the fact that he is Captain Picard’s first choice for council and delegation. I applaud this nickname for its amazing symmetry. It is at once graceful and simple to understand for Star Trek fans, and confounding and incomprehensible to Star Wars goons.
Chewbacca	Chewie	I don’t even want to know why Han Solo calls his first mate ‘Chewie.’ Star Wars looses a point here for bad taste.
Montgomery Scott	Scotty	A nickname that both plays off a characters name and heritage is a rare treat indeed. Is ‘Scotty’ a cutesy form of his last name or a shortening of Scotish? No one knows for sure, but what is certain is that you’ll find no such complexity in Star Wars.

Which films have the advantage? Obviously, Star Trek wins, no contest. Let no one tell you that Star Trek and Star Wars are the same because they both have nicknames in them again!