Picard, no question in my mind. He brought dignity and intelligence to the captain's chair.. And he kept the charisma and human failability.
Kirk, to me seemed like a captain-who-should-have-stayed at the Academy. I do like the development of his character in the movies. At least he seemed to have grown up some.
While I like the original, I know why it took Picard to bring the Enterprise back to TV.

As for Star Fleet captains I also like Janeway. She was a strong captain put in an interesting situation.
I wish that Star Trek Enterprise had been able to have a longer run partially because Captain Archer was easy on the eyes and played so well by Scott Bacula.
Source(s):
me

Permalink | Report

I already asked this question in June and I believe philipy provided the best answer. (he chose Picard)
http://www.mahalo.com/answers/society-and-culture/prizefight-kirk-vs-picard
Permalink | Report

Picard was Classy where Kirk was just a ladies man. I think Kirk was awesome in a comedic way, where Picard was all class and brought real drama.

But just know I love both actors.
Source(s):
years of Star trek

Permalink | Report

Picard, hands down. Kirk was all right, and back in the day, he had the rugged good looks and what was it they called it, Cowboy Diplomacy? But in the end, Picard always made the right call, even when it wasn't the 'legal' one, but Kirk was sometimes too... I don't know, something.

I am a Trekkie, though not a die hard one, and TNG really is my fave, for all the characters, except maybe Spock. There just is no other Spock.

Between Kirk and Picard, though, it's hardly a competition. And Cheapgamer I think you're wrong about the hand to hand combat. I think Picard can stomp Kirk's ass, in agility, cunning and level-headedness alone. That skinny 'old' man was sexy as hell and had the brains to back it up.

I remember being vaguely 'attracted' to Picard.

Then I watched Patrick Stewart in an interview... I was terribly disappointed. Just goes to show, he is a good actor...LOL
Permalink | Report

BOTH ARE EQUALLY YUMMY I COULDNT POSSIBLY CHOOSE.
Permalink | Report

As a captain, Picard, but Kirk has the better toupee'.
Permalink | Report

I think for an adventure in space I would pick Picard. But a good old brawl on a planet somewhere I would go with Kirk.
Permalink | Report

Fifty Reasons Picard Is Better Than Kirk

1) Picard outwits Q time and again, Kirk saved from Trelane's by Trelane's parents.

2) Picard sends first officer to barren planets while he stays on board with babes.

3) Kirk ex-flame: Dowdy scientist, Picard's ex-flame: Former member of 60's supergoup "The Mamas and the Papas."

4) Picard actually smarter than his first officer.

5) Hair loss=high testosterone. 'Nuff said.

6) Picard would never let chief engineer swell up to planetoid size.

7) Klingons: Drag Kirk to ice prison, allow Picard to choose their leader.

8) Picard necks with chicks in the Jefferies tube.

9) Kirk has wimpy lunch served to him by yeoman, Picard fixes own damn food in the replicator.

10) Kirk never told a member of the bridge crew to "shut up."

11) Picard beat up two Klingons in a Klingon slum.

12) Picard's brother actually played by a different actor than Picard.

13) Kirk grudgingly allows one woman to be hit by truck to correct timeline, Picard sends entire starship crew to flaming deaths.

14) Kirk near 60: thinking of retirement; Picard near 60: still in prime.

15) At academy, Picard noted for marathon skill, Kirk called "stack of books with legs."

16) Kirk bothered by mild astigmatism, Picard kicks ass for forty years with artificial heart.

27) Three words: No beer gut

28) Kirk fights has-been Greek god, Picard worshipped as god.

29) The Picard Maneuver

30) Picard never split into "naughty" and "nice" halves.

31) Kirk: Subjects Spock to court-martial; Picard: Allows Worf to whack a guy with only a reprimand.

32) Kirk: Chews crew members out for engaging in bar braw; Picard: Takes on Naussicans

33) Kirk: Sobs like a baby when son dies; Picard: Laughs like a hyena when stabbed through heart

34) Kirk: Dukes it out with doppelganger; Picard: Doesn't waste time: Shoots doppelganger with phaser

35) Kirk has booze given to him; Picard family makes its own damn wine.

36) Kirk: Spends few minutes aboard Romulan vessel in disguise; Picard: Makes it all the way to Romulus and back.

37) Picard collects archeological relics; Kirk IS archeological relic.

38) Picard manages to have entire conversations with Lursa and Betor without staring at their cleavage.

39) Picard made Spock cry.

40) Picard merged with Sarek.

41) Picard only wears toupees for flashback scenes.

42) Picard would have figured out that "V'ger" thing in about five minutes.

43) Picard never called self "Kirok" and dressed in leftover costumes from "Oklahoma."

44) Kirk didn't have the good sense to turn down the admiralty like Picard did.

45) Let's face it....it may have made a great character moment, but when you get right down to it, Kirk CHEATED on his biggest academy test!

46) Dorky spacesuit count: Kirk 2, Picard 0.

47) Picard secure enough not to keep display of guns on his apartment wall.

48) Picard knows that "horgon" doesn't mean the end of a date.

49) Picard never wore gray pajamas on the bridge.

50) Picard wouldn't have had to be forced to kiss Uhura.
Source(s):
http://www.geocities.com/SunsetStrip/Palms/2274/pick.html

Permalink | Report

I think you're comparing apples to oranges, and the original strategists for STNG planned it that way.

It was specifically to head off too much drawing-of-comparisons between the captain of the original series to that of the sequel series that Picard was made into such an orthoganol character relative to Kirk, although, for those bound by sentimental expectations for a baby-face, they plugged in Reiker (however that was changed by the second season, when Reiker was given a beard, because he *wasn't* Kirk, and strict fans were saying, "There can be only one Kirk").

That being said, if the Star Trek universe was a real place, and if I was given the option of being on either of those crews, again, it's sort'a like comparing apples to oranges, in that it would depend on my mood at that stage of existence.

If I was full of vinegar and charged for missions loaded with adventure, I'd ask to be posted with Kirk, but if I was at a more serious stage, interested in doing some actual research and in achieving some real results, I'd choose Picard.
Permalink | Report

Hands down... Picard!

He has the sexy british accent and drinks Earl Gray tea. He maintains his calm during crisis much better than Kirk ever did. Kirk led with his emotions, Picard with his brains. I choose brains over emotions any day for a starship!
Permalink | Report

Cant replace the Kirk....Things and people change but Kirk will live forever as Kirk....Picard is what came next....Picard will always be what came next.
Permalink | Report