Comment Stream

Re: PROD S1: Crossroads

It's funny also because Janeway has EVERY REASON to want to chase down the vessel even without contrivances. A bunch of children piloting a Starfleet warship is, by itself, something that she must absolutely want to stop no matter the cost. The fact they shouldn't have it and are using it for "good" doesn't really apply materially to it.

Re: PROD S1: All the World's a Stage

I like the inherent homage to the fact the Enterprisians are Trek fans. Presumably Garrovick set up some logs for them to watch or listen to among his other possessions. The Galileo might have been accessible for some time before it became hazardous to visit.

Re: VOY S7: Critical Care

It's interesting how increasingly a lot of older comments and reviews reflect a misled American public. The drug companies COULD produce plenty of what is needed and charge reasonable prices. America COULD provide free healthcare without a burdensome cost. However, simple greed prevents them from doing so. This is why the satire is not nuanced because there IS no nuance.

I like how even the rich Level Blue Doctor is disgusted by this to an extent. He undoubtedly prefers being paid better and working in less than terrible conditions but he still doesn't want people to be left to die because they can't afford medicine. My only real regret about this episode is that they use the Allocator and resource scarcity as an excuse versus just saying "money. These people can't afford it." There's no reason not to have it be a paid-for medical society.

Re: VOY S6: Fair Haven

Re-Watching this episode, I think it's one that would have benefited from interrogating its own premise in a meta sense. The idea of Janeway having a romance with a fictional character is far more interesting than whether or not Michael is "real" or not in defiance of our usual stories about artificial intelligence.
Star Trek fans have always loved romanticizing the characters, ranging from the original Kirk/Spock slash to the fact my twelve year old self's first love was Doctor Crusher (I'm more a Kira Nerys man these days).

There's nothing particularly weird about having a parasocial relationship like this in real world with lots of women reading romance fiction for this very reason. I see Janeway's relationship with Michael no different than Twilight or 50 Shades of Gray. I mean, video game romances are a thing as well. Bioware makes a living on players wanting to be with Leliana, Ashley Williams, Tali, Garrus, or Alistair.

Indeed, it's kind of weird everyone seems to tease Janeway this episode about it and in a way that's clearly uncomfortable for her. I mean, it seems like something you'd respect a person's privacy over.

I feel like I enjoy the episode's premise but I don't think they did a good job with an interesting idea: how people enjoy interactive entertainment in the future. Maybe it's just I think Fair Haven is a terrible idea and the Parisian Pool Hall or WW2 france would have been more fun. At least less insulting.

Re: PROD S1: Let Sleeping Borg Lie

[[I'd also add that for a 1/2-hr animated show, it's miles ahead of "Lower Decks" in terms of watchability, enjoyability and not being obnoxious. ]]

Star Trek: Lower Decks is certainly up there with the best of Trek for those who don't mind humor and is only getting better with every season.

Re: VOY S7: Lineage

Yeah, I think this episode was very much about colorism and that's not something often talked about in media let alone science fiction. Belenna wants to prevent her child from dealing with the level of prejudice she dealt with. However, Tom correctly notes its coming from a place of self-hatred.

Re: LD S2: Wej Duj

She is totally out of control.

:)

This one needed four stars.

Re: PROD S1: Let Sleeping Borg Lie

I feel like I'm willing to let assimilation be rejected here because Zero is not a human being and we can attribute its ease to being a Medusan. I would be a lot more unforgiving if it was Dal or Gwen who were able to throw it off.

Re: PROD S1: Let Sleeping Borg Lie

I think there's a lot of course correction for Kathryn Janeway in this episode and I wonder if it's Mulgrew's influence as I have a much more consistent grasp of her character than I do from Voyager (and I just rewatched the series). To be blunt, Hologram Janeway is SCARED of the Borg and pretty much tells the crew to run away from them. It's a vulnerability that adds to the character and fits much-better with what we know of the Borg while regular Janeway never did run from the Borg but more or less ran at them.

Part of what I like about this episode is the Borg are also treated as far less personal in their evil and no less malevolent for it. The Borg aren't doing this because they get pleasure from evil like the Borg Queen or sadistically tormenting Seven or
Doctor Jurati. No, they're an assembly line and the rest of the galaxy is parts. It's like my best friend, Michael, has the same opinion on Davros for the Daleks.
The Daleks are infinitely better and more terrifying without Davros because the Daleks are terrifying due to their lack of individuality and indifference. This episode nicely conveyed the Borg are dangerous because we're ants to them.

Oh and a reminder that our heroes straight up killed two Borg in this episode.
Also, apparently are indirectly responsible for the Junior Lieutenant's death.

Re: PROD S1: Let Sleeping Borg Lie

Man, you must have watched the Mirrorverse version of the show. This is easily Prodigy's best episode. The Borg are also at their most menacing since "Best of Both Worlds" and I'm including First Contact. They feel alien, overwhelming, and callous rather than malevolent.

Re: LD S3: The Stars at Night

[[Why do they need Mariner to fetch the other California class ships? Wouldn't Starfleet send everything they've got after the AI drones? And why where they in the vicinity and no other ships?]]

I speculated on the TOR sites that the California class vessels were already on their way to Douglas Station due to being recalled. They'd been planning to decommission them all rather rapidly after all.

Re: LD S3: The Stars at Night

Yeah, Jammer, I think this deserved another half-star.

Mariner returning so quickly is a feature not a minus.

Re: LD S3: The Stars at Night

All of my thoughts:

1:] I'd argue that Buenamigo may be the most evil Admiral of them all since Cartwright. I’d argue that Admiral Kennelly, Admiral Pressman, and Admiral Satie have all been exceeded by Admiral Buenamigo. Pressman for example has a lot of people who agree with his belief that the Romulan Treaty and cloaking devices was a mistake (including the DS9 writers). However, Buenamigo straight up was willing to commit MASS MURDER (of Starfleet personnel no less) to get his drone project through.

2:] I don’t think there’s any surprise that Starfleet would be more willing to do automated Star Fleet vessels. Data, The Doctor, and even the EMH Mark II have all demonstrated that AI has gotten a bad rap and that they should possibly be reevaluated. I’d argue the Texas-class and Peanut Hamper may have gone a long way to Starfleet regaining its wariness of AI.

3:] Speaking of Picard tie-ins, if not for the fact that Badgey is all the evil you need, I’d wonder if the Zhat Vash had sabotaged the Texas project. After all, they have had people infiltrating Star Trek for years. I wouldn’t be surprised if a certain future “Vulcan” Admiral was on Buenamigo’s staff.

4:] Starfleet’s disdain for the California-class seems excessive and I’m wondering if there’s another story here because the Admirals seemed pretty eager to scrap an entire line of ships in exchange for the automated support class.

5:] While shipping is not the primary part of reviews, I think Jennifer’s look followed by Mariner walking right past her was something that spoke volumes. It also pretty much cements that their ship is dead and done rather than something they intend to revisit.

6:] I also like the fact that Mariner chooses to come back to Starfleet of her own accord. It's now something we understand that she has made a commitment of her own accord to.

7:] It seems like Admiral Freeman was bumrushed by the Admiral gathering and I wouldn’t be surprised if “Project: Flyby” had been expected to fail spectacularly and followed up by the Texas project succeeding well before there was ever an official hearing for it. There’s been a lot of foreshadowing in previous episodes that at least someone in Starfleet or possibly several someones hate the California class and want it gotten rid of (perhaps because they are weak, mass-produced, ill-prestigious vessels). Even Captain Gomez basically says that California class crews aren’t wanted on other vessels or they should be broken up.

8:] I wouldn’t be surprised if future Expanded Universe people go with the idea the Cali-class was created for the Dominion War as prefabricated mass-produced junk for Starfleet and something that they are embarrassed by. “We couldn’t produce a bunch of Intrepid-class like we wanted and now we’re stuck with these things!”

They are the Corellian Corvettes of Trek.

Re: LD S3: Trusted Sources

@philadlj

"I am glad they followed up with Petra, AKA Mariner's Vash, and how she not only has a potential new calling in the offing, but a new romantic interest (though IMO not enough was done with Jennifer to make their breakup hit that hard.)"

I think the producers have stated:

1. They don't like doing romance to begin with.

2. They only did this because Jennifer was so popular.

It tracks that they broke up the relationship because so many people were complaining about not enough Jennifer. So they realized they could only do Mariner/Jennifer if she was a main character and they didn't want that.

So out Jennifer goes.

Re: LD S3: Trusted Sources

Eh, I disagree with your take on the subject, @Jammer.

"But this could've been a lot better if it had been more straightforward and dealt with Mariner's career questions in a way that felt honest rather than so blatantly and deceptively manufactured."

I feel it does because the point is that Mariner has matured over the past three seasons due to Boimler, Ransom, and Tendi's influence as well as possibly her softening relationship with her mother. She's become an excellent Starfleet officer who actually cares for the Cerritos crew.

And no one believes her. Which is a consequence of her past behavior.

I'm surprised you didn't have more opinions on revisiting "Symbiosis" as well and the questioning of Picard and the Prime Directive.

Re: LD S3: Trusted Sources

I love Starbase 80 and would like to serve there. Who doesn’t love a good sandwich and bat brooming? They seem to be “Space New Jersey” and full of stoners (Which the Federation would have a lot of), working class New Joisery types, gluttons,. and substandard equipment but very happy to do their job. It also appears to be a waste management facility.

Carol Freeman really is a TERRIBLE captain and should have taken Kirk’s advice: never let them promote you past Commander where you are being a hardass and jerk won’t get you into trouble. Really, I find her continued status as a captain more baffling than Starbase 80.

Jennifer is an awful girlfriend and I believe this sets up the endgame Boimler/Mariner romance! Maybe Jennifer can be a better girlfriend to Ensign Barnes (they hooked up in the simulation after all). Still, a candle-based romance never lasts in Star Trek–see Doctor Crusher.

The news services in the 24th century is awful. I agree, it’d be nice if they were competent but its annoying that they had this treatment after Picard’s handling of them in Season One. What happened to the Fourth Estate in the future? Also, is it too much to wonder if she’s not just a generic news reporter but FNN is actually a descendant/company of CBS/Paramount in the 24th century?

So it’s 17 years after Season 1 of Star Trek: The Next Generation. Which means that it’s been at least a dozen years since Sisko disappeared. That sucks. Apparently, Sisko really was an absentee father despite Avery Brooks efforts.

I liked how passive aggressive the Onarans are to the Federation. It’s pretty clear they want nothing to do with the Federation and rightly so. Speaking of which, WHY do they blame Picard? It’s kind of weird because all he did was absolutely nothing. I also give kudos to how Freeman and Ransom both reacted to Picard’s action with, “What the HELL?” Which makes sense because even by the standards of the Prime Directive, that was an insane choice. I’ve always argued for “Symbiosis” that it wasn’t a Prime Directive violation since it was one warp capable species exploiting another. It’d be like saying that interfering in the Cardassians messing with the Bajorans.

It does strain credibility that these planets haven’t warranted a second visit in decades. Then again, it finally does remind us space is REALLY REALLY big.

I think “Project: Flyby:” has a lot of potential because I’ve really wondered about how various one shot planets have been doing over the past 30 years, including these particular two.

Re: LD S3: Crisis Point 2: Paradoxus

I give this episode tremendous credit for the fact that it pretty much does the OTHER type of Star Trek movie. The Wrath of Khan/Star Trek/Star Trek II/Star Trek: Beyond/Star Trek:Nemesis are all based around creating a Wraith of Khan vengeance style nemesis. While this is Star Trek: The Final Frontier, Star Trek, and the Search for Spock in the big uplifting spiritual themes type of Star Trek. Plus IV for Time Travel.

Oddly, I will say I’m noticing the show is a bit more willing to actually take pot shots at its source material versus its previously worshipful take: we’ve got pot shots at the V’Ger reveal, the Black Badges of Section 31, and a pretty mean spirited take on the reboot from Tendi. I wonder if it’s a sign of their growing confidence in Lower Decks as part of the canon but, really, I’m not entirely there for it.

I will say two more things:

1. Sulu IS better.

2. I actually feel bad for the Carol Marcus-esque hologram that Boimler gave the brushoff.

Re: LD S3: Room for Growth

I love how Freeman is such an awful captain she doesn't realize that engineers like their jobs and relax doing them.

Re: LD S3: Hear All, Trust Nothing

I think it's interesting to note that Season 3's writing seems determined to try to pull back from Season 2. Season 2 was something that got away from the idea of "pointless normal Star Trek busywork" as the Cerritos' business and had them actually doing important things like trying to solve the Pakled terrorism problem. I mean, Pakleds, but the stakes were no lower than any other Star Trek show.

This seems to have bothered the creators so this is now a bunch of episodes where it's far lower stakes.

Which may not be a good idea.

But you know what? Screw it. Nana Visitor and Armin are back. I am a DS9 fanboy and loved this. It gets a 10/10 just for having her staring wistfully at the wormhole and thinking of either Odo, Sisko, or both.

Re: ORV S3: From Unknown Graves

[["It's not reasonable to doubt the scientific consensus. If you do, that's an emotion-based and anti-science opinion".]]

One is true and one isn't.

Just saying.

Re: SNW S1: A Quality of Mercy

The episode is about discussing the differences in Kirk and Pike's command style as well as examining the political ramifications of "Balance of Terror." It's not my favorite of the stories but the vast majority of SNW has been extremely good in my opinion.

Its a prequel series and that means it's destined to deal with similar stuff.

I think of it as "The Clone Wars" of Star Trek, which had its own appeal.

Re: SNW S1: A Quality of Mercy

@Booming

Interestingly, one of the more fascinating counter-arguments to the realpolitic of Kissenger and the Cold War was that it was based on the flawed premise of attempting to pursue entirely self-serving temporary alliances undermined the foundation for long term national alliances as well as mutual ideological interests like a commitment to democracy. Basically, the guiding principle of the Cold War for many years was, "it doesn't matter if they're assholes as long as they're our assholes."

Which had a long term effect of dramatically undermining trust in US intentions and belief in their ability to honor their promises. It also fed directly into the propaganda and efforts of hostile powers.

Here, notably, Pike is making a unilateral decision not to punish the Romulans for an unprovoked act of war and Ortegas correctly points out that they can't PREVENT a war since one has already started. I actually really liked the nuance added to her character here because everyone else was advocating for "forgive and forget" while she was correctly pointing out to forgive you need someone to be sorry first.

You could say she's filling the Stiles role but being far more serious and pragmatic makes a more rounded character for as a whole.

Re: SNW S1: A Quality of Mercy

Getting off Pike and Time Travel for a bit, I think the episode is much more interesting in its aversion of typical Star Trek politics.

Its a tough argument that "appeasement of fascists leads to war." Its not necessarily a wrong one, though. The biggest lesson of this episode is that Pike is a Picard-esque man willing to overlook mass murder because he believes in preventing more mass murder and that people are inherently good. Yes, overlooking ALL the time travel stuff. However, as we see with the "Those Who Walk Away from Omelas" episode and underscored here, there are a decent chunk of people who are fully aware of the consequences of their actions and choose to kill and terrify anyway.

Evil is not just a word. It is a state of mistaking virtue for weakness and cruelty for strength. Kirk is a savage by his own words in TOS and sadly was the savage they needed. A very un-Roddenberry idea but perhaps a Fontana or Schneider one they would have approved of.

What DOES one do with enemies who simply do not negotiate in good faith or value the lives of their people over power and wealth?

Its something the writers of the TOS era had familiarity with and sadly we have familiarity with now.

Re: ORV S3: A Tale of Two Topas

While true about them staying at the same rank for ten years, it's the future and we know the Trekkian worlds aren't much of a problem with people staying in their roles for a long time. While visibly not aging, maybe the medical care is just that good in the future.

Re: Moclus

I think a decent Alternate Character Interpretation is the Moclans are choosing to interpret events that way because they do recognize the Kaylon threat and are looking for a face saving political measure.

"Ooo, we hate Isaac for this and will thus blame his entire race and not our desperately needed allies."

They were willing to break free over the krill but the Kaylon are an existential threat.

Re: ORV S3: A Tale of Two Topas

They're planning to do a Academy Entrance exam so I'd say 15-16.

Mind you, my view of the subject is to pretend that New Horizons is like 10 years after the first season.

Does it make sense? No.

However, maybe they have really long tours of duty in the future.