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Re: ENT S1: Silent Enemy
There's such a thing as letting a joke or game go too far. Malcolm genuinely believed that Hoshi was making a pass at him. At this point, Hoshi probably should have told him the truth, so he would understand that her actions were not romantic in nature. Then, hopefully, it could have been something like...
HOSHI: "Now that that's settled, what's your favorite food?"
MALCOLM: "I'm really into pineapple."
HOSHI: "OK, pineapple upside down cake then. And can you act surprised?"
MALCOLM: "No problem."
No misunderstandings, no violations of medical confidentiality, and Archer is none the wiser.
There's such a thing as letting a joke or game go too far. Malcolm genuinely believed that Hoshi was making a pass at him. At this point, Hoshi probably should have told him the truth, so he would understand that her actions were not romantic in nature. Then, hopefully, it could have been something like...
HOSHI: "Now that that's settled, what's your favorite food?"
MALCOLM: "I'm really into pineapple."
HOSHI: "OK, pineapple upside down cake then. And can you act surprised?"
MALCOLM: "No problem."
No misunderstandings, no violations of medical confidentiality, and Archer is none the wiser.
Re: ENT S4: These Are the Voyages...
In the context of a general episode, I'm saying that this one rated two stars. Indeed, positioned alongside Brent Spiner's return, the Mirror Universe, the humanized Klingons, and the groundwork for the Federation, it fits in nicely.
As a series finale... this is a trainwreck on a par with "Threshold" or "Profit and Lace". Pure and simple. What would have worked in the middle of a season, or even the end of one, simply was trash as an epilogue.
As an aside, I refuse to acknowledge that the holodeck footage was accurate. Given that no one aged a day or got promoted or grew a beard or changed their hair in 6 years, I'm just figuring that the Enterprise D's computer could not perfectly depict 220 years in the past. It used 2155 imagery to recreate 2161. Hopefully, Hoshi and Travis had received their lieutenant pips by then. Quite simply, better to rationalize incompetent work by the writers than actually accept it as canon. Harry Kim's seven years as an ensign was idiotic enough, but could be explained away as Janeway's bad decision (she made quite a few).
In the context of a general episode, I'm saying that this one rated two stars. Indeed, positioned alongside Brent Spiner's return, the Mirror Universe, the humanized Klingons, and the groundwork for the Federation, it fits in nicely.
As a series finale... this is a trainwreck on a par with "Threshold" or "Profit and Lace". Pure and simple. What would have worked in the middle of a season, or even the end of one, simply was trash as an epilogue.
As an aside, I refuse to acknowledge that the holodeck footage was accurate. Given that no one aged a day or got promoted or grew a beard or changed their hair in 6 years, I'm just figuring that the Enterprise D's computer could not perfectly depict 220 years in the past. It used 2155 imagery to recreate 2161. Hopefully, Hoshi and Travis had received their lieutenant pips by then. Quite simply, better to rationalize incompetent work by the writers than actually accept it as canon. Harry Kim's seven years as an ensign was idiotic enough, but could be explained away as Janeway's bad decision (she made quite a few).
Re: ENT S2: The Expanse
My problem with this one was this: photonic torpedoes. Enterprise was already stretching credibility with phase pistols and phase cannons, basically the same weapons that are used 220 years later. Now, it seems that that applies to the entire Starfleet arsenal. Phasers and photon torpedoes in 2153, phasers and photon torpedoes in 2373. That's like our troops using Brown Bess muskets and muzzle loading cannons.
My problem with this one was this: photonic torpedoes. Enterprise was already stretching credibility with phase pistols and phase cannons, basically the same weapons that are used 220 years later. Now, it seems that that applies to the entire Starfleet arsenal. Phasers and photon torpedoes in 2153, phasers and photon torpedoes in 2373. That's like our troops using Brown Bess muskets and muzzle loading cannons.
Re: DS9 S6: Profit and Lace
I detest this one on principle, because it is the center point of a story arc that I found profoundly insulting. Not to me (I'm male), but to the millions of women who fought hard gaining equal rights in this country, and still fight for them elsewhere. The message here, essentially, is that one woman takes Ferengi females from being mere property (can't read, can't do business, can't leave the house, can't even wear clothes) to absolute equality... by seducing the Grand Nagus.
If you have to ask why that's an insult... you probably won't understand.
I detest this one on principle, because it is the center point of a story arc that I found profoundly insulting. Not to me (I'm male), but to the millions of women who fought hard gaining equal rights in this country, and still fight for them elsewhere. The message here, essentially, is that one woman takes Ferengi females from being mere property (can't read, can't do business, can't leave the house, can't even wear clothes) to absolute equality... by seducing the Grand Nagus.
If you have to ask why that's an insult... you probably won't understand.
Re: VOY S7: Nightingale
Harry's character was disastrously handled from start to finish.
* As a newly commissioned ensign, he had no business being anywhere near the senior officer table. There were at least five lieutenants on Voyager other than the main cast, and as many Starfleet ensigns who would have more seniority than him. He should have earned that place at Janeway's "grown-up table".
* He seemed to vacillate between being an excellent and capable officer and being a green ensign. Instead of having him grow from "lower decks goldshirt who doesn't have a clue" to "seasoned and competent senior officer", they just stuck him with the former's rank and the latter's duties and left him to stagnate.
* With the sole exception of Data, every single character on TNG and DS9 either ranked up in situ or was offered a promotion elsewhere (Picard to rear admiral and commandant, Riker to captain of his own ship). Voyager forgot how to do this. Harry is not the only victim of this (B'Elanna was stuck at JG for 7 years), but he's the worst. A competent ensign is supposed to be promoted to lieutenant, full stop. The rationale was "someone has to be the ensign", but that was false. TNG only had a commissioned ensign in its main cast briefly (Wesley), and DS9 never had one at all.
Harry's character was disastrously handled from start to finish.
* As a newly commissioned ensign, he had no business being anywhere near the senior officer table. There were at least five lieutenants on Voyager other than the main cast, and as many Starfleet ensigns who would have more seniority than him. He should have earned that place at Janeway's "grown-up table".
* He seemed to vacillate between being an excellent and capable officer and being a green ensign. Instead of having him grow from "lower decks goldshirt who doesn't have a clue" to "seasoned and competent senior officer", they just stuck him with the former's rank and the latter's duties and left him to stagnate.
* With the sole exception of Data, every single character on TNG and DS9 either ranked up in situ or was offered a promotion elsewhere (Picard to rear admiral and commandant, Riker to captain of his own ship). Voyager forgot how to do this. Harry is not the only victim of this (B'Elanna was stuck at JG for 7 years), but he's the worst. A competent ensign is supposed to be promoted to lieutenant, full stop. The rationale was "someone has to be the ensign", but that was false. TNG only had a commissioned ensign in its main cast briefly (Wesley), and DS9 never had one at all.
Re: VOY S2: Twisted
Hard to believe Janeway really thought Harry was a worthy officer when she left him stuck at ensign for 7 years... she should have either kept her mouth shut or put her lieutenant pips where her mouth was.
Hard to believe Janeway really thought Harry was a worthy officer when she left him stuck at ensign for 7 years... she should have either kept her mouth shut or put her lieutenant pips where her mouth was.
Re: TNG S7: Thine Own Self
I just want to say that if I were in Geordi's position, and someone like Troi did that "icy b****" routine ordering me to certain death... I would laugh in her face on principle. How you gonna throw me in the brig when we're all a dispersing cloud of ions?
If she was a little more empathetic, i.e. how she normally treats people, I'd probably do it. Needs of the many and all that.
And while I was fine with Deanna trying to become a commander, Data should have received that rank as well. He'd still be second officer because Riker (who should have been kicked upstairs after BoBW2) is still first. But it would indicate his status and Picard's confidence in him, and he wouldn't have to call Troi "sir".
I just want to say that if I were in Geordi's position, and someone like Troi did that "icy b****" routine ordering me to certain death... I would laugh in her face on principle. How you gonna throw me in the brig when we're all a dispersing cloud of ions?
If she was a little more empathetic, i.e. how she normally treats people, I'd probably do it. Needs of the many and all that.
And while I was fine with Deanna trying to become a commander, Data should have received that rank as well. He'd still be second officer because Riker (who should have been kicked upstairs after BoBW2) is still first. But it would indicate his status and Picard's confidence in him, and he wouldn't have to call Troi "sir".
Re: TNG S2: The Child
I. Ian Andrew would have been a far more interesting character if he could have had more time on the show. Sadly, this was before DS9 brought serialization to Trek. Can you imagine him living out a lifetime in one season.
II. Dr. Pulaski was my favorite nextgen era doctor. Bashir irritated me, and I only liked Crusher when she was coldbloodedly gunning something down with a phaser. I actually liked Wesley better than her.
III. Solution to plague problem:
1. Find a star.
2. Go to star.
3. Beam the growing plasma plague specimen into star, reducing it to ions.
IV. I liked the beard too.
I. Ian Andrew would have been a far more interesting character if he could have had more time on the show. Sadly, this was before DS9 brought serialization to Trek. Can you imagine him living out a lifetime in one season.
II. Dr. Pulaski was my favorite nextgen era doctor. Bashir irritated me, and I only liked Crusher when she was coldbloodedly gunning something down with a phaser. I actually liked Wesley better than her.
III. Solution to plague problem:
1. Find a star.
2. Go to star.
3. Beam the growing plasma plague specimen into star, reducing it to ions.
IV. I liked the beard too.
Re: VOY S3: Worst Case Scenario
This reminded me of "Peak Performance": an intriguing premise that deteriorated into another "the ship is in danger" situation. Why couldn't they have had the battle exercise play itself out? And why couldn't they have let Paris and Tuvok finish the program?
Something else... why would Seska do this? At the time she found the program, her cover was intact. If Tuvok had returned to his work, that cover would have been unnecessarily blown.
This reminded me of "Peak Performance": an intriguing premise that deteriorated into another "the ship is in danger" situation. Why couldn't they have had the battle exercise play itself out? And why couldn't they have let Paris and Tuvok finish the program?
Something else... why would Seska do this? At the time she found the program, her cover was intact. If Tuvok had returned to his work, that cover would have been unnecessarily blown.
Re: VOY S3: Before and After
Hmmm...
The doctor has a name and a full head of hair. Harry not only gets promoted, but finds romance as well. And Chakotay, by becoming captain, finally would have had the opportunity for some character development.
I think I liked "Before and After's" timeline better than the one we actually got.
Hmmm...
The doctor has a name and a full head of hair. Harry not only gets promoted, but finds romance as well. And Chakotay, by becoming captain, finally would have had the opportunity for some character development.
I think I liked "Before and After's" timeline better than the one we actually got.
Re: DS9 S5: Let He Who Is Without Sin...
While I didn't hate this one with the passion that others did, it's certainly not great. Adding an episode that dark from Worf's past (oh, yeah, he killed a kid once, and we never mentioned it in eight seasons) is almost as bad as MacGyver's producers just randomly adding that he was a professional race driver once and it never got mentioned in the previous six seasons. But I liked Worf's innovative way of "attacking" Risa.
Semi humorously, Fullerton's version of fundamentalism kind of fell flat. In a society that apparently doesn't believe in hell, it's just not that scary.
While I didn't hate this one with the passion that others did, it's certainly not great. Adding an episode that dark from Worf's past (oh, yeah, he killed a kid once, and we never mentioned it in eight seasons) is almost as bad as MacGyver's producers just randomly adding that he was a professional race driver once and it never got mentioned in the previous six seasons. But I liked Worf's innovative way of "attacking" Risa.
Semi humorously, Fullerton's version of fundamentalism kind of fell flat. In a society that apparently doesn't believe in hell, it's just not that scary.
Re: VOY S5: Night
This episode's worst aspect is that it had the writers commit themselves to an aspect of the show that was essentially a 5-year insult to our intelligence.
I am referring to the matter of Harry Kim. Simply put, when something wasn't happening to show how "green" he was, he was shown to be unfailingly loyal, highly capable, and completely trustworthy. Given that even a mediocre officer typically makes lieutenant in three years, it is simply not plausible that an excellent one remain an ensign for seven.
This episode held the perfect opportunity for the writers to quietly, painlessly sweep their mistake under the rug. Two months have passed. All they need to do is have Harry show up at the initial briefing with a black pip on his collar. No "Janeway sticks a pip on Harry's collar and everyone claps" ceremony required. No fanfare. It's just "Harry's a lieutenant now, we've all moved on."
The writers chose not to do this. I can infer from this decision that they thought the viewers were too stupid to notice a glaring and completely unnecessary inconsistency. That is an insult.
As a writer who has never profited from his craft (and likely never will), it offends me that professional writers could be so incompetent.
This episode's worst aspect is that it had the writers commit themselves to an aspect of the show that was essentially a 5-year insult to our intelligence.
I am referring to the matter of Harry Kim. Simply put, when something wasn't happening to show how "green" he was, he was shown to be unfailingly loyal, highly capable, and completely trustworthy. Given that even a mediocre officer typically makes lieutenant in three years, it is simply not plausible that an excellent one remain an ensign for seven.
This episode held the perfect opportunity for the writers to quietly, painlessly sweep their mistake under the rug. Two months have passed. All they need to do is have Harry show up at the initial briefing with a black pip on his collar. No "Janeway sticks a pip on Harry's collar and everyone claps" ceremony required. No fanfare. It's just "Harry's a lieutenant now, we've all moved on."
The writers chose not to do this. I can infer from this decision that they thought the viewers were too stupid to notice a glaring and completely unnecessary inconsistency. That is an insult.
As a writer who has never profited from his craft (and likely never will), it offends me that professional writers could be so incompetent.
Re: ENT S2: A Night in Sickbay
Ok, this episode was a trainwreck, and deserved one star (maybe). But I still enjoy it, especially when properly intoxicated. For the following reasons...
1. Phlox's tongue.
2. Archer and T'Pol's pissing contest.
3. T'Pol's remarks about dogs and toilets.
4. The escaped bat.
5. Archer and Phlox's batcatching efforts.
6. Hoshi's bat grab.
7. Phlox's doggie funeral scene.
8. T'Pol's vanishing wardrobe.
9. #7 segueing into #8.
10. Phlox owning Archer as indicated above.
11. Archer, dreads, a chainsaw, and gibberish.
Ok, this episode was a trainwreck, and deserved one star (maybe). But I still enjoy it, especially when properly intoxicated. For the following reasons...
1. Phlox's tongue.
2. Archer and T'Pol's pissing contest.
3. T'Pol's remarks about dogs and toilets.
4. The escaped bat.
5. Archer and Phlox's batcatching efforts.
6. Hoshi's bat grab.
7. Phlox's doggie funeral scene.
8. T'Pol's vanishing wardrobe.
9. #7 segueing into #8.
10. Phlox owning Archer as indicated above.
11. Archer, dreads, a chainsaw, and gibberish.
Re: DS9 S5: Let He Who Is Without Sin...
This was far from Trek's best episode, but I don't feel that it deserved 0 stars, that's a rank best reserved for dreck like "Threshold". This episode at least made sense, and the premise of the ever-serious Worf on a pleasure planet had some nice "fish out of water" moments.
This was far from Trek's best episode, but I don't feel that it deserved 0 stars, that's a rank best reserved for dreck like "Threshold". This episode at least made sense, and the premise of the ever-serious Worf on a pleasure planet had some nice "fish out of water" moments.
Re: ENT S1: Shuttlepod One
Trip was holding a 1980's electronic breadboard with wire wrap. That is 80's technology, not 2150. Also, the nitrogen valve uptop has a pc board with DIP Chips painted in silver. 1980's technology once again.
Trip was holding a 1980's electronic breadboard with wire wrap. That is 80's technology, not 2150. Also, the nitrogen valve uptop has a pc board with DIP Chips painted in silver. 1980's technology once again.
Re: ENT S1: Shuttlepod One
Shuttle Pod 1. I thought it was one of the better episodes. The only problem I had is when they opened the top hatch, there is not and 2nd floor, it leads to space. They just killed themselves by opening that hatch. How stupid was that....
Shuttle Pod 1. I thought it was one of the better episodes. The only problem I had is when they opened the top hatch, there is not and 2nd floor, it leads to space. They just killed themselves by opening that hatch. How stupid was that....
Re: DS9 S3: The Die Is Cast
I watched it again tonight and I noticed something that may have already been discussed. Does anyone else think it is odd that the admiral wasn't in red, but yellow?
I watched it again tonight and I noticed something that may have already been discussed. Does anyone else think it is odd that the admiral wasn't in red, but yellow?
Re: VOY S7: Q2
Generally speaking, The Next Generation is a better show than Voyager. But I'm tired of people who always repeat the mantra, "TNG good, Voyager bad," and apply it to every episode. Q's first appearance in TNG in the series premiere was a thoroughly mediocre show. In fact, TNG's whole first season was pretty lame. In contrast, Death Wish was pretty great. Even this Q2 episode was better than Encounter at Farpoint, as uneven and nonsensical as Q2 sometimes was. So stop saying that Voyager "ruined" Q, and ruined everything else as well. Voyager had some great episodes, and TNG had some lousy ones.
Generally speaking, The Next Generation is a better show than Voyager. But I'm tired of people who always repeat the mantra, "TNG good, Voyager bad," and apply it to every episode. Q's first appearance in TNG in the series premiere was a thoroughly mediocre show. In fact, TNG's whole first season was pretty lame. In contrast, Death Wish was pretty great. Even this Q2 episode was better than Encounter at Farpoint, as uneven and nonsensical as Q2 sometimes was. So stop saying that Voyager "ruined" Q, and ruined everything else as well. Voyager had some great episodes, and TNG had some lousy ones.
Re: TOS S2: A Private Little War
@ Peter G.
Always enjoy your comments/posts......never NOT insightful and thougtful.! For TOS APLW, you recently wrote in part, "It begs the question of not just which approach is enlightened, but which will actually work." A interesting little truth bomb.
BTW, I don't know why the comments from today are not listed here. I saw them in the Comment Stream. I refreshed this page., but nothing. What am I missing?
@ Peter G.
Always enjoy your comments/posts......never NOT insightful and thougtful.! For TOS APLW, you recently wrote in part, "It begs the question of not just which approach is enlightened, but which will actually work." A interesting little truth bomb.
BTW, I don't know why the comments from today are not listed here. I saw them in the Comment Stream. I refreshed this page., but nothing. What am I missing?
Re: TOS S2: Assignment: Earth
I'm a sucker for anything in the orbit of TOS. I would have been all in for a season 4 even if it was twice as bad as season 3. So it pains me to speak ill of an episode of which there are only 79. But try as I might, I can't bring myself to say anything positive about Assignment: Earth.
In my mind, this should not even be viewed as a ST episode, but rather a pilot for another show that guest-starred the crew of the Enterprise. That's exactly the vibe I get whenever I watch it, which is why I can't even bring myself to review it. (Even though I kinda just did.) Shame on Gene for unofficially concluding season 2 at episode 25.
I'm a sucker for anything in the orbit of TOS. I would have been all in for a season 4 even if it was twice as bad as season 3. So it pains me to speak ill of an episode of which there are only 79. But try as I might, I can't bring myself to say anything positive about Assignment: Earth.
In my mind, this should not even be viewed as a ST episode, but rather a pilot for another show that guest-starred the crew of the Enterprise. That's exactly the vibe I get whenever I watch it, which is why I can't even bring myself to review it. (Even though I kinda just did.) Shame on Gene for unofficially concluding season 2 at episode 25.
Re: TOS S2: The Deadly Years
I totally get what they were trying to do with this episode. It was supposed to be a commentary on aging and relevancy. But the problem that made it 100% impossible to pull off is that they had only an hour to do it. So their solution? Have a disease that causes hyper-rapid aging. But that created an undercurrent in the episode that was no longer about ageism in society but rather about an alien disease and the race to counteract it.....getting old was just a symptom. So the competency hearing -- and even Galway's remark as she passed the mirror -- seemed forced and contrived. You contracted a weird alien disease! Find the cure, just like every other alien virus that ever afflicted the crew.
Having said that, this is Star Trek. The rockbed of almost every episode is always some sort of social commentary. Some hit. Some miss. This one landed somewhere in the middle. And I agree with what almost everyone said about its shortcomings.
Great acting by the those that aged. They did it exactly as I would have expected their characters to grow old. And how could you not love Kirk charging onto the bridge to save the day? Hokey for sure, but it was a nice payoff. Stocker spoke for every TOS fan at the end.
I totally get what they were trying to do with this episode. It was supposed to be a commentary on aging and relevancy. But the problem that made it 100% impossible to pull off is that they had only an hour to do it. So their solution? Have a disease that causes hyper-rapid aging. But that created an undercurrent in the episode that was no longer about ageism in society but rather about an alien disease and the race to counteract it.....getting old was just a symptom. So the competency hearing -- and even Galway's remark as she passed the mirror -- seemed forced and contrived. You contracted a weird alien disease! Find the cure, just like every other alien virus that ever afflicted the crew.
Having said that, this is Star Trek. The rockbed of almost every episode is always some sort of social commentary. Some hit. Some miss. This one landed somewhere in the middle. And I agree with what almost everyone said about its shortcomings.
Great acting by the those that aged. They did it exactly as I would have expected their characters to grow old. And how could you not love Kirk charging onto the bridge to save the day? Hokey for sure, but it was a nice payoff. Stocker spoke for every TOS fan at the end.
Re: TOS S2: Journey to Babel
Just saw this episode the other day and saw something I never noticed despite watching TOS a bazillion times. In one scene I spotted DeForest Kelley looking directly into the camera. It was when Kirk was in sickbay after being stabbed and started to sit up. As he tells Kirk, "Jim if you stand you can start to bleed again" he looks right into the camera for a split second!
A silly thing to point out, I know, but it's always neat to spot something you missed despite years of watching.
Just saw this episode the other day and saw something I never noticed despite watching TOS a bazillion times. In one scene I spotted DeForest Kelley looking directly into the camera. It was when Kirk was in sickbay after being stabbed and started to sit up. As he tells Kirk, "Jim if you stand you can start to bleed again" he looks right into the camera for a split second!
A silly thing to point out, I know, but it's always neat to spot something you missed despite years of watching.
Re: TOS S1: Space Seed
A super late contribution to this thread.
It's a minor thing but I don't think it was mentioned (and it definitely was not something I consciously remember when I first watched it as a kid). I love how in the teaser right after Kirk orders red alert, they slowly pan up to show all the activity on the bridge as Kirk looks around sternly from his command chair and the music begins playing. Who wouldn't want to be a crew member on that ship under the auspices of that captain?! Respect!
A super late contribution to this thread.
It's a minor thing but I don't think it was mentioned (and it definitely was not something I consciously remember when I first watched it as a kid). I love how in the teaser right after Kirk orders red alert, they slowly pan up to show all the activity on the bridge as Kirk looks around sternly from his command chair and the music begins playing. Who wouldn't want to be a crew member on that ship under the auspices of that captain?! Respect!
Re: TOS S1: Court Martial
Super late comment, but I'm posting anyway because I just discovered this site and I want to contribute.
I love how Kirk commands a room no matter where it is. When he walked into the bar on the star base and didn't shrink away even when things got uncomfortable, that set Kirk apart from other starship captains. I think that's a testament to the character but also the actor. Not everyone can pull that off.
And when Kirk initially recounted to Portmaster Stone what happened on the bridge, did anyone else notice that he showed a command presence even when he's just answering questions? That's pure Shatner!
Super late comment, but I'm posting anyway because I just discovered this site and I want to contribute.
I love how Kirk commands a room no matter where it is. When he walked into the bar on the star base and didn't shrink away even when things got uncomfortable, that set Kirk apart from other starship captains. I think that's a testament to the character but also the actor. Not everyone can pull that off.
And when Kirk initially recounted to Portmaster Stone what happened on the bridge, did anyone else notice that he showed a command presence even when he's just answering questions? That's pure Shatner!
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