Star Trek: Alpha to Delta Quadrants & Everything In Between

[Rafterman]

I understand your point you're making but the reason why they operated in the dark or with a red light was two fold. The red light was such that they could see without affecting their eyesight when going outside. Also being blacked out was needed as the enemy could easily see them.

In space, there's no need to protect your night vision, nor would the need to have a blacked out ship when the distances are so vast, i.e., they're seen on sensors well before they can be seen visually.

Its not like they producers are going for realism, since there are no faster then light ships. JJ Abram's Star trek uses quite a bit of light - the bridge is blaringly bright compared to TNG/TOS.

I think it ruins the watching experience, but then I'm not a paying customer so I have zero say. I only see snippets that make their way onto YT.

JJ's Enterprise bridge looked like an Apple Store. I kept expecting Kirk to bump into a table of MacBooks But I think a lot of Titan's bridge has dark bulkheads and control panels, black and dark gray, making it look darker on film than it is. Enterprise D had a lot of light colored bulkheads, tans and such, making it look brighter than it was.

Plus, I think Picard Season 3 has some really dark themes going on, so the production team made the ship gloomily equal.

 

[bradl]

So I see clips of season 3 of Picard on YT, and I have one question.

Why the hell is it so dark? No, not thematically, but visually. Every time I see a clip, its incredibly dark.

I can see darkness (or light) being used to set a tone, like in Star Trek Nemesis, where Shinzon's ship is dark. It creates a sense of foreboding and danger. In Picard, it looks like they forgot to pay the electricity bill and the lights are off.

I'd say that the darkness issue here started further back than Picard, let alone Nemesis. I'd go as far back as ST: Generations. If you compare season 3 of TNG or even Season 1 of TNG to Generations, you'll see the sets getting darker. The funnier part about that is that they are the same set. Sirtis had said during an interview that after TNG ended with All Good Things..., they took a 14-day break, and were straight into shooting the movie. No set for TNG had been taken down for the movie until the last scene was shot. In fact, if I remember right, only Ten Forward sort of existed after TNG, as they used nearly all of that for the Neelix' mess hall in VOY.

But I'd say that starting in 1994, the sets started to slowly get darker; it was even more prominent in ST: First Contact.

BL.

 

[Rafterman]

I'd say that the darkness issue here started further back than Picard, let alone Nemesis. I'd go as far back as ST: Generations. If you compare season 3 of TNG or even Season 1 of TNG to Generations, you'll see the sets getting darker. The funnier part about that is that they are the same set. Sirtis had said during an interview that after TNG ended with All Good Things..., they took a 14-day break, and were straight into shooting the movie. No set for TNG had been taken down for the movie until the last scene was shot. In fact, if I remember right, only Ten Forward sort of existed after TNG, as they used nearly all of that for the Neelix' mess hall in VOY.

But I'd say that starting in 1994, the sets started to slowly get darker; it was even more prominent in ST: First Contact.

BL.

They started making the ships look more military, with alll the dark grays. In my view, that made things look more realistic to modern 21st century aesthetics.
.

 

[VictorTango777]

I am seeing more and more shows do that with the dark stuff. Drives me nuts and have no idea why they're doing it!!!! The new Criminal Minds did the same thing. Couldn't see half what was happening!

In this day and age, why do streaming services still use burned in letterbox instead of letting the video player do the proper scaling? It's even worse when viewing on an ultrawide monitor - there are large black borders on all 4 sides of the video.

 

[cwerdna]

‘Star Trek: Picard’ Series Finale Gets Special Imax Live Screening (EXCLUSIVE)

Paramount+ and CBS Studios have announced an Imax Live screening opportunity for the final two episodes of their original series 'Star Trek: Picard.'

variety.com

"On Wednesday, April 19, ten participating Imax theaters in the U.S. will provide an early screening of the last two episodes of the third and final season, including the series finale, ahead of its Paramount+ debut on Thursday, April 20.

Tickets to the screenings are free and fans can sign up and register at http://startrekpicardfinalescreenings.com on Wednesday, April 12, at 10 a.m. PT/1 p.m. ET. The exclusive screening event will take place at 10 participating Imax theaters in Los Angeles, New York, Phoenix, San Francisco, Seattle, Orlando, Washington, D.C., Atlanta and Dallas."

The message you get now is a bit confusing/misleading (I tried a couple different zip codes near/in those cities). You may need to wait until 10 am PT to try.

 

[obeygiant]

Nerd-gasm

 

[Rafterman]

Nerd-gasm

Awesome - though not sure how Geordi, a museum director, rebuilt an entire 2,000 foot long starship in secret

 

[jdoll021]

Awesome - though not sure how Geordi, a museum director, rebuilt an entire 2,000 foot long starship in secret

Maybe it was a surprise birthday present for Picard? All snark aside, this is pretty typical of writing in shows, especially sci-fi, these days. Over reliance on MacGuffins:

Hero: I need a MacGuffin, quick, someone hand me a MacGuffin!
Genius: it just so happens I’ve been working on this thing, a MacGuffin, in my spare time as a hobby that will absolutely help you move the plot forward!
Hero: where did you find the time to build this?!
Genius: *smirks*

Other genius responses include, but are not limited to:
Rolls eyes in annoyance
Looks hurt with hero’s inability to recognize their genius (typically with female geniuses)

And my personal favorite:
You didn’t think I spent all my time just solving your problems and explaining my technobabble in “English,” did you?

Or, if female:
You didn’t think I spent all of my time looking like a pretty genius, did you?

Not that Star Trek was without its tropes, but it didn’t have dumb ones like these.

 

[Rafterman]

Maybe it was a surprise birthday present for Picard? All snark aside, this is pretty typical of writing in shows, especially sci-fi, these days. Over reliance on MacGuffins:

Hero: I need a MacGuffin, quick, someone hand me a MacGuffin!
Genius: it just so happens I’ve been working on this thing, a MacGuffin, in my spare time as a hobby that will absolutely help you move the plot forward!
Hero: where did you find the time to build this?!
Genius: *smirks*

Other genius responses include, but are not limited to:
Rolls eyes in annoyance
Looks hurt with hero’s inability to recognize their genius (typically with female geniuses)

And my personal favorite:
You didn’t think I spent all my time just solving your problems and explaining my technobabble in “English,” did you?

Or, if female:
You didn’t think I spent all of my time looking like a pretty genius, did you?

Not that Star Trek was without its tropes, but it didn’t have dumb ones like these.

Don't get me wrong. I'm loving S3 of Picard. But...

1. That museum is a huge space station, assuming a huge complement of crew (I doubt Geordi and his daughter were the only two on it). Wouldn't they have been Borg-ified too, yet they allowed TNG crew just to walk on?

2. The fleet had a lot of 25 and unders, but they may have at least as many over 25s that are unaffected. Yet only one ship maintained control? Especially since the senior crew most likely have higher command codes. Is this like an Order 66?

3. So the entire Enterprise D only needed a small bridge vrew to operate? Why did they need 1,000 people previously? No one in engineering at all?

4. Do they have a plan, or is the Enterprise D they just going to show up at Earth and take on hundreds of starships by themselves? I am guessing Jack will do something to save the day and un-program the Borg-ified crew. And the Titan will also probably show up to help. But still, no plan from TNG crew?

Highlight of episode 9 - I loved the Worf joke.

Geordie: "Well, we couldn't take the Enterprise-E"

(everyone looks at Worf)

"That was not my fault."

LOL.

 

[Mousse]

Nerd-gasm

Did I hear right? Enterprise is the last functional ship not networked to Starfleet's mainframe? Sci-Fi writers...umm..."borrowing" each other's storylines again.

Enterprise-D is the new Galactica ie. a museum ship forced back into a combat role. Just like humanoid Cyclons were the Vorta. The destruction of the Colonial fleet a carbon copy of the 2nd Battle of Chin'toka. CNP hack = Breen energy dampening weapons.

Don't get me wrong. I'm loving S3 of Picard. But...

1. That museum is a huge space station, assuming a huge complement of crew (I doubt Geordi and his daughter were the only two on it). Wouldn't they have been Borg-ified too, yet they allowed TNG crew just to walk on?

You mean assimulated? Thanks to Hugh, the Borg subconscious view Geordi as a friend, so any friend of Geordi.😉 Even if the whole station is crawling with Borg, they won't attack Geordi's friends.🙃

3. So the entire Enterprise D only needed a small bridge vrew to operate? Why did they need 1,000 people previously? No one in engineering at all?

Geordi probably automated the bejeebus out of the old girl to run with only a skeleton crew. Kirk was able to run Enterprise refit with just the original bridge crew and Scotty. And that ship didn't have as much automation as Enterprise-D.

4. Do they have a plan, or is the Enterprise D they just going to show up at Earth and take on hundreds of starships by themselves?

I remember Riker once saying something along the lines of "Fate protects fools, little children and ships named Enterprise."

I am guessing Jack will do something to save the day and un-program the Borg-ified crew. And the Titan will also probably show up to help. But still, no plan from TNG crew?

Enterprise-D has the strongest plot shield of any ship in the Federation.🤓

 

[VictorTango777]

Highlight of episode 9 - I loved the Worf joke.

Geordie: "Well, we couldn't take the Enterprise-E"

(everyone looks at Worf)

"That was not my fault."

LOL.

Seven of Nine saying about Data, "The robot's right":
The Borg don't like Data because they were never able to assimilate him, and he kicked their a$$es so many times. Although Seven hates the Borg collective, she still carries their resentment of Data from her time as a Borg.

Another reason for Seven's tension towards Data:
We don't know if Seven still has Borg nanoprobes inside her or if they can still assimilate people. Maybe that's one reason why her sexual relationship with Rafi didn't work out, because Seven feared for Rafi's safety. But that won't be a problem with Data who has proven to be resistant to assimilation. Data has experience with Borg females and now he can test how "functional" his new body is

 

[jdoll021]

Highlight of episode 9 - I loved the Worf joke.

Geordie: "Well, we couldn't take the Enterprise-E"

(everyone looks at Worf)

"That was not my fault."

LOL.

Hah, yes, that one gave me a chuckle too.

 

[jdoll021]

The destruction of the Colonial fleet a carbon copy of the 2nd Battle of Chin'toka. CNP hack = Breen energy dampening weapons.

I mean, Ron D. Moore was show runner of the rebooted BSG.

 

[Rafterman]

Seven of Nine saying about Data, "The robot's right":
The Borg don't like Data because they were never able to assimilate him, and he kicked their a$$es so many times. Although Seven hates the Borg collective, she still carries their resentment of Data from her time as a Borg.

Another reason for Seven's tension towards Data:
We don't know if Seven still has Borg nanoprobes inside her or if they can still assimilate people. Maybe that's one reason why her sexual relationship with Rafi didn't work out, because Seven feared for Rafi's safety. But that won't be a problem with Data who has proven to be resistant to assimilation. Data has experience with Borg females and now he can test how "functional" his new body is

Well, you're not wrong, but I think Seven's joke was just that, a light hearted moment. Not necesarily any deeper meaning than that. Also, the irony of ex Borg Seven having "robot" parts in her as well. But I'll tell you what. I volunteer to "get" with Jeri Ryan and I'll let you know if she assimilates me

With Seven and Rafi on Titan, having to survive, I think their romance could come back, wouldn't be surprised.

On another note, show runner Terry Matalas said that Shaw "will be back in episode 10 in some form" though he didn't clarify. He also said that if there is a new "Legacy" project (it's not officially in development), Shaw would be part of that and Todd Stashwick is all in.

 

[cwerdna]

Since we're well into spoiler territory, I stumbled across https://variety.com/2023/artisans/news/star-trek-picard-enterprise-d-bridge-set-1235580496/ earlier today. Was surprised they dropped a Ready Room ep for S3:E9. I thought they were combining it for E9 and E10, but apparently not. I've only had a chance to get started on it.

 

[Rafterman]

Since we're well into spoiler territory, I stumbled across https://variety.com/2023/artisans/news/star-trek-picard-enterprise-d-bridge-set-1235580496/ earlier today. Was surprised they dropped a Ready Room ep for S3:E9. I thought they were combining it for E9 and E10, but apparently not. I've only had a chance to get started on it.

They did a remarkable job recreating the set.

 

[Rafterman]

Section 31 is happenign with Michelle Yeoh, but as a movie, not a TV series. I wonder if her Oscar upended the TV series plan.

The official logline says that the movie starts when “Georgiou joins a secret division of Starfleet tasked with protecting the United Federation of Planets and faces the sins of her past.”

 

[bradl]

Section 31 is happenign with Michelle Yeoh, but as a movie, not a TV series. I wonder if her Oscar upended the TV series plan.

The official logline says that the movie starts when “Georgiou joins a secret division of Starfleet tasked with protecting the United Federation of Planets and faces the sins of her past.”

I haven't caught up with the timelines yet, as I actually just started watching Picard. Was Yeoh's time during Picard or before, or in the Kelvin timeline? If not in the Kelvin timeline, I could see Nana and Alex Siddiq coming back for this.

BL.

 

[Rafterman]

I haven't caught up with the timelines yet, as I actually just started watching Picard. Was Yeoh's time during Picard or before, or in the Kelvin timeline? If not in the Kelvin timeline, I could see Nana and Alex Siddiq coming back for this.

BL.

Her timeline was from Discovery's, before they went to the 31st century. So...same same as Strange New Worlds, just before the original series. 2256-58.

Unless they move her. Her last episode on Discovery had her go back to Discovery's original timeline. Bu we don't know for sure.

 

[sjsharksfan12]

Section 31 is happenign with Michelle Yeoh, but as a movie, not a TV series. I wonder if her Oscar upended the TV series plan.

The official logline says that the movie starts when “Georgiou joins a secret division of Starfleet tasked with protecting the United Federation of Planets and faces the sins of her past.”

I'm hoping it is successful as a way to do more made for P+ Trek movies. If they can't get anything on the theatrical screen, P+/Streaming is the next best thing and I'm surprised they haven't done something like this already.

 

[bradl]

Her timeline was from Discovery's, before they went to the 31st century. So...same same as Strange New Worlds, just before the original series. 2256-58.

Unless they move her. Her last episode on Discovery had her go back to Discovery's original timeline. Bu we don't know for sure.

So this movie could potentially be adding Section 31 to before The Cave? what could possibly go wrong?!?

BL.

 

[jdoll021]

Her timeline was from Discovery's, before they went to the 31st century. So...same same as Strange New Worlds, just before the original series. 2256-58.

Unless they move her. Her last episode on Discovery had her go back to Discovery's original timeline. Bu we don't know for sure.

Thought it was “sometime before the mirror universe diverged from the primary universe,” or something like that?

 

[Mousse]

Thought it was “sometime before the mirror universe diverged from the primary universe,” or something like that?

Writers should have her tell Spock that he would look better with a goatee.
Georgiou: Mr. Spock. Have you considered growing a beard?
Spock: 🤨

Gotta say, Mr Spock does look more sophisticated, more authoritative with a goatee.🖖

 

[Rafterman]

Thought it was “sometime before the mirror universe diverged from the primary universe,” or something like that?

Tht whole mirror universe thing is sketchy, since Shatner/Kirk was older than Pine/Kirk, so I'm not sure how it fits in.

 

[bradl]

Tht whole mirror universe thing is sketchy, since Shatner/Kirk was older than Pine/Kirk, so I'm not sure how it fits in.

Food for thought.. could that mirror universe/Kelvin timeline be the same universe/dimension that had Smiley, Kira running DS9 and all of the shenanigans that went on there?

BL.