Star Trek: Alpha to Delta Quadrants & Everything In Between

[MacMan2013]

Like you said, those comm badges must be psychic.

It's a new feature in StarshipOS 17.0.

I've heard this complaint going all the way back to the letters column of Trek magazines in the 90s. It's not something that ever really bothered me. There are all sorts of things we see that the characters would be unaware of. Take all those episodes where there's some sort of alternate reality for instance.

 

[cwerdna]

For SNW S2:E8 (Under the Cloak of War), which was quite good, someone at https://www.tivocommunity.com/threa...ew-worlds-s2e8-under-the-cloak-of-war.591990/ (don't read it unless you've watched the ep), they pointed out that https://memory-alpha.fandom.com/wiki/Clint_Howard was in it.

I was unfamiliar with him but wow, he was in TOS (!) in a memorable role.

 

[Rafterman]

For SNW S2:E8 (Under the Cloak of War), which was quite good, someone at https://www.tivocommunity.com/threa...ew-worlds-s2e8-under-the-cloak-of-war.591990/ (don't read it unless you've watched the ep), they pointed out that https://memory-alpha.fandom.com/wiki/Clint_Howard was in it.

I was unfamiliar with him but wow, he was in TOS (!) in a memorable role.

Yeah, I think he was 6 in TOS.

 

[cwerdna]

I remember hearing about this for folks in NY. Stumbled across

last night. I'm only about 2/3 done. I think it happened before any of S3 aired.

Pretty sure it was https://www.dailystartreknews.com/r...ops-and-episode-one-gets-an-advance-screening.

 

[Mousse]

Yeah, its like "Picard to Riker." In reality, the badge would hear the full command, then "ring" the correct comm badge with a ping or a ding or whatever. Then Riker taps an answers. Like a phone now. That would make sense. But when we see Riker on the other end, we don''t hear a ding, we hear "Picard to Riker" right away, like it either knew who Picard was about to call before he said it, or everyone's comm badge heard "Picard to Riker" before disconnecting everyone else and just leaving the comm signal open to Riker.

The way I see it, the com badge waits for the recipient's name before routing the call. The Picard to Riker is the ringtone.🤓

What bugs me is when they call the ship and it knows exactly who to connect to. Sometime Kirk to Enterprise connects to the bridge, other times it connects to Scotty in Engineering or the transporter room. I'll just chock it up to the computer's AI having an IQ of 6000.😏

 

[Rafterman]

While waiting for the SNW musical, I am thinking M'Benga is an interesting character, after that episode 8.

Spoiler: Episode 8

On the surface, he appears to be calm. But underneath, daaamn. He wipes out that one guy's transport pattern, with little hesitation. OK, lose one life to save many others. Then he takes that drug to kill the Klingon commnaders in the battle...well...OK its war. Taking them out would help end it sooner.

But then on the Enterprise, it appears he killed that Klingon ambassador (and Chapel covers it up). I know, the PSTD and all that, but wow, that's Sisko tricks the Romulans into the war dark.

In the original series, McCoy was CMO. But M'Benga was on the ship, at least for that mission. I would love to see the future back story on that. Was he demoted? There, just for that mission? When SNW ends, I think they should end it with Kirk taking command, with McCoy and Scotty with him. And explain what the deal was with M'Benga.

 

[ThunderSkunk]

I think the crossover ep painfully demonstrated how obnoxious, dysfunctional & out of place the whole “self-absorbed teenage L.A. ditz personality” cliche is for a starship crew in the Star Trek universe (or anywhere, in any universe), as the stylistic collisions resulted in eruptions of verbal diarrhea I couldn‘t really explain to anyone. Spocks crazy-eyed grinning was seriously unnerving though.

As it was in Voyager, the good doctor(s) are in danger of stealing the show. I almost couldnt care less if half the angsty bridge crew got eaten by a sarlacc at this point, bc most of them should have never made it through basic officer training, much less been selected to operate the flagship of the federation.

 

[cwerdna]

I might skip the SNW musical ep until I hear some verdicts. I've been super busy lately and am in no rush to watch it.

In fact, I might watch the SNW S2 finale before the musical.

From https://memory-alpha.fandom.com/wiki/Joseph_M'Benga, M'Benga was only in 2 TOS eps. I do recall him and it's too bad he doesn't act or sound anything like TOS M'Benga. Off the top of my head, I don't recall much about him other than the incident in https://memory-alpha.fandom.com/wiki/A_Private_Little_War_(episode) where Spock when trying to recall asks Nurse Chapel to strike him and later, he joins in.

Will have to rewatch the M'Benga bits from those TOS eps sometimes to refresh my memory.

 

[GlenK]

Will be learning on the fast forward button for this one!!!

 

[Bug-Creator]

Will be learning on the fast forward button for this one!!!

Way ahead of you.

They managed to make the worst Trek episode ever.

Way worse than early TNG ones with Wesley front and center.
Worse than a clipshow.
Worse than TMP .... wait no thats not an episode (and is still THE worst).

 

[Rafterman]

Regarding Lower Decks and the SNW musical episode...you'all need to lighten up. Have a little fun. Star Trek is just a TV show, not this idol to be worshipped.

 

[Mainsail]

Well, I just watched S2 E9, and I enjoyed it. Not my favorite episode of the season, but still fun to watch. I took it as a tongue in cheek thing. Music was an interesting way to try something different and get to know the characters more. I agree the premise was kind of weak with the space rift or whatever causing the singing.....but, I went into the episode knowing that I had to engage in a little whimsy to enjoy myself. If you are a hard core Star Trek fan that loves the lore and canon, then this might not be the episode for you. If you enjoy watching the cast and characters having fun while performing, then you will get a kick out of it.

Edit: One of the strengths of SNW is that it does not take itself too seriously, and this episode is no exception. For example, the short scene with the Klingons singing and dancing on their bridge while the crew of the Enterprise watched on screen was pure gold.

 

[Bug-Creator]

It's not about the lore or taking thinks to serious. It is not even bout Trek.

It's just the simple fact that whenever somebody decides to make an episode "artsy", wether it's everybody singing, dancing or reciting Shakespeare the result is cr##.

 

[CWallace]

While waiting for the SNW musical, I am thinking M'Benga is an interesting character, after that episode 8.

I so enjoy the performances Babs Olusanmokun has been giving in the role that I am happy they chose to have M'Benga play the CMO rather than go with Dr. Philip Boyce from The Cage.

 

[Mainsail]

It's not about the lore or taking thinks to serious. It is not even bout Trek.

It's just the simple fact that whenever somebody decides to make an episode "artsy", wether it's everybody singing, dancing or reciting Shakespeare the result is cr##.

I hear you and believe me I am no patron of the arts or musical theater. But, that is just not the vibe I got from this episode. I didn't feel like the writers and cast were shooting for an "artsy" episode that would win an Emmy in the musical category. It just felt to me like the ensemble were telling a Star Trek story in a different way and having a good time doing it.

 

[bradl]

I think the crossover ep painfully demonstrated how obnoxious, dysfunctional & out of place the whole “self-absorbed teenage L.A. ditz personality” cliche is for a starship crew in the Star Trek universe (or anywhere, in any universe), as the stylistic collisions resulted in eruptions of verbal diarrhea I couldn‘t really explain to anyone. Spocks crazy-eyed grinning was seriously unnerving though.

As it was in Voyager, the good doctor(s) are in danger of stealing the show. I almost couldnt care less if half the angsty bridge crew got eaten by a sarlacc at this point, bc most of them should have never made it through basic officer training, much less been selected to operate the flagship of the federation.

Am I the only one seeing how many things are funny and hilariously wrong in this post? I know it was intentional, but dang! 😂😂

BL.

 

[Rafterman]

I think the crossover ep painfully demonstrated how obnoxious, dysfunctional & out of place the whole “self-absorbed teenage L.A. ditz personality” cliche is for a starship crew in the Star Trek universe (or anywhere, in any universe), as the stylistic collisions resulted in eruptions of verbal diarrhea I couldn‘t really explain to anyone.

Apparently, you were never in the US Navy.

 

[CWallace]

Just finished "Subspace Rhapsody" and it was my second-favorite episode of the season (and the series) after "Those Old Scientists".

 

[obeygiant]

Amazing BTS of the STNG

 

[Rafterman]

Just saw the animated SNW episode. Not my cup of tea. It was a cute unclever distraction from SNW stories.

Come on, tell me you didn't laugh when Boimler straddled the saddle in Pike's ready room and said "Rikerrrr". Or when Pike asked the bridge crew for recommendations, Boimler raises his hand and Pike: "not YOU!"

I think Lower Decks would have worked as a live action show.

 

[Mousse]

I think Lower Decks would have worked as a live action show.

In terms of story, I absolutely agree. Good writing is good writing. But in terms of production, cost would have been prohibitive. Lots of stuff can be cheaply done in 2D animation, but cost a buttload of $$$ to do in realistic CGI. Drawing a 2D scene of crew members talking is roughly the same cost as drawing alien creatures with 100 eyes and 50 mouths. The same can't be said about live action and CGI compositing.

The writers took advantage of relatively low production cost of 2D animation to get really creative.

 

[bradl]

In terms of story, I absolutely agree. Good writing is good writing. But in terms of production, cost would have been prohibitive. Lots of stuff can be cheaply done in 2D animation, but cost a buttload of $$$ to do in realistic CGI. Drawing a 2D scene of crew members talking is roughly the same cost as drawing alien creatures with 100 eyes and 50 mouths. The same can't be said about live action and CGI compositing.

The writers took advantage of relatively low production cost of 2D animation to get really creative.

It makes you wonder: what is the difference in cost between a live action show, a 2D animation show, and a CGI composed show. If the CGI show is cheaper than, say, a live action show, then it makes you wonder what their rationale is for canceling ST: Prodigy.

BL.

 

[cwerdna]

Amazing BTS of the STNG

Already posted a few weeks ago at https://forums.macrumors.com/thread...n.2012731/page-63?post=32316603#post-32316603.

 

[ThunderSkunk]

Apparently, you were never in the US Navy.

Nope, Air Force.

 

[ThunderSkunk]

I hear you and believe me I am no patron of the arts or musical theater. But, that is just not the vibe I got from this episode. I didn't feel like the writers and cast were shooting for an "artsy" episode that would win an Emmy in the musical category. It just felt to me like the ensemble were telling a Star Trek story in a different way and having a good time doing it.

I do love art films, auteurs, the avant-garde, ballet, live theatre, opera, etc. It's all great, but I agree, this episode didn't give me any sense of any of those art forms, but just a general excuse to do a musical episode for the sake of doing it.

But since this is a verrry slow morning... I think I have developed a real hatred of random musical episodes. If a show is some alt comedy thing, then by all means, obliterate that 4th wall for your song & dance routine, but in anything else, the characters, the writing, the universe, and the audience are all ignored to prop up this farcical conceit foisted upon the scene. Other than just talking straight to the audience, it's the easiest way to destroy the suspension of disbelief and remind the audience of their chairs. The only people I've ever seen get excited about a musical episode are theatre actors themselves.