Star Trek: Alpha to Delta Quadrants & Everything In Between

[AngerDanger]

I'm surprised nobody had mentioned it, but I just finished TNG season three episode four, "Who Watches the Watchers," and it was great. A surprisingly secular episode in which

Spoiler: some stuff happens…

an accident at one of Star Fleet's observation posts results in a primitive culture witnessing seemingly miraculous technical feats and revering the Enterprise crew (Picard specifically) as gods. It's explained that the culture is naturally predisposed to rationality, like Vulcan, and had long before shed their belief in the supernatural, so the crew has to deal with the ramifications of so egregiously violating the Prime Directive. In a lovely bit of irony, Picard has to sacrifice himself for the sake of the proto-Vulcan to prove he isn't a god.

Here is the goosebump-inducing scene where Picard explains how his technology must seem like magic to less technologically advanced, and how the same must be true for their ancestors before them and so forth:

Plus, it had Pamela Adlon in it, which was awesome. I recognized her voice before I realized it was her underneath the proto-Vulcan makeup:

She is probably best known for voicing Bobby Hill on "King of the Hill," and as of 2016, she began show-running her own series, "Better Things."

 

[Scepticalscribe]

I'm surprised nobody had mentioned it, but I just finished TNG season three episode four, "Who Watches the Watchers," and it was great. A surprisingly secular episode in which

Spoiler: some stuff happens…

an accident at one of Star Fleet's observation posts results in a primitive culture witnessing seemingly miraculous technical feats and revering the Enterprise crew (Picard specifically) as gods. It's explained that the culture is naturally predisposed to rationality, like Vulcan, and had long before shed their belief in the supernatural, so the crew has to deal with the ramifications of so egregiously violating the Prime Directive. In a lovely bit of irony, Picard has to sacrifice himself for the sake of the proto-Vulcan to prove he isn't a god.

Here is the goosebump-inducing scene where Picard explains how his technology must seem like magic to less technologically advanced, and how the same must be true for their ancestors before them and so forth:

Plus, it had Pamela Adlon in it, which was awesome. I recognized her voice before I realized it was her underneath the proto-Vulcan makeup:

She is probably best known for voicing Bobby Hill on "King of the Hill," and as of 2016, she began show-running her own series, "Better Things."

View attachment 697520

I had forgotten that episode - an intelligent, thoughtful, well made (Patrick Stewart, as usual, crisp, commanding, credible and simply excellent) episode. Thanks for the reminder.

 

[Huntn]

I'm surprised nobody had mentioned it, but I just finished TNG season three episode four, "Who Watches the Watchers," and it was great. A surprisingly secular episode in which

Spoiler: some stuff happens…

an accident at one of Star Fleet's observation posts results in a primitive culture witnessing seemingly miraculous technical feats and revering the Enterprise crew (Picard specifically) as gods. It's explained that the culture is naturally predisposed to rationality, like Vulcan, and had long before shed their belief in the supernatural, so the crew has to deal with the ramifications of so egregiously violating the Prime Directive. In a lovely bit of irony, Picard has to sacrifice himself for the sake of the proto-Vulcan to prove he isn't a god.

Here is the goosebump-inducing scene where Picard explains how his technology must seem like magic to less technologically advanced, and how the same must be true for their ancestors before them and so forth:

Plus, it had Pamela Adlon in it, which was awesome. I recognized her voice before I realized it was her underneath the proto-Vulcan makeup:

She is probably best known for voicing Bobby Hill on "King of the Hill," and as of 2016, she began show-running her own series, "Better Things."

View attachment 697520

The Prime Directive, it's hard for me to get a consistent handle on it, although the link description is lengthy and descriptive. As I recall, and previously mentioned, the Enterprise Star Trek Show that came after STNG used attaining warp drive space travel as the benchmark to allow a civilization entrance into the Federation (equivalent of the Federation) and even be aware of other civilizations? That was simple. But in STNG Season 1, every planet they've visited so far (in my review) was not capable of space travel. Look at our civilization, we'd be knocked on our butts if we became aware of space traveling aliens.

There are several episodes in STNG where someone or thing claims to be God. My favorite is Devil's Due (Season 4 Episode 13).

 

[Number-Six]

DS9 is my favorite of the Star Trek series. TNG is the best overall, but DS9 has the best characters. I love the love to hate tension between Odo and Quark. And it has the most interesting ancillary characters: Elim Garak, Gul Dukat and Weyuon are so much fun to watch. Garak is by far my favorite. There is an air of mystery that surrounds him. He's so friendly, yet at the same time so scary. Even by the end of the series, I still don't know if he's a spy, an outcast or an outcast spy. He never said he was any of those.

And I like development of Chief O'Brien. He was always a family man, even on the Enterprise. In Disaster, when a quantum filament cause major damage to the Enterprise and communications go cut off, the Chief's first concern was his wife. Every other Star Fleet guy is duty first, but not El Jefe. Family first. On DS9, he's the family man in the midst of a group of ambitious go-getters.

He's a tailor

Or plain, simple, Garak

 

[Mousse]

There are several episodes in STNG where someone or thing claims to be God. My favorite is Devil's Due (Season 4 Episode 13).

It only goes to show that MY God is stronger than YOUR God. The Picard put the false God in her place. All hail the Almighty Picard.

An interesting side note: None of the God-like beings (Q, Douwd, Organian, the wormhole aliens) in Star Trek ever claim to be a god, except for the Sha Ka Ree (ST V:Final Frontier) and Apollo (TOS:Who Mourns for Adonais?) Q could easily claim to be a god and no one, except Q Continuum, can stop him. The beings with the best claim to being God dismisses the idea of being God.

 

[Huntn]

It only goes to show that MY God is stronger than YOUR God. The Picard put the false God in her place. All hail the Almighty Picard.

An interesting side note: None of the God-like beings (Q, Douwd, Organian, the wormhole aliens) in Star Trek ever claim to be a god, except for the Sha Ka Ree (ST V:Final Frontier) and Apollo (TOS:Who Mourns for Adonais?) Q could easily claim to be a god and no one, except Q Continuum, can stop him. The beings with the best claim to being God dismisses the idea of being God.

The Q Continuum has a substantial claim on God status, other than Q's flaws, but who is to say Gods might not be flawed? And while they function within the Universe, I don't think they have claimed the honor of creating it.

 

[D.T.]

Plus, it had Pamela Adlon in it, which was awesome.

She is probably best known for voicing Bobby Hill on "King of the Hill," and as of 2016, she began show-running her own series, "Better Things."

Pamela Adlon is fantastic, she's also pretty known for being in Louie and she's _hysterical_ in Californication (another show I'd recommend IF and ONLY IF you stop at the season finale of S4).

 

[AngerDanger]

Pamela Adlon is fantastic, she's also pretty known for being in Louie and she's _hysterical_ in Californication (another show I'd recommend IF and ONLY IF you stop at the season finale of S4).

Yep, as per your recommendation in the television thread, I gave Horace and Pete a shot and ended up watching it through twice. Then I went back and checked out Louie's one-season "Lucky Louie," and, go figure, there's Adlon:

 

[D.T.]

Yep, as per your recommendation in the television thread, I gave Horace and Pete a shot and ended up watching it through twice. Then I went back and checked out Louie's one-season "Lucky Louie," and, go figure, there's Adlon:

You will Definitely want to check out his show on FX, Louie. Also has Adlon as a recurring character (she's also a producer and co-wrote several EPs one of which was Emmy nominated). It's a bit more free form, shot more like a documentary, darker, kind of progresses along with LCK himself (and his real life experiences), he actually shoots, writes, directs, stars and apparently at least in the first few seasons did the actual editing (on a MBP!)

Sorry, I realized I'm derailing the Trek thread

 

[AngerDanger]

You will Definitely want to check out his show on FX, Louie. Also has Adlon as a recurring character (she's also a producer and co-wrote several EPs one of which was Emmy nominated). It's a bit more free form, shot more like a documentary, darker, kind of progresses along with LCK himself (and his real life experiences), he actually shoots, writes, directs, stars and apparently at least in the first few seasons did the actual editing (on a MBP!)

Sorry, I realized I'm derailing the Trek thread

Which TV Series Are You Binging On?

 

[bradl]

Guess who, and on what show?

https://www.facebook.com/video.php?v=1201004843315383

BL.

 

[Mac'nCheese]

Guess who, and on what show?

https://www.facebook.com/video.php?v=1201004843315383

BL.

Night court. Data. Classic.

 

[Peace]

Spoilers ?

I think most people have watch Star Trek by now.

 

[mobilehaathi]

Spoilers ?

I think most people have watch Star Trek by now.

There's at least one in this thread who hasn't.

 

[Scepticalscribe]

There's at least one in this thread who hasn't.

Indeed. And is bizarrely proud of that fact.

Season Three was when STNG came into its own, better plots, excellent character development, (better uniforms, too); it featured some brilliant episodes.

On the matter of God like entities, or entities with extraordinary powers, I found the episode "The Survivors" to have been very thought-provoking.

 

[phrehdd]

Though not exactly "god" like in nature, the Voyager episode in 2000, "Blink of an Eye" was a kind look at how primitive faith that develops into culturally engaged faith gives way to technology and the stars. While a less than sophisticated script, it was crafted to remain evocative to the viewer.

 

[Scepticalscribe]

I must say that I am hugely enjoying this thread, and would like to thank everyone for keeping it civil, and funny and interesting - thereby ensuring that it has become a most pleasant place to spend some time on the forum.
[doublepost=1493291420][/doublepost]

Though not exactly "god" like in nature, the Voyager episode in 2000, "Blink of an Eye" was a kind look at how primitive faith that develops into culturally engaged faith gives way to technology and the stars. While a less than sophisticated script, it was crafted to remain evocative to the viewer.

Haven't seen that episode - I missed quite a bit of Voyager - but will keep an eye out for it.

 

[Mousse]

Guess who, and on what show?

https://www.facebook.com/video.php?v=1201004843315383

BL.

Maltz, from ST III: Search for Spock. He stayed on board the Bird of Prey when Doc Brown Commander Kruge beamed down to Genesis. My favorite quote from that movie, Maltz! jol yIchu'! Klingonese for: Beam me up, Scotty... er Maltz.

 

[bradl]

Oh.. Rumour has it that a certain Counselor has put her hand up for wanting to be the next Doctor for Doctor Who...

BL.

 

[Peace]

Guess who, and on what show?

https://www.facebook.com/video.php?v=1201004843315383

BL.

That''s Brent Spiner ( AKA Data ) on Night Court.

 

[phrehdd]

I must say that I am hugely enjoying this thread, and would like to thank everyone for keeping it civil, and funny and interesting - thereby ensuring that it has become a most pleasant place to spend some time on the forum.
[doublepost=1493291420][/doublepost]

Haven't seen that episode - I missed quite a bit of Voyager - but will keep an eye out for it.

Perhaps what makes that particular episode fun, was its a simple piece of sci-fi. Without being a spoiler, Voyager remains in the present normal "time" while a planet it travels around exists in another state where time moves relatively far faster. Beyond that, I don't want to get into spoilers. What made this work is the sci-fi / fantasy rule if we can change a facet of reality the rest will fall in place and in this case, it was time itself existing at "two speeds."

 

[mobilehaathi]

Perhaps what makes that particular episode fun, was its a simple piece of sci-fi. Without being a spoiler, Voyager remains in the present normal "time" while a planet it travels around exists in another state where time moves relatively far faster. Beyond that, I don't want to get into spoilers. What made this work is the sci-fi / fantasy rule if we can change a facet of reality the rest will fall in place and in this case, it was time itself existing at "two speeds."

It was a fairly simple story, but it's one of my favorite episodes of the series.

 

[Huntn]

I must say that I am hugely enjoying this thread, and would like to thank everyone for keeping it civil, and funny and interesting - thereby ensuring that it has become a most pleasant place to spend some time on the forum.
[doublepost=1493291420][/doublepost]

Haven't seen that episode - I missed quite a bit of Voyager - but will keep an eye out for it.

It's easy staying civil in a Star Trek thread.

 

[Mousse]

It was a fairly simple story, but it's one of my favorite episodes of the series.

Blink of an Eye. Yarp, one of the better Voyager episodes.

Here are a few others I consider franchise worthy: Year of Hell and Equinox and Tinker Tenor Doctor Spy to name a few. My favorite is Living Witness, where the Doctor wakes up in a museum in the distant future. After hearing how history has painted a picture of Voyager's crew genocidal maniac, the Doctor recounts history from a mass murderer's perspective.

Side note: I like Janeway's short coif and black gloves. Because Evil Wears Black.

 

[SoggyCheese]

Perhaps what makes that particular episode fun, was its a simple piece of sci-fi. Without being a spoiler, Voyager remains in the present normal "time" while a planet it travels around exists in another state where time moves relatively far faster. Beyond that, I don't want to get into spoilers. What made this work is the sci-fi / fantasy rule if we can change a facet of reality the rest will fall in place and in this case, it was time itself existing at "two speeds."

One of the few Voyager episodes I have watched. It's a good story IMO. I enjoyed it.