Trekkish confessions
Sep. 3rd, 2004 09:03 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
selenakThe fandom love child memes recently reminded me that Star Trek was basically my first fandom. (Yes, me and half the planet.) I watched TOS as a child and teenager and still have a pleasant nostalgic fondness for it, which is why I gritted my teetch and aquired the outrageously expensive DVDs today. TNG was when I really fell in love, though not at first sight (again, that first season? err, not quite ST at its best). Picard is still my favourite Starship Captain, fondness for later arrivals nonewithstanding. (I could give arguments regarding the appeal of an intelligent man trying to have a tight reign on his emotions, or I could go openly and completely fangirl and say "Patrick Stewart - that VOICE!") DS9 then suprised me by surpassing TNG in terms of consistently good writing and quickly became by favourite Trek. (Simultanously, I feel in love with B5. I never understood why there should be an either/or about the two. I adore both.)
Then came Voyager, about which I felt so-so. I didn't hate it the way some fans did, but I couldn't muster the same emotional investment TNG and DS9 had commanded from me. The Doctor was interesting and quickly became my favourite, and I liked Janeway, Paris and hapless Harry Kim. Early Be'Lanna Torres was a bit too obvious a Key'Lahr clone for me, Kes, Neelix and Tuvok left me indifferent for the most part, Chakotay I thought terribly dull. More damagingly, considering the first four years of Voyager ran simultanously with DS9 at its peak, the contrast on how the potential conflict between Maquis as Starfleet was wasted and how one-dimensional the Kazon were, when compared to the Cardassians and the Founders was just glaring.
However, season 4 introduced my other favourite Voyager character. Yes, I confess myself a Seven of Nine fan. Recently I rewatched the fourth season and you know, not only is it arguably Voyager's best (as an overall season) but it holds up quite well next to the other Treks. One reason why Seven worked so well for me was that the producers and writers didn't rely on Jeri Ryan's admittedly gorgeous looks. (1) (I had seen Jeri Ryan before in the short-lived Dark Skies, where she had played kick-ass agent Juliet, so I was pre-disposed to like her, I admit.) They give her plenty to act as well, and an interesting storyline which does not (something![[livejournal.com profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/external/lj-userinfo.gif)
alara_r recently pointed out) center on romance, a rarity for a female character, alas. Like the Doctor (and in the grand tradition of Spock, Data, Odo et all), Seven is another outsider confronted with humanity. As opposed to the Maquis, here the potential for conflict is not wasted. Be'lanna and Chakotay react to the fact that there's a recently disconnected Borg on board just as they should - with suspicion and hostility. Seven herself isn't overwhelmed by the joys of being human and in the company of humans, either. From the moment that a just disconnected Seven challenged Janeway in the second episode of the fourth season, The Gift, with the fact that Janeway's decision to make her human again was just as much disregarding her will as the child Annika's assimilation by the Borg had been, I knew this wouldn't be settled in just one episode. Could it be, I thought, the Voyager writers try something like an arc, and not a mini one like the Paris-as-spy one in season 2?
As it turned out, they did. Season 4, from Scorpion, II to the last episode, Hope and Fear, which could be subtitled Scorpion III, presents consistent character development for Seven of Nine, and between Seven and Janeway, and Seven and the rest of the crew. You could not switch earlier episodes with later ones here. And the last episode directly tackled an open question from the first - when Janeway traded a biological weapon against Species 8somethingortheother to the Borg for a short cut home, she stopped what could have been the complete annihilation of the Borg. How would species who suffered through the Borg see this?
Now this is mostly a character arc, definitely not as ambitious as what DS9 did at the same time with several characters AND the Dominion/Alpha Quadrant developments, and we shouldn't even mention Babylon 5. But it's well done, and I liked both watching it the first time and then rewatching it again.
(1) Check out those episodes which show her in full Borg make-up, looking ghastly - Scorpion II, The Gift, or the flashback-ridden and Ron Moore written one in season 7. And then there's Body and Soul, in which the Doctor's program is downloaded into Seven to hide him from a species hostile to holograms. No, it's not Out of their Minds, but it's fun, and Jeri Ryan does a wonderful Robert Picardo impersonation.
Then came Voyager, about which I felt so-so. I didn't hate it the way some fans did, but I couldn't muster the same emotional investment TNG and DS9 had commanded from me. The Doctor was interesting and quickly became my favourite, and I liked Janeway, Paris and hapless Harry Kim. Early Be'Lanna Torres was a bit too obvious a Key'Lahr clone for me, Kes, Neelix and Tuvok left me indifferent for the most part, Chakotay I thought terribly dull. More damagingly, considering the first four years of Voyager ran simultanously with DS9 at its peak, the contrast on how the potential conflict between Maquis as Starfleet was wasted and how one-dimensional the Kazon were, when compared to the Cardassians and the Founders was just glaring.
However, season 4 introduced my other favourite Voyager character. Yes, I confess myself a Seven of Nine fan. Recently I rewatched the fourth season and you know, not only is it arguably Voyager's best (as an overall season) but it holds up quite well next to the other Treks. One reason why Seven worked so well for me was that the producers and writers didn't rely on Jeri Ryan's admittedly gorgeous looks. (1) (I had seen Jeri Ryan before in the short-lived Dark Skies, where she had played kick-ass agent Juliet, so I was pre-disposed to like her, I admit.) They give her plenty to act as well, and an interesting storyline which does not (something
alara_r recently pointed out) center on romance, a rarity for a female character, alas. Like the Doctor (and in the grand tradition of Spock, Data, Odo et all), Seven is another outsider confronted with humanity. As opposed to the Maquis, here the potential for conflict is not wasted. Be'lanna and Chakotay react to the fact that there's a recently disconnected Borg on board just as they should - with suspicion and hostility. Seven herself isn't overwhelmed by the joys of being human and in the company of humans, either. From the moment that a just disconnected Seven challenged Janeway in the second episode of the fourth season, The Gift, with the fact that Janeway's decision to make her human again was just as much disregarding her will as the child Annika's assimilation by the Borg had been, I knew this wouldn't be settled in just one episode. Could it be, I thought, the Voyager writers try something like an arc, and not a mini one like the Paris-as-spy one in season 2? As it turned out, they did. Season 4, from Scorpion, II to the last episode, Hope and Fear, which could be subtitled Scorpion III, presents consistent character development for Seven of Nine, and between Seven and Janeway, and Seven and the rest of the crew. You could not switch earlier episodes with later ones here. And the last episode directly tackled an open question from the first - when Janeway traded a biological weapon against Species 8somethingortheother to the Borg for a short cut home, she stopped what could have been the complete annihilation of the Borg. How would species who suffered through the Borg see this?
Now this is mostly a character arc, definitely not as ambitious as what DS9 did at the same time with several characters AND the Dominion/Alpha Quadrant developments, and we shouldn't even mention Babylon 5. But it's well done, and I liked both watching it the first time and then rewatching it again.
(1) Check out those episodes which show her in full Borg make-up, looking ghastly - Scorpion II, The Gift, or the flashback-ridden and Ron Moore written one in season 7. And then there's Body and Soul, in which the Doctor's program is downloaded into Seven to hide him from a species hostile to holograms. No, it's not Out of their Minds, but it's fun, and Jeri Ryan does a wonderful Robert Picardo impersonation.
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no subject
Date: 2004-09-03 01:43 pm (UTC)What I find the scariest? I have hardly seen a VOY episode in the last three years. Still my first thought upon reading Species 8somethingortheother is going "8472" .. scary, that. The way your brain remembers unimportant information, while you can't find the telephone number you so desperately need.
Ds9 is my fave as well. I've watched exactly one ep of Enterprise, and hated it (Archer). Though T'Pol was fab, I can't get myself to watch the series. I've been in love with TNG for about ten years now (since the second I saw Deanna Troi, and thought: wow. Pretty lady, interesting story, sci-fi. Must follow this).
And Seven kicks major ass in seasons 4 and 5. Or more precisely; she and Janeway together. I've always thought Torres had a lot more potential. Most other characters were okay. I found Tuvok to be pretty funny. Chakotay though.. don't get me started.
no subject
Date: 2004-09-03 09:04 pm (UTC)Enterprise: I saw a grand total of four episodes burned for me and CD Rom by
Torres: yes, she had potential, and in later seasons, I actively liked her because she had become her own character.
Seven and Janeway: the most intriguing Captain and crew member dynamic since Kirk and Spock.*g* (Because DS9's most fascinating relationships weren't Sisko and *insert crew member here*.)
no subject
Date: 2004-09-04 06:14 am (UTC)Well, I'm good with numbers but horrible with names. :)
Enterprise: I saw a grand total of four episodes burned for me and CD Rom by bimo and was completely indifferent. Especially due to the fact I saw the start of Firefly at the same time, and my, does the difference in writing and acting glare...
I haven't seen any Firefly so I can't compare it, but it's just below Trek standards for me. Also, I still think it's a damn cop-out: the second the Federation's in real trouble they won't show us what happens next. I mean, will they survive? And if not, what happens to the former-Federation planets? Will they decide to form a different kind of alliance? If not, how will they keep from being conquered by the Borg, or Romulans, or Founders etc?
Torres: yes, she had potential, and in later seasons, I actively liked her because she had become her own character.
I liked some of it, but still don't think she'd be in a long-lasting relationship with Tom Paris. They're great as friends, but.. well it's the same for me as with Harry and Hermione. (I need to write something about that analogy sometime soon)
Seven and Janeway: the most intriguing Captain and crew member dynamic since Kirk and Spock.*g* (Because DS9's most fascinating relationships weren't Sisko and *insert crew member here*.)
*smirks* Exactly. Man! The steam almost destroyed my TV :p
no subject
Date: 2004-09-03 02:09 pm (UTC)So how do you rate Enterprise?
no subject
Date: 2004-09-03 09:06 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2004-09-03 03:20 pm (UTC)Unfortunately, in my country almost do not show Star trek. More precisely, they show any fragments. These serials is very difficult to look after B5. I think, you understand, why.
Most was lucky TOS and THG. The first is popular among most part of Russian fans, well, you see, there are on what to look, game of the actors, interesting dialogues and heroes.
Spock, Kirk, Scott,
BestChekhov... The second serial is very interesting too, but, unfortunately, its show have interrupted on the most interesting place where war with borgs begins...DS9 never showed at us and hardly will show. Enterprise showed and, maybe, will show again.
Personally I do not love original series (TOS), I'm fan of the Next generation. Data, Worf, Picard (sometime) they are my loved heroes...
But, as it is paradoxical, in our country is a lot of trekkers, and they gathered on Star trek convent this year...
* makes Vulcans salutatory gesture*
V
no subject
Date: 2004-09-03 09:08 pm (UTC)Live long and prosper, too....
no subject
Date: 2004-09-03 03:30 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2004-09-03 09:10 pm (UTC)Gina Torres
Date: 2004-09-04 04:18 am (UTC)(In the entirely serious ST universe, of course, people are always in Jeffreys Tubes, or in a Borg cube where every passage is a duct and vice versa...)
And Alias is silly and cute.
no subject
Date: 2004-09-03 05:44 pm (UTC)Just realised, I'd add Ivanova and Tasha Yar to that mix, and they're human. They were strong females I admired. I haven't seen enough Firefly yet to pick a favourite there but I suspect it'll be Wash, Kaylee, and Zoe. I appear to go for the alien, strong females, or those who react to their universe in ways I see as realistic.
no subject
Date: 2004-09-03 09:13 pm (UTC)Re: too heroic human characters: reminds me of what I wrote in my Quark essay a couple of entries back (which has a lot of Vila references, too) - that Ira Behr, the DS9 writer specializing in Ferengi, said that the Ferengi were his chance to write unidealized humans, and that was why he loved them best.
no subject
Date: 2004-09-04 04:46 am (UTC)I missed that essay so just went and read it. Once again I agree with most of it. What annoyed me about the Ferengi was their sexism, and that was the writers' fault. Why do SF writers have to do that? "I want to create an alien culture--I know, I'll make them treat their women like slaves! No-one else has ever done this, aren't I original!" It might be {slightly) different if it were men, but you know, I don't remember seeing that done. Funny, isn't it? People object to discrimination based on colour, but women are always fair game. :-(
no subject
Date: 2004-09-04 08:41 am (UTC)Anyway, the Ferengi being sexist in the extreme was something they got stuck with in their very first appearance, second or third TNG episode, and as I said in the essay, you can't ignore that without committing a major continuity break. So they worked with it on DS9.
Lastly: am rewatching a couple of TOS episodes, and talk about blatant sexism. I didn't notice that so much when I was a kid, but I do now.
The popular tendency to create cultures which treat women like slaves comes, I'm very much afraid, down to two factors Sci Fi boys love: 1) skimpy outfits for the slave girls, and 2) the opportunity for a little back slapping of the "aren't we superior?" kind.
no subject
Date: 2004-09-04 02:20 pm (UTC)B7 has some bad moments in its Ben Steed episodes, but B5 was excellent and what I've seen of Firefly so far (I've just started watching) seems fine too.
TOS is very sexist; so much so it's now hard for me to watch although I loved it as a kid. It must therefore have been less so compared to other shows then, as I know I refused to watch at least one US sitcom on the grounds of sexism. One show had the father telling a girl to act stupid with boys to get them to like her because no-one liked an intelligent girl; I never watched it again.
The TOS pilot ep had a female Number One (played by Majel Roddenberry) who was very good: strong, logical, and cool. The test audience didn't like her so that was that. We got subservient women with microskirts and ridiculous hair. :-(
no subject
Date: 2004-09-04 09:22 pm (UTC)You know, that's one of the reasons why I think feminists and the women's lib movement are largely unacknowledged heroes (if you compare their image - didn't one repellent US radio host called Russ Limbaugh create the word "Feminazis"? - with the civil rights movement, for example). These attitudes didn't vanish by themselves.
no subject
Date: 2004-09-04 09:45 pm (UTC)You still get shows like 'Scrubs' though where a standard way to insult a male is to call them by a female name.
DS9 changed my life
Date: 2004-09-05 11:08 am (UTC)My favorite of the Treks has got to be DS9 - best character development, a hot doctor w/a British accent, the crossover crew from TNG, Sisko's voice (which, IMHO totally beat Picard's anyday) and Garak. I loved Garak.
And I totally agree w/the lack of respect for women in the media. It's rampant! Unfortunatly, I see very little change in the last ten years or so. Sigh. I guess I'll just have to take over the media and right these blatant wrongs! ;-)
Hi there!
Date: 2004-09-05 11:57 am (UTC)