Okay, #Trekkies. As I warned you, I was not happy with the latest #SNW #StarTrek outing. 🖖
On the plus side? Even episodes that massively mess up their representation of human fluidity, as this one did by creating a too-rigid hierarchy between friends and lovers when it comes to whose care matters, can make for excellent conversations.
How do we build cultures where a wider range of human expression and bonding matters, the way Trek at its best always did?
#Humanism
https://onlysky.media/mclark/the-charade-of-showing-care-in-culturally-sanctioned-ways/
@MLClark I thought the whole thing was silly, to be honest. Somewhere between "The Enemy Within" and "Turnabout Intruder." A magical alien extracts his DNA so he's only human. Then puts it back. Really?! It felt like lazy writing to me ... Granted, episodes like that weren't unusual during TOS, or even TNG, but 1960s writing isn't 2020s writing.
The larger point was tolerating intolerance. Which was the wrong message. This is who I am. If you don't like it, f*** off.
That was my take through and through. Incredibly lazy writing, and on a few levels that I talk about here: thematically, with respect to alien culture worldbuilding, and in relation to structural attempts to incorporate more of the rest of the crew.
Just poorly written, and advancing a terrible message in the process.
@MLClark Idle curiosity ... What did you think of "The Orville"? I know that first 1 1/2 seasons were wildly uneven, but the later half of Season 2 and the "New Horizons" Season 3 were much better.
The Orville is a far better homage to the spirit of TNG-era Trek than many NuTreks for me. And I think the number of Trek folk who've worked with the project speaks to that being a common feeling, too.
It manages humour without breaking the original world-building (unlike LD), does episodic storytelling well (unlike many), & foregrounds curiosity about challenging ethical dilemmas.
Later story-lines about restorative justice also showed the work Trek could/should be doing today.
Side note: It's good to know you, Stephen. :) Hope your week's starting well, amid the griping!
@MLClark And you. It's nice to find a kindred Trek spirit, especially someone with whom I can talk Trek writing.
I finished Chapter 8 of my book last Friday and sent it off to the (potential) publisher. The Carpal Tunnel has flared up, so I'm trying to minimize computer time.
Naahhh ... 😉
@MLClark And while on the subject of world-building ...
For me the, difference between "SF" and "Sci-Fi" is the reality of interstellar species and relations. I understand why, but I hate that "alien" species are humanoids with appliances glued to their forehead and ears.
"Arrival" had it right ... In fact, it incorporated xenolinguistics, a term my writing mentor Sheila Finch coined ... (1/2)
@MLClark She came up with, "The Guild of Xenolinguistics," experts in deciphering alien languages, which should be really hard.
And don't get me started on human-alien copulation, much less reproduction ... I watched last night the VOY episode "Elogium," in which Kes and Neelix consideration procreation. But I guess, if a Vulcan and human can do it ... 🙄 (2/2)
https://www.amazon.com/Guild-Xenolinguists-Sheila-Finch/dp/1930846487
@MLClark It's just not funny to me. Every character SPEAKS REALLY FAST. Is that supposed to be funny?!
Farce may appeal to some people. Not for me.
The Riker/Troi cameos were a cringe. (I didn't see the episodes, i saw the clips online.)
@WordsmithFL
It is AWFUL.
Oh my goodness.
I couldn't believe how many Trekkies enjoyed it.
Almost every plot requires tossing the basic premises of the Federation and Starfleet. It's Star Trek set in late-stage capitalism, with scarcity-based workplace dynamics, a constant fear of being fired, & relentless jockeying for position in hierarchies of meaning that shouldn't matter.
I'm fine with humour.
But if you need to break Trek to make it funny, maybe just make your own danged SF series?