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TOS may look silly today, but it wasn't made today. It was made in the late sixties. And, at that time, it was cutting-edge. A Russian (at that time to be equated w/ "red commie bastard") on the bridge? The idea was absurd to most people in the US then, but Trek showed that the future could be different, w/o the hang-ups of the society of the time. A white man kissing a black woman? If he walked down a street in the South doing that, he'd probably be shot. But the people making TOS had the guts not only to suggest equality would be possible in the future, but to actually show it in action.
These things may be nothing to us today, but back then they were quite radical. This is the quality that people would like to see recaptured.
Of course, when TPTB say ENT will be like TOS, they probably mean "Look! Real buttons!". But that's missing the point. The reason something should be like TOS is what I said above.
------------------ "Even the colors are pompous!" -a friend of mine, looking at a Lexus brochure
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TOS tackled controversial subjects through a science-fictional medium. The problem with the world of 35 years later is, are there any controversial subjects left? A lot of topics now come up on contemporary TV shows. . . of course, I live in the UK and we're used to much more daring TV than you get in the States. What doesn't get handled on TV enough? The homeless situation? Child abuse? Bestiality? Incest? Drugs? Pornography?
------------------ "If Morden is afraid of green penguins, and Draal is shown to have access to them, a speculation would be that Draal will use them against Morden in the future. However if Draal only has a purple moose, saying that he could use it against Morden would be a story idea."
posted
Maybe they could do an episode about the assholes who go around spoiling things for people ... *cough*BE!*cough*
------------------ Star Trek Gamma Quadrant Average Rated 8.32 out of 10 Smileys by Fabrux (with seven eps posted) *** "Oh, yes, screw logic, let's go for a theory with no evidence!" -Omega 11:48am, Jan. 19th, 2001 *** Card-Carrying Member of the FlareAPAO *** "I think this reason why girls don't do well on multiple choice tests goes all the way back to the Bible, all the way back to Genesis, Adam and Eve. God said, 'All right, Eve, multiple choice or multiple orgasms, what's it going to be?' We all know what was chosen" - Rush Limbaugh, Feb. 23, 1994.
posted
Geez there are a HEAP of problems in the world today, just because most of the public has become desensitised to those problems doesn't mean they aren't there.
Look at DS9, someone here called it an excuse for a 'space battle of the week'... if you though that then, woah, what did you miss on that show. Look at the world today, and there are wars everywhere... its crazy, I mean look a the middle east... Could we equate that with the Maquis!?!
DS9 wasn't just about war - although it did confront the viewer with the HORRORS of war... much more than any other Sci-fi show has done... more than B5... more than a LOT of shows... Then we also get faith and religion with Worf and Especially Kira. We are confronted with Genetically Engineer humans and aliens... clones of people - kill one - another comes along. What about a lot of youth today, a lot of people feel like they 'don't belong'... look at Odo. The 'odd man out'... look at Nog. What about love against all odds... Worf/Jadzia Nog/Leeta Moogie/Zek Sisko/Cassidy Kira/Bariel. What about a single parent raising his son, while still trying to get the job done. There are so many more. Prejudice... of the Ferengi by the 'perfect hew-mons' against odo 'the shifter' Bajorans against Cardassians... There was so much to that show...
------------------ Homer: I'm gonna miss Springfield. This town's been awfully good to us. Bart: No, it hasn't, Dad. That's why we're leaving. Homer: Oh, yeah. [pokes his head out the window] So long, Stinktown!
posted
In the 60's, TOS was much more visionary, much more progressive, much more "universal" than is any other Star Trek series with respect to its time. On the other hand, if "darker stories", as always announced for DS9 and Voyager and now for Enterprise, should be the reaction to our (pessimistic?) present time (and to other scifi series with such a basic atmosphere), I wouldn't enjoy it any more either. With respect to the vision of a bright future this would be a throwback, and there could be nothing worse to the idea of Star Trek.
If they really wanted to make a show with a new or an extended vision, then going back in time was exactly the wrong approach. I would have to view it, but I expect the announced more "contemporary" (to our time) characters in Enterpise to be more sexist, racist and overall narrow-minded than what we have seen in all other Trek series.
The mostly American crew of the ship is probably because a lack of imagination and also an attempt to appeal to the average young male American viewer, but it could be also taken as a sign that nationalism is still ruling Earth - Americans and Vulcans as opposed to the uncivilized rest of the world. I'm not saying this will be the case, but knowing how America is still being glorified even in the 24th century I will watch Enterprise even more carefully. Why am I dead sure that the first contact with a Klingon will take place in the USA- probably in Montana or San Francisco?
The usual disclaimer: Note that this doesn't include and is not meant to include any offense to the USA and its citizens. It's just that I expect, especially in a series that goes out into space and deals with lots of aliens, there should be people, places and customs outside the USA too.
------------------ "There is an intelligent lifeform out on the other side of that television too." (Gene Roddenberry) Ex Astris Scientia
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I've talked with you recently Bernd about the US dominance in Trek, and agree. And TPTB should now take into account that Trek isn't simply an American show anymore, but a global phenomenon, and has been for years, and they should take other nationailities and cultures into account, even though these other nations aren't the primary market for the show. If they want to portray a realistic world of the future, they ought to make it damn well realistic, and acknowledge other terrestrial races/nations.
As far as ENT being set in this darker pre-Federation world, I think it deserves television treatment, although I have a tangible sense of cynicism about it. But if we are to enjoy and appreciate the near utopian 24th century et al, we should see how 'we got there' by showing the beginning stages of how Earth and it's post WWIII citizens began to rediscover their humanity by embracing a greater galactic community -by exploring space and mixing with new alien races.
There can be no premise more intriguing and exciting than this. But I just can't see them pulling it off to everyone's satisfaction. They're never going to be able to do that. The Trek continuity and consistency that's been played out over 35 over years may end up being shot to pieces. The chronology ISN'T a toy to be messed about with by any writer of the week that comes in and makes up a load of contradictory stuff, it's an institution that should be honoured and respected, Sure they're not going to get everything right even if they tried, but they ought to make an effort to at least try to be faithful to it. That goes for technology as well as alien races, historical events etc.
But as my mom used to say when I fought my brother when I was a kid - " It'll end in tears".... Enough said.
Yes, they'll be a Brit on board. But Trek hasn't been too successful with portraying the British. Yes we drink lots of ale, sing songs and play darts. But we're not obsessed with the Battle of Britain, Robin Hood and James Bond!
This Brit character's supposed to be some gung-ho commando. From what I can tell I'm not all that optimistic about it.
As for all other nationalities I reckon from what we've seen, the only survivors of the Trek universe's World war Three were the American's (of course), the British and the Irish. No-one else survived to make it into the 24th century!! At least according to TPTB
Shik
Starship database: completed; History of Starfleet: done; website: probably never
Member # 343
posted
America doesn't want to know jack SHIT about other nations.
England, Scotland, & Ireland? Sure, they're great! Good bear, funny accents, we kicked ther asses in 2 centuries & saved them twice in the past one. ("'WHALES?' There's a country for them now?")
Canada is exactly like us. The Mexicans won't be shown as long as there's no menial labor to do in the 24th century.
Japan? You mean those guys with the big ears aren't Japanese? They all look the same to me.
Russians? Maybe they starved. ("What about Chekov?") Who? ("Chekov. The guy who looked like Davy Jones.") Oh, yeah! They had a Monkee on the show! They shoulda stuck with THAT.
The French? Maybe we refused to save their cheese-eatin' surrender monkey asses after the next time Germany decided to pay them a visit.
Yes, that's how TV-Land views the American populace. As long as the racial tokens are there, nationalities & cultures don't matter. Sadly, it's true. Which is why I now have 2 wonderfully authentic Icelandic sim characters.
------------------ "'I don't CARE who started it, I'm tired, and I WANT QUIET!!!!! Or I'm going to come up there and flatten the BOTH of you!' And he meant it. And we'd stop. Or he would." --Foreign policy as laid down by First of Two's dad
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We forgetting Sulu and Uhura...? Or the captains of the Yorktown and the Saratoga in Star Trek IV...? Or Dmitri Valtane...? Or Demora Sulu and the nameless Lieutenant on the Enterprise-B...? Or Admirals Morrow and Cartwright...? Or Captain Tryla Scott, Captain Benjamin Sisko, and various other high-ranking officers in the contemporary era...? Don't make me name them all.
--Jonah
------------------ "It's obvious I'm dealing with a moron..."
Sulu was American. Uhura was never really established.
quote:Or Demora Sulu
See above.
quote: and the nameless Lieutenant on the Enterprise-B...? Or Admirals Morrow and Cartwright...? Or Captain Tryla Scott,
Bit players played by non-white American actors? Wow. How progressive.
quote:Captain Benjamin Sisko
Last time I checked, New Orleans was in the US.
-------------------- "I was surprised by the matter-of-factness of Kafka's narration, and the subtle humor present as a result." (Sizer 2005)
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I may have missed a few. On the other hand, several of the above could be Americans too. Generally we get anything but an impression that there is something like a United Earth. There are many more aliens in Starfleet than human foreigners.
Shik
Starship database: completed; History of Starfleet: done; website: probably never
Member # 343
posted
Yar is Ukrainian, as is Nechayev (Russian would be Nechayeva, but...whatever.) Chang would be Chinese & CDR Orfil Quinteros is Spanish (NOT Egyptian).
-------------------- "The French have a saying: 'mise en place'—keep everything in its fucking place!"
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