Rant About Star Trek: Enterprise That Does Probably Not Belong Here

Reve BM, Editorial, rant | March 13, 2001 | Reve BM

[Brett66]

Let's step back a bit and realize that in the Star Trek universe at this point Earth is just emerging from a hard 100+ years of recovering from nuclear war.

I always hated what TNG did to Star Trek history. In the original there was a eugenics war, the nations of the world united after this and went on to populate the solar system. They sent the first insterstellar voyage to Alpha Centauri where they established contact with the Centaurians, one of which was Zefrem Cochrane, the first warp capable starships were built by the time the first interstellar mission returned to Earth. The idea that an alcoholic Cochrane could've built a warp-capable ship in a post apocalyptic world is laughable.

[ASA Vet]

inter-species miscegenation

If they are different species there will be no issue.

[ASA Vet]

They were all great-looking. And human!

The chick who's tears made men their slave,
and the green dancing girl were not of the human species,
although they appeared to be humanoid.

[Sloth]

Wesley Crusher saves the day! I wanted to smack the little brat. Oh, and then at the end, Wesley evolved into a higher life form.

Actually, he was abducted by an intergalactic child molester known as the Traveler.

[Ward Smythe]

It's fine and understandable to run across aliens who are committed religiously, particularly the Vulcans, but I have yet in my memory to run across a significant Star Trek character who is committed to Christianity.

Since the original Kirk Star Trek the shows really have dealt with "earth based" religions (you know what I mean) other than Chakotay's (sp?) dealing with his Native American heritage. There may be other references I'm missing.

The Next Generation sort of dealt with the "all powerful Q" but even with his powers, he was certainly flawed.

I haven't watched Enterprise that much because of when it's on (I'm probably usually on FR). But I'm not bothered by the lack of "Christian" characters. I can't imagine they would be portrayed in a favorable light. So, I'm actually happier they just leave them out.

[Zeroisanumber]

They have replicators, when you can replicate any product that you want the capitalist system takes a nosedive.

[Future Snake Eater]

Actually, the new TNN is going to have all the DS9 episodes in the near future. They paid well over $300 million for the broadcast rights of TNG, DS9, and Voyager (yawn).

[Future Snake Eater]

Yeah, Earth in the Star Trek universe is the perfect utopia realized. Everyone does what they're supposed to do, no one tries to be greedy (and the ones that are greedy get it in the end, i.e. Star Trek: Insurrection), and everyone just works to better themselves. Definitely fictitious, but enjoyable nonetheless (except for Voyager).

[DManA]

I love the Ferengi. My favorite line:

"Are we going to take the elevator? But it's so expensive!"

Second favorite line:

"It's very wet on the Ferengi home world. In the Ferengi language there is no word for crisp."

[BibChr]

You want Babylon 5.

I was a longtime Trek fan, but B5 edged it out for me on a number of fronts. One of the most remarkable was that the series' creator, J. Kichael Straczynsi, though an atheist, peopled B5 with sincere and credible practitioners of recognizable human religions, along with alien religions.

Trek is totally counter, by contrast. But then Roddenberry was a thoroughgoing humanist who hated Christianity.

Dan

[ReveBM]

Actually, I'm just having fun with Sisko. I thought it was funny when he got angry in various episodes, and funny having it as part of his personality. Then I read an interview with the actor somewhere where he expressed a lot of alienation from Star Trek, American society, etc., which made me emotionally distance myself from him. Therefore, since then, I've just thought of him in shorthand as "angry pissed-off black man in space" with a ship that doesn't go anywhere.

[ReveBM]

Maybe keeping an open mind and having an opinion are not mutually exclusive, but I think that in the way most people in American society use the term (as cliche) they are. For example, I think John Ashcroft has a pretty open mind.

[hattend]

They also have an anti-hunting show coming up. Where they visit a planet of hunters. It turns out that the hunters favorite prey is intelligent. See animals are people too.

Voyager did this already with the Hirosians (spelling and phonetics questionable - it's been a while).

[PatrickHenry]

They have replicators, when you can replicate any product that you want the capitalist system takes a nosedive.

No, the replicators are like Napster. Someone has to create the original, and he wouldn't do it without patent protection, etc., and if you eliminate legal protection for property, there won't be anything to replicate -- except food stamps.

[Sci Fi Guy]

They also have an anti-hunting show coming up. Where they visit a planet of hunters. It turns out that the hunters favorite prey is intelligent. See animals are people too.

Voyager did this already with the Hirosians (spelling and phonetics questionable - it's been a while).

I never got the impression that those shows were anti-hunting. I would compare them to the movie predator which I don't think was anti-hunting. From what I heard about the upcoming show, Archer declares that Earth stopped hunting generations ago. Which is interesting since in the opening show a farmer shoots a klingon with what looks like a (laser) shotgun. Why a farmer would have a hi-tech gun if there's no hunting, and Earth is a peaceful paradise, is never addressed.

[hattend]

Hmmm, that sounds like the pilot episode. Enterprise has to take the wounded Klingon back home which is why the Enterprise is launched against the Vulcans' wishes (and why T'Pol is on board - kinda/sorta spying at first).

I don't remember getting an anti-hunting message from that episode at all since the scene you describe is only used to give a reason to launch Enterprise.

[hattend]

Oops, disregard...I read your reply wrong...sorry. Guess I'm still waiting for the "anti-hunting" episode.

[Samwise]

Richard Dean Anderson, StarGate SGI is much more fun. (ShowTime)

10 sharp. The only show the whole family watches together.

[Tickle Me Pank]

The Saudi Ambassador to the U.N. has just finished giving a speech, and walks out into the lobby where he meets his American counterpart. They shake hands and as they walk the Saudi says,

"You know, I have just one question about what I have seen in America."

The American says, "Well, your Excellency, anything I can do to help you I will do."

The Saudi whispers, "My son watches this show 'Star Trek' and in it there are Russians and Blacks and Asians, but never any Arabs. He is very upset. He doesn't understand why there are never any Arabs in Star Trek."

The American laughs and leans over..... "That's because it takes place in the future."

[Samwise]

Actually, the new TNN is going to have all the DS9 episodes in the near future. They paid well over $300 million for the broadcast rights of TNG, DS9, and Voyager (yawn).

That may bore you, but I appreciate the info. Thanks. I can't figure out the relationship between country music and Star Trek, though.