Practically speaking, there's a reason why most aliens on "Star Trek" are humanoid. Not only are they humanoid, but they all share very similar specific features: two legs, two arms, two eyes, one mouth, teeth, and/or hair. Many aliens look identical to humans apart from ridges on their foreheads or elaborate skin markings. This is because all the aliens on "Star Trek" are played by human actors. Very occasionally, Captain Kirk (William Shatner) might encounter a Melkot or a Tholian who were achieved through puppetry or photographic effects, but for the most part, aliens were played by Earth's boring ol' Homo sapiens actors.
By the time the "Star Trek: The Next Generation" episode "The Chase" aired on April 26, 1993, Trekkies had been watching the franchise long enough to ask why — from an in-canon perspective — all aliens looked like humans. "The Chase" came up with a cute (if not wholly satisfying...
By the time the "Star Trek: The Next Generation" episode "The Chase" aired on April 26, 1993, Trekkies had been watching the franchise long enough to ask why — from an in-canon perspective — all aliens looked like humans. "The Chase" came up with a cute (if not wholly satisfying...
- 5/19/2024
- by Witney Seibold
- Slash Film
"Star Trek: Voyager" entered its early stages of production in 1993. Meanwhile, "Star Trek: The Next Generation" was filming its seventh and final season, and "Star Trek: Deep Space Nine" was working on its second. 1993 was an optimistic time in the U.S. The Gulf War had wrapped, Bill Clinton had been elected president, and the economy was booming. Yes, there were certainly still massive problems with the country, but for a brief span, it felt like the nation was at peace.
Of course, one only needs to look at the pop media of the 1990s to see how much angst there still was in the lurking in hearts of the people. '90s pop music often described the injustices of a racist police state, or how much people felt marginalized and dismissed. '90s media was also self-reflexive, pointing out that the old-world tropes and genres no longer worked. Deconstruction was necessary.
Of course, one only needs to look at the pop media of the 1990s to see how much angst there still was in the lurking in hearts of the people. '90s pop music often described the injustices of a racist police state, or how much people felt marginalized and dismissed. '90s media was also self-reflexive, pointing out that the old-world tropes and genres no longer worked. Deconstruction was necessary.
- 5/6/2024
- by Witney Seibold
- Slash Film
I love Star Trek. It’s one of the most unique fandoms since it features multiple different properties in the same universe. Don’t get me wrong, I love Star Wars, but something about Star Trek that raises it to another level. There are so many shows that are unique in their own way. You have Star Trek T.O.S, Star Trek The Animated Series, Star Trek: The Next Generation, Star Trek: Deep Space Nine, Star Trek: Voyager, Enterprise, Star Trek: Discovery, Star Trek: Strange New Worlds, Star Trek: Prodigy, Star Trek: Lower Decks, and Star Trek: Picard.
The point is that there is something for everyone. Fans are a little bit less toxic than other fandoms. My theory is that because there are so many shows there is at least one show that everyone can agree is good. So if someone were to, let’s say, hate Prodigy,...
The point is that there is something for everyone. Fans are a little bit less toxic than other fandoms. My theory is that because there are so many shows there is at least one show that everyone can agree is good. So if someone were to, let’s say, hate Prodigy,...
- 5/6/2024
- by David Arroyo
- JoBlo.com
The Cylons, androids created by man, are the villains of "Battlestar Galactica," but they wear human guises. This reflects how the show's human heroes are all deeply flawed people and humanity's foibles (from arrogance to self-destructive) continue to haunt them even as their technology soars past the modern day.
Indeed, the best villain in "Battlestar Galactica" was a human character: Admiral Helena Cain (Michelle Forbes), commander of the Battlestar Pegasus. In the series' pilot min-series, the Cylons attack humanity's 12 colonies. The only survivors appear to be Galactica herself and a handful of civilian spaceships, who set out to find the mythical world Earth to be their new home.
Midway through season 2 in the episode, "Pegasus," the Galactica and her fleet meet the Pegasus, the other Battlestar which survived the genocide.. It doesn't stay a happy reunion for long. In a great dramatic move, Cain pulls rank on Commander Adama (Edward James Olmos...
Indeed, the best villain in "Battlestar Galactica" was a human character: Admiral Helena Cain (Michelle Forbes), commander of the Battlestar Pegasus. In the series' pilot min-series, the Cylons attack humanity's 12 colonies. The only survivors appear to be Galactica herself and a handful of civilian spaceships, who set out to find the mythical world Earth to be their new home.
Midway through season 2 in the episode, "Pegasus," the Galactica and her fleet meet the Pegasus, the other Battlestar which survived the genocide.. It doesn't stay a happy reunion for long. In a great dramatic move, Cain pulls rank on Commander Adama (Edward James Olmos...
- 4/21/2024
- by Devin Meenan
- Slash Film
In the "Star Trek: The Next Generation" episode "Captain's Holiday", Captain Picard (Patrick Stewart) was forced to take a vacation on the sexed-up beach resort planet of Risa where his impishly playful crew hoped he would have a drink, get laid, and return to the job less stern and more relaxed. Picard, a studious and intellectual fellow, would have been more content drinking tea and reading James Joyce's "Ulysses" in a dark room.
Luckily, Risa proves to be more exciting than Picard realized. He had no interest in beach shenanigans, but he did fall into the company of the utterly dazzling Indiana-Jone-type adventurer Vash (Jennifer Hetrick), a roguish tomb raider. Picard and Vash end up having to protect a rare, powerful artifact from time-traveling Vorgons, and fall in lust as a result. Picard returns to the Enterprise more relaxed and with a new romantic interest in the back of his mind.
Luckily, Risa proves to be more exciting than Picard realized. He had no interest in beach shenanigans, but he did fall into the company of the utterly dazzling Indiana-Jone-type adventurer Vash (Jennifer Hetrick), a roguish tomb raider. Picard and Vash end up having to protect a rare, powerful artifact from time-traveling Vorgons, and fall in lust as a result. Picard returns to the Enterprise more relaxed and with a new romantic interest in the back of his mind.
- 4/21/2024
- by Witney Seibold
- Slash Film
In the "Star Trek: The Next Generation" episode "Identity Crisis", Geordi La Forge (LeVar Burton) discovers from an old friend named Lieutenant Commander Susanna Leijten (Maryann Plunkett) that they are the only two people still alive and accounted for from a mysterious away mission on the planet Tarchannen III, conducted years before. The other members of the team have all mysteriously fled to Tarchannen III -- sometimes stealing shuttlecrafts to do so -- and vanished without a trace. It won't be long before Leijten begins exhibiting strange, nervous symptoms of an unknown disease, causing her to become fearful and twitchy. She, too, it seems, is being irresistibly drawn back to Tarchannan III. Is Geordi next? Not to spoil anything, but yes he is.
It's eventually revealed that an undetectable spore on Tarchannen III infected the members of Geordi's old away mission, causing them to mutate. It seems the spores are...
It's eventually revealed that an undetectable spore on Tarchannen III infected the members of Geordi's old away mission, causing them to mutate. It seems the spores are...
- 4/15/2024
- by Witney Seibold
- Slash Film
The final episode of "Star Trek: The Next Generation" — called "All Good Things..." — aired on May 23, 1994. It was an excellent send-off for the show, featuring a complex time-travel story about an eerie spatial phenomenon that gets larger the more it travels back in time. Trekkies could likely have survived for many years on the satisfaction brought to them by "All Good Things..." Unwilling to leave well enough alone, however, Paramount immediately began production on "Star Trek: Generations," the first movie based on "Next Generation." The film opened in theaters on November 18, 1994, just under six months after we last saw the crew of the Enterprise-d. We didn't even get a chance to miss them.
"Generations" is less satisfying than "All Good Things...," as it features a magical temporal nexus that allows Captain Picard (Patrick Stewart) to come face-to-face with Captain Kirk (William Shatner). The film is all about tiresome passing-the-torch moments that it didn't need.
"Generations" is less satisfying than "All Good Things...," as it features a magical temporal nexus that allows Captain Picard (Patrick Stewart) to come face-to-face with Captain Kirk (William Shatner). The film is all about tiresome passing-the-torch moments that it didn't need.
- 3/30/2024
- by Witney Seibold
- Slash Film
"Star Trek" is notoriously good to its actors. If a hard-working performer gets a small gig in one episode of "Star Trek," it becomes incredibly likely they'll be invited back for another. Armin Shimerman, for instance, played a talking treasure chest and a random Ferengi character on "Star Trek: The Next Generation" years before he was offered the main role of Quark on "Star Trek: Deep Space Nine." Likewise, Tim Russ played a terrorist on the "Next Generation" episode "Starship Mine" before he became Tuvok on "Star Trek: Voyager." There are dozens of other examples. Once you're in the "Star Trek" family, you'll be a part of it for life.
According to the book "Star Trek: The Next Generation 365," by Paula M. Block and Terry J. Erdmann, actress Famke Janssen was offered a venerated spot in the Trek family ... that she turned down. Janssen appeared in the episode "The Perfect Mate" as Kamala,...
According to the book "Star Trek: The Next Generation 365," by Paula M. Block and Terry J. Erdmann, actress Famke Janssen was offered a venerated spot in the Trek family ... that she turned down. Janssen appeared in the episode "The Perfect Mate" as Kamala,...
- 3/24/2024
- by Witney Seibold
- Slash Film
Before they were Professor Charles Xavier and Jean Grey in "X-Men," Patrick Stewart and Famke Janssen shared the screen on an episode of "Star Trek: The Next Generation." Stewart was, of course, the series lead, Enterprise-d Captain Jean-Luc Picard, while Janssen played Kamala, one of the many beautiful alien women on "Star Trek." Captain Kirk may be the famed womanizer, but Picard had his dalliances over the show's seven seasons -- Kamala included.
The episode is "The Perfect Mate," the 21st installment of the fifth season. Kamala is a Kriosian "metamorph," an empathetic being who can read their partners' feelings and adjust themselves to them. She's been betrothed to an ambassador from the neighboring world Valt, in hopes this will help end a conflict between the planets. As she travels on the Enterprise-d and works alongside Picard, they grow closer and closer.
Aired in 1992, this was Janssen's first role on television.
The episode is "The Perfect Mate," the 21st installment of the fifth season. Kamala is a Kriosian "metamorph," an empathetic being who can read their partners' feelings and adjust themselves to them. She's been betrothed to an ambassador from the neighboring world Valt, in hopes this will help end a conflict between the planets. As she travels on the Enterprise-d and works alongside Picard, they grow closer and closer.
Aired in 1992, this was Janssen's first role on television.
- 3/24/2024
- by Devin Meenan
- Slash Film
In the "Star Trek: The Next Generation" episode "The Perfect Mate," the U.S.S. Enterprise-d is tasked with transporting a Kriosian ambassador (Tim O'Conner) to an arranged peace ceremony with a species called the Valtians. As a peace offering, the Kriosians aim to deliver a mysterious, eight-foot pod to the Valtians. Thanks to the meddling of some traveling Ferengi, the pod is cracked open, revealing Kamala (Famke Janssen) to have been sealed inside. Kamala was roped into an arranged marriage with the Valtian ambassador, a humanoid gift to "sweeten the deal." She was being transported in stasis.
The reason for her stasis quickly becomes clear. Kamala is an "empathic metamorph," meaning she can sense the desires of the men in her vicinity and alter her personality to match what they might be attracted to. She also produces clouds of powerful pheromones, driving men wild with lust. Having her wander...
The reason for her stasis quickly becomes clear. Kamala is an "empathic metamorph," meaning she can sense the desires of the men in her vicinity and alter her personality to match what they might be attracted to. She also produces clouds of powerful pheromones, driving men wild with lust. Having her wander...
- 3/23/2024
- by Witney Seibold
- Slash Film
"Star Trek: Deep Space Nine" isn't quite like any other "Star Trek" show, and when it debuted in 1993, it was quite the departure from both the original series and "Star Trek: The Next Generation." Instead of following intrepid explorers on starships trekking across the galaxy, "Deep Space Nine" followed the stories of the people who lived on board the space station Deep Space Nine (DS9) — civilians, Bajoran militia, and Starfleet officers alike. Showrunner Rick Berman was in charge of taking the "Star Trek" universe in a new direction following the success of "The Next Generation," but he ended up looking to a rather old television series for inspiration.
In an interview with StarTrek.com, Berman explained the inspiration behind "Star Trek: Deep Space Nine" and revealed that he and writer/producer Michael Piller got their biggest idea from a classic 1950s Western. That's pretty great given the fact that "Star Trek...
In an interview with StarTrek.com, Berman explained the inspiration behind "Star Trek: Deep Space Nine" and revealed that he and writer/producer Michael Piller got their biggest idea from a classic 1950s Western. That's pretty great given the fact that "Star Trek...
- 3/22/2024
- by Danielle Ryan
- Slash Film
The premise for "Star Trek: Deep Space Nine" is a little complex for the non-Trekkie, but ripe for drama when one delves in.
The titular station, Deep Space Nine, was in orbit around the non-Federation world of Bajor. For the past several decades, Bajor had been militarily occupied by the Nazi-like Cardassians, a species that regularly enslaved and mass-murdered Bajoran citizens. At the outset of the series, the Cardassian occupation had just ended, and Bajor inherited their disused station. In order to aid the Bajoran restoration, Starfleet was assigned to run Deep Space Nine and to oversee the rebuilding of Bajor's government (which was already tilting dangerously close to a corrupt theocracy).
Commander Sisko (Avery Brooks) was the Starfleet officer put in charge of the broken-down DS9 and his first officer was the haughty former Bajoran resistance fighter, Major Kira (Nana Visitor). "Star Trek: Deep Space Nine" was unique in...
The titular station, Deep Space Nine, was in orbit around the non-Federation world of Bajor. For the past several decades, Bajor had been militarily occupied by the Nazi-like Cardassians, a species that regularly enslaved and mass-murdered Bajoran citizens. At the outset of the series, the Cardassian occupation had just ended, and Bajor inherited their disused station. In order to aid the Bajoran restoration, Starfleet was assigned to run Deep Space Nine and to oversee the rebuilding of Bajor's government (which was already tilting dangerously close to a corrupt theocracy).
Commander Sisko (Avery Brooks) was the Starfleet officer put in charge of the broken-down DS9 and his first officer was the haughty former Bajoran resistance fighter, Major Kira (Nana Visitor). "Star Trek: Deep Space Nine" was unique in...
- 2/25/2024
- by Witney Seibold
- Slash Film
Being a "Star Trek" fan is a full-time job unlike any other. While normal people would find hundreds of hours of material a daunting prospect, the average Trekkie has been dutifully conditioned to say things like, "Don't worry, this overall mediocre show finally gets good in season 4" or staunchly defend some of the absolute weirdest and most out-there concepts ever produced in live action.
"Star Trek: Voyager" had plenty of highlights and lowlights in that regard, from that time Captain Katherine Janeway (Kate Mulgrew) and Lieutenant Tom Paris (Robert Duncan McNeill) hooked up with each other after devolving into lizards -- yes, this really happened -- to the horrifying legacy of "Tuvix." But none of it would've been possible had Paramount Television failed to support the production that would become "Voyager" back in its earliest conception. While "Deep Space Nine" gets all the credit for radically reinventing the very idea of what "Trek" could be,...
"Star Trek: Voyager" had plenty of highlights and lowlights in that regard, from that time Captain Katherine Janeway (Kate Mulgrew) and Lieutenant Tom Paris (Robert Duncan McNeill) hooked up with each other after devolving into lizards -- yes, this really happened -- to the horrifying legacy of "Tuvix." But none of it would've been possible had Paramount Television failed to support the production that would become "Voyager" back in its earliest conception. While "Deep Space Nine" gets all the credit for radically reinventing the very idea of what "Trek" could be,...
- 2/6/2024
- by Jeremy Mathai
- Slash Film
The Dominion War might be the most consequential event in Star Trek history. When the all-powerful Dominion entered the Alpha Quadrant from the Gamma Quadrant via a wormhole near Federation Starbase Deep Space Nine, old enemies had to put aside their differences to band together against a common threat. As Federation planet after planet fell under the Dominion’s control, Starfleet entered into alliances with the Klingon Empire and the Romulan Star Empire, even engaging in tactics that violated Starfleet principles.
The Dominion War took up most of the sixth and seventh seasons of Star Trek: Deep Space Nine, and changed the balance of power in the Alpha Quadrant, even driving Cardassians, the major enemy race introduced in the latter seasons of The Next Generation, to fight against their one-time allies the Dominion.
But this raises a question. If the Dominion is so important, then why doesn’t any other...
The Dominion War took up most of the sixth and seventh seasons of Star Trek: Deep Space Nine, and changed the balance of power in the Alpha Quadrant, even driving Cardassians, the major enemy race introduced in the latter seasons of The Next Generation, to fight against their one-time allies the Dominion.
But this raises a question. If the Dominion is so important, then why doesn’t any other...
- 1/30/2024
- by Joe George
- Den of Geek
The series finale of "Star Trek: The Next Generation" was called "All Good Things..." and it aired as a two-hour special event on May 23, 1994. The story followed Captain Picard (Patrick Stewart) as he found himself uncontrollably skipping between three time periods. In one time period, it was merely his present, and he investigated his temporal mystery as he would on any other episode of the series. In the second, he was hurled back in time seven years to when the Enterprise-d was just beginning its first mission. In the third timeline, Picard was in his own future, now an old man suffering from a rare brain disease.
The "time skips" were seemingly orchestrated by the trickster god Q (John De Lancie) whose impishness caused Picard to accidentally create -- in all three timelines simultaneously -- a spatial cloud that got larger and larger the further backward in time it traveled.
The "time skips" were seemingly orchestrated by the trickster god Q (John De Lancie) whose impishness caused Picard to accidentally create -- in all three timelines simultaneously -- a spatial cloud that got larger and larger the further backward in time it traveled.
- 1/13/2024
- by Witney Seibold
- Slash Film
Jonathan Frakes' 1998 film "Star Trek: Insurrection" is hardly the most celebrated of the 13 extant "Star Trek" movies. The film wasn't terribly well-reviewed when it was released, and a general fan consensus seems to dictate that it may be the least of the four films based on "Star Trek: The Next Generation."
Notably, "Insurrection" looks cheap. The bulk of the film's action takes place on the Ba'ku homeworld, but the filmmakers were unable to do anything to make it look appropriately alien. The exteriors were filmed in Thousand Oaks, California, as well as the Sierra Nevada mountain range, and, well, it looks like they just shot the film in California. Additionally, the Ba'ku were given no alien makeup, leaving them looking like regular old people. Worst of all, the Ba'ku costume designs were unbearably boring, as everyone was draped in loose-fitting, off-white hippie-wear that even mannequins would be embarrassed by.
The...
Notably, "Insurrection" looks cheap. The bulk of the film's action takes place on the Ba'ku homeworld, but the filmmakers were unable to do anything to make it look appropriately alien. The exteriors were filmed in Thousand Oaks, California, as well as the Sierra Nevada mountain range, and, well, it looks like they just shot the film in California. Additionally, the Ba'ku were given no alien makeup, leaving them looking like regular old people. Worst of all, the Ba'ku costume designs were unbearably boring, as everyone was draped in loose-fitting, off-white hippie-wear that even mannequins would be embarrassed by.
The...
- 12/26/2023
- by Witney Seibold
- Slash Film
Throughout the seven seasons of "Star Trek: The Next Generation," the android Data (Brent Spiner) often struggled with his inability to connect with his crewmates. Unlike Data, his organic peers were all emotional beings who could laugh, get angry, and intuit friendly interactions via their feelings and social acumen. Data had no emotions, at least not demonstrably, and had to rely on analysis and study to understand humans. Data longed to be human and often asked his friends to explain their baffling idiosyncrasies. Data's emotionlessness was not a flaw, but a design choice by his creator.
Later in the series, Data secured an emotion chip built specially for him by his presumed-dead creator. At first, he was afraid to install it, but after a prank gone awry in the 1994 film "Star Trek: Generations," Data finally decided to give himself the emotions he had been longing for. It's a pity that...
Later in the series, Data secured an emotion chip built specially for him by his presumed-dead creator. At first, he was afraid to install it, but after a prank gone awry in the 1994 film "Star Trek: Generations," Data finally decided to give himself the emotions he had been longing for. It's a pity that...
- 12/25/2023
- by Witney Seibold
- Slash Film
Patrick Stewart Still Carries Regrets About His Relationship With Star Trek Creator Gene Roddenberry
Throughout his autobiography "Making It So: A Memoir," Patrick Stewart repeatedly emphasizes how Gene Roddenberry, the creator of "Star Trek: The Next Generation," didn't really think too much of him. Stewart relates, in detail, the extended process he went through to audition for the role of Captain Jean-Luc Picard on "Next Generation," and how Roddenberry routinely ignored him and remained non-communicative. One of Stewart's first meetings with Roddenberry was at Gene's house in Brentwood, California, and the actor recalled getting the cold shoulder. The Paramount staff and casting directors all liked Stewart, but Roddenberry was unimpressed. In William Shatner's informative, hour-long 2014 documentary "Chaos on the Bridge!," Roddenberry was said to have once proclaimed, early in the "Next Generation" casting process, that he never wanted to hear Patrick Stewart's name again.
Ultimately, Paramount and Stewart got what they wanted, and the actor would ultimately play Jean-Luc Picard for seven seasons of "Next Generation,...
Ultimately, Paramount and Stewart got what they wanted, and the actor would ultimately play Jean-Luc Picard for seven seasons of "Next Generation,...
- 11/5/2023
- by Witney Seibold
- Slash Film
This Star Trek: Lower Decks article contains spoilers.
Remember when we first met the Ferengi, way back in “The Last Outpost,” episode five of Star Trek: The Next Generation‘s first season? Gene Roddenberry and co. wanted so badly to make the Ferengi menacing, with their laser whips and hunched appearance. But despite Roddenberry’s plans, the Ferengi proved to be a terrible replacement for the Klingons as the Federation’s new big bads, and quickly found themselves reduced to occasional appearances throughout the rest of the series.
But instead of letting the Ferengi go to waste, Michael Piller and the producers of Deep Space Nine followed Rule of Acquisition #292: “Only a fool passes up a business opportunity.” They added Quark to the main cast, bringing back “The Last Outpost” actor Armin Shimerman to play him, and added his brother Rom (Max Grodénchik) and nephew Nog (Aron Eisenberg).
Over seven seasons,...
Remember when we first met the Ferengi, way back in “The Last Outpost,” episode five of Star Trek: The Next Generation‘s first season? Gene Roddenberry and co. wanted so badly to make the Ferengi menacing, with their laser whips and hunched appearance. But despite Roddenberry’s plans, the Ferengi proved to be a terrible replacement for the Klingons as the Federation’s new big bads, and quickly found themselves reduced to occasional appearances throughout the rest of the series.
But instead of letting the Ferengi go to waste, Michael Piller and the producers of Deep Space Nine followed Rule of Acquisition #292: “Only a fool passes up a business opportunity.” They added Quark to the main cast, bringing back “The Last Outpost” actor Armin Shimerman to play him, and added his brother Rom (Max Grodénchik) and nephew Nog (Aron Eisenberg).
Over seven seasons,...
- 10/5/2023
- by Joe George
- Den of Geek
The 1991 two-part "Star Trek: The Next Generation" episode "Unification" was a banner event for Trekkies. Although Dr. Leonard McCoy (DeForest Kelley) appeared in the show's pilot as a 137-year-old man, the events of the series were meant to be far enough removed from the original "Star Trek" series to assure no further crossovers. "Next Generation" was determined to shake off the legacy of its forebear and forge its own path.
After five seasons, however, the new legacy was established. "Next Generation" had lasted longer than the original series, and its characters were now recognizable on their own merits. "Next Generation" became its own thing. It was only then, when the show could stand on its own two legs and didn't require constant references to the original series, that a guest spot from a beloved original series character could take place. In "Unification," Spock (Leonard Nimoy) returned. Trekkies loved it, not just because they loved Spock,...
After five seasons, however, the new legacy was established. "Next Generation" had lasted longer than the original series, and its characters were now recognizable on their own merits. "Next Generation" became its own thing. It was only then, when the show could stand on its own two legs and didn't require constant references to the original series, that a guest spot from a beloved original series character could take place. In "Unification," Spock (Leonard Nimoy) returned. Trekkies loved it, not just because they loved Spock,...
- 9/17/2023
- by Witney Seibold
- Slash Film
"The Inner Light" is handily one of the best episodes of "Star Trek: The Next Generation." The events of the episode are so dramatic that it's a little unusual that Captain Picard (Patrick Stewart) didn't bring them up more often in future episodes of the show. Indeed, in the third season of "Star Trek: Picard," the retired admiral mentions that he's finally ready to be a father and let the next step of his life unfold, failing to acknowledge that he already lived to be an old man, already raised his own children and grandchildren, and already fell deeply in love with an alien woman on a distant planet where he lived for many decades. Never mind that it was all a memory implant given to him by a rogue space probe.
The events of "The Inner Light" dictated that Picard essentially has two lifetimes worth of memories crammed into his head.
The events of "The Inner Light" dictated that Picard essentially has two lifetimes worth of memories crammed into his head.
- 9/10/2023
- by Witney Seibold
- Slash Film
The 1967 revision of the "Star Trek" writer's guide starts by asking the reader a simple question: "Can you find the major 'Star Trek' format error in the following 'teaser' from a story outline?"
"Star Trek" is a franchise that comes with many rules and dictums, many derived from its late creator, Gene Roddenberry. Other times they came from story editors and producers across the franchise's nearly-60-year history. And all of them are fiercely debated among fans in countless fanzines, convention halls, and chat boards, as well as on social media.
But rules are made to be broken, aren't they? Or, at the very least, broadly interpreted... like Starfleet's non-interference directive by some captains. And, to paraphrase Kirk, risk was "Star Trek's" business from day one. So let's look at 13 times when the makers of "Star Trek" took a risk and broke the mold.
Read more:...
"Star Trek" is a franchise that comes with many rules and dictums, many derived from its late creator, Gene Roddenberry. Other times they came from story editors and producers across the franchise's nearly-60-year history. And all of them are fiercely debated among fans in countless fanzines, convention halls, and chat boards, as well as on social media.
But rules are made to be broken, aren't they? Or, at the very least, broadly interpreted... like Starfleet's non-interference directive by some captains. And, to paraphrase Kirk, risk was "Star Trek's" business from day one. So let's look at 13 times when the makers of "Star Trek" took a risk and broke the mold.
Read more:...
- 8/28/2023
- by Maurice Molyneaux
- Slash Film
To briefly look back: on March 3, 1991, a man named Rodney King was pulled from his car by several L.A.P.D. officers following a high-speed chase on the 210 freeway in the San Fernando Valley. He was pushed to the ground and beaten savagely by the cops. The beating was captured on video and proliferated on local news broadcasts as yet another example of police brutality, especially as it was directed toward L.A.'s Black community. It should be noted that Darryl Gates, the local police chief, had been a key player in Operation Hammer, a dramatic push to aggressively militarized the Los Angeles Police Department. Under Gates' rule, complaints about police brutality rose 33% for a five-year period beginning in the mid-'80s. Hate and violence ran rampant in the police department, and it was allowed to go unchecked for years.
The cops who beat up King were arrested and put on trial for using excessive force.
The cops who beat up King were arrested and put on trial for using excessive force.
- 8/21/2023
- by Witney Seibold
- Slash Film
"Star Trek" creator Gene Roddenberry died on October 24, 1991, at the age of 70. It was pretty widely known that Roddenberry widely used cocaine, quaaludes, methamphetamines, and a variety of other recreational drugs, a fact discussed tastefully and frankly in Joel Engel's 1994 biography "Gene Roddenberry: The Myth and the Man Behind Star Trek." Roddenberry's health suffered as a result of his drug use, and his body was dealt a major blow in 1989 when he suffered a stroke. He was still working on "Star Trek: The Next Generation" at the time but had to take a step back in the show's third season for health reasons.
The show continued until 1994, and Roddenberry — already famous for creating "Star Trek" in 1966 — lived long enough to see his legacy cemented in a new decade. "NextGen" represented a "purer" version of Roddenberry's vision as presented back in 1966. This one was his baby.
Near the end of Roddenberry's life,...
The show continued until 1994, and Roddenberry — already famous for creating "Star Trek" in 1966 — lived long enough to see his legacy cemented in a new decade. "NextGen" represented a "purer" version of Roddenberry's vision as presented back in 1966. This one was his baby.
Near the end of Roddenberry's life,...
- 8/20/2023
- by Witney Seibold
- Slash Film
This post contains major spoilers for the season 2 finale of "Star Trek: Strange New Worlds."
As I watched the season 2 finale of "Star Trek: Strange New Worlds," titled "Hegemony," it took until the closing five minutes for me to ask: "How are they going to resolve this?" The Enterprise is locked in combat with a fleet of Gorn ships. Those reptilian predators have abducted key members of the crew. Captain Batel (Melanie Scrofano) is on borrowed time before a Gorn chestburster kills her while Captain Pike (Anson Mount) can't decide whether to push on and save his people or obey Starfleet and retreat.
Half a minute before the credits rolled, the answer hit me — the resolution isn't coming, at least not yet. Sure enough, the episode ends with a title card "To Be Continued..." Those are words once synonymous with TV, but streaming has put them out of fashion.
By ending on a cliffhanger,...
As I watched the season 2 finale of "Star Trek: Strange New Worlds," titled "Hegemony," it took until the closing five minutes for me to ask: "How are they going to resolve this?" The Enterprise is locked in combat with a fleet of Gorn ships. Those reptilian predators have abducted key members of the crew. Captain Batel (Melanie Scrofano) is on borrowed time before a Gorn chestburster kills her while Captain Pike (Anson Mount) can't decide whether to push on and save his people or obey Starfleet and retreat.
Half a minute before the credits rolled, the answer hit me — the resolution isn't coming, at least not yet. Sure enough, the episode ends with a title card "To Be Continued..." Those are words once synonymous with TV, but streaming has put them out of fashion.
By ending on a cliffhanger,...
- 8/10/2023
- by Devin Meenan
- Slash Film
In the "Star Trek: The Next Generation" episode "Booby Trap", the Enterprise-D discovered -- floating in a vast asteroid field -- an ancient Promellian battle cruiser, a ship that had been built 1,000 years earlier. Captain Picard (Patrick Stewart) mentions that the cruiser was engaging in space battles when Earth was barely perfecting the crossbow and that he -- an archaeology buff -- used to build models of similar ships as a boy. The Promellians, he explains, were once engaged in a costly and prolonged war with a species called the Menthars. The Promellian/Menthar war entirely wiped out both species a millennium ago, and derelict ships from the conflict are quite rare indeed.
"Star Trek" typically espouses a pointed pacifist philosophy, but one might find that the franchise also contains numerous characters who are fascinated by the history of combat and antique weapons of war. It's telling, however, that...
"Star Trek" typically espouses a pointed pacifist philosophy, but one might find that the franchise also contains numerous characters who are fascinated by the history of combat and antique weapons of war. It's telling, however, that...
- 8/8/2023
- by Witney Seibold
- Slash Film
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In the fifth season of "Star Trek: The Next Generation," the showrunners introduced a new regular character named Ensign Ro Laren. Ro (an excellent Michelle Forbes) was a Bajoran, a species whose planet has been militarily occupied by the wicked Cardassians for generations. Bajorans had long since turned to rebellious terrorism to fight back. Since neither world was a member of the Federation, no Starfleet vessels interfered. When the Enterprise was assigned to find a Bajoran terrorist named Orta (Jeffrey Hayegna), Ensign Ro was assigned to assist.
Immediately, Ro was a fascinating character. She belonged to Starfleet but hated authority, often defying Captain Picard (Patrick Stewart) and expressing open annoyance with his orders. She possessed a great deal of agency, upsetting the traditional Starfleet chain of command. She also was, it is eventually revealed, on a secret mission from an admiral above Picard's head.
In the fifth season of "Star Trek: The Next Generation," the showrunners introduced a new regular character named Ensign Ro Laren. Ro (an excellent Michelle Forbes) was a Bajoran, a species whose planet has been militarily occupied by the wicked Cardassians for generations. Bajorans had long since turned to rebellious terrorism to fight back. Since neither world was a member of the Federation, no Starfleet vessels interfered. When the Enterprise was assigned to find a Bajoran terrorist named Orta (Jeffrey Hayegna), Ensign Ro was assigned to assist.
Immediately, Ro was a fascinating character. She belonged to Starfleet but hated authority, often defying Captain Picard (Patrick Stewart) and expressing open annoyance with his orders. She possessed a great deal of agency, upsetting the traditional Starfleet chain of command. She also was, it is eventually revealed, on a secret mission from an admiral above Picard's head.
- 8/7/2023
- by Witney Seibold
- Slash Film
Thanks to the third season of Star Trek: Picard, good things continue to happen in threes for the Star Trek: The Next Generation crew.
Season three of Tng famously course-corrected the then-struggling syndicated series creatively, when executive producer Rick Berman brought on the late Michael Piller as showrunner. He and his writing staff worked to level set the show and find a narrative tone that more firmly established Tng’s identity, leading to some of the series — and Trek’s — finest hours. Now, more than 30 years later, for the second time, another pivotal third season centered on the Next Gen crew achieves a similar narrative feat – thanks to showrunner Terry Matalas.
The former co-creator of Syfy’s 12 Monkeys and his team reached back into what Piller did with Captain Picard and the crew of the Enterprise-d, while also deepening the characters and their relationships in ways that fans have never seen before.
Season three of Tng famously course-corrected the then-struggling syndicated series creatively, when executive producer Rick Berman brought on the late Michael Piller as showrunner. He and his writing staff worked to level set the show and find a narrative tone that more firmly established Tng’s identity, leading to some of the series — and Trek’s — finest hours. Now, more than 30 years later, for the second time, another pivotal third season centered on the Next Gen crew achieves a similar narrative feat – thanks to showrunner Terry Matalas.
The former co-creator of Syfy’s 12 Monkeys and his team reached back into what Piller did with Captain Picard and the crew of the Enterprise-d, while also deepening the characters and their relationships in ways that fans have never seen before.
- 2/16/2023
- by Phil Pirrello
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
"Star Trek: Deep Space Nine" -- which celebrated its 30th anniversary on January 3 -- has come to be one of the more celebrated of the "Star Trek" series. During the show's run, it was never as well-received or as popular as "Star Trek: The Next Generation," which overlapped with DS9 during its sixth and seventh seasons. This author is old enough to recall the scuttlebutt at Trek conventions, and finding that many fans objected to the show's darker tone, as well as its setting. Deep Space Nine was a space station, leading many to point out that the word "Trek" in the title was instantly inappropriate. The station had a few small, long-range shuttlecrafts called runabouts, but none of the show's stories were about exploring the galaxy or missions of discovery. Indeed, "Deep Space Nine" was about conflict, war, religion, economics, and all the other themes that Trek traditionally eschewed.
- 1/4/2023
- by Witney Seibold
- Slash Film
Actress Gates McFadden has said in interviews that she felt unsatisfied by her character's arc on "Star Trek: The Next Generation." For six of the show's seven seasons -- and for four feature films -- McFadden played the stalwart and morally upstanding Dr. Beverly Crusher, the chief medical officer on the U.S.S. Enterprise-d. She was the only parent at the start of the show, a first for the main cast of a "Star Trek" show. Eventually Worf (Michael Dorn) would have a son, and Data (Brent Spiner), Counselor Troi (Marina Sirtis), Commander Riker (Jonathan Frakes), and Captain Picard (Patrick Stewart) would be given children for single episodes, but Dr. Crusher was the only character to weather being a parent in dialogue on a regular basis.
Dr. Crusher was also vital to the ensemble of NextGen, providing the show with its moral hard line. Most of the other characters...
Dr. Crusher was also vital to the ensemble of NextGen, providing the show with its moral hard line. Most of the other characters...
- 12/14/2022
- by Witney Seibold
- Slash Film
The latest episode of "Star Trek: Prodigy," "All the World's a Stage," finds the teen crew of the U.S.S. Protostar encountering a distant planet occupied by a species called Enda-Prizians who speak in a formal Starfleet-like language and wear Starfleet-adjacent clothing. The Protostar crew soon come to the conclusion that this planet had been visited by Starfleet over a century ago, and the society adopted the organization's trappings as the basis of their society. They worship "Star Flight" and re-enact old ships' logs on a wooden stage, living "Star Trek" as their central cultural myth. "Enda-Prizian" is, of course, meant to sound like "Enterprise." They speak of a time when Star Flight will return and slay a monster that shares their planet.
This is clever on several levels. Firstly, "All the World's a Stage" could be seen as a comment on modern fandom. The Enda-Prizians have internalized "Star Trek...
This is clever on several levels. Firstly, "All the World's a Stage" could be seen as a comment on modern fandom. The Enda-Prizians have internalized "Star Trek...
- 11/16/2022
- by Witney Seibold
- Slash Film
William Shatner's 2014 hour-long documentary "Chaos on the Bridge" details the early days of "Star Trek: The Next Generation" and specifically focuses on how, for the show's first two seasons, no one seemed to be in charge. Gene Roddenberry created the show, but one of his lawyers, a sinister figure named Leonard Maizlish, would swoop in, rewrite scripts, change personnel, and generally try to take control. Infamously, producer Maurice Hurley didn't get along with actress Gates McFadden, leading to her departure for the show's second season. No one, it seems, could decide what kind of show "Star Trek: The Next Generation" ought to be.
The general consensus among Trekkies is that "Next Gen" picked up in quality in its third season. This was likely the result of a change in staff, with producers Michael Piller and Ron D. Moore being added to the writers' room. It was also in the...
The general consensus among Trekkies is that "Next Gen" picked up in quality in its third season. This was likely the result of a change in staff, with producers Michael Piller and Ron D. Moore being added to the writers' room. It was also in the...
- 9/29/2022
- by Witney Seibold
- Slash Film
Stardate: 1991. Brandon Tartikoff, the newly-minted head of Paramount Pictures, was eager to capitalize on the runaway success of "Star Trek: The Next Generation." And so, producers Rick Berman and Michael Piller were tasked with developing a sister series with hardly any directives. Though Piller and Berman were "The Next Generation" veterans with a hardline commitment to "Star Trek" creator Gene Roddenberry's vision for the franchise, it was Roddenberry's untimely passing that ultimately opened new doors for the Trek universe.
The result of Berman and Piller's efforts was "Star Trek: Deep Space Nine," a seminal work of 20th century sci-fi television. In terms...
The post 13 Reasons Why Deep Space Nine Is the Best Star Trek Show appeared first on /Film.
The result of Berman and Piller's efforts was "Star Trek: Deep Space Nine," a seminal work of 20th century sci-fi television. In terms...
The post 13 Reasons Why Deep Space Nine Is the Best Star Trek Show appeared first on /Film.
- 4/5/2022
- by Jason Baxter
- Slash Film
Jonathan Frakes just returned as Will Riker this year in Star Trek: Picard, the first time he’d reprised the role in 15 years. But, in another timeline, Riker could’ve been killed off during Star Trek: The Next Generation and Frakes would’ve been playing Riker’s doppelgänger Thomas ever since.
In season 6’s “Second Chances,” the Enterprise-d crew discover that a transporter accident several years ago created a double of Riker. While he beamed back aboard the U.S.S. Potemkin, another Riker rematerialized on Nervala IV, where he was eventually discovered and rescued by Picard and co. The episode saw Riker and the rest deal with the sudden appearance of this new Riker, who took the name Thomas, before Picard got him a new posting on the U.S.S. Gandhi.
The original idea for “Second Chances,” however, was for Will to die and for Thomas to replace him,...
In season 6’s “Second Chances,” the Enterprise-d crew discover that a transporter accident several years ago created a double of Riker. While he beamed back aboard the U.S.S. Potemkin, another Riker rematerialized on Nervala IV, where he was eventually discovered and rescued by Picard and co. The episode saw Riker and the rest deal with the sudden appearance of this new Riker, who took the name Thomas, before Picard got him a new posting on the U.S.S. Gandhi.
The original idea for “Second Chances,” however, was for Will to die and for Thomas to replace him,...
- 6/26/2020
- by Christian Bone
- We Got This Covered
In a massive new interview, Outlander and Battlestar Galactica creator Ronald D. Moore has been looking back on the time he spent writing for Star Trek: The Next Generation and Star Trek: Deep Space Nine.
One of the more interesting tidbits in Moore’s interview with Collider this week is how he got a job writing for The Next Generation in the first place – by strong-arming a script he’d written onto an unsuspecting set tour guide after his former girlfriend had used her connections to get him there.
“I just decided I was going to give it a shot, and I sat down and wrote an episode and I tucked it under my arm and I brought it with me on the set tour,” he recalled. “I convinced the guy that was giving the set tour, his name was Richard Arnold to read the script. He liked it and...
One of the more interesting tidbits in Moore’s interview with Collider this week is how he got a job writing for The Next Generation in the first place – by strong-arming a script he’d written onto an unsuspecting set tour guide after his former girlfriend had used her connections to get him there.
“I just decided I was going to give it a shot, and I sat down and wrote an episode and I tucked it under my arm and I brought it with me on the set tour,” he recalled. “I convinced the guy that was giving the set tour, his name was Richard Arnold to read the script. He liked it and...
- 6/4/2020
- by Kirsten Howard
- Den of Geek
Ryan Britt Aug 7, 2019
Ira Steven Behr’s Star Trek labor of love is finally available to the general public. Here’s what you need to know...
If you’re a hardcore Trekkie, you probably already know about What We Left Behind; the crowd-funded documentary that looks back on the legacy of Star Trek: Deep Space Nine. And if, you don’t, the best way to describe the doc is that it’s a snapshot of a particular fandom, curated by someone who helped create that fandom in the first place.
Producer and showrunner Ira Steven Behr wasn’t the creator of Deep Space Nine (that would be Rick Berman and the late Michael Piller), but, he certainly is the biggest advocate of the series these days. In What We Left Behind (a riff on the show’s series finale titled “What You Leave Behind"), Behr interviews the expansive cast, crew,...
Ira Steven Behr’s Star Trek labor of love is finally available to the general public. Here’s what you need to know...
If you’re a hardcore Trekkie, you probably already know about What We Left Behind; the crowd-funded documentary that looks back on the legacy of Star Trek: Deep Space Nine. And if, you don’t, the best way to describe the doc is that it’s a snapshot of a particular fandom, curated by someone who helped create that fandom in the first place.
Producer and showrunner Ira Steven Behr wasn’t the creator of Deep Space Nine (that would be Rick Berman and the late Michael Piller), but, he certainly is the biggest advocate of the series these days. In What We Left Behind (a riff on the show’s series finale titled “What You Leave Behind"), Behr interviews the expansive cast, crew,...
- 8/7/2019
- Den of Geek
Shout! Studios has just acquired worldwide rights to the new Star Trek feature documentary What We Left Behind: Looking Back at Star Trek: Deep Space Nine. Shout! plans to release it across multiple platforms including theatrical by year’s end.
The in-depth retrospective approaches the edgy Deep Space Nine as the most-misunderstood of the franchises that have flown under the banner of Gene Roddenberry’s Star Trek brand. When it premiered in January 1993 as a spinoff of Star Trek: The Next Generation, many devoted Trek fans thought the show flouted Roddenberry’s overarching vision of humanity’s noble and united future in the age of interstellar exploration.
The syndicated Deep Space Nine (created by Rick Berman and Michael Piller) eventually won fans over and endured for 176 episodes over seven seasons with its chronicle of a space station that is (not unlike Casablanca in the classic film) a place of intrigue,...
The in-depth retrospective approaches the edgy Deep Space Nine as the most-misunderstood of the franchises that have flown under the banner of Gene Roddenberry’s Star Trek brand. When it premiered in January 1993 as a spinoff of Star Trek: The Next Generation, many devoted Trek fans thought the show flouted Roddenberry’s overarching vision of humanity’s noble and united future in the age of interstellar exploration.
The syndicated Deep Space Nine (created by Rick Berman and Michael Piller) eventually won fans over and endured for 176 episodes over seven seasons with its chronicle of a space station that is (not unlike Casablanca in the classic film) a place of intrigue,...
- 3/12/2019
- by Geoff Boucher
- Deadline Film + TV
Alex Carter Jul 27, 2016
From the highs of Star Trek: First Contact, why did Star Trek: Insurrection become the most forgotten Trek movie?
“Ok, ok, so First Contact was a major box office and critical success, but it would have been so much better had all those great space battles been replaced with Riker having a shave in the bath.”
Said someone, somewhere, presumably.
Star Trek: Insurrection was the great hope for the franchise. The lessons learned from past failures. No more interference from the studio. Just put the right people in the right place and let them do their thing. It worked for Khan, it worked for First Contact, so it should work for Insurrection. Right?
No.
Star Trek: Insurrection stands in the unusual position of being a film that would have benefited enormously from executive meddling. If one voice had spoken up and said “this film has problems”, perhaps...
From the highs of Star Trek: First Contact, why did Star Trek: Insurrection become the most forgotten Trek movie?
“Ok, ok, so First Contact was a major box office and critical success, but it would have been so much better had all those great space battles been replaced with Riker having a shave in the bath.”
Said someone, somewhere, presumably.
Star Trek: Insurrection was the great hope for the franchise. The lessons learned from past failures. No more interference from the studio. Just put the right people in the right place and let them do their thing. It worked for Khan, it worked for First Contact, so it should work for Insurrection. Right?
No.
Star Trek: Insurrection stands in the unusual position of being a film that would have benefited enormously from executive meddling. If one voice had spoken up and said “this film has problems”, perhaps...
- 7/20/2016
- Den of Geek
Sven Harvey Oct 18, 2017
Before Star Trek: Discovery, treat yourself to some Star Trek: The Next Generation classics...
Leading the charge back to television for the Star Trek franchise (just as Star Trek: Discovery is now), and paving the way for three further series to follow (fingers crossed that happens again), Star Trek: The Next Generation's 7 seasons had some very high points, and a couple of very low ones (that some would simply call “season 1....”, not that I’m one of them.)
See related Looking back at Star Trek II: The Wrath Of Khan Would Khan be right for Jj Abrams’ Star Trek sequel? Planet Of The Titans: the Star Trek movie that never was Star Trek: was Cumberbatch supposed to be Gary Mitchell? Star Trek: the battle to make The Motion Picture
These are the top 25 “must-watch” episodes, not necessarily the top 25 for quality, or indeed my 25 favourites,...
Before Star Trek: Discovery, treat yourself to some Star Trek: The Next Generation classics...
Leading the charge back to television for the Star Trek franchise (just as Star Trek: Discovery is now), and paving the way for three further series to follow (fingers crossed that happens again), Star Trek: The Next Generation's 7 seasons had some very high points, and a couple of very low ones (that some would simply call “season 1....”, not that I’m one of them.)
See related Looking back at Star Trek II: The Wrath Of Khan Would Khan be right for Jj Abrams’ Star Trek sequel? Planet Of The Titans: the Star Trek movie that never was Star Trek: was Cumberbatch supposed to be Gary Mitchell? Star Trek: the battle to make The Motion Picture
These are the top 25 “must-watch” episodes, not necessarily the top 25 for quality, or indeed my 25 favourites,...
- 1/28/2016
- Den of Geek
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These 25 Star Trek: The Next Generation stories are the series’ unmissable episodes…
Leading the charge back to television for the Star Trek franchise, and paving the way for three further series to follow, Star Trek: The Next Generation's 7 seasons had some very high points, and a couple of very low ones (that some would simply call “season 1....”, not that I’m one of them.)
These are the top 25 “must-watch” episodes, not necessarily the top 25 for quality, or indeed my 25 favourites, but the 25 stories that give you the best flavour of the series and its relatively unplanned story arcs. Just don’t forget that, like The Original Series, The Next Generation is a product of its time, and as such certain issues that writers wanted to bring to the screen not only necessitated allegory, but sometimes stretched it thin so as not to raise issues with censorship.
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These 25 Star Trek: The Next Generation stories are the series’ unmissable episodes…
Leading the charge back to television for the Star Trek franchise, and paving the way for three further series to follow, Star Trek: The Next Generation's 7 seasons had some very high points, and a couple of very low ones (that some would simply call “season 1....”, not that I’m one of them.)
These are the top 25 “must-watch” episodes, not necessarily the top 25 for quality, or indeed my 25 favourites, but the 25 stories that give you the best flavour of the series and its relatively unplanned story arcs. Just don’t forget that, like The Original Series, The Next Generation is a product of its time, and as such certain issues that writers wanted to bring to the screen not only necessitated allegory, but sometimes stretched it thin so as not to raise issues with censorship.
- 1/28/2016
- by louisamellor
- Den of Geek
The Star Trek franchise will be 50 years old this September. It’s one of the most popular and enduring of all TV and film franchises, still going strong nearly 50 years after its debut in 1966. A third film of the rebooted series is in the works. Cinelinx looks at the ever-popular sci-fi property as it warps into its 50th year.
Star Trek, a show that didn’t do very well in the ratings when it first debuted, has become a multi-media monster. It has gone from television to cartoons, novels, comic books, video games and films. Many of the character names have become an iconic part of pop-culture. The real-life space shuttle Enterprise was named in honor of the space vessel from Star Trek. The whole concept of the sci-fi convention was begun by the fan-created ‘Trek’ conventions of the early seventies. Few franchises can claim to have had the impact...
Star Trek, a show that didn’t do very well in the ratings when it first debuted, has become a multi-media monster. It has gone from television to cartoons, novels, comic books, video games and films. Many of the character names have become an iconic part of pop-culture. The real-life space shuttle Enterprise was named in honor of the space vessel from Star Trek. The whole concept of the sci-fi convention was begun by the fan-created ‘Trek’ conventions of the early seventies. Few franchises can claim to have had the impact...
- 1/10/2016
- by feeds@cinelinx.com (Rob Young)
- Cinelinx
Across film and TV, there have been many Star Trek projects that never got the greenlight. Such as these...
Since 1964 (yep) there have been Star Trek projects that simply didn't make it to the big or small screen. And before Star Trek's second (proper) coming in 1979's Star Trek: The Motion Picture, the franchise had more than its fair share of attempts to come to life, and then be reborn.
This lot in fact...
Star Trek – The (original) Original Series
Here's a thought – the original Star Trek series wasn't supposed to be the original Star Trek series.
The pilot that sold the show to NBC was in fact the second pilot, after the original, entitled The Cage, filmed at the end of 1964, was deemed too cerebral. That's on top of having other multiple issues that TV executives (and test audiences) of the time couldn't cope with – you know, like gender equality in the workplace.
Since 1964 (yep) there have been Star Trek projects that simply didn't make it to the big or small screen. And before Star Trek's second (proper) coming in 1979's Star Trek: The Motion Picture, the franchise had more than its fair share of attempts to come to life, and then be reborn.
This lot in fact...
Star Trek – The (original) Original Series
Here's a thought – the original Star Trek series wasn't supposed to be the original Star Trek series.
The pilot that sold the show to NBC was in fact the second pilot, after the original, entitled The Cage, filmed at the end of 1964, was deemed too cerebral. That's on top of having other multiple issues that TV executives (and test audiences) of the time couldn't cope with – you know, like gender equality in the workplace.
- 9/16/2015
- by simonbrew
- Den of Geek
“…Depression… is a storm indeed, but a storm of murk… slowed-down responses, near paralysis, psychic energy throttled back close to zero…the body…feels sapped, drained.” Darkness Visible: A Memoir of Madness, William Styron
Sorry for the skip last week, everyone, but I wasn’t up to it – I was down. As in my depression said “Hello, again!” last weekend. No, I didn’t lie in bed for 48 hours, I’ve never given in to that, even back in the day before I was properly diagnosed with this goddamn thing. So on Saturday, though I could feel it banging on the door of my psyche’s house, I did get dressed and made the usual weekend runs to the supermarket and to the laundromat…but by Sunday Elvis was in the house, and even though I got up and put on my workout gear, I blew off my free personal...
Sorry for the skip last week, everyone, but I wasn’t up to it – I was down. As in my depression said “Hello, again!” last weekend. No, I didn’t lie in bed for 48 hours, I’ve never given in to that, even back in the day before I was properly diagnosed with this goddamn thing. So on Saturday, though I could feel it banging on the door of my psyche’s house, I did get dressed and made the usual weekend runs to the supermarket and to the laundromat…but by Sunday Elvis was in the house, and even though I got up and put on my workout gear, I blew off my free personal...
- 11/10/2014
- by Mindy Newell
- Comicmix.com
Welcome to day three of Star Trek Week! Today we’ll focus on Star Trek: Deep Space Nine (DS9) which was the last series Gene Roddenberry had knowledge of. He sadly passed away in 1991, two years before the premiere, but he was aware that series creators Rick Berman and Michael Piller were moving ahead with it.
DS9 brought a big change to the pre-existing Star Trek shows, instead of taking place on a starship as the others had, DS9 took place on a space station near the planet Bajor. Also a large number of the main and recurring characters were not members of Starfleet so the overall tone ended up being a lot darker compared to its predecessors. The series premiered on January 3, 1993 with “Emmisary” and would go on for seven seasons with a total of 176 episodes before concluding on June 2, 1999 with “What You Leave Behind”.
So if you’re...
DS9 brought a big change to the pre-existing Star Trek shows, instead of taking place on a starship as the others had, DS9 took place on a space station near the planet Bajor. Also a large number of the main and recurring characters were not members of Starfleet so the overall tone ended up being a lot darker compared to its predecessors. The series premiered on January 3, 1993 with “Emmisary” and would go on for seven seasons with a total of 176 episodes before concluding on June 2, 1999 with “What You Leave Behind”.
So if you’re...
- 5/15/2013
- by Kevin Fraser
- City of Films
Genre: Sci-Fi | Action | Drama
Creator: Gene Roddenberry
Writers: Michael Piller
Director: Cliff Bole
Cast: Patrick Stewart, Jonathan Frakes, Elizabeth Dennehy, Brent Spiner, Gates McFadden, Marina Sirtis, LeVar Burton, Michael Dorn, Wil Wheaton
Summary:
Star Trek: The Next Generation – The Best Of Both Worlds Blu-ray features a seamlessly edited, one-part, feature length presentation of the classic two-part cliffhanger. In this fan favorite episode, Captain Jean-Luc Picard (Patrick Stewart) is captured and assimilated by the Borg. Available in high-definition for the first time ever, a centerpiece to the release is a newly-produced featurette entitled “Regeneration: Engaging the Borg.” Offering fans an in-depth exploration into the creation of The Next Generation’s most iconic villains, along with the making of the episode, the exclusive featurette includes all-new interviews with the show’s production staff, visual effects artists, writers, and cast as they reveal the challenges faced in producing one of the most...
Creator: Gene Roddenberry
Writers: Michael Piller
Director: Cliff Bole
Cast: Patrick Stewart, Jonathan Frakes, Elizabeth Dennehy, Brent Spiner, Gates McFadden, Marina Sirtis, LeVar Burton, Michael Dorn, Wil Wheaton
Summary:
Star Trek: The Next Generation – The Best Of Both Worlds Blu-ray features a seamlessly edited, one-part, feature length presentation of the classic two-part cliffhanger. In this fan favorite episode, Captain Jean-Luc Picard (Patrick Stewart) is captured and assimilated by the Borg. Available in high-definition for the first time ever, a centerpiece to the release is a newly-produced featurette entitled “Regeneration: Engaging the Borg.” Offering fans an in-depth exploration into the creation of The Next Generation’s most iconic villains, along with the making of the episode, the exclusive featurette includes all-new interviews with the show’s production staff, visual effects artists, writers, and cast as they reveal the challenges faced in producing one of the most...
- 5/8/2013
- by Erin Willard
- ScifiMafia
Genre: Sci-Fi | Action | Drama
Creators: Gene Roddenberry
Writers: Ronald D. Moore, Michael Piller, Brannon Braga, Rene Echevarria
Cast: Patrick Stewart, Brent Spiner, Gates McFadden, Wil Wheaton, Marina Sirtis, Levar Burton, Michael Dorn, Jonathan Frakes,Denise Crosby
Summary:
Boasting an unprecedented reunion of Next Generation writers moderated by comedian and Star Trek® fan Seth MacFarlane, this third season collection features an all-new featurette entitled “Inside The Writer’s Room.” Including fascinating discussion on the creation of the show’s acclaimed third season by some of today’s most visionary science fiction television writers, MacFarlane leads a panel that includes Ronald Moore, Brannon Braga, Naren Shankar and Rene Echevarria. Plus, the collection is highlighted by an entirely new multi-part documentary entitled “Resistance is Futile – Assimilating Star Trek: The Next Generation,” which reveals behind-the-scenes insight on the making of Season Three. Also, the set features a special tribute to Michael Piller, including never-before-seen interviews with cast,...
Creators: Gene Roddenberry
Writers: Ronald D. Moore, Michael Piller, Brannon Braga, Rene Echevarria
Cast: Patrick Stewart, Brent Spiner, Gates McFadden, Wil Wheaton, Marina Sirtis, Levar Burton, Michael Dorn, Jonathan Frakes,Denise Crosby
Summary:
Boasting an unprecedented reunion of Next Generation writers moderated by comedian and Star Trek® fan Seth MacFarlane, this third season collection features an all-new featurette entitled “Inside The Writer’s Room.” Including fascinating discussion on the creation of the show’s acclaimed third season by some of today’s most visionary science fiction television writers, MacFarlane leads a panel that includes Ronald Moore, Brannon Braga, Naren Shankar and Rene Echevarria. Plus, the collection is highlighted by an entirely new multi-part documentary entitled “Resistance is Futile – Assimilating Star Trek: The Next Generation,” which reveals behind-the-scenes insight on the making of Season Three. Also, the set features a special tribute to Michael Piller, including never-before-seen interviews with cast,...
- 5/1/2013
- by Erin Willard
- ScifiMafia
“The Best of Both Worlds” is a strong piece of television drama and was a defining moment for Star Trek: The Next Generation. The spinoff of Star Trek had been a ratings bonanza for Paramount Pictures, which syndicated the show and reaped huge profits. The fans, though, were slow to warm to the show and its characters, thanks to incredible infighting that sapped the inaugural season of coherence and left it to season two to show the series’ real potential. Season three, which is also out this week on Blu-ray, came to life thanks to a solidified writing staff under Michael Piller’s tutelage and the actors finally getting comfortable with their roles.
After eschewing two-parters, producer Rick Berman allowed Piller to end the season with a cliffhanger and as has been chronicled repeatedly, Piller wrote the first part thinking he was leaving the show. The resolution would be someone else’s headache.
After eschewing two-parters, producer Rick Berman allowed Piller to end the season with a cliffhanger and as has been chronicled repeatedly, Piller wrote the first part thinking he was leaving the show. The resolution would be someone else’s headache.
- 4/29/2013
- by Robert Greenberger
- Comicmix.com
I find myself writing about Star Trek: The Next Generation Season Three more than any single season of any season from any franchise. And that’s fine by me given the quantum leap in quality improvement from the previous two seasons. I am happy to do it one more time as the Blu-ray set from Paramount Home Entertainment is due to arrive on Tuesday.
The behind-the-scenes turmoil that led to the first two seasons feeling incredibly inconsistent began to fade with the arrival of a new set of writers and producers. As Gene Roddenberry grew frailer and ceded more day-to-day control to producer Rick Berman, the show also bid farewell to the exhausted head writer Maurice Hurley. He was briefly replaced by Michael Wagner but illness forced him to leave after just four episodes, but his recommended replacement, Michael Piller, proved to be the turning point in the show’s fortunes.
The behind-the-scenes turmoil that led to the first two seasons feeling incredibly inconsistent began to fade with the arrival of a new set of writers and producers. As Gene Roddenberry grew frailer and ceded more day-to-day control to producer Rick Berman, the show also bid farewell to the exhausted head writer Maurice Hurley. He was briefly replaced by Michael Wagner but illness forced him to leave after just four episodes, but his recommended replacement, Michael Piller, proved to be the turning point in the show’s fortunes.
- 4/28/2013
- by Robert Greenberger
- Comicmix.com
Rick Berman and the late Michael Piller didn't have to look far to find inspiration for another Star Trek series. Saddam Hussein had set oil wells in Kuwait on fire as he withdrew as part of Operation Desert Storm, and both the allied American forces along with the Kuwaiti people were left to pick up the pieces. That's what Berman and Piller would do -- create a space station as part of a brutal occupation, and join it just as the occupying forces abandon ship. "Star Trek: Deep Space Nine" premiered 20 years ago Thursday, part of an original syndicated lineup that first took flight on Jan. 3, 1993. It was the final days of the presidency of George H.W. Bush. The first steps toward a unified financial market in Europe -- including the development of the Euro -- were just being made. ...
- 1/3/2013
- GeekNation.com
Hearing that Alan Ball will step down as showrunner of HBO’s True Blood for season 6, when season 5 is still on the horizon for this summer, may make it difficult for you to process how you feel about the change. In a statement, HBO made it clear Ball will remain available to consult with and advise his replacement, while he develops new shows for HBO and Cinemax. That, combined with the fact that I can name multiple writers on the show’s staff because I rewound to note them while recapping particularly great episodes, makes me confident that the show will be just fine.
- 2/29/2012
- by Mandi Bierly
- EW.com - PopWatch
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