Star Trek: The Animated Series

They look a bit... 2D?

So, back to the original series, but in animated form. Not much to say really. The episodes are only 22 minutes so it's refreshingly short, and only 22 episodes total at that so it went past rather fast. Then again, I tuned out pretty much most of the time only watching as the reused animation is used over and over again. Nice with the same cast, but I wouldn't recommend it that much. A curiosity at best. But that could also be due to Star Trek-fatigue efter watching every Star Trek show on Netflix.

Star Trek: Discovery

 

Well, we already did time travel so it isn't much boldly go where they haven't gone before

Yet another Star Trek-series, and we are set before the original series, apparently before the war between Federation and Klingon Empire. Follows the First Officer Michael Burnham that is discharged and imprisoned for escalating the encounter between Federation and Klingon Empire and pretty much starting the war. Doesn't help that she knocked out her commanding captain in order to attack them. Apparently her real family was killed in a Klingon skirmish and she had to grew up on Vulcan together with Spock. 

After that incident she is released and taken to the starship Discovery, an experimental ship working on a new engine called the spore drive. It works in a way that it connects to some kind of space spore system and allows the ship to move in a matter of seconds across most of the quadrant. There is actually some real science behind that. I listened to someone speaking about fungus and I gather that they begin to believe that fungus are connected with the whole earth... or some kind like that, I ain't no biologist and it was some years since I heard that.

The captain is Lucius Malfoy from Harry Potter, but it turns out that he is actually a mirror world version and in the end dies in the season 1 finale. And in season 2 captain Pike takes over while the Enterprise is being repaired. Pike being the original captain of the Enterprise as seen in the pilot episode of the original series. And then Spock shows up. And they apparently ends up in the future, some kind of 3 000 AD... I pretty much lost interest. The klingons looks awful (could be that hand-wave to explain how the makeup got better after the original series), you can't even tell (besides the ships) that it's a Star Trek show, wrong colours and such I feel. I saw some buzz from people complaining that it was "woke" with stated gay characters, several female crew members (and varying sizes) and people of colours... but I mean it's Star Trek, it's always been "progressive".  

No, the problem is that it isn't bright and optimistic... which probably isn't fair either since DS9 wasn't all optimistic either and I liked that. But that could be more that it began as "normal" and then spiralled to the warlike state to win the war, but that was build up and payoff, Here we go directly in to it. At least the title has some bars of the original theme in it, which makes it one of the better ones instantly. 

Also, I probably watched it in the last minute since after finishing it it was announced that it was moved over to Paramount +... or rather, it was gone from Netflix in wait for Paramount + to be released first quarter 2022. Well, good luck to them, they will probably need it when I looked at the reactions on Twitter... or maybe that is just the Americans, I still got the others shows on Netflix.

Star Trek: Enterprise

 

To boldly go where no man has gone before... again!

Another of the shows that was shown on Swedish Television back in the day. I think they only showed the first two seasons or so... or that could be what they showed on the Swedish Fox channel a couple of years later. Series take place 100 years before the original series and 100 years after mankind built their first warp-engine and first contact with the Vulcans. With their new starship Enterprise captain Jonathan Archer is piloting humanity into the final frontier.

On this journey there is the Vulcan science officer T'Pol, the Denubolan doctor Phlox, chief engineer Trip Tucker, security officer Malcom Reed, communication officer Hoshi Sato and helmsman Travis Mayweather. And Porthos the dog of course. First episode is just taking a Klingon that crash-landed on earth back to the Klingon Home-world... not that exciting really. Most of first season concerns the politics between earth and Vulcan as they try to postpone mankind from traveling space due to not being ready. Then we get the temporal cold war back-drop. Some 800-900 years into the future several races can travel through time so a temporal accord have been set up to ensure that no one dilutes the timeline or take advantage of it. Which is an interesting premise, but feels a bit like cheating when everything is caused by temporal agents. Third season introduces the Xindi, five races that developed from the same planet and have joined together to annihilate earth since they have been told that humans will destroy them. Told by one of the sides of the temporal war. 

So most of season three deals with that after the Xindi destroyed a big part of Florida with an experimental weapon. And after that we end up during the second world war where yet another fraction of the temporal war have hidden themselves and helped the nazis conquer America. All that is solved and nothing affects the timeline as it resets. And then they fill out the rest of season four with filler episodes and the very final episode has cameos from Riker, Troi, Data, Picard and Kirk... I guess it wasn't reviewed that well since it only got 4 season while the three earlier seasons had 7. I don't really complain since 176 episodes are a bit much to binge through after 3 such shows.

Overall I didn't have a problem with it. I found the uniforms decent enough, I like the song even though it isn't an orchestral piece... on the other hand pretty much only the Next Generation was any good. Then again, it was only good for season 1 and 2, less is more and they just add instruments later on. Some interesting plots... but I can't say that any episodes grabbed me like TNG. It feels like a distilled version of all prior series. First season with all the problems feels like the start of DS9 and getting the station to work. After that TNG and original series exploration feeling, and then it goes to emulating the continued story from Voyager with the temporal war that leads to Xindi and then the end of the temporal war (which echoes DS9 again).

Star Trek: Voyager

The Voyage Home

Continued with the next series, Voyager. Saw the first seasons back when they showed it on the Swedish public channel. It was some kinda buzz about it. One of the channels announcer was a big trekki and showed of a trek manuscript he had and acted out some advertisements for certain episodes especially the one when they travel back to modern day after a run in with a ship from the future.  I gotta have watched something like 4-5 seasons before losing interest or SVT changed when they broadcasted the episodes, from prime time to something not appropriate for a school-going kid. Cause I get the impression that they showed all episodes by going through wikipedia. 

Story is that Voyager under Katherine Janeway is sent to the Badlands to find a Maquis ship that have disappeared where one of the Starfleet infiltrators are, Vulcan commander Tuvok. Turns out that the ship was taken by the Caretaker to the Delta Quadrat some 70 000 lightyears away from earth. Janeway gets the help of former Maquis Tom Paris that have been imprisoned after capture. Voyager gets caught as well and after the crews of both ships are united they noticed that each ship have a missing crew member. The Maquis have lost Be'leanna Torres, a half-human Klingon and Voyager have lost ensign Harry Kim. Both have been taken to a nearby planet where a race of telepathic aliens live under ground. Voyager learns that the Caretaker protects the Oocampa as they are called and he is dying and looking for a body to regenerate into. They meet a Telaxian named Neelix that will help them, but he tricks them to free his girlfriend, an Oocampa Kes that have been kidnapped by the Kazons, an alien race fighting and stealing their way through the Quadrant. After rescuing all the crew members they destroy the station the Caretaker had in order to stop the Kazons using it to destroy the Oocompas. In the process the Maquis ship is destroyed and the crews have to merge in order to get back to earth. So captain Chakotay that steered the Maquis ship becomes number one, Be'Leanna Torres chief of engineer. Due to casualties the medical crew died so they also have to rely on an emergency hologram for the duration of the trip.

It was a rather good start for the series. Interesting premise. After watching the whole series, maybe not holding up the whole way through as it looses a bit of urgency in their actions in later seasons. I mean, they stopped to participate in a F-Zero race in space. Also, I have clear memories of the first season  like the Beowulf episode, but after that I can hardly recall anything with exception of the time travel back to earth episode. Maybe the Seven-o-Nine episode, but I can't say say if I reached it or not as a kid. There are interesting episodes later on, like the Kurtwood Smith episode when he travels the quadrant changing history to get back his family. And you had Grima Wormtongue actor Brad Douriff as well, amazing episodes. Best ones are when Reginald Barclay appears in his work to get Voyager back... and can be due to Councillor Troi showing up making fun references to the Next generation. One episode I don't like is the final episode. After some more time travelling shenanigans a Janeway from 36 year into the future travels back and shortens their travel from 26 to 7 years total. That's fine and seeing where people ended up in the future was interesting, but then they reach earth (and those futures are undone) and it just ends. No meeting between Tom Paris and his father, or Be'Leanna and her father or Barclay meeting the crew. At least one episode could be the readjustment after 7 years, like the Dominion wars, technological advancements... Tuvok meeting his family... everyone meeting their family. I want some emotional feelings alright after a 7 year long mission.

So the ending doesn't land, some good episodes, but in the end it was kinda bloated. Nice to finally see the ending. And seeing it after all other shows you get a much better understanding for races and politics between them. But they did too little between the hostilities between the two different crews. It died out after season one and then reemerged for one episode in the seventh season. And certain plot points just disappear, like the second Caretaker. Now it's only Enterprise, the animated series and Discovery left of the Netflix library. Would be nice with the classic Star Trek-movies as well. Funny also how Star Trek seems to have inspied Stargate SG-1 a great deal. SG-1 is basically The Next Generation, Atlantis is Deep Space Nine and Voyager is obviously Universe. Although Universe was bad.

Star Trek: Deep Space Nine

That's no moon, it's a space station.

Continued watching through the next Star Trek-series, Deep Space Nine. Never seen this one beside clips I watched like "IT IS REAL" and "It's a FAKE!". It makes sense in context. It had a crossover episode with The Next Generation so some of the things was known. And that Chief O'Brian and later on Worf joined the show. 

Basically after the treaty with the Cardassians that developed a new neutral zone between the Federation and Cardassia the planet Bajor enters the protection of the Federation, although not a full member. Star Fleet takes over an old Cardassian mining station in Bajor orbit and sends Captain Benjamin Sisko to keep watch on this new frontier. He has to keep track on Cardassians trying to get back their station and the control of Bajor, the Maquis terrorist that harass Cardassians and forces the Federation to reign them in the best they can. Bajor meanwhile is trying to ascend from an occupational world to a democracy and later a member of the federation. But the political intrigues with former terrorist, religious extremist and Cardassian collaborators keeps getting in the way. And if that wasn't enough, the first episode establish that there exist a worm hole to the Gamma Quadrant meaning new alien life and threats. And that the Bajorans gods live in there and have chosen Sisko as their messenger.

To his help from Starfleet he has Chief O'Brian from the Enterprise, Jadicia Dax a thrill with a symbiote that have lived through 6 lives, Julian Bashir a genius doctor that later turns out to be a genetically engineered human, like Khan. From Bajor he has Major Kira, a former resistance fighter and the envoy from the Bajoran government and Odo, the chief of Security that is a changeling and have worked for the Cardassians before. On the stations there is also Quark and his brother and nephew, Ferengians that run the holodecks and bar, and other schemes to get rich that Odo has to keep in check. There's also O'Brians wife Keiko, Siskos son Jake and the Cardassian tailor Garak that used to be a spy from the Cardassian Obsidian Order.

The early seasons is just fixing up the station, establishing the main characters and putting out the different fractions and later it blows up to a full blown war. From the Gamma Quadrant the Dominion appears, a collective of changelings that is the same race as Odo, that is intent on conquering the Alpha Quadrant. They join forces with the Cardassians that feels humiliated by losing Bajor and as they try to keep the social unrest in their home planet under control. The Federation in the beginning stands alone since the changeling has infiltrated several planets and spreads fear and distrust among all. Then they get back the support of the Klingons and with deception even enlist the Romulans to fight with them against the Dominion. 

It was really good.  And all explodes in an epic final where they invade Cardassia where the Dominion started eradicate the Cardassians. Meanwhile Gul Dakat, the Cardassian leader of the station before leaving it has started a process where he will release wraits, the enemy of the Bajoran gods, but Sisko gives his life to stop it and with that keep the peace of the Alpha Quadrant. This is such a good show that I even sympathise with the Ferengi. I hated them in TNG, but here I actually cares how it's going for them. The only episodes I recall I didn't like that much was the mirror world episodes, mostly since it doesn't lead anywhere to the story and the gimmick faded after the first time even though it was a call back to the original series. Or the fact that they changed costumes yet again to those grey looking ones meaning I have to look at their necks to see if they are blue, red or gold. Why change to something making it harder to see what station you have? 

Star Trek: The Next Generation

Engage!

Continued with The Next Generation. A lot better. It actually still look futuristic in the machines and all that if we just go at the technical bits. Although, first season is a bit wonky. And sad to think I assume it's due to the influence of Gene Roddenberry since as he apparently got sicker until his death after season four the series got better and better... well, season 7 has bits here and there one could argue isn't that good, but I assume that maybe have more to do with strained attention for the creative team as they made Deep Space 9 at the same time. 

So now we follow Captain Jean-Luc Picard of the Federation Starship U.S.S. Enterprise. There's first officer William T. Riker, chief engineer Geordie La Forge, lieutenant Data the android, Councelor Deanna Troi the Betezed empath, dr Beverly Crusher with her son Wesley Crusher, Mr Worf the first Klingon officer. Or that is pretty much the main cast of the whole show, in fact season 1 had Tasha Yar as security officer until she died before the end of the season and her position was filled with Worf. Which was played by Denise Cosby that was in the music video of No Stranger to Love by Black Sabbath. Of course she came back in later seasons, as a parallel universe, and then as a Romulan daughter. There's Klingons, Romulans and Vulcans from the original series, but here we are introduced to Cardassians, Bajorans and the Borg. 

Compared to the first series, from the second season and on there was episodes I couldn't pull my eyes from since they engrossed me so. Episodes like the Offspring when Delta builds a child that tragically dies at the end, the horror movie feel from that episode in the 7th season, the Klingon civil war, an alien race that only speaks in references (which can't really work in star travels since how will the language be able to be understood by all members of the race if one ship adopts one reference and another a second? Still, interesting concept) and so many more. Stories centres on Worf and his Klingon heritage, Data discovering what it means to be human, La Forge tinkering with the Enterprise and on and on with missions that explore this futuristic world or concepts beyond what the original managed. Of course, sometimes it doesn't work like the episode the Game where Riker after a vacation on the pleasure planet Risa brings back a game that addicts the whole crew and almost topples the whole Federation. Throwing rings doesn't feel that enticing if I'm gonna be honest. 

Still holds up in most areas. Remember seeing it on channel 4 as a kid, but I didn't like it. First episode I recall was the one with Picards double that he shoots at the end. Too much talking over all. I didn't get into it until the show was shown on channel 6 when I was at University. Of course at that time I had already seen 4 or so seasons of Voyager and Enterprise and most Star Trek-movies so I was more into it.... as well getting references and understanding the concepts they discussed. Now it's also fun to notice all the cameos. You got Mick Fleetwood, Bob Kelso from Scrubs, Agent 3 and Dr. Sinclair from The Journeyman Project-game series. Also the reason I started watching this show after playing the second game. And the music, first 4 seasons scored by Ron Jones, the composer for the original DuckTales, can't be better than that.

Star Trek: The Original Series

 

To Boldly Go Where No One Has Gone Before!

Been watching the Star Trek-series on Netflix to catch up on my gaps in the Sci-Fi pantheon. Only watched one of the original series episodes before when it was on TV as a kid, and it was the episode Who Cries for Adonis? about a manifestation of the ancient greek gods that apparently are aliens. I watched Stargate SG1 when I was at university so I'm not new to that idea. So now I've seen the whole original series... and it hasn't aged that well. Interesting concept, but just the start up jingle of the Star Trek theme makes me wonder what this is. And I can't argue that there is some interesting things like Kirk and Spock dressing up as Nazi after a Federation observer gone rouge and turned a whole world into Nazi-Germany. Now, it was the 60's so it's a bit naive, but I wonder why an historian from earth gotta emulate the third reich in all its regalia? Now, also, it's not the Nazi's that made the early success of Germany in the second world war possible, but the structure of the German Wehrmacht.

I found that the humancentric episodes are a bit similar with gangster and roman legions or time traveling to the 1920's that they blend together in my mind. And then we have the technology. It might have been looking like the future in the 60's but it doesn't hold up with push-buttons all over. Also, hardly any emotional punch in any episode. Maybe the one where Kirk is left behind with amnesia and is seen as a god by the natives and is married with one for 2-3 months before she is killed by the natives as he seemed unable to stop a storm that was caused by an asteroid that the Enterprise had to stop. Maybe.

In truth, there is hardly anything worth watching here. The Khan episode so you get the build up to Star Trek II: Wrath of Khan as an exception, but even then I watched the movies during a Star Trek marathon as a kid and I got by fine. And that also screwed me over since I couldn't tell who was who since the colours of the uniforms don't match the Next Generation making Kirk's choice of a... is it green or yellow, look like an engineer.. Well, Spock looks like Spock in any uniform he wears. Then we have Scotty who is clean shaven while in the movies clearly has a mustasch so I can distinguish him from all the others in the movies. So in conclusion, watch the movies instead. Klingons look like Klingons, the uniforms looks better (no mini skirt as I recall) and clearly better stories with emotional punches... in some of them.