For those coming here from this post about ST:TNG s1e6, "Where No One Has Gone Before": here's "the door into starlight* (not)." [Insert sound of writer snickering here.]
For non-Middle Kingdoms readers: This was a straightforward visual in-joke on my part, a reference to what in the MK universe is also known as death’s Door—the gateway to the last Shore, where “the Sea is starlight”; where those newly dead, or awaiting rebirth, recover from the stresses of human life before moving on… or back for another round of the greatest Game.
Nobody took the slightest notice of what I was really doing here, which is just fine. That's how the best in-jokes work. Have fun, but don't break the narrative for the joke's sake. To the casual viewer, this just looks like a cool visual that slots nicely into the ongoing narrative of Enterprise crew having some very strange experiences. Suits me. :)
Meanwhile, I deeply love what Patrick Stewart did in terms of the "touching-things" moment ("right, this is real, this is okay...") and the look of unnerved mistrust he bestows on the poor Enterprise's innocent turbolift after the fact. Brilliant stuff: no writer could ask for better. :)
*The title of of a rather delayed book about which MK readers are pleased to remind me from time to time. :)
Picard's teacup is a delicate, fragile little thing held by a strip of plastic and a dream. That thin glass will break if you look at it sideways. And where do they put that ridiculous tiny cup? On the Enterprise, which is always being dragged into conflict
The DS9 raktajino mugs are hefty, wide-based things that are meant to not tip over. They're called no-spill mugs. They have a foam piece on the bottom so they don't slip. They're incredibly sturdy – meant for ships and traveling! Where do they put them? At the station, which is arguably the most stable place they could be cause DS9 rarely gets knocked about.
Far as I'm concerned, Janeway's the only one doing practical space mugs correctly. Come on, a metal travel mug that's as strong as her coffee is black? Takes a beating through 70,000 light years of bridge shakes fighting off the Borg and the Hirogen and still holds a hot drink? Now that's a space mug
I love it when characters walls come down and given Picard’s utter lack of charisma so far it was high time for a scene like this. I love how seeing his mother just completely disarmed him but unlike even Kirk in shore leave, Picard doesn’t forget his surroundings, the mission, or his goal. In fact the opposite occurred. He thought his mother was there to specifically help him out of this. The range and mix of emotions on display is great. And his response to Riker’s offer for help being first a soft “no,” before repeating but with a harder “No.” as he snaps back into business mode was great. A+ acting Patrick Stewart.
I know the Picard tv series is gonna recontextualize this but for now it’s enough.
Ok so I finally watched Prodigy ! And it was surprisingly good. This is obviously a kids' show but I ended up being pretty invested in the story. The main character started as Ezra Bridger-ass annoying but he's grown on me. Genuinely I think this might be the best new trek show with Lower Decks lmao. It even got me caring about what happens to CHAKOTAY of all things !
Also it had GREAT alien rep omfg there were so few humans I LOVE THIS SHIT !!! especially UFP founding members rep ahhhhh !!!!!!!!!! I've been wanting this for YEARS they did it for me
If I had a nickle for every time I was captivated by a middle aged balding man in a 90's sci fi show who lived in a perpetual state of disgruntlement, had an immovable moral compass, radiated bureaucratic hierarchy energy, and issued most of his orders from behind a desk only for it to be revealed that he was secretly jacked and capable of kicking ass, I'd have two nickles, which isn't a lot but it's weird that it's happened twice.
I don't even understand why Star Trek has to have arcs about saving the galaxy or whatever. I would not only be happy with a "planet of the week" episode series, I would be perfectly happy with watching a starship go into a star survey and discussing new additions to the Hertzsprung–Russell diagram based on new observations. That's fucking science fiction too, just people talking about weird cool stuff that you can only see with a spaceship.
"Everything we've seen, from Commander Ro's investigation to the theft at Daystrom, indicates a coordinated effort by the Changelings to infiltrate Starfleet in key positions. Tuvok, the entire Frontier Day ceremony is in danger."
"Laris/Picard/Zhaban is a missed opportunity, specially after the writers said Romulan wedding can include 3 people. Instead of this interesting view, we get back to the boring straight relationship between Picard and Beverly with the boring secret son trope. Even a Q/Picard would have been better at this point."