Yesterday's Enterprise: A quick commentary
msh...@heights.cit.cornell.edu
While I am a raving fan of Next Generation, and by and large buy into its
ideals of what Homo Sapiens can become, I nevertheless find it very telling
that the absolute Best Star Trek Ever (as voted by so many of the RASters,
including Tim and myself) was a story about an ALTERNATE TNG in which those
ideals have been forcefully set aside in favor of a war the likes of which
even the more violent TOS never dreamed, complete with an on-screen space
battle reminiscent of STII:TWOK, in which it was fairly certain that Our
Alternate Heroes were going to lose, and, worse than that, probably take
the Federation down with them. (Ok, long sentence over).
The question I ask is: are we thrilled about this episode because of the
attention to detail in creating the "war" universe? Is it the contrast that
make us love it so much? Or did we really like the "war" universe BETTER?!
Unfortunately, I not only can't speak for Tim or anyone else on the net,
but I'm not even sure myself which it is. All I know is, I can't wait to
get hold of a video tape of this, and one way or another I'm watching it
again this Saturday if I can.
--
Just another theatre geek...
>The question I ask is: are we thrilled about this episode because of the
>attention to detail in creating the "war" universe? Is it the contrast that
>make us love it so much? Or did we really like the "war" universe BETTER?!
Definitely the latter.
While a good episode, this show does NOT deserve all the accolades
posters have heaped on it. It lacks believable motivations. Events move
ahead predictably. Complication, not complexity is introduced. There's
padding. There was little tension. Few dramatic choices were made.
I'll deal with some of these shortcomings in another post, but I
was feeling very underwhelemed by the script. The only possible reason for
the while reception the net has given it is the militaristic overtones and
the pitched space battle near the end.
This was the most overrated episode since HEART OF GLORY and A MATTER
OF HONOR.
--
Roger Tang, Member
Uncle Bonsai Memorial Fan Club
American Flag Disposal Unit #3245, Chonk Moonhunters chapter
gwan...@blake.acs.washington.edu
Tom Kuchar
>ideals of what Homo Sapiens can become, I nevertheless find it very telling
>that the absolute Best Star Trek Ever (as voted by so many of the RASters,
>including Tim and myself) was a story about an ALTERNATE TNG in which those
I would like to add this: even though the alternate TNG were at war they were
thoughtful in the same way the `true' TNG is. They choice of sending the
Enterprise-C back may have meant that none of them (or at least some) might
not exist. This was something that crossed all the characrters' minds, not
just Tasha's. How many people would alter a past event knowing that there
lives may be drasticly altered, or that they may not exist at all?
(OK so we knew everyone would be back for next week's episode anyway)
--
Tom... | `In an insane world, the sane man must appear insane.'
Kuc...@bu-ast.bu.edu | `Where did you hear that, son?'
| `Star Trek'
| `God, I miss that show.' ---- from the movie "Serial"
Scott Gibson
>attention to detail in creating the "war" universe? Is it the contrast that
>make us love it so much? Or did we really like the "war" universe BETTER?!
Speaking only for myself, I liked it because it finally provided the tension,
suspense, and excitement that can only be possible if you abandon the rosy
future inhabitted with perfectly adjusted people we usually see.
Scott
Kyle Jones
Mike Shappe writes:
> The question I ask is: are we thrilled about this episode because of the
> attention to detail in creating the "war" universe? Is it the contrast that
> make us love it so much? Or did we really like the "war" universe
> BETTER?!
The attention to detail did play a big part in help the show achieve its
cohesiveness, but, Uncle Mikey, I gotta say I liked the war universe
better. It wasn't the fighting so much as it was the change in attitude
and demeanor that the wartime setting created. For the first time this
season I looked at TNG and felt something besides ennui and/or contempt
for the main characters. It was a terrible disappointment to see the
old Enterprise and crew back at the end of "Yesterday's Enterprise",
after seeing what the characters (particulary Picard and Tasha) could
have been.
Edward C. Bennett
>attention to detail in creating the "war" universe? Is it the contrast that
>make us love it so much? Or did we really like the "war" universe BETTER?!
No, we like it so much because in YE something actually HAPPENED!!
--
Edward C. Bennett - The other MMDF guy edw...@twg.com
The Wollongong Group (415) 962-7252
1129 San Antonio Road, Palo Alto, CA 94303
"He's become a growling, snarling mass of white-hot canine terror"
Sir Six
>>The question I ask is: are we thrilled about this episode because of the
>>attention to detail in creating the "war" universe? Is it the contrast that
>>make us love it so much? Or did we really like the "war" universe BETTER?!
>
>No, we like it so much because in YE something actually HAPPENED!!
No, _nothing_ happened... The episode ended exactly as it had
begun-- and, for that matter, only a few seconds later. :^)
Jim Scandale
>...sreliops
>
>Mike Shappe writes:
> > The question I ask is: are we thrilled about this episode because of the
> > attention to detail in creating the "war" universe? Is it the contrast that
> > make us love it so much? Or did we really like the "war" universe
> > BETTER?!
>
I liked the show so much because it dealt with time travel in an
almost perfectly consistent way. Also, my favorite Shakespeare is
Romeo and Juliette so my appreciation of the hopeless love theme is no
surprise to myself.
I like Star Trek best when I get a "Wow" feeling of mystery and
wonder. It's what I like best about science fiction (at its best).
This episode did that for me.
Rob Demillo
>ideals of what Homo Sapiens can become, I nevertheless find it very telling
>that the absolute Best Star Trek Ever (as voted by so many of the RASters,
>including Tim and myself) was a story about an ALTERNATE TNG in which those
>ideals have been forcefully set aside
I have my own theories about this, and ST: TNG in general...and,
unfortunately, you are all going to hear it...
I considered most of the 1st season of TNG a joke...sort of a macbre
parody of the original show. Somewhere around the end of the 1st season
my opinion started to change...somewhere around the last half of the
2nd season, the show became sensational. (Well, very good for TV, at
least...:-) ) After talking to friends, they have the same
opinion.
Now, not that I sit around performing analysis on TV shows, but...I think
the show got better when Roddenberry realized that there was more
to life than just "happy endings." That the true drama in life comes
from life-and-death confrontations and unhappy events as well
as everything good and sweet in life. To coin a phrase, the 1st season
of TNG was "all ying and no yang."
Perhaps the turning point was around the episode highlighting Yar's
death, I dunno...all I do know is that conflict has been introduced,
and the show seems all the better for it.
Comments?
- Rob DeMillo | Internet: r...@brown.cs.edu
Brown University | BITnet: DEMILLO%BRNPS...@STAR.STANFORD.EDU
Planetary Science Group | Reality: 401-273-0804 (home)
"I say you *are* the Messiah, Lord! And I ought to know, I've followed a few!"
Kyle Jones
> Unfortunately, I don't see how they could really extend the wartime universe
> without completely revamping the entire concept of TNG (and sacking Gene ;-)
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
Now you're talking! Foottrek anyone? Summer rerun are coming...
kyle jones <kjo...@talos.pm.com> ...!uunet!talos!kjones
Sorry, must've inhaled too much nitrous oxide over in alt.sex...
Dave_Waller
> In article <1990Feb21....@heights.cit.cornell.edu> msh...@heights.cit.cornell.edu writes:
> >
> >While I am a raving fan of Next Generation, and by and large buy into its
> >ideals of what Homo Sapiens can become, I nevertheless find it very telling
> >that the absolute Best Star Trek Ever (as voted by so many of the RASters,
> >including Tim and myself) was a story about an ALTERNATE TNG in which those
> >ideals have been forcefully set aside
>
For me at least, it was not the fact that the "ideals [had] been
forcefully set aside" in YE that made it such an entertaining episode,
rather it was the unpredictableness of the story that captured my
attention. This, I think, is the key to making TNG episodes entertaining
and exciting... Catching the audience off guard. Much excitement and
suspense can be written around the TNG universe that we *know*.
Dave Waller \ The opinions expressed are solely my own, and in no way
Hewlett-Packard Co. \ represent those of my employer (but we all know
da...@hpdstma.ptp.hp.com | hplabs!hpdstma!dave \ they should!)
Tom Diakun
Organization: Clinical Pharmacokinetics Lab, SUNY at Buffalo
Lines: 36
***
*** In article <59...@blake.acs.washington.edu>,
*** gwan...@blake.acs.washington.edu (Just another theatre geek...) writes:
***
>In article <1990Feb21....@heights.cit.cornell.edu> msh...@heights.cit.cornell.edu writes:
>>The question I ask is: are we thrilled about this episode because of the
>>attention to detail in creating the "war" universe? Is it the contrast that
>>make us love it so much? Or did we really like the "war" universe BETTER?!
>
> Definitely the latter.
>
> While a good episode, this show does NOT deserve all the accolades
>posters have heaped on it. It lacks believable motivations. Events move
>ahead predictably. Complication, not complexity is introduced. There's
>padding. There was little tension. Few dramatic choices were made.
>
> I'll deal with some of these shortcomings in another post, but I
>was feeling very underwhelemed by the script. The only possible reason for
>the while reception the net has given it is the militaristic overtones and
>the pitched space battle near the end.
>
> This was the most overrated episode since HEART OF GLORY and A MATTER
>OF HONOR.
>
>--
>Roger Tang, Member
>Uncle Bonsai Memorial Fan Club
>American Flag Disposal Unit #3245, Chonk Moonhunters chapter
>gwan...@blake.acs.washington.edu
It was the most fun I've had in a star trek universe since "Mirror, mirror."
However, the most disturbing part was Picard's comment that war was going
poorly for the Federation and defeat was inevitable. Food for thought.
Imperial Aerosol Kid
Actually, in a rather literal sense, other than Guinan developing a
curiousity about Tasha, NOTHING happened in "Yesterday's Enterprise." Check
it out; if you ask anyone on the ship besides Guinan, they won't know a
blessed thing.
>--
>Edward C. Bennett - The other MMDF guy edw...@twg.com
>The Wollongong Group (415) 962-7252
>1129 San Antonio Road, Palo Alto, CA 94303
> "He's become a growling, snarling mass of white-hot canine terror"
Jim Thayer UUCP: uunet!unhd!psc90!rael or: dartvax!psc90!rael
"Still alone in o-hell-o
See the deadly nightshade grow --"
Disclaimer: Me, speak for PSC? I'm not certain *anyone* really does that...