How many God like people/races were there in TOS exactly?

Dream · September 24 2012, 12:18 AM

How many? Gene Roddenberry really seemed to love using them. Thankfully the later shows used them less and less.

jayrath · September 24 2012, 12:27 AM

"Thankfully"? You expect we'll give you ammunition, when you don't offer a single instance yourself?

Well, we can start with Christ (second hand) in "Bread and Circuses." Then there are the Organians, Lord Trelane and Apollo. What is your definition of "god-like," before we give you any more?

Mr_Homn · September 24 2012, 12:32 AM

TNG used it plenty of times as well. Maybe more than TOS. Q, the overseer of the Edo, the dowd, Nagilum. Probably others I'm forgetting, or don't exactly fall into that category, but still use the trope. The guardian of t'kon comes to mind. While not a "god", he certainly falls under the "all powerful mind reading wise and enlightened ancient alien" trope, basically the same thing.

DS9 was all about a godlike race, the Pah-wraiths. The founders were treated as gods by the dominion. I'm only on the third season so far, but that's two already.

I didn't watch Voyager because it was such obvious crap, but I'm pretty sure the caretaker qualifies...

Seems like later trek series used it just as much.

Dream · September 24 2012, 12:36 AM

I'm not a big fan of god like people or races.

I'd consider Gary Mitchell aftered he changed and also the Metrons from "Arena" to also be god like.

jayrath · September 24 2012, 12:43 AM

Dream wrote:

I'm not a big fan of god like people or races.

Really? We couldn't tell. I share your dislike of such as a trope, but I embrace stories about them. It's hard to get more fundamental in story-telling than life, death, love and god(s). That's the good stuff.

I have far more problems with stories about Trio turning into a lizard, or Paris turning into a lizard, or Geordi turning into a lizard with glowing eyes, or-

How the hell is an audience supposed to relate to that?

Dream · September 24 2012, 12:48 AM

jayrath wrote:

I have far more problems with stories about Trio turning into a lizard, or Paris turning into a lizard, or Geordi turning into a lizard with glowing eyes, or-

I'm starting to get the feeling that you don't like Lizards.

Mr_Homn · September 24 2012, 12:53 AM

Dream wrote:

I'm not a big fan of god like people or races.

DS9 must have annoyed you then considering how huge a part god like races play in that.

TNG as well.

Dream · September 24 2012, 01:01 AM

Mr_Homn wrote:

Dream wrote:

I'm not a big fan of god like people or races.

DS9 must have annoyed you then considering how huge a part god like races play in that.

TNG as well.

Actually the Prophets and Q only appeared in a handful of DS9 and TNG episodes. I didn't mind them since the writers took the time to develop them as characters.

The only ones that bother me are those that appear and are never heard of again. That seemed to happen often in TOS.

Mr_Homn · September 24 2012, 01:07 AM

Dream wrote:

Mr_Homn wrote:

Dream wrote:

I'm not a big fan of god like people or races.

DS9 must have annoyed you then considering how huge a part god like races play in that.

TNG as well.

Actually the prophets and Q only appeared in a handful of DS9 and TNG episodes. I didn't mind them since the writers took the time to develop them as characters.

The only ones that bother me are those that appear and are never heard of again. That seemed to happen often in TOS.

Outside of Q, all of the TNG "godlike" entities/races appeared and were never heard from of again. While the prophets are only seen in a few ds9 episodes, they are a constant presence and are integral to the overarching plot.

Seems like a double standard.

Sounds like your grievance has more to do with the differences between serialized and procedural television rather than the use of godlike entities/races.

DS9 was serialized, TNG used elements of serialization at times (but was procedural overall), and TOS was completely procedural.

kythe · September 24 2012, 01:48 AM

I like seeing the variety of "god-like" races. It shows evolution on a much grander scale. We are used to thinking of humans as the most evolved species, because we are on Earth. But Star Trek takes many opportunities to explore what is truly above and beyond us.

Robert D. Robot · September 24 2012, 02:13 PM

I didn't mind the Organians or the Metrons, as they were like older folks annoyed that some kids had taken up with fighting in their front yard. Trelane was just a kid playing with some new toys. I thought the concepts were interesting and "plausible". I don't mind the idea of aliens with god-like powers, but I did get bored with the theme of such beings (like the Q) simply putting humans on trial to judge if they should be confined to Earth or perhaps being destroyed, etc,. That concept bored me and I had trouble seeing how the Q wouldn't just arbitrarily do what they want. I eventually grew to like de Lancie's Q, but I didn't like the "On Trial" plot line.

Maple Dog · September 24 2012, 05:29 PM

Mr_Homn wrote:

TNG used it plenty of times as well. Maybe more than TOS. Q, the overseer of the Edo, the dowd, Nagilum. Probably others I'm forgetting, or don't exactly fall into that category, but still use the trope. The guardian of t'kon comes to mind. While not a "god", he certainly falls under the "all powerful mind reading wise and enlightened ancient alien" trope, basically the same thing.

DS9 was all about a godlike race, the Pah-wraiths. The founders were treated as gods by the dominion. I'm only on the third season so far, but that's two already.

I didn't watch Voyager because it was such obvious crap, but I'm pretty sure the caretaker qualifies...

Seems like later trek series used it just as much.

I think the bajorans prophets were god like,the pah wraith were more demons than gods.

Mr_Homn · September 24 2012, 08:42 PM

Maple Dog wrote:

Mr_Homn wrote:

TNG used it plenty of times as well. Maybe more than TOS. Q, the overseer of the Edo, the dowd, Nagilum. Probably others I'm forgetting, or don't exactly fall into that category, but still use the trope. The guardian of t'kon comes to mind. While not a "god", he certainly falls under the "all powerful mind reading wise and enlightened ancient alien" trope, basically the same thing.

DS9 was all about a godlike race, the Pah-wraiths. The founders were treated as gods by the dominion. I'm only on the third season so far, but that's two already.

I didn't watch Voyager because it was such obvious crap, but I'm pretty sure the caretaker qualifies...

Seems like later trek series used it just as much.

I think the bajorans prophets were god like,the pah wraith were more demons than gods.

Thats actually who I meant, just mixed up my terms. With all these god aliens in post TOS its easy to do!

Harvey · September 24 2012, 08:49 PM

Dream wrote:

How many? Gene Roddenberry really seemed to love using them.

They're a frequent trope of the series, much like Kirk battling supercomputers, but it would be a mistake to ascribe every appearance of a God-like being to Gene Roddenberry.

"Who Mourns for Adonais?" was penned by Gilbert Ralston.
"Errand of Mercy" and "Arena" were penned by Gene Coon.
"The Squire of Gothos" was penned by Paul Schneider.
"Where No One Has Gone Before" was penned by Samuel A. Peeples.
"Day of the Dove" was penned by Jerome Bixby.

That's probably not a comprehensive list of episodes featuring God-like beings on the series, but not a single episode on it was penned by Roddenberry (though he did do re-writes of varying degrees on some of them, the premise of a God-like being originated with the credited writer in each case).

Maple Dog · September 24 2012, 09:05 PM

Mr_Homn wrote:

Maple Dog wrote:

Mr_Homn wrote:

TNG used it plenty of times as well. Maybe more than TOS. Q, the overseer of the Edo, the dowd, Nagilum. Probably others I'm forgetting, or don't exactly fall into that category, but still use the trope. The guardian of t'kon comes to mind. While not a "god", he certainly falls under the "all powerful mind reading wise and enlightened ancient alien" trope, basically the same thing.

DS9 was all about a godlike race, the Pah-wraiths. The founders were treated as gods by the dominion. I'm only on the third season so far, but that's two already.

I didn't watch Voyager because it was such obvious crap, but I'm pretty sure the caretaker qualifies...

Seems like later trek series used it just as much.

I think the bajorans prophets were god like,the pah wraith were more demons than gods.

Thats actually who I meant, just mixed up my terms. With all these god aliens in post TOS its easy to do!

The fact that i know some stuff about Star Trek got me worried,since i'm a Fiver.

September 24 2012, 12:18 AM	#1
Dream Admiral	How many God like people/races were there in TOS exactly? How many? Gene Roddenberry really seemed to love using them. Thankfully the later shows used them less and less. __________________ TWoP Forums .

September 24 2012, 12:27 AM	#2
jayrath Fleet Captain Location: West Hollywood, Calif., USA	Re: How many God like people/races were there in TOS exactly? "Thankfully"? You expect we'll give you ammunition, when you don't offer a single instance yourself? Well, we can start with Christ (second hand) in "Bread and Circuses." Then there are the Organians, Lord Trelane and Apollo. What is your definition of "god-like," before we give you any more?

September 24 2012, 12:32 AM	#3
Mr_Homn Captain	Re: How many God like people/races were there in TOS exactly? TNG used it plenty of times as well. Maybe more than TOS. Q, the overseer of the Edo, the dowd, Nagilum. Probably others I'm forgetting, or don't exactly fall into that category, but still use the trope. The guardian of t'kon comes to mind. While not a "god", he certainly falls under the "all powerful mind reading wise and enlightened ancient alien" trope, basically the same thing. DS9 was all about a godlike race, the Pah-wraiths. The founders were treated as gods by the dominion. I'm only on the third season so far, but that's two already. I didn't watch Voyager because it was such obvious crap, but I'm pretty sure the caretaker qualifies... Seems like later trek series used it just as much. __________________ "Thank you.. for the drinks."

September 24 2012, 12:36 AM	#4
Dream Admiral	Re: How many God like people/races were there in TOS exactly? I'm not a big fan of god like people or races. I'd consider Gary Mitchell aftered he changed and also the Metrons from "Arena" to also be god like. __________________ TWoP Forums .

September 24 2012, 01:48 AM	#10
kythe Commander Location: US	Re: How many God like people/races were there in TOS exactly? I like seeing the variety of "god-like" races. It shows evolution on a much grander scale. We are used to thinking of humans as the most evolved species, because we are on Earth. But Star Trek takes many opportunities to explore what is truly above and beyond us.

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September 24 2012, 02:13 PM	#11
Robert D. Robot Captain Location: Pre-Warp Civilization of New England	Re: How many God like people/races were there in TOS exactly? I didn't mind the Organians or the Metrons, as they were like older folks annoyed that some kids had taken up with fighting in their front yard. Trelane was just a kid playing with some new toys. I thought the concepts were interesting and "plausible". I don't mind the idea of aliens with god-like powers, but I did get bored with the theme of such beings (like the Q) simply putting humans on trial to judge if they should be confined to Earth or perhaps being destroyed, etc,. That concept bored me and I had trouble seeing how the Q wouldn't just arbitrarily do what they want. I eventually grew to like de Lancie's Q, but I didn't like the "On Trial" plot line.