STC Ep. 7: "Embrace The Winds" speculation and discussion....
- Thread starter Warped9
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See the EP 8 thread. They are hard at work just laying low for now.
Have to say, I was a bit disappointed in Ep. 7 compared to all the others. Seemed a bit unfocused as if it really didn't know where it wanted to go. The main and subplots don't seem particularly connected except that the resolution of the Hood plot negated the reason for the entire starbase plot. Garret was an interesting well played character, but the earlier mission that clouded her career was set up but never explained. McKenna and especially Sulu seemed shoehorned in to give them something to do. I've rewatched eps 1-6 more times than I can possibly count but once with this one was more than enough for me.
Thoughts?
Thoughts?
Well, the subplot about the engine problems on the Hood could be part of a story arc that leads to why they have to redesign and refit the Enterprise. The relationship between McKennah and Spock might be leading somewhere in his story arc also. On Sulu I have to agree that in a real TOS episode he'd probably have been left out, but giving everyone something to do becomes more necessary when you're only shooting a couple of episodes per year.
Also, I agree that Garrett's earlier mission would have been fleshed out and explained more in a real TOS episode, even if only as a McGuffin. As it is, though, I'm sort of amused by the way it's all encapsulated in her statement, "Those arthropods came out of nowhere."
7 is not my favorite so far, but it is some people's favorite, so I guess disagreements like that are very Star Trek.
Also, I agree that Garrett's earlier mission would have been fleshed out and explained more in a real TOS episode, even if only as a McGuffin. As it is, though, I'm sort of amused by the way it's all encapsulated in her statement, "Those arthropods came out of nowhere."
7 is not my favorite so far, but it is some people's favorite, so I guess disagreements like that are very Star Trek.
Not one of my favorites either for the points you mentioned. I wonder if some it has to do with coming after the very popular EP6? Also, the point about a woman in command would have been very thought provoking in the 60s but today, meh. I almost wished the A and B plots would have been reversed. However, anything with Kirk would naturally have to be the A plot.
I actually found some of the points surprisingly relevant with regards to ethical questions on countering institutionalized discrimination. But, yeah, would have felt more relevant if the context fit the futuristic setting. Perhaps if she was specifically a member of a male dominated race, or if she was discriminated against for some other reason, such as her being 50% cyborg or something, it would have made a bit more sense. As it stood, it felt like the plot was actually written in the 1960s (which actually may have been deliberate, considering their commitment to making it seem like classic Trek).
I completely appreciated the very true-to-my-personal-beliefs idea of - it may very well be time for a woman in charge - but you are not that woman. There are too many questions in your past. It perfectly adapted things going on in the real world and made a relevent Trek story about current events. I would have liked having a Tellarite on the board, or something, though.
Am I one of the only people that didn't enjoy Episode 6 that much? I thought there should have been more exposition regarding the emotional effects the creatures were having on the crew; it seemed like the father was speaking through Kirk and Company at times, but it was unclear if that was the case or if it was just an emotional/psychic reaction to the aliens. The 2nd ending definitely felt preachy and tacked on. I felt the episoded could have been padded out, with either the alpha wave inducers subplot being extended, or possibly needing to find the location of the comet cloud, where perhaps Usdi doesn't want to be returned there, and the interaction with the father happens later when they are bringing Usdi home. Rearranging and extending a couple plot beats could have made this truly classic.
Am I one of the only people that didn't enjoy Episode 6 that much? I thought there should have been more exposition regarding the emotional effects the creatures were having on the crew; it seemed like the father was speaking through Kirk and Company at times, but it was unclear if that was the case or if it was just an emotional/psychic reaction to the aliens. The 2nd ending definitely felt preachy and tacked on. I felt the episoded could have been padded out, with either the alpha wave inducers subplot being extended, or possibly needing to find the location of the comet cloud, where perhaps Usdi doesn't want to be returned there, and the interaction with the father happens later when they are bringing Usdi home. Rearranging and extending a couple plot beats could have made this truly classic.
Episode 6 was already padded out for time. The third act scene in the briefing room between Spock and Kirk was added a few months after they shot the episode, because they were only clocking in around 36 minutes of screen time, IIRC.
It does extend the final act quite a bit compared to the others, although I like the scene. It's well played.
That was my point - I dislike the scene, its talky and preachy and you can tell it was tacked on. Meanwhile, I felt parts of the episode could have used a little more context and explanation. I would rearrange stuff to add more drama earlier in the episode, and cut out the unneeded scene at the end. Its hindsight being 20/20, obviously, because if they had realized they needed more filler before it was recorded, they could have done more like I am suggesting, rather then tacking on the ending scene.
Trouble is that a more dramatic pickup scene toward the beginning would have involved assembling more actors, which would have been more expensive and complicated to schedule. A simple scene with Vic and Todd could be done on short notice, just pulling together a few of the key crew.
The scene also creates a point on the Spock-McKennah arc (that seems to be developing), which they might not have needed in this episode before the decision was made to cut the series from 13 to 11 episodes.
But I agree that the final result feels like the episode has about three endings.
I'm bummed. I'm usually very on top of these things, but somehow, I missed the release of this episode completely, and didn't realize they had released it until I saw that they released the latest episode, which I will watch soon.
I guess the good part about that is I don't have to wait for Episode 8.
Anyway, might as well give my late to the party thoughts.
I thought this was an interesting story, that easily could have taken place in the 1960s, and probably has a little less relevance today, but it answers a very good question--how is it that women have come so far in modern society, but in Turnabout Intruder, there was a barrier to women captains?
It really made no sense in this perfect society where there should be no such prejudices.
So I'm glad that the STC crew came up with an actual logical explanation for it.
What I really loved about this episode was that they didn't give Garrett the command while still addressing the issue. I thought it was absolutely against the norm, and therefore good, that the woman trying to break the barrier actually was NOT the best person for the job. While she seemed to look good on paper, she didn't have the intangibles to be a captain, and we saw that.
As stories go, I felt this one was not their best work, but it shows to me how well done their episodes are when an episode that was below their standards is still pretty good.
The script just wasn't as strong, even if the theme was.
I look forward to having the time to watch Episode 8, and it really is a shame that Axanar ruined fan films for good.
I guess the good part about that is I don't have to wait for Episode 8.
Anyway, might as well give my late to the party thoughts.
I thought this was an interesting story, that easily could have taken place in the 1960s, and probably has a little less relevance today, but it answers a very good question--how is it that women have come so far in modern society, but in Turnabout Intruder, there was a barrier to women captains?
It really made no sense in this perfect society where there should be no such prejudices.
So I'm glad that the STC crew came up with an actual logical explanation for it.
What I really loved about this episode was that they didn't give Garrett the command while still addressing the issue. I thought it was absolutely against the norm, and therefore good, that the woman trying to break the barrier actually was NOT the best person for the job. While she seemed to look good on paper, she didn't have the intangibles to be a captain, and we saw that.
As stories go, I felt this one was not their best work, but it shows to me how well done their episodes are when an episode that was below their standards is still pretty good.
The script just wasn't as strong, even if the theme was.
I look forward to having the time to watch Episode 8, and it really is a shame that Axanar ruined fan films for good.
That remains to be seen. The fact STC is still releasing its last four episodes in the form and running time they intended argues fan productions might not be as impacted as initially believed.
I'm not 100 percent sure, but I think they are getting away with it because they were previously funded, so the money was already there, and they are just running out the clock.
Those Paramount guidelines really ruined the fan film game. I don't know how much more we will see once STC is finished. I'm just grateful they did such a great overall job.
That's a load of bunk. As has been discussed on this board, ad nauseam, these are guidelines, not hardlined rules. They only say that you are guaranteed to not attract the attention of CBS if you follow them, not that you're guaranteed to be C&D'd or sued if you don't. There are plenty of fan films that are continuing to produce and release episodes, even in the wake of the guidelines.
Ok, so they're guaranteed not to be objected. How many productions will take that chance? How would you feel if you took the time, energy, and most of all expense, to make a really good production, knowingly against the guidelines, and then you get that letter from Paramount?
I feel that we, the fans, are going to get hurt because these guidelines discourage so much.
I feel that we, the fans, are going to get hurt because these guidelines discourage so much.
Tell me what you think the guidelines discourage? How could the fans possibly be hurt by any of this?
Reading those guidelines I suspect a fan production could actually get away with quite a lot as long as they don't cross certain lines.
- Don't monetize or try to profit from your production. No rewards, prizes or merchandise derived from your work.
- Don't get overly ambitious with crowdfunding.
- Make certain you identify your work clearly as a fan production and don't seek to mislead people into thinking you have any sort of official capacity.
- Avoid film or full episode type running times--leave that to CBS/Paramount--to avoid any possible confusion that your work might be considered official.
- Refrain from utilizing the services of any professionals previously or currently associated with official Trek.
Apart from those that leaves a lot of leeway.
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