What are your controversial Star Trek opinions?

[Orphalesion]

Even Tolkien, who was dealing with highly fantastical and strange beings did his best to ground the environment and the characterization in to familiar tropes, i.e. he self-identified as a "hobbit" who liked "good food, a good smoke and good company." The characters have characteristics that can be connected with on a very personal level.

But the Aliens in Star Trek are human. The vast majority of the alien races in Star Trek, especially those that have been main characters are not any more different from us than Hobbits are. They might have a super power or something, but their behaviors, personalities, motivations are very human, maybe just painted in a different colour.
And personally I find many of the alien or non-human characters a lot easier to "connect with on a very personal level" than the majority of human characters in star trek.
I mean there's a lot of reasons why Spock was the most popular character in TOS.

 

[fireproof78]

But the Aliens in Star Trek are human. The vast majority of the alien races in Star Trek, especially those that have been main characters are not any more different from us than Hobbits are. They might have a super power or something, but their behaviors, personalities, motivations are very human, maybe just painted in a different colour.
And personally I find many of the alien or non-human characters a lot easier to "connect with on a very personal level" than the majority of human characters in star trek.
I mean there's a lot of reasons why Spock was the most popular character in TOS.

As in many things there is a need for balance. Spock is half-human so that connection is built in.

And you and I may connect with Spock but we're not the only ones in the audience.

 

[Orphalesion]

As in many things there is a need for balance. Spock is half-human so that connection is built in.

And you and I may connect with Spock but we're not the only ones in the audience.

isn't the only reason Spock was half-human because originally the Enterprise was an Earth ship?
Plus I don't think people would think differently of Spock if he was full Vulcan, really unless you catch the occasional plot where his half-human heritage is focused on, you might get the impression that he is full Vulcan, just like with Troi.

 

[fireproof78]

isn't the only reason Spock was half-human because originally the Enterprise was an Earth ship?
Plus I don't think people would think differently of Spock if he was full Vulcan, really unless you catch the occasional plot where his half-human heritage is focused on, you might get the impression that he is full Vulcan, just like with Troi.

But again, in his environment he is surrounded by humans. You still have that human connection, even if you identify with a particular character.

 

[marlboro]

Did the writers want us to hate Archer and Janeway?

The "moral" of a lot of ENT and VOY episodes are just horrible, imo. It's mind boggling to think that the writers could have their characters make the decisions they make and still expect us to root for them.

 

[fireproof78]

Did the writers want us to hate Archer and Janeway?

The "moral" of a lot of ENT and VOY episodes are just horrible, imo. It's mind boggling to think that the writers could have their characters make the decisions they make and still expect us to root for them.

Controversial opinion: our protagonist characters don't always have to be right or have the audience root for them.

 

[Nerys Myk]

Anson Mount's Christopher Pike is the best Captain. I've been watching DISCO 2 and I'm loving every second he's on screen.

 

[Imaus]

Apparently I didn't say this here but here's a opinion that I swear by which may be controversial.

TOS Movie Era Starfleet Ships are ugly. Every single one. The Excelsior? Blurgh. Connie refit? Blurgh. Miranda? Those nacelles, ugh. The Oberth should never had existed. The Sydney class is apparently from this era. Constellation? Looks like a big transport, never seen in use as a big transport.

I also hate that they appear in 2365-2372 with little to no changes. At the very least the Nacelles should had been swapped out and maybe some windows expanded. Imagine a TNG era Excelsior proper like, it we have to have them (I would had shoved in Ambassadors and the like instead).

Yes I know it's because they had the models from the movies but still.

 

[Orphalesion]

Anson Mount's Christopher Pike is the best Captain. I've been watching DISCO 2 and I'm loving every second he's on screen.

I know, right ? He's so freaking likable! Rebecca Romijin's Number One is very likable too.
As I said earlier the DSC version of Pike felt like a season-long apology for Lorca and for killing off Georgiou to me.

Though controversial opinion: If Prime Timeline Georgiou had lived to helm a series, she would be the best Captain.

But again, in his environment he is surrounded by humans. You still have that human connection, even if you identify with a particular character.

And I still say most aliens in Star Trek are human for all intents and purposes, DS9 was mostly alien characters, and it rocked. The Lord of the Rings is mostly non-standard humans and it rocked, Watership Down is all animals and it rocked.

 

[fireproof78]

I know, right ? He's so freaking likable! Rebecca Romijin's Number One is very likable too.
As I said earlier the DSC version of Pike felt like a season-long apology for Lorca and for killing off Georgiou to me.

Though controversial opinion: If Prime Timeline Georgiou had lived to helm a series, she would be the best Captain.



And I still say most aliens in Star Trek are human for all intents and purposes, DS9 was mostly alien characters, and it rocked. The Lord of the Rings is mostly non-standard humans and it rocked, Watership Down is all animals and it rocked.

Because it had something familiar to ground it.

 

[BillJ]

“The Last Best Hope” (Picard prequel novel) was far better than Picard season one.

 

[Lord Garth]

Going back to the '90s.

I think Gene Roddenberry gave his blessing for a third Star Trek series. So technically Rick Berman can say this is true. But I don't think he had any idea what it would be about and wouldn't have given his blessing to Deep Space Nine. What tells me this? His angrily calling his lawyer, two days before he died, demanding 15 minutes of the more militaristic moments in Star Trek VI be edited out of the film. He did not want Starfleet looking, acting, or feeling less than pristine. And he wouldn't want religion portrayed as anything besides backwards.

Rick Berman and Michael Piller would've had a fight on their hands if Gene Roddenberry lived; but the writing was on the wall, so they were able to develop DS9 without having to worry about what would've happened.

People complain about DSC and PIC going "against" Gene's Vision, but it's been that way for decades. Longer than some of them like to admit.

 

[fireproof78]

People complain about DSC and PIC going "against" Gene's Vision, but it's been that way for decades. Longer than some of them like to admit.

Technically, TOS ended up against his vision.

 

[Orphalesion]

Because it had something familiar to ground it.

Yes, I know. But my point is that most of the Aliens in Star Trek are human and familiar enough to ground a narrative.

 

[fireproof78]

Yes, I know. But my point is that most of the Aliens in Star Trek are human and familiar enough to ground a narrative.

I think that defeats the point of the aliens but I think we'll agree to disagree at this point.

 

[BillJ]

I think Gene Roddenberry gave his blessing for a third Star Trek series. So technically Rick Berman can say this is true. But I don't think he had any idea what it would be about and wouldn't have given his blessing to Deep Space Nine. What tells me this? His angrily calling his lawyer, two days before he died, demanding 15 minutes of the more militaristic moments in Star Trek VI be edited out of the film. He did not want Starfleet looking, acting, or feeling less than pristine. And he wouldn't want religion portrayed as anything besides backwards.

I'm not sure Gene would've been against early Deep Space Nine. Starfleet was still clearly the good guys and weren't openly militaristic until deeper into the show. And the religion angle was being played out by aliens.

 

[Amasov]

Anson Mount's Christopher Pike is the best Captain. I've been watching DISCO 2 and I'm loving every second he's on screen.

Could not agree more. Captain Pike has gone on to become my favorite captain in Star Trek. I cannot WAIT for Strange New Worlds.

 

[NaughtyTrekkie]

In-universe: turbolifts have no sense and shouldn't exist

Out of universe: Discovery first season was the best first season ever for star trek; a reboot of star trek with no aliens, more tech limitations and set in a further future would be great;

 

[marlboro]

I regret clicking on this thread.

 

[suarezguy]

Brahams tried to be completely professional the entire time and then this guy comes on to her because he likes her and automatically assumes she'll like him too. Without even trying to actually get to know her or find out more about her first. Like... her being married. For one. For another, setting up that dinner date which, like Brahams said, wasn't appropriate.

Yes, he was quite arrogant and presumptive, even manipulative, he thought he could manipulate her even after seeing she didn't like him and he might not like who she really was rather than thought she was. But he did later back off and both seemed willing to forgive their earlier misinterpretations and conflicts, consider each other to be decent, and that seemed reasonable to me.

So, to have Geordi and Leah be a couple in Picard would be a huge mistake. It's rewarding adolescent thinking in what's supposed to be a show that's geared towards adults. PIC, more than any other Star Trek series, is aiming to be "mature" and "adult".

The two being married over 20 years later doesn't glorify or justify Geordi's attitudes and actions in "Galaxy's Child", there could be a lot of later development in and for their relationship, although a new show would/should have some explanation of what later development there had been in order to not make it seem that "Galaxy's Child" itself was the basis or even foundation for their marriage.

Geordi is actually a terrible character in my opinion. LeVar Burton is a likeable guy and did his best with the material, but the writing was just terrible. He’s a bland, insipid character with few defining qualities other than the Visor. I mean how would you even describe his personality? He’s just kind of...there.

I don't think he's a strong character, he and Troi are the two worst of the crew, but he does have personality albeit mostly unlikeable traits. Tending to be defensive about his disability (gloating at that he and his visor was what saved the Masterpiece Society), expecting of his friends (getting annoyed at Data for not getting the point of Sherlock Holmes mysteries, insisting that Data violate orders to help him save his mother), not getting the obvious that a big part of his problem with women was trying too hard, driven/obsessive about his work (not calling his mother for a while).