Revisiting season one... and noticing things

[AntonyF]

I got the Blu-rays back when they first came out, and did watch them, but not in an optimal setup and probably a bit distracted.

Now I have time, and a good TV and sound setup... I thought time to watch them and really watch them properly with new eyes.

I love spotting little things, particularly when it comes to budget saving. Like the Ferengi headgear in The Last Outpost is the same material as the 21st century soldiers from Encounter at Farpoint. And the truly horrendous stunt doubling for Tasha Yar in EAF, and Data's not much better.

And really taking a fresh think about some of the episodes. As a 40 something year old not a 9 year old when I first saw it on my 14" TV, really thinking about the stories.

It's more obvious to me now as an adult that Encounter at Farpoint had the Q story welded onto the rest when it was turned into a two parter. I know Code of Honour is reviled now with hindsight, but I still think there's stuff to like in it if people look; like a commanding performance from the late Jessie Lawrence Ferguson. Meanwhile I find Justice repugnant, more so now than ever before - and far worse. If alone for "Ahh a sex planet, let's take a 14 year old down." The recklessness of Picard in Where No One Has Gone before both with his dismissal of Wesley and pumping the traveller full of drugs oh and of course trying to stop the ship while going at warp one million despite warnings.

But on a random note, what's this all about in the Naked Now... I did wonder if it's gibberish as they thought it wouldn't be read in old standard def... but it must surely take more effort to type nonsense than The Prometheus....

 

[Michael]

But on a random note, what's this all about in the Naked Now... I did wonder if it's gibberish as they thought it wouldn't be read in old standard def...

“Gibberish”? That’s the Tsiolkovsky’s dedication plaque and it has the name in the Cyrillic alphabet: К. Э. Циолковский. Personally I always thought it was an oddly interesting touch to include it that way.

How can someone walk this earth for forty plus years and not come across words written in Cyrillic?

 

[Qonundrum]

I got the Blu-rays back when they first came out, and did watch them, but not in an optimal setup and probably a bit distracted.

Now I have time, and a good TV and sound setup... I thought time to watch them and really watch them properly with new eyes.

I love spotting little things, particularly when it comes to budget saving. Like the Ferengi headgear in The Last Outpost is the same material as the 21st century soldiers from Encounter at Farpoint. And the truly horrendous stunt doubling for Tasha Yar in EAF, and Data's not much better.

Plus set/wall/bulkhead reuse. Some of it's cleverly done and requires multiple viewings. Other times, not as often...

And really taking a fresh think about some of the episodes. As a 40 something year old not a 9 year old when I first saw it on my 14" TV, really thinking about the stories.

Seconded. From 9 to 40, 17 to 40, 40 to 50, etc, there's often something new. Heck, even Babylon 5 is now being remembered better than it was, but I digress.

It's more obvious to me now as an adult that Encounter at Farpoint had the Q story welded onto the rest when it was turned into a two parter.

It's woven in surprisingly well. To compare, the Battlestar Galactica 1978 pilot feels way too much like two stories splatted together. Q made an interesting bookend that turns an otherwise 'Wut?!' story about space jellyfish in wuuuuuuuuv into something far more interesting. Thank Roddenberry for (Q)uick thinking. He had his moments of yuckery, but others that were really on the spot.

I know Code of Honour is reviled now with hindsight, but I still think there's stuff to like in it if people look; like a commanding performance from the late Jessie Lawrence Ferguson.

The basic plot of "Culture X has its leader adhering to its code while noticing the haughty Picard is quick to break his" is also interesting -- perhaps better suited for a later season, but after season 4, the chance of a photon torpedo being belched out of the ship was much smaller... seasons 1-3 at least had exploration, something that shouldn't be reviled no matter how uneven the execution is.

Meanwhile I find Justice repugnant, more so now than ever before - and far worse. If alone for "Ahh a sex planet, let's take a 14 year old down."

The opening scene on the bridge needed a HUGE rewrite; it's embarrassing. Cuz it's fun for the whole family! Indeed, the best bits are not just in the same scene, but three lines apart when it otherwise doesn't dumb down the characters to create the big plot crux:

(Wesley is sitting next to Troi)
CRUSHER: It sounds wonderful for the children. The holodecks are marvellous, of course, but there's nothing like open spaces and fresh air.
TASHA: I've listed my report on their customs and laws, sir. Fairly simple, common sense things.
LAFORGE: They're wild in some ways, actually puritanical in others. Neat as pins, ultra-lawful, and make love at the drop of a hat.​

Why not turn on the shipwide intercom while they're at it, what with Wes there and all...

Oh, the scene gets even better:

TASHA: Any hat.
PICARD: But the happiest report has its negatives. Let's start with them, Number One.
RIKER: There are none, sir. Not that any of us can find.​

Might have been more fun if they called the planet "Lidsville" and toke up with Horatio "Harry" HooDoo in a groovy goofy crossover... at least they have Riker shadowing Tasha's job while they're at it; usually group activities can weed out plot holes, but not in this episode!

The recklessness of Picard in Where No One Has Gone before both with his dismissal of Wesley and pumping the traveller full of drugs oh and of course trying to stop the ship while going at warp one million despite warnings.

But... but... muh draamaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa! Seriously, if they really wanted to show Bev as being competent in this one, as well as using Wesley in a more believable way, they'd have made this a two-parter and build up some tension, suspense, and let the mysterious traveler* there heal up a bit - instead of the vague ending where the logical conclusion is that he's dead, probably. The story is genuinely on the right track and is really good overall, but it is so determined to be done with it all by the end of the 43-minute mark that a lot of potential is lost.

* aka the probable stand-in for Doctor Who if America produced it at the time​

 

[Tosk]

TASHA: I've listed my report on their customs and laws, sir. Fairly simple, common sense things.

"...oh, except for one very minor thing. They have unknown random zones wherein you will be killed if you break any rule, no matter how small. But like I said, simple common sense stuff."

 

[AntonyF]

Oh I did like the inclusion of Q don't get me wrong, I just could see the seams I guess a bit more.

As to set re-use, I'm making it my mission to see how many times the battle bridge is re-used!

 

[at Quark's]

Why not turn on the shipwide intercom while they're at it, what with Wes there and all...

Or like this:

LAFORGE: They're wild in some ways, actually puritanical in others. Neat as pins, ultra-lawful, and make love at the drop of a hat.
TASHA: Any hat.
PICARD: Wesley, if we go, you will join the away team to evaluate this world as a place for young people to relax. Besides, I want my bridge officers to be all-rounded, to have experience with all major aspects of life, including the one just mentioned.
(BEVERLEY and GEORDI simultaneously): HEY!
Picard: Beverly, I know you're his mother, but there comes a time you have to let him go. Should I make it an order? And Geordi, I've been thinking about this ... wouldn't a post in Engineering be better suited to you? I was going to send Data there, but even he got some a few weeks ago, you know.

 

[trekshark]

The ultra-lawful comment should have caused them to look a little deeper into the laws and punishments as it seems throughout history that ultra-lawful societies usually have harsh punishment, that's how they keep everyone lawful.

 

[aquova]

I couldn't find any good screenshots online, but in HD it's very apparent how much of an issue they were having with reflections in the panels. If you look closely you can see lots of black construction paper taped in the backgrounds to prevent cameras and studio lights from showing

 

[MaryWhite]

I got the Blu-rays back when they first came out, and did watch them, but not in an optimal setup and probably a bit distracted.

Now I have time, and a good TV and sound setup... I thought time to watch them and really watch them properly with new eyes.

I love spotting little things, particularly when it comes to budget saving. Like the Ferengi headgear in The Last Outpost is the same material as the 21st century soldiers from Encounter at Farpoint. And the truly horrendous stunt doubling for Tasha Yar in EAF, and Data's not much better.

And really taking a fresh think about some of the episodes. As a 40 something year old not a 9 year old when I first saw it on my 14" TV, really thinking about the stories.

It's more obvious to me now as an adult that Encounter at Farpoint had the Q story welded onto the rest when it was turned into a two parter. I know Code of Honour is reviled now with hindsight, but I still think there's stuff to like in it if people look; like a commanding performance from the late Jessie Lawrence Ferguson. Meanwhile I find Justice repugnant, more so now than ever before - and far worse. If alone for "Ahh a sex planet, let's take a 14 year old down." The recklessness of Picard in Where No One Has Gone before both with his dismissal of Wesley and pumping the traveller full of drugs oh and of course trying to stop the ship while going at warp one million despite warnings.

But on a random note, what's this all about in the Naked Now... I did wonder if it's gibberish as they thought it wouldn't be read in old standard def... but it must surely take more effort to type nonsense than The Prometheus....
View attachment 37806

Usually, I also have different impressions every time I watch any movie because watching it on the phone with headphones or on the TV with tuned sound gives different experiences. And it's cool. Also, my impressions depend on who I'm watching with.

 

[evilchumlee]

As to set re-use, I'm making it my mission to see how many times the battle bridge is re-used!

I always had a weird eye for spotting set reuses.

Even as a kid, it's one of the more blatant examples, but like 10 year old me instantly saw 10 Forward in the Federation Presidents office in ST6. It's just. They barely even tried.

 

[Laura Cynthia Chambers]

The ultra-lawful comment should have caused them to look a little deeper into the laws and punishments as it seems throughout history that ultra-lawful societies usually have harsh punishment, that's how they keep everyone lawful.

Anything that seems too good to be true in Trek usually is.

I always had a weird eye for spotting set reuses.

When watching Perry Mason (1950s-60s), I noticed they seem to reuse that same staircase a lot (hallway overlooking main floor, leading to stairs on the right as you face it).

An aside: this building (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bradbury_Building) was used in the episode "The Case of the Double Entry Mind", and features in a key scene where a character is trying to put something back before he gets caught with it - I wonder if someone saw the building and thought, "I have to write something around this location."

 

[fireproof78]

I always had a weird eye for spotting set reuses.

Even as a kid, it's one of the more blatant examples, but like 10 year old me instantly saw 10 Forward in the Federation Presidents office in ST6. It's just. They barely even tried.

That unfortunately is very obvious in ST5 and ST6 of them reusing sets.

 

[Sakonna]

My favorite insane season one detail is that "Lonely Among Us" plays the murder and cannibalism of sentient beings AS COMEDY.

 

[BillJ]

My favorite insane season one detail is that "Lonely Among Us" plays the murder and cannibalism of sentient beings AS COMEDY.

The 80's were a special time...

 

[evilchumlee]

Anything that seems too good to be true in Trek usually is.

That could be a fairly controversial statement for Trek... because the United Federation of Planets kind of seems too good to be true...

 

[Korusan]

I was saying to someone the other night how remarkable it is that later TNG can feel so contemporary and yet early TNG doesn't feel all that far removed from TOS. Funny how that is, eh?

 

[somebuddyX]

I was saying to someone the other night how remarkable it is that later TNG can feel so contemporary and yet early TNG doesn't feel all that far removed from TOS. Funny how that is, eh?

Someone once compared it to TOS Season 4 or if TOS was still going in that time and I really agree, especially with the really boring soundstage planet sets like "Hide and Q" and flat lighting.

 

[fireproof78]

That could be a fairly controversial statement for Trek... because the United Federation of Planets kind of seems too good to be true...

Well, it kind of is, since we are shown time and again corruption in leadership.