The first part of your post is exactly how the Ferengi were originally described in the show bible.
What is your personal head canon?
- Thread starter AmandaSmith
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And then after they appeared for the first couple of times Gene, Rick and others realized there was no way they could continue to use the Ferengi as the new 24th century version of the Klingons, the regular enemy for our new crew. Because they're laughable as an A-list galactic power and military threat.
Haha, yes, though that is definitely NOT how they seemed on screen!
It would be a challenge to make them appear somewhat serious. I had that idea watching the new Dune movies - specifically House Harkonnen. They all look so incredibly goofy. However, the way they are presented, their power plays - they feel very serious.
It would really be an awesome retcon if the Ferengi could be some Trek version of that. Not the biggest player - in Trek certainly not in an open conflict - but the machinations, alien-ness, power plays - I kinda want to see that
By the way (though this might fit better in the "controversial opinion thread") - but it is my personal theory that the utter failure of the Ferengi is what made TNG great. By accident.
Now hear me out!
When you think of Kirk, Spock and the Enterprise, you automatically also think of Klingons. The antagonists. Despite appearing only a few time, the thought of them lingers throughout. If you actually watched the show, also Romulans. Actually MOST sci-fi series are defined by their primary foes to a large degree (Stargate & Goa'uld/Atlantis & wraith, BSG & the Cylons, Babylon 5 & the Shadows, DS9 & the Dominion).
TNG however not. They built up the Ferengi as these fearsome antagonists in the pilot. And then they appear - and all of it completely falls flat on its face. They try to course correct & (re-)introduce the Romulans. But Kirk already defeated them, and they're difficult to explain to newcomers because they look like Spock. Then they introduce the Borg. And COMPLETELY over-correct. And accidentally create an enemy that can't be re-used, really, because it's way too powerful & menacing. Then laaate in the show they invent the Cardassians. And finally they have a really solid, functional enemy species.
However - by that point, TNG has had already hundreds of episodes, and the show firmly established as a show that actually doesn't need a recurring enemy.
Instead, it's a show of professionals farting around in space, and solving problems. And suddenly - TNG is that absolute unique thing - a science fiction show without a primary antagonist!
A show that's more about talking, solving ethical conundrums, mysteries, and other stuff. Which has evil aliens, but they play a very minor role all things considered. And as such, this show (accidentally) crashed all the norms of what would be expected of a sci-fi show (and which all later Trek shows ignore, introducing a new recurring main villain each iteration) - and it becomes this absolute, unique thing in pop culture. A sci-fi show that NO ONE watches for the action, but instead for the talking.
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Looks at top rated TNG episodes...
Harvey Birdman: Hmmm...
Harvey Birdman: Hmmm...
Yep, Cardassians were original to TNG, could be taken seriously, and could be dealt with on a regular basis. None of the others met all three criteria.
Random post-Discovery headcanon:
- Around 3200, a common belief that the Federation intentionally caused the Burn in a failed bid for galactic dominance proves difficult to uproot; it finally mostly fades away by 3250, though there will always be insistent holdouts.
- 32nd-century warp drive, though used much less because of post-Burn safety concerns until Discovery’s arrival changes things, has a standard very high speed and so dispenses with individual warp factors for the most part.
- “Pathway Drive” is simply a new, vastly improved form of warp drive, not a different propulsion principle; however, it allows one to move at any speed undetected and/or to move slower-than-light or to hold in place while still “under warp”.
- The Federation has about another 800 mostly really great years. Until…
- Centuries later, by about the 41st century, the Federation gradually hardens into the V’Draysh (the name originally coming from what aliens without universal translators started calling the Federation during the Burn, but it spread to common use among Federation opponents, and in later centuries by “Make the Federation Great Again” types themselves, and eventually the resulting monoculture itself) as an imperialistic monoculture, and worlds start to fight back against it.
- In the late 43rd century, the “Craft Accords” and the “V’Draysh Reassessment“ lead to the restructured, self-remodeling New Federation of Systems, the recognized UFP successor alliance. There’s a New Federation Starfleet and a revival of the old Prime Directive, but much “V’Draysh resistance” to contend with internally now, though this lessens within the following century. There’s a revival of the now long-marginalized IDIC philosophy, though there have always been individual idicians and idician groups, usually opposing v’drayshism. The old starship registry numbers and such are no longer continued; nor are Stardates, which (if they still exist at all) are replaced by a Newdate system that begins at the formal start of the Reassessment.
- This also all leads to the first-ever example of a starship (Zora) becoming a member of the New Federation Council.
- (NOTE: If we want to do the Russell T Davies-ish crossover thing, then proceed as follows: The ST and DW universes are different timelines hanging off the same gigantic multiplayer Time War, and Daniels/Kovich is partially human but also partially Time Lord (or even an incarnation of the Doctor, though that’s pushing it). And if we’re throwing in crossover things like this, let’s not forget that time — based on old set production photos of CMD L SKYWALKER’s quarters aboard the 1701-D — when Commander Luke Skywalker somehow ended up in the Milky Way’s 2360s and was resident for a while aboard the Enterprise-D, in a series of events and adventures that remain thoroughly classified.)
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I wonder if Vulcans eventually graduate to ADAC - All Diversities in All Combinations - that is, instead of merely allowing for any number of things existing, they believe everything exists somewhere, somehow.
I’ve always found IDIC a little odd to be coming from the Vulcans, who mostly aren’t the most tolerant sorts, though incorporating the Romulans must have at least somewhat changed that.
Well, an ideal doesn't mean it's always hit.
Nils Pitcairn (the Enterprise's transporter chief from "The Cage", and one of my favorite Trek characters of all time) is a direct descendant of Major John Pitcairn, who was a member of the British forces occupying Boston during the Revolutionary War.
And even though Nils is a proud American, he's not at all ashamed of being descended from someone who fought for the British.
Oh, and Nils is a lifelong friend of Amanda Grayson, a fellow Seattleite. They used to play together as kids, and were fond of hanging out at Seattle's Public Market.
IDIC only ever existed in the first place so Gene Roddenberry could sell trinkets.
Really.
And even though Nils is a proud American, he's not at all ashamed of being descended from someone who fought for the British.
Oh, and Nils is a lifelong friend of Amanda Grayson, a fellow Seattleite. They used to play together as kids, and were fond of hanging out at Seattle's Public Market.
IDIC only ever existed in the first place so Gene Roddenberry could sell trinkets.
Really.
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What do the Federation truly fear? Technology? Nah they are top of the line and “anything you can do I can do better” anyone who does exceed their level
Violence/strength - nope, again shown to be a match for most either through technology, tactics, or enemies hubris
For me it’s conflicting philosophy and values - in that sense the Ferengi as the ultimate antithesis of them and entice people away from the Feds values to a world with vices, greed, and “look after number 1” (not to be confused with the instructions Picard would give to Laris when he goes on trips of course…)
DS9 alludes to it (root beer conversation) but the Fed is a society that struggles to accept different lifestyles - not in the sense of the issues of today but in the fact that they almost cannot fathom at times how anyone would not want to live by their sociological and philosophical rules.
And that is why the Ferengi can be classed as a powerful opposing empire…in my opinion of course (other opinions are available at all good stores; please check the terms and conditions before purchase; the purchase of conflicting opinions is final and no refunds will be offered)
What are the values of Federation citizens? We hardly saw any on Trek unless they were connected to Starfleet
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@Nyotarules That's actually a great point. Maybe most Federation citizens are actually greedy and selfish. 
Granted, but I still find it a desirable philosophy.
Yep, fighting over transporter credits. The existence of the UFP did not stop people joining the Orion syndicate@Nyotarules That's actually a great point. Maybe most Federation citizens are actually greedy and selfish.
I know I've mentioned this bit of my headcanon on the BBS before, but not in this thread, apparently, so here it is:
Uhura was Admiral Kirk's personal aide/attaché at the time of TWOK, something between his yeoman and chief of staff.
I got this idea from rewatching the movie a few years back and noticed the way that Kirk handed his copy of A Tale of Two Cities off to Uhura without a word. The way he did it so automatically and casually suggested that it was a regular thing, and likely a part of her duties. As best as I can remember, the TWOK screenplay doesn't say anything about what Uhura's regular duties were, so her being Kirk's personal aide works as well as anything.
We know that Spock was commanding the Enterprise as a cadet ship, and Scotty and McCoy were both regularly serving on the big E (You can see that McCoy's name is stenciled on the door to sickbay, suggesting that the Enterprise is his regular assignment.), Sulu was in line to take command of the Excelsior until those lines were cut in editing, and Chekov of course was serving on the Reliant (and bumped up to first officer through a log entry). So Uhura is the only member of Kirk's old crew where we don't get much of a hint about what her current assignment might be.
I also think that Uhura was one of the folks who helped gather the old crew together to help celebrate Kirk's birthday, only missing Chekov, who was on the top secret Genesis assignment. Heck, she could've even been the main instigator by making sure the Enterprise was in the vicinity of Earth around the time of Kirk's birthday and ready to take a training cruise. If she was around Kirk on a regular basis, she could've noted his melancholy as his birthday approached and figured he needed some old friends around to cheer him up.
Uhura was Admiral Kirk's personal aide/attaché at the time of TWOK, something between his yeoman and chief of staff.
I got this idea from rewatching the movie a few years back and noticed the way that Kirk handed his copy of A Tale of Two Cities off to Uhura without a word. The way he did it so automatically and casually suggested that it was a regular thing, and likely a part of her duties. As best as I can remember, the TWOK screenplay doesn't say anything about what Uhura's regular duties were, so her being Kirk's personal aide works as well as anything.
We know that Spock was commanding the Enterprise as a cadet ship, and Scotty and McCoy were both regularly serving on the big E (You can see that McCoy's name is stenciled on the door to sickbay, suggesting that the Enterprise is his regular assignment.), Sulu was in line to take command of the Excelsior until those lines were cut in editing, and Chekov of course was serving on the Reliant (and bumped up to first officer through a log entry). So Uhura is the only member of Kirk's old crew where we don't get much of a hint about what her current assignment might be.
I also think that Uhura was one of the folks who helped gather the old crew together to help celebrate Kirk's birthday, only missing Chekov, who was on the top secret Genesis assignment. Heck, she could've even been the main instigator by making sure the Enterprise was in the vicinity of Earth around the time of Kirk's birthday and ready to take a training cruise. If she was around Kirk on a regular basis, she could've noted his melancholy as his birthday approached and figured he needed some old friends around to cheer him up.
I always thought Kirk handed the book to Uhura simply because she was right next to him.
Her actual ship's duties? Communications officer, just like always.
In ST V, Kirk did have a yeoman. But her only function seemed to be wandering around the bridge.
(Seriously. Check out the scene where he gives her the captain's log pad. That's literally all she does, wander around!)
New thing for my headcanon:
The movie Civil War is a real life event in the Trekverse. It is the "Second Civil War" Pike mentioned in SNW. Some time before 2033 (TNG's "The Royale"), the warring factions reunfied and became the USA once again.
I mentioned "The Royale" because in that episode there is a US flag with 52 stars, which places it between 2033 and 2079.
side note: Texas and California...that still kills me.
Her actual ship's duties? Communications officer, just like always.
In ST V, Kirk did have a yeoman. But her only function seemed to be wandering around the bridge.
(Seriously. Check out the scene where he gives her the captain's log pad. That's literally all she does, wander around!)
New thing for my headcanon:
The movie Civil War is a real life event in the Trekverse. It is the "Second Civil War" Pike mentioned in SNW. Some time before 2033 (TNG's "The Royale"), the warring factions reunfied and became the USA once again.
I mentioned "The Royale" because in that episode there is a US flag with 52 stars, which places it between 2033 and 2079.
side note: Texas and California...that still kills me.
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