What are your controversial Star Trek opinions?

[cooleddie74]

Hell, in my Trek fan films one of them references a chemical explosive used on Federation mining colonies that's powerful enough in very small, humanoid hand-sized quantities to take out a chunk of a starship. It's not just something that's canon but a concept used in Trek fanfilms.

 

[Tallguy]

It's a mining ship with 24th century tech. So it's probably got some power and capabilities that a ship 150ish years earlier does not. Ok.

And then it is not only completely unstoppable but it takes out how many present day starships (it was a bunch, right?) in a matter of minutes. Almost including the brand new Enterprise which absolutely cannot stand against it.

This isn't The Final Countdown. This is what if instead of the Nimitz going back in time to flight in Pearl Harbor it was the oil tanker from 1976's King Kong.

 

[Nyotarules]

Kovich/Daniels in Season 3 of DSC confirms this when he's explaining the time soldier Yor and says that he comes from a reality created by the temporal incursion of a Romulan mining ship.

The reality was already in existence, if Nero did not turn up Kirk would either be born on the ship with no drama or if it was a premature birth, he would be born on the ship a few weeks later or on Earth. Unless the writers mean he changed the reality he ended up in not created the reality.

 

[Nyotarules]

Just a reminder, that when posting your controversial opinion, you do not have to justify it, even when asked. This is the whole idea behind the thread.
Carry on.

 

[1001001]

Just a reminder, that when posting your controversial opinion, you do not have to justify it, even when asked. This is the whole idea behind the thread.
Carry on.

Indeed.

That last page was painful.

 

[Tallguy]

That last page was painful.

Surely there has been worse.

 

[1001001]

Surely there has been worse.

 

[DarthTimon]

I don't know if it's controversial, but I certainly believe it was wrong of Paramount/Berman to restrict the Dominion occupation of Deep Space Nine to six episodes. I think Ira Stephen Behr wanted to do a season-long arc, and the studio wanted the occupation wrapped up by the first two. The 'compromise' was six, but imagine the story-telling potential with a whole season of Dukat, Weyoun and co, and the reactions from Kira, Odo etc.

 

[korblborp]

Surely there has been worse.

so, about whether starfleet is a military or not....








:P

 

[Bad Thoughts]

so, about whether starfleet is a military or not....








:P

Starfleet is not a military.

It patrols the borders.
It defends against invasion.
It invades the space of other entities.
It conducts blockades.
Its ships carry numerous weapon platforms.
It can lay waste to a planet's surface.
It can order wholesale destruction of cities.
It can conduct commando missions.

So it is not a military. Someone will defend this to the death (but not me).

 

[137th Gebirg]

 

[Tomalak]

I don't know if it's controversial, but I certainly believe it was wrong of Paramount/Berman to restrict the Dominion occupation of Deep Space Nine to six episodes. I think Ira Stephen Behr wanted to do a season-long arc, and the studio wanted the occupation wrapped up by the first two. The 'compromise' was six, but imagine the story-telling potential with a whole season of Dukat, Weyoun and co, and the reactions from Kira, Odo etc.

I don't think it's controversial.

But I'm thankful we got as many as six episodes - over on Voyager they were only allowed a two-parter for Year of Hell. At the time that kind of arc was unprecedented.

They did get to devote a third of the final season to the closing serialised arc.

 

[137th Gebirg]

I agree that it should have been longer, but I’m thankful we got what we got. Running that arc in only two episodes would have been pointless.

 

[Shawnster]

For mining.

For "mining".

 

[Bad Thoughts]

I don't know if it's controversial, but I certainly believe it was wrong of Paramount/Berman to restrict the Dominion occupation of Deep Space Nine to six episodes. I think Ira Stephen Behr wanted to do a season-long arc, and the studio wanted the occupation wrapped up by the first two. The 'compromise' was six, but imagine the story-telling potential with a whole season of Dukat, Weyoun and co, and the reactions from Kira, Odo etc.

I don't think it's controversial.

But I'm thankful we got as many as six episodes - over on Voyager they were only allowed a two-parter for Year of Hell. At the time that kind of arc was unprecedented.

They did get to devote a third of the final season to the closing serialised arc.

To be fair to Paramount and Berman, Behr always said it would be a smaller number, but which ended up growing, often just haphazardly. For the occupation that began season 6, Paramount wanted two, Behr wanted four, they gave him four, but then it ballooned out to six. And even after six episodes, the war wasn't over, carrying over into the seventh season. The "final chapters" was supposed to be (something like) seven episodes, including a two-hour episode, but ballooned out as well. All sorts of episodes in between featured some elements related to the war. Behr always dmits that he doesn't plan the way other showrunners would. He would have ideas about where the season should end up, but then let it grow organically. I'm sure it looked messy.

So I can appreciate the frustration, but Berman and Paramount were not just concerned with how seasons were planned. They disliked having a war as part of the series. I know there are still people who dislike it. From my perspective, the Dominion war helped the franchise have a larger footprint, addressing larger issues that can't be reduced just to egos and hurt feelings. Although I think the Klingon-Federation War from Disco was less successful, it also pushed themes that the franchise needed to address. Nonetheless, the resistance to the Dominion War seemed to have played out it the reduction of resources available in those last episodes. The finale was already rushed trying to tie up loose ends, but on top of that, several scenes don't look as good as they could have. Indeed, the space battle isn't interesting--not bad, just not special. The destruction of the Defiant is probably the last great special effect we get.

 

[Rowdy Roddy McDowall]

Just a reminder, that when posting your controversial opinion, you do not have to justify it, even when asked. This is the whole idea behind the thread.
Carry on.

Plomeek soup provokes Vulcans if cooked incorrectly. Get WITH it, Chapel.

 

[kkt]

I’m not going to deny that Kirk and Spock are monoliths of the Trek World.

No character has approached that level, I can’t agree with. Some TNG characters at least approached that level in the heyday of the show and to some extent various VOY characters too.

I’d say Picard, Data, LaForge, maybe even Worf were (and to some extent still are) truly iconic and I’d say the same for Janeway and Seven.

What Kirk and Spock (and TOS) have that the others don’t is longevity.

It’s one thing to be a cultural icon. They come and go. Kirk and Spock are in that same sphere as Sherlock Holmes, Dracula etc. now. They are enduring cultural icons.

Not to argue with you. I agree with the spirit of your post, just not the letter. :-)



I think you’ve wandered into the wrong thread. That’s not even slightly controversial, unless you are Fireproof.

Hm. Kira, Dukat, Garak, Sisko... all have their own claims to being best.

Quark is DS9's best character. The show has lots and lots of great characters but Quark is the best one of them all. He is so relatable and human it's hard not to like him, even when he is doing is schemes and being sleazy. Also given added depth by not being cool with murder, even if profit can be had and really loving Rom, even he is always calling him a idiot.

Okay, Quark's a great character. But Kira, Dukat, Garak, Sisko. Even Nog, for his character arc.

 

[Farscape One]

This is why DS9 is the best series in the franchise. (Well... one of the many reasons.)

They have a massive list of excellent characters. Even many of the secondary characters (ones not listed in the main theme) are more rounded and fleshed out than a lot of lead characters in the franchise. Hell, Morn got more development than some lead characters... and he never uttered a single word!

DS9 is possibly the best example of what a series can accomplish with minimal studio/executive/suit interference.

 

[Bad Thoughts]

I’m not going to deny that Kirk and Spock are monoliths of the Trek World.

No character has approached that level, I can’t agree with. Some TNG characters at least approached that level in the heyday of the show and to some extent various VOY characters too.

I’d say Picard, Data, LaForge, maybe even Worf were (and to some extent still are) truly iconic and I’d say the same for Janeway and Seven.

What Kirk and Spock (and TOS) have that the others don’t is longevity.

It’s one thing to be a cultural icon. They come and go. Kirk and Spock are in that same sphere as Sherlock Holmes, Dracula etc. now. They are enduring cultural icons.

Not to argue with you. I agree with the spirit of your post, just not the letter. :-)

Hm. Kira, Dukat, Garak, Sisko... all have their own claims to being best.

They have a massive list of excellent characters. Even many of the secondary characters (ones not listed in the main theme) are more rounded and fleshed out than a lot of lead characters in the franchise. Hell, Morn got more development than some lead characters... and he never uttered a single word!

I hate to admit it, but like @Richard S. Ta wrote, Kirk and Spock are now the only culturally significant characters. All thr TNG, DS9, and VOY characters are worthwhile, perhaps having their moments in the sun. And I feel DS9 approaches the quality of theater at times. It's not the characters, not the acting, not the stories. Star Trek simply occupies less of the cultural imagination. I'm not sure what the kids watch these days, but it isn't Star Trek. Well, my son does, but he seems to be alone. It might be because of missteps by Kurtzman et al, but there are at least broader trends in play. I hate being a pessimist, but it hurts to see talented people work hard to promote the franchise but not getting much traction.

Let me add: Free Star Trek! Something that could help would be making legacy series, including all movies up to Beyond, available to streaming services and broadcast stations, such that anyone can watch them without additional cost.

 

[Richard S. Ta]

I hate to admit it, but Kirk and Spock are now the only culturally significant characters.

That’s what I said.