Spoilers Star Trek: Starfleet Academy 1x02 – “Beta Test”

[firehawk12]

Trek portrays almost all characters as speaking English, even when we don't see a human and have no reason to presume the UT is working. How is it any different to depict whatever local signing is used as ASL instead?

Because even in English, there are different sign languages.

But maybe England got nuked in their version of WW3. lol

Oh, same here. But it’s just so pretty, you know?

Yes that's true. lol
Incidentally I also found signed copies of Imzadi that I had been keeping and gave those to a friend.

 

[GulBahana]

I enjoyed this episode more than the premiere. So much was crammed into the first episode that I didn't get a clear sense of the characters.

 

[firehawk12]

Depends on the story.
The Greek Plays & Tragedies are pretty old & timeless, right?

It's American Media, so of course it's not filmed in the Greek language

That's my point... people adapt them and interpolate them. Even with Shakespeare, there's a reason why texts like West Side Story exists and even that has been updated and adapted several times over.

If you can't accept Young Adults talking like they're from Gossip Girl, which is a dated reference by this point in time, then it might not be for you.
The dialog fits the age bracket and the demographic they're targeting.

Prodigy was made for kids and didn't have the same problem though.

 

[Tuskin38]

meaning he can sense thoughts directly, so there’s no narrative reason for him to rely on sign language at all

Unless whatever is making him deaf also effects his telepathy.

 

[LtChange]

I like the second episode too. It is a so called let's show how Starfleet Academy is from the point of view of two outsiders, Caleb and Tarima. But they showed us every possible location I think, from the backyard to the cantina and the class rooms and living rooms. I did not mind. It is the same 8/10 grade for me as for the pilot.

 

[Uncle Sock]

Unless whatever is making him deaf also effects his telepathy.

Oh, right. I didn't even think of that!

That could also explain why his daughter was using sign language to talk to him. At first I thought it was her neural inhibitor, but your idea is pretty solid. Thanks!

 

[eschaton]

The universal translator explains spoken English, but that doesn’t resolve the internal inconsistency here. The president is Betazoid, meaning he can sense thoughts directly, so there’s no narrative reason for him to rely on sign language at all. Using ASL instead of an in-universe Betazoid system further breaks worldbuilding logic, drawing attention away from the story. This isn’t about realism for the audience—it’s about maintaining consistency within the fictional universe.

Right, I have no idea why they decided that Betazoids were empaths instead of telepaths. My guess its it's just for story reasons, as having a main character who can read minds at will kind of destroys all drama. Deanna was only half, and thus couldn't. Lon Suder on VOY had almost no telepathic ability. Lwaxana only appeared once per season, and read minds less and less as time went on (other than to make folks uncomfortable for comedic purposes).

If you have a regular telepath, it means that no other member of the main cast can ever hide their thoughts/feelings from them. It means that every time a villain is around, they can always discover their plans. It just destroys storytelling.

Actually, it's pretty similar to how Starfleet vessels should reasonably be a panopticon where the computer is passively recording just about everything at all times, yet this doesn't happen because it would destroy plots around murder mysteries, escapes from the brig, intruders, etc.

 

[Kamen Rider Blade]

That's my point... people adapt them and interpolate them. Even with Shakespeare, there's a reason why texts like West Side Story exists and even that has been updated and adapted several times over.

Depends on the interpretation, some modernize it, some try to be faithful to the original.
It depends on which adaptation you read.

Prodigy was made for kids and didn't have the same problem though.

Prodigy always seemed to have a focus on the tight group going on an adventure.
StarFleet Academy for them was a background setting for S2.

This show's entire point is the SFA setting.

 

[DaveyNY]

The universal translator explains spoken English, but that doesn’t resolve the internal inconsistency here. The president is Betazoid, meaning he can sense thoughts directly, so there’s no narrative reason for him to rely on sign language at all. Using ASL instead of an in-universe Betazoid system further breaks worldbuilding logic, drawing attention away from the story. This isn’t about realism for the audience—it’s about maintaining consistency within the fictional universe.

Can he though?

Perhaps he was chosen to be President because he isn't capable of doing so.
Which could also be the result of being deaf.

 

[Kamen Rider Blade]

Right, I have no idea why they decided that Betazoids were empaths instead of telepaths. My guess its it's just for story reasons, as having a main character who can read minds at will kind of destroys all drama. Deanna was only half, and thus couldn't. Lon Suder on VOY had almost no telepathic ability. Lwaxana only appeared once per season, and read minds less and less as time went on (other than to make folks uncomfortable for comedic purposes).

Or maybe it's that his family is special.
The President seems to have issues with Telepathy and needs Sign Language, despite being a Betazoid.

While his Daughter needs a Neural Inhibitor to suppress her powers as well.

We don't know if his Son needs a Neural Inhibitor for the same reason.

 

[eschaton]

Or maybe it's that his family is special.
The President seems to have issues with Telepathy and needs Sign Language, despite being a Betazoid.

While his Daughter needs a Neural Inhibitor to suppress her powers as well.

We don't know if his Son needs a Neural Inhibitor for the same reason.

It's possible, though the script comes right out and says Betazoids are empaths, but not telepaths. And Tarima's dialogue talks about empathic skill only among her race.

I really think they just retconned the race, but maybe there's some Burn-related technobabble for why they lost their abilities.

Seems like, based upon the little bit from the trailers, Tarima is going to have some weird superhero-like ability ultimately.

 

[firehawk12]

Right, I have no idea why they decided that Betazoids were empaths instead of telepaths. My guess its it's just for story reasons, as having a main character who can read minds at will kind of destroys all drama. Deanna was only half, and thus couldn't. Lon Suder on VOY had almost no telepathic ability. Lwaxana only appeared once per season, and read minds less and less as time went on (other than to make folks uncomfortable for comedic purposes).

If you have a regular telepath, it means that no other member of the main cast can ever hide their thoughts/feelings from them. It means that every time a villain is around, they can always discover their plans. It just destroys storytelling.

Actually, it's pretty similar to how Starfleet vessels should reasonably be a panopticon where the computer is passively recording just about everything at all times, yet this doesn't happen because it would destroy plots around murder mysteries, escapes from the brig, intruders, etc.

They're wearing the hormone inhibitors, but I can't remember if that's the reason why all they have is empathic powers. It's an easy way to get around that problem you mentioned, although in TNG they just made up excuses for why Troi's ability didn't work each time... just like how they disable transporters when it's convenient for the story.

Depends on the interpretation, some modernize it, some try to be faithful to the original.
It depends on which adaptation you read.

Why would Betazoids be watching 21st century movies and TV shows without any adaptation?

Ultimately I don't care, but it just takes me out of the text because it's not even consistent with how we exist now. Do people still use Latin? Sure? Are there teenagers who use Latin? Undoubtedly. Are these teenagers calling each other Bitch in Latin in their spare time? I'm sure there's at least one I suppose.

Prodigy always seemed to have a focus on the tight group going on an adventure.
StarFleet Academy for them was a background setting for S2.

This show's entire point is the SFA setting.

I honestly have no idea what teen shows are on now so I have nothing to compare it to, but if I was a kid I'd feel totally patronized by the show if the whole point was to make these people sound like them.

 

[tenmei]

Could anyone with reasonable telepathic powers be siphoned out of society to prop up the psychic shield around the systems, leaving only low level telepaths and empaths around to do everything else in society. Tarima is Tam Elbrun level so Daddy Sadal makes her use the inhibitor to hide her teep powers so she doesnt get taken for the psych field?

 

[Kamen Rider Blade]

They're wearing the hormone inhibitors, but I can't remember if that's the reason why all they have is empathic powers. It's an easy way to get around that problem you mentioned, although in TNG they just made up excuses for why Troi's ability didn't work each time... just like how they disable transporters when it's convenient for the story.

Troi's Empathic Powers worked more often than not.

As for the rest of them, has their been more cross breeding with non Betazoids, diluting their potential bloodline over the centuries?

So Hybrids with Empathic or Non-Telepathic powers are more common amongst the populace?

 

[Fateor]

The universal translator explains spoken English, but that doesn’t resolve the internal inconsistency here. The president is Betazoid, meaning he can sense thoughts directly, so there’s no narrative reason for him to rely on sign language at all. Using ASL instead of an in-universe Betazoid system further breaks worldbuilding logic, drawing attention away from the story. This isn’t about realism for the audience—it’s about maintaining consistency within the fictional universe.

Don't forget the additional layer of problematic world-building logic of him needing it at all.

It's the 32nd century after all, there's no way his problem isn't fixable with technology.

It's possible, though the script comes right out and says Betazoids are empaths, but not telepaths. And Tarima's dialogue talks about empathic skill only among her race.

I really think they just retconned the race, but maybe there's some Burn-related technobabble for why they lost their abilities.

Seems like, based upon the little bit from the trailers, Tarima is going to have some weird superhero-like ability ultimately.

Season 4 of Lower Decks literally had a strike team of Telepathic betazoid spies.

There's no retconning that.

 

[eschaton]

One thing's for sure...Tarima's brother must not be a telepath, or he'd know how goddamned annoying everyone finds him.

 

[firehawk12]

Could anyone with reasonable telepathic powers be siphoned out of society to prop up the psychic shield around the systems, leaving only low level telepaths and empaths around to do everything else in society. Tarima is Tam Elbrun level so Daddy Sadal makes her use the inhibitor to hide her teep powers so she doesnt get taken for the psych field?

Troi's Empathic Powers worked more often than not.

As for the rest of them, has their been more cross breeding with non Betazoids, diluting their potential bloodline over the centuries?

So Hybrids with Empathic or Non-Telepathic powers are more common amongst the populace?

Or maybe the other thing would be that some other alien species got so paranoid about their skills that they basically committed war crimes and targeted those who exhibited more hormones? Or maybe their was some kind of civil war based on how the powers were being used.

But now I'm thinking of Babylon 5 and the Telepath War I suppose...

 

[eschaton]

Season 4 of Lower Decks literally had a strike team of Telepathic betazoid spies.

There's no retconning that.

They can retcon whatever the hell they want. Paramount owns the franchise, and canon is whatever they say it is.

 

[firehawk12]

I

One thing's for sure...Tarima's brother must not be a telepath, or he'd know how goddamned annoying everyone finds him.

I assume that they're a society that values radical honesty, so people must have told him and he doesn't care. lol

 

[eschaton]

I assume that they're a society that values radical honesty, so people must have told him and he doesn't care. lol

Honestly, checks out with Lwaxana. And the whole getting married in the nude thing. Though if that was the case, Tarima should have been even more shocked that Caleb was holding anything back, because the concept of someone not being forthright and honest would be completely alien to her, given the century or so of total isolation by Betazed.