Early Criticism: What’s Unfounded and What Isn’t

[Nerys Myk]

It's crazy thay shows like Dynasty, the golden girls and Melrose place were far more progressive when it came to portraying gay characters, than 90's trek ever was

90s Trek would first have to acknowledge gay people exist.

 

[CT_Phipps]

90s Trek would first have to acknowledge gay people exist.

Gay people may not exist but we have planets of androgynous aliens with bad haircuts!

A shame they never did "Blood and Fire"

 

[Fateor]

90s Trek would first have to acknowledge gay people exist.

Meh, they gave us bisexuals instead.

Who are surprisingly underrepresented in media.

 

[Nerys Myk]

Meh, they have us bisexuals instead.

Who are surprisingly underrepresented in media.

Did they?

 

[Fateor]

Did they?

Poor Jadzia... Already forgotten...

 

[Nerys Myk]

Poor Jadzia... Already forgotten...

Swing and a miss.

 

[Fateor]

Swing and a miss.

No, that was Ezri.

 

[fireproof78]

Oh, yay. Another video submitted without comment.

Major Grin. Easy to ignore.

 

[CT_Phipps]

I maintain to this day that a missed opportunity is that because Intendant Kira is bisexual, that meant that so was Primeverse Kira.

 

[Rahul]

All the complaining online about "OMG HOW CAN A KLINGON BE GAY!?" reminds me of the flame wars in the 90's on Usenet Star Trek groups because "Voyager" had a black Vulcan!! And, "HOW CAN A VULCAN BE *BLACK*!?" And

I also remember fan debates in the 80's because "THEY SHOULD HAVE CURED BALDNESS BY THE 24TH CENTURY!!" - Now the debates and arguments are over a Gay Klingon and a cadet in a wheelchair and a deaf Betazoid*

Oh no, you unearthed some deep, hidden memories...
Proof that we had this shit forever.

 

[SatrianiRules]

All the complaining online about "OMG HOW CAN A KLINGON BE GAY!?" reminds me of the flame wars in the 90's on Usenet Star Trek groups because "Voyager" had a black Vulcan!! And, "HOW CAN A VULCAN BE *BLACK*!?" And

I also remember fan debates in the 80's because "THEY SHOULD HAVE CURED BALDNESS BY THE 24TH CENTURY!!" - Now the debates and arguments are over a Gay Klingon and a cadet in a wheelchair and a deaf Betazoid*!

*(BTW, if his auditory cortex was blown out, that would probably explain why he can't "hear voices" in his head either - because the auditory cortex is likely involved in translating psychic wavelengths/broadcasts/energies/whatever INTO an audible "voice" in a Betazoid's head. I just wish they had EXPLAINED that...AND had gotten the eyes right (or explained away THAT too!)

and that's a simple "fix" to maintain continuity, mention something about a medical reason why this particular betazoid cannot read minds, even one line about an injury or illness is enough, but if you leave that out or don't qualify it, it becomes problematic from a continuity standpoint.

Baldness: Maybe it was cured in the 24th but seems like a cure would be an elective procedure/treatment anyway decided by the patient.

Black Vulcan: I remember having a discussion with someone about this, his argument was that racial diversity was a core component of humanity that manifested in TOS/TNG and so he was a little surprised to see a "Black Vulcan". I guess I can see that perspective, many would default to "racist" at that point, but I understood his deeper meaning, and besides I liked Tuvok ,once he was softened up and used more dead pan humor circa season 3 or so.

Wheelchairs: showing the character in the WC was gratuitous "inclusion". Especially since even today mobility technology is advancing at a rapid pace. some researchers in Sweden have actually developed implants that bypass severed nerves and can communicate with the brain...

but in the 31st century this technology, along with everything we saw in TNG has been abandoned for breathing holograms (sorry couldn't resist, it's just too good!)

 

[SatrianiRules]

You misspelled Martok.

bah...it's the EYES!!!

 

[Firebird]

Oh, yay. Another video submitted without comment.

It’s his way…

 

[Farscape One]

That's interesting, has he said why it bothered him?

not if he was like the most badass Klingon ever: Gowron

I have to disagree about Gowron.

For me, Martok was the most badass, and best, Klingon in the franchise. (Kor and Worf, in that order, follow right behind him.)

 

[Mudd]

Oh, yay. Another video submitted without comment.

Major Grin's just a dumb twat peddling clickbait.

 

[fireproof78]

Major Grin's just a dumb twat peddling clickbait.

That's being generous.

I have to disagree about Gowron.

For me, Martok was the most badass, and best, Klingon in the franchise. (Kor and Worf, in that order, follow right behind him.)

Stares in Kang.

 

[Farscape One]

That's being generous.


Stares in Kang.

I also love Kang, too. I'd put him in a very close 4th.

 

[CT_Phipps]

Gowron isn't set to Grethor because while he was a convincing scheming politician, he wasn't a coward.

Unlike Duras.

 

[Farscape One]

Dak'Rah would certainly go to Grethor.

 

[CT_Phipps]

Dak'Rah would certainly go to Grethor.

I always felt something got lost in context. Klingons practice total war and it is better to die than be taken a captive but not every klingon believes these principles (and much of it is hyperbole--see Terry Pratchett and Cohen the Barbarian). So as Quark demonstrates, while it's not against their law to slaughter civilians, there's no glory in it either.