is it too techno-babbly?

[ThunderAeroI]

My wife and I are watching voyager on DVD and we both have come to the conclusion that voyager is just too techno-babbly. We enjoyed The Next Generation fine, the movies greatly and even enterprise on ocation; however, voyager just rubs me the wrong way.

I enjoy the show fine enough for its entertainment value but they pull out a dues-ex machine almost every other episode with some type of techno-babble that makes your head spin.

I suppose the questions are: is this a reality or am I just making this up, and two; is this because they figure nerds like techno-babble?

 

[Kegek]

No, it's a reality. One of the most persistent and widespread criticisms of Voyager from many quarters over several years is the show's excessive reliance on technobabble. Common criticisms are using it to pad running time, using it as an incomprehensible deus ex machina, and sometimes it's accused of misusing scientific terminology (so that it's not entertaining even on that technical level).

Truthfully, it was an issue with TNG as well, though less so; DS9 and ENT seemed to have largely kept it in check (and quite absent from TOS).

 

[KayArr]

It is definitely the most techno-babbly show in all of Trek--but I just don't care, I find it entertaining anyway.

 

[freak]

I really don't care if it was techno-babbly or not..I really enjoyed the series even though half the time i didn't know what warp particles were! Anyway, the series was wonderful entertainment for me and I still continue to enjoy it to this day on DVD.

 

[Mrs Paris]

My wife and I are watching voyager on DVD and we both have come to the conclusion that voyager is just too techno-babbly. We enjoyed The Next Generation fine, the movies greatly and even enterprise on ocation; however, voyager just rubs me the wrong way.

I enjoy the show fine enough for its entertainment value but they pull out a dues-ex machine almost every other episode with some type of techno-babble that makes your head spin.

I suppose the questions are: is this a reality or am I just making this up, and two; is this because they figure nerds like techno-babble?

it's Stat Trek, it's set in the future....did you expect there to be no technobabble? And your "nerds like techno babble" is kind of offensive.

 

[ThunderAeroI]

The comment is meant to be offensive, because I too find it offensive that they would write a show for a certain stereotype. Most of the people I know find it offensive to think that because you like Star Trek, your a nerd. Did they honestly sit in the writers room thinking to themselves 'they are star trek fans (i.e. nerds) so lets wank their chain by mentioning something totally convoluted'. That is very offensive.

Just because it is Star Trek and it is set in the future gives them no reason to use techobabble every chance they get. It is as if they gave up trying the story for story purposes and just used whatever technobabble generator to solve the problem.

 

[Mrs Paris]

yeah, they should solve every problem with rocks and sticks.

 

[CorporalClegg]

^
Well to be fair, TOS did pretty well without a lot of unpronounceable gizxmos.

I mean those: "We'll have to bypass the whatchamacallits with the thingamajigs in order to restore the restore power to the wazzits in the whatevers," got a little old after awhile..

 

[Lynx]

There was a lot of techno-babble in some episodes, but we had that in the other series too.

It don't bother me.

 

[Mrs Paris]

There was a lot of techno-babble in some episodes, but we had that in the other series too.

It don't bother me.

exactly, it's Star Trek, its supposed to have it

 

[CorporalClegg]

exactly, it's Star Trek, its supposed to have it

Says who?

 

[Mrs Paris]

exactly, it's Star Trek, its supposed to have it

Says who?

the past 40 years of Star Trek

 

[Michael]

exactly, it's Star Trek, its supposed to have it

Says who?

the past 40 years of Star Trek

Strange argument.

 

[Mrs Paris]

Says who?

the past 40 years of Star Trek

Strange argument.

I'm saying that Star Trek has established itself as a show with techno babble in it. It's expected that a show with Star Trek in the title will have techno babble

 

[CorporalClegg]

the past 40 years of Star Trek

It was almost completely absent from TOS and its movies, the first few seasons of TNG, most of DS9, and the last season of Enterprise.

Watch any episode of TOS and try to find Scotty saying this: "We'll have to bypass the whatchamacallits with the thingamajigs in order to restore the power to the wazzits in the whatevers."

I dare ya.

I remember just how big a fuss everyone made when he did that in Generations.

 

[Michael]

I'm saying that Star Trek has established itself as a show with techno babble in it. It's expected that a show with Star Trek in the title will have techno babble

As said before in this thread, I don't think Star Trek (1966) established itself as a series heavy on technobabble. That was more or less introduced in TNG. And I don't think the audience would expect that from a Trek series. Look at all the complaints about it. Do you really think that's what people expected then? The producers realized this and reduced the technobabble with Enterprise.

 

[Mrs Paris]

the past 40 years of Star Trek

It was almost completely absent from TOS and its movies, the first few seasons of TNG, most of DS9, and the last season of Enterprise.

Watch any episode of TOS and try to find Scotty saying this: "We'll have to bypass the whatchamacallits with the thingamajigs in order to restore the power to the wazzits in the whatevers."

I dare ya.

I remember just how big a fuss everyone made when he did that in Generations.

I've seen all of the shows and they all have their fare share of techno babble in them too

 

[Mrs Paris]

I'm saying that Star Trek has established itself as a show with techno babble in it. It's expected that a show with Star Trek in the title will have techno babble

As said before in this thread, I don't think Star Trek (1966) established itself as a series heavy on technobabble. That was more or less introduced in TNG. And I don't think the audience would expect that from a Trek series. Look at all the complaints about it. Do you really think that's what people expected then? The producers realized this and reduced the technobabble with Enterprise.

Enterprise is different, it was made to appeal to a "new audience" and tried to make itself different. Which is why it didn't even have the words "Star Trek" in the title until the ratings went in the toilet

 

[CorporalClegg]

I've seen all of the shows and they all have their fare share of techno babble in them too

I think you're confusing ubiquitous Star Trek technology with "technobable." There is a distinct difference.

 

[Michael]

I'm saying that Star Trek has established itself as a show with techno babble in it. It's expected that a show with Star Trek in the title will have techno babble

As said before in this thread, I don't think Star Trek (1966) established itself as a series heavy on technobabble. That was more or less introduced in TNG. And I don't think the audience would expect that from a Trek series. Look at all the complaints about it. Do you really think that's what people expected then? The producers realized this and reduced the technobabble with Enterprise.

Enterprise is different, it was made to appeal to a "new audience" and tried to make itself different. Which is why it didn't even have the words "Star Trek" in the title until the ratings went in the toilet

Fair enough. But I think you're wrong about TOS and DS9. They didn't even include HALF as much technobabble as VOY. Well, don't get me wrong. That doesn't mean that I can't enjoy VOY! In fact I enjoy much of it. Also, I don't want to fight with you.