A lover defends Voyager

[Cyke101]

Another frequent complaint is about constant technobabble. Personally, I found the technobabble engaging, it just seems to help me immerse in the notion of 24th century space exploration. Perhaps I have some bias seeing as I’m a pure + applied science student, but there is just something refreshing about routinely hearing “plasma conduit”, “nutrino emissions”, “power matrix”, etc… instead of free-talk or laymen explanations of scientific phenomena. Moreover, the babble adds authenticity to B’Elanna’s status as an engineer, and gives us the impression that these space travellers are intellectually sophisticated, not just some space-bound renegades or something.

This I would have to disagree with. You argue that the technobabble makes them sound like they know what they're doing, and I would argue that it does the exact opposite and makes it feel unauthentic. The characters don't have to dumb things down for the viewer to understand things; rather, the constant overuse of technobabble makes it seem like the writers (and thus the characters) aren't fully confident in their scientific abilities. The common adage in writing is: show don't tell.

Case in point, Scotty and O'Brien are brilliant engineers, but they very rarely engaged in technobabble (ESPECIALLY Scotty. All he had to say was "She's breakin' apart, cap'n!" Not "Hull breaches are adversely affecting the integrity fields at the sub molecular level!"... and yet they're still regarded as brilliant engineers.

Another case is Riker. He wasn't as knowledgeable as Data or LaForge. But when he came up with a tactic or some techno-wizardry, he never explained it, he just did it. And you fully believed that he was a highly capable officer and more than fitting as Picard's right-hand.

A little technobabble here and there is fine, but as the main form of dialogue? Heck no. Modern day astronauts and physicists do NOT use jargon for every day dialogue lke they do on Trek. Those astronauts and physicists already spend 12+ hours a day with the language, once they relax it's time for them to really let go.

Also, using technobabble as a means of conflict resolution is one big no no. You look at the best episodes that Voyager had to offer, and not one of them offered technobabble as conflict resolution. Sadly, those episodes are very much in the minority.

 

[Jaespol]

... and yet they're still regarded as brilliant engineers.

How can anyone regard a fictional character as a "brilliant engineer"?
Besides, every engineer in every Star Trek incarnation was brilliant and managed to work wonders, that's how chief engineers are written.

 

[Guy Gardener]

Well supposedly Starfleet Engineers can make replicators from rocks, but I highly doubt it.

Besides, she only had to be more brilliant than Carey in a section of the universe which from first principles was supposed to be less advanced that Pike's Enterprise, or maybe even April's Enterprise.

I winced at the mutilation to the time line the Connecticut Yankee in King Arthurs court was making in the novel, as he was lining the halls of Camelot with natural gasfittings, but then he was only a factory foreman and not a genius, though Bing Crosby with the shooter was just great in that movie.

Then Sawyer the other night on Lost had some decent plans to become super rich while slumming it with temporal savages, unlike Hugos idea to... That would be telling.

 

[kimc]

Suffice to say, DS9 is critically better regarded, largely because it was bolder than Voyager, it was different, and it dared to be different at a time when Voyager was just becoming more and more bland and safe. It took Trek in a completely different direction and set a new tone that was unfamiliar to Trek at the time. Voyager, by contrast, added little to the franchise. Most of what it offered had been done both before, and better, by either TOS or TNG.

So do you like DS9?

Seriously, who are you trying to convince? Us or yourself?

 

[Cyke101]

... and yet they're still regarded as brilliant engineers.

How can anyone regard a fictional character as a "brilliant engineer"?

When they keep the ship together with duct tape when all else fails, that's how! For that matter, bonus points to the engineer who spends crucial moments saving the ship, not by taking the time to explain technobabble, but by actually saving the ship.

So yeah, the point is: Scotty and O'Brien are two characters who never needed insane amounts of technobabble to prove that they were smart and powerfully resourceful engineers. The argument that you need technobabble to show "sophistication" is a silly one. Woe be to the engineer who tries too hard to impress everyone.

Oh, Mister Scott. This is why you're the Miracle Worker.

Besides, every engineer in every Star Trek incarnation was brilliant and managed to work wonders, that's how chief engineers are written.

Tell that to bland and square Argyle, who himself has the name of the ideal Pirate engineer.

 

[Angel4576]

Suffice to say, DS9 is critically better regarded, largely because it was bolder than Voyager, it was different, and it dared to be different at a time when Voyager was just becoming more and more bland and safe. It took Trek in a completely different direction and set a new tone that was unfamiliar to Trek at the time. Voyager, by contrast, added little to the franchise. Most of what it offered had been done both before, and better, by either TOS or TNG.

So do you like DS9?

Seriously, who are you trying to convince? Us or yourself?

All true though

 

[Tachyon]

Suffice to say, DS9 is critically better regarded, largely because it was bolder than Voyager, it was different, and it dared to be different at a time when Voyager was just becoming more and more bland and safe. It took Trek in a completely different direction and set a new tone that was unfamiliar to Trek at the time. Voyager, by contrast, added little to the franchise. Most of what it offered had been done both before, and better, by either TOS or TNG.

So do you like DS9?

Seriously, who are you trying to convince? Us or yourself?

Exactly.

Glad you love DS9. I love Voyager.

 

[Guy Gardener]

Suffice to say, DS9 is critically better regarded, largely because it was bolder than Voyager, it was different, and it dared to be different at a time when Voyager was just becoming more and more bland and safe. It took Trek in a completely different direction and set a new tone that was unfamiliar to Trek at the time. Voyager, by contrast, added little to the franchise. Most of what it offered had been done both before, and better, by either TOS or TNG.

So do you like DS9?

Seriously, who are you trying to convince? Us or yourself?

Exactly.

Glad you love DS9. I love Voyager.

This is why I don't like Monogamy. You have to bury urges because you're concerned about retribution from a jealous, zealous and furious vengeful maniac.

 

[crusher]

I like Voyager when it first started I wasn't to sure about it. Mulgrew's performance was a little to wooden and emotional but on seeing it the second time I found i didn't mind the emotional side. I could have done without the marching soldier bit but she lost that along the way. And if you notice the emotional Captain of the 37s is gone as the series moves on except when Kes leaves. I understood Janeway's emotional turn when kes leaves because the young woman had become like a daughter to Janeway and she ended up with an annoying Borg Barbie (but that's another thread). And the jorney would have been hard and it would toughen up and person in a position of authority.

The technobabble I didn't even notice and I grew up on TOS. I loved TNG as well when it started but now I find it very hard to go back and watch it.

But thats just my 2 cents.

 

[Praetor]

So do you like DS9?

Seriously, who are you trying to convince? Us or yourself?

Exactly.

Glad you love DS9. I love Voyager.

This is why I don't like Monogamy. You have to bury urges because you're concerned about retribution from a jealous, zealous and furious vengeful maniac.