I was thinking that, too. Or else she's not full blood.
I just found out that the big-eyed woman in the shuttle was the doctor; in the book the doctor was a man, so I didn't place her that way.
When can we expect USS Kelvin novels?
- Thread starter MrPointy
- Start date
I just found out that the big-eyed woman in the shuttle was the doctor; in the book the doctor was a man, so I didn't place her that way.
Wow. Talk about completely missing the point of Star Trek.
You should consider avoiding the extreme stereotyping, there.
1. I'm fairly certain that if Gaila was like the Orion females we encountered in ENT, Kirk would have been her mindless, sex-obsessed boytoy. Instead, he was pretty clearly in control of himself.
2. I don't think it's clear that all Orion females possess mind-altering pheromones. We've encountered any number of Orion females in TrekLit who clearly do not -- the group of Orions rescued in The Best and the Brightest, for instance, who not only lacked pheromones but who also, frankly, seemed either intellectually or linguistically undeveloped compared to other species (it's been forever since I read that book, I should add), and then there's Treir in the DS9 Relaunch, who clearly was the slave where she came from, and whose powers of sexual persuasion seem limited to only what any attractive woman can achieve. And, finally, we have Gaila, who is rather obviously not mind-controlling anybody.
I would interpret all this evidence by speculating that the Orion species may have been engaging in genetic engineering to produce females with differing abilities -- presumably in reflection of different ideologies about gender roles. So one group of Orion females is probably engineered to be intellectually undeveloped compared to most humanoids while still being very physically, sexually developed, and one group seems to be very attractive but to possess normal intelligence but no special "powers," and another group seems to have been engineered to produce mind-altering pheromones. This hypothesis has the additional benefit of suggesting why the Federation might have inherited United Earth's ban on genetic engineering.
(Leaving aside the fact that every male on the ship should have been fawning over Gaila, I am curious as to how she was able to room with Uhura, given what "Bound" established about what happens to other women when there are Orion girls about. Maybe Uhura just stocked up on 23rd century Advil?)
Presumably, not all Orion women are alike.
I've said it before and I'll say it again: There is no reason to think that Gaila is anything other than a classy, accomplished young woman.
The stereotyping of Orion women isn't that far off how ST treated species. Klingons, Romulans, Orions and Ferengi were all exected to act a certain way when met. The drama came when they didn't act according to stereotype and the characters had to react to it.
Or, they all have the ability but not all of them are trained to use it, or choose to use it. Also, you're talking about events spread out over two centuries. Perhaps in the 22nd century, Orion women were the ones in power (though it was a power-behind-the-throne thing with the men as figureheads, like how Hurrem ran the Ottoman Empire from the harem in real history). Then by the 23rd century, maybe the Orion males had found a way to break their control and enslave them for real. Perhaps the ones from TB&TB had been raised in particularly oppressive conditions and never given an education.
Sure. And individual Klingons, Ferengi, and Cardassians have all at various points joined the Federation Starfleet (Worf, Nog, Dakal) and proven themselves to be unique individuals and exemplary officers.
Personally, I hope Gaila survived the destruction of whichever ship she was aboard during the Battle of Vulcan. Her actress, Rachel Nichols, brought a lot of spunk and personality to the role (in addition to sex appeal, obviously), and I think she could make for an interesting recurring supporting character in future films.
There should definitely be a Piranha Lass in the Legion of Superheroes. Just sayin'.
Something seemed a little "off" to me, too.
Reminds me of that bit where Uhura acts all pissed that she was assigned to the Farragut and not Enterprise. I wonder why. Uhura seemed to imply that the Farragut wasn't a prime assignment. Why would she think that? Something wrong with the Farragut? Or did she just want to serve on the same ship as Spock?
No, she wanted to be on Starfleet's flagship - it's the plum assignment, and she feels that she deserves it...
I'd just assumed she was pissed because Spock put her on a different ship than himself.
Marian
Not at all. As Uhura specifically said, it had been her ambition all along to serve on the Enterprise, she'd worked hard to earn it, and she didn't think it was fair for Spock to deny her that posting because of his fears of giving the appearance of favoritism. It wasn't about Spock to her, it was about the ship. He was the one whose decision was based on their personal relationship, and she would have none of that.
I just didn't like Uhura's tone when she said (paraphrasing here) "And you got me posted to the Farragut?" She said that like she'd just smelled a two-week-old dead fish. I wonder why. I would hope that the Farragut wasn't considered an undesirable post or anything like that.
"Not at all"? Really? You wouldn't allow that her desire to be on Enterprise might have been at least in part due to the fact that Spock was on the Enterprise?
And, wasn't Enterprise just one of several new ships being prematurely launched with cadet crews, all on the same rescue mission? What would make it a more prestigious assignment than the Farragut or any other ship?
It's the other way around, according to what I've read about Uhura in the novelization and in interviews with Zoe Saldana. To wit:
http://trekmovie.com/2009/05/05/exclusive-interview-with-zoe-saldana/
She's not making her career choices based on her romantic infatuations. On the contrary -- she's a very career-driven woman, and it was Spock's connection to the Enterprise that made her interested in him in the first place.
Because it's the bloomin' Enterprise. It's called the "flagship" in the movie. It's apparently the most advanced Starfleet vessel ever built, and certainly the biggest -- it's 2000 feet long, more than twice the size of the Prime timeline's NCC-1701. In this reality, it's the most prestigious posting in Starfleet from the beginning.
Why? Do you have some personal connection to the Farragut that you don't want to see it besmirched?
No, I just don't like the implication that the Enterprise is the only ship in Starfleet worth serving on.
Ah. Another "because the script says so" moment from Messrs. Orci and Kurtzman.
Ah. Another "because the script says so" moment from Messrs. Orci and Kurtzman.
Right, because it's not like TOS ever said or implied that Constitution-class starships were inherently prestigious postings or anything.
