Mirror Universe problems

[Itisnotlogical]

I've noticed a pretty big problem with the mirror universe... it seems that Starfleet is the only faction/species that got the old switcharoo. All other species seem to be exactly as they are in the normal universe. Has anyone else noticed this? It seems kind of obvious, looking back on all the mirror episodes.

 

[YARN]

I've noticed a pretty big problem with the mirror universe... it seems that Starfleet is the only faction/species that got the old switcharoo. All other species seem to be exactly as they are in the normal universe. Has anyone else noticed this? It seems kind of obvious, looking back on all the mirror episodes.

It's not a problem. It's an alternate universe, not an "Everything is exactly opposite universe."

 

[DonIago]

It certainly seemed obvious to me that Bajor was the sa....oh wait...

 

[Deckerd]

I've noticed a pretty big problem with the mirror universe... it seems that Starfleet is the only faction/species that got the old switcharoo. All other species seem to be exactly as they are in the normal universe. Has anyone else noticed this? It seems kind of obvious, looking back on all the mirror episodes.

It's not a problem. It's an alternate universe, not an "Everything is exactly opposite universe."

Not so. A 'mirror universe' suggests opposites. An 'alternate universe' suggests anything is possible.

 

[Pemmer Harge]

I guess originally the Mirror Universe was a universe where the Federation was evil, but then DS9 kind of changed it into a universe that was just "darker and edgier" with more leather.

Really though, I don't think the concept bears too much scrutiny - if everything's so different, how come everyone's parents still got together?

 

[F. King Daniel]

The problem with the mirror universe is the ridiculous amount of coincidence required for everyone's mirror-universe counterparts to always be in the same place the primes are. It makes Kirk bumping into Spock in the Delta Vega ice cave, and then both of them bumping into Scotty, seem like the most normal thing ever.

 

[YARN]

Not so. A 'mirror universe' suggests opposites. An 'alternate universe' suggests anything is possible.

Mirrors don't show pure opposites. Left and right are swapped, but not up and down, or light and dark, etc.

In the case of the Trek mirror universe, the Federation is altered while everything else remains constant. We are seeing a mirror image of a different Federation.

Or we could simply not take the metaphor so literally.

 

[Nardpuncher]

Really though, I don't think the concept bears too much scrutiny - if everything's so different, how come everyone's parents still got together?

This is mind-blowingly insightful! I mean that...you really went right to the base of it and blew my mind. It's really something writers should take into account the next time they write alternate universe stories: people that don't exist because their parents never met.


I brought up a question about the Mirror Universe about a month ago, where I thought that since the episode was called Mirror, Mirror that indeed everything would be opposite. I thought that in the late 80s when I first saw the episode and obviously hadn't seen the DS9 episodes.

 

[RandyS]

I guess originally the Mirror Universe was a universe where the Federation was evil, but then DS9 kind of changed it into a universe that was just "darker and edgier" with more leather.

Really though, I don't think the concept bears too much scrutiny - if everything's so different, how come everyone's parents still got together?

Not true. Ben and Jennifer didn't make Jake. And, it's pretty obvious there's no Data there either.

 

[Nardpuncher]

I guess originally the Mirror Universe was a universe where the Federation was evil, but then DS9 kind of changed it into a universe that was just "darker and edgier" with more leather.

Really though, I don't think the concept bears too much scrutiny - if everything's so different, how come everyone's parents still got together?

Not true. Ben and Jennifer didn't make Jake. And, it's pretty obvious there's no Data there either.

Aw c'mon...you're right, but he had a great point!

 

[F. King Daniel]

I guess originally the Mirror Universe was a universe where the Federation was evil, but then DS9 kind of changed it into a universe that was just "darker and edgier" with more leather.

Really though, I don't think the concept bears too much scrutiny - if everything's so different, how come everyone's parents still got together?

Not true. Ben and Jennifer didn't make Jake. And, it's pretty obvious there's no Data there either.

How can you be sure there's no Data when we've only seen the 24th century from DS9's perspective? We didn't see Data in DS9 or Voyager either, bit it doesn't mean he doesn't exist.

 

[Greg Cox]

Yeah, "Mirror Universe" is just a nickname derived from the title of the original "Mirror, Mirror" episode. It's not literally supposed to be some sort of Bizarro-world, where everything is opposite. We just call it the Mirror Universe to distinguish it from all other alternate timelines out there.

 

[RandyS]

I guess originally the Mirror Universe was a universe where the Federation was evil, but then DS9 kind of changed it into a universe that was just "darker and edgier" with more leather.

Really though, I don't think the concept bears too much scrutiny - if everything's so different, how come everyone's parents still got together?

Not true. Ben and Jennifer didn't make Jake. And, it's pretty obvious there's no Data there either.

How can you be sure there's no Data when we've only seen the 24th century from DS9's perspective? We didn't see Data in DS9 or Voyager either, bit it doesn't mean he doesn't exist.

It seems obvious since there's no Federation in the Mirror universe, and Soong is either a slave or dead (the latter being more likely), so he didn't have access to the technology to build Data. And, on the off chance that a Soong type android did exist there, he'd be more likely to be like Lore than Data.

 

[Greg Cox]

It seems obvious since there's no Federation in the Mirror universe, and Soong is either a slave or dead (the latter being more likely), so he didn't have access to the technology to build Data. And, on the off chance that a Soong type android did exist there, he'd be more likely to be like Lore than Data.

And this is where I can't resist pointing out that Mirror version of Soong appears in my novella in the MIRROR UNIVERSE: GLASS EMPIRES anthology. Along with Mirror Picard, Mirror Vash, and Mirror Wesley.

Thanks for giving me the perfect cue to plug my book!

 

[DonIago]

(tsks and shakes his head slowly) Oh Greg, you're so shameless.

I would be curious to see more of the antagonist of that story, though, see if there are any substantial ways they differ from what we've come to expect.

 

[Mr Silver]

Theres more than just Starfleet "Switcheroos"

*Bajor and Cardassia are allies, in fact in some cases (Intendant Kira) the Bajorans have a lot of power compared to their Cardassian allies

*The Ferengi Alliance seem to be less motivated towards profit, Quark for example was considerably more sympathetic to the Terran's cause (than his prime counterpart was to the Bajoran's) Both Rom and Brunt were freedom fighters of sorts compared to their Prime counterparts a pacifistic Engineer and a ruthless Liquadator

*The Vulcans, although still logical, have no problems exercising their positions of authority, such as Spock using "Vulcan's" to intimidate fellow officers, who plot against against Spock

*The Klingons are more enthusiastic about alliances, seemingly jumping at the chance to ally with the Cardassians (to whom they consider "dishonourable" in the prime universe) and maintain this alliance, in fact Regent Worf seems extremely naive and more motivated to political power than "Honourable Victories"

 

[Itisnotlogical]

I don't know, I'm one of the people for whom the name "mirror" universe suggests that everything is mirrored.

 

[RandyS]

It seems obvious since there's no Federation in the Mirror universe, and Soong is either a slave or dead (the latter being more likely), so he didn't have access to the technology to build Data. And, on the off chance that a Soong type android did exist there, he'd be more likely to be like Lore than Data.

And this is where I can't resist pointing out that Mirror version of Soong appears in my novella in the MIRROR UNIVERSE: GLASS EMPIRES anthology. Along with Mirror Picard, Mirror Vash, and Mirror Wesley.

Thanks for giving me the perfect cue to plug my book!

You're welcome.

Now please write one that gives us a mirror Data.

 

[KJbushway]

I've noticed a pretty big problem with the mirror universe... it seems that Starfleet is the only faction/species that got the old switcharoo. All other species seem to be exactly as they are in the normal universe. Has anyone else noticed this? It seems kind of obvious, looking back on all the mirror episodes.

It's not a problem. It's an alternate universe, not an "Everything is exactly opposite universe."

Yeah he is right. Alternate universes can be a little different, severely different, and also a complete opposite universe.

 

[Gary7]

"Mirror, Mirror" sounds better than "Alternate, Alternate"...

I wouldn't take the title of "mirror" literally, rather more like an alternative representation. Some things may be the same, but others different in a variety of ways. In Star Trek, it just so happens that this particular alternate universe they connected with shows a Federation acting as an aggressive empire (perhaps in some respects like the Romans). And it seems like Vulcan never truly embraced Surak in their version.

A true mirror representation would be far more implausible and very difficult to pull off.