From Engage, make it so, do it, to Son of a Bitch

Discussion in 'Star Trek: Enterprise' started by James T. Vader, Apr 8, 2013.

  1. James T. Vader

    James T. Vader Lieutenant

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    It's common now for shows on cable after 9pm to drop anything but an F bomb, but what happened back in 2001 that made Berman and Braga decide that "Son of a bitch" would essentially become Enterprise's catch phrase.

    Seems like a cheap attempt to make the characters more relatable.
     
  2. -Brett-

    -Brett- Vice Admiral Admiral

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    While I'm certain the phrase was uttered, I'm also certain it was not uttered as often as you imply. Not even close.
     
  3. teacake

    teacake Fleet Admiral Admiral

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    Oh pfft.
     
  4. R. Star

    R. Star Rear Admiral Rear Admiral

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    Well at least Archer's catchphrase wasn't "knock you on your ass." :p
     
  5. Melakon

    Melakon Admiral In Memoriam

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    Enterprise was trying to be an edgier show, UPN was trying to be edgier network, and we saw how well that worked out for both of them. I didn't even notice the SOB reference until I did a speed watch after getting the series collection. And the phrase was nothing new, except for Star Trek. Back in the 70s, Maude Findley said the same thing to husband Walter, which was a real surprise in those days.

    And if cable shows can't say :censored: before 9pm, what the hell happened? That's what cable used to be all about in the 80s and early 90s.
     
  6. ChristopherPike

    ChristopherPike Rear Admiral Rear Admiral

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    "You can't be afraid of the wind." Wasn't it? :lol:

    There speaks the guy who's never been in an elevator with me, to hundredth floor.

    Just wrong... on so many levels.



    I had no problems with swears, if the drama calls for it. They can either edit them out or film it Beverly Hills Cop style... with a different, PG-13 take of that whole scene for network TV. It's all in the edit and the studio get two versions to peddle, I suppose.

    Enterprise humans weren't supposed to be perfect and so far this century, I'd say we we're de-evolving backwards if anything. I'd love the 24th Century to turn out like early TNG, but right now... let's just say I have my doubts. Any group of people confined together for weeks at a time on a more primitive ship, would be cursing a blue streak when frustrated. Maybe should've pushed even more in that direction, when the situation called for it.
     
    Last edited: Apr 8, 2013
  7. R. Star

    R. Star Rear Admiral Rear Admiral

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    Yeah, I'd take that line a little more seriously if Archer didn't abort a shuttle landing because of stormy and windy conditions in the next episode. To say nothing of.... colorful metaphors as Spock would say.
     
  8. ChristopherPike

    ChristopherPike Rear Admiral Rear Admiral

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    What they were trying for, were more NASA mission control type commands really. Almost truckers in space, on a CB radio.

    When something's ready, it's "Good to go" for instance.

    "Let's go" probably got repeated a few times. Not really catchphrase material though.

    I don't think you can genuinely try to manufacture that kind of thing. Often what gets remembered, wasn't said that often... or in the exact way it ends up being recited anyway.

    "Beam me Scotty" breaks down as three words rearranged or extrapolated from what actually got said during TOS.

    "Engage" was coined during their unsold Pilot and virtually disappeared until TNG came along.
    It became "Mr. Sulu. Ahead, Warp factor [whatever]".
     
    Last edited: Apr 8, 2013
  9. teacake

    teacake Fleet Admiral Admiral

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    AND they wore baseball caps.
     
  10. ChristopherPike

    ChristopherPike Rear Admiral Rear Admiral

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    I loved all that... although I wouldn't wear one myself. Too American. But hats make sense in anykind of uniformed service to me. You'd think Engineering might be a hardhat or an environmental suit area, the earlier back you go. The movies put that right beginning with the Motion Picture, with areas off in the distance where they were required.

    Those quilted blue/gray leather jackets and chunky EM-33 guns, which look like hairdryers too. They were awesome in "Broken Bow" but anything not futuristic enough, soon disappeared.
     
  11. sonak

    sonak Vice Admiral Admiral

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    yeah, the use of "ass" and "son of a bitch" was a way of making the show seem edgier and showing that these aren't the more "refined" characters of the TOS and TNG eras. It does come across as pretty silly.
     
  12. R. Star

    R. Star Rear Admiral Rear Admiral

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    I actually liked the baseball caps. That would've been nice to see more of.
     
  13. Mike Farley

    Mike Farley Rear Admiral Rear Admiral

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    I believe Archer's catch-phrase was going to be "Suck my fat one, you cheap dime store hood!" But then they realized that no-one knew what a dime store was anymore.
     
  14. F. King Daniel

    F. King Daniel Fleet Admiral Admiral

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    "Khan, you cocksucker!"

    Oops, wrong generation.
     
  15. R. Star

    R. Star Rear Admiral Rear Admiral

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    You know that's what he wanted to say but the PG rating shields just limited him to.... KHAAAAAAAAN... which in retrospect if he said cocksucker no one would find that memorable. :p
     
  16. Melakon

    Melakon Admiral In Memoriam

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    We all know Archer wanted to call T'Pol a f:censored:g b:censored:h to her face.
     
  17. ChristopherPike

    ChristopherPike Rear Admiral Rear Admiral

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    :eek:

    Ah, fer fuck's sake! Am I safe nowhere from Star Trek Into Darkness spoilers...?

    :D
     
  18. R. Star

    R. Star Rear Admiral Rear Admiral

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    I've been generally staying away from the NuTrek board until the movie comes out, but.... dang I hope that's some sort of joke. :p
     
  19. teacake

    teacake Fleet Admiral Admiral

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    Guys JJ has that thing wrapped up so tight nothing has leaked out, KingDaniel is just messing about with fan fantasies. There are camps of "we want THIS!!" folk for varying scenarios since we know just about nothing :lol:

    btw since some countries including my own get the film on May 9th you might want to turn off your internets for a couple weeks because stuff is going to explode.
     
  20. Melakon

    Melakon Admiral In Memoriam

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    Don't you mean detonate?