Well, if we ever get another Trek show I hope that it does a better job of addressing gay rights.
10 reasons why TOS is better than TNG
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Except Outcast wasn't about "gayness."
Outcast was about social conformity. Riker's "girlfriend" in that episode was in fact a girl, she lived in a society that had done away with traditional gender roles, but the J'naii did have two genders. They were culturally forbiddion to psychologically key in to a gender identity, the long promised gay episode mearly showed a world of androgynous men and women.
Soren wanted to be openly feminine, and not androgynous. Soren's crime within her society was that she wanted to manifest a "traditional" non-androgynous female identity, not that she want to have a heterosexual romance.
I just don't see The Outcast as specifically dealing with gay rights, true gays do have to content with societal conformity and traditional norms, but others do too.
Today it would show Star Trek playing catch-up.
Outcast was about social conformity. Riker's "girlfriend" in that episode was in fact a girl, she lived in a society that had done away with traditional gender roles, but the J'naii did have two genders. They were culturally forbiddion to psychologically key in to a gender identity, the long promised gay episode mearly showed a world of androgynous men and women.
Soren wanted to be openly feminine, and not androgynous. Soren's crime within her society was that she wanted to manifest a "traditional" non-androgynous female identity, not that she want to have a heterosexual romance.
I just don't see The Outcast as specifically dealing with gay rights, true gays do have to content with societal conformity and traditional norms, but others do too.
Hopefully yes, but in some ways the horse has left the barn. If TNG had had the guts to do a powerful gay message story in 1992 (when The Outcast first aired) it would have shown Star Trek to be cutting edge.
Today it would show Star Trek playing catch-up.
"The Outcast" kind of hinted at the concept of gay rights, particularly with that speech at the end. It was left it up to the viewer to make the connection.
TOS did the same thing with Let This Be Your Last Battlefield.
"Kind of hinted" being the keyword--
It doesn't surprise me that some of the fan's reaction was cynical.
The only shows that really just went ahead and mentioned earth's past/contemporary issues in direct form was DS9, Voyager and maybe Enterprise.
I was almost swayed by the idea that Janice Lester was talking about Kirk not wanting a relationship after becoming captain.
But the dialog keeps confirming that women were barred from being captain;
Menagerie and The Cage were pilots that were never meant to be aired because the studio rejected them--part of the reason was because the female first officer.
TOS did the same thing with Let This Be Your Last Battlefield.
"Kind of hinted" being the keyword--
It doesn't surprise me that some of the fan's reaction was cynical.
The only shows that really just went ahead and mentioned earth's past/contemporary issues in direct form was DS9, Voyager and maybe Enterprise.
I was almost swayed by the idea that Janice Lester was talking about Kirk not wanting a relationship after becoming captain.
But the dialog keeps confirming that women were barred from being captain;
Menagerie and The Cage were pilots that were never meant to be aired because the studio rejected them--part of the reason was because the female first officer.
She sees it as her just due. Whose to say she didn't flunk out at some point like R.M. Merrick did?
huh? Those two shows are like opposites. "LTBYLB" shouts its message from the rooftop and bangs the viewer over the head with its obviousness. The prejudice in that show is overtly racial and is shown to be directly connected to surface characteristics of skin color. It could not have been a more clear commentary.
Also the Menagerie wasn't a pilot and was part of the original run from what i understand.
Both Inside Star Trek: The Real Story and Joel Engel's biography of Gene Roddenberry suggest the idea that NBC and/or Desilu rejected a female first officer is nothing but a myth Roddenberry came up with. They rejected Majel Barrett; rather than recast Roddenberry eliminated the part (he didn't want to offend his mistress, who was soon to be his second wife).
One of these days I need to read the original outline for "Turnabout Intruder" to see what it says about women and command.
Correct. It was also the only two-parter, as well as a Hugo Award winner (along with The City on the Edge of Forever).
Brilliant analysis. I totally agree , especially about kids and teenagers on the ship. 
I really like both series, but I can think of a number of valid arguments and reasons to think TNG is superior:
1. Faster paced, less slow moving sequences of events
2. Better dynamics among the crew, better character development
3. Data's exploration into the human condition was deeper and more revealing than Spock's
4. Funnier jokes, more funny scenes in general
5. Better sounds, visuals, and special effects
6. The Holodeck
7. More episodes
8. More interesting alien races
1. Faster paced, less slow moving sequences of events
2. Better dynamics among the crew, better character development
3. Data's exploration into the human condition was deeper and more revealing than Spock's
4. Funnier jokes, more funny scenes in general
5. Better sounds, visuals, and special effects
6. The Holodeck
7. More episodes
8. More interesting alien races
First, welcome to the board.
Second, please don't resurrect long-dead threads. This one hasn't had a reply in over 4 years. Feel free to start a new thread if you're interested in discussing it further.
Thanks.
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