Dragon's Teeth

[hux]

I like this one. It's a reasonably entertaining story but what I like most about it is the way it fleshes out some of the Delta quadrants history.

The Vaadwaur mention the Borg only controlling a handful of systems 900 years ago and they refer to Neelix as Talax-ilzay plus Vaadwaur meaning "foolish" in Talaxian was an interesting look at the evolution of language over centuries etc. Seven mentioning the rise of the Devore imperium. Nice little touches that really give some colour to Delta quadrant history and it's development

I also liked "Alliances" for the same reason (the Kazon back story of their emancipation from the Trabe was helpful in giving some meat to the Kazon as a race ....even made one sympathise with the Kazon)

I've always liked episodes that explore the history of the Trek universe and it's species. What was going on 900 years ago while we were still living in filth here on Earth. How did these species become dominant etc

The only thing I didn't like was Seven being the one to wake Gedrin. It should have been Janeway (she has more experience of unleashing bad shit onto the Delta quadrant)

Will the Federation return to the Delta quadrant in centuries to come and discover that the Vaadwaur have rebuilt their empire (perhaps statues of Seven everywhere)

Oh and the obligatory Chakotay story that gives the episode it's title (makes one wonder what might happen if he ever told a parable about the planet of cakes and sex)

 

[TEACAKE'S PLEATHER DOME]

But he did tell a story about the planet of cakes and sex. It was all about how an angry warrior abstained from true happiness and felt very pleased with himself for the rest of his life because of his self control.

 

[Jeri]

Love Dragon's Teeth; especially like Rob Knepper's eewil villain. He has such a dynamite voice; could not fail to ID it even under all that prostethic. He also played Wyatt Miller in STNG: Haven. He and Jeri went to Northwestern U by us here for drama. I agree about the background stories; they are awesome. This one had plenty; I would definitely read a VOY novel based on it. Kind of surprised they never showed up again; it would have been a good chance.

 

[Jedi_Master]

Love Dragon's Teeth; especially like Rob Knepper's eewil villain. He has such a dynamite voice; could not fail to ID it even under all that prostethic. He also played Wyatt Miller in STNG: Haven. He and Jeri went to Northwestern U by us here for drama. I agree about the background stories; they are awesome. This one had plenty; I would definitely read a VOY novel based on it. Kind of surprised they never showed up again; it would have been a good chance.

The current VOY novels by Kirsten MF Beyer includes encounters with the Vaadwaur, and other "bad guy" races from the TV series.

 

[Akiraprise]

Love Dragon's Teeth; especially like Rob Knepper's eewil villain. He has such a dynamite voice; could not fail to ID it even under all that prostethic. He also played Wyatt Miller in STNG: Haven. He and Jeri went to Northwestern U by us here for drama. I agree about the background stories; they are awesome. This one had plenty; I would definitely read a VOY novel based on it. Kind of surprised they never showed up again; it would have been a good chance.

One of my favorite eps too. It begged a follw up since Voyager could never really escape with those pesky subspace corridors all over the place. The Vaadwaar seem the type to hold a grudge too.

 

[Jeri]

Hmm...I'm up to date with the Beyer novels, and I don't remember anything about the Vaadwaur in them. Of course, my memory is not what it used to be.

 

[Jedi_Master]

Hmm...I'm up to date with the Beyer novels, and I don't remember anything about the Vaadwaur in them. Of course, my memory is not what it used to be.

Memory Beta's article on the Vaadwaur (which includes their latest actions in the novels)

Link

 

[Jeri]

^ Oh, that should be interesting; thanks! I'll give that a look.

 

[hux]

One thing this episode does imply (with a few others) is that there appears to be a technology cut off point. Once a species get to a certain level of technology, they don't seem capable of going that much further

Species like the Turei, and the Borg are exploring space in the fifteenth century and yet despite having this head start, they don't appear to have maintained that distance of advancement. Other species (who were initially centuries behind) have all caught to a point where they're appear to be at essentially the same level. It appears as though technology can only advance so far before everyone ends up at a similar level

Gedrin claims that their technology is 900 years out of date but from what I saw, it wasn't remotely that far out of date

 

[Jedi_Master]

Well one of the many conceits in the Star Trek universe is that almost all ancient races have begun to stagnate socially and technologically, and need exposure to the new hotness that humans bring to the table so that their cultures can be renewed.