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Spoilers Star Trek: Starfleet Academy 1x02 – “Beta Test”

Rate the episode...

  • 10 - Excellent.

    Votes: 1 2.9%
  • 9

    Votes: 7 20.6%
  • 8

    Votes: 14 41.2%
  • 7

    Votes: 6 17.6%
  • 6

    Votes: 4 11.8%
  • 5

    Votes: 1 2.9%
  • 4

    Votes: 0 0.0%
  • 3

    Votes: 0 0.0%
  • 2

    Votes: 1 2.9%
  • 1 - Terrible.

    Votes: 0 0.0%

  • Total voters
    34
Honestly, checks out with Lwaxana. And the whole getting married in the nude thing. Though if that was the case, Tarima should have been even more shocked that Caleb was holding anything back, because the concept of someone not being forthright and honest would be completely alien to her, given the century or so of total isolation by Betazed.
I forgot about the naked wedding thing but yeah in a society where you literally can't keep any secrets, there's no point in hiding who you are or trying to change yourself to make someone else happy. Makes sense in that way.
 
Don't forget the additional layer of problematic world-building logic of him needing it at all.

It's the 32nd century after all, there's no way his problem isn't fixable with technology.
If you mean his being deaf as the "problem", then sure - there might be technological ways to "fix" that. But even with medical possibilities, some people choose to not use them for reasons.

But yeah, I stand by my point that it was an inappropriate use of a disabled actor and character. Trekmovie said it nicely:

"It was an inspired choice to have the president be deaf, emphasizing the communication gulf between these former allies trying to find a way back to those shared values of connection and teamwork. And sign language is another way to embrace Star Trek diversity and inclusivity, so we will ignore how it may not make sense for a telepathic species."

But then again - we know next to nothing about him and what happened to Betazoids in the past 1,000 years... it just seems odd, that's all. And as a member of a marginalized community, I just wish for "appropriate" representation. And not just representation for the sake of representation.
 
That was more like an 8 for me, but still enjoyed it.

The budding relationship is nicely played.
 
If you mean his being deaf as the "problem", then sure - there might be technological ways to "fix" that. But even with medical possibilities, some people choose to not use them for reasons.

But yeah, I stand by my point that it was an inappropriate use of a disabled actor and character. Trekmovie said it nicely:

"It was an inspired choice to have the president be deaf, emphasizing the communication gulf between these former allies trying to find a way back to those shared values of connection and teamwork. And sign language is another way to embrace Star Trek diversity and inclusivity, so we will ignore how it may not make sense for a telepathic species."

But then again - we know next to nothing about him and what happened to Betazoids in the past 1,000 years... it just seems odd, that's all. And as a member of a marginalized community, I just wish for "appropriate" representation. And not just representation for the sake of representation.
You could argue it's problematic to use ASL and not the other sign languages though, because it assumes a monolithic community even linguistically.

Yes yes, somehow the universal translator also replaces peoples hand movements rather than just vocalize their sign language instead...
 
If you mean his being deaf as the "problem", then sure - there might be technological ways to "fix" that. But even with medical possibilities, some people choose to not use them for reasons.
TNG had Geordi choose not to "fix" his blindness because he didn't want to loose the greater capabilities provided by his visor.

DS9 had Melora Pazlar choose not to "fix" her low gravity physiology because it would mean she'd loose her ability to return to her homeworld.

Now, there totally could have been a storyline inserted here about how "fixing" his deafness would mean loosing his telepathic gift. Except they shot that in the foot by deciding this group isn't telepathic at all.

But then again - we know next to nothing about him and what happened to Betazoids in the past 1,000 years... it just seems odd, that's all. And as a member of a marginalized community, I just wish for "appropriate" representation. And not just representation for the sake of representation.
Yeah... It's really annoying when writers don't realize that representation for the sake of representation can be just as damaging as no representation at all.
 
Watching through, enjoying it so far - got a feeling of Community meets Star Trek which I don't hate

More thoughts will follow but for now that is where my brain is at and I like it
 
I do admire the restraint of the writers in not directly referencing Kirk saving humpback whales 900 years before and just using the "she's pregnant" comment. I love me some canon references in new Trek, but the deft hand these writers used was appreciated.
 
It's definitely a interesting choice to make the President of Betazed a Empath & Deaf of Hearing.
While his daughter seems to have Too Powerful Empathic Abilities and needs a Neuro Inhibitor to tame her powers.
The son seems to want to become a Gym Bro along his new roomie, despite being the smallest guy amongst the trio.

Genetics seems to be interesting in many ways.

Also Betazed Presidency seems to have 10 year terms.
That's a long time.
 
It's definitely a interesting choice to make the President of Betazed a Empath & Deaf of Hearing.
While his daughter seems to have Too Powerful Empathic Abilities and needs a Neuro Inhibitor to tame her powers.
The son seems to want to become a Gym Bro along his new roomie, despite being the smallest guy amongst the trio.

Genetics seems to be interesting in many ways.

Also Betazed Presidency seems to have 10 year terms.
That's a long time.
I find it an interesting take - to be able to hear someone without hearing them in a way

I know there is the classic "take one sense away and strengthens the others" but that is environmental, not genetic, so wouldn't make sense to pass it on - maybe it is as a result of needing to sense and be sense more strongly to communicate with her dad?
 
I find it an interesting take - to be able to hear someone without hearing them in a way

I know there is the classic "take one sense away and strengthens the others" but that is environmental, not genetic, so wouldn't make sense to pass it on - maybe it is as a result of needing to sense and be sense more strongly to communicate with her dad?
But from what we know of Empaths thanks to Deanna Troi being a main character and having a lot of Empathic moments; his family all seem to be Empaths, they can receive Telepathic communique from somebody who is a Telepath, but they can't start Telepathic communication on their own.

And given that the Empathic trait could show up due to a Full Blooded Betazoid breeding with a Human, I wouldn't be surprised if he has more Human DNA than Betzoid DNA by this point in his family lineage.

Empaths being limited to feeling emotions of others while the rest of the full blooded Betazoids have full Telepathy.

Maybe that's why he was chosen as President of Betazed, the populace can read the Presidents mind, but he can't do the same to the rest of the Populace.

So that makes him very trust worthy to his constituency since he's Psionically weaker than normal Betazoids but have other Psionic abilities that regular Betazoids wouldn't have like Empathic abilities.
 
But from what we know of Empaths thanks to Deanna Troi being a main character and having a lot of Empathic moments; his family all seem to be Empaths, they can receive Telepathic communique from somebody who is a Telepath, but they can't start Telepathic communication on their own.

And given that the Empathic trait could show up due to a Full Blooded Betazoid breeding with a Human, I wouldn't be surprised if he has more Human DNA than Betzoid DNA by this point in his family lineage.

Empaths being limited to feeling emotions of others while the rest of the full blooded Betazoids have full Telepathy.

Maybe that's why he was chosen as President of Betazed, the populace can read the Presidents mind, but he can't do the same to the rest of the Populace.

So that makes him very trust worthy to his constituency since he's Psionically weaker than normal Betazoids but have other Psionic abilities that regular Betazoids wouldn't have like Empathic abilities.
Will carry on watching as there must be more revealed than I've seen so far and report back
 
I love how the live action Brikar is only slightly more detailed than an animated Brikar, so they look almost identical to Rok. :)
 
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