Spoilers Strange New Worlds General Discussion Thread

[137th Gebirg]

Indeed. Prior to the events shown in "The Cage", he had a number of his crew killed on a mission that went completely sideways (from MA):

Four years after assuming command of the Enterprise, Pike led a landing party to Rigel VII. On this mission, the group was attacked by the Kalar, and Pike himself was trapped by one of the warriors in an abandoned fortress. Three crewmen, including Pike's own yeoman, were killed, while an additional seven, including Spock, were injured, some severely. The loss weighed heavily on Pike; with all the strain and overwork that followed, he began to question his own continuance as starship commander. The Enterprise then set out for Vega colony to hospitalize the sick and injured. (TOS: "The Cage")

The dude was definitely having a very bad day.

 

[Yistaan]

Sure, in general it is a retcon. Tell me what happened between Pike's Enterprise and Kirk's where suddenly hardly any women are to be seen? Granted, you're right: one show was written decades ago, but I feel the amount of women on the bridge on SNW is a direct response to that archaic thought process from the 60s et al.

At this point you just have to handwave it the way Star Wars has an alien and diverse Rebel Alliance from newer material that suddenly becomes mostly white male in the original 3 movies (ROTJ was a bit better). Or even in Trek alone how seemingly every Klingon is an augment virus Klingon.

In regards to Trek, the Enterprise is a big ship. So I just pretend the female officers are out there just not posted on the bridge. For what it's worth, there were supposed to be more female characters on the bridge even at the start. Yeoman Smith was supposed to be a regular but actress Andrea Dromm decided to do other things although she's later noted saying something like "If I knew Star Trek would become such a phenomena, I would have done it"

 

[GNDN18]

No, I meant generally. If I remember correctly, TOS's 1st pilot only had, like one, female officer on the bridge. Number One. SNW has, what 4? I just noticed it recently, and thought it was a neat rebuttal to the original series' sexism nonsense still being alive and well in the 23rd century. Hell, now that I think of it, in the TOS series proper, Uhura's usually the only woman on the bridge.

There were three women on the bridge: Number One, Colt, and this crew person:

There were shots filmed showing her operating Spock’s slide presentation, as well as walking across the bridge; both were cut but the trims can be seen in Star Trek Lost Scenes by David Tilotta and Curt McAloney.

As for that horrible “women on the bridge” line, the fact that there were other women on the bridge when Pike said that suggests (for the charitable or enabling, as the case might be), that the skipper was ribbing his XO by way of a low, cant private joke. Or maybe is was just 1964 and GR forgot the call sheet included women in the plural.

 

[137th Gebirg]

I know it's the exact same bridge with a different color scheme, but the Cage bridge always seemed a lot smaller and more cramped to me than the production TOS bridge. Maybe it was the larger number of people standing around.

 

[GNDN18]

I know it's the exact same bridge with a different color scheme, but the Cage bridge always seemed a lot smaller and more cramped to me than the production TOS bridge. Maybe it was the larger number of people standing around.

Other people better qualified could speak to the lensing and other technical points, but three things seem to open up the space:

1. The library computer station is moved forward by one wedge and the station itself can be scene in the pilot shot.
2. The railing had two more breaks built in, and as was often the case, the starboard railing forward was removed altogether for the shot from “This Side of Paradise.”
3. The area around the monitor screens was changed from black to light blue.

And, as you say, there does seem to be quite a lot of people buzzing about the bridge in the pilot. Surprising what $600,000 will get you.

 

[137th Gebirg]

All very good points - yeah, I bet the biggest thing was that they used different kinds of lenses to make the area look larger, much like what realtors do to make interiors of houses look more spacious when they try to sell them.

In fact, I remember when I sold my last house 6 years ago, the pictures my realtor threw up on their website made my little place look like a freakin' mansion! Probably something similar happening here.

 

[cooleddie74]

$660,000 or whatever the 1964 production budget was was a fortune in those days for a television program. Considering that the average TOS regular series episode cost $160,000 - $190,000 depending on the season "The Cage" was almost big screen production values of the Cecil B. DeMille variety.

 

[fireproof78]

Interesting how the show has retconned Pike's comment about still being uneasy with women on the bridge in TOS' 'The Cage'.

Nah. Pike was clearly mentally shaken up and not himself in the moment. He hadn't fully grieved the loss of his yeoman and his comment reflected that. Even Boyce calls him out for his odd behavior.

Largely because there are other female crewmembers on the Bridge.

 

[gweeps]

Nah. Pike was clearly mentally shaken up and not himself in the moment. He hadn't fully grieved the loss of his yeoman and his comment reflected that. Even Boyce calls him out for his odd behavior.

Largely because there are other female crewmembers on the Bridge.

Alright. I sit corrected. Thanks.

 

[Mudd]

Sure, in general it is a retcon. Tell me what happened between Pike's Enterprise and Kirk's where suddenly hardly any women are to be seen? Granted, you're right: one show was written decades ago, but I feel the amount of women on the bridge on SNW is a direct response to that archaic thought process from the 60s et al.

Oh, I don't think they looked back at TOS when developing SNW and said "more women on the ship than in that show." They've already been addressing these kinds of imbalances on their previous Trek shows over the last few years and this is just a continuation of their ongoing practice.

Unlike some folks, apparently, I don't think they ever entertained going through the list of supporting players from "The Cage" - Tyler, Boyce, etc. - and evaluating their potential inclusion in the new cast. They had their three core members from the STD tryout, and just cast a wider net from that point forward.

 

[Captain Jollydark]

Yup. I could not stand all that filler with Saru and the Vulcsn leader. Yeah the time I'd a crisis of galactic survival let's try and get a date with a vulcan. Lol. I used to like saru but since he is no longer Captain he now is unbearable to watch.

Your name really suits you.

 

[wayoung]

At the risk of being judged as shallow, my god the new Chapel is the most attractive woman in a Starfleet uniform since Jadzia.

 

[NCC-73515]

I prefer Ortegas

 

[Jack Wolfe]

I prefer Ortegas

Ortegas is the closest thing to a stick-and-rudder type pilot they've ever depicted at the helm of a starship. She makes Sulu look like a rookie.

 

[Noname Given]

At the risk of being judged as shallow, my god the new Chapel is the most attractive woman in a Starfleet uniform since Jadzia.

Lieutenant Helen Noel (TOS S1 - "Dagger Of The Mind") would like a word with you.

 

[wayoung]

Lieutenant Helen Noel (TOS S1 - "Dagger Of The Mind") would like a word with you.

*Since Jadzia

 

[Noname Given]

*Since Jadzia

Oops my bad.

 

[TRON JA307020]

Your name really suits you.

What are you taking about?

 

[Richard S. Ta]

Loving this show more and more week on week. Finally 100% sold after Memento Mori. Truly one of the finest episodes of Star Trek ever made.

 

[Ray Hardgrit]

I'm feeling very left out right now, as everyone's really getting into this series except for me! The annoying thing is that I'm not even sure why I'm not liking it much. I mean I can come up with a list of things that bothered me, but they're the kinds of trivial things people only notice or care about if they're not interested in the story to begin with.

I don't want to be negative though, so I'll mention again how great all the actors are. Ortegas needs to get an episode soon!