''The Cage'' - to watch, or not to watch?

[Captain Robert April]

For the umpteenth time, the key to making the bridge face forward is the pilot dome, or in other words, the entire bridge module. It's big enough to accommodate a forward facing bridge. What everyone is fixated on is the production bridge, which isn't big enough.

But take a step away from the purely geometric approach and factor in the in-universe history of the ship, and the solution is clear: they didn't cut the dome in half, they lowered it into the teardrop superstructure. Relative to the dome, the bridge didn't move an inch, but with regard to the ship, the bridge was dropped down about a deck's worth.

MGagen said the bridge would have be lowered to face forward, but never connected it up with the pilot dome as a rationale. And, btw, Matt Jefferies' cross section does indicate a lowered bridge as well.

 

[Ryan Thomas Riddle]

It's amazing how a simple question — to watch "The Cage" or not — can turn into a diatribe of minutia.

Oh, as to the original question, watch it.

 

[ToMaHaKeR]

Talking about that allmighty bridge, various TOS schematics show a secondary bridge, located somewhere near the deflector dish in the secondary hull. Bridge rotation? Doesn't matter - as long as it has a screen (not a window), it can be rotated 180°

 

[Vance]

I should have known better than to mention the bridge angle in the first place. Honestly, I didn't mean to start a war.

Surprisingly no one has noticed that in this new angle, the turbo-lift doors would have to open up to empty space... To me that's slightly more important to look at.

I also have this mental image in my mind:

St. Peter: "Well, Bob, you've had an amazing life. You've healed the sick, you've been very charitable, you've seldom given yourself to hate, and you've been a good Christian. Everything seems in order for you to go in."

St. Mike: "Oh, wait, there's a problem. You believe in the rotated bridge theory!"

St. Peter: "Well, sod it. Off to hell you go, then!"

Bob: "Noooo! I'll convert!" *fizzles*

Satan: "What? ANOTHER dumbass Trekkie?"

 

[Jon1701]

You know, I just noticed they replaced the guy walking into the turbolift with a CGI guy.

He walks in from a different spot on the bridge too.

Interesting.

 

[MGagen]

MGagen said the bridge would have be lowered to face forward, but never connected it up with the pilot dome as a rationale.

That's because, as Shaw just pointed out to you, I demonstrated oh-so-many-years ago that even the Pilot Bridge dome is not big enough to contain a properly-scaled forward-facing bridge and its turbo lift. Not unless you shift it off center both forward and to the side.

Your "eureka" moment about the Pilot Dome itself being sunk into the tear drop, bridge and all, is a non-starter.

Sadly, the subtleties of proper scale always fall victim to your desire for the Bridge of your dreams...

M.

 

[Keith1701]

You gotta watch The Cage.

I agree, a must see for all TREK fans......

 

[CoveTom]

It is my personal theory, backed up by as much evidence as I have been able to compile, that the bridge of the Enterprise as depicted in "The Cage" is not, in fact, real and doesn't really exist in the dome of that ship at any angle. My research shows that it was, in fact, an elaborately designed and constructed depiction of what a bridge might look like, constructed on a sound stage in southern California.

 

[BillJ]

It is my personal theory, backed up by as much evidence as I have been able to compile, that the bridge of the Enterprise as depicted in "The Cage" is not, in fact, real and doesn't really exist in the dome of that ship at any angle. My research shows that it was, in fact, an elaborately designed and constructed depiction of what a bridge might look like, constructed on a sound stage in southern California.

 

[Gepard]

It is my personal theory, backed up by as much evidence as I have been able to compile, that the bridge of the Enterprise as depicted in "The Cage" is not, in fact, real and doesn't really exist in the dome of that ship at any angle. My research shows that it was, in fact, an elaborately designed and constructed depiction of what a bridge might look like, constructed on a sound stage in southern California.

In accordance with that, I have concluded it is possible 1). that the nub on the outside of the ship represents the turboshaft, B). that the turbolift doors inside the bridge set are 36 degrees off-axis, and III). that it is possible to believe the bridge faces forward anyway. It's related to a recently discovered concept known as "suspension of disbelief," which does wonderful things for fantasy.

 

[Shaw]

It is my personal theory, backed up by as much evidence as I have been able to compile, that the bridge of the Enterprise as depicted in "The Cage" is not, in fact, real and doesn't really exist in the dome of that ship at any angle. My research shows that it was, in fact, an elaborately designed and constructed depiction of what a bridge might look like, constructed on a sound stage in southern California.

In accordance with that, I have concluded it is possible 1). that the nub on the outside of the ship represents the turboshaft, B). that the turbolift doors inside the bridge set are 36 degrees off-axis, and III). that it is possible to believe the bridge faces forward anyway. It's related to a recently discovered concept known as "suspension of disbelief," which does wonderful things for fantasy.

... and

q). there is no right or wrong way to enjoy Trek.​

So you enjoy it your way, I'll enjoy it mine.

 

[plynch]

Y'know I've been around this board for several years. Started buying Trek books in 1974. I NEVER heard of the forward-facing bridge idea until today.

I was steeped in the Tech Manual and blueprints. I assumed everyone thought the bridge was offset. The little nub viewed from the exterior sure seems like it would be the turbo.

But I gotta admit: psychologically it would be weird to debark from a turbo you knew to be aligned with the centerline of your vessel, then turn 36 degrees to look along an axis of symmetry that bisects the Captain's chair, helm/nav console, circle of railings, etc.

Hmm.

Is there another thread where this is discussed originally? Many of the players already seem to know the arguments here.

 

[Captain Robert April]

The Trek Tech forum is littered with the remains of such discussions.

 

[Ryan Thomas Riddle]

Well, the TOS crew finally got a forward-facing bridge in J.J. Abrams' movie. So let's call the whole thing off.

 

[scotpens]

But I gotta admit: psychologically it would be weird to debark from a turbo you knew to be aligned with the centerline of your vessel, then turn 36 degrees to look along an axis of symmetry that bisects the Captain's chair, helm/nav console, circle of railings, etc.

Not at all. In the Enterprise’s labyrinth of rooms, cargo and machinery spaces, corridors, maintenance shafts and turbolift tubes, there’d be nothing to orient yourself with respect to the ship’s centerline or any other visual reference point. Ask anyone who’s served aboard an aircraft carrier. Stepping out of the tubolift onto the bridge, I would instinctively think of the main viewscreen as being at the “front” because that’s how the bridge is oriented.

And yes, this topic has been hashed and rehashed ad nauseam.

 

[ToMaHaKeR]

Today I watched ''The Cage'' for the last time. I watch the complete series anyway, so I'm not watching that ''episode zero'' - ''The Menagerie'' is just one disc away. Remember, only my personal opinion.

BRIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIDGE!!!!!!!!!

 

[Gepard]

Well, the TOS crew finally got a forward-facing bridge in J.J. Abrams' movie. So let's call the whole thing off.

And TMP. And would have had one in Phase II, if they'd made it.

 

[Warped9]

^^ The TMP bridge is essentially the Phase II bridge with more polish.

 

[The Borg Queen]

The Cage is what The Original Series SHOULD have been.

 

[BillJ]

The Cage is what The Original Series SHOULD have been.

Why? Part of the reason The Cage stands out is because it is so different from what came later.