The Mirror Universe

[Aviva]

There are some things that I don't understand about the mirror universe ('In A Mirror Darkly').

The basic premise is that when the Vulcans make first contact, humans don't accept their assistance but kill them, taking their ship and embarking on creating an empire in space. This obviously changes the entire ethos and history of Starfleet, etc. That all makes perfect sense, as it's a 'what if' scenario.

But what I don't understand is why everyone's personalities are so completely different in the new universe. Why does everyone have to be so ridiculously evil for the sake of being evil? Sure, they'd be more ruthless now but they behave like petty gangsters. Also, not everyone's personality has changed; Forrest seems to be the same person, as does T'Pol.

Why? Any ideas? Or is it just for dramatic effect?

 

[apenpaap]

It's because the mirror universe was different since long before first contact. Archer mentioned that the Terran Empire had ruled for "centuries", meaning it diverged for our universe in 1955 at the latest. We also saw the Terran empire landing on the moon in the intro movie. In a deleted scene from IAMD part 2, Archer thanks "The Gods" for victory, which pushes it back to classic times. (Maybe the Roman empire remained powerful in the mirror universe, eventually growing into the terran empire)

 

[Aviva]

It's because the mirror universe was different since long before first contact. Archer mentioned that the Terran Empire had ruled for "centuries", meaning it diverged for our universe in 1955 at the latest. We also saw the Terran empire landing on the moon in the intro movie. In a deleted scene from IAMD part 2, Archer thanks "The Gods" for victory, which pushes it back to classic times. (Maybe the Roman empire remained powerful in the mirror universe, eventually growing into the terran empire)

Thanks but this still doesn't explain why everyone's personality is so fundamentally different, (except for Forest and T'Pol). Why is everyone so crazy and evil? Does every individual who plays a part in creating an imperialistic empire have to be criminally insane as a personality trait?

As for the Roman empire, surely it's latter gods still exist to this day in the form of the Catholic Church.

 

[Lady Conqueror]

I'd say it's just a case of nuture over nature - if you are raised in a environment where the only way to survive and get ahead is to be meaner and nastier than the people around you then that's what you do.

 

[apenpaap]

^"It's easy to be a saint in paradise"

 

[ChristopherPike]

I find it ironic how it sucks to be a Vulcan in most of the parallel universes we've seen so far. Even in the regular universe, they seem to have been pretty much regretting meeting Humanity ever since...