"Trials and Tribble-ations"
- Thread starter Unicron
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Why do you dislike it?
Mainly because it's built around a gimmick - sending the DS9 crew back in time to Kirk's era. Now, in all fairness, they did a great job realizing that with the old footage. Visually the ep is great. But it's ultimately just fluff because the actual plot of the ep, the reason for them winding up in that time, is so thin and transparent it's easily ignored. I really wish they had come up with a better story with some depth to it, because the idea is certainly interesting, and also ignored the issue with the TOS Klingons altogether.
There are some plot contrivances that annoy me, and some that I welcome just because the result is so cool. So maybe "Tribble-ations" falls into the latter category for me. Sometimes you (the generic "you," not you personally, Unicron) just have to enjoy the ride, you know?
Exactly. Very good fluff. The best fluff any Trek ever had to offer, if you ask me.
I love it. I think it's great fun, and, from a technical standpoint, a brilliant piece of television. Yes, it's a tad fluffy, but come on... It's a Tribble episode. What do you expect? 
I will admit, though, that it irks me whenever I see it at the top of any "Best Episodes of DS9" list. It is most definitely not the best episode of the series, not by a long shot. You can always tell when the people voting in those rankings are more general Trek fans rather than true DS9 fans.
I will admit, though, that it irks me whenever I see it at the top of any "Best Episodes of DS9" list. It is most definitely not the best episode of the series, not by a long shot. You can always tell when the people voting in those rankings are more general Trek fans rather than true DS9 fans.
I don't like it because as the OP states the plot is lame. And even moreso because they screwed up the Enterprise chimes (how hard is that to get right?! 
), and they copped-out by not even attempting to remake the very best scene in the whole episode (and one of Trek's best scenes overall); which is Kirk questioning Scotty about who threw the first punch. I'd respect this episode a lot more if they had Kirk have a conversation with O'Brien about that, instead of copping-out and just entirely cutting it from the episode.
), and they copped-out by not even attempting to remake the very best scene in the whole episode (and one of Trek's best scenes overall); which is Kirk questioning Scotty about who threw the first punch. I'd respect this episode a lot more if they had Kirk have a conversation with O'Brien about that, instead of copping-out and just entirely cutting it from the episode.
Exactly. Very good fluff. The best fluff any Trek ever had to offer, if you ask me.
Agreed. Sometimes it's nice to have an episode that you don't have to think about and can just watch and enjoy.
One would say that to make an anniversary episode in the first place is itself a gimmick, as would going out of your way (the established way, at that) to make a special episode.
I really enjoy this episode. I rank "Trials and Tribble-ations" among the best of the DS9 "fluff" episodes. It's a great homage to the Original Series, well written and excellent visual effects.
If they wanted to honor TOS, I think this was a very good episode choice. It is light-hearted enough that they didn't run much risk of offending fans by potentially altering a crucial episode.
If they wanted to honor TOS, I think this was a very good episode choice. It is light-hearted enough that they didn't run much risk of offending fans by potentially altering a crucial episode.
^^ That's true, and gimmicks aren't necessarily a bad thing - but they have to be used properly. Time travel is an age old gimmick, and with solid writing it's been used wonderfully in quite a few eps ("The Visitor" is one, sort of, as are TNG eps like "Yesterday's Enterprise" and "All Good Things." ) There needs to be a bit of substance beyond the gimmick. "Trouble With Tribbles" is kind of a fluffy ep in its own right, but it has a decent story that's more than just cute furry aliens.
I just kind of wish there had been more meat on the proverbial bones, is all.
I just kind of wish there had been more meat on the proverbial bones, is all.
I just kind of wish there had been more meat on the proverbial bones, is all.
But Bones *was* there! What more do you want?!
I enjoyed it; a much-better anniversary tribute than VOY's lame "Flashback."
Even the concept for me was a little iffy.
I didn't hate it, but I can see why someone might--even though I enjoyed it a lot, it's more than a little glib.
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