Vulcan/Romulus reunified?

[STIntergalactic]

Since we got old Spock and Romulan baddies...do you think there's a chance we'll see a reunification?

Perhaps Nero is travelling back in time to prevent Spock from being born/seving in starfleet/something else entirely because they don't want the reunification to happen.

Then at the end, the Romulan Star Empire joins the United Federation of Planets.

 

[KeepOnTrekking]

I think it would make a great movie and hope that it finally happens on the big screen. It would certainly be a role worthy of Mr. Nimoy coming out of retirement to do.

 

[Franklin]

There was an interview with Abrams where he said some of the movie is set with Spock post-NEM. So in a way, this movie was a prequel and a sequel.

And, let's face it, one of the great open-ended questions in Trek lore is what happened to Spock and his mission on Romulus. Who knows? Loose ends in the late 24th century may get tied up in this movie.

 

[Temis the Vorta]

Since we got old Spock and Romulan baddies...do you think there's a chance we'll see a reunification?

Not yet. The Romulans themselves have barely had enough development. Maybe someday, after another TV series takes up the plot thread. But since the next series is likely to be 23rd C, it will take a while. That's the sort of story that can't be adequately told in one two hour movie.

 

[Jackson_Roykirk]

^
^^But if the reunification happens in the "Post-Nemsis/24th century/Old Spock" time frame, then there can still be plenty of 23rd century stories in which the Romulans are be the 'baddies'.

 

[Sci]

Well, there's some question over whether Spock's notion of reunification was cultural or political. Was his goal just to spread Vulcan cthia to the Romulans, or was it to actually abolish the Romulan Star Empire and reincorporate Romulus into Vulcan's polity?

 

[Nowhere Man]

I think it will ultamately be a reunification and and " origin " story I do have to agree The Romulans need more time before joining the Federation, That could be left up to TNG cast, I still think there is a story to be finished with them and bringing Data back ( which I have a really cool idea on how to do , wouthout being cheesy)

 

[Temis the Vorta]

^
^^But if the reunification happens in the "Post-Nemsis/24th century/Old Spock" time frame, then there can still be plenty of 23rd century stories in which the Romulans are be the 'baddies'.

Exactly. We've barely seen the Rommies developed as villains (shockingly, considering how long ago they were introduced). I'm in no rush to see them neutralized as villains a la 24th C Klingons.

Well, there's some question over whether Spock's notion of reunification was cultural or political. Was his goal just to spread Vulcan cthia to the Romulans, or was it to actually abolish the Romulan Star Empire and reincorporate Romulus into Vulcan's polity?

Since the Rommies left Vulcan because they objected to Vulcan philosophy, then a philosophical transformation couldn't help but be political. Which is good because I don't see Spock as being a political manipulator, but the story isn't as interesting unless it is political, whether Spock wants that or not.

Not that I know what Vulcan cthia is. I'm a big Trekkie but not that big. That refers to Surak's teachings, correct?

 

[Sci]

Well, there's some question over whether Spock's notion of reunification was cultural or political. Was his goal just to spread Vulcan cthia to the Romulans, or was it to actually abolish the Romulan Star Empire and reincorporate Romulus into Vulcan's polity?

Since the Rommies left Vulcan because they objected to Vulcan philosophy, then a philosophical transformation couldn't help but be political.

Well, there will by definition be a political transformation if the Romulans accept cthia. But they may still opt for political independence -- either as a non-Federation state, or as a separate Federation Member State from Vulcan.

Not that I know what Vulcan cthia is. I'm a big Trekkie but not that big. That refers to Surak's teachings, correct?

Yeah, it's the Vulcan term for the teachings of Surak from the novel Spock's World by Diane Duane. I use it because the context tends to make it fairly clear and because it's better than making something else up.

 

[Cary L. Brown]

^
^^But if the reunification happens in the "Post-Nemsis/24th century/Old Spock" time frame, then there can still be plenty of 23rd century stories in which the Romulans are be the 'baddies'.

Exactly. We've barely seen the Rommies developed as villains (shockingly, considering how long ago they were introduced). I'm in no rush to see them neutralized as villains a la 24th C Klingons.

Total agreement there... Roddenberry's original "neutered Klingons" approach (as seen in TNG S1/S2) was just horrible. Of course, eventually the Klingons became caricatures, which was almost as bad. They got better, they got worse... but they were never really "real" like I wish they had been (I go back to John Ford's novel "The Final Reflection" for what's still my favorite portrayal of Klingons).

The thing is, I'm not sure that they have to be black-and-white, mustach-twirling "baddies" in order not to be "neutered." In fact, looking at the real world for inspiration, it seems to me that you can end up with a whole new realm of storytelling if you take this approach (think Putin-era Russia as portrayed through the Romulans!)

Well, there's some question over whether Spock's notion of reunification was cultural or political. Was his goal just to spread Vulcan cthia to the Romulans, or was it to actually abolish the Romulan Star Empire and reincorporate Romulus into Vulcan's polity?

Since the Rommies left Vulcan because they objected to Vulcan philosophy, then a philosophical transformation couldn't help but be political. Which is good because I don't see Spock as being a political manipulator, but the story isn't as interesting unless it is political, whether Spock wants that or not.

Oh, the story possibilities in this are just RIFE, if you get people who are really inspired.

For instance, as implied above, we'd be looking at Vulcan culture essentially "overwriting" Romulan culture... but what effect would it have on VULCAN culture? Seems to me that it would be ever bit as chaotic and transformational, if not MORE so, on the "Vulcan" side of things.

Not that I know what Vulcan cthia is. I'm a big Trekkie but not that big. That refers to Surak's teachings, correct?

Isn't that the little flap of skin between your... oh, sorry, wrong thing... nevermind...

 

[Samuel T. Cogley]

I can't think of anything that would draw in more "average Joe" fans than the potential of a Vulcan/Romulan reunification.

 

[Franklin]

I can't think of anything that would draw in more "average Joe" fans than the potential of a Vulcan/Romulan reunification.

Hey, it'll be bigger than when Sinatra brought Martin and Lewis back together on TV.

 

[Cary L. Brown]

I can't think of anything that would draw in more "average Joe" fans than the potential of a Vulcan/Romulan reunification.

Umm... is it just me, or is the sarcasm level here high enough to drown in?

Nobody, in fandom or outside of fandom, wants to see a movie ABOUT "Reunification." That's... wait for it... SET-UP.

"Average Joe" audiences want to see good storytelling. The point was made that "Reunification" wouldn't provide that... the SET-UP needed for a good story. The counterpoint has been made that it COULD be used to tell stories which would connect to people today...especially since those stories could be really topical without necessarily beating people over the head with preachiness.

It's a set-up. And it's a set-up that could, if handled right, give good stories. Of course, it could also give crappy stories. It depends on who's doing the storytelling, doesn't it?

 

[maryh]

I can't think of anything that would draw in more "average Joe" fans than the potential of a Vulcan/Romulan reunification.

Umm... is it just me, or is the sarcasm level here high enough to drown in?

Nobody, in fandom or outside of fandom, wants to see a movie ABOUT "Reunification." That's... wait for it... SET-UP.

"Average Joe" audiences want to see good storytelling. The point was made that "Reunification" wouldn't provide that... the SET-UP needed for a good story. The counterpoint has been made that it COULD be used to tell stories which would connect to people today...especially since those stories could be really topical without necessarily beating people over the head with preachiness.

It's a set-up. And it's a set-up that could, if handled right, give good stories. Of course, it could also give crappy stories. It depends on who's doing the storytelling, doesn't it?

Spending $10 and sitting for 2 hours in a movie theater to watch diplomacy and reunification doesn't sound very exciting.

 

[pookha]

I can't think of anything that would draw in more "average Joe" fans than the potential of a Vulcan/Romulan reunification.

if that was all the move was about then yeah the average audience might be
but if it is used as part of the motivation of character to set a whole new series of events in motion then yes it might work.

 

[Cary L. Brown]

I can't think of anything that would draw in more "average Joe" fans than the potential of a Vulcan/Romulan reunification.

Umm... is it just me, or is the sarcasm level here high enough to drown in?

Nobody, in fandom or outside of fandom, wants to see a movie ABOUT "Reunification." That's... wait for it... SET-UP.

"Average Joe" audiences want to see good storytelling. The point was made that "Reunification" wouldn't provide that... the SET-UP needed for a good story. The counterpoint has been made that it COULD be used to tell stories which would connect to people today...especially since those stories could be really topical without necessarily beating people over the head with preachiness.

It's a set-up. And it's a set-up that could, if handled right, give good stories. Of course, it could also give crappy stories. It depends on who's doing the storytelling, doesn't it?

Spending $10 and sitting for 2 hours in a movie theater to watch diplomacy and reunification doesn't sound very exciting.

(sigh)

You totally, and apparently INTENTIONALLY, ignored the point of my post (that "reunification" could set the stage for an interesting story) and instead are choosing to argue against a point I didn't make, nor did I intend to make, and in fact is almost diametrically opposed to the point I made.

So let me be very very clear.

The central point of any story is the PEOPLE in the story.

The things that make stories interesting is putting people into interesting situations which challenge them, personally, in some fashion, and having those people be people we can relate to.

I believe that there are possibilities for PERSONAL STORIES which might be driven by the "set-up" of a period of massive political upheaval and change.

Show me anyplace where I said.. inferred... implied... HINTED AT... or where your psychic-friend-network adviser was able to "see beyond"... that a story involving two hours of diplomats sitting around a table arguing treaty minutiae would be good storytelling.

I'll wait.

 

[maryh]

Actually I got your sarcastic point and was agreeing with you.

 

[Samuel T. Cogley]

I can't think of anything that would draw in more "average Joe" fans than the potential of a Vulcan/Romulan reunification.

Umm... is it just me, or is the sarcasm level here high enough to drown in?

For once, I think Cary might be on to something...