True, there is that. Only two arms, though, so probably not.
Who created M'Ress?
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True, there is that. Only two arms, though, so probably not.
The chest area is obscured often enough. Or they have two and three arm subraces.
Was she an only child, or one of a litter?Her parents created her, of course
If we accept the bio originally sold through LE and reprinted at Danhauser's site (linked on the previous page), then M'Ress has at least three "litter-mates".
Alan Dean Foster actually provided names for these siblings and her parents in the Log novels. (I had jotted them down a years ago for "quick" reference, but Mogg only knows where I left that slip of paper.) She either has 1 sister and 2 brothers, or maybe 2 sisters and a single brother; I'm not sure. But I do know all three were not the same gender. Foster also implied M'ress was the eldest since her "Mater" (the term ADF used) stated they "looked up to her as something of a role model.
Oh, Christopher, thanks for your input. It does sound reasonable. Is Stephen Kandel still alive? It would be interesting to get his feedback.
Sincerely,
Bill
Nope. Alnschloss K'Bentayr was a Monchezkean, according to behind-the-scenes material. And I see little resemblance to Edoans/Edosians.
As far as Memory Alpha and IMDb are aware, yes.
I have to admit Arex always creeped me out. The arm coming out of his chect and gauntish features gave me the heebie-jeebies (made me want to donate money to TAS so they could bring back Chekov).
At Star Trek: Phase II starting at the 7 minute mark of this video...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9JzExIBdSgY&feature=player_embedded#!
Even if we don't see him or his species in the next movie, I personally feel that Greg Schnitzer and the rest of the production crew of Phase II have done the Edoan admirable justice!
Incidentally, in the thread that showcased this preview, I asked Greg Schnitzer if there might be the slightest chance in h3ll that M'Ress might get a glimpsing cameo in a future production. I presented my query with post # 88 found on page 6 of that thread.
http://www.trekbbs.com/showthread.php?t=184286&page=6
It started with a reserved, "Well it would be gimmicky," but by page 8, other fellows associated with the production were pondering the technical aspects. That does NOT necessarily mean they will do it, but the feedback was a bit more positive than a "Get the ^&*% outa' here, you freak!"
Sincerely,
Bill
trevanian
Rear Admiral
Arex is probably the most devout Christian of all the extraterrestrials portrayed in TREK, even more than the Children of the Sun from BREAD&CIRCUSES.
Why?
Because he can turn the other cheek, and then turn ANOTHER cheek (ba-dum-DUM.)
(Okay, it's ba-dum-DUMB, but I couldn't resist.)
Why?
Because he can turn the other cheek, and then turn ANOTHER cheek (ba-dum-DUM.)
(Okay, it's ba-dum-DUMB, but I couldn't resist.)
According to a friend who once found the "TAS Writers' Bible" in the donated research archive (ie. the special science fiction collection) at the Paley Library at Philadelphia's Temple University. (It's a non-circulating collection, but anyone with a legitimate excuse can get permission to browse through specific items.) Essentially, it's a TOS bible with an extra page or two added - there was a little hand-drawn map showing the location of Cait in the Lynx constellation, and another section briefly describing Arex and M'Ress.
So when they were generating her character at Filmation, even though no details ever made it to screen, they had some scant ideas. Perhaps they originally thought it might generate a script featuring M'Ress at some point?
I know I often wondered how Bjo Trimble's firs pro edition of the "ST Concordance" included the "Cait" and "Lynx" factoids for M'Ress, but nothing for Arex beyond physical description. The TAS bible resolves that.
Later, Lincoln Enterprises were selling the Arex and M'Ress "biography" sheets, and it's possible those were written by Alan Dean Foster, although no author is credited on them. Other details on M'Ress (parents, siblings, past career highlights) can be found in ADF's expanded scenes of "ST Logs" adaptations, but there are errors re Arex. He describes Arex as having three eyes, in one sequence, and looking over a "feathered shoulder" in another.
My guess is that the chief animators at Filmation created the look of M'Ress and Arex to address show-runner DC Fontana's urging that they come up with visuals that could not have been done easily in live action in the 60s.
No, the 2009 creators have said no. And he lacks the third arm and leg!
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Hahaha. Pine and Quinto did an interview in Australia the other night and said
does indeed get "some tail". But they didn't look like Caitians to me.
Discussing "Mudd's Passion" has reminded me of something.
About halfway into the story, Mudd tries to flee the ship via shuttlecraft. Chapel corners him and Mudd tries to bribe her with more love crystals. She slaps them from his hand and they scatter upon the deck near a ventilation intake. The crystals crack ane leak their fumes into the vent which distributes the vapors throughout the ship. Ignoring the assumption the air system should filter this stuff, the trace gases start affecting the crew, including the bridge staff which includes Scott and M'Ress.
Why M'Ress? Unlike "The Practical Joker" when M'Ress occupied the station because Uhura was trapped in the rec' deck (a proto holo-deck), there was no real narrative necessity for M'Ress to be there instead of Uhura. Nichelle not available to record her lines? Anything is possible, but since some of the cast recorded their lines "on the road", being "away" should not have been that big a problem.
But consider, this was 1973 and it was Saturday morning programming aimed, in general, at a younger audience. True, primetime had started to make headway in the area of sensitive subjects, this was the era of Norman Lear, but "kid vid" material was (and still is) held to tighter guidelines. Is it possible the "guideline" managers considered the idea of Scotty, a character implied to be of European descent, becoming enamoured with Uhura, a woman of African ancestry, a bit too controversial and recommended another character be substituted?
I'm not claiming this WAS the case; I'm just wondering IF "guidelines" might have been the reason. And, IF this was the reason, there is a certain irony "standards and practices" found it more acceptable for Scotty to cozy up to a "cat" girl rather than a human woman who just happens to have dark skin.
Sincerely,
Bill
About halfway into the story, Mudd tries to flee the ship via shuttlecraft. Chapel corners him and Mudd tries to bribe her with more love crystals. She slaps them from his hand and they scatter upon the deck near a ventilation intake. The crystals crack ane leak their fumes into the vent which distributes the vapors throughout the ship. Ignoring the assumption the air system should filter this stuff, the trace gases start affecting the crew, including the bridge staff which includes Scott and M'Ress.
Why M'Ress? Unlike "The Practical Joker" when M'Ress occupied the station because Uhura was trapped in the rec' deck (a proto holo-deck), there was no real narrative necessity for M'Ress to be there instead of Uhura. Nichelle not available to record her lines? Anything is possible, but since some of the cast recorded their lines "on the road", being "away" should not have been that big a problem.
But consider, this was 1973 and it was Saturday morning programming aimed, in general, at a younger audience. True, primetime had started to make headway in the area of sensitive subjects, this was the era of Norman Lear, but "kid vid" material was (and still is) held to tighter guidelines. Is it possible the "guideline" managers considered the idea of Scotty, a character implied to be of European descent, becoming enamoured with Uhura, a woman of African ancestry, a bit too controversial and recommended another character be substituted?
I'm not claiming this WAS the case; I'm just wondering IF "guidelines" might have been the reason. And, IF this was the reason, there is a certain irony "standards and practices" found it more acceptable for Scotty to cozy up to a "cat" girl rather than a human woman who just happens to have dark skin.
Sincerely,
Bill
Nichelle played the voice of the Female Ursinoid miner in the episode.
But M'Ress was established as the alternate communications officer. That Chapel was known to lust after Spock was a reprise of TOS but perhaps it was a simple as the writers not wanting two regulars making eyes at each other (they saved that for ST V!)
Maybe Stephen Kandel was kinky for furries? The script had lines for M'Ress, not Uhura.
Maybe Kandel (or Fontana or Scheimer or Sutherland) just wanted to showcase the alien characters.
According to Memory Alpha, Kandel's script had several descriptions of M'Ress' appearance and voice.
Could well be. That's why I stressed those caveats in my last paragraph. I don't claim to know with any certainty; I'm just pondering.
Oh, good catch, Therin! I forgot Nichelle voiced "Mamma Bear" in that episode. So availability was NOT an issue.
Sincerely,
Bill
Oh, good catch, Therin! I forgot Nichelle voiced "Mamma Bear" in that episode. So availability was NOT an issue.
Sincerely,
Bill
^Not to mention that the actors just had the scripts mailed to them and recorded their lines wherever was convenient. So availability wouldn't really have been an issue at any point in the series.
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