This brings to a character assassination of the whole crew, in "Unforgettable" we're told that the whole ship can lose several weeks of its collective memory without anyone ever noticing that something is amiss. How can it be done to being with? I suppose they all have personal logs, all 150 of them. How can you alter all those logs in a period of three weeks while keeping them coherent, that doesn't make any sense. And that woman, she says "pheromones" prevent people from remembering her. How about the people who never met her, on a ship of that size it's very likely, but have heard of her from someone else? How can their memories be erased? Voyager has many many bullshit episodes like that, completely undefendable.
Worst Character Assassination Episodes
- Thread starter Oddish
- Start date
This brings to a character assassination of the whole crew, in "Unforgettable" we're told that the whole ship can lose several weeks of its collective memory without anyone ever noticing that something is amiss. How can it be done to being with? I suppose they all have personal logs, all 150 of them. How can you alter all those logs in a period of three weeks while keeping them coherent, that doesn't make any sense. And that woman, she says "pheromones" prevent people from remembering her. How about the people who never met her, on a ship of that size it's very likely, but have heard of her from someone else? How can their memories be erased? Voyager has many many bullshit episodes like that, completely undefendable.
When you consider that these were people who didn't even understand that an ensign is supposed to make lieutenant after a couple of years, you can't really be surprised.
I actually liked that. I saw it more as him finally busting and I think it was much needed. And the fear of losing a family member it makes sense really...I found it refreshing for the character. I love that Data helped him too and they both got in trouble. It was a leap for both of them. I may be in the minority.
Or that someone who's a Valedictorian (IE an exceptional student) is not likely to still be a lieutenant junior grade at past SIXTY!!! Even, if he never was stabbed!!!
Well, knowing Q it's a definite possibility.
Or that someone who's a Valedictorian (IE an exceptional student) is not likely to still be a lieutenant junior grade at past SIXTY!!! Even, if he never was stabbed!!!
I've known lots of exceptional students end up choosing a "lesser" career because it's a steady paycheck, even if they are capable of more. Some want the job security (OK not really an issue in the Federation), others don't like the constant pressure to be "more". Some days, I would jack my current post in for shop work if I could, because shop work isn't so fucking stressful.
Even so, I don't see how an officer who wasn't even competent enough to make ○○ lieutenant would be posted to the Enterprise. A chump like that would more likely wind up as Cerritos fodder, and would be the butt of jokes there.
I would more see non-stabbed Picard as a lieutenant commander, posted to an obsolete starbase orbiting some modest-sized human colony in a strategically unimportant sector. Spending his days and years doing the PADD equivalent of mind numbing paperwork. Believe me, that would be worse than being a JG on the flagship.
I would more see non-stabbed Picard as a lieutenant commander, posted to an obsolete starbase orbiting some modest-sized human colony in a strategically unimportant sector. Spending his days and years doing the PADD equivalent of mind numbing paperwork. Believe me, that would be worse than being a JG on the flagship.
If anything, in real life, being stabbed would PTSD someone into not taking any risk. The stabbed Picard would be like the one eyed Martok (in the beginning) not willing to take any chance. Afraid of crowds because of stabbing aliens lurking in corners... I don't buy the episode's theory. PTSD doesn't turn people into heroes, it makes them timid and hesitant.
But then again, no matter how far-fetched, we're supposed to accept the episode's theory.
Do you even like Star Trek?
Well, I've watched every episode of every series from TOS to LD, plus the movies, several times.
Trauma affects different people in different ways. One person may be like Picard, another may be like Martok.
I would actually think that an un-stabbed Picard would have remained cocky and egotistical, and stepped on the wrong set of toes. Hence the dead end LCDR's berth on the keister end of nowhere. After his injury, Picard gained both an appreciation for life and a little more prudence, both of which made him the captain he was.
This was probably mentioned already but I can't tell whether what Julian did to Sloan was meant to be character assassination by the creators themselves or not.
I'm inclined to agree with you for the most part. There will inevitably be 1 in 1000 where PTSD gives them a "could die tomorrow so fuck it" attitude but also just as many across the spectrum of response through to "never say boo to a goose. This being the moment Picard developed some humility and self preservation fits well I think.
I'd have liked to have seen a similar situation as you posit - stuck in the arse end of nowhere but I presume "budget reasons" is the defining factor here.
I don't think it's even meant as a character assassination.
Writers usually don't set out to assassinate a character, they just misuse them to create conflict within a show. Note "Homeward" for instance.
CRUSHER: Are you saying you're sorry we saved the Boraalans?
PICARD: No, of course not. Our plan for them worked out well...
When it no longer created conflict, Picard's distaste for saving the Boraalans ceased to exist, and his normal persona reemerged.
CRUSHER: Are you saying you're sorry we saved the Boraalans?
PICARD: No, of course not. Our plan for them worked out well...
When it no longer created conflict, Picard's distaste for saving the Boraalans ceased to exist, and his normal persona reemerged.
His berating Data for saving three people from the 20th century is still stuck in my craw though...
What kind of "evolved" individual would ever react like that?
