Re: OT "Star Trek" argument

[danspector@xxxxxxxxx]

Oh, I can't let this pass no matter how OT it is.

First of all, the argument that "The Dull Generation" is superior
because it ran longer is silly. Is "JAG" better than "Buffy", then?
Was "My Three Sons" better than "The Mary Tyler Moore Show"?

Besides, "Star Trek" spawned a fandom that kept the show alive for
decades, gave a reason to launch a spinoff 20 years after the original
series, and had sufficient interest for six movies, as opposed to two
for Baldy and Beardy. (Split the blame, er "credit", on "Generations".)

"De-Generation" drove me out of the "Trek" fandom by 

1) being so creatively bankrupt as to just steal plots from the original
series (and starting with the SECOND episode, "The Naked Now")

2) that godawful five-act structure, which not only ensures that anytime
the slightest thing starts to happen we immediately hit a commercial,
but led Paramount to put an extra ad break in reruns of "Star Trek", in
places where it wasn't meant to be. Trimming scenes for ads is awful;
putting ads in the wrong places is almost as bad.

3) Endless plot twists to avoid any sort of action, because Gene thought
he was above it now.

4) Episode after episode that ends with a "giant re-set button", just to
be sure that nothing can change. Especially:

4a) The ugliest word in the English language: "holodeck". The place
where episodes get utterly wasted just so Patrick Stewart can wear a
hat, and where characters learn absolutely nothing (not even, in David
Hines's wonderful words, to stay the hell away from the constantly
malfunctioning and seriously dangerous holodeck).

As for "more fun characters", well I certainly enjoyed having an
all-knowing but shallow sage to explain stuff. If Deanna doesn't thrill
you, wait until you see Guinan.

As to the replacement of Spock, who fights a constant battle to
determine the proper role of emotions in life, with Data, a
one-dimensional android who occasionally flips his "emotion chip" so
Brent Spiner can get to act, the less said the better.

Oh, and, much as I'd like to forget, kids, kids, kids! Gag, gag, gag! 

Oh, and the whole "Borg problem" (but you'd have to care more about the
show than I do to get into that).

Sorry, sore spot. (And there were some good eps.)

Dan