"Celebrating Unoriginality"

"CELEBRATING UNORIGINALITY"

Many people love to praise FOX science-fiction series, "THE ORVILLE" to the sky. Many praise it for being the epitome of the "traditional aspects" of the STAR TREK franchise. Even more so than the latest entry of the latter, "STAR TREK DISCOVERY". 

I have my suspicions on why so many love to praise "THE ORVILLE" to the detriment of the CBS Access series. I suspect that both sexism and racism are two of the reasons behind this sentiment . . . especially in regard to the leading lady of "STAR TREK DISCOVERY". However, there is some aspect or style of "THE ORVILLE" that makes me understand why many others would make this claim about the series being "traditional Trek". Unfortunately, I do not think this aspect has proven to be beneficial to the FOX series.

How can I be anymore blunt? To me, "THE ORVILLE" is basically a remake of the second Trek series, "STAR TREK NEXT GENERATION", but with a touch of leading actor Seth MacFarlane's style of humor. I just wish the series could be different. OfferA DIFFERENT STYLE in its presentation of episodes. It had recently occurred to me that "NEXT GENERATION" reminded me a lot "STAR TREK THE ORIGINAL SERIES" than any of the other Trek shows. In terms of format and the style of shows, it is almost seems like a remake or continuation of the 1966-69 series. Perhaps this is not surprising considering that the 1987-94 series, along with "THE ORIGINAL SERIES", was created by Gene Roddenberry. This could be a reason why it seems more beloved by the franchise's fandom and producers, save for the first series. 

My recent viewing of "THE ORVILLE" made me suspect that it pretty much repeated what "NEXT GENERATION" had done in terms of storytelling and format. Although both shows were willing to explore the different quirks and minor flaws of its main characters, both seemed hellbent upon portraying Humans as generally more superior than other alien races. Both shows seemed willing to put humanity on a pedestal. The Moclus race, as personified by the Lieutenant Commander Bortus character, bears a strong resemblance to the Klingons of the 24th century. And Bortus seems to be another Lieutenant (later Commander) Worf. Even the relationship between MacFarlane's Captain Ed Mercer and Adrianne Palicki's Commander Kelly Grayson almost seems like a re-hash of the Commander William Riker and Counselor Deanna Troi relationship, as portrayed by Jonathan Frakes and Marina Sartis in "NEXT GENERATION". And yet, the Trek shows that followed "NEXT GENERATION" seemed to be willing to offer something different. 

"STAR TREK DEEP SPACE NINE" was set on a space station and possessed a narrative structure that very slowly developed into a serial format by its third season. "STAR TREK VOYAGER" featured a crew traveling alone on the other side of the galaxy that comprised of Starfleet officers and crewmen, Maquis freedom fighters, an ex-convict/former Starfleet officer, two aliens and a former Borg drone. Superficially, "STAR TREK: ENTERPRISE" seemed a lot like "THE ORIGINAL SERIES" and "NEXT GENERATION", but it was set a century before 1966-69 series - during the few years before the establishment of the Federation, and it featured a serialized narrative about a major war during its third season. "STAR TREK DISCOVERY” proved to be a Trek series that has been serialized since its first episode. More importantly, its main character IS NOT a star ship or space station commander. 

The Trek shows that had followed "NEXT GENERATION" have been more willing to explore the uglier side of the Federation, Starfleet and Humanity; than the first two series. This has been especially apparent in "DEEP SPACE NINE", "VOYAGER" and "DISCOVERY". And aside from "VOYAGER, the Trek shows that followed "NEXT GENERATION" have been willing to utilize a serialized format - something that many fans seemed to lack the patience to endure lately. Most of this criticism toward a serialized narrative has been directed against "DISCOVERY". However, I personally find this ironic, considering that the other Trek shows have used this narrative device with the same quality as the other shows. At least in my eyes. I suspect that this heavy criticism toward "DISCOVERY" has more to do with the show's lead than its writing quality. Even "VOYAGER" has been willing to serialized some of its episodes on a limited scale, especially during its mid-Season Four. 

Officially, "THE ORVILLE" is not a part of the Trek franchise. Why does it feel that it is? And Why does it have to feel like it? Because its creator and star, Seth MacFarlane, had this need to pay homage to "NEXT GENERATION"? Or even "THE ORIGINAL SERIES"? Why? Some advocates of "THE ORVILLE" have pointed out the series' style of humor and the fact that it features a LGBTQ couple. However, "DISCOVERY", which had premiered during the same month and year, also features a LGBTQ couple. And previous Trek shows and movies have featured or hinted LGBTQ romance and/or sexuality in the past - namely "DEEP SPACE NINE"and the 2016 movie, "STAR TREK BEYOND". Even television series like "BABYLON 5" and "BATTLESTAR: GALACTICA" have featured or hinted LGBTQ issues. But more importantly, both shows, along with "FARSCAPE" and others in the science-fiction genre have managed to be completely original both style and substance. Why did MacFarlane feel he had to literally copy "NEXT GENERATION" when other Trek shows have managed to be more original? The only aspect of "THE ORVILLE" that I truly find original is its occasional use of twisted humor. And even that has appeared even less during the series' second season. 

This is what I find so frustrating about "THE ORVILLE". One, I feel that it is basically "traditional Trek" disguised as another science-fiction franchise. Even worse, it seems like a close rip-off of "STAR TREK NEXT GENERATION". I see nothing complimentary about this. I find it sad that so many people do. And I find it even sadder that so many people are willing to put "THE ORVILLE" on a pedestal for . . . what? For the series' lack of originality? Because these fans want to cling to the past? This is just sad. No . . . not, sad. Pathetic. At least to me.

"STAR TREK VOYAGER" Retrospect: (6.26-7.01) "Unimatrix Zero, Parts I and II"

"STAR TREK VOYAGER" Retrospect: (6.26-7.01) "Unimatrix Zero, Parts I and II"

This two-part episode of "STAR TREK VOYAGER" centered around the Voyager crew’s attempt to save Borg drones who are trying to develop individuality. (6.26) "Unimatrix Zero, Part I" aired at the end of the series’ sixth season and (7.01) "Part II" aired as the premiere for the series’ seventh and final season.

When Seven-of-Nine began having dreams about a beautiful forest, she eventually discovered that the forest is a real subconscious realm inhabited by the minds of certain Borg drones during regeneration periods. Few drones possess the recessive gene required to experience the realm called Unimatrix Zero. In Unimatrix Zero, Borg of various species and ages exist as their individual, unassimilated selves and interact with one another. While out of regeneration, they revert to normal drones and have no memory of their time spent together there. The Borg Queen knows about Unimatrix Zero, which she considers a disease. First, she destroys as many drones as she can, who are capable of visiting it. But the process of detecting affected drones turns out to be time consuming and she is eager to find a faster method of finding and deactivating them.

During a journey to Unimatrix Zero with Captain Janeway, Seven discovers that she used to have a lover named Axum. Both women also discover that Axum had deliberately contacted Seven, because he and other drones need their help. They had created a masking nanovirus which would inoculate them against being detected by the queen, but it can only be administered from the corporeal world. After Janeway and Seven witness the attack upon the Unimatrix Zero inhabitants by assimilated drones, they agree to help. In the end, Janeway came up with a plan to administer the nanovirus for the Unimatrix Zero. This plan involved a few members of Voyager’s crew to board a Borg cube, risk being assimilated and administer the nanovirus.

When I first saw the preview for ”Unimatrix Zero – Part I, my first thought was that it was a rehash of the ”STAR TREK NEXT GENERATION” episode, (3.26-4.01) “The Best of Both Worlds”. To my surprise . . . and delight, ”Unimatrix Zero” proved me wrong. Thanks to the script written by Mike Sussman, Brannon Braga, and Joe Menosky; I quite understood the story, despite the usual Trek technobabble. And I understood how previous episodes like (5.10) "Counterpoint" and (6.21)"Live Fast and Prosper" served this story. Both episodes established Captain Janeway's talent for manipulation and scamming other. Considering the situation that she, B’Elanna Torres and Tuvok found themselves in ”Part II”, she found herself being forced to pull off a difficult confidence game against the Borg Queen.

”Unimatrix Zero” also featured the first time that Janeway and Chakotay learned to act as a fully effective command team in the face of one of her . . . more bizarre plots without succumbing to any conflict, which marred their relations in episodes like (2.14) “Alliances”, (3.26-4.01) “Scorpion” and (6.01) “Equinox, Part II”. Although he had reservations, Chakotay seemed willing to go along with her plan to infiltrate a Borg drone to administer the nanovirus. And Janeway agreed to accept a few of his suggestions, in case the plan went wrong. And is it just me or did there seemed to be a lot of affection on Voyager in this episode? Seven discovered an old love in Unimatrix Zero. Tom Paris and Torres exchanged a few intimate moments after Paris received his old rank of lieutenant junior grade and when he expressed reservations about the chief engineer volunteering for the mission to the Borg cube. And one of the most blatant moments of sentimentality, Janeway and Chakotay engaged in a brief hand-lock on the Bridge before she left to begin her mission. I found myself almost inclined to burst into "Can You Feel the Love Tonight?"

In the end, the screenwriters and directors Allan Kroeker and Mike Vejar almost produced a four-star episode in ”Unimatrix Zero”. I found the writers’ idea of using the Unimatrix Zero concept as a lead-in to an uprising in the Borg Collective very inventive. And there were moments in the story – especially in ”Part II” that I enjoyed. These moments included the use of neural suppressors by the Starfleet infiltrators to keep from being part of the Borg Collective, in case they ended up being assimilated. Janeway’s confrontations with the Borg Queen, thanks to performances by Kate Mulgrew and Susanna Thompson, were even more effective than they were in (5.15-5.16) “Dark Frontier”. I also have to give kudos to Robert Beltran and Robert Duncan MacNeill who gave excellent performances in a scene that featured an exchange between Chakotay and Paris about the latter being First Officer. I found myself wondering about the thoughts going in Chakotay’s mind, when Paris revealed his hang-ups about being Voyager’s First Office. The only aspect of ”Unimatrix Zero” that I did not care for was the romance between Seven-of-Nine and Axum. Their scenes struck me as a replay of many bad romance novels from the 1950s and 60s. And even the talented Jeri Ryan and actor Mark Deakins could not save this romance.

Thankfully, the Seven/Axum romance did not tarnish ”Unimatrix Zero” for me. More important, the episode set the stage for two episodes in Season Seven that revealed the diminished power of the Borg Collective. And it proved to be the second of three mind blowing personal encounters between Kathryn Janeway and the Borg Queen. In the end, ”Unimatrix Zero” proved to be another example of why I have always enjoyed the numerous two-part episodes featured in ”STAR TREK VOYAGER”.

"STAR TREK VOYAGER" RETROSPECTIVE: (3.25) "Worst Case Scenario"

"STAR TREK VOYAGER" RETROSPECTIVE: (3.25) "Worst Case Scenario"

Some time ago, I had posted a list of my top ten favorite episodes of "STAR TREK VOYAGER" (1995-2001). After re-examining my list, I was surprised to discover that the Season Three episode, (3.25) "Worst Case Scenario" was not on it.

In this penultimate episode of Season Three, B'Elanna Torres discovers a Holodeck program in which Commander Chakotay and the former Maquis crewmen stage a mutiny against Captain Janeway and the rest of Voyager's crew. Torres' participation in the program is interrupted by Tom Paris, who reminds her of their lunch date. He eventually becomes interested and participates in the program himself. After his first participation in the program, Paris and Torres discover that other members of the crew have also been enjoying it. But Paris' second participation in the Holodeck program reveals that it had not been completed by its mysterious author. During a meeting, the senior staff discovers that Voyager's Security Chief, Tuvok, had created the program (which he called "Insurrection Alpha")as a training session for the junior members of his Security staff during the ship's first months in the Delta Quadrant. As the Maquis and Starfleet factions of the crew began to merge, Tuvok decided to abandon the program.

Due to the crew's enthusiasm toward "Insurrection Alpha", Paris and Tuvok agree to expand the program into a complete holonovel. As the two officers begin to edit the original program, they suddenly find themselves trapped behind a forcefield in a simulation of the ship's brig. A holographic version of the deceased Seska, a former Cardassian spy, appears and explains that before she had escaped the ship to join the Kazon back in Season One, she rewrote the simulation as a virtual deathtrap for Tuvok. Some of the real Voyager's systems - like the transporter and communication systems, along with the Holodeck's safety protocols) go offline. And Paris and Tuvok are forced to endure one hazardous situation after another as they try to stay alive.

After my recent viewing of both "Worst Case Scenario" and my top ten episode list, I discovered that I could not change the latter. However . . . if I had created a list of my twenty favorite "VOYAGER" episodes, "Worst Case Scenario" would have ranked at #11. Yes, it is that good. The Holodeck proved to be an excellent creation for STAR TREK writers to use for some first rate episodes. "STAR TREK NEXT GENERATION" had episodes like (2.03) "Elementary, Dear Data" and (3.21) "Hollow Pursuits". "STAR TREK DEEP SPACE NINE" had the delicious (4.10) "Our Man Bashir" and (6.18) "Inquisition". However, in my opinion, "STAR TREK VOYAGER" has aired some of the best Holodeck episodes I have ever come across. And one of those episodes is "Worst Case Scenario".

Kenneth Biller did an excellent job of giving viewers a glimpse of the tenuous situation between the two factions aboard Voyager during its early months in the Delta Quadrant. Even more importantly, the "Insurrection Alpha" could be viewed as an ominous warning of what could have happened if the crew had failed to integrate during those early months. It is ironic that this episode aired over three years before Season Seven's (7.04) "Repression" - which featured an actual Maquis rebellion unwittingly instigated by Tuvok, of all people. Tuvok's program also featured the crew's only Talaxian, Neelix, joining the rebellion. The real Neelix commented that Tuvok had incorrectly read his character during those early days. A reviewer named Jim Wright agreed. However, I have my doubts. I can recall Neelix's numerous complaints about Janeway's tendency to interrupt their journey for an exploration of planet or system. And I can recall one or two occasions in which the Talaxian cook and the Starfleet captain had clashed. I suspect that Tuvok had a pretty good jibe on Neelix's character back in those days.

Normally, I would claim that "Worst Case Scenario" focused on the entire crew. After all, the episode began with Torres discovering the program and ended with Janeway declaring herself as more than a starship captain, but a community leader as well. However, I noticed that the ship's chief pilot, Tom Paris, was featured in more scenes than any one else . . . which is why I tend to view him as the episode's main character. I read somewhere that actor Robert Duncan McNeill considered "Worst Case Scenario" as one of this favorite episodes of the show's first three seasons. And I can see why. Biller had produced a well written script that allowed McNeill to engage in some of his funniest work. I could also say the same for actor Tim Russ, who portrayed the stoic Tuvok. McNeill and Russ also proved that their screen teaming in (3.08-3.09) "Future's End" was no mere fluke. They had a strong chemistry that allowed their characters to create one of the best comedic teams in science-fiction television.

But despite Robbie McNeill and Tim Russ' dominance in this episode, other cast members were given the opportunity to shine. Ethan Phillips gave a charming performance as Neelix, whose enthusiasm for "Insurrection Alpha" almost seemed to bubble. Roxann Dawson provided one of the funniest moments in B'Elanna's caustic reaction to Paris' suggestion of a passionate romance between the ship's chief engineer and chief pilot. Robert Baltran was able to capture both the holographic Chakotay's determination to rebel against his character and the real Chakotay's sly and humorous reaction to his role in Tuvok's story. Bob Picardo was both funny and chilling as the Doctor in the holoprogram. Both Kate Mulgrew and Garrett Wang gave solid support as Captain Janeway and Harry Kim. But Martha Hackett's return as Seska, the former Bajoran Maquis that turned out to be a Cardassian spy, proved to be a real pleasure. She was deliciously villainous as ever, confirming by belief that her Seska might be one of the best television villains around. And her holographic death in this episode proved to be more rewarding that her real death in (3.01) "Basics, Part II".

I realize that "STAR TREK VOYAGER" is much reviled by many TREK fans. And I also realize that many would be very reluctant to accept my belief that the series had aired some of the best Holodeck episodes in the franchise. But whether they would agree with me or not, no one could ever convince me that an original episode like "Worst Case Scenario" was overrated or at best, barely tolerable.