The Prophetsteve Review: Civilization (Spoilers)
For awhile there I thought this was a "Temporal Cold War" episode, since the Millurians seemed to look like the Suliban. Too bad, since it would have really spiced up the episode.
It wasn't a bad episode, only that the cultural contamination thing has been done before. I would have really liked them to have taken a fresh at planetary exploration.
Still, since it wasn't a stinker, I'll give it marginal thumbs up.
Plot Points:
1. First Contact Protocols - Vulcans were the ones to instituted the concept of not contact civilizations until they have created Warp Drive. This links in with the Movie First Contact, where Vulcans ignored humanity until they developed the Pheonix.
Interesting that a lot of the protocols of Starfleet uses (inlcuding a proto-prime directive that abhors "cultural contamination") were based on Vulcan experience and dictums.
2. PADD - This isn't a new observation - they named in past episodes. I don't know if in TOS has ever named their hand-writing thingies anything, but the Enterprise-era devices are much smaller. This is another example of modern sensibilities being concidered over strict canon and I agree whole-heartedly. What I concider really nifty is that they screens are backlit colour displays like laptops and newer PDAs available today. So PADDS are definately being positioned as the future of our PDAs and laptops whereas in TNG there were sort of seen as a revolutionary technology (since we didn't have PDAs back then). A case of life imitating art.
3. Past cultures - for once I would like to see a past culture that didn't resemble historical Earth. No human-like clipper ships, no similar looking midieval or ancient clothing. No building archetucture or wagons that could have been pulled out of the history books. Lets see a middle ages culture which really has a unique look and string of technologies.
In the case of this episode it was to blend the TNG-style away missions with the TOS "multiple Earths", but I would like to see Enterprise go that "extra mile" that hasn't been done in Trek.
4. Crossbow - I like that weapon with the folding crosspiece. A nifty and unique weapon.
5. Universal Translator - Unlike TOS, where translators were hand-held affairs, the translators are built into the communicators (like TNG era). I like how they had them malfunction during Archer's "stakeout".
6. Fisticuffs - I want to see some Kirk-moves out of Archer. At least he is punching, and hasn't resorted to all that lame palm-strikes and ax-handles that were done in TNG and DS9.
7. Tellerites - First mention (but just that) of a race that first appeared in TOS.
8. Translation woes - its nice to know that Archer cannot operate alien computer systems as easily as those in the TNG era can.
Re: The Prophetsteve Review: Civilization (Spoilers)
Quote:
Originally posted by prophetsteve
[
Plot Points:
2. PADD - This isn't a new observation - they named in past episodes. I don't know if in TOS has ever named their hand-writing thingies anything, but the Enterprise-era devices are much smaller. This is another example of modern sensibilities being concidered over strict canon and I agree whole-heartedly. What I concider really nifty is that they screens are backlit colour displays like laptops and newer PDAs available today. So PADDS are definately being positioned as the future of our PDAs and laptops whereas in TNG there were sort of seen as a revolutionary technology (since we didn't have PDAs back then). A case of life imitating art.
5. Universal Translator - Unlike TOS, where translators were hand-held affairs, the translators are built into the communicators (like TNG era). I like how they had them malfunction during Archer's "stakeout".
6. Fisticuffs - I want to see some Kirk-moves out of Archer. At least he is punching, and hasn't resorted to all that lame palm-strikes and ax-handles that were done in TNG and DS9.
[/B]
Ok have yet to watch the ep, its waiting in my VCR right now. I would like to some personal observations about the above, however.
PADDs-not going to thump canon on this one (what's the point, no-one seems to care...But that is another argument), but what was wrong with the bulky electronic "clip boards?" I thought they fit right in with the TOS level of technology.
Translators in the communicators-rip off from TNG. Sorry, again I like the old tech idea.
Fisticuffs-It would be nice to see an old fashioned fight scene for sure, but Kirk was the King of the Dust up hands down. :) BTW, do you take martials arts...It hurts less when you hit someone with a palm strike then it does with your clenched fist. Less chance of breaking something in your hand.
Re: making out with aliens
Quote:
Originally posted by Perrryyy
If sighting a UFO is a close encounter of the first kind
coming into contact with the landing site is a CE of the second kind
actual sighting is the third kind
visiting the alien ship is the fourth kind
communicating is the 5th kind,
then.. is making out a CE of the 6th kind? and how about the 7th? :D
Remember the episode where Bebe Neuwirth wants to be seduced by Riker? :D hehe
Perhaps for Trek purposes we need to rethink the whole CE scale..."close encounters of the first/second/third base...?":D
Re: The Prophetsteve Review: Civilization (Spoilers)
Quote:
Originally posted by prophetsteve
For awhile there I thought this was a "Temporal Cold War" episode, since the Millurians seemed to look like the Suliban. Too bad, since it would have really spiced up the episode.
It wasn't a bad episode, only that the cultural contamination thing has been done before. I would have really liked them to have taken a fresh at planetary exploration.
Still, since it wasn't a stinker, I'll give it marginal thumbs up.
Plot Points:
1. First Contact Protocols - Vulcans were the ones to instituted the concept of not contact civilizations until they have created Warp Drive. This links in with the Movie First Contact, where Vulcans ignored humanity until they developed the Pheonix.
Interesting that a lot of the protocols of Starfleet uses (inlcuding a proto-prime directive that abhors "cultural contamination") were based on Vulcan experience and dictums.
Interesting that they have no problem with "cultural contamination" AFTER a civilization has developed warp drive... insisting that Humans become more Vulcan-like seems hipocritical to me.
