Star Trek IV Question

[Ineti]

Quick question: In Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home, there is a shot of the Federation Council. Among the members of the council are a catlike species. That species is called "Caitians" in the Worlds of the Federation book, but I can't find a reference to them in the Encyclopedia. Is that their canon name or is it something else, or have they not been named officially?

[darkwing duck1]

The term "Caitians" is from the Star Trek Animated Series, where they were first introduced. The Animated Series has been ruled "non-canon" by Paramount, so the term has never been used elsewhere. The Worlds of the Federation book is also non-canon.

Having said that, most fans assume that yes, indeed, that WAS a Caitian in the Council chambers.

[H. Tarlana]

'twasn't Paramount that ruled the animated series as non-canon, that decision came from Roddenberry himself and, unlike his similar feeling toward ST5, actually stuck.

From what I remember, he felt that the Animated Series shouldn't have happened

[Caretaker]

I think the real question is, "Did the decision come from Gene Roddenberry or Richard Arnold?"

[qerlin]

If you wanna call 'em Caitians, call 'em Caitians, dude. I liked S. John Ross' take that they are the Regulans.

[Halda]

Originally posted by H. Tarlana
'twasn't Paramount that ruled the animated series as non-canon, that decision came from Roddenberry himself and, unlike his similar feeling toward ST5, actually stuck.

Why was it that Roddenberry felt ST5 should be non-canon?

[Phantom]

Originally posted by qerlin
If you wanna call 'em Caitians, call 'em Caitians, dude. I liked S. John Ross' take that they are the Regulans.

Where did this come from? Regulans? I'm intrigued.

[Lancer]

I don't know how he came up with the name Regulans, but you can check out his work here:

http://www.io.com/~sjohn/untaken.htm

[Dan Gurden]

Originally posted by Halda


Why was it that Roddenberry felt ST5 should be non-canon?

HAve you Seen Star Trek 5? It qualifies as a Really Bad Movie... Almost as bad as both Highlander 2 and 3.

There is vast segment of fans who consider it non-canon (I would be tempted to say 'majority', but really dont know), and even the less fanatical trekkies/trekkers admit that vast segments of the film are just plain bad.

Aside from some amusing lines, some nice sets, and a little scenery, I tend to discount large tracts of the film myself.

[Phantom]

Originally posted by Lancer
I don't know how he came up with the name Regulans, but you can check out his work here:

http://www.io.com/~sjohn/untaken.htm

Thanks. I knew I saw it somewhere.

[Eric R.]

I always have tended to think Roddenberry's position on ST V was more about the fact it delt with Religion in a somehwat positive manner rather than the condition of the film. In fact as the years have past I have started to like this film more and more and can't wait for the Directors edition to be released (which by the way Paramount is doing for the rest of the films, TWOK is due out in March I believe) which I am sure will fix ALOT of the Sepeical Effects shots which never worked because ILM was not available at the time for it.

And it is wise to mention that Roddenberry was very bitter toward the films by the time ST V came out, remember since ST II he had been slowly pushed out the door on the films I have heard he had problems with ST III, IV, V and IV and considered the latter three or parts of not canon!

[Homer]

Yep, old Gene was not thrilled with parts of STV, including but not necisarily limited to:

Sybok being Spock's half brother,
The Nimbus III wasteland/Mad max angle,
and the visuals
(The studio really boffed this one, they were given rushes by the SPFX team that they thought were preliminary test shots, and approved them, when in fact they were what the FX team considered finsihed work, and it shows.)

But had little say in the matter. I alos understand in ST VI he did not approve of

The whole conspiracy, as Starfleet would NOT do that,
The Chang character,
Azetbur being named tothe Council,
and Spock forcibly taking knowledge from Valeris.

How accurtae these are I am not as certain as ST V. I have never heard what he didn't like about III and IV. I do know he felt brushed aside by the studio at this point.