Sex Trek: 'Rajiin' *Spoilers*

**Don Mappin** · 10-02-2003, 12:07 PM

Thought the episode deserved a thread of its own. Here's what I posted in the other thread (not to take it totally off topic):

---

And today's headlines:
Oct 2 - Superman Flies Over 'Rajiin'
'Enterprise' ratings take a dive as sex slave episode fails to lure viewers. (link)

And the early reviews: **SPOILERS**

"Analysis: There are things to love about this episode, like continuity and excellent performances, and there are things to loathe about this episode, like the most gratuitous use of female sexuality since...you know, I can't even think of a comparison; let's just say the most gratuitous use of female sexuality I can remember on Trek, even counting "Elaan of Troyius" and the aptly-named "Revulsion", not to mention Enterprise's own "Bounty." I'm not sure that there could be such a thing as a responsible Trek episode about sexual slavery, but this sure as hell was not it, anyway.

...

"In other ways she's an absolute cliché — a trained slut who comes on to everyone around her. (I won't ask who on Enterprise loaned or replicated her clothes.) The scene where she gets touchy-feely with Sato feels spectacularly gratuitous, even more so than the scene where she gets her hands all over T'Pol's naked flesh, because at least by the time she touches T'Pol we have some idea what she's up to; when she's with Hoshi it looks like pure lesbian titillation for the boys in the audience who are into watching that sort of thing, and rather than preserving her personal space, Hoshi seems prepared to dive in. Don't get me wrong, I'd be delighted to learn that Hoshi was lesbian or bisexual, but that's not what this is about, any more than T'Pol's heavy breathing and writhing when Rajiin touches her is about forbidden Vulcan loss of control. It's about creating sexy images to lure male viewers.

"It's clear that my sons are too young for this show and I'd be better off sending them down the basement to watch Smallville on Wednesdays from now on. It's also clear that any male over 18 (or at least with emotional maturity over 18) isn't going to find these cheap sexual tactics a good enough reason to watch the show; it's not like throngs of men tuned into Voyager to see Seven's catsuit. So who is this show aimed towards: males 14-16, the only ones old enough to be allowed to watch this nonsense yet young enough to find it titillating? That doesn't really seem like enough of an audience base to keep this franchise alive. I'm going to be very interested in the ratings this month, to see how many viewers in that demographic instead tune in to see an adolescent Superman who never gets laid. "

**Lt C.A. Phillips** · 10-02-2003, 12:29 PM

Hmmm...so I suppose it's wrong of me to want to see this, eh?

Not that I've watched this since the spontaneous nipple episode, but...

**Phantom** · 10-02-2003, 06:41 PM

Who said B&B were emotionally mature? I hate to say "I told you so," but...

Ever since the first ep Ent has been catering to the lowest common denominator, and with falling ratings they will be playing this card alot in the future.

**Space_Cadet** · 10-03-2003, 12:07 AM

The sexiness in Enterprise isn't what it seems to be... two women touching or a beautiful curly haired woman in lingerie..no big deal. Its nothing compared to what you see in porno or on cable. I 've seen more sexual situations on reality tv (especially the dating shows) than Enterprise. Besides, isn't it tradition to have a bit sexiness in Star Trek? Have we become that sensitive?

**WarriorKnight** · 10-03-2003, 12:21 AM

I was reading an interview w/Robert Picardo in the latest ST Communicator & he mentioned a joke that sums up the current state of ST fandom.
"How many Star Trek fans does it take to screw in a lightbulb?"tThe answer is,"Two:One to do it and one to tell you how much bettwr they did it in the original series!"
He was saying from the perspective of the writing staff how hard it was to make eveyone happy.
Kind of explains why they don't seem to be listening to the fans dosen't it.

C5 · 10-03-2003, 12:46 AM

Hehe... actually I think Picardo did it wrong : it doesn't take 2 Trekkies, but at least a dozen : one does it, the others explain how they did it better in TOS, TNG, DS9, VOY, ENT, why he does it too militaristically, not militaristically enough, too peacefully, with too much technobabble, etc, etc, etc (see General Chang's list of the fans profiles on another thread and expand it tenfold).

Back on topic, did anybody actually see this episode and can comment on its sexiness ? The review make it look like soft porn, but then again, so did reviews of Broken Bow for the shower scene and I honestly didn't find it that shocking (hey, Kirk tries to rape Yeoman Rand in an episode).

**WarriorKnight** · 10-03-2003, 12:53 AM

Yes I saw it & liked it very much.As far as the sexyness I didn't think it was played up that badly.I was apparent from the sean she was introed in that she had mental powers & was using them on the crew,starting with Archer.As I stated elsewhere I almost gave it a 10 in this weeks poll,I thought it was that good.Just my opinion YMMV.

**Capt Daniel Hunter** · 10-03-2003, 11:21 AM

Well I thought it was pretty solid. And the final ratings are now in and apaprently Enterprise not only held it's own, but actually increased it's viewship. The initial ratings were apaprently misleading. So there

**Balok** · 10-03-2003, 01:56 PM

It seemed like a reasonable plot to me. Her assignment was to get biometric data on the various species of Enterprise. For that, she needed close contact with her subjects. The easiest way to get that contact is in a sexual situation.

Now, where they disappointed me was in how Archer reacted when the Xindi came aboard. He should have left one of the MACOs near the brig with instructions to kill her rather than allow her to fall into Xindi hands. We must remember that the Xindi have already murdered 7,000,000 humans. And now they have sent a spy onto Enterprise. Whatever she was supposed to do is unlikely to be beneficial to humans. It irritates me when characters are written so that they act stupidly.

**Space_Cadet** · 10-03-2003, 04:11 PM

not meaning to spite Don but i thought it would be fair to post this about Enterprise's recent ratings with "Rajiin"

Rajiin did pretty well

**T'lara** · 10-04-2003, 03:08 AM

Quote TrekToday.com
By Michelle
October 3, 2003 - 8:16 PM
"Rajiin" posted final ratings that represent a significant rebound from its low overnight numbers, yet UPN remained firmly in last place for Wednesday night.

According to Mediaweek.com's Programming Insider, Enterprise earned a 2.7 rating/4 share in the final household ratings this week. These numbers mean that approximately 2.7% of American households with television sets were tuned to "Rajiin", while the episode was viewed by 4% of households watching television at the time.

So regardless of the improvement it is dead last even with a 2.7 number. So throwing in this sexually episode (yes I saw it I recorded) it is still at the bottom and it is considered an improvement.

Quote TrekToday.com
These numbers represent Enterprise's highest total rating of its third season, though the share is one point lower than the first two episodes of the 2003-2004 broadcast year. "Rajiin" brought in 4.52 million viewers, compared to the 4 million viewers who watched "Extinction." This makes it Enterprise's most-watched episode of this season and the third-most-watched episode of the 2003 calendar year.

3rd Highest rated episode of the season and still dead last. It was the 3rd most watched episode of the 2003 calander year. So this means this beat out half the second part of the 2002-2003 season? If so the shows where that bad in the ratings?

Quote TrekToday.com
Despite these improvements, Enterprise remained in last place for the 8 p.m. time slot. Smallville achieved a 4.2 rating/7 share, bringing in 6.83 million viewers. It also had a larger share of the adults 18-49 demographic.

So Enterprise had a 2.7 rating (4.42 Million Viewers) and Smallville had a 4.2 rating. So it was beaten out by WB's Smallville. So the people choose a more family friendly episode?

Quote TrekToday.com
NBC's Ed brought in disappointing numbers compared to its ratings last year at this time. Next week the baseball playoffs will affect all other shows in the 8 p.m. time slot.

So this article is saying wait Enterpirse did well with it's 2.7 dead last but wait it will faulter because of the Baseball Playoffs. Not that lesbian interspecies scenes can be shown in every episode to boost their rating but remain DEADLAST! The show is deadlast period regardless of the spindoctor and how it is written. SOmething needs to be done about that.

Quote TrekToday.com
The Programming Insider's Mark Berman gave "Rajiin" a grade of C and noted, "Too bad Scott Bakula can't leap back into an older - and better - edition of Star Trek. And too bad Jake 2.0 isn't reaching a 2.0." To see the full Wednesday overnight ratings, visit MediaWeek.

How does the follow up show effect the previous show's existince? It has always been the stronger show goes before hand and the weaker show afterwards so they can gain an audience. Example Cheers in it's first season was at the bottom of the ratings put it after the Cosbys and it became a hit in the 1980's. NBC did not have Cheers the weaker show go before the stronger Cosby's they had it after. This tactic has been used for decades and it has worked.

I wish the writting was stronger on Enterprise or a better premise. Retooling midseasons is not a good sign.

I have liked TOS then TNG, then DS9 but Voyager and now Enterprise seems to be missing something. Most people I know follow that progression. I have watched about every episode of Enterprise and Voyager. This is not i do not sit infront of the TV watch it and make an opinion with out seeing the show. I do.
I can comment the this Xindi reminds me of the Shadows in B5/Crusade. I won't. But I am looking for the spark that makes it Trek and it is lacking. The stories have gone PC. Push the envelope like Trek did and be a social commentary that makes you think and not be a PC thug. Let us not have easy answers make us think. There have been plenty of action and there are fluff episodes anyone who is a fan in Trek will agree on this but what has always been Trek has been it was a reflection on us and our society veiled in other worlds and their is rarely an easy answer. It makes you think once in awhile. We do not have this anymore. B&B do not have the balls to push that kind of envelope but the Sex angle is fine worked for NYPD Blue, Melrose Place and the like so should work here in Trek.
Yes sex is in Trek has been since TOS but if that is all the reason you are watching then you have to ask yourself is this sci-fi or some dumb sex drama water down from Showtime or Cinemax. That is what B&B are doing thinking we want is sex sex sex sex sex. I like good stories and acting and characters. So far it is sex sex sex sex sex. I am waiting for Trek.

I do not care if I am flamed for this but this is my opinion. You can like it or not your choice.

C5 · 10-04-2003, 04:44 AM

I have no numbers to support this but my opinion is that, with or without sex, Star Trek does NOT attract viewers.
Good or bad, Trek now suffers a bad reputation (too geekish, always the same, etc) and Sci Fi is not the fashion today - people like teenagers, cops, or fantastic stories, not a starship travelling in space. And it's not about Trek being badly written : I heard everybody saying Firefly was an excellent series, yet it got cancelled because of poor ratings.
So if they have to include sex to attract viewers, but still manage to craft good stories around it, why complain ?

It keeps Trek alive.

**Capt Daniel Hunter** · 10-04-2003, 05:22 AM

Originally posted by T'lara

*rant deleted*

I do not care if I am flamed for this but this is my opinion. You can like it or not your choice. [/B]

Since when does disagreement equal flaming?

**T'lara** · 10-04-2003, 01:36 PM

Originally posted by C5
I have no numbers to support this but my opinion is that, with or without sex, Star Trek does NOT attract viewers.
Good or bad, Trek now suffers a bad reputation (too geekish, always the same, etc) and Sci Fi is not the fashion today - people like teenagers, cops, or fantastic stories, not a starship travelling in space. And it's not about Trek being badly written : I heard everybody saying Firefly was an excellent series, yet it got cancelled because of poor ratings.
So if they have to include sex to attract viewers, but still manage to craft good stories around it, why complain ? It keeps Trek alive.

There have not been any good stories as I stated why the show is deadlast. Sex did not help it all. Its deadlast in the ratings will not change. The show is bad. I used the post that was done for a postive Trek review and pointed out its fallacies.
Enterprise is deadlast in the ratings regardless how someone spins this it is deadlast. This is a major problem and it needs to change.

**Don Mappin** · 10-13-2003, 04:33 PM

Wow. This is a riot. I have to find more of these "Five Minute Enterprise"s!

http://www.treknation.com/reviews/fiver/rajiin.shtml

Thread: Sex Trek: 'Rajiin' Spoilers

Thread Tools