#Star Trek welcome into the 21st century

[captaincrusher]

Once again I'm thinking about the symbolic meaning in Michael's hair, particularly in season 1.

Young Michael before and after she started living on Vulcan.

When she's living on Vulcan, and trying to suppress her human self, she straightens her hair and has it in a Vulcan bob. When she's been in Starfleet for awhile the bob disappears but she still straightens it.

When in prison she starts getting a more natural hairstyle, but still have it short and pretty practical. Then eventually we get to her season 4 look.

While in real life these changing looks can mean completely different things for different people, the changes here do have a clear connection to the narrative in Discovery. A narrative of self discovery, of becoming a more complete person if you embrace different parts of yourself. Of stop trying to be something others want you to be and forge your own path.

There's no denying that before Michael there were vanishingly few instances of black women wearing their natural hair in Star Trek. So it's worth pointing out the symbolism and also how Michael's hair is used to signify the journey of her character.

It has felt almost meta at times when I've watched Discovery, since Star Trek itself has been so bad at letting the few black actors they've had to grow their hair in a way they want. Avery Brooks fought for years to be able to shave his head and grow a beard, which he thought was culturally and personally very important. The producers thought it was "Too street" (!).

Nichelle Nichols (RIP trailblazer space queen) had to fight to be able to wear an afro in The Motion Picture because the writers claimed it was "Too modern":

Anyway, what I'm saying is Michael's journey chronicled through her hair is as much about Star Trek itself as it is about her.

#Star Trek welcome into the 21st century #DSC #Michael Burnham

[tanadrin]

i think you can make a plausible argument that it was the cultural reaction to 9/11 that killed the star trek franchise for a long time. without rehashing the politics of the 00s too much, there were two possible reactions to something like 9/11, what we might term the "oklahoma city" reaction and the reaction we actually got. 9/11 could have been viewed as a major tragedy but ultimately a criminal act, one which had to be dealt with by the civil authorities like the mcveigh bombing or other notable incidents of deadly terrorism on US soil prior to that date. instead though it was largely conceived of as a foreign military threat, encouraged no doubt by an administration that wanted to pursue a more vigorous foreign policy, and we got, well--*gestures at the first two decades of the 21st century*

this really soured the national political mood--it made the cultural zeitgeist one of paranoia and violent revenge fantasies. it gave us 24, and Taken, and while I'm not sure it's wholly responsible for the reboot of BSG (there's a throughline there with Ronald D. Moore's other work) it certainly contributed to an environment that was receptive to it. and i think in that environment 90s end-of-history optimism about the future, though it should have been a welcome corrective to all that cynicism and paranoia, simply felt like an anachronism. enterprise did last a few years, but only four seasons in total, the shortest run since TOS. the only movie we got in that era before the big hiatus was Nemesis, a movie about terrorism and a foreign threat that just felt kind of weird and incoherent.

and that was the problem for star trek in that era: if you take the utopianism out of roddenberry's future, you're not left with anything interesting. utopianism is the whole justification for these guys exploring space and going boldly and whatnot, the whole reason why the federation is worth rooting for over any of the other guys. i think a big reason the jj abrams movies fail to have any real substance is that they try to make star trek an action-adventure thing, when that was never its strong suit--indeed, TOS fight scenes are notoriously bad!--and it really took until discovery before people were willing to make star trek qua star trek again.

but even then, there's a degree of pessimism at the core of (some of) post-hiatus star trek that sits uncomfortably with the show's original utopian vision. some of this is just the usual metastasization of conceits that worked better as one-offs or very sparingly at most, comparable to the way the borg got beaten into the ground by voyager. but the heavy reliance on elements like section 34 and the mirror universe and the postapocalyptic future and the crapsack alpha quadrant of picard all to me speak of a certain yearning for utopia--a nostalgia for the utopias of the 90s--but much greater cynicism about the relevance of utopian fiction to our day-to-day lives.

#this is not to knock bsg #i like bsg a lot! #but it is really such an artifact of its time #star trek

[inthenameofallthingsholy]

A Perfect Night

Fandom: Star Trek Voyager

The request itself: General crew fic of them having fun

Requested by: @hauntedmoonchaos

Warning: the stardate at the beginning does not follow typical Star Date rules, as those rules are inconsistent and not even the creators know how they work. So, I created my own rules. I’ll explain the rules in a later tumblr post. 

————————————————

Star-date: 4512.2375, 20:45 Hrs. 

Janeway and Chakotay walked through the corridors towards the mess hall. They had been told through the grapevine that Tom Paris was planning something “new and exciting” during the free period of the day. 

Once they entered the mess hall they saw that the tables had been moved to the back of the room to make space for the rows of chairs facing a large black box with a protruding static screen.

Nearly half of Voyager’s population was sitting in seats, nibbling Neelix’s homemade Popcorn substitute: Noxcorn (made with Nox kernels), and quietly discussing what they thought Tom was up to.

Janeway gave an amused glance to Chakotay when she spotted the TV. “How many rations do you think it took him to replicate that ancient thing!” The two chuckled and took their seats with some Noxcorn. 

Eventually Tom entered the room and stood in front of the Tv to speak to the crew. “Hello everyone and welcome to Movie Night: 21st century style!” The room had mixed reactions of excitement and confusion. 

Tom continued, “This is a 21st century device I found while searching through the StarFleet databases called a DeViD!” He held up a shiny, holographic disc with a hole in the center. 

Seven, who was sat in the 2rd row next to Naomi Wildman, calmly raised her hand.

“Yes, Seven?” Tom asked, somewhat dropping the ringmaster esc facade. 

“I believe that was actually called a D V D in the late 20th early 21st century.” 

“A DVD!” Tom exclaimed, returning to his dramatic introduction. “Thank you Seven for informing us of the correct pronunciation! Now, ladies, gents, and all those in between, prepare yourselves for the thrilling adventures of the legendary hero: Indiana Jones!” 

The room cheered despite most having no clue who that person was or why he was considered a “hero.” Tom placed the DVD into the slightly smaller black box plugged into the TV and pressed play before taking a seat next to B’Elanna and Harry in the front row. 

————————————————

Around halfway through the movie Harry whispered “I see why you like this movie” to Tom. “My friends and I used to watch it back at the Academy. I don’t think I’ve seen it since I graduated.” He whispered back. 

On screen, Indiana was fighting a Nazi on a plane as gas leaked steadily to a pile of explosives.

“Why is it always Germans or Russians in these movies?” B’Elanna commented quietly. 

Seven leaned forward to softly answer. “In the 1980s, most American citizens were afraid of Fascists and Communists due to the first and second world wars and government propaganda.”

“She took the words straight out of my mouth.” Tom added, stunned.

“Samantha Wildman has tasked me with being Naomi’s tutor so when we return to Earth she will be on the same academic level as other children of her age. Typical School curriculum for Naomi’s age group starts 20th century history around 3rd quarter.”

On screen, the Nazi Indiana had previously been fighting was killed by a propeller of the plane, spraying clearly fake blood on the wing and cockpit.

This caused the crew to produce a collective “oof” (except for Tuvok and Seven of course) and Naomi slapped her hands above her eyes in fear.  

Tom scratched the back of his neck. “I forgot about that part.. oops…” B’Elanna rolled her eyes at the dumbass sitting next to her.

————————————————

The movie was coming to a close with most of the audience on the edge of their seat, with the usual exceptions being Tuvok and Seven. Naomi had fallen asleep with her head rested on Samantha’s lap and her legs rested on Seven’s. Tom was glad about that, as he definitely did not forget about the approaching scene, and did not want to be held responsible for a child’s nightmares.

Indiana and Marion were hung up together. “Don’t look Marion, don’t look.” Indiana commanded of her.

Then the thing Tom had waited for happened. The melting face. Gasps, oofs, and groans of displeasure erupted behind and next to him. Even Seven made a face of disgust. 

“That is so disgusting, and so cool.” B’Elanna remarked, clearly enjoying the movie far more than she thought she would.

————————————————

When the movie ended (mostly) everyone clapped and cheered. Each of them had a comment about the movie as they exited the mess hall and back to their quarters for bed.

“I loved that movie growing up. Part of the reason I became a fan of Archaeology.” Chakotay mentioned to Janeway, Samantha, Harry, and Seven, who carried a sleeping Naomi in her arms. 

“I used to watch it with my family growing up. My sister and I used to go on adventures on the farm pretending to be Indiana Jones’ sisters..or something.” Janeway added, remembering her farm in Bloomington.

“I quite enjoyed it.” Seven piped up, somewhat surprising everyone. 

“What did you enjoy about it, Seven?” Asked Janeway, moving closer to her blonde friend and colleague. 

“I thought it was an interesting plot, and the effects were of high quality for the era it was created.”

Harry stopped walking. “Wait, how do you know so much about 80s movies all of the sudden? Does Naomi’s curriculum have a course on 20th century film or something?” 

Seven blushed slightly “I may have done some…other…personal research as well…” she replied shyly 

The rest were astounded but unanimous decided not to continue, as to not make Seven more embarrassed than she already was. 

“What did you think Samantha?” Chakotay asked politely.

“Harrison Ford is hot.” She said simply. Janeway and Harry both nodded and agreed, leaving a taken aback Chakotay and a confused Seven.

“I assume filming in a desert climate can cause one to overheat but I assume that the film crew had waters nearby to prevent such an event from occurring.” Seven stated, misunderstanding completely.

“No, Seven, Samantha, Harry, and the Captain feel that the actor who plays Indiana Jones is physically attractive.” Chakotay explained.

“Oh. I see.” The group chuckled kindly.

————————————————

The rest of the walk back to the respective quarters was filled with a comfortable silence. A perfect way to end a perfect night. 

————————————————

Post notes: 

Noxcorn- Nox is of course latin for night or darkness, so imagine a bluish black popcorn that tastes only slightly different from our human popcorn.

“Samantha Wildman has tasked me with being Naomi’s tutor so when we return to Earth she will be on the same academic level as other children of her age.”- This just made sense to me, as I don’t think it’s explained if Naomi has a teacher on Voyager other than her Mother, Godfather, and Seven. 

Janeway and Harry both nodded and agreed- Whatever a heterosexual is, Harry Kim ain’t it.

#Star trek #star trek voyager #star trek voyager fanfic #fanfiction #fanfic request #gen fic #platonic fanfiction

[lorenzobane]

Okay, live thoughts watching the first episode of Strange New Worlds. LOTS of spoilers so I'll put it under the cut.

Obsessed with the fact that Pike is a horse girl, also Pike is SO funny trying to outrun a space shuttle on a horse

UGH I know they’re doing it on purpose but the opening really is hitting me right in the nostalgia

Spock and T’Pring are so funny. I’m crying. But also fascinated by the implication that they had many courtship events. I think that’s a good idea actually- it always felt creepy that Vulcans basically allow arranged marriages that are set up for people as actual children without giving them a chance to see if they’re compatible so I’m fine with this retcon

SHE ASKS HIM TO MARRY HER???? Also screaming at the implication that Vulcan women are the ones who ask for marriage. I guess they’re also retconning out that it’s an arranged marriage…?

They fucked??? Excuse me? I mean, fine- Ethan Peck is hot so I’m fine seeing him be shirtless for no reason but this is wild bc TOS! Spock always seemed like a turbo virgin. Then again- in s3 of TOS Spock was in his manwhore era so.

Also Vulcan pillow talk is funny funny funny. I have so much to say about this scene

SPOCK ANSWERED A VIDEO CALL WITH HIS BOSS NAKED!!! No wonder he didn’t really comment when Kirk took his first video call shirtless

Okay, this actually makes the Spock/T’Pring relationship in Amok Time make more sense. No wonder she was willing to let him die- she asked him to marry her and repeatedly said she wasn’t going to chase him around the galaxy/that she wanted him to stay on planet and he’s very ambivalent about her feelings on the matter

Also a more general note, it seems like they're softening the Vulcan emotions a little bit. T'Pring seems fairly openly affectionate with Spock and makes her irritations with him very known.

Aww pike is so awkward about having a new Number 1, he really wanted it to be Spock or Una

Jesus this Pike trauma re: his tragic accident and radiation poisoning is a really interesting angle.

Lmao Spock’s “girl what the fuck” face during Pike’s welcome speech to the enterprise is killing me

“Captain I do not wish to overstep.” A long wry pause, “overstep”

Also, this conversation makes Spock’s mutiny in TOS make more sense. Like, it always made sense but I really like the way Pike and Spock’s relationship is being developed. There is going to be so much slash fic about Spock and Pike. I can sense it.

YAY!! I love a good old-fashioned trek plot. There are warring factions on the planet! Some main characters are stuck there! It’s up to the enterprise to Save The Day! Honestly love it

I love Star Trek doctors. They’re always wonderful. Looks like M'Benga is no exception. I like nurse chapel… though I think it’s because I find her voice really really hot.

LOL Spock and La’an are great, they have a fun dynamic. He’s like “we should be ethical and follow Star Fleet protocols” and she’s like “we should commit crimes”

Aww, this poor dude got beamed up- he got alien abducted by the enterprise! Hilarious!

YES! Uhura uses empathy and kindness to calm down the random dude that the command team kidnapped

“Captain, the pain is unbearable” *SCREAMS* “ah. That’s better.” I see clearly now that Spock is going to be the comic relief on this show.

This really is so much fun, like legitimately just a fun show

Love the classic trek premise where they are able to heal a fighting world through negotiation and debate and one lovely monologue from a charismatic captain.

A classic trek monologue about optimism!! “Reach for the stars” but high key terrifying that they used actual footage from the Capitol riots to discuss the destruction of the earth in the 21st century…

This is the biggest fuck you I have ever seen of the prime directive but I do love it

LMAO Samuel Kirk!! Rip dude, I remember your dead body. They even kept the stupid mustache. Love that. But obsessed with the implication that Spock worked with Jim’s brother and didn’t say anything. Love it. Such a bitch all the time.

I’m such a sap, Pike says the “boldly go” lines at the end and I’m beaming.

#St: SNW #Strange New Worlds #S1E1 #snw spoilers

[bllsbailey]

RedState Weekly Briefing: Elon Whiffs, Fani Flails, Takei and Sharpton Step in It

Welcome to the RedState Weekly Briefing  — where we take a quick look at the week’s most viewed stories in case you missed any of them. Grab a cup of coffee or hot toddy to help ward off the late winter blues, and sit down with this 21st Century Weekend Edition of your favorite (online) publication!

#1 - Punishment for 'Misgendering' Returns to X, Elon Musk's Response Doesn't Go Well

Accounts that "purposely use different pronouns to address someone other than what the person uses for themselves" will now have their visibility and reach limited. In other words, they will be shadowbanned, a popular practice under the Twitter regime. The resurrected rule is extremely broad as well, with X stating that it will go to the "target" to decide someone's fate. That would seem ripe for abuse, as anyone could claim they were misgendered in an attempt to take down an account they don't like.  Musk did respond to Raichik's post, claiming that the rule will only be enforced against those who purposefully and repeatedly target others with the "wrong" pronouns. People in the replies weren't happy with his dismissiveness and lack of a real explanation.

#2 - Star Trek's George Takei's Twisted Response to Illegal's Alleged Murder of Nursing Student Does in Dems

First of all, Johnson didn't "smear" anyone -- he offered support to the family of the murdered woman. He also called on Biden to enforce the law. That to a Democrat like Takei apparently is "evil," which tells you everything you need to know about why we have this problem at the border with Democrats in power. This is the kind of attitude they've had for three years.  Second, nowhere in Takei's post is there any concern or sympathy for the murdered girl or her family. Instead, he tries to make Johnson's post about race and himself. It isn't about race or Takei, it's about the people being hurt by these policies.

#3 - Fani Willis Files Desperate Effort to Counter New Cellphone Data, but It's a Big Dud

Instead, as lawyer Technofog explains, Willis submitted calendar entries for other dates, not the above dates.  Willis claimed in the filing that the data "did not prove anything relevant" and had "little evidentiary value." She's the only one who thinks so.  When Trump attorney Steve Sadow was questioning Wade during the hearing, he asked him specifically about visiting the Hapewell address and Wade stepped right into it.

#4 - Al Sharpton Hears About It After Telling Black Trump Supporters They Have 'No Shame'

It's one of the clearest-cut examples of Democrat privilege you'll ever find. Writing about Sharpton saying something stupid or offensive is a bit like a dog bites man story, but sometimes it deserves calling out, which brings us to the latest instance. On a recent broadcast of his MSNBC show "Politics Nation," Sharpton went on a rant about Trump's comments in South Carolina from Friday about black voters allegedly embracing him in part because of his viral mugshot. Sharpton proclaimed it was part of a pattern of remarks from Trump and his surrogates that, in Sharpton's view, should offend and alienate black voters. "And those blacks that are standing there with him, have you no shame?" he asked toward the end of the segment.

#5 - Here Are More of Those Texts That Made Terrence Bradley Say 'Oh, Dang,' and More Bad News for Fani Willis

Bradley even provided the name of the person who testified that the relationship began before Wade was hired, Robin Yearttie. You can read more of the texts on X here. But during his testimony, he claimed he was "speculating" and didn't know, despite the extensive conversations on the matter with Merchant.  That's when Trump attorney Steve Sadow just leveled him, given all he had discussed with Merchant.

[icarusthelunarguard]

This Week’s Horrible-Scopes

It’s time for this week’s Horrible-Scopes! So for those of you that know your Astrological Signs, cool! If not, just pick one, roll a D12, or just make it up as you go along. It really doesn’t matter.

Your musical tastes have you firmly rooted in the late 20th Century. That’s called A Rut. This week all inspiration is coming from THE FUTURE! Welcome to the 21st Century. 

Aries 

Look at you-u-u. Buckin’ the theme right from the gate. Instead of enjoying the theme you decided to look ahead to Spring Training by getting The Pittsburgh Pirates’ theme song, “Let’s Go Bucs! A New Pirate Generation” from 2011. Their first game is Feb 25th, so get ready to lose a lot of money. This week… stop gambling.  

Taurus 

Ok, this is starting to be a “Thing”. You’re supposed to get something from this century, not something from 1940! “Vote For Gracie” wasn’t exactly a toe-tapper, but it did get some people to write in Gracie Allen for President that year. Believe it or not she was way smarter in real life than she acted professionally. This week stop acting like you don’t know what’s going on around you.

Gemini  

Are you all conspiring to make a mockery of this week’s theme? Gemini? Your song only seems to have a pretentious title. “Outdoors at 7pm, Sunny Main Street”. I can’t tell you who the artist is but it’s from the Wii U’s version of “Super Smash Brothers”. The idea of cute little family-friendly characters in big-time beat-em-up gaming just says what we need to know about you. This week keep up your long-running streak of NOT kicking a puppy. 

Cancer Moon-Child 

Ok, now this is just annoying. Never mind that you’ve gotten “At This Moment”, originally by Billy Vera and the Beaters in 1986… but it’s a cover from 2009 by, of all people… Michael Bublé. Look, sure, he’s a great performer - pulling in full shows over and over again. But, look. Singers typically don’t have a successful career with albums 75% filled with covers. Unless your family name is “Yankovic”, just try to be original in your thinking.  

Leo 

OK, well… This is just getting sad. You don’t need to know what your song is, just that the band in question is called “Panic! at the Disco”. Well, it USED to be a quartet in 2004. Then they fired and replaced the bassist, then two left and were replaced, and finally it became, basically, a solo act - which will end its run at the end of March. This week stop being a prima donna.

Virgo 

(*SIGH!*) AnOtHeR CoVeR. You know what? Fine! The song is “Don’t Pull Your Love”, originally sung in 1971 by “Hamilton, Joe Frank and Reynolds”, yes that’s the group’s real name. But your version came out in 2019 by voice actor extraordinaire Rob Paulsen. This week if your plans to take over the world fail, just remember - Rob had nothing to do with it going south! Take responsibility for your own failures.

Libra ()

You’re all gunna kill me. FINE! Libra - you get the original Broadway Cast recording from the musical, “In The Heights”. We’re going to assume you only speak English for a minute. If you listen to Latin American families yelling back and forth at each other, you’ll notice that they effortlessly slip between English and Spanish, and you will never lose one iota of context. This week start learning languages that sound angry; like German… or Klingon…  

Scorpio ()

Just… What the hell is with all these covers?! You’ve got the 2000 release of “Big in Japan” by Embraced. Yes, you will recognize the song and the melody and the lyrics, but… (*Pause*)  Be ready to gargle a lot of warm salty water to heal your throat after singing along with this version. This week, put Epsom Salt on your grocery list.

Sagittarius 

WELL, now! We finally get away from all these cover songs and get to an original song for a change! The song is 2013’s, “From The Future, Next Tuesday”. Which is obviously a tongue in cheek reference to the U.S.S. Enterprise-B’s launching in “Star Trek Generations” when everything was going to be installed “Tuesday”. The band for this one is… (*Beat Pause*) OH COME THE HELL ON!! “The Shake-Ups In Ponyville”?! This is My Little Pony Fan Music?! You know what? I give up! Congratulations, Sagittarius! You did what nobody else could - you broke me. Are you proud of yourself? Hmmmm?

Capricorn 

………. Screwit. I’m broken. Uhh… “Now is the time to try something new. 10% off on Ginger Pork with this coupon.” We got that one from Pagoda Village Kitchen up the street. They’re pretty good.

Aquarius 

You think we’re gunna be better than that for you? Nope. “Call your parents, kiss your pet, brush your teeth, and only drink fluoridated water this week.”

Pisces  

Someone wanted a Super-Naughty ‘Scope for you this week. It’s gunna wait for next week. You’re not getting any special treatment ‘til we recover from this damned set. 

And THOSE are your Horrible-Scopes for this week! Remember if you liked what you got, we’re obviously not working hard enough at these. BUT! If you want a better or nastier one for your own sign or someone else’s, all you need to do to bribe me is just Let Me Know! These will be posted online at the end of each week via Tumblr, Twitter, Facebook and Discord.

#horrorscope #horoscope #parody #comedy #humor #rob paulsen #pinkie #pinkie and the brain #shake ups in ponyville #the best looking Enterprise was from ST TMP #constitution refit #captain john harriman

[thegreaterlink]

Reviewing Star Trek TNG - S2E12 "The Royale"

THE PREMISE

Following a tip from a passing Klingon vessel, the Enterprise finds debris from an Earth vessel orbiting an uninhabitable planet. They beam aboard a sample of the debris and discover its NASA markings and a 52-star American flag, dating the ship to the mid-to-late 21st century and determining that it had travelled well beyond the capabilities of ships of that era.

(I don't usually include images in the plot summary, but this made for a pretty good cold open and was almost the header image, so here)

Scans of the planet reveal a small anomalous area capable of sustaining human life, so Riker, Worf and Data beam down and find a revolving door in the middle of a dark void. Stepping through, they find themselves in an old Earth-style hotel and casino called the Royale, where they find themselves cut off from the Enterprise and unable to leave...

MY REVIEW

This kinda just feels like a holodeck episode which didn't take place on the holodeck.

But just like the holodeck episodes, the production design and costumes are on point, this time with some setting-appropriate music from Ron Jones thrown into the bargain.

But if the hotel isn't the product of a holodeck, then what is it?

Well, after many unsuccessful attempts to escape, the away team decide to explore the building when Data detects human DNA. They follow the signal into one of the rooms and finds a skeleton in the bed (which Data determines to have been dead for nearly 300 years) plus a NASA uniform in the name of Colonel Stephen Richey, a pulp novel titled "The Royale" and Richey's diary, which has only one entry.

They re-establish communications with Picard and report their situation while giving us our explanation: Colonel Richey was the commanding officer of the third manned attempt to break free of the solar system back in 2037 - so we have that to look forward to - but it was never heard from again after communications were lost. Richey's diary explains that he was the sole survivor of an alien contaminant that killed the rest of his crew. Feeling guilty, the aliens created the simulation of the hotel for him using the novel as a guide, believing that it represented humans' preferred lifestyle. Richey survived there for 37 years, with the shallow and cliché characters from the novel's story (which is currently playing out around them) slowly driving him insane. In the end, he welcomed death.

It might sound a bit far-fetched, but it's a pretty cool idea and much more creative than another holodeck malfunction.

It also explains a bunch of seemingly random background characters, such as a goodhearted bellboy trying to help his love interest Rita against a crime boss named Mickey D. Yes, the crime boss that these people are talking about so seriously is named Mickey D. So the whole time this was all I could think of:

Anyone else hungry? No? Just me? Weird.

Also, I'd like to point out that back on the Enterprise Troi is able to perfectly sense Riker's emotions even when he's on another planet and trapped in some pocket dimension thing. And yet half the time she can't read people on adjacent ships. Convenient.

Riker, Worf and Data try to blend in while they work out a plan. Cue Data playing blackjack and having some enjoyable banter with a fun side character named Texas, played by Noble Willingham. It feels like there's some missed potential for Riker and Worf to have their own comedic hijinks though. Then the pure-hearted bellboy gets iced by Mickey D. Never thought you'd see a sentence like that in a Star Trek review, didja?

Picard tells them that this is part of the story, then summarises the novel's vague ending: foreign investors buy the hotel for 12.5 million then go home and leave the assistant manager in charge. So Riker, Worf and Data need to make the necessary money through gambling... only it all goes off pretty much without a hitch, aside from a moment where they need to make sure they stay in character by being generous. It feels like a bunch of these episodes just forgot to have a climax.

The episode ends with Picard and Riker talking about what happened, like how an early 21st century vessel was able to make it so far.

Their conclusion:

My research tells me that the episode's original draft as written by Tracy Tormé was a kind of surreal nightmare about an astronaut being trapped in his most pleasant memory. That admittedly sounds more like an episode of The Twilight Zone than Star Trek, but it still almost definitely would've been a hell of a lot more interesting than what we got here.

6/10 - It's fine, but it could've been so much more.

Previous Episode | TNG Masterpost | Next Episode

#star trek #star trek tng #star trek the next generation #the next generation #uss enterprise #jean luc picard #will riker #geordi la forge #deanna troi #star trek data #star trek worf #katherine pulaski #wesley crusher #miles o'brien #holodeck #cheap hotels #gangster movies #gambling #casino #blackjack

[discotreque]

LwD 2.06: The Spy Humongous

I don’t have much to say about this one… but in a good way? Like, look at my blog—I obviously don’t mind when an episode of Lower Decks gives me an opportunity to ramble about Star Trek lore or giggle about background references. But too much of that makes a show feel like work, and quite critically, I do not get paid for this, nor would I want to be. So an episode that’s fun, and interesting, and sweet, and (dare I say) engaging, one that lets me sit back and relax and forget about the troubles of the 21st century and just enjoy some goddamn Star Trek… that’s always going to be welcome.

Still, you know… for posterity…

The premise of the A-story—that there’s a bunch of shit work to get done, and Tendi’s the only one trying to have a good attitude about it—is extra cute if you’ve heard Mike McMahan say that she’s partly based on himself when he was starting out in TV as a production assistant, just super thrilled to be taking lunch orders and refilling the photocopier with paper, because he was working in TV!!! I love it.

Rutherford’s “I GOT A BIG OLE BODY” voice absolutely fucking killed me, wtffff

A rare prediction, keeping in mind I’m almost always wrong: the next time we see William Boimler, he’s going to look exactly like post-makeover Brad from this episode.

Speaking of Boimler—yes, I got a little emotional seeing the Galaxy-class bridge, even in his imagination. Leave me alone.

My favourite running bit on this show might be over-specifying the temperature of replicator orders, and “Computer: birthday cake, lit candles, various temperatures” might be the best one yet.

“We should have fed off your enthusiasm, not tried to tamp it down!” Rutherford says, speaking directly to the audience.

Casey’s desire to be “acting captain” seemed kind of off-base to me from the start, given how many nameless extras we saw get relieved from duty at the beginning of scenes in TNG—you’re just keeping the chair warm, dude—so I’m really glad that’s exactly how that little asshole’s storyline paid off.

I’ve been waiting 30 years for someone to punk Armus like that. And I’m not the only one:

Next episode is titled “Where Pleasant Fountains Lie,” which is hardly the first Shakespeare reference in Star Trek—but it’s probably the dirtiest Shakespeare reference in Star Trek, so props for that. 💦️

#star trek #star trek lower decks #lower decks #lower decks spoilers #lwd spoilers #amy's episode notes

[rapha-reads]

Time to watch the Classics...

Classic Who

Doctor Who - series 1 episode 1 - An Unearthly Child

What... Okay. Here we go.

THE INTRO THEME is amazing! It's so different, and magical, whimsical!

Tardis my love - everytime I see her I'm besotted.

Coal hill school! Okay, okay, I knew the importance of Coal Hill School because I've done a lot of googling over the years about everything Doctor Who, but still, actually seeing the school at its very beginning is awesome.

Omg hello welcome to the 60s - 60s, 60s everywhere, hair, clothes, speech patterns and vocabulary, man/woman imbalance, and obviously visual effects, story rhythm and montage. Though, I'm wondering. How come the OG Star Trek from the same era is in color and sort of, more rhythmic, more... I don't want to use modern because it sounds like I'm criticizing Classic Who and saying modern ways of doing tv shows are better, which I'm not. It's not about the quality of one thing over the other, just the feel of it. Two scifi shows, one British, one American, from the very early 1960s, and it's two very distinct feels and made. It's absolutely fascinating.

Susan Foreman!!!! I've heard so much about her, I'm glad to finally meet her.

"I suppose she could be a foreigner" - ha ha ha ha ha, oh, you have no idea! Also, that line is interesting. It's after all at the heart of it all. The Doctor is a foreigner wherever they go, but also so deeply entrenched in the very fabric of the universe that's it's hard to dislodge them.

Sorry, sorry, I shouldn't comment on Classic Who, especially as early as the very first episode of the very first season of the very first Doctor, with my understanding and reading of New Who. After all, as we'll see as soon as this episode, at the moment the entire universe intradiegetic of Doctor Who is very much not installed.

I'll try to keep my 21st century comments out as much as I can while going through all 26 seasons, but I can't promise that I won't go on tangents from time to time.

"It's alive"? Wtf, Ian? I mean, yes, the Tardis is sentient and she's a lovely badass, but how is that your FIRST thought when you put your hand on a wooden door and feel it vibrate? Why alive and not, Idk, "motorized", "working", hell, even weird?

DOCTOOOOOOOR. Why, hello, First. Let's get to meet you. I'm very curious.

So the Doctor was a troll and a sassy haughty puff and huff expert from the beginning. Amazing. This explains so much.

Holy shit, that OG Tardis. Wow. She's cute.

Susan says she made up the name... But then it's a classic Time Lord ship... Oooh, inconsistencies from the beginning. I like it. Want to shove it into every-person-who's-hating-on-Thirteenth-right-now's face. Yeah, yeah, moving on. We're in 1963 now, not 2021.

"I tolerate this century but I don't like it" - huh. Okay. I mean. You do you, Doctor. Just fyi, you gonna be stuck in that century a lot of time. Better start to like it.

Oh, WOW, the First Doctor is a prick. That's. Wow. Tangent again, I knew there's a reason why being abrupt and prattish is one of the Doctor's trait throughout regenerations, but damn, First is savage as hell. Wow, I'm impressed Barbara or Ian haven't punched him yet. (Donna wouldn't have hesitated)

Holy shit. The sound of the Tardis leaving is the same. Don't leave the brakes on! I love this sound.

Where are we going now. So the first travel with companions is an accident because the Doctor and his granddaughter were fighting. Ha. I want to say "classic Doctor" but that would be a bit on the nose.

Jesus that's a lot of transition scenes. And weird faces. What is even going on with the special effects. Listen, I know the BBC back then didn't give a lot of funds to Doctor Who. I know we're even lucky to still have these episodes, what's with the fire and all. But come on. Those special effects are hilarious.

This is so much fun, I can't wait to see it all! Only 744 episodes left (I think - do Betaseries/Google count the episodes that have disappeared in that list?).

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#doctor who #classic who #classic who series 1 #first doctor #susan foreman #ian chesterton #barbara wright #an unearthly child #classic who watch #rapha talks #rapha is being a whovian #all aboard the discovery train! no wait sorry wrong show #all aboard the traveling tardis! #and we're off for magical adventures in the lands of ye old 1960s scifi shows #i haven't even finished tos star trek yet but i neee to watch coassic who so i can punt into the sun anyone who whines about series 13 #yes i'm being petty and unbearable in direct contradiction with my previous doctor who post #settle down - or blacklist 'classic who watch' because it's going to be a long bumpy journey

[ppoquita]

He Walks in Starlight

Tags: bong jaehyun x reader, vaguely Star Trek inspired, mostly just a sci-fi au

Length: 2.1k words

First time writing a scenario/imagine so excuse my amateur writing. I really just wrote this for fun lol

Your eyes felt blurry as they struggle to open while you hear the tone of your alarm go off. It felt cold and all you wanted to do was lay under your blanket where it was warm and cozy. You sighed as you turned off your alarm. You looked at the calendar displayed on a screen. Star date 21499.2. You flattened down your disheveled hair before getting up to get ready.

The Compass was business as usual. The ship's bustling crew members were all at work. You went down to the records department to start your day of organizing files and data logs when you saw a rather tense figure standing at the door. It was a young man your age. He stood rather agonizingly. Once he got a glimpse of you he looked like a deer in headlights. Confused, you walked over to unlock the records lab. “Excuse me,” he said with a surprisingly deep voice. “Are you in the department of records?” he asked.

“Yes, sir.” you said after swiping your card. The door automatically slid open and both of you walked in. You sat and turned on the computer. He only stood in front of the desk where you were stationed.

“These are my files, I’m new.. just transferred from the Miracle.” he explained while handing over some rectangular discs. You took the discs from his slender hands and put them into your computer for analyzing.

[ Bong Jaehyun

Age: 22 Earth Years

Birth Place: Seoul, SK, Earth

Specialty: Geography and Cartography

*** ]

You looked at his photo and then looked up at him. Spitting image, no doubt he was legit. He’s quite handsome in your opinion. His eyes looked like shiny glass. They were pretty, almost like tiny galaxies were hidden in them. You looked away to finish the processing. You took his discs and filed it under Crew Members subsection ‘B’. “Alright, welcome to our ship, you’re officially part of the Compass now.” you gave him a slight smile. Jaehyun’s lips also curled into a smile.

“Thank you.” he said. He made his way to the door and promptly left.

***

Records were extremely flooded that particular day. Your fingers moved quickly as you processed files and organized discs. Dwarf Planet ZETA110 was being explored. Many records of the flora and fauna were piling in. Not only that but information the planet's makeup and natural climate came in as well. You felt exhausted as you moved back and forth between your computer and the filing wall. Thankfully, it was almost break time. You could almost taste that roasted chicken breast. The thought of food alone made you salivate. You stretched as you got up from your chair. Just then your shift relief came in and you grabbed your keycard and walked out. You tiredly rubbed the back of your neck as you made your way to the elevator.

The dining room was half full. You groaned and weaved through the amount of people sitting. You entered your card into the ordering machine and tapped your choice. It was only a moment's notice until the food came out. You looked around for an empty seat and saw Jaehyun again. He was sitting alone, still with that anxious body language from before. He looked like he was spacing out to a far off world. You hesitated, you weren’t really one to make acquaintances. Yet, you sympathized. Space was lonely and cold. It felt empty and void. When you didn’t have someone to really confide in, it felt even worse. Almost as if you’ve been exiled to a blackhole of self-pity and bitterness.

You walked over and sat across diagonally from him. You glanced at his plate to make conversation. “Spicy pork belly stew, nice choice,” you commented rather nervously. He looked over at you and perked up a bit.

“Hi.” he said, smiling a bit. His eyes glimmer and twinkle. You feel breathless for a moment.

“Hi,” you repeated back. “Are you settled in yet?” it had only been a few hours since you last saw him but you figured to ask anyway.

“No,” he sighed. You watched as he moved the handle of his spoon. “Had to beam down and take a look at the planet’s landscape.”

“How is it?” you asked out of sheer curiosity. You never really got the chance to go to other planets. Most of your companions were people who work on the ship and had no business being on the ground.

“Humid,” Jaehyun replies. “It’s so humid, like a jungle, but there’s not that many trees. Everything just feels heavy...”

You started to eat your food. After eating you got up to put back your tray and utensils. Jaehyun got up as well. You felt shy as you walked beside him. You wondered if it’s okay to open up more. “Hey, when will you be done for the day?” you asked.

“Not sure,” he replied. “Why?”

“Well, if you’re up for it, I’ll be in the break room. We can play a game of 3D chess if you’re interested. Or maybe a friendly 1-on-1 on the arcade machine if that’s more your style.” You suggested. Jaehyun blinked before smiling. He shyly looked away from you. You only took a moment to appreciate his side profile.

“Yeah, that sounds good.” He said.

“Well, duty calls, I’ll see you later.” You excused yourself from him.

***

Jaehyun’s presence was almost intoxicating. You wondered if it’s an effect due to the planet’s troposphere. Nonetheless, as the two of you stood together hovering the arcade machine, you felt warm. The both of you were focused on the game quietly. At one point you felt your hand accidentally brushed up against his.

Afterwards the two of you moved on to 3D chess. You tried to make conversation asking things about him. You found out that he’s a picky eater, he likes music, and fantasy movies. Much like yourself you enjoyed a good movie. The conversation then spiraled into the best movies made in the 21st century.

“Check,” you said while moving your piece to the second level.

“I’m not good at games, huh?” He joked.

“I mean, you’re not awful.” you assured him. Jaehyun held his chin thinking for a moment before making a move.

“Checkmate,” you laughed as you captured his king. He lets out a disappointed sigh before sitting back in his chair. You look over at the clock at the time you usually go to bed. “Well, it’s quite late isn’t it? I’m sure you’re tired.”

“I guess so...” he said before getting up from his chair. Almost immediately he loses his balance. You stood up quickly to hold him.

You put his arm around your neck. “Hey, Jaehyun, are you okay? Jaehyun?” You looked over to see his face had grown pale. His eyes looked dull, it no longer had that shine.

“Head...hurts… so bad…” he groaned.

“Don’t worry, I’ll get you to the medical bay.” you comforted him.

In the medical bay Doctor Lee was busy taking care of two others. You were instructed to help Jaehyun onto one of the beds. You wondered if you should stay with Jaehyun. You obviously worried for him but maybe this was too much. You turned away from him but before you could move you felt a hand grab your wrist. Jaehyun’s fingers were wrapped around your wrist weakly. You looked at him softly. “Stay, please,” he croaked. His cheeks blushed red and he looked anxious. You only stood by him unsure of your ability to comfort him.

Thankfully it wasn’t dire. It turned out that several of the crewmen were affected by the planet’s air quality causing them to have hypertension. Jaehyun was fine. He’ll be back to normal by the next date. You let out a big sigh of relief as you lied in bed.

During your break you decided to visit him. When you entered the medical bay you saw Jaehyun sitting upright. His eyes were looking sparkly again. He almost resembled a puppy who was happy to see its owner. “Hi.” you greeted.

“Hi, good to see you again.” he smiled. He seemed to be in better condition.

“Status report?” you asked.

“All good, blood pressure back to normal, should be able to retreat to my quarters within the next hour or so,” Jaehyun reported. The two of you laughed as you looked into each other's eyes. “Once I’m out of here there’s something I’d like to show you,” he said. You lifted an eyebrow at him. “Meet me in the botanical lab when you’re free.”

The rest of your shift felt painfully slow. You were too curious about what was going to occur later. While your relationship with Jaehyun wasn’t extremely close yet it often felt intimate at times. You sighed as you organized the incoming discs. Everything felt like walking on thin ice. You never knew what exactly to feel other than attraction.

You promptly met Jaehyun in the botanical lab. He was sitting among the countless native flora of different planets. “Hi, again.” you greeted. Jaehyun stood up and signaled with his hand. You walked over to where he stood. You looked in the same direction as him and saw the most stunningly vibrant red plant. It was crimson red and it’s leaves were olive green. You stared for a moment then looked at Jaehyun.

“They call it a Carmesí Florera,” Jaehyun plucked a petal and sniffed it. “It smells like fruit punch,” he held it to your nose and you took a whiff. It really did smell like a fruit punch. It made you feel a little nostalgic. “And they say,” Jaehyun grabbed your hand and put the petal in the palm of your hand. “If you give a petal to someone, they’ll be with you for a long time...” you looked up at him as he gently closed your fingers into a fist. Your eyebrows furrowed as you looked at him. His ears were as red as the flower petals.

“What are you trying to say?” You questioned.

Jaehyun only shrugged. “You’re a great companion,” he said. You frowned a little. Part of you wished this could be a fairytale where next he’ll sweep you off your feet. But this wasn’t a fairytale, this is a science fiction that somehow became reality. However, this gesture was too strange. It didn’t make sense. Jaehyun was staring softly. He worried that he might have said something wrong. You clutch your flower petal and sighed. “What’s wrong?” He asked.

You shook your head. “I don’t understand,” you said honestly. “What do you mean with this? We may be miles and miles away from Earth but this sentiment can be seen as a romantic gesture from any planet, I’m confused...”

Jaehyun looked scared for a moment. As if you said something awful to him. He seemed appalled but then something changed. He straightens out his back and looks you in the eyes. “Okay then, I’ll be honest, I like you, I have a fondness for you, I… want us to be closer, and maybe in the near future we can be more than that.” he admitted.

You blinked a few times. It was a romantic gesture. Jaehyun made a romantic declaration. Your relationship was, in part, intimate. Your face was red at that point and your heart was beating quickly. It happened too fast and you’ve never really felt like this before. You were smiling without noticing.

“I like you too.”

***

Bong Jaehyun walked in starlight. He was as bright as the sun but can feel cold as the moon. Behind his eyes was the universe’s tiniest galaxy. It twinkled and shined for the world to see yet it was tucked away for only the brave to explore. Just when he felt unreachable, he held out his hand just enough for you to reach. He was almost undetectable yet his gravitational pull left you no choice but to adore him. There may be thousands of galaxies out there to discover but you were glad to have discovered him.

Even though the two of you laid flat on the cold observatory room floor staring at the endless void that was space, he was still more breathtaking than the billions of stars littered around them. You stared at him wondering what he was thinking about as he looked up at the vast sky. Was he also comparing you to a star?

Slowly you inched your hand close to his. You wondered if it was okay. Your pinky finger shyly bumped into his. You felt his hand touch yours almost as if it were asking for an embrace. Your fingers interlocked with his and you couldn’t help but smile. Jaehyun turned to look at you. He looked with a certain tenderness that makes your stomach flip. In that moment, you concluded that out of all the stars in the universe he was the brightest.

#golden child #golden child imagines #golden child scenarios #bong jaehyun x reader #bong jaehyun

[lizardsfromspace]

Star Trek, 1966 - present

Starfleet Doctor: We've recovered a time traveler from the 21st century...a barbaric time...be careful with this savage

Starfleet guy: Welcome, to the future

Time traveler: Wow, this ship is incredible! Musta cost more than the Los Angeles Lakers! What do you get paid on this ol' bird

Starfleet guy: Ah...capitalism...the economics of the future are different. We aren't motivated by greed

Time traveler: WHAT!!! You aren't paid?

Starfleet guy: No, we work to better ourselves.

Time traveler: Sounds fascinating. So, how does your economy work? Like, anything specific about how your society is run? Even the slightest detail?

Starfleet guy: ...

Starfleet guy: Uh, the Borg are attacking! Our history lesson must wait

#star trek

[tickle-bugs]

Change of Pace (1/3)

Part one of what shall be known as the pining Jim trilogy. @fickle-tiction I hope you enjoy this because I had so much fun writing it. Thanks for the help, lovely.

Anon asked: Hi! Love your work. Do you also write Star Trek fics? TOS or AOS? And if so, would you care to write some ticklish!Bones? I just love this adorable grump being made to laugh. 🥰

Summary:  Bones takes Jim with him to Georgia and inadvertently gives Jim a few more reasons to love him. Part two here.

Jim was distraught.

He didn’t like to think of himself as desperate or needy (though anyone who knew him would disagree), but he was so overwhelmed by despair that appearances had long since gone out the window. 

Bones was leaving. Granted, it was just for a few days, but the thought of it made Jim’s heart sink to his toes. He wasn’t built for solitude and no matter how much he pretended to be tough, he needed company like a man needed air. Bones was his company.

“So, you’re actually going?” Jim cringed at the way his voice cracked. He leaned against Bones’s door frame, trying to play it cool. 

“You’re surprised I’m taking you up on your offer?” Bones raised an eyebrow as he clicked his suitcase shut. He had put on a nice navy button-down and some slacks, which was far too distracting. 

“No, no,” Jim trailed off, letting a dismissive hand punctuate his sentence. Bones paused, sitting on the bed and fixing Jim with that fond look of amusement that made his insides flutter.

“Jim, if you don’t want me to go, then say so.” Oh, how badly he wanted to speak up. 

“What? Why wouldn’t I want you to go?” Jim resented the way his voice jumped two whole octaves.

“You tell me. You’re the one pouting like a damn kicked puppy.” Bones looked far too smug, and all Jim could do to defend himself was petulantly cross his arms.

“I’m not pouting. This is my captain face.” Jim tried to morph his expression into one of stern heroism, but he only ended up pouting more. He truly couldn’t help it. 

The Enterprise had been on its way to a planet not far from the Terran system, so Jim allowed for a quick unofficial shore leave. Plenty of the crew stayed aboard, what with Earth not being their home. Jim suspected that they were hiding from Starfleet, who would likely pester all of them with administrative duties on what should be a break. Jim didn’t blame them. Technically, he was hiding too.

Bones heard about the leave and lit up like a kid on Christmas. He found Jim in seconds and asked to go home with that mile-wide grin reserved only for private moments, like when Jim was pinching his knees. Jim sent him away with a grunt and a nod, pretending to be absorbed in random maps so he wouldn’t have to see the way that Bones’s eyes crinkled in delight. 

But now, with Bones standing in front of him, he couldn’t run from the fact that he’d be without his best friend for nearly a week. Shit.

“Jim,” Bones said, moving close enough that Jim could smell his cologne, “Tell me what’s wrong.”

“It’s not that I don’t want you to go. I don’t want to be alone,” Jim murmured, feeling impossibly small. He knew he wasn’t alone on the Enterprise, but Bones understood. He always understood.

“Come with me.”

“Really?”

“You have twenty minutes to pack or I’m leaving your ass here. Don’t forget your toothbrush.” 

Jim sprinted for the door and tripped on his way out, nearly slamming his face into the floor, but he was up and running again before Bones could say a word. 

                                                     -.-.-.-.-.-.-

“Welcome to Casa de McCoy. Behave, please.”

“Why? Or you’ll kick my ass?” Jim grinned, cheeky as always. Bones simply smirked.

“No, my mother will.” And with that he opened the door, inviting Jim inside.

The house was lovely. It was vintage, styled after cozy family dwellings in the 21st century. A plush couch sat in front of a fireplace and holoscreen displaying the weather. The smell of fruit and warm bread wafted from somewhere, filling the room with a sense of home rarely felt.

“Lenny, is that you?” Called a warm voice from the back of the house somewhere. 

“Yes, ma! Be there in a sec,” Bones yelled, his accent coming in a little thicker. 

“I’ll take the bags. Take your shoes off and leave your jacket there. She’s very, uh, particular about tradition.” Bones smiled in that bashful way one does when trying to explain for someone they’re fond of. Jim obliged, watching Bones’s back as he disappeared upstairs. He didn’t move until Bones came back downstairs, sighed, and forcibly escorted an effectively shell-shocked Jim into the kitchen.

Bones had been in Jim’s life for years, but Jim had never been this intimately acquainted with his personal life. Now it was here, the history of Bones was in the walls, the floor, the rug, and Jim could do nothing but stare. It was like meeting him all over again.

“Ma, this is Jim. Jim, this is–“ 

“Joan McCoy. I’ve heard a lot about you.” She stuck her hand out to shake and Jim took it gingerly, wincing at the strength of her grip. Joan McCoy was a fierce and gorgeous individual who didn’t seem to agree with the word ‘age’. If Jim met her on the street, he never would’ve guessed that she was a mother, let alone the mother of his best friend.

After analyzing her face for a moment, he retracted that latter statement, because anyone with working eyes could see that Bones and his mother were identical, down to the crinkles in their eyes and the dimples in their cheeks. 

“Nothing too bad, I hope.” 

“All good things, I’m afraid. Grumpy here wouldn’t spill a single juicy secret.” She winked and Jim felt a weight lift off of his shoulders. She liked him. The legendary Joan McCoy was fond of him, and somehow that made everything okay. 

“Not one? I may have underestimated your loyalty, Bones.” Jim elbowed Bones in the arm.

“Keep it up and you’ll be sleeping on the couch.”

“Be nice,” Joan chided, goosing Bones’s side, “Jim is our guest. If anyone will be sleeping on the couch, it’s you, Lenny.”

Jim wanted to chime in, but he was far too focused on the way that Bones jumped when Joan poked him. There was a fleeting smile, those dimples, and then he seemed almost embarrassed, which was not an emotion that Jim associated with Bones-

Oh.

It took everything in his power to restrain the devious smile that threatened to rise to his lips and it took even more to stop staring at Bones’s sides. 

“Daddy!” A neon pink whirlwind sprinted into the kitchen and leapt at Bones with impressive force.

“Hey Peanut! Jesus, you’re getting big,” Bones scooped the child up and kissed her forehead, beaming with pride only a doting parent could hold. She was small, maybe six or seven, with a head of curly brown hair that seemed to fill the whole room. She was wearing a version of the Starfleet Uniform, complete with a plastic badge, but in pink. Jim couldn’t help but smile at that.

“Joanna, do you remember when I told you about Uncle Jim?”

“The really cool space captain?” Bones chuckled.

“Mhm. Look,” He said softly, tilting his head towards Jim. When Joanna saw him, she gasped so loudly that Jim flinched.

“It’s you!”

“Uh, hi.” Jim waved awkwardly, heavily unsure of how to greet a child. Joanna wriggled out of her father’s arms and ran to Jim, clutching his pant leg. He swore there were literal stars in her hazel eyes as she gazed up at him in awe.

“Tell me everything. I wanna know about all your adventures, and the aliens you’ve fought, and the aliens you’ve made friends with, and-”

“How about,” Joan said, patting her granddaughter on the head, “we eat dinner, and you pester Uncle Jim later. He’ll be staying with us for a little while.” 

“Okay! But you owe me a story, mister!” Joanna struck a sassy pose before darting upstairs, gone as quickly as she came.

“I hope you’re hungry, boys. I haven’t made a large meal in a while and I may have gone a bit overboard.”

“You know I’ll eat anything you make, Ma.”

“Don’t worry, Mrs. McCoy. I can eat.”

“Please, call me Joan.”

And so they ate, and they talked, and they laughed, and Jim learned. He learned that the house had been in the family for nearly three generations and that they kept making minor upgrades to keep the design ‘relevant’ and keep the housing commission off their backs. He learned that Joanna was named after Joan because Bones wanted to raise her as strongly as Joan had raised him. He learned that, as a child, Bones had wanted to be a veterinarian, but his father had forcibly steered him towards traditional medicine.

Later, when they both retired to the guest room, Jim was still reeling over how much of Bones’s private world he’d gotten to witness. 

“Jim, go to sleep,” Bones grumbled, long-since snuggled into his pillow. They were sharing a bed because Jim couldn’t sleep alone since his near-death experience with Khan, and Bones secretly didn’t mind having someone to hold. It was their normal, which truly didn’t help the way Jim’s heart leapt into his throat every time the two of them were together.

“Hey Bones? Thank you.”

“For?” Bones rolled over to face Jim with lidded eyes, who nearly audibly gasped at the way Bones’s hair had been ruffled by the pillow. A couple strands fell on his forehead, free from their usual gel, and Jim’s fingers ached to brush them away. 

“Letting me tag along. Your life is…” He trailed off, knowing Bones would understand.

“Sure. They would’ve mistaken you for a lost child on the Enterprise with how much you were pouting, so I figured I could do Child Services a favor.” Bones cracked open one eye with a smirk.

“Oh, is that so?” Jim’s eyes trailed to Bones’s waist, which was perfectly blanket-free and accessible. Bingo.

“Mhm,” Bones sighed, his eyes fluttering shut. His breathing began to even out as he settled down again. That’s when Jim struck. 

“Jim, what–“ That was all Bones could say before Jim was squeezing his sides like there was no tomorrow. Bones dissolved into loud laughter, flipping over onto his back in a poor attempt to escape. Jim pounced, pinning Bones to the mattress with his weight and his fingers, which had migrated to Bones’s stomach.

“Stop it, you ahahass!” Bones lightly shoved at Jim’s chest, too uncoordinated from sleep to properly defend himself. Jim took the raised arms as an invitation and spidered under Bones’s arms, beaming as the doctor’s laugh morphed into hysterical giggles. He drank in the sound and wished he could hear it forever. 

Now this was familiar. The playfulness served as a safe island where Jim could forget his hopeless attraction and discomfort in favor of teasing. Granted, it was usually Jim underneath Bones, but Jim knew a good opportunity when he saw one and by god this was it. 

“Take it back and I’ll stop,” Jim sing-songed, relishing in the sweetness of Bones’s genuine smile. 

“Nehehever!” Bones managed to say in between giggles and twitches. Jim chuckled, his fingers migrating down to Bones’s hips, which were infinitely more sensitive. Bones shrieked and his laugh stuck at that pitch, squeaky and intercut with wheezes.

“Sweet spot, huh?” Jim mused, but Bones couldn’t speak for laughing. His head was thrown back into the pillow and his legs were desperately pushing into the mattress in an attempt to escape. Bones’s arms, which were still free, were flailing rather uselessly. He’d reached a new height of belly-laughter that echoed in the room, beautiful and unfiltered. Jim slowed down, not wanting the fun to end just yet.

“James Tiberius Kirk, your life ends today–“ Bones pointed a threatening finger at Jim which was severely undercut by his mile-wide grin. Jim slapped Bones’s hand away. 

“Don’t start with me, Leonard. Are you ready to apologize?” 

“You’re a bastard. I’m never fixing you up again.” Bones threw an arm over his face as he remembered how to breathe. 

“Hey, respect your Captain!” Jim staccato poked at Bones’s stomach, dodging more flailing hands and pulling forth more sweet giggles. 

“Okay, Captain Bastard.” Bones said tiredly, smirking as he peeked out from under his arm. Jim gasped indignantly.

“I liked you better when you were laughing.” Jim scooted down to sit on Bones’s calves, dragging the blanket with him. He wiggled his fingers on, around, and under Bones’s knees, making sure to reach up and squeeze his thighs every once in a while. He only stopped because Bones was turning a concerning shade of red and his laugh was nearly silent. 

“You’re a damn pest,” Bones muttered in a gravelly tone that made Jim’s heart rate spike. That really wasn’t fair. 

“I’m your pest.” Jim beamed and Bones sighed, reaching up to ruffle Jim’s hair. He then shoved Jim off of him and back onto the bed, making sure to sneak in a few quick pokes to Jim’s ribs.

“Yes you are. Now, can I get some fucking sleep?”

“Goodnight, Bones.” Jim burrowed into his pillow with a hidden smile.

“Goodnight, Jim.” Bones threw an arm over Jim’s shoulders, gently tracing patterns until they both succumbed to sleep. 

#my fics #bug’s greatest hits #star trek #mckirk #ticklish!bones #jim kirk #bones mccoy #series: home again

[queerspaceworm]

“Welcome to the 21st Century, Doctor”

S03E11 - Past Tense, Part I Upscaled to HD with Topaz Video Enhance AI

Starfleet protocol prohibits Sisko and Bashir from interfering in history, but you can take action now to support the ongoing protests for racial justice and against police brutality. (This is not to draw too strong of a comparison between the real movement happening now and this work of fiction, but for those who look at the future of Star Trek as something to strive towards, this is a reminder that change doesn’t just happen and that we have to continually put the work in to make the world a better and more just place)

#ds9 #past tense #benjamin sisko #julian bashir #season 3 should be up sometime tomorrow

[antimatterpod]

Transcript - 48. A 100% Patient Fatality  Rate

Click here to listen to the original episode.

Anika:  Welcome to Antimatter Pod, a Star Trek podcast where we discuss fashion, feminism, subtext and subspace, hosted by Anika and Liz. Today we're talking about medicine and medical practitioners in Star Trek.

Liz:  Which turned out to be a really popular topic when you posted about it on Instagram [Liz means Twitter]. We had a lot of discussion. 

Anika:  Yes, I'm excited that people were interested and wanted to pick their favourite doctors.

Liz:  Medicine is very much on people's mind, and it plays a very big part in Star Trek. 

Anika:  I have seen a lot of, you know, "which Starfleet doctor would you want to deal with the pandemic, or who's most likely to come up with the vaccine?" and stuff like that. 

Liz:  I'm gonna say, all of them, because we want to throw as much brain power as we can at this problem. 

Anika:  I mean, I think that's why I was interested in doing it. You can't avoid it, so you might as well look at it from an interesting Star Trek perspective.

Liz:  Yeah! And I had proposed that we do this episode as a deep dive into the character of Christine Chapel, which I still think we should do one day, but Women at Warp did the same thing very recently. So I can have my nursing in Star Trek rant in this episode instead. 

Anika:  That's right.

Liz:  You've set out a very nice list of doctors, the doctors from each series: McCoy, Boyce, M'Benga, Crusher, Pulaska, Selar, Bashir, the EMH, Phlox, Culber, Pollard, the--

Anika:  The Rios EMH. 

Liz:  The Rios EMH and Agnes Jurati. And it's sort of interesting how, in modern 21st century Trek, the role of the doctor seems to have declined. 

Anika:  Yes! In Discovery, we still don't know who the chief medical officer is on that ship.

Liz:  I thought it was Tracy Pollard.

Anika:  I thought so, too, but then other people came and said that she wasn't the CMO, she was just another doctor.

Liz:  Oh. 

Anika:  So I don't really know. But if she is, she's not a regular. Culber wasn't even a regular in the first season. 

Liz:  And none of his arcs are really about him as a doctor.

Anika:  Medicine at all, no. 

Liz:  Which is not a criticism! But it would be cool to have more of his profession in the third season, and more of Dr Pollard. And the CMO, if that's a different character.

Anika:  It makes sense for both Deep Space 9 and Voyager for there to be only one doctor--

Liz:  Does it make sense for Deep Space 9?

Anika:  Well -- okay, it makes sense for there to be only one Starfleet doctor on Deep Space 9. Because it's a Starfleet outpost on another station, a Bajoran station. It's not a Starfleet thing. And, Voyager, they all died. So those make sense. And Enterprise, they didn't even have a doctor. Phlox isn't even really a part of Starfleet. He randomly joined the crew. It's very strange.

Liz:  Is he even qualified to treat humans?

Anika:  Is he even a doctor?

Liz:  [laughs]

Anika:  As far as I can tell, he could have easily been, like, a PhD in biochemistry or something, and got on board and was like, "I wanna do research on you guys." 

Liz:  Yeah, "This is totes ethical, by the way." 

Anika:  And they were like, "Okay, sure. Here, have our sickbay." 

Liz:  I have a theory about the decline of the doctor as a presence in Star Trek. Because this is almost the only franchise where we can trace this development down the decades. So you start with McCoy, and Crusher, and these are sort of the eras when Americans had a family doctor, and had better access to healthcare. So as your healthcare system evolved, and changed, and became more difficult to access, the doctors reduce in numbers on the ship, and become less accessible. Medicine is less accessible to the crew, except through emergency things like holograms. 

Anika:  Yeah, and you have to -- so the EMHs are the only doctors we have in the most future Star Treks, right? So it's like, they've actually been replaced by holographic doctors. And this is where I bring up that, in Star Wars -- which is not -- it's futuristic, but also not futuristic, but I've always found it really interesting and odd that there are no doctors in Star Wars, they are all droids. 

Liz:  Yeah!

Anika:  Every medic is a droid. It's like they just stopped having human contact for practitioners. 

Liz:  Wasn't there a doctor played by Harriet Walter in The Force Awakens, who's sort of flirting with Chewy? 

Anika:  Yes, but I think that's a cut scene. I don't think that scene's actually in the movie. Or, if it is, it's only a couple of lines, and the full scene is in the--

Liz:  It's very brief.

Anika:  There is a larger scene. But that's the Resistance, and certainly, by -- once you get to The Last Jedi, they have no--

Liz:  Resources. 

Anika:  Nothing, they have literally nothing. So in The Force Awakens, it's like, they had -- so she's like an old school actual human doctor that they convinced to join their ragtag group, that's what I get out of it. It's just interesting. I'm not saying that -- it's this weird, "In the future, we won't have doctors, we'll just have holograms or droids." And it's sort of like, now that we're in this pandemic, where you can't go see your doctor unless it's an emergency, and you just see them over the internet, I can see how teledoc is going to become droids and holograms. 

Liz:  I can see that!

Anika:  It makes sense. Not in a good way. I think that we need to keep the human parts of doctoring. But I get it, I get why science fiction is sort of playing with that reality. 

Liz:  And it's in even a thing in The Expanse, where there's no doctor on the Rocinante, there's a computer system which can do surgery and dispense medicine, and then, on bases and so forth--

Anika:  And WebMD is taking over.

Liz:  Yeah! And so human doctors are a supplement. Anyway, that's my grand theory about the decline of the role of the doctor in Star Trek. 

And you also see, kind of, the way our conception of the doctor changes, from the doctor as bartender with Boyce, and the friendly neighbourhood gruff old man of McCoy, to the much more nurturing figure of Crusher, and then sort of the male ego with Bashir and the EMH. 

And then Phlox -- I love Phlox, he's actually one of my favourite characters on Enterprise, but I have so much trouble fitting him into the role of doctor. And I think it's like you said, I don't know that he is a doctor. [laughs]

Anika:  I don't think he's a doctor! I think he has a PhD. And he's a research scientist. I really see Phlox as more of a research scientist than an actual medical practitioner. Which is interesting, and I agree that he's a great character, but I wouldn't want him treating me. 

Liz:  I think this was part of the discussion on Twitter, that a lot of these characters are wonderful, wonderful characters, but would you want them to be treating you at all? And, uh, yeah, I have a list of Star Trek doctors who I would as my doctor. And in order, it goes, Crusher, Pulaski, Culber, McCoy, Bashir, the holographic doctor, Phlox. And I didn't -- I completely forgot about the EMH on La Sirena and Agnes, because Agnes doesn't practise medicine. She has a medical degree, but she doesn't practise. 

Anika:  It's sort of like, she is the doctor on that show? She doesn't actually do doctoring, but--

Liz:  She has a 100% fatality rate with her patients!

Anika:  [laughs] So my notes for -- I wrote out the list for us, and then I put in a little bit for each person, and my note for Jurati is just, "Jurati -- LOL".

Liz:  [laughs] 

Anika:  That's it! 

Liz:  It sort of annoys me that she has a medical degree, because I think Alison Pill is too young to play a character with two doctorates. But--

Anika:  It could be an MD-PhD, where you get them at the same time.

Liz:  No! Because she already has her medical degree when she hooks up with what's his face as his grad student.

Anika:  Well, then, I agree with you, it's stupid. [laughs] It's also, like, in the future, apparently, everyone gets their college degrees when they're twelve, or whatever, and then they join -- whatever, it's fine. 

Liz:  I'm going to assume -- I'm going to headcanon that she finished high school at 16, went straight to the Academy, and only -- and did the whole medical thing, and then belatedly realised she did not want to be in space. And I still wonder why they let her in, but uhhhhh, I guess it's like the Sorting Hat, and people's psychology changes as they grow up? 

Anika:  Who knows? 

Liz:  Who even knows?

Anika:  Imagine Jurati taking her no-win scenario test to get into the Academy. It would be a mess. 

Liz:  I thought that one was to graduate?

Anika:  Well, no, because in -- Wesley takes that one to get into Starfleet Academy--

Liz:  Oh yeah! The psychological test. 

Anika:  --and he has to prove that he can make a decision and choose someone who has to die. Which is like -- apparently, that is the number one way to test someone? Because that happens to Troi, it happens to Wesley, it happens to everybody in the actual no-win scenario Kobayashi Maru test. It's like, whatever! 

Liz:  I feel like that particular test was tailored for Wesley, like, it's different for everyone, and with the way Wesley's father died, that's what he needed. 

Anika:  Yes, that's what it said, but it's just interesting to me that the Star Trek writers think that that's the biggest test.

Liz:  I kind of think the Federation, as a culture, values life so highly that it really must be very difficult for the average citizen, if they are faced with a scenario where they effectively have to triage -- so yeah, I can see that being a real point of division between people who are suitable for Starfleet and everyone else. I don't think I could do it. 

Anika:  I don't know. I would have to take the test. I can't imagine it. My existence is such that I would never be in that position. 

Liz:  Yeah, I don't even like killing my squad in video games. I feel bad about it. And they're pixels! And not very well animated pixels at the best of times!

Anika:  Aw! 

Liz:  So do you have a favourite doctor?

Anika:  [sighs] It's hard. It's hard because -- I think I've told this story, where I told Alexander Siddig that I loved all the doctors, and so that's why he was going to be my favourite character.

Liz:  Yes, you have. 

Anika:  So in my head, I have this idea that I love the doctors most? But then, when I actually write down my favourite characters, they don't make it onto the list? So it's this weird -- like, medical, Starfleet Medical track is my favourite of all. I like them more than Command, I like them more than Engineering, and Ops, or whatever that one is. But the individual characters, I love them all, but I don't know. It's weird. So I guess Dr Crusher is my nostalgic heart's favourite. 

Liz:  Yes. 

Anika:  Because I loved her so much when I was a kid watching The Next Generation. I just was so drawn to her as a character. She was the first character in The Next Generation that I really connected with.

Liz:  Same, yes. 

Anika:  So I would say that that's -- like, Dr Crusher is going to be my favourite. I have a lot of affection for Dr Bashir, because I -- [laughs] I love trash boys. 

Liz:  [giggles]

Anika:  I just do! I have this problem! 

Liz:  No, no! 

Anika:  And I really -- he reminds me a lot of Tom Paris, in that he starts out as a really terrible person who you can't root for because he's horrible and creepy towards all women, and treats people in a very elitist "you're my property" weird way. Like, he's entitled, or something? But he grows into someone who decides not to be that. Both Tom Paris and Dr Bashir do this in this interesting arc where -- I don't know, I wrote here, "He's creepy about women and becomes a much better character when they stop doing that, it's almost like you shouldn't prioritise having a 'ladies man' in your cast". 

Liz:  I couldn't agree more.

Anika:  All of them, they tried to do this with these characters, and it's awful and doesn't work. No one likes it. Not just me, not just women, but no one likes it, because they stop doing it and then the characters become better, you know? 

Liz:  Yeah, yeah!

Anika:  Riker, Paris, Bashir, all go through this. It's like, maybe don't have that be important to your cast? Just a suggestion? 

Liz:  I've been listening to the podcast Delta Flyers, with Garrett Wang and Robert Duncan McNeill -- it's rather good, everyone should give it a go (if they like Voyager) -- but he is saying, in the first couple of episodes, he wishes that he hadn't played Paris as such an aggressive sleaze, because it's unpleasant to watch, and it's so far removed from what the character eventually becomes, which is, like, suburban space dad.

Anika:  Exactly. And I see Bashir in the same way. He doesn't become the same type of character, but he does start out as a person that I don't really want to win, but in the end, I really love him. 

Liz:  Yeah. 

Anika:  He never quite grows out of "trash boy", but he's not like an Archer, he's not a complete trash boy. 

Liz:  I think the thing is that he learns better. He stops being a creep about women, he stops being incredibly colonialist about Bajor and "the frontier". And he loses his ego. 

Like, "The Quickening" is a really great episode because initially he fails, and a lot of people die, and he keeps going, and he leaves Deep Space 9 for months -- or a couple of months, at least, to leave with these people in relative poverty and cure their disease. And, in the end, all he can do is ensure that it's not passed on to the next generation. The work of curing it for this living, dying generation has to go to other people. That's an outstanding episode, and I think a lot of Bashir-as-doctor -- if I think of him in that role, I think ego. And that's sort of a story about breaking his ego. 

Anika:  Yes. And he comes out better for it.

Liz:  Yeah, like, he was already a good character, but after that, I would trust him as a good doctor. As opposed to, like, a Dr House type, who is absolutely brilliant at medicine, but would you actually want to be treated by him? 

Anika:  Right. Exactly. You don't. I'm in the middle of a House rewatch right now--

Liz:  Oh my God.

Anika:  --and you absolutely do not. You also don't want to spend any time with him. 

Both: [laugh]

Liz:  My confession is that I wrote a fair -- like, not a lot, but a little bit of House fic, back in the day. It was a whole thing. 

Anika:  I have House fic. We can compare notes. Mine's all about Cameron, I'll be honest. 

Liz:  I really detested Cameron as a character--

Anika:  I love her! She's one of my favourite fictional characters!

Liz:  I think if I went back now, ten, fifteen years -- oh my God, how long as it been? I think if I went back now, I would really appreciate her more, but back then I found her annoying, and I wanted more Cuddy. And now I'm much older and wiser, and we can have both! But House is the origin of my great love for Lisa Edelstein. 

Anika:  That's fair.

Liz:  Anyway! Back on topic…

Anika:  So Crusher, Bashir, and I will say that I really like Culber, but I have yet to see him as a doctor at all. I don't even count him as a favourite doctor. I like his character, such as it is. I like the character that I think he is, I'll say that. 

Liz:  I feel like I would enjoy being treated by him because, like the women, he has a very gentle manner, and he doesn't seem to let his ego get in the way of much. And I think those are good traits to have in a personal physician. I would be open to being treated by Hugh, I think -- he's gentle. I think I like my male doctors [as characters, not as real doctors treating me] to be gentle and my female doctors to be spiky. 

Because I watched "The Child", the episode of TNG that introduces Pulaski, the other day, and I'm like, (a) this is truly terrible television; (b) I kind of feel like, aside from all the reasons that Pulaski doesn't work, like, her relationship with Data is off-putting, and all of that -- I think she was just too outspoken and too ahead of her time as a character. I look at Pulaski, and I see a woman who can tell a bunch of men to cut the manlier-than-thou bullshit. And Star Trek wasn't ready for that.

Anika:  Star Trek was not ready for that. And it's also -- even with the stuff with Data, I think they were trying -- she has a lot in common with McCoy. And McCoy is beloved--

Liz:  Absolutely.

Anika:  --and Pulaski is not. She's sort of having maybe a renaissance now. I see more Pulaski fans than I had. But she's never going to be on McCoy level of belovedness. But they have a lot in common.

Liz:  She was an explicit attempt to bring in an older, female McCoy type to the show. And to bring a bit more conflict without breaking Roddenberry's rules. And I just -- the problem is that she goes after Data. And to me, watching "The Child"--

Anika:  And Data's not Spock.

Liz:  Yeah, Data can't fight back the way Spock does. So to me, she meets Data, and it's like me if Siri started expressing preferences, I'd be like, "That's hilarious! Who programmed that?" Like when Siri makes Skynet jokes! But the audience has known Data for a season, and knows that Data is a person. So they just cannot see it from her perspective. And so she comes in like this complete bully. 

Anika:  Right. 

Liz:  And she does get over it, to her credit, but I think it was a bad note to start off on--

Anika:  Yeah, it was a terrible note to start off.

Liz:  --and a lot of people -- yeah. It's like watching an adult bully a child. 

Anika:  And also that Picard really disrespects her a lot in that episode. He's just, like, "I'm so annoyed that you're a part of my crew, now, that I'm just going to treat you terribly." It's like, wow.

Liz:  He's kind of the audience stand-in for the Beverly fans going, "Wait, what?"

Anika:  Right! So, yeah. Pulaski's just never going to be my favourite because I loved Crusher so much. And it's all wrapped up in my mother, and my mother's death, which all happened at the same time. So it's like, no. 

Liz:  No, I understand!

Anika:  I cannot. But I understand why people like her, and I think she is or could have been a good character.

Liz:  I really wish Diana Muldaur had been able to stick around as a recurring character at some point, or come in on her own ship once a season, or something. Because I do think Pulaski could have been a character as popular and interesting as Ensign Ro, and I think the series would have really benefited from having that sort of strong, no-bullshit female force. But my heart belongs to Beverly. 

Anika:  Right. Exactly. 

Liz:  And Selar -- season 2 of Next Gen is like the season of missed opportunities with female doctors, because Selar only appears in one episode, and she's still being namechecked as late as First Contact. Go Suzie Plakson!

Anika:  Yeah, and she's very memorable. And she also brought Suzie Plakson in. Because she's such a presence throughout Star Trek now, it's like she elevates Selar, because she played her. But I do think that just the idea of a Vulcan doctor is fun and interesting, and I want more of that. 

Liz:  It's also that she only appeared in one truly terrible episode, but she had so much presence. 

Anika:  Exactly.

Liz:  And I think, to be successful as an actor playing a Vulcan, you need to have a lot going on behind your eyes. And she did that. She was brilliant. And I love Robin Curtis, but I think Selar was, like, Kirstie Alley level good. So it's a real shame that we never see her again. 

Do you think, like, in terms of really obscure characters we can bring back for Picard, we could bring back Selar?

Anika:  Oh my gosh, that would be amazing. They do need a doctor! Like we said!

Liz:  They do! 

Anika:  They need a doctor! 

Liz:  I think that, with all of these Romulans running around, we need a Vulcan for comedy alone. 

Anika:  [laughing] So good! I love this idea.

Liz:  But I also want Suzie Plakson to play L'Rell's mother in Strange New Worlds. Because we know she can do a Klingon, we know she can handle make-up, and she is actually taller than Mary Chieffo. 

Anika:  Amazing. It's so good. So good! Okay, let's make that happen. Make it happen! 

Liz:  Because we've established that CBS is paying so much attention to our ideas. 

Anika:  Obviously, they listen to us all the time. 

Liz:  [laughs] So do you think it would be weird to be treated by an emergency medical hologram that looks exactly like you?

Anika:  Uh, yes! Yes, it would. However, this is -- okay, so it's been established that you don't have to have them all look like you. That you can buy this program, and you can choose whatever you want them all to look like. And he chose to keep it himself. 

Liz:  [giggling]

Anika:  Which is a whole layer of interesting on Mr Rios. But I would hate to be treated or joined in -- like, okay, that's not true, I think that, for the navigation -- if I wanted to have a bridge crew, I can imagine a bridge crew of just me. And that would be kind of cool, I'll be honest. 

Liz:  [laughs]

Anika:  As I was saying it, I was like, wait, no, actually, I would like that. But for doctoring, it's like I want to trust that they are going to be able to figure it out and take care of me and stuff. And I don't. Because I have some medical training, I am certified in CPR and first aid, I have enough healthcare training to work with developmentally disabled populations in their home. So I'm a -- I forget what I'm called. Oh, I'm a nurse delegate, I'm a nurse delegate. 

Liz:  Oh, nice! What a good title!

Anika:  That doesn't mean I have any nursing. And it certainly doesn't mean I have any medical training, actual, you know, take-care-of-a-person training. That's twelve years. So I wouldn't want the person to look like me, I wouldn't want my doctor to look like me, even if it was a computer. I would want it to look like Dr House. You know, someone I can trust to take care of me. 

Liz:  Yeah, I was thinking -- because I sprained my wrist on Sunday, and on Thursday, I finally went, "Hey, this really hurts, maybe I should see someone about it?" So I had to go to an actual doctor's surgery, and it occurred to me as I was walking in that I kind of have an idea of what's wrong, and I really just want someone with training and authority to say, "Yes, this is wrong, and you are doing the right thing." And that's what I want from a doctor, and I don't want the doctor to look like me, because then I won't trust them.

Anika:  Exactly. That's just crazy, Mr Rios. 

Liz:  But I think, also, as a character note, it kind of suggests that he trusts himself more than--

Anika:  Only himself. Only himself. 

Liz:  Yeah! 

Anika:  And I absolutely believe that, I absolutely believe it. I absolutely believe that he only trusts himself. He's a Gryffindor. It's very much his trait, I get it. 

Liz:  Yes. 

Anika:  I am not a Gryffindor, so--

Liz:  [laughs]

Anika:  --therefore--

Liz:  I am a very sensible Hufflepuff, and I believe in trusting people with proper training. 

So after the list of doctors, we have a list of nurses. And it's a lot shorter. It's Chapel, Ogawa, Kes, Paris. 

Anika:  Okay, so can we start with Paris? Because I had to include him, because I find it hilarious that he is the closest thing that Voyager has to a nurse once Kes leaves.

Liz:  And we never see him going through any training to improve his skills. 

Anika:  Yeah, there's like three episodes where he even does anything in sickbay. But the conceit, if I recall correctly, is that he got a B+ in biochemistry at the Academy, and therefore he can be the nurse. 

Liz:  Yyyyyyeah.

Anika:  That is terrible on every level. 

Liz:  So this is my whole nursing rant, that nursing is not treated as a profession that requires training and qualifications. Like, Kes is being trained to be a doctor, Chapel was studying to be a doctor and then left to become a nurse and run off after her fiance, and Ogawa's professional arc is actually where Beverly goes, "Oh yeah, you're doing great, let's talk about boys." 

And I think one thing that the whole Covid thing has really brought home is how much we need nurses. It's all very well that all your doctors are holograms or droids or whatever, but who is changing the bedpans and giving the sponge baths, and -- you know, even if your biobed puts out the vital signs on a little screen, who is there to read and understand them? 

Anika:  Right.

Liz:  And I guess Star Trek takes this [attitude] of, "Oh, the doctors will do it!" But we know that that's not how real life works, and it really troubles me that we see so few nurses, and they're so relatively disregarded. And it's a joke that Paris is a man, and a ladies man, and a nurse. And Kes and Chapel are "failed doctors" or "doctors-to-be". 

Nursing gets a lot of disrespect. 

Anika:  It's terrible. 

Liz:  I would like to see better depictions of nurses in Star Trek. 

Anika:  So I love medical dramas. I love to watch them. And my favourite is ER. So this comes up in ER, because -- so my favourite in ER is Carol Hawaway (Juliana Margulies), and she is a nurse. And she is the heart, you know, at the beginning of that series. And it's very clear that, as much as the doctors work hard and care about their patients, and take care of them, it's the nurses who really take care of their patients. They're the face of the ER. They're the people who you're going to see over and over again, the three hours that you're there. They're doing all the -- like, the doctor says, "Do this thing," and then the nurse does it. 

Liz:  Yes!

Anika:  So Carol has this arc where she decides that she wants to be a doctor, because she never thought she could. Like, she wasn't good enough to be a doctor, so she became a nurse, but now she realises that she is good enough to be a doctor, so she takes the MCATs and she's going to become a doctor. 

And then, after passing, and Kerry starts treating her like a med student, and starts respecting her in a way that she had never respected her as the chief nurse, even though she was the most senior nurse, and she was there before Kerry even began -- she realises that she wants to have that patient interaction, she wants to be the face of the ER, she wants to be the heart of everything, she wants to actually take care of people, and not be a doctor. So she decides to stay a nurse. 

And then she gives up her career to go join Doug in Seattle. And, obviously, she doesn't give up her career, she just moves it to Seattle, but that's what she's remembered for? She went after her boyfriend. 

Liz:  [laughs]

Anika:  And then Abby Lockhart, who is introduced in Carol's last season, has the same progression. 

Liz:  Oh my God.

Anika:  She is a nurse who wanted to be a doctor, but gave it up and decided to become a nurse, but she really wants to be a doctor. And she has this whole thing where she's like, no, nursing is great, and she has a whole speech about it, how it's really wonderful and important, and it's valid, and just as important as being a doctor. But then she becomes a doctor. And is a doctor for the rest of the series, and that's what she's best remembered for, as the nurse who became a doctor. 

And it's like, that progression, those two storylines, the way they echo each other, and the way that Carol is remembered for her relationship with Doug, but Abby is remembered for being a nurse who became a doctor -- it just upsets me, because nothing against those characters, and nothing against a nurse who wants to become a doctor, like, sure, great. But there are plenty of people who actually wanted to be nurses. Who chose to be a nurse. And they do have that patient interaction, and they do matter as much as a doctor. And it's just sort of threatening to have this idea that (a) nurse can just become a doctor if they take a couple more years, or whatever. 

Liz:  If they want it enough.

Anika:  Yeah, if they want it enough. And that just being a nurse isn't a good enough end goal. Like, of course it is. 

Liz:  Right, there's this idea that professional success for a nurse is becoming a doctor. 

Anika:  Exactly.

Liz:  We even see it a bit in Doctor Who, with Rory -- and I love Rory, and it is so rare to see a male nurse in media, but even in "Amy's Choice", that sort of wish-fulfilment universe, he's … a doctor! And, granted, he's a gerontologist, which is, like, one of the hardest forms of medicine around, and one that requires the most care, but … you know. A nurse is a not a failed doctor.

Anika:  No, it's a completely separate job. They work together as a team to take care of people. If there were only doctors, a lot of stuff wouldn't get done. Because the doctors don't even know how to do that. 

Liz:  Exactly. Right. 

Anika:  Because it's not their job. The things that the nurses do are real skills, they have real significance, and it's mindboggling. And, you know, we were saying that you could replace the doctors with the holograms, or with a droid, and it would be harder to replace the nurse. 

Liz:  Yeah. I know Deep Space 9 had a rotating cast of Bajoran nurses -- and that's the other thing, you know, the Bajorans aren't doctors, they're nurses. But we rarely see nurses as characters, save for Ogawa and Chapel. 

Anika:  And, as you said, both of their characterisations are much more about their personal lives than their nursing. 

Liz:  Yeah. And it's just frustrating! I would like to see more! 

What I would actually like -- I was thinking, in the wake of the Strange New Worlds announcement, which we will discuss in detail at a future time -- but what I would be doing, if I was in charge of Star Trek (still waiting for that phone call), I would be looking at about two short series a year. Three to six episodes, just doing a deep dive into an aspect of the Star Trek universe. And one of them would be, like, Star Trek: Pasteur, starring Gates McFadden as the captain of a medical ship, and basically doing a medical drama in space.

Anika:  That would be great. 

Liz:  I knew you would love the idea.

Anika:  They would go to planets that were having an outbreak, and they would have to take care of them, and it would just be amazing. 

Liz:  Yeah! 'Cos I watched -- as research for this episode, I watched "The Child" and I watched "Ethics", so two Next Generation episodes, and both involved the Enterprise dealing with a medical emergency outside of itself. You know, there's a spaceship crash and a plague. And it would be cool to see those stories stretched out over several episodes. 

Anika:  I would love that.

Liz:  And I don't think this concept would sustain a full 13-episode series, but I think three to six episodes, and the sort of thing where you can reuse a lot of sets for the next one, and … yeah. Again, CBS, why do you not have me on speed dial? My lack of experience is no impediment whatsoever! 

Anika:  We would definitely give the nurses their due! 

Liz:  We would! And I think it would be really cool to see, you know, are there doctors who specialise in a particular race, or a particular type of race? And what if it's the 2390s and you're a Romulan and you're serving on a Starfleet medical ship? How does Beverly adjust from being a chief medical officer to a captain? 

Anika:  And in "Ethics", it's almost a throwaway line, but it's really kind of incredible to me that they have this conversation about how, "Oh well, I called the Klingons to get their opinions, since Worf is a Klingon," and they were like, "Well, we would let him die." And it's just -- wow, okay! Cool medicine there, Klingons! 

Liz:  [giggles]

Anika:  Yikes! 

Liz:  Yeah. My favourite fact about "Ethics" was that one wheelchair-using writer was so incensed by this depiction of Klingon ableism that he wrote the Deep Space 9 episode "Melora" because he wanted to depict a character whose use of a wheelchair wasn't something to be pitied. 

Anika:  Right, because it also happens with Captain Pike. 

Liz:  Right! Right. And I think what this guy was saying was really interesting, that it is a reasonable point of worldbuilding and detail for the Klingon culture, but at the same time, this attitude that the severely disabled deserve to die is present among humans, so it's not nice to see it in fiction.

Anika:  And we talked last week about how the Romulan was like, "Oh well, you know…"

Liz:  Yeah.

Anika:  "...you're blind, so we'd kill you, too." And it's just, like, okay, I understand that they're trying to make a line between the humans, who are good, and believe in medicine, or something, I guess, and then these other races. But if these races are supposed to be our equals, and we have a treaty with them, and they're on par with us, and that's their attitude? It's a little -- okay, maybe we need to -- it's another one of those things where we're like, "Star Trek, you need to explore that a little bit more." 

Liz:  Right, it's an interesting and complicated issue, but you need to do more. And I think it's touched on in Star Trek VI, in the wonderful dinner party scene where -- I think it's Chekov who asks about the human rights violations in the Klingon Empire. And Azetbur deflects it by pointing out that the very term is racist -- which it is, in this context, and I love her for that, but the question is never answered. 

"Ethics" was a really interesting episode for me to watch as an adult because, um, this is embarrassing to admit, but before she retired, my mother was a professional pro-life lobbyist?

Anika:  Okay…

Liz:  But this whole end-of-life, assisted suicide thing, you know, really got her fired up. So it was quite interesting to come back and watch it as an adult and go, "Okay, yes, this is not really an episode -- air quotes-- 'about assisted suicide', it's more like the clash between culturally appropriate medicine versus … not. Because -- I think this is one of the criticisms someone had on Twitter, of Beverly, that she is very paternalistic in her approach to patients from other cultures. 

Anika:  Which is true.

Liz:  And Worf often bears the brunt of it, like that terrible episode where she's pressuring him into donating blood to a Romulan, and he straight up doesn't consent. Which is his right. So "Ethics" was a really -- I really enjoyed watching it, actually! Partially because, like Dr Toby Russell is a woman, and you so rarely see women as unrepentantly amoral scientists in Star Trek. Also, the actress bears an uncanny resemblance to Hillary Clinton in that era, and I just found that slightly funny.

Anika:  She totally does!

Liz:  No one talks about that time Hillary Clinton was in Star Trek!

Anika:  I spent the entire episode going, "Why do I know you? Where do I know you from?" But you're right, that's absolutely true, she was very Hillary Clinton-esque. 

Liz:  I went so far as to look up the actress's IMDB to see what else she'd been in, and I couldn't place her after that, and then she just hit the right angle. And the way her hair sat, and everything, I was like, ohhhh, that's the first lady. 

Anika:  I like it. And I kind of -- she was totally a Hillary Clinton type character, too!

Liz:  Right!

Anika:  So I'm into this! It works!

Liz:  Particularly that very '90s idea of her as this terrible woman who puts her profession above humanity. And we can talk about whether or not that's fair to Clinton, but I think it makes for a really interesting character, and a really interesting foil for Beverly. And, yeah, we rarely see that type as a woman in Star Trek. 

Anika:  Yeah. The story that's told in "Ethics" is similar to the one that's told in "Nothing Human" in Voyager. And what's interesting about it is that the character that she is an analogue for in "Nothing Human" is a genocidal maniac Nazi doctor. That's what he is. So it's really kind of terrible to say those are the same. Because they're not. She is not a Nazi, she is not prioritising medicine over people as a whole. There are layers to her. 

Liz:  She's not doing it on an industrial scale. But at the same time, she has looked at this severely disabled and deeply depressed man and gone, "Yes, that is the guy, the perfect target for my unethical experiment." 

Anika:  For my experimental … yeah.

Liz:  Spine replicator. 

Anika:  It's interesting.

Liz:  Yeah. 

Anika:  And then I also mentioned "Miri", which -- I don't know if you've seen "Miri" lately…

Liz:  I have not seen "Miri" for quite a few years.

Anika:  It's a bad episode! I don't suggest you--

Liz:  I remember it being a bit creepy.

Anika:  Don't watch it on purpose. 

Liz:  Is that the episode where a teenage girl falls in love with Kirk?

Anika:  Yes.

Liz:  And he handles it about as well as you could in the 1960s?

Anika:  It's bad on every level. But it's an episode where there's a disease that only attacks adults. So Miri, towards the end of the episode, starts showing episodes of this disease because she's gone through puberty. So it's kind of terrifying that a girl who has not yet gone through puberty is flirting with Captain Kirk. But. 

Liz:  It was the '60s! [cry-laughing]

Anika: And everything about -- yeah, it's a bad episode. It's a very bad episode. But the idea is that there's this disease, and McCoy is trying to come up with a cure and vaccine. I mean, this happens a lot in Star Trek, this whole, "We're gonna come up with this cure and this vaccine for this disease, and it's gonna happen in this 45-minute episode. It's gonna be great, and it's gonna work by the end." That is not how that works. Even with time jumps, like in "The Quickening", where it's a month, it's still -- no. It takes over a year for this to actually happen. But that's fine. 

Liz:  And we have all become experts in the timeline of vaccine development. 

Anika:  Right. McCoy successfully comes up with his hypospray of magic that is going to fix it, and he injects it into himself. Because that's what you do when you're McCoy. 

Liz:  [literally does a spittake??? Apparently I found this really funny!]

Anika:  It's like, he refuses to inject it in anyone else, because it's untested, because he has some semblance of, you know, understanding of reality, and knows that it couldn't possibly actually be the cure. But he injects it into himself. So I like to look at these three episodes, and they bring up these questions of medical ethics and how you address -- and the idea of experimentation on willing or unwilling participants. It's interesting! As a little -- like, these are the different ways that we look at it. And it's interesting that, in all three cases, they end up doing it, because they decide that the risk is worth it.

Liz:  I feel like going, "Oh, we found a potential cure, but we're not going to test it because that would be really dangerous--" it just makes for a very unsatisfying story. And I don't think anyone except possibly you or me would be entertained by "The Federation Ethics Board" and "This is the paper I wrote to substantiate my research" and "Here are my test subjects". 

Anika:  You're right, I would be interested in that. I would be more interested in that than an argument between Beverly and -- I forget her name. 

Liz:  Toby Russell.

Anika:  Toby Russell. Like, in the hallway of the Enterprise, you know, for, like, back and forth for three lines, and then Beverly's like, "You're fired." It's interesting for the characters, but there's a better story somewhere. 

Liz:  Right.

Anika:  There's more to that, I want to see more of it. And, of course, I hate -- sorry to Worf, but I hate the ending, where Worf dies but doesn't die. That is-- [laughs]

Liz:  I like it better now that we know just how stupidly redundant Klingon systems are, thanks to Discovery, and showing us more of them. But I do have to wonder when Klingon medicine regressed from, "Hey, we can turn this guy into a human" in the 23rd century to "Just let him die." 

Anika:  Yeah.

Liz:  "We don't want him."

Anika:  That's the other thing, like, Klingon physiology and Klingon medicine do not make sense together. It does not make sense. How can you have--

Liz:  They're bodies are so sophisticated--

Anika:  Right.

Liz:  --that they should have much more sophisticated medicine to deal with them. 

Anika:  And they have less, they have more primitive medicine. It's very strange. And this is another thing, I really wish that, in all of the many, many Klingon episodes -- there are so many Klingon episodes! 

Liz:  There are a lot.

Anika:  I wish that any of them dealt with these questions of Klingons who are not warriors, Klingons who are scientists and want to be scientists, Klingons who are engineers and want to be engineers, and how they are looked down upon in their society. Klingon society is so strange, the way that it has been presented, and this idea that only a warrior -- only a soldier has value, when--

Liz:  I think we sort of see that now, where -- you know, people like grocery workers and delivery drivers, and nurses and teachers, are just completely devalued until suddenly they're "essential". And people who have spent their lives stocking up on guns, or whatever, to "protect their families" can't cope with protecting their families by staying in and wearing a mask. 

So I can sort of see that, but there's also an episode of Enterprise which, I think, touches on it. I'm blanking on the title, but it's the second season episode where Archer and … someone or other … are put on trial, and it's all a big knock-off of the trial scene in Star Trek VI. 

Anika:  Right, yes. 

Liz:  But J G Hertzler plays the Klingon lawyer, and he has this speech about how the Klingon Empire is in decline because they have over-valued their warriors, and one day this is going to come back and bite them. And I think, 200 years later, that is still the problem that they're facing. 

Anika:  It's definitely the problem. And there are great tie-in novels about Klingons who are not warriors, that I love, and I wish that was represented. Because the Klingons that I'm interested in are the ones who poke at Klingon culture, and say, why is this like this? 

Liz:  Yeah! Which I think is the case with any story. And maybe Strange New Worlds will give us a bit of that? 

Anika:  Maybe.

Liz:  I'm trying to be optimistic, because my initial reaction to its announcement was so negative. But we can talk about that next time. You have a list of counsellors here. 

Anika:  Yes! I like to remind everyone that counsellors are part of the medical system. 

Liz:  They are, and we have two psychiatrists in Dr Elizabeth Dehner and Admiral Katrina Cornwell, and two psychologists in Troi and Ezri. What do you think happened to psychiatry after the 23rd century? 

Anika:  [laughs] That's a good question. I guess -- I mean, it might be as simple as saying -- as you said with the doctors -- as society changed, so did Star Trek. Because I would say that, certainly in this day and age, the people that you go to see in therapy tend to not be the people who give you the medication.

Liz:  Yeah, the psychiatrists dispense and the psychologists counsel. 

Anika:  Exactly. So I think that it's -- it used to be, it was the psychiatrist. And it was very clinical. And it's become much more about therapy, and talk therapy, and cognitive -- like, all of this stuff, cognitive behavioural therapy. It's become more than just fixing your biochemistry.

Liz:  Right.

Anika:  And I think that shift is the same. 

Liz:  I suspect there's also a reluctance to get into too much detail with the nitty gritty of futuristic psychopharmaceuticals. Because, for one thing, if someone's problem can be fixed by manually adjusting their brain chemistry, that's a very short story. But then there's things like Lorca's trauma, or Lorca's so-called PTSD, which should have been detectable -- like, it would be detectable in an MRI now. 

Anika:  Absolutely. Well, this is super interesting to me, as you might suggest. 

Liz:  I believe you literally did a thesis on it. 

Anika:  Yes. I did. So it's interesting to me as a student, as an academic, and it's also interesting to me as a person, like, on a personal level, as someone who was sort of raised to be -- my family wasn't really into therapy. I should -- my father wasn't into therapy. He thought that was not a thing. And I really, really needed therapy! And so did he. [laughs] 

And I didn't get any until I became an adult and could get it for myself. And then I had a whole decade-long awakening, or whatever, I worked really hard to become comfortable with my mental stability, to figure out how to live in my brain for the rest of my life. Because I can't change my brain. 

Yes, medication stabilises, medication can address issues that are actually chemical, which are very, very prevalent, and which anybody who has any kind of trauma, it's a part of it. Because trauma changes your brain, that's what happens. And so the medication adjusts that. But the medication doesn't help you address the trauma itself. What happens to you. You need both.

Liz:  It's not a band-aid, but you need to learn new ways of thinking as well.

Anika:  So I like that Troi and Ezri are talk therapists. I think that that is hugely important and vital, and we need as many representations of that as we can get in any media. Not just Star Trek, not just sci-fi. Anything. All of it. Before all conventions were cancelled this year, I was shopping around a panel that I entitled Saving The World Isn't Therapy.

Liz:  [laughs]

Anika:  And the idea was that, if you look at -- I was focusing on young adults. Because, you know, Harry Potter, Hunger Games, look at them and they're like, these are 17-year-old people who are expected to save everything. Even Star Wars, they're all 19. It's just crazy.

Liz:  Right! I'm watching The Clone Wars, and I'm going, Ahsoka is 14 years old, she should not be doing this! 

Anika:  It's like, what is going on?! And anime -- oh my gosh. They're all 13 through 17 years old in all of these things, and they are expected to be acting as superheroes. And even adults who are superheroes desperately need therapy. That's what Iron Man 3 is all about, which is great. I love that they're starting to realise that these things are important. 

But I think that it's definitely true in Starfleet, like, you need a counsellor. And that's why I love the fact that Elizabeth Dehner exists, because at least saying, like, in the pilot of this series, we are saying we need someone who cares about mental health. Because going out to explore strange new worlds, where no man has gone before? You need someone to help you deal with what you find. 

Liz:  Right! And it makes sense that it would be a psychiatrist at this stage, because they can sort of do the empirical stuff and set up a baseline, and build the map on which the psychologists can travel.

Anika:  I love that. I love that she exists. And I love -- I've said many times that Ezri is the character where I sat up and said, "I want to be here!" And I love that she is a counsellor. I get annoyed with people who say she only became interesting when she started caring about command, because--

Liz:  No! No!

Anika:  --much like the nurses, it's like, counselling is vital and important and needed.

Liz:  Yes!

Anika:  It's great that Counsellor Troi becomes a commander, and takes the test, and does all of that, and deals with it, and proves that she can do it, but she didn't need to. She was still super important and necessary to the show and to the ship before she did that.

Liz:  Right. And I was also going to say, with the echo of the nurses thing, I love that Beverly becomes a captain in "All Good Things…", but that is not what she has to do to be successful in her career, and you don't have to go to Command. And with Ezri and Kat, it's not that they went to command instead of mental health, it's that they brought their mental health skills into Command. 

Anika:  Exactly. And they would be so good at it. It's like, of course you went into Command, because you had the skills, you had so much better skills than someone like -- oh, let's talk about Archer! My favourite trash captain has none of those interpersonal skills. He's super charming, but he is not good with people. 

Liz:  Noooooo.

Anika:  So the idea that he would be valued over a Cornwell is ridiculous to me.

Liz:  One of the things that made me sit up and take notice of Cornwell in "Choose Your Pain" is the way she is speaking about Starfleet morale, and the needs of the fleet -- the people within the fleet, and also about Michael, and how she draws the distinction between Michael being scapegoated for the war and Michael being actually responsible for it. And that clearly comes from her background in psychiatry and mental healthcare, and it really sets her apart from all the other admirals we've ever seen. 

Anika:  Right. Right. It's amazing, and I love it. 

Liz:  Yeah.

Anika:  Kat, I just--

Liz:  I mean, spoilers, we love Kat a lot.

Anika:  I love every counsellor. I love Troi, I love Ezri, I love Kat. I even love Elizabeth Dehner, and I get upset that her only episode is, again, all about a man that she happened to fall in love with, and it destroyed her life.

Liz:  Maybe she can be a regular in Strange New Worlds. Seems like a good role for Anna Torv.

Anika:  Oh my gosh. I would love -- I would love -- I was really mad when Carol Marcus ended up in Into Darkness instead of Elizabeth Dehner. Because she had the haircut, and so everyone was saying that she was going to be Elizabeth Dehner, and I was like, oh my God. All I want is for Elizabeth Dehner to be a big thing. 

Liz:  There was a rumour going around before Into Darkness came out that the whole Khan thing was a fake-out, and that Benedict Cumberbatch was actually playing Gary Mitchell--

Anika:  Gary Mitchell, right.

Liz:  And I really liked the idea that Kirk's all-American best friend was now this weedy Englishman. And I really -- I don't like Into Darkness, and I really wish we'd gotten that movie instead. Once again, I like the Star Trek in my head better than canon. 

Anika:  Alice Eve would have been a great Elizabeth Dehner. And, honestly, I like her Carol Marcus. But it would have been so much more interesting if it was Gary Mitchell and Elizabeth Dehner than--

Liz:  Right. Because, if nothing else, Khan is just done to death.

Anika:  I'm tired and I don't care. 

Liz:  Do we want to talk about medtech? That's the final point on our list that we haven't covered. 

Anika:  I just think it's amazing that Star Trek has really -- there are biobeds, there are people who are working on tricorders, there are people who are working on hyposprays. All of these things, they're trying to create. 

Liz:  It's amazing, yeah. 

Anika:  That's true across all of Star Trek, but the medical technology that they are -- I have a friend who is literally working on a project that is basically a biobed. He is trying to make biobeds.

Liz:  That's amazing.

Anika:  It's incredible to me! Can you imagine how helpful it would be to have a biobed right now? To have someone -- you lie down, and it takes your temperature, and it tells you your vitals, without hooking anything up, and it says, you know, "These are the four diseases that are probable." It would be so incredible to have even a tenth of that technology. 

So the fact that people are inspired by Star Trek to try to create it -- Gates McFadden has talked about how she is kept in the loop about medical tricorders. People just send her emails, like, "Here's the quarterly report on our research into a medical tricorder." And she's like, "I don't understand any of this, but it's amazing that you are doing it, and that they -- it's inspiring that they have been inspired by the work that I've done." It's incredible. 

So I love that, and I just -- as much as I have been saying that I worry that technology is encroaching on human interaction in medicine, I think that if used -- instead of as a replacement, but as something to make doctors better at their job, to make it easier to be a doctor, easier to have the human interactions -- we should support that in every way.

Liz:  Absolutely. I went to my local hospital a month or so ago, to drop off some masks we had accidentally stockpiled after the bushfires. And they just waved a thing and took my temperature from centimetres away. And it was amazing! And I was like, oh, this is so futuristic! And then, you know, you apply the hand sanitiser, and you mask up, and -- yeah. 

[This is where I seamlessly cut about nine minutes of talking about Covid]

Anyway, we've gone very far off-topic, and probably I'm about to cut all of this Covid stuff [See? Seamless!] because it'll probably bring people down a bit. But! [laughs] "I signed up for a Star Trek podcast! About medicine in Star Trek! Why are they talking about a terrible disease? 

Anika:  This is what our life is right now, and I think it's valid. That's just my opinion.

Liz:  I think it is, too.

Anika:  I will say that I watched "Critical Care" for this episode.

Liz:  Oh yes!

Anika:  And that's an episode -- and this is true of all my -- I said that I love watching medical dramas, right? So ER is old, now, okay? And yet, in the first season, they had storylines that dealt with how terrible healthcare insurance is, and how awful the idea of some people getting better healthcare because they can afford it is. 

Liz:  Yeah. 

Anika:  And that's true in every medical drama. And it's usually in the first season. These are things that, if you're writing a medical drama, if you're writing about anything that has to do with it--

Liz:  It's the cliche you need to get out of the way. 

Anika:  Yeah, you have to acknowledge the fact that our healthcare system is horrible. And "Critical Care" is literally about deciding, this person is more useful to society, and so, therefore, they will get better care. 

Liz:  And the thing is, it seems like a very uncontroversial thing to say, but then you have the current state of American politics with regards to public healthcare? 

Anika:  And it's literally happening right now. There are plenty of people who are publishing their personal stories about, "I'm a doctor in Minnesota, and I'm dealing with Covid patients, and we are deciding which ones get the ICU beds and which ones don't." Based on who they are, and what they can afford, where they are in their life -- and it's horrible to think that -- but it's also, like, I feel for these people who are in the hospital, who have to make those decisions because they don't have enough space. Because no one cared to fix it before the fact.

Liz:  Yeah, or, "That hospital wasn't making a profit, so that's closed down, so all the patients in this town have to go to this other hospital, further away, that's overwhelmed because suddenly it's dealing with two populations instead of one." 

Anika:  And also there's the 36 million people, or whatever, who filed for unemployment. Which means that they don't have a job, which means they don't have healthcare. 

Liz:  Right!

Anika:  It is the worst possible scenario for so many people. 

Liz:  No, it's terrible.

Anika:  And I want to be like the -- you know, I'm not the EMH, but I can be the little guy who's in the ward, who's doing his best with no equipment and no medication, and barely minimum training to try to do the best he can do. And it's just, like, ooh. That episode was really hard to watch in the current environment. It was hard to watch back in 1998, or whatever, and it was super hard to watch today. 

Liz:  It's not as if anything's gotten better.

Anika:  No, it's gotten much worse. And it's upsetting. And the fact that it's still controversial to say that healthcare is a right? 

Liz:  Yeah. And that's controversial here, too! We have a really good public healthcare system, but our government thinks we would be much better off with an American style one. 

Anika:  Remember earlier in this conversation, I said that I didn't get mental healthcare until I was an adult and could ask for it. I also was no longer on my father's insurance, and I was on public insurance at that point. Because I didn't have a job. And I got it. And it covered everything. That one moment in time -- and I don't think it's true of -- I think that the Connecticut Husky plan has changed since I was on it. And the fact that I was in this golden age of healthcare for two years, the one time that I desperately needed it, this is why I want to be Ezri, and I want to be a counsellor, and I want to help people, it's because I know that it's so hard to get the help you need. 

Liz:  And it is here, too, it is actually harder to access mental healthcare in Australia than America. Which is not usually the way we expect it to go. Anyway…

Anika:  Yeah, so, sorry to get super political, but healthcare is a right, it should be free, people are terrible, especially right now, in the middle of a pandemic. You should just get to be taken care of, the end. 

Liz:  Star Trek is optimistic! Which is the sort of attitude that I usually rant about, but I'll let it stand for now. It's 45 minutes and we've cured a disease.

Anika:  In "Critical Care", it ends with the terrible jerk doctor and the overworked, undertrained doctor working together to take down the administrator. And it's like, well, that wouldn't happen! But it's a nice story. But, of course, at the end of the episode, Voyager leaves, the Doctor leaves, what happens on that planet? Probably those three people lose their job, and then everything is status quo and it's horrible. 

Liz:  [heavy sigh]

Anika:  I wish I was optimistic! 

Liz:  [laughs] Yeah.

Anika:  But I'm an idealist, I'm not optimistic. There's a very big difference. There's a big difference between idealism and optimism.

Liz:  That is the rant that I've been trying to articulate! 

Anika:  I say I'm a Slytherin, which is an idealist, I am not an optimist. 

Liz:  [laughs] Okay. Thank you for listening to Antimatter Pod. 

You can find our show notes at antimatterpod.tumblr.com, including links to our social media and credits for our theme music.

You can also follow us on Twitter at @antimatterpod. Sometimes we post cat pictures, and questions for our audience.

If you like us, leave a review on apple podcasts or wherever you consume your podcasts -- the more reviews, the easier it is for new listeners to find us. 

And join us in two weeks when we’ll be discussing the newly announced Strange New Worlds.

Anika:  Woooo!

Liz:  Is it? Is it really? 

Anika:  [laughs] Look, Number One and Spock are gonna make out. It's gonna happen. 

Liz:  If they're going for an episodic, old series sort of vibe, then sooner or later there'll be sex pollen. That's the rules. 

Anika:  Exactly. There will be a reason. 

Liz:  And an episode where someone gets turned into a lizard. REAL STAR TREK.

Anika:  REAL STAR TREK! 

[end]

#star trek #antimatter pod #podcast transcripts

[sttngfashion]

“Picard” Trailer – Captain’s Fashions

Those of you who have been with us for a while may know that, while we know and love all of the Stars Trek, our deep passion is for TNG. There are a lot of reasons why this is so, ranging from the clothes in TNG have a different level of pure-bonks than any of other series, to the fact that WE WERE RAISED ON THIS AND WE JUST LOVE IT.

So even as the franchise has been getting revived in different ways, while these new iterations were exciting, they weren’t quite hitting our sweet spot (well, I don’t want to speak for Anna, they weren’t hitting my sweet spot). 

That changed this weekend.

Damn right that’s a prime teaser, f*ck.

Trailers are actually kind of hard to examine fashions through, because there’s so much footage and its hard to get a good screengrab of things, so I’ve limited myself to taking a close look at the fashion that really matters: the Picardwear.

Spoiler alert: the watchword for this series is “practical comfort.” Okay, I don’t actually know how any of these costumes fit or feel, but considering the troubled past between Starfleet Uniforms and Patrick Stewart’s spine, I think we can all agree he’s earned some casual wear.

Heathered fabric for a Heathers-like shot

I’m actually a little ashamed to admit that I assumed that this was Data and then heard rumblings on the internet that it might be some other Noonian creation? I immediately looked away to avoid spoilers. But the real attraction here is this sophisticated looking blazer (I’m assuming its a blazer from the shoulders, but really, anything could be happening on the front of that thing). The fabric looks warm and welcoming, perfect for being comfy during those French vineyard winters, when the vines are leafless and the fog sits low in the orchard. Take special note of that collar, because, friends, we have a recurring theme.

Everyday Essentials by Starfleet

This I suppose isn’t that exciting, and in some ways the fit reminds me a bit of TOS-era clothing. That being said, I’m definitely getting season-7 Captain-isn’t-gonna-wear-no-red-no-more casual vibes. On the other hand, is that... a mock turtle?!

From the Under His Eye collection for Men

I’m sure it must just be a thing in future-fashion at the moment that costume designers believe that in the future all colors will be from the Crayola Bold Box, but this is actually a nice, cozy-looking burgundy sweater (to go with your glass of Bordeaux, way-oh!). Unfortunately we don’t get a head-on look at the garment, but whatever is happening in that ribbed collar region is intriguing and I have time for it. Is there a potential for a sexy partial unbuttoning?

Category is: Indiana Jones Grampa

I mean, slap a beat-up fedora on his head and hand him a whip and some sensible walking shoes, AMIRITE? We should all aspire to jobs where we can dress like this in our seventies.

Also this feels like as good a time as any to think about the circular nature of fashion, both how “late 20th/early 21st century fashions” are coming back into vogue in the Trek-verse, but also the idea that (maybe?) these costume designers feel the need to throw contemporary looks into futuristic stories. Are they worried the kids won’t be able to relate? Because I have definitely seen that sweater at Costco.

Desert-wandering is always business casual

Difficult to make out much here, but thank god he’s undone the top button. Also here’s hoping they’ve figured out sun-skin protection in the 24th century, because that dude is gonna have one rosy scalp otherwise.

Stick a top hat on him and hand him a walking stick, and he could be a friendly narrator for A Christmas Carol or Oliver Twist. 

But maybe that’s more a function of Sir Patrick’s unstoppable Englishness. Anyway, this looks like the perfect thing to wear to get plastered at a hotel bar. The brickwork behind him makes me think we might still be in rural France, but those shoulderpads say business. Really solid shirt color choice (literally and figuratively).

Go Bold™, the new line of men’s adventure gear from Banana Republic

I actually really like this look—it’s my second-favorite of the trailer!—the divide between top and bottom on the jacket gives a soupçon of that TNG uniform vibe, while the asymmetrical collar says “It’s the future we do not give a f*ck.” That backpack could be saying “I’m about to trek through the jungle for a Louis Vuitton photoshoot” but it could also be “could I get my cappuccino with oat milk and the WiFi password?” I still have the Indiana Jones theme song stuck in my head, and now so do you. You’re welcome!

Yes, kids, I’ve been spending a lot of time with a woman called Indigo and we had the most wonderful weekend in Taos. I’m not trying to replace your mother, but Indigo makes me very happy.

This is the look that I’m living for. That comfy statement swear, complete with buttons that are almost never actually buttoned, but is still lightly quilted to keep off the chill. And while it fits into the muted rainbow of the future-fashion moment, it has a playful quality to it, which, I guess if I think about it, is what makes the TNG fashions the funnest to write about.

Okay, that’s it for now. But, with rumors being confirmed daily that other TNG friends are returning, I know that I, for one, am *very* excited.

I don’t know about Data but this really got my emotions chip fired up.

[seph-on-an-irrational-planet]

idk man all the ‘the post-scarcity, utopian federation couldnt actually exist therefore the federation must do evil shit as a matter of policy rather than isolated assholes i don’t make the rules it’s just more realistic’ takes are tired as fuck especially since the dark, dystopian, ultra-violent, gritty = mOrE rEALisTic genre fiction trend had already worn out its welcome like five years ago

like, the whole point of Star Trek is ‘yes we made a near perfect society without stepping on other people to do it so stop using “the greater good” as an excuse to do evil shit.’ thats not to say star trek doesn’t have bad takes because it absolutely does (and is still being written by 20th / 21st century people) but theres definitely some overlap is between the group of people who are rightly tired of GoT style ~realism~ that’s ultimately just an excuse for violence and misogyny porn and the people who smugly judge anyone who’s critical of how the federation / section 31 / starfleet are portrayed in recent star trek and its very annoying

#can you see how it’s similar? #like there’s ‘flawed’ and there’s ‘totally counter to the point of the show’ #star trek #I’m really struggling with discovery bcus of this #Section 31 can fuck ALL THE WAY OFF