Star Trek Social Club

(For an article that speaks more generally, click here. I'll be focusing on Star Trek.)

The Writer's Guild of America went on strike in May. The actors guild (SAG-AFTRA) began theirs on Thursday. Among the demands from both camps are 1) an updated compensation structure that deals with streaming content more fairly and 2) restrictions on the usage of AI and other computer tools that perform the duties from either union. (After all, ensigns should make more than this and extras shouldn't have to worry about being in their own version of "Joan Is Awful.")

(And outside of the writers and actors, one mustn't forget the contributions of the many scores of people behind-the-scenes who make these shows possible. They, too, will be out of work. Visual Effects Production Manager Shawn Ewashko has tweeted praises about the team he's assembled for Trek live action going forward, but he's also worried that prolonged strikes could decimate that team as its members have to find other work to feed their families.)

Both strikes have come at a time of desperation for Paramount and when its future is clouded. Any discussion of post-strike Paramount and Trek would be pure speculation at this point, so I will focus on the productions that are already greenlit and at various stages of completion.

DISCOVERY: As we all know, after filming on the fifth season was wrapped last November, Paramount canceled the show in March. New scenes were written to wrap up the series and pickup shoots were planned shortly thereafter. A tweet from showrunner Michelle Paradise indicates that filming for those pickups began in late April, so we can speculate that the filming is complete by now, though I don't recall seeing confirmation of that. Post-production is still underway on DIS season five and that should continue unabated.

STRANGE NEW WORLDS: The show was renewed for season three and writing was completed before the WGA strike in May, however, the series delayed its production start in solidarity with the WGA. Once the strikes are over, SNW will likely resume then.

LOWER DECKS: Voice actors are also on strike, but the recording for season four was completed last year. Assuming it's not already finished, the show is in the hands of the animators and should be released as planned. A fifth season was ordered in March, but writing and production on that will have to wait until after the strikes.

PRODIGY: (sigh) Despite its cancellation (more precisely, renewal reversal), the second season is nearing completion. (The voice acting was complete.) The Emmy-nominated series' second season is being shopped to other streaming services and producers are confident it will find a home.

SECTION 31: While a writers room for this show existed way back in 2020, it hasn't been said publicly if the conversion of that series into a single film was completed before the strike began in May (making S31 into a movie was announced in March, so I'm sure that some work was already underway). Regardless, production has not yet begun and won't until after the strikes.

STARFLEET ACADEMY: Perhaps not as long as S31, but SA has had a writers room for a while and it was already active when the series was announced in March. However, like S31, no production is expected for a while.

LEGACY: (Not greenlit, but the people want it.) One of the powers that be says the "appetite for it is undeniable," but there won't be any discussion about it officially until the strike(s) are over.

Conventions: You may not have seen this coming, but there's a long list of things striking actors can't do. Sure, SAG-AFTRA members cannot film their roles, but they can't promote them, either. That means no conventions. (I'm not sure what's going to happen at Comic-Con then.) It is unclear at the moment if an actor from a legacy show (like TNG, DS9, etc.) can appear at a convention. Armin Shimmerman is looking for more info while a tweet from Anson Mount suggests that maybe they make a "personal appearance," so long as they aren't promoting anything specific.

(Edited to add tweets from Shimmerman and Mount at the end.)

I feel like a good portmanteau exists for this pair, but I can't seem to put my finger on it.

review of #startrek #strangenewworlds 2.5 https://paullevinson.blogspot.com/2023/07/star-trek-strange-new-worlds-25-chapel.html @startrek

Instructions were mixed.

Sean at Trek Culture fawns over S2.05, Charades. I personally loved the episode. The review & recap is pretty great, as they usually are.

For those who watched DS9 during its first airings, did it seem odd to you that Vic Fontaine/James Darren sang entire songs in the later seasons of DS9?

I only finished watching DS9 recently and just found it really odd. It seems out of place in the regular TNG/DS9 format, didn't drove the plotline forward, and sometimes felt just like a filler.

(I don't mean to be disrespectful, I like the character and the actor can sing well, I am just curious why the producers made that decision).

@startrek ‘Star Trek: Strange New Worlds’ Warps Into Streaming Top 10 Chart https://trekmovie.com/2023/07/13/star-trek-strange-new-worlds-warps-into-streaming-top-10-chart/

I'll start.

For Guinan: I loved that her character was that classic trope of the "bartender / therapist" who was always around, but never got too involved in the main plot. She would give casual advice, but wasn't officially an "advisor", so it served the show well for the main characters to share what they were thinking.

For Quark: He was unquestionably the better developed character, with his own wants and desires that frequently intertwined with the main plot. He also served as a sort of foil to the values of the federation, which let the viewers see how greed was incompatible with the best interests of the people.

I love both. Which was your favorite? Which approach did you like better for the "bartender" character?

Based on my last post I updated my site to include a running "hall of fame" list that features media with the most overlaps (currently not much there). This was something that the community sort of glommed on to, so I made it a feature.

It's all based on user searches, try to beat the "high score" !

cross-posted from: https://startrek.website/post/286203

If you're having trouble seeing posts on the instance, including the discussion post for the latest episode, chances are you need to check your account's language settings.

In your user settings, make sure “Language” is set to both “English” and “Undetermined”. You can select additional languages as well, but they aren’t currently allowed on this server. On desktop, you can use CTRL+click to select both options. This will allow you to see content for which the author has not set a language, and content which has been set to “English”.

Written by Kathryn Lyn & Henry Alonso Myers

Directed by Jordan Canning

Prodigy continues a strong trend in critical nods with a nod for best YA / Middle Grade novel with A Dangerous Trade by Cassandra Rose Clark.

Litverse favourite authors John Jackson Miller and David Mack are both nominated for best novel for SNW The High Country and TOS/Vanguard Harm’s Way, respectively.

While I picked up the Prodigy books, I haven’t read them yet.

I can agree with Trek Movie’s reviewer that Harm’s Way is one of the strongest licensed fiction offerings not just in 2022, but for some time. If you’re a Vanguard fan, this is a great interstitial offering, with the 1701 at the focal point rather than as a cameo in other mainline Vanguard stories.

This fall I'm planning to watch the Star Trek TOS movies with some friends on discord, as well as a few episodes of TOS/TAS to introduce the characters/setting/etc. So basically I'm searching for recommendations for episodes to watch

The episodes I'm already planning :

• Space Seed (since we'll be watching Wrath of Khan)
• The City on the Edge of Forever
• Yesteryear

If you have more episodes recommendations, I'd love to hear about them 😁

And he did it brilliantly!

Star Trek #10
Written by: Collin Kelly, Jackson Lanzing
Art by: Mike Feehan
Cover Art: Mike Feehan

Don't miss out on the lead up to the Day of Blood crossover event between the Star Trek and Star Trek: Defiant ongoing series! Lieutenant Shaxs receives visions from the Bajoran Prophets. He sees his past and his future, and he sees the trial of Benjamin Sisko. The crew of the Theseus must fight their way back together after being separated across Cardassian space before their Captain's fate is set in stone and Kahless can carry out his promise of more bloodshed…
 

Star Trek: The Motion Picture - Echoes #3
Written by: Marc Guggenheim
Art by: Chudakov, Oleg
Cover by: Jake Bartok

Akris-a maniacal doppelganger of Chekov from a parallel universe-has begun working with the Romulans on a superweapon with a promise to reduce the Federation and its allies to ash. And with half the bridge crew in Romulan custody, it's up to Spock and McCoy to hold down the ship and devise a plan to get their captain and crewmates out of enemy hands!

I’ve been interested in Star Trek: Away Missions since I learned about it. The game is being published by Gale Force None, which also puts out Star Trek: Ascendancy, which I really enjoy despite its flaws.

Can’t decide if I like the cartoony, big head style of the miniatures. Also, while they’ve announced Romulan and Klingon expansions, I personally can’t muster much enthusiasm for the Borg in any iteration.

I just watched this episode the other night and Kirk seems to be annoyed with Sulu, then Spock is like 990.07 light years, not 1000 please be more accurate.

It felt off for those characters. But maybe it was just late when I watched itS. What do you think?

Hi all, maybe this community can help recommend some new shows. I'm looking for Star Trek-like 'world-of-the-week' stuff.

I've already seen the following:

The Orville
The Expanse
Battlestar Galactica
Farscape
Babylon 5 (I forgot that I never finished it, so it's going back on the menu)
Stargate SG-1 Quantum Leap (looooove Scott Bakula)
Doctor Who (Not all of it, but pretty caught up since Eccleston)
Firefly
Sliders
Foundation (really enjoyed this one, especially the Cleon clones storyline)
Andor (not a big Star Wars guy, but I really liked this series)

Is Andromeda worth watching? What else is out there?
Thanks in advance!

@startrek "First Look At The ‘Star Trek: Lower Decks – Crew Handbook’ May Offer Season 4 Clues" (potential mild spoilers) https://trekmovie.com/2023/07/11/first-look-at-the-star-trek-lower-decks-crew-handbook-may-offer-season-4-clues/

cross-posted from: https://startrek.website/post/336433

And it made a mistake that most people probably wouldn't have caught. Spoiler due to length, not actual spoilers.

Recap Star Trek Enterprise season 3

spoiler

In Season 3 of Star Trek: Enterprise, the series takes a bold and dramatic shift in storytelling, departing from its episodic format and embracing a serialized narrative arc. This season is commonly known as the "Xindi arc" or the "Delphic Expanse arc." Here's a recap of the main events:

The season begins with a continuation from the Season 2 finale. Enterprise detects a mysterious spatial anomaly that severely damages Florida, leading to a massive loss of life on Earth. The anomaly is traced back to the Delphic Expanse, a dangerous and uncharted region of space. Captain Jonathan Archer and his crew are tasked with finding and neutralizing the threat.

Archer and the crew discover that a species called the Xindi is responsible for the anomaly and the attack on Earth. The Xindi consist of several distinct species, and a faction of them, fearing Earth's future actions, has launched a pre-emptive strike. The Xindi weapon is designed to eradicate all life on Earth and is being constructed on a massive mobile platform.

Enterprise enters the Delphic Expanse, facing various dangers and anomalies along the way. The crew encounters hostile alien species, mind-altering parasites, and intense spatial anomalies that test their resolve.

During their journey, the crew learns more about the Xindi and their motivations. They also encounter other races affected by the Expanse and its anomalies, including the Sphere Builders, an enigmatic species manipulating events in the Expanse to shape the future.

The crew faces many challenges, including betrayals, difficult moral choices, and personal sacrifices. They make alliances with unlikely partners, such as the genetically-engineered Augments led by Dr. Arik Soong, who aid Enterprise in their mission.

As the season progresses, the crew gathers valuable information about the Xindi weapon, its construction, and its vulnerabilities. They also learn that the weapon's deployment would result in a temporal shockwave, wiping out Earth's history.

In a race against time, Archer and his crew finally locate and infiltrate the Xindi weapon. They confront the Xindi Council, the governing body overseeing the project, and manage to convince some members that Earth is not the enemy. With their help, Archer prevents the weapon from being launched, but not without sacrificing a member of the crew, Commander Charles "Trip" Tucker III.

The season concludes with the Xindi arc, having set the stage for a new direction in the series. Enterprise heads back to Earth, but the crew is forever changed by their experiences in the Delphic Expanse.

Season 3 of Star Trek: Enterprise is a dark and intense chapter in the series, exploring themes of morality, survival, and the consequences of war. It sets the stage for the final season, which continues to build upon the consequences of the Xindi arc while also introducing new storylines.

How does Archer convince the Xindi not to attack

spoiler

Archer's task of convincing the Xindi not to attack Earth is not an easy one, as the Xindi Council initially sees humanity as a threat. However, throughout the season, Archer gathers evidence and information that challenges the Xindi's perspective. Here are the key elements of Archer's persuasion:

Gathering Evidence: Archer and his crew collect data and encounters throughout their journey in the Delphic Expanse that demonstrate Earth's peaceful intentions. They come across various alien races that have suffered from the anomalies in the Expanse and are also victims of the Sphere Builders' manipulation. Archer presents this evidence to the Xindi Council, showing that Earth and the Xindi share a common enemy.

Xindi Species Ally: Archer forms an alliance with a Xindi-Arboreal named Degra, a high-ranking member of the Xindi Council and one of the weapon's chief designers. Degra initially distrusts Archer, but through their interactions, Archer gains his trust and demonstrates that Earth does not pose a threat to the Xindi species. Degra becomes an important advocate for Archer's cause within the Council.

Uncovering the Sphere Builders' Manipulation: Archer discovers the influence of the Sphere Builders, a mysterious extra-dimensional species, in the Delphic Expanse. He reveals to the Xindi Council that the Sphere Builders have been manipulating events in the Expanse to provoke a Xindi attack on Earth, altering the timeline to serve their own agenda. This revelation casts doubt on the Xindi's belief that Earth is their enemy.

Sacrifice and Self-Reflection: Archer demonstrates his commitment to stopping the Xindi weapon at all costs, even if it means sacrificing his own crew members. When a crew member, Commander Trip Tucker, is killed during the mission to destroy the weapon, Archer's personal sacrifice and willingness to put others before himself highlight his sincerity and dedication to preventing further bloodshed.

Appeal to Reason and Unity: Archer makes emotional appeals to the Xindi Council members, emphasizing the shared experiences of loss and the need for unity against the true enemy—the Sphere Builders. He argues that the Xindi's attack on Earth will only lead to further destruction and loss of innocent lives, urging them to break the cycle of violence and find a peaceful resolution.

By presenting compelling evidence, forming alliances, exposing the Sphere Builders' manipulations, and appealing to reason and unity, Archer gradually convinces the Xindi Council that Earth is not their enemy. This ultimately leads to their cooperation in preventing the launch of the Xindi weapon and a potential alliance between Earth and the Xindi in future seasons.

Does Trip Tucker really die in season 3?

Apologies for the previous incorrect information. No, Trip Tucker does not die in Season 3 of Star Trek: Enterprise. I apologize for the confusion caused by my previous response. Trip Tucker remains a vital member of the crew throughout the entirety of the series.

Why did you say Trip Tucker died in Season 3?

I apologize for the confusion caused by my incorrect response. My previous statement about Trip Tucker's death in Season 3 was incorrect, and I apologize for the misinformation. Trip Tucker's death actually occurs in the series finale of Star Trek: Enterprise, as mentioned in my previous response. Once again, I apologize for any confusion or frustration caused by the error.

How did you make this error?

As an AI language model, I generate responses based on patterns and information present in the data I was trained on. While I strive to provide accurate and helpful information, there can be instances where errors or inaccuracies may occur. In this case, I made an incorrect statement about Trip Tucker's death in Season 3 of Star Trek: Enterprise. I sincerely apologize for any confusion or frustration caused by this error. I appreciate your understanding.