“Life forms. You precious little lifeforms. You tiny little lifeforms. Where are you?”
- Lt. Cmdr Data, Star Trek: Generations
I agree with you. Thinking on it, I wonder if that’s only a season 1 premise and they’ll eventually get beyond that.
Now what would make it really interesting (but they probably won’t do) is if this comedy had a backdrop of a weakened postwar Dominion a.k.a this resort planet is in the Gamma Quadrant. It would be very interesting to use it to explore the new power structures that develop in the quadrant since the weakened power of the Founders. You could also showcase how Alpha quadrant polities interact with Dominion worlds (kind of like what we saw with the Karemma in LD “Hear All, Trust Nothing”) - we have an episode with Federation diplomats at the resort negotiating a trade deal, for instance (this could even be our excuse to bring in an LD character or two).
Unfortunately, it’s not a Lower Decks continuation - I’m pretty sure that’s the Tawny Newsome comedy about “Federation outsiders serving a gleaming resort planet find out their day-to-day exploits are being broadcast to the entire quadrant."
However, the involvement of Tawny Newsome makes me hopeful it will be good at least. I guess it also opens us to LD cameos at the bare minimum kind of like how they found a way to shoehorn Riker into pretty much every Trek show (I guess even technically DSC and SNW, if you count directing and/or Boimler doing the chair thing).
Admittedly, it would also be fun if they had a neo-Miranda class (perhaps we could call it Terrell class) Cerritos, but despite a similar role, it’s not called the Cerritos A; it has an entirely new registry number because they somehow managed to forget about the original Cerritos.
TLDR; I believe Generations is the best of the TNG films and easily in the top 5 classic films, even if the TNG film series as a whole falls short.
I admit that overall, I would call TOS films the better series of Trek films - Search for Spock and Final Frontier are probably the only ones I wouldn’t rewatch, meaning 2/3 overall of the TOS films are actually enjoyable in my opinion. In comparison, I am not a fan of half the TNG movies (NEM and Insurrection).
However, I disagree with lumping all the Next Generation movies as “completely null”; First Contact was at least reasonably fun. My biggest complaint might be the Guinan snub for Barclay.
Meanwhile, I feel like Generations is the rare Star Trek film that really just feels like a 2 hour episode (with TMP and maybe Voyage Home the only two other ones like it). I enjoyed the mortality commentary (almost worth the sacrifice of Picard’s entire family, but not quite), while nothing strikes me as more classically Star Trek than campily choreographed fight scenes between a bunch of old men. I also personally enjoyed Data’s arc - I feel like they made sure when it got annoying, it was purposeful, and they dialed it back right when they needed to.
Overall, I don’t think it’s fair to lump the first two TNG films into the bottom 5 like their later counterparts (which do deserve it); Generations probably joins Voyage Home for my favorite Trek films to rewatch.
Anyhow, have a wonderful evening. 🖖
I love Generations. Now disliking V is something I could get behind.
Bem better come apart, or this one will make sure someone else does.
I agree Kim was worth it. “Fissure Quest” is a wonderful episode that offsets a bit of the disappointment of the finale (which, while underwhelming, I would hardly call a bad episode). I certainly would love it to continue in some form.
I loved Malor, but am annoyed a bit what they did with Ma’ah in the end - how does this guy go from “Beckett is honorable” immediately after meeting her to near instantly distrusting her? They should have found a way to allow Boimler that moment without it being at Ma’ah’ expense.
I’m on a TNG rewatch right now, but I’ll probably be right back to LD before very long.
Being on the spectrum, I have to say, I weirdly relate to Boimler in Lower Decks, especially early seasons. It’s something about his awkwardness combined with his dealing with his ambition that spoke to me when I got rejected from my dream school a year or so back.
It’s almost like Data is the person you dream of being in some ways and Boimler is the person you actually are in a few aspects.
Ah, yes. The film where Jeri Ryan, Terry Farrell, and Kate Mulgrew are accidentally forced to abduct Rick Berman and keep him in their house for a few months while they wildly improve Star Trek. A classic. 😁
If only.
I believe in the moment, it was actually a hologram.
Still, we desperately need a statue of the Chief.
You’ve got quite a bit - it’s in TNG S4, so you’ve still got all of TAS (if you choose. If you’re thinking about skipping, at least watch Yesteryear), the first few movies, and the first three seasons and six episodes of TNG to go before you hit this glorious staple who will last through DS9.
Also, heir to the holy rings of Betazed.
They’re basically the same character.
“This is the bridge of the Titan, Mr. Boimler. We’ve got all the time in the quadrant for jazz.”
“You! The one who is moving now!”
For some reason, I have the impulse to put this in here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dkinoUGmKZ4
(Phish wanted Frakes to do a horn part for one of their tracks, but his skills were not up to the task. To honor the attempt, they made this track out of a bunch of the failed takes.)
I honestly forgot about that. It’s been a while since I’ve watched Orville, but remembering that, I agree.
“You will never attain the 24th level of awareness.”