:: Captain's Personal Blog ::

Stardate: Wednesday, February 05, 2003

Here We Go Again:

Here I am, once again, writing about my disappointment in the newest entry to the STAR TREK franchise, ENTERPRISE. This is a very delicate issue, because it is hard to discuss without coming across as insensitive. Tonight's episode, entitled "Stigma," has been touted publicly of late as being an episode that will deal with the AIDS virus and how we perceive it today. Let me say that I am disappointed in the powers that be in the STAR TREK camp.

This is my issue, you see. I have no problem with the franchise tackling modern issues. However, let's do it right, shall we? How could it possibly make sense to set the backdrop of this story with Vulcans? The show has been consistently placing characteristics on Vulcans that do not belong there. Of course, that started with VOYAGER, but who's counting?

I have always had problems with the initial concept of ENTERPRISE, that the Vulcans got there first and refused to share, but let's move on, shall we? Here is my issue to date. Now, on top of all that, Vulcans are bigots. Come on! Having watched this episode, along with last week's re-run (who's name escapes me, but which also dealt with T'Pol and the Vulcans) I am questioning just who the Vulcans are supposed to be. T'Pol does not present herself as the clear-cut member of the central Triad that Spock was. Spock, while having quite a few emotional outbursts on the original series, was a) half human, and b) usually under the influence of an outside force. T'Pol has shown flagrant moments of emotionalism and deceit throughout the show.

The problem that I have is that I do not believe that an entire society could change as drastically as we are expected to believe in the next 80 years. Look at the human race. Yes, over the last 80 years we have gotten a bit more tolerant (in some areas) but overall the human race is instantly recognizable as the way they were then. It would be very easy to believe that T'Pol and Spock, even T'Pol and Sarek (who should be contemporaries) are from different societies.

This is all my point. The subject matter is apropos, but it should have been done in a way that was intelligent. For the most part, characters in the original series were not totally re-written to suit the needs of an episode. Yes there were inconsistencies, but not enough for there to be blatant. I guess I am just an old dog who can not be taught to appreciate this new series.

If I continue to watch, it will just be to watch the last, dying throes of a franchise that could have been great, but will wind up being the ultimate embarrassment to Science Fiction everywhere.
:: J 8:39 PM [+] ::
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