Practically speaking, there's a reason why most aliens on "Star Trek" are humanoid. Not only are they humanoid, but they all share very similar specific features: two legs, two arms, two eyes, one mouth, teeth, and/or hair. Many aliens look identical to humans apart from ridges on their foreheads or elaborate skin markings. This is because all the aliens on "Star Trek" are played by human actors. Very occasionally, Captain Kirk (William Shatner) might encounter a Melkot or a Tholian who were achieved through puppetry or photographic effects, but for the most part, aliens were played by Earth's boring ol' Homo sapiens actors.
By the time the "Star Trek: The Next Generation" episode "The Chase" aired on April 26, 1993, Trekkies had been watching the franchise long enough to ask why — from an in-canon perspective — all aliens looked like humans. "The Chase" came up with a cute (if not wholly satisfying...
By the time the "Star Trek: The Next Generation" episode "The Chase" aired on April 26, 1993, Trekkies had been watching the franchise long enough to ask why — from an in-canon perspective — all aliens looked like humans. "The Chase" came up with a cute (if not wholly satisfying...
- 5/19/2024
- by Witney Seibold
- Slash Film
Often considered one of the worst episodes of "Star Trek," "Spock's Brain" boasted a story wherein a species of low-intelligence aliens infiltrate the U.S.S. Enterprise, sedate everyone on board, and steal the grey matter belonging to Spock (Leonard Nimoy) for nefarious purposes. It will later be revealed that Spock's brain was required to power a super-computer on a nearby planet and that the computer could temporarily inject complex information and skills into people's heads. The crew of the Enterprise outfit Spock's brainless body with a temporary brain-like machine, and they can pilot him via remote control.
Eventually, Dr. McCoy (DeForest Kelley) will be injected -- via the supercomputer -- with knowledge of how to surgically return Spock's brain to his body. When McCoy runs out of knowledge partway through the operation, the now-conscious Spock talks him the rest of the way through. "Spock's Brain" is farfetched and silly,...
Eventually, Dr. McCoy (DeForest Kelley) will be injected -- via the supercomputer -- with knowledge of how to surgically return Spock's brain to his body. When McCoy runs out of knowledge partway through the operation, the now-conscious Spock talks him the rest of the way through. "Spock's Brain" is farfetched and silly,...
- 5/14/2024
- by Witney Seibold
- Slash Film
"Star Trek: Voyager" entered its early stages of production in 1993. Meanwhile, "Star Trek: The Next Generation" was filming its seventh and final season, and "Star Trek: Deep Space Nine" was working on its second. 1993 was an optimistic time in the U.S. The Gulf War had wrapped, Bill Clinton had been elected president, and the economy was booming. Yes, there were certainly still massive problems with the country, but for a brief span, it felt like the nation was at peace.
Of course, one only needs to look at the pop media of the 1990s to see how much angst there still was in the lurking in hearts of the people. '90s pop music often described the injustices of a racist police state, or how much people felt marginalized and dismissed. '90s media was also self-reflexive, pointing out that the old-world tropes and genres no longer worked. Deconstruction was necessary.
Of course, one only needs to look at the pop media of the 1990s to see how much angst there still was in the lurking in hearts of the people. '90s pop music often described the injustices of a racist police state, or how much people felt marginalized and dismissed. '90s media was also self-reflexive, pointing out that the old-world tropes and genres no longer worked. Deconstruction was necessary.
- 5/6/2024
- by Witney Seibold
- Slash Film
In Jonathan Frakes' 1996 film "Star Trek: First Contact," the U.S.S. Enterprise travels back in time to the year 2063, the year humanity first invented faster-than-light travel and, almost immediately thereafter, made first contact with an alien species. By "Star Trek" lore, the maiden voyage of the Phoenix, the very first warp-capable ship, caught the attention of a passing Vulcan vessel, causing them to change course, land on Earth, and shake hands with humans. It was the franchise's "Welcome to the neighborhood" moment. It also started a massive utopian rebuilding of Earth, as it had just survived several devastating wars. By "Star Trek" creator Gene Roddenberry's estimation, Earth had to almost destroy itself to have a "moment of clarity." After that, the technological, post-war, post-scarcity, post-capitalist utopia could begin.
The inventor of warp drive was Zefram Cochrane, who fashioned his ship out of a disused bomb casing. In "First Contact,...
The inventor of warp drive was Zefram Cochrane, who fashioned his ship out of a disused bomb casing. In "First Contact,...
- 4/29/2024
- by Witney Seibold
- Slash Film
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