Sunday, May 30, 2004
Speculation
I've enjoyed the last four episodes of Enterprise this month. But the end of this episode is a bit twisted. Questions:
Did Archer's decision not to send Malcolm to disable the planet-killing weapon (and thereby not being present at the beginning of the Federation) somehow sabotage Kirk's birthline, which prevented him from ensuring Joan Collins died in 1930's New York, giving rise to a pacifism-delayed Nazi world takeover? The alternate history Nazi thing has already been touched twice by classic Trek and unless you're Philip K. Dick or David Brin, you're better off trying a more original idea.
Are Star Trek's writers watching too many bad sf movies (like Ice Pirates) instead of reading good sf books? The Xindi are lamenting the waste of water for the Aquatics. What? Are you kidding? Just drill a hole in Europa and dive in -- the water's fine. Need some ice cubes? Just grab a comet. Voyager's maiden episode was a howler also for the premise that water is presumably such a precious commodity in the universe. Sheesh. Early 21st century planetary geologists can tell you there's water everywhere, assuming you have interplanetary transport capability.
I still say the Star Trek franchise would be better served by two or three made-for-TV movies every year. Different casts and topics. The curiosity factor would net the audience before the doldrums of poor writing chased away half the fandom.
