Dominion War as a destruction of creativity... | Report this post to moderator
By: CaptainRiker (Odo's file, contact) @ 08:22:47 on Jun 17, 2003

In recent re(to the 60th power)-thinking of the Star Trek landscape, I can't help to focus on why Deep Space Nine does not pull from me a sense of curiosity or wonder about the world around me as the Next Generation has. The two series have two distinct flavors, and I am convinced that, as enjoyable as Deep Space Nine was, it was never a correct context for a Star Trek production.
There are many reasons for my feeling this way, however I believe that I have isolated one particualr reason that explains so much to me. The scope of the Next Generation was thrilling, where Deep Space Nine had a limited view of the galaxy. In the end of the DS9 saga, control of the Alpha Quandrant was contested by a force known as the Dominion from the other side of the galaxy. In this only humanoid creatures fought for control of the territory. The exploration of the galaxy, being the focal point of Starfleet, allowed for many types of stories to be explained, many types lifeforms to be created. DS9 ignored this setup and because of this I find the scope of DS9 to be arrogant as well. If the Dominion had in fact defeated the united forces of the Federation, the Romulans, and the Klingons (Cardassians as well, bastards!!), what a fragile power that would have been. What of the Q, or Nagilum? The Organians? Space-faring species such as the ones from "Encountr at Farpoint" and "". The entities of the Beta Renner cloud? The Crystaline Entity (surely it had some bigger brothers or sisters)? etc..
For a small (but important) area of the galaxy, DS9 has it's share of trouble, but again I feel it lacks not only the scope of story, but also the scope of exploration of humanity. The type of stories TNG featured dealt with many types of issues. DS9 tried to feature some similar topics, but in an attempt to go in a creative direction, I feel that the producers and writers locked themselves into a writer's block. I am convinced that no one responsible for the current state of Trek has left this box since DS9. Voyager was blank and Enterprise is sliding down the wall.
Deep Space Nine was the last series I truly enjoyed. Fairly, it explored some regions of thought that the TNG could not focus too much on. However, I felt the series lack the thoughtfulness and creativity of it's predecessors and Star Trek has suffered for it.

Please tell me that I am imagining this. Sometimes I even feel DS9 was influenced by Babylon 5, and Enterprise is catching the whole "prequel craze" that even the makers of the movie "Dumb and Dumber" cannot resist. I believe sticking with the rules Roddenberry laid out for his project is the only way to preserve the franchise in exaclty the way people find exciting. These new directions are lot like the American Godzilla movie in comparison to the original versions, or Flinstones movies versus the cartoons, or the Charlie's Angel movies instead of the Television series. DS9 and Enterprise feel like some is trying unsuccessfully to reproduce Star Trek. And maybe Voyager was a realization that it wasn't working.

Forgive me, I am in a foul mood. When I am feeling negative about the world, it is Star Trek that gives me hope. It's just that, well, these last few seasons don't.

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"Written laws are like spider's webs; they will catch, it is true, the weak and poor, but would be torn in pieces by the rich and powerful." Anacharsis - 6th Century BC


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Humanity has the stars in its future, and that future is too important to be lost under the burden of juvenile folly and ignorant superstition.-Isaac Asimov

If there is any sarcasm or anger in all of the above, please feel free to notice and accept my apologee. Sarcasm is an element of speech, and speech in this land is free.

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RE: Dominion War as a destruction of creativity... by egervari @ 07:26:50 on Jun 21
RE: Dominion War as a destruction of creativity... by dropdeadnelix @ 15:09:14 on Jun 17
DS9 consisted of repeated attempts to recreate the show's premise by O. Deus @ 15:05:17 on Jun 17
    RE: DS9 consisted of repeated attempts to recreate by Steve Krutzler @ 15:51:26 on Jun 17
       RE: DS9 consisted of repeated attempts to recreate by egervari @ 07:31:52 on Jun 21
    Dominion War as a destruction of creativity... by CaptainRiker @ 15:33:01 on Jun 17
RE: Dominion War as a destruction of creativity... by feydrautha @ 14:50:33 on Jun 17
RE: Dominion War as a destruction of creativity... by Anslem1701 @ 13:55:42 on Jun 17
RE: Dominion War as a destruction of creativity... by NCC-1701 @ 08:27:19 on Jun 17