a4c
Subj : Re: TNG vs TOS - anybody still think Next Generation sucks?
To   : rec.arts.sf.tv,rec.arts.startrek.current,alt.tv.star-trek.tos
From : Mike
Date : Fri Sep 30 2005 01:12:02

From Newsgroup: alt.tv.star-trek.tos

I like all the Star Trek series to some extent. But on the top of it all
is the original series, and to me the favorite offspring of the original
series is TNG. 

I still enjoy TNG today. Although on todays DVD and high def technology,
TNG is more dated because it was mastered to broadcast videotape and
can't be mastered in high definition like TOS which was mastered to
film. So, my DVD's of TNG represent the best quality of video production
in 1986 which is a far cry from high def.

On a deeper note, I think TOS did a lot better in combining the best of
conservative and liberal ideals into the shows concept. Kirk was a
"warrior", that none the less found there was a time to "not kill
today". Klingons were mean, evil bastards but there was always hints to
the fact that one day the Klingons will be our friends (the biggest
hint, of course was from the Organians).

The first season of TNG (most of all) had no such balance and it's
saturated political correctness was something I got off on in when it
first came on (I was much, much, more liberal). Now, looking at most
shows from the first season, it's hilarious in it's PC ness. I can't
take it seriously. Unlike many episodes of TOS, where even through the
plywood sets and rubber alien masks, the situation and thinking was
grounded in a more reality. 

In TOS, you got Kirk and a Romulan Commander in a battle to the death
with a certain amount of regret between the both because deep down
inside they respect each other and could be friends in another reality
but are duty bound to their own sides. Both hate war but both know thier
responsibility. One of these people will die at the hands of the other.


In TNG, you have the Ferengi ship and Enterprise neutralized by a higher
outside force on a planet. They both go to the planet and we see the
Ferengi are simply goofy caricatures of Reagan era conservative
stereotypes in a sharp toothed, big eared, elfin packages and the
Enterprise people are the enlightened, pacifistic and so superior. All
the Enterprise people have to do is chat with the higher life form and
let them know "Hey, we are as advanced and enlightened as you are" and
all is well.

I find the TOS episode a bit more compelling.


Anyway, in later seasons they tempered it and had some great, GREAT
episodes, but never got the balance achieved in the original series.

.

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