Amnesia of the Future: Hide and Q

25th November, 2009 9 Comments

My two first impressions of Hide and Q were as follows:

1) Yay!  No Troi!  Please don’t let this be a trick!
2) Q?  Ah man.  What a crappy trade-off.

And then I began to like Q.  Well, not like him.  He’s an obnoxious patronizing egoist who when he doesn’t get his way belittles before acting like a petulant child.  I dated a guy like him once.  Never again.

Unlike my ex, Q is fun.  And despite his deranged assumptions and approaches to dealing with mankind, he’s also millions of times smarter. Q is also much more interesting than Troi. 

Back in January, I set myself a little goal of reading 100 books over the course of the year.  After finishing watching The Battle, I got nervous that maybe Amnesia of the Future had maybe gotten in the way of achieving this.  It sort of has.  I’ve so far read 87 books (88 once I’ve finished watching Datalore), and were it not for the regular Star Trek watching, I’d probably be ahead of the required two books a week.  While I’m not behind, I can’t screw up at all lest I set myself back and am unable to recover. 

However, I read because I like expanding my mind.  It’s surprising to me how much that has happened with 10 episodes of Star Trek.  I wasn’t expecting this.  Watching Hide and Q–particularly that fantastic scene between Q and Picard where they quote Shakespeare–I realized that quite a number of famous works of writing have been mentioned–the aforementioned Shakespeare, Data’s obsession with Sherlock Holmes, a nod to pulp-fiction mysteries, Sun Tzu.  How appropriate that the book blogger pick up on these references.  Also it was appropriately subtle to have Picard say, “I know Hamlet,” and proceed to quote from the play.  Nice touch there, writers, way to get back on your game. 

Anyway, it’s interesting watching Q’s interaction with the crew–sort of like a fraternity brother during the hazing period right before initiation making some poor pledge (Riker) give up his old friends.  I’d like to point out that I said to the screen, “Absolute power corrupts absolutely,” about twenty seconds before Riker said it. 

Oh, and does anyone else find it sort of creepy that Geordi LaForge is all “Looking good Wesley,” to the adult body/boy-genius mind of Wesley Crusher?  It’s all ikky like Wooderson in Dazed & Confused when he says, “That’s what I love about these high school girls, man.  I get older, they stay the same age.”

Memories of the Future:  Chapter 10

Apparently it’s the episode of book references.  Lord of the Rings?  Animal Farm?  I love a good book reference though, and the Helms Deep comparison was entertaining.  As I attempt to combine episode and chapter reviews, I find it difficult not to give too much away so that people will actually purchase Memories of the Future.  What I find most interesting about them is the brief and often surprising post-recap writing, which makes it difficult to avoid spoilers.*

This episode makes me want to reiterate the “Show.  Don’t Tell” concept as there is a lot of talking.  To quote Wil Wheaton:

There are moments of engaging character interaction between Riker and Q, Riker and Picard, and Picard and Q, but there’s a lot of expository, preachy, I-am-going-to-make-my-point-and-you-can’t-stop-me dialogue in those scenes that’s emotionally disconnected and tiresome.  If a writer or producer wants to get points across to his audience, I think it’s better to do it less obviously, with more allegory and fewer Powerpoint presentations.

I pretty much just gave you the entire “bottom line” there.  Sums it up pretty well, although I’m glad to see it was creatively done rather than having (choose one) Data/ Wesley/Troi/Dr. Crusher lecture Captain Picard on something that any human–especially a Starfleet officer–should already know. 

This chapter also gave me greater insight into Wil Wheaton’s own reactions to what was becoming the Wesley Crusher Hate Brigade.  Up until The Battle, I couldn’t see what all the hub-bub was about or why Wil Wheaton kept harping on it.  Understanding how shitty it must have been to be a teenager, at a convention, and to have someone ask for your autograph…on a photo of you being stabbed to death…I’d be asking for a permanent security detail (maybe Worf has some relatives?) and someone to taste-test my food if I were in that position. 

 
TANGENT & POLL:

I posed a question on Twitter last night and feel that it makes a statement about me and the fact that I’ve admitted to people that the fictional characters I want to play tonsil-hockey with lately are:  Data, Sheldon Cooper,and Fawkes.  (Yup, the adult “I’m a dick” Wil Wheaton role on The Guild–if you missed the note at the beginning of this post about my ex, this one makes soooo much sense.)  I’ve started to wonder about the types I’m  attracted to:  an android, a genius with social issues, and an asshole.  Awesome. 

Through Twitter, I engaged in a conversation with Jackie, to which she said:

Worf would be total passion without needless emotion.  Geez, now you’ve sucked me into thinking about this!

Well, if she were up on her Star Trek, she would have heard Worf admitting in Hide and Qthat he has no place in his life for sex (followed by Q’s lovely, “WTF, everyone needs and loves sex!” reaction), so apparently Worf isn’t a very practical option as a lover right now.

Anyway…

Yes, I have a crush on Data, an obsession with Spock, and I’m now curious as to which characters other fans of Star Trek lust after.  Please do tell in the comments and don’t make me feel really embarrassed for sharing that last paragraph.  Doesn’t matter which series/movie the character is from–who would you do and why?

*There were another two paragraphs that after reading I realized were basically my own reflections on everything Wil Wheaton said after.  It’s never easy to cut one’s own writing when one has something they want to say, but as I mentioned, it’s a good book and spilling all the details defeats the purpose.  In true nerd fashion, I am more than willing to chat more privately on my other thoughts, including the fact that I’m glad to see LeVar Burton had more lines this time around (although he is sadly underutilized).

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9 Comments

Troy

November 25th, 2009 at 12:53 pm    


As disturbing as it was to see Uhura walking with a Brady Bunch hair-flip, I would totally woo Zoe Saldana’s version of Uhura (Nichelle Nichols, not so much).
I had a crush on Dr. Crusher when I was a kid, too (I’m 4 years younger than Mr. Wheaton), but as I’ve gotten older I’ve realized that shade of red only comes from a bottle, and that turned me off a good bit.
Deanna Troi has a great body, but I’d have to gag her to date her, and that gets boring in a hurry.
Never liked Tasha Yar (her earlobes look funny) but the same actress plays Sela in a few seasons, and Sela does something for me. Dunno why. *shrug*
Oh! Almost forgot Ensign Gaila (the Orion girl from the new movie)! It’s not easy being green, but she pulls it off nicely. :)

Charles

November 25th, 2009 at 2:41 pm    


Sisko.* Because he’s smart, strong, deeply moral, but also morally and intellectually flexible. In my opinion, he’s the only major Starfleet character who is able to really understand and appreciate the many deep problems with Federation ideology, while not giving it up. He can hear and sometimes even agree with blistering criticism of the Federation, and keep fighting for it. He doesn’t always do the right thing. Occasionally he can’t even justify his own actions to himself. I think he’s easily the most interesting and complex captain.

And, bonus: he loves baseball, the only divine sport.

He’s also sexy as hell, especially bald and bearded. (And I’m a straight man. With a serious Sisko man-crush.)

*Yes, the first two seasons suck. DS9 is still the best Trek.

wendy

November 25th, 2009 at 3:10 pm    


Picard, definitely. One of my first crushes, I’ve never gotten over my love of bald men (ask my husband) and British accents. He’s brilliant and confident and just about every other positive adjective I can think of.
.-= wendy´s last blog ..Hello world! =-.

Aleyna

November 25th, 2009 at 4:52 pm    


No, dear, you aren’t the only one to have a crush on Star Trek characters. :) I had a huge one on Picard and a little one on Wesley. (Hey, I was in 5th grade.) The one on Picard has never went away.

On a non-Star Trek note, Sheldon is a little creepy in my book. I go for Leonard. Although seeing Howard in full goth-type gear was a bit surreal. In a good way. :)

Paul

November 26th, 2009 at 12:52 am    


Like any geeky fanboy, any sci-fi girl was fair game for my imaginative teenage mind, and TNG was no exception. Although, being the same age as Wil, it felt kind of weird to have the hots for his character’s mom. But I did, nonetheless. At least until my obsession with Debbie Gibson overshadowed anyone that might visit the Starship Enterprise.
.-= Paul´s last blog ..Peru 2009 — Finding Our Way =-.

Jeff

November 27th, 2009 at 11:45 am    


Deanna Troi in the later seasons definitely did it for me. I loved her outfits and her accent. Tasha never did it for me, except the time she seduced data. I loved that outfit.

Overall, there were usually more male characters on the various Star Treks than females, but most of the women they did have were very crush-worthy and they usually had fun costumes. (OK, I’m a perv…)

Eli

November 28th, 2009 at 10:17 am    


Hmm… Ensign Lefler. Oh, and Ezri Dax (but she’s from DS9). And, uh, this might be heresy, but T’Pol as well. I think pointed ears might do it for me. (Everyone all together now: “Neeeeerd!”)

Speaking of DS9, if you keep watching TNG and continue to DS9, you’ll see that Worf’s tastes run… a little differently. And if you continue on to Voyager, well, I liked the Q stories in Voyager more than the one in DS9 and most of the ones in TNG, but they only work so well if you have seen all the previous Q stories. It doesn’t hurt that John DeLancie is the guy playing Q; he’s a fantastic actor and really knows how to walk that line between interesting and annoying perfectly.

Clint

December 1st, 2009 at 2:09 am    


I far preferred Jadzia over Ezri. Jadzia was tough, whereas Ezri seemed a bit dim for a Dax.

Ensign Ro Laren was hot, and I desperately wish the writers or casting folks or whomever was at fault had figured out some way to keep her on. And I would have loved it had she been the one to fill the Major Kira roll on DS9.

Of course, there was Seven of Nine, but I always felt a little creepy for that one. At heart, even though she’s very adult the character is than a scared and confused teenage girl deep down inside.

And I had a huge crush on Kathryn Janeway.

Danyiel

December 10th, 2009 at 8:52 pm    


Oh, you are totally not alone on the Sheldon Cooper and Data front. At all. But Fawkes? You do realize why the Scots and the Irish wear kilts, don’t you? Because sheep can hear zippers! Hahaha! My thirteen-year-old nephew recently told me that joke and I couldn’t resist the urge to burst out into laughter for some reason. So whenever I look at Fawkes, I automatically think “Run, sheep, run!”

If we’re talking Next Gen, I started out by liking Riker during the first season, but ultimately fell in love with Data. My older sister (six years my senior) had a thing for Picard, which I just thought was creepy at first because he’s our Dad’s age. A couple of years later and I totally got it. But even after 22 years, I still hold a torch for Data. While most of the girls in my school at the time had pinups of Wil Wheaton in their lockers, I had Brent Spiner, and those bitches weren’t even Trekkers. At least not out of the locker Trekkers, anyway. And even though I wasn’t a huge DS9 fan, I have to agree with Charles about his man-crush Sisko. There’s just something about Avery Brooks that exudes sexiness. It’s almost as if he’s *too* cool to be on Star Trek, maybe that’s the appeal, I don’t know. I just know I wouldn’t kick him out of bed.
.-= Danyiel´s last blog ..Calling All Metalheads =-.

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