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Star Trek 'Favorites' Meme (part 1/4)
Once again:
Broke: Hoping people on Tumblr send me asks for this Star Trek 'favorites' meme.
Woke: tl;dring the full set of questions on DW.
This took me a really long time to do even a quarter of, because I write too much. Warning for potential spoilers for basically all Star Trek shows.
1. Favorite show
It's close between TNG and DS9 for me, but I think I have to say DS9. The writing is stronger overall and I spend more time thinking about it and its characters. And it has more Ferengi characters, my loves. I think I like the cast of TNG slightly better, though.
2. Favorite captain
Benjamin Sisko (DS9). I like Sisko's combination of "incredibly affectionate dad" + "extremely hardass boss" -- overall, I think it's much more fun to watch than various other combination of traits, including Sisko's reverse, Picard (wonderful boss, useless around kids). I like how Sisko will really see a baby, any baby, and instantly be like, "Mine." He loves cooking. Sometimes he just wants to play baseball with his teenage son who is growing up too fast, you know? He will do a little warcrimes as a treat. He's the most fun captain, in my opinion.
3. Favorite episode
It's impossible to list just one, so here are several all-time faves:
- TOS 1x13 "The Conscience of the King" -- some of Star Trek's best episodes reference literature, including this Shakespearean tragedy. It's very artsy and theatrical.
- TNG 5x02 "Darmok" -- any story retelling the tale of Gilgamesh and Enkidu is going to be filled with feels. This one is no exception!
- DS9 1x19 "Duet" -- early DS9 episode that really nails the kinds of stories that this show is capable of telling, of trauma and forgiveness in the face of unforgiveable atrocity. Or if not forgiveness, at least humanization and empathy.
- DS9 4x03 "The Visitor" -- epic tearjerker that ultimately gets entirely undone but leaves you with a better understanding of Jake and Ben's relationship and their personal psychology that is much longer-lasting.
4. Favorite character
Gosh, just one?? Well, I guess it has to be Quark (DS9). I like how he is a combination of legitimately whiny and terrible (so self-absorbed!) and genuinely playful and fun to be around. The bio someone wrote him in Star Trek: Legends includes this bit: "It's rumored he has a heart of latinum, but keeps it locked safely in a bank vault with the rest of his wealth." And like, yeah, that sums it up. The way he struggles with living up to the cutthroat ideal of his society, the way he takes pride in his culture even when it labels him a degenerate and even when his stronger and more indepedent-minded family has decided to grow past the constraints of that society and grow past him. He's legitimately awful; he's legitimately kind. He's a bartender/criminal/thief/Ferengi(/hooker, probably) with a heart of gold, and I love that.
5. Favorite species
F-E-R-E-N-G-I ❤ They have the best clothes. Their aesthetic is so garish yet consistent and recognizable. Their society is so terrible and funny. They are peafowl in humanoid form. They are attractive in the most uncomfortable way. They are short kings. I love them.
Second fave is probably Klingons. Love my nightmare people. <3
6. Favorite villain
Probably Kai Winn (DS9). She is just a very rich character with a lot going on, a very savvy political player, and just has the most passive-aggressive way of chastising and pressuring people ever. I love her a lot. Only Kai Winn can make a traditional religious blessing ("Walk with the Prophets, child") sound like "Fuck you" while being the pope -- her actress is just SO good. I also like that she gets a lot of wins. She is a generally competent villain who manages to orchestrate things such that she gets what she wants or at least escapes punishment even if she doesn't get what she want.
A great early character-establishing plot for her is the one in the beginning of season 2, where she coyly agrees to a "you scratch my back, I scratch yours" agreement with the person planning a coup (without actually agreeing to anything) and then when there's a moment where Winn has the chance to make or break the coup, she senses that things are not going well and so she throws the coupists under the bus and comes out looking principled for it, which she could do because she had wisely been so cautious and tentative about throwing her support behind the coup despite ideologically agreeing with them and having something to gain if they won. Great moment! Like my partner says, Winn often does things that seem selfless / like they're serving Bajor's broader interests but they also simultaneously function to put her ahead too.
7. Favorite recurring character
Lwaxana, probably? There are a lot of good characters that fit this category: Guinan, Gowron, Weyoun, Shran, Q, Keiko, etc. But I think Lwaxana's my favorite. I like how she keeps on showing up uninvited -- that's what you want from a good recurring character. XD She gets some interesting plotlines and has some very interesting dynamics with various characters. She has a very flashy wardrobe and never looks the same each time you see her -- in that way, she reminds me quite a bit of my mom, actually. It's also nice to have a middle-aged, overtly sexual woman who is completely comfortable in her own body and her own desires and just has no qualms or hesitation about taking up space in the world. I know Star Trek has a lot of "nightmare person" characters in the style of Lwaxana, and I know her behavior definitely crosses the line into sexual harassment territory which wouldn't be so funny in real life, but I appreciate it in a fictional character. She's just very Larger Than Life.
My favorite Lwaxana episode is probably the one with Alexander (TNG 5x20 "Cost of Living"). I really love how in this episode, Lwaxana really gets along with Alexander. It gives you some interesting insight into her character, namely that (1) Lwaxana is much better at parenting young children than parenting young adults (evident in her relationship with Deanna), and (2) Lwaxana (like Alexander) is kind of the embodiment of the lesson that you can't impose your expectations on people. It's a bit of a lesson in humility that, no matter how hard you try, you can't control how people will turn out or behave. I know Q is a kind of trickster god, but I think Lwaxana also has some of the same elements of representing chaos and shaking characters out of their complacency that way, especially ones like Worf or Odo who like a sense of order.
8. Favorite episode character
Not sure what this question means. I'm assuming it's a character who shows up only in a single episode and is basically the guest star of that episode? Gosh, there's no way I can pick just one. I'll list a few noteworthy ones:
- TOS: Dr. Daystrom (2x24 "The Ultimate Computer") -- an example of Star Trek trying to be woke and doing a good job at it. Star Trek casually depicts a future where one of the most influential scientists happens to be black; the episode isn't about his blackness, though -- it's about his drive to top his previous accomplishments, both from the point of view of being a scientist and being a humanist. It's very political but in an understated way. A very memorable, distinctive character. Star Trek has a lot of big-headed scientist characters, but I think Daystrom is the most fully realized of the single-episode versions of that character. I love that he gets institutes and awards named after him in the Star Trek world. It's a good bit of worldbuilding that makes sense.
- TNG: The Romulan traitor (3x10 "The Defector") -- in general, Romulans very much have this species trait of ploys nested in ploys nested in ploys, and the guest actor here had to convey someone who is earnest about something and lying about something (but it is unclear what is what), for some end that is unknown. And the actor does this very well! He manages to convey someone who, even when utterly ruined, still maintains a quiet dignity and honor to him, even if it doesn't match human notions of honor.
- DS9: Marritza (1x19 "Duet") -- what can I say? This episode would not be a contender for the best of all time without the stunning performance of a man mimicking (mocking) the blustering fascist ideology of the cruelest kind of Cardassian but also at his heart being a cowardly, self-loathing, guilt-wracked man whose guilt pushes him to do something legitimately selfless and brave.
- VOY: Ah, I was going to cheat and say the sociopath Betazoid guy (Lon Suder), ignoring his second appearance when he gets killed off. But my partner suggested Tuvix (2x24). Ah Tuvix! If Tuvix counts as a separate character from Tuvok and Neelix, then him. I love that the actor had to convey a character who is halfway between the most dignified guy on the ship and the most obnoxious guy on the ship while somehow being better than either of them individually. He manages to pull this off! He has the warmth and affection of Neelix and the intelligence and reason of Tuvok; those traits somehow make him better at both his jobs than Tuvok and Neelix; his mannerisms seem like a combination of the two. It's a really well-done depiction!
9. Favorite background character
Nurse Ogawa (TNG)? She is the first one who came to mind. She gets some fun moments and it's nice to see her in the background of the medbay from time to time. I like her interactions with Beverly. I don't really have anything interesting to say on this one.
10. Favorite moment
Oh my god, I'm tempted to say this moment (from DS9 5x25 "In the Cards"):
Weyoun and Winn actually ARE quite similar -- very oily diplomats who are very fake and whose main skill lies in their ability to work people. (Just look at how fake their smiles are!!) So Weyoun is 100% in the right here. But that doesn't stop Winn from slam-dunking him into the basket anyway and then just leaving, lmao. She is amazing. "Villain v. villain -- who would win?" is a great underrated dynamic, IMO!
(Oh man, also, this episode is honestly another contender for best Star Trek episode. It is not transcendantly beautiful like the episodes I picked out in question 3, but it is a perfect 10/10 episode. It flawlessly nails every single beat it sets out to hit. It is heartwarming and sweet and absurd and has great character moments for the whole cast, and your favorites are all here, and it also somehow manages to advance the overarching plot too. Wow.)
11. Favorite dynamic
I'm not sure if this question is asking for a dynamic between two particular characters that I really like, or a recurring dynamic (e.g. "buddies sharing a single brain cell") that tends to pop up every so often in Star Trek. Because it's easier for me to answer, I'll go with the first one. So here are my top picks:
- Hoshi &/ T'Pol (ENT): My partner and I joke that Hoshi is basically Aggretsuko in space: she's been asked to do a job that is harder and more stressful than she can really handle and so she's a ball of frustrated nerves as a result. If Hoshi is Retsuko, T'Pol is Washimi -- cool, competent older woman who takes Hoshi/Retsuko under her wing and just thinks she's neat, which makes Hoshi/Retsuko go, "M-me? Really? 🥺" The show doesn't do that much with it, but it is a really nice part of the show.
- Michael &/ (Mirror) Georgiou (DSC): Ah gosh, honestly, I would watch five seasons just focused around Michael & Georgiou's relationship. The show kind of goes into the dynamic here, but I feel like it mines maybe 20% of the potential of this relationship. In both universes, Michael and Georgiou have a mentor and pseudo-parent/child and leader/right-hand type relationship. In both universes, Michael betrayed Georgiou, which resulted in one of their deaths. They both see some of their deceased loved one in the other -- it's a second chance! But they come from universes with opposite moral values, meaning they can't trust each other, either because the other person isn't trustworthy or they aren't trusting. A delicious tension where they both instinctively want to and can't trust each other, and each sees a shadow of the person they loved in the other, while recognizing there is something different and new about this different version. This relationship could go platonic or romantic. It has so much potential for growth and gradual change, where the two of them are negotiating their values and trying to find a consensus, which kind of got accelerated and glossed over, but I guess that's okay.
12. Favorite starship (or station)
Eh, to be honest, I don't really have an attachment to any ship. I like the comfy "hotel conference center" vibe interiors that the TNG Enterprise (1701-D) has. I feel like because people live and work there, it should be comfy and not filled with panels and screens that look like they cause eye strain and no place to sit. I also think the design of DS9 is very sleek and memorable.
Full list of questions:
https://meowmeowarcher.tumblr.com/post/678195088775692288/star-trek-favorites-ask-game-1-favorite-show
1. Favorite show
2. Favorite captain
3. Favorite episode
4. Favorite character
5. Favorite species
6. Favorite villain
7. Favorite recurring character
8. Favorite episode character
9. Favorite background character
10. Favorite moment
11. Favorite dynamic
12. Favorite starship (or station)
13. Favorite first officer
14. Favorite engineer
15. Favorite doctor
16. Favorite security chief
17. Favorite ensign
18. Favorite non-Starfleet character
19. Favorite science officer
20. Favorite 'outsider character'
21. Favorite 'artificial lifeform'
22. Favorite Vulcan
23. Favorite Ferengi
24. Favorite Klingon
25. Favorite captain-first officer dynamic
26. Favorite time travel or holodeck episode
27. Favorite character-driven episode
28. Favorite 'bad' episode
29. Favorite mirrorverse episode
30. Favorite plot of the week episode
31. Favorite two-parter
32. Favorite season (of any show)
33. Favorite pilot episode
34. Favorite cast photo
35. Favorite behind-the-scenes fact
36. Favorite actor
37. Favorite novel
38. Favorite movie
39. Favorite fanwork
40. Favorite couple/pairing
41. Favorite headcanon
42. Favorite non-trek show (or other media)
43. Favorite piece of worldbuilding
44. Favorite niche detail
45. Favorite Memory Alpha page
46. Favorite 'New Trek' show
47. Favorite Classic Trek show
48. Favorite alien design
49. Favorite comedic moment
50. Favorite thing about Star Trek
Broke: Hoping people on Tumblr send me asks for this Star Trek 'favorites' meme.
Woke: tl;dring the full set of questions on DW.
This took me a really long time to do even a quarter of, because I write too much. Warning for potential spoilers for basically all Star Trek shows.
1. Favorite show
It's close between TNG and DS9 for me, but I think I have to say DS9. The writing is stronger overall and I spend more time thinking about it and its characters. And it has more Ferengi characters, my loves. I think I like the cast of TNG slightly better, though.
2. Favorite captain
Benjamin Sisko (DS9). I like Sisko's combination of "incredibly affectionate dad" + "extremely hardass boss" -- overall, I think it's much more fun to watch than various other combination of traits, including Sisko's reverse, Picard (wonderful boss, useless around kids). I like how Sisko will really see a baby, any baby, and instantly be like, "Mine." He loves cooking. Sometimes he just wants to play baseball with his teenage son who is growing up too fast, you know? He will do a little warcrimes as a treat. He's the most fun captain, in my opinion.
3. Favorite episode
It's impossible to list just one, so here are several all-time faves:
- TOS 1x13 "The Conscience of the King" -- some of Star Trek's best episodes reference literature, including this Shakespearean tragedy. It's very artsy and theatrical.
- TNG 5x02 "Darmok" -- any story retelling the tale of Gilgamesh and Enkidu is going to be filled with feels. This one is no exception!
- DS9 1x19 "Duet" -- early DS9 episode that really nails the kinds of stories that this show is capable of telling, of trauma and forgiveness in the face of unforgiveable atrocity. Or if not forgiveness, at least humanization and empathy.
- DS9 4x03 "The Visitor" -- epic tearjerker that ultimately gets entirely undone but leaves you with a better understanding of Jake and Ben's relationship and their personal psychology that is much longer-lasting.
4. Favorite character
Gosh, just one?? Well, I guess it has to be Quark (DS9). I like how he is a combination of legitimately whiny and terrible (so self-absorbed!) and genuinely playful and fun to be around. The bio someone wrote him in Star Trek: Legends includes this bit: "It's rumored he has a heart of latinum, but keeps it locked safely in a bank vault with the rest of his wealth." And like, yeah, that sums it up. The way he struggles with living up to the cutthroat ideal of his society, the way he takes pride in his culture even when it labels him a degenerate and even when his stronger and more indepedent-minded family has decided to grow past the constraints of that society and grow past him. He's legitimately awful; he's legitimately kind. He's a bartender/criminal/thief/Ferengi(/hooker, probably) with a heart of gold, and I love that.
5. Favorite species
F-E-R-E-N-G-I ❤ They have the best clothes. Their aesthetic is so garish yet consistent and recognizable. Their society is so terrible and funny. They are peafowl in humanoid form. They are attractive in the most uncomfortable way. They are short kings. I love them.
Second fave is probably Klingons. Love my nightmare people. <3
6. Favorite villain
Probably Kai Winn (DS9). She is just a very rich character with a lot going on, a very savvy political player, and just has the most passive-aggressive way of chastising and pressuring people ever. I love her a lot. Only Kai Winn can make a traditional religious blessing ("Walk with the Prophets, child") sound like "Fuck you" while being the pope -- her actress is just SO good. I also like that she gets a lot of wins. She is a generally competent villain who manages to orchestrate things such that she gets what she wants or at least escapes punishment even if she doesn't get what she want.
A great early character-establishing plot for her is the one in the beginning of season 2, where she coyly agrees to a "you scratch my back, I scratch yours" agreement with the person planning a coup (without actually agreeing to anything) and then when there's a moment where Winn has the chance to make or break the coup, she senses that things are not going well and so she throws the coupists under the bus and comes out looking principled for it, which she could do because she had wisely been so cautious and tentative about throwing her support behind the coup despite ideologically agreeing with them and having something to gain if they won. Great moment! Like my partner says, Winn often does things that seem selfless / like they're serving Bajor's broader interests but they also simultaneously function to put her ahead too.
7. Favorite recurring character
Lwaxana, probably? There are a lot of good characters that fit this category: Guinan, Gowron, Weyoun, Shran, Q, Keiko, etc. But I think Lwaxana's my favorite. I like how she keeps on showing up uninvited -- that's what you want from a good recurring character. XD She gets some interesting plotlines and has some very interesting dynamics with various characters. She has a very flashy wardrobe and never looks the same each time you see her -- in that way, she reminds me quite a bit of my mom, actually. It's also nice to have a middle-aged, overtly sexual woman who is completely comfortable in her own body and her own desires and just has no qualms or hesitation about taking up space in the world. I know Star Trek has a lot of "nightmare person" characters in the style of Lwaxana, and I know her behavior definitely crosses the line into sexual harassment territory which wouldn't be so funny in real life, but I appreciate it in a fictional character. She's just very Larger Than Life.
My favorite Lwaxana episode is probably the one with Alexander (TNG 5x20 "Cost of Living"). I really love how in this episode, Lwaxana really gets along with Alexander. It gives you some interesting insight into her character, namely that (1) Lwaxana is much better at parenting young children than parenting young adults (evident in her relationship with Deanna), and (2) Lwaxana (like Alexander) is kind of the embodiment of the lesson that you can't impose your expectations on people. It's a bit of a lesson in humility that, no matter how hard you try, you can't control how people will turn out or behave. I know Q is a kind of trickster god, but I think Lwaxana also has some of the same elements of representing chaos and shaking characters out of their complacency that way, especially ones like Worf or Odo who like a sense of order.
8. Favorite episode character
Not sure what this question means. I'm assuming it's a character who shows up only in a single episode and is basically the guest star of that episode? Gosh, there's no way I can pick just one. I'll list a few noteworthy ones:
- TOS: Dr. Daystrom (2x24 "The Ultimate Computer") -- an example of Star Trek trying to be woke and doing a good job at it. Star Trek casually depicts a future where one of the most influential scientists happens to be black; the episode isn't about his blackness, though -- it's about his drive to top his previous accomplishments, both from the point of view of being a scientist and being a humanist. It's very political but in an understated way. A very memorable, distinctive character. Star Trek has a lot of big-headed scientist characters, but I think Daystrom is the most fully realized of the single-episode versions of that character. I love that he gets institutes and awards named after him in the Star Trek world. It's a good bit of worldbuilding that makes sense.
- TNG: The Romulan traitor (3x10 "The Defector") -- in general, Romulans very much have this species trait of ploys nested in ploys nested in ploys, and the guest actor here had to convey someone who is earnest about something and lying about something (but it is unclear what is what), for some end that is unknown. And the actor does this very well! He manages to convey someone who, even when utterly ruined, still maintains a quiet dignity and honor to him, even if it doesn't match human notions of honor.
- DS9: Marritza (1x19 "Duet") -- what can I say? This episode would not be a contender for the best of all time without the stunning performance of a man mimicking (mocking) the blustering fascist ideology of the cruelest kind of Cardassian but also at his heart being a cowardly, self-loathing, guilt-wracked man whose guilt pushes him to do something legitimately selfless and brave.
- VOY: Ah, I was going to cheat and say the sociopath Betazoid guy (Lon Suder), ignoring his second appearance when he gets killed off. But my partner suggested Tuvix (2x24). Ah Tuvix! If Tuvix counts as a separate character from Tuvok and Neelix, then him. I love that the actor had to convey a character who is halfway between the most dignified guy on the ship and the most obnoxious guy on the ship while somehow being better than either of them individually. He manages to pull this off! He has the warmth and affection of Neelix and the intelligence and reason of Tuvok; those traits somehow make him better at both his jobs than Tuvok and Neelix; his mannerisms seem like a combination of the two. It's a really well-done depiction!
9. Favorite background character
Nurse Ogawa (TNG)? She is the first one who came to mind. She gets some fun moments and it's nice to see her in the background of the medbay from time to time. I like her interactions with Beverly. I don't really have anything interesting to say on this one.
10. Favorite moment
Oh my god, I'm tempted to say this moment (from DS9 5x25 "In the Cards"):
Weyoun and Winn actually ARE quite similar -- very oily diplomats who are very fake and whose main skill lies in their ability to work people. (Just look at how fake their smiles are!!) So Weyoun is 100% in the right here. But that doesn't stop Winn from slam-dunking him into the basket anyway and then just leaving, lmao. She is amazing. "Villain v. villain -- who would win?" is a great underrated dynamic, IMO!
(Oh man, also, this episode is honestly another contender for best Star Trek episode. It is not transcendantly beautiful like the episodes I picked out in question 3, but it is a perfect 10/10 episode. It flawlessly nails every single beat it sets out to hit. It is heartwarming and sweet and absurd and has great character moments for the whole cast, and your favorites are all here, and it also somehow manages to advance the overarching plot too. Wow.)
11. Favorite dynamic
I'm not sure if this question is asking for a dynamic between two particular characters that I really like, or a recurring dynamic (e.g. "buddies sharing a single brain cell") that tends to pop up every so often in Star Trek. Because it's easier for me to answer, I'll go with the first one. So here are my top picks:
- Hoshi &/ T'Pol (ENT): My partner and I joke that Hoshi is basically Aggretsuko in space: she's been asked to do a job that is harder and more stressful than she can really handle and so she's a ball of frustrated nerves as a result. If Hoshi is Retsuko, T'Pol is Washimi -- cool, competent older woman who takes Hoshi/Retsuko under her wing and just thinks she's neat, which makes Hoshi/Retsuko go, "M-me? Really? 🥺" The show doesn't do that much with it, but it is a really nice part of the show.
- Michael &/ (Mirror) Georgiou (DSC): Ah gosh, honestly, I would watch five seasons just focused around Michael & Georgiou's relationship. The show kind of goes into the dynamic here, but I feel like it mines maybe 20% of the potential of this relationship. In both universes, Michael and Georgiou have a mentor and pseudo-parent/child and leader/right-hand type relationship. In both universes, Michael betrayed Georgiou, which resulted in one of their deaths. They both see some of their deceased loved one in the other -- it's a second chance! But they come from universes with opposite moral values, meaning they can't trust each other, either because the other person isn't trustworthy or they aren't trusting. A delicious tension where they both instinctively want to and can't trust each other, and each sees a shadow of the person they loved in the other, while recognizing there is something different and new about this different version. This relationship could go platonic or romantic. It has so much potential for growth and gradual change, where the two of them are negotiating their values and trying to find a consensus, which kind of got accelerated and glossed over, but I guess that's okay.
12. Favorite starship (or station)
Eh, to be honest, I don't really have an attachment to any ship. I like the comfy "hotel conference center" vibe interiors that the TNG Enterprise (1701-D) has. I feel like because people live and work there, it should be comfy and not filled with panels and screens that look like they cause eye strain and no place to sit. I also think the design of DS9 is very sleek and memorable.
Full list of questions:
https://meowmeowarcher.tumblr.com/post/678195088775692288/star-trek-favorites-ask-game-1-favorite-show
1. Favorite show
2. Favorite captain
3. Favorite episode
4. Favorite character
5. Favorite species
6. Favorite villain
7. Favorite recurring character
8. Favorite episode character
9. Favorite background character
10. Favorite moment
11. Favorite dynamic
12. Favorite starship (or station)
13. Favorite first officer
14. Favorite engineer
15. Favorite doctor
16. Favorite security chief
17. Favorite ensign
18. Favorite non-Starfleet character
19. Favorite science officer
20. Favorite 'outsider character'
21. Favorite 'artificial lifeform'
22. Favorite Vulcan
23. Favorite Ferengi
24. Favorite Klingon
25. Favorite captain-first officer dynamic
26. Favorite time travel or holodeck episode
27. Favorite character-driven episode
28. Favorite 'bad' episode
29. Favorite mirrorverse episode
30. Favorite plot of the week episode
31. Favorite two-parter
32. Favorite season (of any show)
33. Favorite pilot episode
34. Favorite cast photo
35. Favorite behind-the-scenes fact
36. Favorite actor
37. Favorite novel
38. Favorite movie
39. Favorite fanwork
40. Favorite couple/pairing
41. Favorite headcanon
42. Favorite non-trek show (or other media)
43. Favorite piece of worldbuilding
44. Favorite niche detail
45. Favorite Memory Alpha page
46. Favorite 'New Trek' show
47. Favorite Classic Trek show
48. Favorite alien design
49. Favorite comedic moment
50. Favorite thing about Star Trek
no subject
no subject