-glenn

no salvo was meant. I apologize if i exceeded the comments quota.

i continued watching it , because i kept hoping it would improve and become consistent .

DAta an ANDROIIIDDD!!!!! a NEW GALAXCY starrrshippp.

Those were the days!

Yes, TNG in the first couple of seasons looked pretty 1980’s, but hey, c’mon TOS, the set, sideburns, mini-skirts and go-go boots? Looks pretty 60’s to me. And Star Trek TMP, looks quite late 70’s. So each has the LOOK of the era they were made in, but each also has stories that were reflective of that era as well (TOS – “Let That Be Your Last Battlefield” Half’black, half-white and vice-versa. TNG – “Symbiosis” The Nancy Reganesque “Don’t Do Drugs” PSA).

Star Trek was meaningful for its time – An Asain guy, a Russian an alien, Black woman, all serving important positions, all being treated equally, in an organization striving for peace… during the height of Vietnam, the Cold War, Free Love and the Civil Rights movement. It wasn’t just essentially the birth of a new kind of television drama (the science fiction space show), it was a message to America. That, as much as anything, was part of its charm.

TNG’s concept and storylines are probably a bit more timeless in the fact that the show wasn’t necessarily a reflection of it’s time. However, such shows as “Symbiosis” and “The Outcast” (the whole androgynous race thing… or “Pat’s” as I affectionately call the J’naii) which was a shot back at Evangelicals taking shots at homosexuals coming out of the closet.

As for me, I was but a boy of 6 1/2 in September of 1987 and was quite excited to watch TNG with my cousin whom I adored, who was 10 at the time.

I had my doubts about TNG – especially after reading the Picard was “older” and bald and Riker was a Kirk clone (and maybe related to Kirk – anyone remember reading that?) Then the fact the android Data was based on Questor from the “Questor Tapes” and a Klingon was on part of the crew and on and on…

I didn’t know what to make of it….and honestly when it debuted, I was not impressed, but I stuck with it and I was rewarded for my dedication with some stand out shows down the road.

I think my biggest disappointment early on had to do with the special effects – for a late 80s show produced by a big studio, the video-ey effects were lame and really did not improve until season 3.

and for the next 4 years, while watching next generation, thats what i tried not to do . “sleep” ZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ LOL