Our Controversial Thoughts on 'Pen Pals' Explained
Added 2024-03-26 11:07:58 +0000 UTCTUESDAY'S YOUTUBE VIDEO - Discussion on Star Trek TNG S2E15 - Pen Pals
Here is the YouTube link for those who would prefer to watch it there -
Comments
It is odd cause I felt nobody else could be fascinated to connect with a little kid more than Data. Maybe it is too early on this journey and you still feel Data is a robot than an android so it is understandable why you think it is out of character for him.
Atieh B
2024-03-27 18:55:35 +0000 UTCUse our collections page here on Patreon, it should help with what you’re describing. Everything organized.
Josh (Target Audience)
2024-03-27 03:13:35 +0000 UTCOn O'brien "you're taking that?" What is this species doesnt have gender? yes it looks like a little girl, but what if they only have one sex?
David Kunard
2024-03-27 02:35:01 +0000 UTCWinrich Kolbe also remarks, "If I remember correctly, that was the one of those cases where I felt the original script I got, the white pages, the first draft, was very, very nice. It was a very personal story. Rick [Berman] or somebody else, maybe it was Gene [Roddenberry], I don't know, felt we needed more of a technical surrounding story in that one. Suddenly, out went more and more of the character issue, and in came more and more tech talk. That, to me, is a problem. I don't necessarily agree with the assessment that more technical jargon enhances the stories. These stories should be left alone. I think 'Pen Pals' could have been a better show than it was."
David Kunard
2024-03-27 02:22:16 +0000 UTCThe teleplay was then assigned to Melinda Snodgrass. During story meetings, the writers considered various characters who could interact with the child. Snodgrass was successful in convincing the other staffers that Data was the best fit for the tale. She later explained, "[Y]ou can picture Data becoming entranced in answering [the] question, 'Is there anyone out there?' First, he's an android and if you ask him a question, you're going to get an answer. Secondly, the whole thing would be so charmingly intriguing to him, that he would do it [...] You never could picture any of the other characters doing that, but Data can make the mistake, and I don't mean that in a pejorative sense, and step out of his careful Starfleet training because he's really just growing up. He's more of a child than Wesley." (Captains' Logs: The Unauthorized Complete Trek Voyages, p. 179)
David Kunard
2024-03-27 02:20:43 +0000 UTCData was violating the regs and he knew it which is why he waited. This come up later, but data apparently has some ethical circuits that can kick in and override his normal actions including following normal protocol, so while the particular movie that was in was the worst of the movies by far and insulting to the viewer's intelligence, it t least makes some things Data does make sense when he will bend starfleet regulations for his own wthical judgements.
David Kunard
2024-03-27 02:15:53 +0000 UTCIts interesting how these guys think about production stuff and more "show" things where I just think about plot and character. Like there some memorable scores, Time Squared, Best Of Both Worlds, and Night Terrors, but i didn't even notice there wasnt much music in this one. After watching the doc about how chaotic the first two seasons were behind the scenes, it doesn't surprise me. Somebody probably fired the composer for complex office politics before this got made or they tried to save a few bucks. Also though... having a hard time imagining how a score would work here, as this is one of the most "talky" episodes with minimal dramatic beats or atmospherics.
David Kunard
2024-03-27 02:12:06 +0000 UTCshould post this when season three stars, but again watching some of it, its amazing how season three just feels like a different show, almost like the first two seasons were early drafts- but tits also interesting how between season 2 and season 3, the cast all seems to age noticeably, then basically looks the same for the rest of the season. Riker, Data, Work, Wesley and Picard in particular. Well, Picard maybe looks younger by being less angular but its interesting how they all look so different from season 2 to season 3 then basicaly look the same for the rest of the series. And man, Riker's character really changes from "Rizz guy" to "grumpy dad" Data also changes and actually gets... well, in some ways more androidy, but in other ways less uncanny valley, likes hes not tryinag as hard and has kind of settled in but is also not as much of a social dingus. Or at least knows what he doesnt know.
David Kunard
2024-03-27 02:07:34 +0000 UTCA suggestion for you guys- With the Patreon, with the uncut reactions, cut reactions, and episode reactions all over the place in terms of lining up with the episodes, it can make it confusing to follow hear and find the content you're looking for here. Instead of posting in exact temporal order or however you're doing it, ikt seems like it would be much easier to have "uncut reaction, cut reaction, post-reaction" next episode. I don't know if you could order it that way by posting things out of time sequence from when they were uploaded, but as it stands its kind of a mess with stuff from different episodes all kind of randomly scattered in the feed.
David Kunard
2024-03-27 02:02:13 +0000 UTCThe idea of the prime directive applying when they can save a people seems ridiculous. Its obvious what it's for, not to interfere in their culture, impose their values, etc. But if there all going to die and starfleet can save them without them knowing, it seems ridiculous to say they cant as if there was some "cosmic plan. The argument bout the prime directive also seemed unrealistic to me. Surely there is all kinds of academic writing on the topic they have to study at school, and well defined cases of where and when it applies, its philosophical justification etc. The didea these starfleet officers would be debating things like "cosmic destiny" is just in terms of trying to figure out what general order number one means is just ridiculous. And the opinions, attitudes, and dialogue assigned seemed totally arbitrary and not at all character consistent. Worf- "To Data" Where did that come from? And Riker arguing they shouldnt help because of destiny? And friggin PICARD changing his mind and orders after he actually heartd the girls voice. This is all bad character work and fundamentally unrealistic and silly, so much it kills suspension of disbelief for me.
David Kunard
2024-03-27 01:59:02 +0000 UTCI honestly don't think Data's contact with Sarjenka was out of character as I feel people are reading something into it that isn't there. To me, there was no emotional component to Data's action, just his normal overexuberant curiosity. He only reported it to Picard when her life was in danger to see if anything could be done and specifically said he had kept things vague as to his identity so, I suspect to his mind he had not violated the actual specifics of the prime directive. I also don't think he played the signal because of any emotion on his part. However, I do believe that he did play it deliberately knowing that some of the other crew members would react emotionally and support his desire to save the planet. This was another one of those episodes that I didn't think a whole lot of back when I first saw it. Upon a second viewing (and a third via your reaction video) my respect for this one has shot way up. I honestly think it is a seriously underrated episode of this series.
Nick Sauer
2024-03-26 23:06:02 +0000 UTCLol. She was on the show "Vegas". Season 1 she's normal. Later seasons she's a Characiture. I think her husband was Producer or something.
Josh Turner
2024-03-26 17:33:10 +0000 UTCYeah...I read it the same at first...I was concerned....
Greg Quinn
2024-03-26 17:14:22 +0000 UTCAt first I read this as “she got plastic surgery at 11”
Josh (Target Audience)
2024-03-26 14:29:40 +0000 UTCNicki Cox was hot. Then she turned the plastic surgery up to 11.
Josh Turner
2024-03-26 14:01:21 +0000 UTCHey. D.C. Fontana was a woman.
Steven Johnson
2024-03-26 13:46:34 +0000 UTCI think it would have made more sense if after he got stabbed by the pig monster in that Q episode he just never came back. A gift from the Continuum to all of us. ...Sorry, i'm grumpy today. A tribble ate my homework.
Steven Johnson
2024-03-26 13:43:44 +0000 UTCData finally tells Picard that he didn't report talking with this alien. Then back on the bridge Mendar stares daggers at him for getting in trouble for not reporting important things to the captain several episodes earlier.
fatproduce
2024-03-26 13:35:48 +0000 UTCI guess I should have waited before posting this. Lol
Josh Turner
2024-03-26 12:52:33 +0000 UTCData pulled the same thing as the Perma-vape guy did when Riker did the Wife- swap with the Klingons. I doubt he would have told nobody. Especially because he was technically breaking Prime Directive.
Josh Turner
2024-03-26 12:51:27 +0000 UTCThe best part of that episode was the pow-wow in Picard's quarters.
Darin Wagner
2024-03-26 11:54:06 +0000 UTCRead our YouTube comments on the reaction
Josh (Target Audience)
2024-03-26 11:43:42 +0000 UTCI think it would have made more sense for Wesley to have a Pen Pal.
Dan Zimmerli
2024-03-26 11:32:21 +0000 UTCControversial?…
Silk
2024-03-26 11:09:38 +0000 UTC
