General / Off-Topic Into Darkness: References for Trekkies

DrBaggy · May 17, 2013

Apologies to those more knowledgeable about Star Trek on the forum (there are quite a few out there!)

Going to the new Star Trek film last night I was interested that, although JJ Abrams is not a trekkie, and it is advertised as a film for all, not just ST fans, there were still quite a few references to TOS peppered through the film. Here are some I noticed:

Excluding the obvious (Khan, Leonard Nimoy, Uhura's left-sided earpieceetc):

Bones "Dammit man, I'm a doctor not a..."
The mirror image death scene with Kirk/Spock (thankfully not using "I have, and always will be, your friend" which moves me to tears!)
The reference to a "five-year mission" (though still with the non-sexist "one" not "man")
My favourite, a reference to Christine Chappell, apparently a jilted ex-lover of Kirk who had gone off to become a nurse. We all know what happened to her!

There were some differences as well (the Klingons were more TNG than TOS, and wasn't the prime directive a TOS thing too?)

And note to DB: at the end credits, space is not that full of stuff!

Lots of you more expert than me at this, so what did you spot?

Ashley Barley · May 17, 2013

If you want to discuss spoiler-ish topics about a current film please use the spoiler tags to avoid ruining anything for those that have not seen the film yet (The luggage tag icon in the post editor will create spoiler tags).

DrBaggy · May 17, 2013

Ashley Barley said:
If you want to discuss spoiler-ish topics about a current film please use the spoiler tags to avoid ruining anything for those that have not seen the film yet (The luggage tag icon in the post editor will create spoiler tags).

Thanks Ashley, been on the forum 7 years and I didn't know that! Amended, though tbh I don't think they would ruin things too much! So what did you notice??

Cmdr Andy B · May 17, 2013

DrBaggy said:
Thanks Ashley, been on the forum 7 years and I didn't know that! Amended, though tbh I don't think they would ruin things too much! So what did you notice??

it's a fairly new addition, i think it was only added a month or so ago.

I should be seeing this within a few days, I'll give you my report then

Aewarin Jameson · May 17, 2013

DrBaggy said:
Thanks Ashley, been on the forum 7 years and I didn't know that! Amended, though tbh I don't think they would ruin things too much! So what did you notice??

Well well well .. learn something new every day.

Knew the reference to Nurse Chappell was from TOS but never knew it was the one and same Majel Barrett (ships computer voice)

Spotted the usual references too .. and yes, during the odd scene there were a couple of tears ... no, I'm not sad

Ashley Barley · May 17, 2013

Alas, I have not seen it yet. Hopefully this weekend!

Nicodemus · May 17, 2013

What most people don't realise is that before she was Nurse Chapel she was actually the exec officer or "Number one" in the pilot movie. Trouble was that test audiences and NBC hated the character and also hated Spock.

Majel Barrett often joked that Roddenberry, given the choice between keeping Mr. Spock or the woman character, "kept the Vulcan and married the woman, 'cause he didn't think Leonard [Nimoy] would have it the other way around.

DrBaggy · May 17, 2013

Liqua said:
Well well well .. learn something new every day.

Knew the reference to Nurse Chappell was from TOS but never knew it was the one and same Majel Barrett (ships computer voice)

Spotted the usual references too .. and yes, during the odd scene there were a couple of tears ... no, I'm not sad

And of course she was later Deanna Troy's mother in TNG: when you're Gene Roddenberry's wife I guess you can do anything!
As my wife said, it's not really great to know all that...

Speaking of wives, I thought mine was understanding, but travelling with you from UAE to UK for a ST film....that's really going above and beyond!

Aewarin Jameson · May 17, 2013

DrBaggy said:
Speaking of wives, I thought mine was understanding, but travelling with you from UAE to UK for a ST film....that's really going above and beyond!

She was already in the UK so it was just myself travelling here

I remember her also in TNG and DS9 .. if you remember back to those episodes, unless mistaken, the computer voice was male!

Cmdr Andy B · May 17, 2013

don't forget she was also the voice of the enterprise D computer

the pilot you refer to is called 'The Cage' and although never shown as a whole episode as part of the original series it was ripped and stripped for a 2 part episode late in season one where Spock hijacks the enterprise to take his old captain, Christopher Pike to Talos IV

DrBaggy · May 17, 2013

AndyB(EDB50) said:
don't forget she was also the voice of the enterprise D computer

the pilot you refer to is called 'The Cage' and although never shown as a whole episode as part of the original series it was ripped and stripped for a 2 part episode late in season one where Spock hijacks the enterprise to take his old captain, Christopher Pike to Talos IV

I assumed that Admiral Pike from Into Darkness was meant to be the same Christopher Pike from that pilot???

ps can I share my favourite ST joke?

Picard: "Data, what are you doing repairing that machine?"

Data: "Captain, I have always been interested in twentieth century technology. This device joins pieces of cloth together using a simple needle, a motor, and thread. If I can just connect these gears, I think I can make it operational again"

Picard....wait for it

"Very well: make it sew"

Cmdr Andy B · May 17, 2013

yup, same guy different Universe - as for the joke does it really need the spoiler tags? i think we can all guess the punchline

another name to keep an eye out for in the new films from 'Old' Trek Lore is Robert April, he was the Captain of the ship when Jimmy Kirk took his first trip on the Enterprise with his father and was head of the starship program.

all this takes place in the book 'Best Destiny' by Diane Carey, one of the better Trek authors IMO

DrBaggy · May 17, 2013

AndyB(EDB50) said:
yup, same guy different Universe - as for the joke does it really need the spoiler tags? i think we can all guess the punchline

another name to keep an eye out for in the new films from 'Old' Trek Lore is Robert April, he was the Captain of the ship when Jimmy Kirk took his first trip on the Enterprise with his father and was head of the starship program.

all this takes place in the book 'Best Destiny' by Diane Carey, one of the better Trek authors IMO

Fascinating AndyB: on the Channel 5 documentary the other night they said April was the original name Gene chose for his captain.

You saw the punchline coming?

ok, I admit it was an excuse to play with this new-fangled spoiler button

Selezen · May 17, 2013

Oh dear, now you're all going to know how sad I am.

Majel Barret was originally cast as the first officer, but network wouldn't allow it. During that period, Mr Roddenberry became enamoured of her and the rest is history.

Majel was given a recurring role as Chapel, and had an episode written around her character to give her a big intro into the series. True love.

Majel was the voice of the Starfleet computers in EVERY Trek series except Enterprise (spit). In DS9 the Cardassian station computers were a different voice (might have been male, can't remember). She finished recording the lines for the first Abrams Trek film a few weeks before her death.

Majel guest starred as Lwaxana Troi, Deanna's mother, in several TNG episodes. She also guest starred in one DS9 episode as the same character.

Somewhat controversially at the time, Majel also guest starred in an episode of DS9's rival series Babylon 5 as the telepathic wife of the planet's Emperor. Talk about going up in the world!

Captain Robert April was indeed the original name Roddenberry considered for the captain but was discarded in favour of Pike as a single syllable name sounded better. April was introduced as a character in the Animated Series and is one of only two references retained as canon from that series (the other being various Vulcan concepts from Dorothy Fontana's episode about Spock going back in time to help his younger self). April was then featured in the Best Destiny novel, which Abrams has cited as one of the major influences on his take of the Trek lore.

The original Pilot, "The Cage", was rejected by the network as being "too cerebral" for television, hence the legendary second pilot was written to be more action-oriented. Roddenberry re-edited it into the two-part "The Menagerie" episode, along with a framing story, and it subsequently won a Hugo Award for Best Dramatic Presentation. Go figure.

And the scary thing is that I didn't have to look any of that up!!

I enjoyed the film. Great scenes, great acting, great story. Some absolute howlers of plot,technical and scientific mistakes (Drew will back me up here) but on the whole a very very enjoyable film. Just turn off the scientific part of your mind.

Cmdr Andy B · May 17, 2013

same here although i will admit to looking up the author just to make sure

as far as awards go Spock gets all the action, the first trek book (aside from movie novelisations) to reach the best seller list was all about him, that book is called 'Yesterday's Son' and it's squeal 'Time for Yesterday' are both by A. C. Crispin.

the books follow on from the story of Sarpeidon as told in the TOS season 3 episode 'All Our Yesterdays'

and channel 5 documentary? not seen that one is it new or just a rerun?

DrBaggy · May 17, 2013

AndyB(EDB50) said:
same here although i will admit to looking up the author just to make sure as far as awards go Spock gets all the action, the first trek book (aside from movie novelisations) to reach the best seller list was all about him, that book is called 'Yesterday's Son' and it's squeal 'Time for Yesterday' are both by A. C. Crispin.

the books follow on from the story of Sarpeidon as told in the TOS season 3 episode 'All Our Yesterdays'

and channel 5 documentary? not seen that one is it new or just a rerun?

Probably a rerun to tie in with the release of the film, but sorry I'm not completely sure. It was certainly an interesting insight into how important Solow (and the fans!) were in getting the early shows made, and how Gene's real life maybe didn't match up to his on-screen idealism. He seems to have had plenty of women in his life as well as the many personae of Majel!

Selezan your encyclopaedic knowledge is impressive, and just a little scary. And maybe just a little bit reassuring: the next time my wife says "you know way too much about Star Trek" I can answer "you think I know too, much, there's this guy on the Frontier forum...";

......and then she just gives me a look and I know that hasn't helped reduce my nerd quotient

synchromesh · May 17, 2013

And of course she was later Deanna Troy's wife in TNG

Her Mother...Her mother....Don't think troy was that way inclined

DrBaggy · May 17, 2013

synchromesh said:
Her Mother...Her mother....Don't think troy was that way inclined

Whoops! Apologies for the typo: I'll edit. Yes, from memory the bath scene with Will Riker shows her inclinations! Thanks synchromesh

Cmdr Andy B · May 17, 2013

As far as I'm aware the first gay character in Trek wasn't introduced until First Contact, but you wouldn't know it from the film. if you dont know who i wont spoil it for you but he was definatly wearing a Red shirt in that movie

DrBaggy · May 17, 2013

AndyB(EDB50) said:
As far as I'm aware the first gay character in Trek wasn't introduced until First Contact, but you wouldn't know it from the film. if you dont know who i wont spoil it for you but he was definatly wearing a Red shirt in that movie

Didn't know that AndyB. At the risk of incurring the wrath of others, First Contact was one of the best Star Trek movies IMHO. I don't know about a gay character, but it did have an alcoholic (or should that be synthaholic?*). And who was it kept saying the Borg sounded Swedish?

Red shirts had a pretty short life expectancy in the early series!

*I know, it's pre- synthahol