Some preliminary words...

Well, this second issue is pretty late, but, as you can imagine, last week was so special it required a "Star Trek Journey" special style...

In more normal weeks (like the one before), there's just not enough material to write 2,000 words on one and a half topic. More important, with 2 reviews per week to wrote and a whole website to maintain I don't have the time to review and dig deep into seven days of Trek regularly. So, after some time of redefining the intentions and themes behind "Star Trek Journey", I can now present a more stream-lined version concentrated on the issues of interest solely plus more personal aspects.

Consequently, the general review and consideration of news & rumors have been put to "The weekly flashback". The topic of the week will be regularly replaced by the "Off-topic of the week", discussing general Star Trek topics I always wanted to write about. However, as announced, you can expect some very early speculation on Voyager's (officially) still untitled series finale in this issue. Engage...

The weekly flashback

Although there hasn't been such a bomb last week than in the week before (you remember: the still discussed, questioned and again re-acknowledged Series V casting sheet), we're still deep in the mine field... New rumors have emerged concerning both series V and Voyager's finale, and, to put it mildly, the theories are becoming more and more bloodcurling...!

After the main cricism on the infamous casting sheet has been its premise, the Birth of Federation, which, if true, would make Rick Berman a lier (he said the concept hasn't reached the internet). So, comfortably, some of the rumors abandon the casting sheet and its premise, presenting an entire new and even more believable basic story for series V. I won't elaborate, since these... scenarios are so unlikely that it doesn't deserve further words, but to summarize: we have now sources confirming that series V takes place either in the 22nd, 25th, 26th or 29th century! Now isn't this ridiculous!

At least, the previous week stands out due to some official words by Rick Berman finally uncovering new facts on the three hot topics of this year - Star Trek X, Series V and the Voyager finale (read more on the latter one in the "Topic of the week" article). As usual, the information he presented is indefinite, ambigious and interpretable - just how we fans love it. Don't end speculations and discussions, heat them!

<Shock warning> So I am very afraid to say that what he said on the new TV series does not contradict with the casting sheet, but seems to support it nicely. It has been finally confirmed that the story will be set in a different time (hopefully he didn't meant "time line" - what would ultimately destroy the coherence of the Star Trek universe), and that regular cast of the series will consist of 7 characters - 5 human and 2 alien, exactly matching the casting sheet. And I won't start talking about the rumor saying that Quantum Leap lead Scott Bacula will play the role of "Captain Jackson Archer"...

On the other hand, Berman's allusions finally gave me the impression that he didn't meant the premise and structure of the series than he originally talked about a "revolutionary new, fresh 21st century Star Trek", but was  actually referring to cast & crew. In fact, his statement that the series will be closer in tone to TOS and TNG than VOY and DS9 tells me that they will actually get back to the very roots of Star Trek instead of inventing something radically new. What do TOS and TNG have in common what VOY and DS9 don't have? The episodic, mission-based open structure without a clear premise and "flow chart" for the series - just a starship exploring the universe and its possibilities, "to boldly go where no one has gone before" - not more and not less. While, as a "Trek traditionalist", I would like to see this kind of Star Trek featuring Gene's original vision again, too, I really don't think they will simply re-hash TNG or TOS (like the casting sheet does) in the end, and I'm not sure if it would be truly serve the saga.

Re-hash or not, BoF or not, in the end, I only have one wish for series V: please don't make it a present-based show of political correctness American style with a premise like "To boldly go where no male white American has gone before". Please, Rick Berman and Brannon Braga, make at least 3 out of 7 characters female (why not 4, on the other hand? It would be a even bolder approach than Voyager's cast, although I wouldn't call it "bold" anymore in our allegedly so enlightened century...), please do not present a terrible relapse to the 19th century with a "North-American/South-American/British" trio of characters. Try to be tolerant, open-minded and multi-cultural, just as the original Star Trek premise demanded it. Not that I expect that TPTB will actually read this, but I still hope there's something like telepathic inducement...

Rick Bermans comment on Star Trek X was much shorter, yet we learned that it will involve cloning. Cloning? Wasn't genetic manipulation a basic plot element of Star Trek: Insurrection, with the Son'a using medical treatments to stop aging? It's not the same topic, granted, but yet it's a related one. I don't know how they will deal with it in the movie (I only remember he said something about the "Romulans being different than in the series" earlier, perhaps this two statements belong together), so I stop speculating here.

And, in terms of Voyager's finale, Berman did not tell us anything new and only confirmed that there won't be a multi-episode arc, but at least some character and plot development towards the denouement (aka homecoming) in the final two hours...

Topic of the week

"I am Janeway of Borg. You will be assimilated." - Some speculation on THE FINALE.

After weeks of knowing virtually nothing about the series finale scheduled for May 23rd, 2001, in the last weeks the first official facts and even more *yet unconfirmed* rumors finally found were way to the web: "It will be a rip-roaring, slam-bang action adventure full of twists and turns and surprises" finale script writer Ken Biller shocked the fandom, at least those persons hoping for a finale that somehow reaches (if not exceeds) the maturity, quality and profoundness of TNG's "All Good Things".

The truth is: the last time a finale was announced in this way we got DS9's "What You Leave Behind", that has a very profound and ambiguous, even philosophical title, granted, but I can't say the same about the story (at least about that part showing the Babylon-5-style end of the Dominion war and the fantasy-soaked final confrontation between Sisko and the Pah Wraiths). But, after all, I'm not afraid at all that this will happen in Voyager's finale (well, a similiar thing, of course). Ken Biller incorporates many qualities, but he's not a writer of dull action thrillers.

On the contrary, his stories feature intelligent plots with underlying social commentaries, profound characterizations and good continuity. He's just lacking... some good science fiction ideas. I think his first season as an executive producer (as *the* executive producer, provided that Rick Berman always seemed to stay in the background, especially now that he's creating series V), in comparison with season 6, reflected his attitudes towards Star Trek and good Star Trek stories quite strikingly.

So I don't think we won't get quality or we won't get some deeper meaning in the last two hours of the series. 

Quite as much important, of course, is that the series finale will conclude the plot arcs and open threads of the series (as few as there are) as well as the premise of the series itself. To my mind, this should be the most essential aspect of every finale - going back to the roots and somehow solving the problems and issues dealt with in the pilot (which set up the premise and main themes of the series).

Let's see how former finales "accomplished this mission": The Next Generation did its job greatly back in 1994, involving all the important aspects of the pilot "Mission Farpoint", which was quite courageously given the fact that this twoparter is not quite regarded as best TNG..., but still maintaining the additional aspects, the maturity the series has gained over the years.

"What You Leave Behind", I would say, was half successful. It definitely had an underlying great topic associated with the meaningful title, that was present all the two hours, of course especially in the last fifteen minutes... it quite reminded me of a certain quote of Riker in "ST:Generations".
But after all, too less threads and questions put up in the pilot and the first four (somehow isolated) seasons were solved or answered. The episode primarilty dealt with the Dominion war, Kai Winn's fall and Dukat's revenge, all topics from the last two seasons. What about the relationship between Bajor-Cardassia, the Federation membership of Bajor, major aspects of the pilot and parts of the premise of the series? Superficiality and too much focus on action were the great deficits of "What You Leave Behind".

Now recently, we learned that the Borg will be part of the finale, as the arch-nemesis of Voyager. This is both a good and a bad thing. Bad, because this could lead to the same problems as with the DS9 finale, only paying attention to the main topics of the last 3 seasons. The Borg weren't (largely) introduced before season 4, and have appeared quite often (some say: have been over- or even misused) since then. So there is the danger that the finale will feel like a repition of the former, extremely well-written Borg two-parters. On the other hand, it is urgent that the Borg are part of the finale, not only because they have become an essential part of the series, but because they're an open thread themselves! The individualistic rebellion within the collective dealt with in the season 7 cliffhanger "Unimatrix Zero" hasn't been resolved yet, and it would be extremely unsatisfying if we wouldn't get to know the ultimate fate of the hive (especially with regard to the fact that this might very well be the last appearance of the Borg).

Enough fact repitition, up to the speculation (you all wanted to hear that part, I know, I know). The most important question: what will be the *ultimate homecoming*? I think we can be sure that It won't return to Earth using an anomaly, alien technology or even the help of a superior being, even if Janeway mentioned all these possibilities in the pilot. It would be lame and uncreative to stick to the well-known. The crew of Voyager has to come home thanks to own efforts, the crew has to "earn" her homecoming, probably even with some kind of sacrifice (keyword: cast member dies, a possibility Rick Berman's recent statement"I won't tell you who will live or die" does not deny or exclude). If we believe the rumors - those ones claiming the two-parter is titled "Endgame" (a Chess term defined in last issue) - we might see the decline of the Borg queen and her replacement by Captain Janeway, but very unlikely. To my mind, if sacrifices at all, Seven and Neelix as the "Voyager hitchhikers" are probable candidates - Neelix mainly because of what we know of the last but one episode "Destiny", and Seven because of the announced "finally tragic development".

Finally, one question remains - how will the Borg be added to the homecoming melange?  I agree with the fans who've thought over the finale that we might see: the Borg attacking the Federation for the last time, with Voyager being the only ship which can save humanity this time, given their in-depth experience with the collective. But does Voyager return to Earth because or despite of the Borg threat? It appears to be most likely that they use transwarp once more, even if this would be a not very innovative re-hash of "Dark Frontier".
And as soon as they are home - is there enough time for some final moments with the crew, most ideally featuring the reunion with their friends, family, fiancees...

Despite the lacking focus on social or moral commentary, DS9's series finale took the time for some final clips (and I think this was the most successful part of the finale), looking back, of course, not forward, given the theme of "What You Leave Behind", and I do hope that Voyager won't end with the starship reaching Earth - fade to black -, but will show the homecoming plus its consequences in a comparably personal and emotional way ...

However we predict, want or hope Voyager's journey to end, the official discussion is definitely over, and, truth to be spoken, speculations are interesting, but the producers and authors have made their final decisions.
Voyager's homecoming should been carved to stone by now, and they will start shooting this week.

There is no way back by now, only a way home.

Which way, we will know in 2 months and 3 days at the latest ...

Bits and pieces

Threads of the Week

- "What happened to Christianity II?" (General Discussion, TrekBBS) - The follow-up to the surprisingly in-depth and open-minded discussion on religion and spiritualty in Star Trek featured some interesting additional thoughts and finally also some contrasting opinions from religious Trekkers.

- "In Defense of Voyager Bashing" (General Discussion, TrekBBS) - Some message boards are infamous for supporting Voyager flaming/bashing, but - despite the title - we finally have a thread that somehow resembles a real, equal, albeit very subjective discussion of both Pro and Anti Voyager fans. A suggested reading for those who want to explore the reasons why the search for the "ultimate Star Trek series" leads to much more controversy and conflicts than the search for "Religion in Star Trek". What a strange world...

Comment of the Week

- "We want this to be not your father's Star Trek, so to speak" - 'Mr. Mysterious' Rick Berman on Series V. What does he mean? Doesn't it contradict with his "closer to TOS and TNG" statement? No one has an answer...

The next issue will already be avaiable on next Sunday, with still unpredictable news, rumors and speculations, but more changes and improvements to come.

Hope you drop in again then, live long and prosper,

Christian Rühl

Webmaster - Star Trek Dimension

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