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Craven

Cool Cadet/Ensign Trek Episodes

Over the past few weeks I've been adding to my TNG and DS9 Season Libraries and have come across some episodes I had previously never seen. Both episodes focused on non-senior staff (a departure from the Trek norm) and thus I found particularly interesting since I had just become a member of STSF.

 

First, "Valiant" (DS9 Season 6)

 

Nog and Jake are rescued from a dominion attack on their shuttle by the Defiant Class USS Valiant, with a crew consisting ENTIRELY of Cadets from the Academy's Creme De La Creme division "Red Squadron". For those of you who havent seen the episode, Every position including Captain is held by a Cadet of the Squadron average age 18ish. The ship has essentially gone rogue due to a cowboy of a captain bent on making himself a martyr in the Dominion war. Nog gets promoted to Field Lieutenant Commander and Chief Engineer.

 

Originally I thought this was totally sweet..but then I realized that Redsquadron was essentially comprised of a bunch of Total psycho's bent on going nuts and taking on the entire dominon (it was probably just the captain but still). I was left thinking that Nog should have just pistol whipped him.

 

Overall episode rating - Blah. The Rogue Squadron should be ashamed. But they do mention the USS-Republic in it, and how its still an operable training ship that never leaves the Terran system anymore! The writer went on record that he intended it to be a reference to the same Republic that Kirk served on. (it was never cannonically stated that the original republic was constitution-class, and there is some speculation that it was in fact baton-rouge class)

 

Ok now to the second one.

"Lower Decks" (TNG Season 7)

 

DANG SON, this is now one of my all time favorite episodes. The episode focuses on a group of ensigns assigned to the Enterprise-D (Including Nurse Ogawa) dealing with the stress of promotions, living up to their duties without question, and trying to impress the senior staff. This episode was directed beautifully showing the comparisons between the junior and senior staff.

 

Overall I just had a big grin while watching this episode from start to finish. It reminded me of being in an Academy at STSF!!!

 

If you've seen these episodes let me know what you think, if not, DEFINATELY See "lower decks".

 

Let me know if you catch other cool junior officer related episodes of trek.

Edited by Craven

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"The First Duty" was pretty good. That's the one where we see Wesley and the rest of the elite Nova Squadron fligbt team try to cover up the death of a cadet during an unauthorized stunt. The group leader is the same actor who later went on to play Tom Parris and one of the characters from "Lower Decks" is also there. Sure it was another Wesley episode but for a Wesley episode it wasn't bad.

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Both episodes focused on non-senior staff (a departure from the Trek norm) and thus I found particularly interesting since I had just become a member of STSF.

Another good episode regarding non-senior staff would be "A Good Shepard" Voyager, Season 6. It entails a story of crewmembers who are not considered "Starfleet" material anymore, so, Janeway takes them on an away mission that goes astray in hopes that she can get them back up to par.

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Another good episode regarding non-senior staff would be "A Good Shepard" Voyager, Season 6. It entails a story of crewmembers who are not considered "Starfleet" material anymore, so, Janeway takes them on an away mission that goes astray in hopes that she can get them back up to par.

I liked that episode too!

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One of the great things about "Lower Decks" I thought was how different it was with the junior staff, having to perform their duties without being able to be told all of what was going on. We're used to being in the briefing room when the senior staff is called in and this time we have to sit out and focus on the junior people, until one of them gets to go to the briefing room.

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"Lower Decks" is one of my all time favorites; wonderful "non command" focuses there.

 

I'll throw out this ep - Voyagers "Learning Curve" where Tuvok runs some former Maquis through the paces. Good episode also, IMO, focusing on non-command and technically, non-Starfleet.

Edited by Kansas_Jones

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Yeah I just watched "Learning Curve" tonight and have to agree with Kansas, its killer.

 

My favorite part: When chakotay SOCKS Crewman Dalby in the chin

 

"Wanna do things the Maquis way? *SLUG* Thats the Maquis way isn't it?"

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I've always rather enjoyed the TNG episode, "Coming of Age". I would think it could technically be a cadet/ensign-type episode. :P

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Yeah I just watched "Learning Curve" tonight and have to agree with Kansas, its killer.

 

My favorite part: When chakotay SOCKS Crewman Dalby in the chin

 

"Wanna do things the Maquis way? *SLUG* Thats the Maquis way isn't it?"

::sighs::....unfortunately that syntax must be used at times to clarify the true underlying meaning and description of communication,or interperation ... :P :lol:

 

Hmmm.we may be related... ;)

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Yeah I just watched "Learning Curve" tonight and have to agree with Kansas, its killer.

 

My favorite part: When chakotay SOCKS Crewman Dalby in the chin

 

"Wanna do things the Maquis way? *SLUG* Thats the Maquis way isn't it?"

That was probably the only moment during Voyager's entire run when I found Chakotay cool. The episode is one of the blessed few that saves the series from being a complete waste.

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Got another one, and it may be the first episode in Trek to explore the junior officer angle - The Original Series' "Obsession".

 

Ensign Garrovick was said junior officer in this episode, and he did have a good bit a screen time opposite Kirk, Spock, and Nurse Chapel. This episode doesn't explore the junior officer bit in the detail that TNG, DS9 or VOY did, but it was the start of the junior officer focus eps I believe (IMO).

 

And, how about Star Trek 2? The movie starts off with cadets in the Kobayashi Maru simulation program, and later the training ship Enterprise is called to active duty WITH all those cadets still on board. The focus is of course all on the original cast, but there were plenty of junior officer cadets popping up in that episode wether it was in the background, getting killed, and in Saaviks case getting in some bridge time and interaction with the head honcho cast members.

Edited by Kansas_Jones

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I loved Lower Decks and thought how interesting it would be if we could have continuing storylines on those characters. I especially liked their perceptions of the senior officers ("I bet Riker sleeps in his uniform").

 

I still think an entire series that starts with a group of cadets in their first year at SFA and follows them through the four years and beyond to their starship postings (if the series lasts that long, which it should) could be really creative and fun. You know, Ensign Joe would be on the USS Whatever, Ensign Jane would be part of a Vulcan officer exchange program, Ensign Rita has to repeat her senior year, Ensigns Ralph and George would be captured by hostile aliens and taken far far away, and so on. Weekly episodes could focus on one cadet's ship, or multiple ships, interweaving in delightfully complex arcs... instead of every single episode starting with a space shot of the title ship flying around yet another class M planet with ten minutes airtime for each major character... Not that I don't like the previous series! I just think it would add a new degree of creativity and complexity to keep Trek alive in today's TV market.

 

Personally, I love playing low-ranking officers in the forum. If I could, I'd play non-ranking officers - you know the cleaning staff or whatever. They're real people with unique perspectives.

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If I could, I'd play non-ranking officers - you know the cleaning staff or whatever.

I'm certain that Admiral Bethany would be more than happy to have that arranged, Sir. :P

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In that case Huff grab a grinder and meet me at Red Star next week, you can be my assistant! MWAHAHAHAHA!!!!

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I loved Lower Decks and thought how interesting it would be if we could have continuing storylines on those characters. 

 

Weekly episodes could focus on one cadet's ship, or multiple ships, interweaving in delightfully complex arcs

I never thought of that! I've thought of revolving crews, say one week a Fleet crew, next week a Klingon crew...but never a series that flip flops back and forth between cadets or junior officers and wherever their assignments take them. That may work, provided it isn't Treks version of 90210.

 

That is a unique idea, and if the project is given the right attention, it could work. It reminds me of those westerns from the 50's and 60's - as an example, "Maverick", starring James Garner. One week Bret Maverick (Garner) would be featured, next week his brother. Occasionally they would appear together. Why not use that formula for Trek...I mean, in todays market instead of alternating characters, spin off series are done instead (Star Trek, off course, the rampant "CSI", and how many "Law and Order" spins are there?)

 

Now, here's something else: would anyone hate / love / gray area a series focusing on Section 31 operatives and missions, and would that fly as a series?

Edited by Kansas_Jones

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That may work, provided it isn't Treks version of 90210.

You were saying? Heh heh couldn't resist

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Actually, those are my favorite kinds of log writings. I have written several logs about Ensign so-n-so going on about his or her normal StarTrek life, doing mundain tasks as the goings on of the main characters (ours on our starship SIMs) carry on around them. Then, I can write their observations. Or, if we happened to visit a planet with a new civilization, Ill write about a family living on the planet meeting up or hearing about this strange landing party in red, yellow, and blue pajamas. I also gives me a break from my characters progression and a chance to pretend to be someone else's-someone else for a change. =0]

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Actually, those are my favorite kinds of log writings.

Mine too. And not just from random Ensign So-and-Such, but from the main characters as well.

 

I would love to see more 'ordinary day' sorts of logs, and more off-duty logs that aren't major shoreleave logs, but just the regular character winding down at the end of a regular day. I think it adds a richness and complexity to the character, when we can see them just being themself, not under massive amounts of stress.

 

Of course, I suppose I have to take a fair bit of blame for the lack of such logs, at least where Agincourt is concerned, since I help write the missions, and ten minutes of between-time while we're all at battle stations is not conducive to regular day logs. Hmm.... ::plans in some time-padding between missions...::

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::decides to just go along with the notion that he made it::

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