#love you @trekcore

[slippery-domjot-balls]

DS9 S4 E11 Homefront & E12 Paradise Lost, slippery thoughts

Wow....let me catch my breath. That was a wild and tense ride. Nice scenery too. Obviously these are just my opinions, but I wanted to share them because Star Trek makes me happy and passionate. I want you to be happy and passionate too!

Given the intensity of these two episodes I completely forgot it started off with Jadzia pulling off the most specific pranks on Odo.

Jadzia: I sneak into my coworker's private quarters and move his furniture by 3 cm every couple of days.

Quark: That's weird. They would not even notice that change.

Jadzia: Oh, no no no. He sees it every time and it drives him insane.

Audience: Oh you silly worm!

And I loved that we got to see these two besties playing pretend. We need more Miles and Julian aviation adventures. Super cute pals.

R.I.P. Clive

Playtime is over now because the changelings have basically infiltrated Earth and are ruining everything all the time and it isn't fun anymore....or are they? They are, but are they? Possibly. Probably. Perhaps.

To me this kind of episode is the pinnacle of what Star Trek writing has always been about. We see a complex evaluation of choices in conflict. It is not about an obvious "right" or "wrong", but one decision versus another. This is a battle between perspective and reason. All sides contain some merit. This episode also shows good intentions taken too far and taken beyond the ethical reasoning that initially inspired the action.

If this episode were to have a villain it would be fear and paranoia itself and not any particular character.

Vice Admiral Leyton was an amazing character. It was brilliant to establish that he had a close professional history with Sisko early in the episode because it immediately made me trust him. You sneaky writers!! But that was the whole point. The story that was unfolding to the audience purposefully made us feel betrayed with Sisko. We co-experienced in real time the feeling seeing a close friend commit treason.

Enter the most powerful man on Earth. He can move the most stubborn hearts, calm the most irrational mind, and fill up the most starved stomach. Replicated foods beware of Grandpa Sisko. I see where Jake gets his style too! It was so believable that these three were family. You could see how cadences, mannerism, and behaviors in Granddad Sisko were passed to Ben and then passed down to Jake, but in their own naturally developing ways in each generation.

*Spoiler Alert* Grandpa Sisko also saves the day.

Just when I thought this episode had all the ingredients for perfection Nog the keeper of all things pure and innocent shows up. Look at that smug Ferengi. He knows that he is the best thing at the Academy and so do we.

A great thing about these two episodes is that every character acts as an essential part of the story. Nog will lead Ben on the chase with his talk of the Red Squad. A+ Nog!

This ain't your normal seagull. This one loves Bajoran women.

Around this point we have all the main details of the episode. Admiral Leyton and Captain Sisko are working together to protect Earth from a suspected Dominion infiltration and invasion. The President of the Federation is against the proposed worldwide security changes but reluctantly allows their implementation.

With security personnel, blood tests of all crucial Starfleet staff and family members, and martial law practically in effect everywhere we are ready to repel any Dominion attacks. After all, the wormhole was winking at DS9 a lot so perhaps a cloaked invasion fleet is on Earth's doorstep.

HERE WE GO! Papa Sisko challenges Daddy Sisko's paranoia. Ben is seeing changelings in his sleep and not the Odo kind either.

So we start to see the episode present one of it's many challenges:

How far should we trade individual autonomy for protection?

And THIS is why I love Star Trek. Grandfather Sisko is absolutely correct!! And yet, Ben Sisko is also correct. Both want to protect what they love, life ad they know and perceive it.

We search for the highest good in each situation. Ben wants to secure and save everything he loves on Earth. He wants to protect his family, his home, and everything therein. Grandpa Sisko wants the EXACT same thing. The methods to achieve their shared goal is in conflict.

DS9 writers have a candy bar on me. Well done!!! (engage smooching sounds)

This very moment is crucial for Ben. His paranoia is pushing him toward the type of dictatorial control that Admiral Leyton is calling for, but Ben has found that not only is something odd happening in the background but this entire movement smell stinky.

Nog is such a good cadet. I love him with all my little heart. He provided critical information about Starfleet Academy's unofficial super special secret mean girls club Red Squad. This little snack of information sets Ben Sisko on the trail of breadcrumbs leading to the smorgasbord of treason committed by Leyton.

Smug Shapeshifting O'Brien is a gift. Enjoy every second of this hilarious goop boy. Colm really did a great job. We do see that there is a Dominion changeling on earth (saw it earlier in Homefront as well). We understand how real the threat of their activity can be. We especially see how terrifying a changeling can be when Dominion version O'Brien has a little chat with Ben. It might only take one hostile changeling to completely destabilize an entire world.

I do wish we figured out how the fake changeling blood was created to trap Sisko. Clever girl, Admiral.

I felt bad for Leyton. He is someone caught in a difficult position of authority and personal fears. His own paranoia drove him to the utmost extreme. I imagined that maybe he has a cute little family with a kid back home. I imagined what it might be like in his shoes. It would be hard to live thinking that your lack of effort led to the death of your child or friend or family member or significant other. It would be hard to go to bed knowing that the person you once shared it with prematurely died because of that you thought you failed to do. Even in much of the two episodes his facial expressions show a man full of internal strife and conflict. It is as if he kept questioning his actions as he made them.

What if his fear of failing his community drove him to radical dictatorship? He wanted to keep all that he loved safe, but he betrayed everyone he loved. He demanded that all his loyal friends trust him. Trust is a two way exchange though. He abandoned trusting his friends and confidants. That was the beginning of his downfall.

Leyton wanted to protect society at the cost of society itself. He could not see beyond his fear of losing society to war and enemies abroad to the point of blindness. He became an enemy of all he cherished, and I honestly think that he knew that too. He was just so scared that he desperately dug in to the one aspect of his life that he thought he could control, which is so relatable. We all can act irrationally under stress and pressure. This is not justification or approval. This is accepting that life may not have as many villains in it as we are told to believe. People are just trying to be people, meet their obligations and responsibilities while preserving what little bit of life exists to enjoy.

We are all prone to brash behaviors in order to protect what we love, but sometimes it is healthy to set down the admiralty bars and accept that you can't do it all, especially alone.

Remember that everyone in this episode wanted the same thing. Leyton wanted to protect life. Sisko wanted to protect life. Grandpa Sisko wanted to protect life. Everyone held the same belief and motivation.

I appreciated how solemnly Leyton gave in and how respectfully he surrendered. It actually felt less like defeat and more like he was relieved of a burden that he was too overwhelmed to carry alone. He didn't need to carry it alone but chose to go alone. In a symbolic way by removing the admiral bars he set down his fear and moved on.

The amount of time taken for these shots impressed upon me the symbolic significance of it. Sisko also lets go and moves on with Leyton. By setting the phaser down he too lets go and agrees it is time to move forward from this conflict. He is still betrayed and disappointed, but he is not stuck or trapped in the past. He sets down his weapon and joins Leyton in facing a reality outside the oppression of their own paranoia.

I loved that Paradise Lost ends with the restaurant opening up again. It is the resolution these episodes needed. It was closure showing that being open to others and not letting the world cloud you of the humanity in others is fundamental to life.

Despite the many differences in all these characters, regardless of where they were in the progress of their own lives, no matter the goal or intention, we all essentially desire the same things.

Star Trek is the future I hope for!

If you made it to the end of this post and are reading this then 10,000 sweet kisses to your forehead. If you didn't make it then I am still giving your forehead tender kisses, you are just not aware of it.

[holodecks-and-hennins]

TNG Original Costume Tests: Deanna Troi

I don’t have the actual documentary, just the Trekcore caps, so forgive me if I miss anything, and feel free to add on if you have more info!

Deanna had some great cut hairstyles, as well as some different contacts! Let’s dive in!

I really like this style! I love the little curls around the face. Also, I’m fascinated by that hair clip thing— it’s kinda unclear what it’s made of. If anyone has any info, pipe up! Her lipstick seems to get progressively darker over the first two seasons; it’s pretty close to this in Farpoint, but by Naked Now it’s already darker to go with her blue jumpsuit, and it changes again to even darker when the burgundy jumpsuit arrives in the second season. Contrariwise, her blue eyeshadow is a lot more prominent here than even in Farpoint. Channeling Spock and matching her department colour, I suppose.

I think I like the side view a lot more than the front view— that sparkly accent kind of gets lost in the hair in this view. The curls are still cute though! It’s also clearer in this picture the options for the Betazoid eyes. I didn’t notice it until someone pointed it out on Lon Suder, and now I can’t unsee it: Betazoids tend to have very large, very dark irises. Marina Sirtis’s actual eyes are a lot lighter than either option here.

The next hair option is this sleek bun. I think the decorations here are really pretty from the side, and again, less so from the front. I love the naturalistic design of those gold leafy patterns!

It looks a bit awkward from the front because of where the ends of the hair ornament fall. I think it might be nice if the top ones came over the front a bit more; I think the design would be clearer from all angles that way.

It looks like there’s a cool twisted or braided aspect to the bun, which I wish was easier to see! The side view also shows how far back the eyeshadow goes on this style. I think it looks pretty nice! It's a little closer to the style she gets later in the season, though more pulled back.

And this test is basically what made it on screen at Farpoint. This isn’t my favourite Troi hairstyle; the sparkly braided headband is cute, but maybe a little chunky and I think it has too many colours. I prefer the more defined loose curls she gets later to the loose frizz here. 

Including this last picture mainly for the smile! Though you can also see how the eyeshadow was toned down from the other tests.

[regionalpancake]

Top 5 star trek behind the scenes photos?

I think I’ll have to make this ‘Top 5 star trek behind the scenes photos… from Picard season 1’ (because otherwise I’ll be here for hours trying to choose 😂 and also because PIC S1 is my happy place 💕

LOOK at this! I imagine this is Elnor looking at Hugh:

This photo that has been the desktop image on my laptop for over 3 years:

This one I love so much it’s on my fridge:

Here’s James MacKinnon (head of makeup and prosthetics for PIC) working on Del Arco’s make up for Hugh. MacKinnon got a cameo as a Borg in S1 (hence he’s in prosthetics too) they called him Mac-Borg! He also worked on TNG and DS9, I love that he has that kind of history with the show ✨

Another Synthville group shot. Look at this motley crew! (Minus Seven, plus Narek… I should photoshop this thing someday 🧐)

And because 5 was too hard, have a bonus image:

This one kinda hurts. It feels like everything I loved about Picard S1- the Borg/xB’s, the Romulans, the ethics and politics of synthetic life, the well-lit sound stage (I’m looking at you, season 3). I’m starting to get back to the point where I can enjoy S1 and S1 fanworks without being so desperately sad about what the show did the characters that I fell in love with. Here’s hoping that healing continues 🍀

EDIT: I forgot to add, all photos from TrekCore (my beloved)

[snek-of-eden]

hey cool kid!

Always love seeing your art (because WOWEE) and I can always rely on your blog for something beautiful or goofy silly or both to make me smile :D

as a token of my appreciation please have Riker doing the classic Kirk shocked face (in the form of trekcore links because it isn't letting me add images: 1 and 2)

(btw the profile picture choice is PEAK)

awh hey!! thank you so much, you’re too kind<33

Always happy to bring some goofy and silly to the party, it’s my shtick. I’m also an expert in whimsy and shenanigans! :3

In exchange for your shocked Riker faces (which i absolutely love, i think i drew that exact shot once heh) here is Spock and Jim peeking out from behind trees:

[hvezdnastreka]

HEY your header pic is so cool!! Where is it from?

Hi!! I totally forgot so this took a while but!

I got it from this Tumblr post which got it from trekcore! There are some HD screen caps there and this one specifically is from "The homecoming" S2E1!

[elephant-in-the-pride-parade]

🎼🍻🎨📚🥺 (for the ask thing :)

Ohohohooo so many 🤩🤩🤩

🎼Song/Music you associate with Star Trek

Since you have treated me to lots of emojis I shall treat you to lots of songs. I put together a lottt of playlists for fics. This one, from Universe to Mend has songs I vibed with for Q, and various Janeways. This one was for Edens Deception with lots of songs (lyrics and non lyrics) I was vibing with for Janeway and Chakotay angst fest. This one - an Unbroken playlist. But most of it I realize now falls into the "getting into Lon Suder's head" category of songs. With a few for the other characters too if you can guess who applies to each ;).

🍻Quarks or Ten Forward

While I think Quark would be extremely entertaining, especially if Odo was around, I could never pass up the opportunity to hang out with Guinan.

🎨ST Fanart

I said Alice and Baylie have done most of them and so now you've asked again I want to gush about the piece I got commissioned from @maliciousalice.

I've definitely posted before about parallels between Kathryn Janeway and Sailor Moon and their themes (The Guilt, the Commitment to ideals in the face of devastating odds, the time travel. The damsel in distress pilled prince/first officer. The self sacrificial instincts. The overcoming fear, death, and time vibes. And so I asked for the main pair from Sailor Moon in the Voyager uniforms, and oh my goodness Alice went above and beyond. the Brooch/Combadge details. The broken pocket watch parallel. The cute posing. Gaahhhhh I am in love.

📚ST Fic

Two series really stand out to me for the time and dedication that the authors involved put into them. Talking Stick/Circle by Peg and Little Otter (Macedon) and Voyager Virtual Season 7.5.

🥺Favorite Behind the Scenes Picture

It's actually a moment in the episode but I adore the BtS explanation for it.

During Waking Moments

"Tim Russ (for the filming of the scene wherein Tuvok seemingly finds himself naked on the bridge) had the makeup department mold a ridiculously large physical appendage that the actor wore on to the set, where – upon Russ removing his dressing gown to reveal that he was wearing the molded attribute instead of underwear – the entirety of the cast and crew broke out laughing." - Trekcore

[weerd1]

ENT Rewatch Starlog, 13 April, 2024: Episode 3.18 “Azati Prime”

The NX-01 enters the Azati Prime system as the Xindi celebrate the completion of the weapon. Scans show that the ship will be instantly detected if they enter a security grid; they hide behind a small moon on the outskirts of the system.

Tucker and Mayweather use the captured Insectoid shuttle to fly in and find that in fact the weapon IS on the planet, under an ocean. Meanwhile, Enterprise destroys a lunar base that has detected them, knowing that it will miss a scheduled check in sometime in the next four hours. 

With the information Tucker and Mayweather gathered, Archer decides to take the Insectoid ship full of explosions in a suicide mission and destroy the weapon. He finds himself suddenly with the time-traveling Daniels some 400 years in the future where the Federation starship NCC-1701-J, Enterprise, is leading a flotilla against the Sphere Builders. It is this battle that has caused the Builders to reach into the past and influence the Xindi. Daniels tells Archer he must make peace with the Xindi instead of destroying the weapon. Archer resists, but Daniels still gives him a medal belonging to a Xindi member of the Enterprise-J’s crew to convince the Xindi in case Archer changes his mind.

As Archer goes forward with the suicide mission, T’Pol becomes visibly upset and she continues to become more agitated in his absence though Tucker tries to get her to understand she’s now the Captain. Meanwhile, Archer arrives to find the giant weapon is already gone. He is captured and interrogated by the Reptiles who tell him they are on their way to destroy Enterprise. He gets them to get the primate Degra to talk to him and Archer begins to relate the whole story, including how the Reptiles have been colluding behind the Xindi council’s back with the Sphere Builders to take actions like time traveling to Detroit in the past. 

Degra and his friends are about to take Archer to the council when the Reptilians kick them out to torture Archer further and tell him Enterprise is about to be destroyed. Indeed, the Xindi have attacked (despite the Reptilians telling the Primates and Arboreals they wouldn’t) and the Enterprise is on her last legs, severely damages and continuing to take a beating. 

A LOT going on in this episode, and one of the better paced episodes of the season. The fracturing of the Xindi collective is interesting here as the humanoids begin to see that they are perhaps not aware of the whole story. Archer, who earlier in the episode orders the destruction of the lunar station with three XIndi in it, and plans to kill more, is suddenly confronted with Daniels telling him peace is what will save them all. It’s the Archer we’ve seen progressively become more aggressive suddenly get his ideals thrown back at him, and it’s well played by Bakula. 

Conversely, we’re getting the more irrational T’Pol here with the wedged in addiction to Trillium making it’s first real appearance. To me, just not a storyline this season, or this character, needed. 

A truly lovely design is revealed for the Enterprise J, and one I hope will somehow get a nod in Discovery before it ends, looking back at Federation history. Also, I remember thinking how it made no sense that there were Dauntless class vessels in the future, since it was a made up starship to trap the Voyager crew, but Prodigy has tied up that lose end very nicely. (And if you have not watched Prodigy, let me again PLEAD with you to do so.  Yeah, it aims young, but the story plays out to be an all-ages tale and VERY worthy of Star Trek.

NEXT VOYAGE: A crippled NX-01 and a compromised T’Pol both have to deal with “Damage.”

(Images taken from the main website for @trekcore; I am happy to remove the images if asked.)

[torchwoodsoho]

trekcore is actually the greatest website of all time

[dilftrek]

harry kim in prime factors (1x10) via trekcore

[ectogeo-rebubbles]

Yeah <3

[Image ID: A screencap of Garak from “Rocks and Shoals” that is absolutely not the one that OP was referring to.]

garak enthusiasts getting so much mileage out of that one screencap of him from "rocks and shoals"

[slippery-domjot-balls]

Me when people are mean online

[holodecks-and-hennins]

TNG Original Costume Tests: Geordi La Forge

I don’t have the actual documentary, just the Trekcore caps, so forgive me if I miss anything, and feel free to add on if you have more info!

The VISOR here looks a lot more like a plain old visor to me, what with the smoothness and shininess. Though it still looks rather futuristic. Maybe I’m just attached to the VISOR the way it ended up! Interesting that it still has the silver frame and gold middle color scheme! It just doesn’t have the tines.

Straight-up ICONIC look right here. Not only does the VISOR look fantastic, the whole outfit combo is just so happy. I usually don’t love the colour yellow. This is a major exception. LeVar Burton made a fantastic choice of clothes and I’m so glad it’s enshrined for posterity. I have an irrational love for this look. I think about it all the time. (Also: this is the source of a fantastic gif by @star-trekster)

Nice close up on the two different colours for the ocular implants of his VISOR! They ended up going with the red one, but the multicoloured one also looks cool! It looks more like Data’s inner workings.

There are also a few tests that are obviously not on LeVar Burton (I don't know who this actor is, but I think they also screen tested some general crew uniforms), but are still interesting. This one has a black frame and some sort of sparkly thing going on. To me, the middle looks weirdly recessed to me, because it doesn’t have the tines filling it in.

The on screen visor designs tend to have the tines more significantly overlapped (season 1, they’re almost all the way across, and in later seasons they’re connected to both the top and bottom of the frame), so the half overlapping tines combined (com-tined?) the slightly taller frame make it look a lot larger. However, it doesn’t reach all the way to the ears like the on screen version does.

[1shirt2shirtredshirtdeadshirt]

Kirk & Spock: Thicker Than Blood

Folks can say what they want about Star Trek V: The Final Frontier, but this moment where the gauntlet gets thrown down and Spock is forced to choose between his brother and Kirk? It keeps me fed for a lifetime:

Spock: I cannot go with you.

Sybok: Why not?

Spock: I belong here.

Sybok: I . . . don't understand . . .

Spock: Sybok . . . You are my brother, but you do not know me. I am not the outcast boy you left behind those many years ago.

Since that time, I have found myself; and my place. I know who I am. I cannot go with you.

Shout out to Jim’s extremely smug, smarmy, self-satisfied expression after Spock tells Sybok “I cannot go with you”.

Spock stands firmly by Jim's side without question, essentially choosing James T. Kirk over his own blood brother. And Jim's face is just:

Jim: Yeah you heard right. He loves meeeeee (you can't step to this but cute try, bless your heart.)

Sybok: Oh it be like that, huh? *Excited his little brother has actually learned to make peace with and love himself, knowing he is genuinely embraced for who he is by people that love him*

I digress. it makes me absolutely feral that Kirk and Spock repeatedly choose each other without hesitation over their blood family.

How they were closer to each other than they ever were their biological brothers, or “anyone in the universe.”

It kind of cuts to the core of me in the most beautiful way every single time I see their loyalty for each other tested, yet they never waver. 

They've always got each other's backs unfalteringly. After TMP they don't care what anyone else thinks about them, they just love each other without question or fear. Unequivocal devotion in a heartbeat. Ugh, it's precious. Space husband loyalty on fleek.

Bonus: Sam Kirk out here to Sybok like: Get used to it, bro. Get in line.

I HATE THIS what is wrong with me? So cursed. How very dare. Much wtf.

Photo credits: My own screencaps, TrekCore

[thethirdromana]

Kira's hairstyles throughout Deep Space Nine, rated

All screengrabs from Trekcore, all opinions from me.

As seen in season 1, episode 1: The Emissary.

A poor start with what I think might be the worst haircut on the list? Nana Visitor is all of 36 years old in this photo and she has the haircut of a granny. It also makes her face look very square, which it is not. 0/10.

As seen in season 2, episode 2: The Circle.

This is the first of the definitive Kira hairstyles and it definitely gets points for that, and many more for its butch energy. This is practical, this is kickass, this is a woman who can fight off a Cardassian invasion then put up some shelves without breaking a sweat. 7/10.

Also as seen in season 2, episode 2: The Circle.

I know this is basic of me but I really love the pixie cut. And I love the way that Kira is relaxing in a monastery at this point, in beautiful surroundings, and her whole look from her hair to her clothes has softened in response. 10/10.

As seen in season 2, episode 8: Necessary Evil.

I'm so conflicted about this one. On the one hand, I really like how it's been styled, especially in comparison to Dax's version of the same hairstyle, which looks uncomfortably stiff. On the other hand, Kira with long hair just doesn't seem right. 5/10.

As seen in season 3, episode 15: Destiny.

Another definitive Kira hairstyle, and probably the one that's most overtly masculine; this is a classic 1950s man's hairstyle, though somehow the overall effect is more femme than the brushed-back version. Mostly this is a hairstyle that doesn't take attention away from her face. 8/10.

As seen in season 4, episode 4: Indiscretion.

I'm not sure this is Kira's most flattering haircut, but I like the way that as she gradually becomes less angry and abrasive, and I suppose starts to work through some of her trauma from the Occupation, her hairstyles also become softer to match. 7/10 for character development.

As seen in season 7, episode 4: Take Me Out to the Holosuite.

This is my FAVOURITE of the longer-term Kira haircuts. Not just because it's pretty, but because the asymmetrical shape means that the whole effect is to draw your attention to her Bajoran earring. Her confidence and her pride shine through. 9/10.

As seen in season 7, episode 25: What You Leave Behind.

A serious hairstyle for a serious time. We've lost the fun full asymmetry of season 6 and early season 7 (which were also quite serious times, but never mind that). This is a surprisingly shapeless hairstyle for Kira. 4/10.

Because I was sad to end on a disappointing hairstyle, here's a bonus Nana Visitor:

This is the very cool hairstyle Kira went for post-canon, and you can't persuade me otherwise.

[calliecat93]

Me, watching Star Trek for the first time months ago: Oh wow, Kirk and Spock are so great and I love them! McCoy…. he has some funny moments but he’s also kind of a jerk so I don’t know…

/watches This Side of Paradise, gets to the scene where creepy-happy-spores-induced!McCoy is told he can’t be a doctor anymore/

McCoy: Would you like to see how fast I can put you in a hospital?

Me: …McCoy is my favorite character now.

(Image Credit: TrekCore)

[mappinglasirena]

Do you know any blogs on Tumblr or elsewhere that are about the set designs in the Picard show for both the ships and the buildings/locations? Love your blog btw.

Hi anon! Thanks for the compliment, I'm really glad you enjoy my sporadic posts :D

As to your question, I don't know anything that's specifically about Picard, sadly.

There are of course the usual places to go for Trek resources of all kinds, like Ex Astris Scientia, TrekCore, the TrekBBS forums (if you don't mind somewhat contentious discussions on occasion), probably a bunch of reddit communities...

I know the person running this thread on TrekBBS has some behind the scenes images of of Vashti and Bjayzl's club in their repository ( @startreksetplans, is that you? :D )

But I couldn’t tell you if there are any more specifically dedicated spaces, I’m sorry.

I'll pop over to twitter tomorrow and ask Jörg Hillebrand, the Knower Of All Things Trek In Mesmerizing Detail, if he has any recommendations, and will report back. In the meantime, maybe someone following this blog has any ideas or knows of a dedicated resource/repository/blog/whatever?