So, answering the question I pose at the end of this video, who do YOU think is the "avatar" of each Star Trek series? I'll go first: TOS - Spock TNG - Data DS9 - Sisko VOY - B'Elanna? ENT - Archer DIS - Michael PIC - Picard SNW - Pike PRO - Can't watch it, sorry
@@OrangeRiver Prodigy's avatar, in my opinion would have to be Rok-Tahk. She's a big and scary-looking rock alien, but she's actually a young girl who's shy but loves animals and is smarter than people tend to give her credit for, and she wants to be a science officer.
The best part of (the phenomenal) "Something Borrowed, Something Green" is how they hang a giant, in-universe lampshade over how Tendi is _literally irresistible_ without even needing "the 'mones." This is the Ensign that made Dr. T'Ana _purr!_ I don't even think Shaxs has gotten that much affection from Trek's gruffest doctor!
I think that another reason why Tendi and Rutherford are such appealing characters is that they just seem genuinely excited to live in the Star Trek universe. This is true even given that their backstories are far, far darker than Boimler's or Mariner's. It's a rare thing when the characters in the franchise just take the time to be awestruck about the things going on around them.
I completely agree. When Boimler flipped out when running the Starfleet booth at the job(?) fair he gave voice to something that often gets lost in the writing and analysis of Trek. Starfleet officers pretty much just want to go out there and conduct science! They want to explore and learn, but they're often forced into other roles along they way. Tendi and Rutherford wear that wonder and wanderlust on their sleeves.
I am fascinated by how they managed to make what’s essentially a cartoon parody of Star Trek but at the same time actually *feels* like a Star Trek show, not just a parody. It’s a fine line to walk and they do it superbly.
There were some weaker episodes in the series but there were some great episodes that just seemed to embody Trek. As silly as some stuff is, the heroism feels real too.
@@OrangeRiver It might seem silly to some people, but one of my favourite meta commentaries was them revisiting the drug addicted planet from the TNG episode Symbiosis. They explained that Picard forced them to go Cold Turkey then just left. This recklessness horrifies Captain Freeman. It funny thinking that Picard ACTUALLY did that!
@@LukeLane1984 But at least it's usually at least interesting stuff.... unless he goes off on another rant about the issues he's having with his mom, those do get kind of tedious pretty quick.
Nog is 100% the Star Trek avatar of DS9. He is the most optimistic character in that show and embodies so many of starfleet’s ideals. He even reflects the more conflicting parts of what it takes to maintain a utopia, as you put it.
Tendi was my favorite, but now T'lin has entered the scene and I love her character even since her debut episode. Pairing Tendi with T'lin was the best thing that could happen in Lower Decks, my two favorite characters from the show together.
OrangeRiver asked: "Without hope, what do we got?" Doesn't he know? "I've got faith! Faith of the heart! I'm going where my heart will take me... I've got faith to believe I can do anything!
For DS9, I'd call the avatar Odo. He navigates a world foreign to him, always searching to find who he is while firmly confident in his own morality. This is much like the show, navigating an edge of utopia always on the brink of collapse as the local people endeavor to build themselves under the watch of Star Fleet. This is a sci-fi western at heart, and while Sisko is the flashy centerpiece of the show, everyone knows a Western revolves around the sheriff, who is the quiet Odo. We see different aspects of the world portrayed by the other characters, but it's Odo who ends up tying them all together in the end in a very quiet way.
I have to 100% agree. Regardless of the direction that Lower Decks goes, Tendi is as of right now, being added to the list of S-tier characters with the like of Spock, Doc Mccoy, Data, Q, Quark, and Garak. She just has that natural charismatic charm and nuance to her character design that really defines all the characters around them by contrast, totally owns exactly who she is, including her challenges, in every scene. Enjoyable to watch in any context, no bad episodes and not even any bad scenes frankly. 10/10 I hope they dont completely fuck her in the next seasons, they probably will because they're semi-competent at best, but here's hoping.
Being under Dr. T'ana's tutelage has tempered Tendi's naive optimism to be more assertive as last season's final episode showed. Despite being in a race against the Texas class ship, she made the call to double check for lifesigns on a planet where she would have hesitated before. Dr. Tiana praised her that the tough decision was the right call, which is important for a doctor to do.
@ 0:45 Lower decks is arguably the most committed to carrying own Star Trek optimistic vision" and that's why it's the only trek other than strange new worlds that I watch from this generation.
I agree that Lower Decks is probably the best Star Trek that has come out in decades (maybe ever honestly) when it comes to how the utopian nature of the future impacts characterization. I've been consistently impressed by how focused the show seems to be on considering how people would interact and behave in a world without all of our weird modern day stressors and social hangups. I saw an interview recently with one of the writers where they talked about how that is actually a major thing they discuss in the writing room. The example he talked about was in the death of clone Boimler episode, when Nik Nak tells Boimler he's in love with him. They said that initially they planned to have Boimler get all awkward and embarrassed by the interaction but, to use his words, "...Then we thought this would work for a conventional comedy but this is Star Trek and no one in the future is going to care if you're dating a Nak so Boimler would just brush it off and say something like 'love you too buddy' and get on with his day." and the way they ended up doing it, with it playing out just like that and Mariner going "There's our romance!" was way funnier than the tired old embarrassment trope would have been. My favorite Tendi moment is also sort of like this, when Rutherford loses his memory and, despite the developing friendship and romantic tension they've been building the whole series, Tendi's response is "Now we get to become friends all over again!" happy to get to know Rutherford again, rather than being attached to what they had and, once again, subverting the common tropes this sort of story beat generally uses in the most Star Trek way possible. That's something pretty unique in my mind. Using the disconnect between our world and the Star Trek world as a source for comedic subversion of expectations is something really interesting, where humor is mined from hope rather than cynicism, while still calling attention to the ways we need to improve things in the real world in a way that isn't watered down. Anyway...long winded way of saying I love Lower Decks and Tendi is awesome.
Wow!Congratulations to the ORANGE RIVER TEAM for warping past 50 thousand subscribers.Its well deserved as we all know Tyler knows his stuff and he delivers it with a journalistic integrity that no other channel can equal.Its great more people are discovering this channel and telling other sci-fi fans of it and won't be long until the hundred thousand mark is passed and ORANGE RIVER gets the numbers it truly has earned!
I think I really needed this video, it puts my thoughts about Star Trek (and my unending love for it) into a pretty little bow. Things seem really fucking bleak right now, and my optimism is honestly reaching it's limits. But fuck me, you're right. Without hope, what else *do* we have?
Definitely Sisko for DS9. He showcases the ongoing struggle within ourself, even when we reached an utopia. We still hve to deal with our inner daemons, baser emotions and maybe have to do what is necessary instead of what is right.
DS9 is interesting because I think that nearly any lead could be that series' avatar because everyone's motivations and perspectives are much more diverse and fleshed out than in the other Treks. I think DS9's avatar depends on who you are and which character you relate with the most, and that's going to be different and completely valid for a lot of people.
Sisko is the most believable captain. I see his decisions happening in real life. He sees the federation as it really is. He is very realistic in how the galaxy *actually* works. He has few illusions about the federation. And I also see a man who would make the same hard choices I would.
I subscribe to probably half a dozen different, UA-cam channels that focus on Star Trek, and I have to say that having recently discovered yours, it’s a new favorite. Every channel has its own style - lists,, episode breakdowns, Trek news - but I haven’t found one quite like yours. You seem to go in depth methodically, exploring one topic at a time in a thoughtful manner. Further, you have explored topics that I haven’t seen discussed on those channels or even in conventions. I feel like each one of these videos is an essay. I really enjoyed the series on the species of the Dominion. Keep up the good work!
I was put off by the cartoonish/childish extremes of "Lower Decks" when I watched the first couple eps and gave up (Same for "Prodigy"), but I'm trying to embrace it now. Your video encourages me to watch more.
they did really grow in quality I think personally, lower decks, whilst loud and boisterous, is the only contemporary show I can see happening in the same universe as TNG,TOS & DS9 (without serious timeline and/or character alterations)
I like how they embrace some of the most ridiculous things which have appeared (or almost appeared) in Treks before ... Pandronians, Cetacean Ops, babbling Tamarian starfleet officers, "archeologists", "conspiracy truthers", etc. They constantly reference implausible, stupid things which happened before in episodes best forgotten.
Excellent video. Tendi is a great character but I keep forgetting about her. I think she's easy to overlook because the other characters are generally more flamboyant and making jokes.
Superb analysis, utopian science fiction is so important for providing us with hope. Setting a goal that we as people living in the 21st century can strive towards. Quickest I've ever hit the subscription button, please keep it up.
I love Tindy, and is definitely my favourite newly introduced character probably of the century. But Anson Mount's Pike has just captured my joy of Trek again in a profound way. He's got that swashbuckling charm of Kirk and the moral fortitude and intelligence of Picard. He really is an ideal to strive for in my eyes, especially since SNW explores the idea of his own hope for a future he knows he won't see
I know…I really did not expect to suddenly have Pike jump to my second VERY close favorite captain, juuuust behind The Sisko. There used to be absolutely NO rival in my mind to Sisko (not even Kirk), but Pike’s fortitude and kindness are amazing.
I was very unsure about both prodigy and lower decks but honestly I love them both so much. They feel like trek to their very cores in a way the other newer series just don't
Who was the avatar of TOS? Simple: The Kirk/Spock/Bones entity, because of how it analyses and reflects, and never denies that we humans are complex creatures, and it is that complexity which gives us our adaptability which in turn is our key strength.
I just Love the thoughtful approach you take on your videos. As an old Trekkie, I am sometimes frustrated with the seemingly NonFan videos I've seen. You usually hit any point or opinion that I have... Your youthful enthusiasm is a welcome addition... You know your Trek🖖🏻 Happy Valentine's Day 💕
It's great that Tyler and a few others show older Trek the love it deserves. New Trek has been taken over by people who don't care about what it used to stand for. It was never perfect, but it was never supposed to be.
TOS - Miles O'Brien TNG - Miles O'Brien DS9 - Miles O'Brien VOY - Miles O'Brien ENT - Miles O'Brien DIS - Miles O'Brien PIC - Miles O'Brien SNW - Miles O'Brien PRO - Miles O'Brien
I'm guessing she, or Star Fleet, have a way to 'mute' or 'disable' Orion female's pheromones too. Or if they're at-will she hasn't and wouldn't use the advantage it'd give her in some cases.
According to Tendi, her pheromones just never came in, and it's a semi-common occurrence in Orions. She even mentions how her sister got pheromones and constantly brags about them to Tendi.
@@popularvote3613Are you sure you're not conflating Tendi with Barnes the Trill, whose sister brags about being joined? I can't say I've memorized the entire show, but it wouldn't be like Tendi to talk about her family or to acknowledge the existence of pheremones.
@@GSBarlev No, she does explicitly say so once or twice; see the Memory Alpha page on orions. I wouldn't say it's out-of-character either; Tendi tends to get heated when people stereotype orions.
1:55 There's some great speculation about who sponsored Tendi's admission to the Academy. The sensible answer is that they relaxed that rule during the Dominion War (also explaining how Shaxs is already a security chief). The _fun_ answer is that *Ezri Dax* sponsored her Expy's admission in order to wipe out her family's debt.
I hope I'm not the only one who wants to see T'Lyn and Tendi form a deep relationship. It'd help highlight Tendi's embodiment of Star Trek ideals by showing the uniting of two very different cultures.
I have just watched your previous video on Star Trek and American Imperialism and I have an idea why it's not as popular as some of your others. Please don't take this as a criticism because it's meant as a compliment: I think that your presentation skills have greatly increased since you made that older video. You seem both more polished and at ease. The subject matter of Star Trek and American Imperialism was excellent; perhaps you would want to update it.
Thanks Michael--I agree, my presentation HAS dramatically improved! I'm glad you think the topic is worth revisiting--though I have to say, I don't think that's the biggest reason people didn't click. Nevertheless, we'll see what happens :0
I agree that Tendi is important. In fact, I think she's the best balance for the cynical, angry, pushy Mariner. Tendi is spot like Sylvia Tilly, who brightened up a lot of discovery when it got too dark. I really was not a fan of Enterprise, but I did think Phlox was the most optimistic character. I think it was really bad together rid of Kes on Voyager; she balanced out Neelix and calmed him down. Jadzia was my favorite character on DS9: she was calm, smart, fun, but not afraid to fight. I identified as a disabled person with Geordi on TNG, and I loved my it's unvarnished honesty on TOS.
The question of who is an avatar of each series is interesting - and is a question whose answer can be hard to extricate from "fan favourite" character, or even the lead of a show. Spock was always a standout - it's hard to be more "Star Trek" than Spock. The professionalism Spock brought to bear has always been an icon of the series, and the contrasted unprofessionalism will be considered when modern Trek is discussed. For TNG, I'm going to give it to Picard. More so than in the original series (though TOS Kirk was no slouch, despite what people remember), Picard was almost always at the center of any moral decision, and was the champion for the society that the Federation and the show itself stood for. Although Data was popular, and oftentimes filled a similar role in the fandom to Spock, Data rarely had that same internal struggle that made Spock so compelling. However, Data's popularity pushed him to the forefront, and that focus, plus the opportunity for growth and struggle (points which had been in Spock's favor) are evident in all of the TNG films (maybe not Insurrection) - such that I'd argue the TNG films deserve their own category, with Data being the avatar of those films (an easier call to make because although Picard was front and center in Generations and all of the films, he very often felt divorced from his in-show characterization) I'll have to abstain from any definitive DS9 call, having STILL not seen all of it, but I will say that as a kid I had been turned off from DS9 because of the murky brown-ness of the station, and I always associated Odo with that feeling, especially whenever he turned into CGI goo. Voyager is interesting - I've always liked the Doctor more than anyone else, but in terms of avatar... well, these aren't flattering points, but perhaps there's a case to be made for Neelix as the representative of Voyager trying to be something so different from previous Trek... and then there's 7 of 9, sexy and logical, as an avatar of later Voyager's desperation to pull people back in. I'm assuming the viewership had been suffering, I seem to recall the show having to be moved to UPN, is that right?... maybe I'm thinking of Enterprise... I'll try to keep the rest of my ideas short and sweet, people don't have all day to read my ill-informed comments: Enterprise: Archer Kelvin timeline movies: Kirk (it's fascinating how well Kirk was kept at the forefront, but that speaks to the "Kirk stereotype" matching the "Star Warsification" of Trek films) Discovery (Seasons 1 and 2): Burnham Picard (Season 1): Data's daughter, uh... Sogee? (checks) Soji Both my Discovery and Picard pics are reflective of "a child shall lead them" attitudes in present day, where we assume an inborn wisdom superseding that of various authority figures - which may or may not be true, but it obviously runs counter to a command structure environment. This same reasoning is why I'd put Becket as the avatar of Lower Decks. In which case, I'd offer Tendi as an avatar for the spirit of Trek, especially classic Trek - it really is appropriate then that she is an Orion. Sorry for such a long comment, yikes - live long and prosper!
I didn't think I'd like Lower Decks and put off watching it until late last year. It has to be my second favorite "new" Star Trek show after Strange New Worlds... and in some ways, I like it more. The humor is on point and I love how the show's not afraid to make fun of the franchise or at least not take itself too seriously while at the same time, keeping true to the Star Trek credo. To me, Tendi seems like a character who puts on a sunny persona to compensate for the guilt and anxiety she has about her race's stereotype of Orion females. She seems to have a great deal of anger underneath her "it's all rainbows" personality and it leaks out when she's really pushed past her breaking point. She seems to be working VERY hard to ensure she never comes across as an Orion female, but rather a female who just happens to be Orion. I think her arch will have her having to confront her Orion heritage and learn to integrate it in a healthy way so that she doesn't have to fight the constant internal battle she does.
I do like Tendi and I see your point about her embodying the spirit of Star Trek for the 2020’s. The writing of this show is top-notch and the animation is very solid.
Tendi (and especially her and Sam's friendship) has an innocence that is allowed to just be innocent and not sexualized like so many other character relationships in other stories in general.
D'Vana Tendi , Mistress of The Winter Constellation, Definitely an earnestly fully Starfleet yet non-human character, which is somewhat more rare in the show, I do really enjoy her attitude and also the light she brings into the series... she does have a very nice background story, making her certainly one of the more interesting characters in what is effectively the only truly Star-Trek show on air... though, that also means she does not have much competition today, however, even in the greater picture, I would dare to say, in some ways, she is on the list of the better characters for all of StarTrek throughout it's multidecade history.
Kind of said this in Tryler's announcement of this video. Although I never hated it, it took me a little while to warm to it. I really fell in love with it.
I feel like the avatar for DS9 is hard to place because it can be Siskin, it could be Dax, it could be Kira, it could be Quark, It could be Julian, but most prominently I think it could be Odo. And I think it can be Odo for the same reasons why Data, The doctor or even 7 can be considered avatars for their shows.
Ok this convinced me to finally watch lower decks lol. I was hesitant at first, I tend to avoid "Rick and Morty lookalike" animated shows. The same thing happened after Adventure Time's success, so much animation shifted to be poor emulations of a much superior parent show in writing and in animation. BUT it does seem well written, and I can suspend disbelief around the sort of odd Whedonesque "he's behind me isn't he" humour. I do think it's my fundamental problem with much of modern Trek, the lack of optimism, the dutch angles/lens flares (thanks JJ) and bad writing generally. This does all seem to be entirely absent from Lower Decks and the writer seems like a genuine Trekkie.
Where the hell did you hear that? The lower decks characters will even get an life action appearance on strange new worlds. Doesn't sound to me as if they were planning to cancel LD. They are doubling down. If a project will get canceled its probably the section 31 show. We haven't heard anything substantial in years
I feel like Picard is supposed to be an avatar for the idealism of the late twentieth century in contrast with the bleak realism of the twenty first. I think a good one for the modern day is Kira tho.
Ya, Lower Decks is pretty awesome. I find Mariner a bit disturbing though. She MURDERED her whole crew, including her Mom on the holodeck! I'm going to check your other video you recommended 🖖😁🤘
I want to know more about tendi…. She clearly can control the Orion males, but does she have those pheromones she can release when she wants? Also peanut hamper is the most important character lol
Uncertain at the moment--I'll have to see how I feel about it once I get around to covering Voyager in the same way I've covered TNG so far. Honestly, I'm feeling pretty inclined to do an O'BRIEN video at some point lol
@@OrangeRiver o'brien's a great character, a video about him would be interesting, to bad we did not get much information about the conflict between the federation and the cardassians.
Tendi Is the BEST character ever created in fiction. I love her relationship with Rutherford (i ship those 2) and hear that in the next Season we Will get a Orion set episode i really expect to see more background of her that i expect to be a bit dramatic. Think about that: an Orion Grown up in a family of pirates and since She Is Born with no pheromones Who knows that She was treared like the "middle son" of the family. Then She go away From her family (maybe have done something and due for that She Is a fuggitive From the Orion syndacate this explain a phrase said by Tendi's cousin in "We'll Always have Tom Paris") and ends up to enter at Starfleet Academy due to her love for science. Also i'am curious about her realtiobship with T'Lyn in Season 4.
I think this just reinforces that Lower Decks is the best Star Trek currently being produced. I always felt the STD was more dystopian that utopian, and gets preachy at times
Nailed it! I am so tired of the doom and gloom trek-give us all something to hope for. Lower Decks and even Strange New Worlds are bringing Trek back...I am so tired of the Michael Burnham show, and Picard S1-2 with all the negativity. SNW and LD are a breath of fresh air!
So, answering the question I pose at the end of this video, who do YOU think is the "avatar" of each Star Trek series?
I'll go first:
TOS - Spock
TNG - Data
DS9 - Sisko
VOY - B'Elanna?
ENT - Archer
DIS - Michael
PIC - Picard
SNW - Pike
PRO - Can't watch it, sorry
What about Strange New Worlds and Prodigy?
Marshall Huffer Lmao, I knew I was forgetting something. Added them
I disagree, Michael Bernham is the biggest Mary Sue to ever excist, she is the equivalent of a toddler at X-mas in a toy shop. A self entitled brat.
@@OrangeRiver Prodigy's avatar, in my opinion would have to be Rok-Tahk. She's a big and scary-looking rock alien, but she's actually a young girl who's shy but loves animals and is smarter than people tend to give her credit for, and she wants to be a science officer.
Just here to say you gotta give a prodigy another chance man! It gets better as it goes on!
The writers really screwed up. They made her embody an Orion stereotype right away in episode 1, by having her steal my heart.
Booh!🫢🫢 That was cheesy with extra cheese.
The best part of (the phenomenal) "Something Borrowed, Something Green" is how they hang a giant, in-universe lampshade over how Tendi is _literally irresistible_ without even needing "the 'mones."
This is the Ensign that made Dr. T'Ana _purr!_ I don't even think Shaxs has gotten that much affection from Trek's gruffest doctor!
best comment of the year!!
I think that another reason why Tendi and Rutherford are such appealing characters is that they just seem genuinely excited to live in the Star Trek universe. This is true even given that their backstories are far, far darker than Boimler's or Mariner's. It's a rare thing when the characters in the franchise just take the time to be awestruck about the things going on around them.
This is a really good point. They live in a society where overcoming a dark past is more feasible given the right support network.
Tendi and Rutherford needs to be copule more fruther on the show. IT'S BEEN 3 SEASONS THAT I WAIT THAT !!!
@@francescozenocchini4428 Why? Even if these characters weren't cartoons, their relationship seems to work very well for them.
I completely agree. When Boimler flipped out when running the Starfleet booth at the job(?) fair he gave voice to something that often gets lost in the writing and analysis of Trek. Starfleet officers pretty much just want to go out there and conduct science! They want to explore and learn, but they're often forced into other roles along they way. Tendi and Rutherford wear that wonder and wanderlust on their sleeves.
@@francescozenocchini4428 I heard we're going to do some Tendi deep dives in season 4 :)
I am fascinated by how they managed to make what’s essentially a cartoon parody of Star Trek but at the same time actually *feels* like a Star Trek show, not just a parody. It’s a fine line to walk and they do it superbly.
It's not parody it is a perversions of the franchise.
There were some weaker episodes in the series but there were some great episodes that just seemed to embody Trek. As silly as some stuff is, the heroism feels real too.
@The H A I K U K I N G It's honestly more of a celebration, in my view, even if it does contain critical meta-commentary about Starfleet etc.
@@OrangeRiver It might seem silly to some people, but one of my favourite meta commentaries was them revisiting the drug addicted planet from the TNG episode Symbiosis. They explained that Picard forced them to go Cold Turkey then just left. This recklessness horrifies Captain Freeman. It funny thinking that Picard ACTUALLY did that!
Yes! I agree.
My reason for liking Tindi is simple
"I GOT TO HOLD A HEART!!!"
Oh yeah! That is the perfect example!
She stole mine from the moment she met her supervisor and greeted him while he was strapped to a bio bed
Morn is the avatar for the entire franchise.
Keep it warm for Morn!
I just wish that Morn would quiet down a bit.
That guy just never stops talking! Gah!
@@LukeLane1984 But at least it's usually at least interesting stuff.... unless he goes off on another rant about the issues he's having with his mom, those do get kind of tedious pretty quick.
@@7Seraphem7 lol! Exactly!
Nog is 100% the Star Trek avatar of DS9. He is the most optimistic character in that show and embodies so many of starfleet’s ideals. He even reflects the more conflicting parts of what it takes to maintain a utopia, as you put it.
Nog is also somewhat of a Kirk himself with his approach to life and romance
In STO he's even a captain of his own ship
Tendi was my favorite, but now T'lin has entered the scene and I love her character even since her debut episode. Pairing Tendi with T'lin was the best thing that could happen in Lower Decks, my two favorite characters from the show together.
OrangeRiver asked: "Without hope, what do we got?" Doesn't he know? "I've got faith! Faith of the heart! I'm going where my heart will take me... I've got faith to believe I can do anything!
For DS9, I'd call the avatar Odo. He navigates a world foreign to him, always searching to find who he is while firmly confident in his own morality. This is much like the show, navigating an edge of utopia always on the brink of collapse as the local people endeavor to build themselves under the watch of Star Fleet. This is a sci-fi western at heart, and while Sisko is the flashy centerpiece of the show, everyone knows a Western revolves around the sheriff, who is the quiet Odo. We see different aspects of the world portrayed by the other characters, but it's Odo who ends up tying them all together in the end in a very quiet way.
Was not expecting to find a dvana tendu video essay today
I have to 100% agree.
Regardless of the direction that Lower Decks goes, Tendi is as of right now, being added to the list of S-tier characters with the like of Spock, Doc Mccoy, Data, Q, Quark, and Garak.
She just has that natural charismatic charm and nuance to her character design that really defines all the characters around them by contrast, totally owns exactly who she is, including her challenges, in every scene.
Enjoyable to watch in any context, no bad episodes and not even any bad scenes frankly.
10/10 I hope they dont completely fuck her in the next seasons, they probably will because they're semi-competent at best, but here's hoping.
This video makes me hope Jessie Gender watches your channel. She LOVES Tendi. Which is the correct way to feel about Tendi, obviously.
I know Jessie does at least occasionally watch my videos ;)
Being under Dr. T'ana's tutelage has tempered Tendi's naive optimism to be more assertive as last season's final episode showed. Despite being in a race against the Texas class ship, she made the call to double check for lifesigns on a planet where she would have hesitated before. Dr. Tiana praised her that the tough decision was the right call, which is important for a doctor to do.
@ 0:45 Lower decks is arguably the most committed to carrying own Star Trek optimistic vision" and that's why it's the only trek other than strange new worlds that I watch from this generation.
I have never seen one episode, but I react because I want to ‘feed the algorithm’ in your favor ❤
She's most definitely my favorite character in Lower Decks. Her and Rutherford!
D’vana is my favorite Star Trek character.
I agree that Lower Decks is probably the best Star Trek that has come out in decades (maybe ever honestly) when it comes to how the utopian nature of the future impacts characterization. I've been consistently impressed by how focused the show seems to be on considering how people would interact and behave in a world without all of our weird modern day stressors and social hangups.
I saw an interview recently with one of the writers where they talked about how that is actually a major thing they discuss in the writing room. The example he talked about was in the death of clone Boimler episode, when Nik Nak tells Boimler he's in love with him. They said that initially they planned to have Boimler get all awkward and embarrassed by the interaction but, to use his words, "...Then we thought this would work for a conventional comedy but this is Star Trek and no one in the future is going to care if you're dating a Nak so Boimler would just brush it off and say something like 'love you too buddy' and get on with his day." and the way they ended up doing it, with it playing out just like that and Mariner going "There's our romance!" was way funnier than the tired old embarrassment trope would have been.
My favorite Tendi moment is also sort of like this, when Rutherford loses his memory and, despite the developing friendship and romantic tension they've been building the whole series, Tendi's response is "Now we get to become friends all over again!" happy to get to know Rutherford again, rather than being attached to what they had and, once again, subverting the common tropes this sort of story beat generally uses in the most Star Trek way possible. That's something pretty unique in my mind. Using the disconnect between our world and the Star Trek world as a source for comedic subversion of expectations is something really interesting, where humor is mined from hope rather than cynicism, while still calling attention to the ways we need to improve things in the real world in a way that isn't watered down. Anyway...long winded way of saying I love Lower Decks and Tendi is awesome.
This is a good idea for a video choose a character from a era that symbolizes the time they live it
👋👋👋
Very well done. The thesis, the associated video editing, the pacing...thoroughly enjoyable.
Thank you!
Wow!Congratulations to the ORANGE RIVER TEAM for warping past 50 thousand subscribers.Its well deserved as we all know Tyler knows his stuff and he delivers it with a journalistic integrity that no other channel can equal.Its great more people are discovering this channel and telling other sci-fi fans of it and won't be long until the hundred thousand mark is passed and ORANGE RIVER gets the numbers it truly has earned!
Thank you Jym!
I think I really needed this video, it puts my thoughts about Star Trek (and my unending love for it) into a pretty little bow. Things seem really fucking bleak right now, and my optimism is honestly reaching it's limits. But fuck me, you're right. Without hope, what else *do* we have?
"You can't give up hope just because it's hopeless. You gotta hope even more, and cover your ears and go "Bla bla bla bla bla bla..." -Philip J. Fry
I hope you brought lube.
She's a fun character
I would say the avatars are
Classic: Spock
Legacy: Data
Modern: Tendi
Congratulations on 50k!
Thank you Mouse Pounder!
Never noticed him hitting 50K.
Garak for all of star trek!
It's my favourite series of the entire franchise. And I first watched Star Trek in 1975.
I honestly have a crush on Tendi! I love her cheerful personality.
Happy Valentine’s Day to us! 🥰 My favorite trek fan talking about my fav character 🥰 Thank you!!!
Definitely Sisko for DS9. He showcases the ongoing struggle within ourself, even when we reached an utopia. We still hve to deal with our inner daemons, baser emotions and maybe have to do what is necessary instead of what is right.
I'd say Jake, but that may also be because I watched it young
DS9 is interesting because I think that nearly any lead could be that series' avatar because everyone's motivations and perspectives are much more diverse and fleshed out than in the other Treks. I think DS9's avatar depends on who you are and which character you relate with the most, and that's going to be different and completely valid for a lot of people.
@@gargonovich I wonder how would the TOS, and TNG be like if they went with the DS9 model.
Sisko is the most believable captain. I see his decisions happening in real life. He sees the federation as it really is. He is very realistic in how the galaxy *actually* works. He has few illusions about the federation.
And I also see a man who would make the same hard choices I would.
I subscribe to probably half a dozen different, UA-cam channels that focus on Star Trek, and I have to say that having recently discovered yours, it’s a new favorite. Every channel has its own style - lists,, episode breakdowns, Trek news - but I haven’t found one quite like yours. You seem to go in depth methodically, exploring one topic at a time in a thoughtful manner. Further, you have explored topics that I haven’t seen discussed on those channels or even in conventions. I feel like each one of these videos is an essay. I really enjoyed the series on the species of the Dominion. Keep up the good work!
Thank you so much Wendy!
I have just discovered your channel and it's amazing. I can't wait to binge watch all your videos.
Thanks for the vid😎🤓👍
Picard is literally a Avatar, his mind is in a new body.
Congrats on the 50K swampboy !! Keep it up !
I was put off by the cartoonish/childish extremes of "Lower Decks" when I watched the first couple eps and gave up (Same for "Prodigy"), but I'm trying to embrace it now. Your video encourages me to watch more.
they did really grow in quality I think
personally, lower decks, whilst loud and boisterous, is the only contemporary show I can see happening in the same universe as TNG,TOS & DS9 (without serious timeline and/or character alterations)
I like how they embrace some of the most ridiculous things which have appeared (or almost appeared) in Treks before ... Pandronians, Cetacean Ops, babbling Tamarian starfleet officers, "archeologists", "conspiracy truthers", etc. They constantly reference implausible, stupid things which happened before in episodes best forgotten.
@@pwnmeisterage The Pakleds leveling up...
@P that's a good point. And in many cases, does so with just the right amount of both scorn and affection for those silly things.
I think of Lower Decks as being an older Mariner (or even Boimler?) telling tall tales/sea stories, exaggerating events that really happened. 😂
Excellent video. Tendi is a great character but I keep forgetting about her. I think she's easy to overlook because the other characters are generally more flamboyant and making jokes.
Ensign Tendi is a green ray of sunshine, god damn it!
You forgot about Captain Pike. He is a better avatar candidate than Burnham and season 1-2 Picard imo.
Superb analysis, utopian science fiction is so important for providing us with hope. Setting a goal that we as people living in the 21st century can strive towards. Quickest I've ever hit the subscription button, please keep it up.
Thank you so much Gabriel!
I love Tindy, and is definitely my favourite newly introduced character probably of the century. But Anson Mount's Pike has just captured my joy of Trek again in a profound way. He's got that swashbuckling charm of Kirk and the moral fortitude and intelligence of Picard. He really is an ideal to strive for in my eyes, especially since SNW explores the idea of his own hope for a future he knows he won't see
I know…I really did not expect to suddenly have Pike jump to my second VERY close favorite captain, juuuust behind The Sisko. There used to be absolutely NO rival in my mind to Sisko (not even Kirk), but Pike’s fortitude and kindness are amazing.
I was very unsure about both prodigy and lower decks but honestly I love them both so much. They feel like trek to their very cores in a way the other newer series just don't
Have you not watched Strange New Worlds?
8:59 Never thought of SS-Spock as an allegory for Nazi Germany.
I absolutely love Lower deks, I watched it like 7 times allready and my favorite is the background of Dvana epasiode from the new season
I think Saru would be the star trek discovery "avatar". both with the show wants to be and in the greater context of the universe/lore.
Who was the avatar of TOS?
Simple: The Kirk/Spock/Bones entity, because of how it analyses and reflects, and never denies that we humans are complex creatures, and it is that complexity which gives us our adaptability which in turn is our key strength.
I just Love the thoughtful approach you take on your videos. As an old Trekkie, I am sometimes frustrated with the seemingly NonFan videos I've seen.
You usually hit any point or opinion that I have... Your youthful enthusiasm is a welcome addition... You know your Trek🖖🏻
Happy Valentine's Day 💕
It's great that Tyler and a few others show older Trek the love it deserves. New Trek has been taken over by people who don't care about what it used to stand for. It was never perfect, but it was never supposed to be.
Thanks to her I created an Orion female In Star Trek Online n chose Starfleet.
Avatar of StarTrek in DS9 is obviously O’Brian…
Nah, it is Morn.
TOS - Miles O'Brien
TNG - Miles O'Brien
DS9 - Miles O'Brien
VOY - Miles O'Brien
ENT - Miles O'Brien
DIS - Miles O'Brien
PIC - Miles O'Brien
SNW - Miles O'Brien
PRO - Miles O'Brien
I'm guessing she, or Star Fleet, have a way to 'mute' or 'disable' Orion female's pheromones too. Or if they're at-will she hasn't and wouldn't use the advantage it'd give her in some cases.
According to Tendi, her pheromones just never came in, and it's a semi-common occurrence in Orions. She even mentions how her sister got pheromones and constantly brags about them to Tendi.
@@popularvote3613Are you sure you're not conflating Tendi with Barnes the Trill, whose sister brags about being joined? I can't say I've memorized the entire show, but it wouldn't be like Tendi to talk about her family or to acknowledge the existence of pheremones.
@@GSBarlev No, she does explicitly say so once or twice; see the Memory Alpha page on orions.
I wouldn't say it's out-of-character either; Tendi tends to get heated when people stereotype orions.
Tyler: "No video this Friday, but I've got a special video for Feb 14th ;)"
Me: "Hmm... so it's a Tendi video then."
:D
1:55 There's some great speculation about who sponsored Tendi's admission to the Academy.
The sensible answer is that they relaxed that rule during the Dominion War (also explaining how Shaxs is already a security chief).
The _fun_ answer is that *Ezri Dax* sponsored her Expy's admission in order to wipe out her family's debt.
Tendi's just so lovable. :)
Tendi is baby!
I will protect her at all costs!
Lower Decks is the best I have ever seen in all of the Trek franchise and I grew up with it due to my older brothers and still watching it 🙂
I love this episode of yours
TOS - Spock
TNG - Data
DS9 - Nog
VOY - Doctor
ENT - Archer
DIS - ...
PIC - ...
SNW - Pike
PRO - The main cast. They end up representing what trek is
I hope I'm not the only one who wants to see T'Lyn and Tendi form a deep relationship. It'd help highlight Tendi's embodiment of Star Trek ideals by showing the uniting of two very different cultures.
I want to see more videos like this, so I hit 'subscribe'.
I ❤️ Tendi
I have just watched your previous video on Star Trek and American Imperialism and I have an idea why it's not as popular as some of your others. Please don't take this as a criticism because it's meant as a compliment: I think that your presentation skills have greatly increased since you made that older video. You seem both more polished and at ease. The subject matter of Star Trek and American Imperialism was excellent; perhaps you would want to update it.
Thanks Michael--I agree, my presentation HAS dramatically improved! I'm glad you think the topic is worth revisiting--though I have to say, I don't think that's the biggest reason people didn't click. Nevertheless, we'll see what happens :0
I agree that Tendi is important. In fact, I think she's the best balance for the cynical, angry, pushy Mariner. Tendi is spot like Sylvia Tilly, who brightened up a lot of discovery when it got too dark.
I really was not a fan of Enterprise, but I did think Phlox was the most optimistic character.
I think it was really bad together rid of Kes on Voyager; she balanced out Neelix and calmed him down.
Jadzia was my favorite character on DS9: she was calm, smart, fun, but not afraid to fight.
I identified as a disabled person with Geordi on TNG, and I loved my it's unvarnished honesty on TOS.
The question of who is an avatar of each series is interesting - and is a question whose answer can be hard to extricate from "fan favourite" character, or even the lead of a show.
Spock was always a standout - it's hard to be more "Star Trek" than Spock. The professionalism Spock brought to bear has always been an icon of the series, and the contrasted unprofessionalism will be considered when modern Trek is discussed.
For TNG, I'm going to give it to Picard. More so than in the original series (though TOS Kirk was no slouch, despite what people remember), Picard was almost always at the center of any moral decision, and was the champion for the society that the Federation and the show itself stood for. Although Data was popular, and oftentimes filled a similar role in the fandom to Spock, Data rarely had that same internal struggle that made Spock so compelling. However, Data's popularity pushed him to the forefront, and that focus, plus the opportunity for growth and struggle (points which had been in Spock's favor) are evident in all of the TNG films (maybe not Insurrection) - such that I'd argue the TNG films deserve their own category, with Data being the avatar of those films (an easier call to make because although Picard was front and center in Generations and all of the films, he very often felt divorced from his in-show characterization)
I'll have to abstain from any definitive DS9 call, having STILL not seen all of it, but I will say that as a kid I had been turned off from DS9 because of the murky brown-ness of the station, and I always associated Odo with that feeling, especially whenever he turned into CGI goo.
Voyager is interesting - I've always liked the Doctor more than anyone else, but in terms of avatar... well, these aren't flattering points, but perhaps there's a case to be made for Neelix as the representative of Voyager trying to be something so different from previous Trek... and then there's 7 of 9, sexy and logical, as an avatar of later Voyager's desperation to pull people back in. I'm assuming the viewership had been suffering, I seem to recall the show having to be moved to UPN, is that right?... maybe I'm thinking of Enterprise...
I'll try to keep the rest of my ideas short and sweet, people don't have all day to read my ill-informed comments:
Enterprise: Archer
Kelvin timeline movies: Kirk (it's fascinating how well Kirk was kept at the forefront, but that speaks to the "Kirk stereotype" matching the "Star Warsification" of Trek films)
Discovery (Seasons 1 and 2): Burnham
Picard (Season 1): Data's daughter, uh... Sogee? (checks) Soji
Both my Discovery and Picard pics are reflective of "a child shall lead them" attitudes in present day, where we assume an inborn wisdom superseding that of various authority figures - which may or may not be true, but it obviously runs counter to a command structure environment. This same reasoning is why I'd put Becket as the avatar of Lower Decks. In which case, I'd offer Tendi as an avatar for the spirit of Trek, especially classic Trek - it really is appropriate then that she is an Orion.
Sorry for such a long comment, yikes - live long and prosper!
DS9's Avatar is Nog
Tendi has ascended to the rareified level of characters that basically every Trekkie likes, like Spock, Data, Garak, and Seven of Nine before her.
😎
I didn't think I'd like Lower Decks and put off watching it until late last year. It has to be my second favorite "new" Star Trek show after Strange New Worlds... and in some ways, I like it more. The humor is on point and I love how the show's not afraid to make fun of the franchise or at least not take itself too seriously while at the same time, keeping true to the Star Trek credo.
To me, Tendi seems like a character who puts on a sunny persona to compensate for the guilt and anxiety she has about her race's stereotype of Orion females. She seems to have a great deal of anger underneath her "it's all rainbows" personality and it leaks out when she's really pushed past her breaking point. She seems to be working VERY hard to ensure she never comes across as an Orion female, but rather a female who just happens to be Orion. I think her arch will have her having to confront her Orion heritage and learn to integrate it in a healthy way so that she doesn't have to fight the constant internal battle she does.
Very good video! Keep it up
Awesome! I appreciate Tendi much more now.
Thanks!
I do like Tendi and I see your point about her embodying the spirit of Star Trek for the 2020’s. The writing of this show is top-notch and the animation is very solid.
Tendi (and especially her and Sam's friendship) has an innocence that is allowed to just be innocent and not sexualized like so many other character relationships in other stories in general.
Tendi is definitely my favorite of the four leads.
TOS - McCoy
TNG - Barkley
DS9 - Miles
VOY - The doctor
ENT - Archer
DIS - Saru
PIC - Picard
SNW - Pike
I am a huge starwars fan. But man dose this show have a lot of charm.
D'Vana Tendi , Mistress of The Winter Constellation, Definitely an earnestly fully Starfleet yet non-human character, which is somewhat more rare in the show, I do really enjoy her attitude and also the light she brings into the series...
she does have a very nice background story, making her certainly one of the more interesting characters in what is effectively the only truly Star-Trek show on air... though, that also means she does not have much competition today, however, even in the greater picture, I would dare to say, in some ways, she is on the list of the better characters for all of StarTrek throughout it's multidecade history.
You're absolutely correct on all points, especially about us needing Lower Decks. Too bad Paramount killed it.
I am really surprised how much i like Lower Decks
my parents are reluctant but i think they might like it
Kind of said this in Tryler's announcement of this video. Although I never hated it, it took me a little while to warm to it. I really fell in love with it.
I was very worried but I like it a lot
I feel like the avatar for DS9 is hard to place because it can be Siskin, it could be Dax, it could be Kira, it could be Quark, It could be Julian, but most prominently I think it could be Odo. And I think it can be Odo for the same reasons why Data, The doctor or even 7 can be considered avatars for their shows.
Ok this convinced me to finally watch lower decks lol. I was hesitant at first, I tend to avoid "Rick and Morty lookalike" animated shows. The same thing happened after Adventure Time's success, so much animation shifted to be poor emulations of a much superior parent show in writing and in animation. BUT it does seem well written, and I can suspend disbelief around the sort of odd Whedonesque "he's behind me isn't he" humour. I do think it's my fundamental problem with much of modern Trek, the lack of optimism, the dutch angles/lens flares (thanks JJ) and bad writing generally. This does all seem to be entirely absent from Lower Decks and the writer seems like a genuine Trekkie.
I love this show! sadly it'll be the one that gets cancelled.
But it's great!
Cancel all new trek already. Fire Kurtzman!!!
Where the hell did you hear that? The lower decks characters will even get an life action appearance on strange new worlds. Doesn't sound to me as if they were planning to cancel LD. They are doubling down. If a project will get canceled its probably the section 31 show. We haven't heard anything substantial in years
@@trilobite2500 they inevitably cancel everything we love.
@@Nobody-11B
Very optimistic
I have a feeling LD and Discovery will get at least seven seasons tbh. Kurtzman's contract is up in 2026/2027, so beyond that it's TBD
I feel like Picard is supposed to be an avatar for the idealism of the late twentieth century in contrast with the bleak realism of the twenty first. I think a good one for the modern day is Kira tho.
Tendi is freaking awesome!
I love Michael smart, cool as hell, and (I am so envious) brave
Ya, Lower Decks is pretty awesome. I find Mariner a bit disturbing though. She MURDERED her whole crew, including her Mom on the holodeck! I'm going to check your other video you recommended 🖖😁🤘
I want to know more about tendi…. She clearly can control the Orion males, but does she have those pheromones she can release when she wants?
Also peanut hamper is the most important character lol
She doesn't have the pheromones. I need to rewatch the episodes, but I think she commands Orion men by her reputation and attitude alone.
Just curious, are there any plans for a Neelix video in future? It would be fun to see one about voyagers jolly diplomat/chef.
Uncertain at the moment--I'll have to see how I feel about it once I get around to covering Voyager in the same way I've covered TNG so far. Honestly, I'm feeling pretty inclined to do an O'BRIEN video at some point lol
@@OrangeRiver Ya an OBRIAN video would be good!
@@OrangeRiver o'brien's a great character, a video about him would be interesting, to bad we did not get much information about the conflict between the federation and the cardassians.
Sorry, but I love seeing the Vulcan sign been flashed all gangsta 😋
Hit that subscribe button!
You love Tendi, la, la, la, la la! It's OK, I love watching you giggle inside when you gush over her- metaphorical gushing lol 🤪
Tendi Is the BEST character ever created in fiction. I love her relationship with Rutherford (i ship those 2) and hear that in the next Season we Will get a Orion set episode i really expect to see more background of her that i expect to be a bit dramatic.
Think about that: an Orion Grown up in a family of pirates and since She Is Born with no pheromones Who knows that She was treared like the "middle son" of the family. Then She go away From her family (maybe have done something and due for that She Is a fuggitive From the Orion syndacate this explain a phrase said by Tendi's cousin in "We'll Always have Tom Paris") and ends up to enter at Starfleet Academy due to her love for science.
Also i'am curious about her realtiobship with T'Lyn in Season 4.
"She is my wife."
I was waiting for that clip...
The true fans will remember
all the way! all the way! all the way!
I think this just reinforces that Lower Decks is the best Star Trek currently being produced. I always felt the STD was more dystopian that utopian, and gets preachy at times
I would argue that Pike, with him being Starfleet's boy scout on SNW, is a strong contender for 'avatar' of star trek in the 2020s
Nailed it! I am so tired of the doom and gloom trek-give us all something to hope for. Lower Decks and even Strange New Worlds are bringing Trek back...I am so tired of the Michael Burnham show, and Picard S1-2 with all the negativity. SNW and LD are a breath of fresh air!
I'm only making an exception for Prodigy and Lower Decks, but SNW is too suspicious to be considered a breathe of fresh air.
Without yet watching this video, I can guess the answer: because she's a pirate! Everything is better with pirates.
I was so surprised when LD turned out to the best of modern Trek
Becomes captain and steals the ship... that would make her epic amongst Orions.
Tendi is kinda like a Moopsy: Cute and cuddly, but can eliminate you in a blink of an eye