Over the past week I’ve been hitting Star Trek Online pretty hard. Ever since the developers announced that they were creating regular content that resembled and was based on episodic Trek content and blessed by CBS, I’ve been a fan. It makes the stories created by Cryptic not exactly canon, but close enough for the inclined fan. Agents of Yesterday launched on July 6th, and is the latest batch of Trek added to Star Trek Online, based loosely on the Original Series. In the end, it ends up being an interesting romp through original Trek, the new Kelvin Timeline Trek, and all Trek in-between. Okay, maybe not the animated series, but, really, the animated series? C’mon.
The Federation once more visits Taurus II, with more red shirts than should probably be allowed.
An… Expansion?
A little, maybe obvious, warning: Some Mild Spoilers Ahead. Overall, although Star Trek Online is officially calling their new content an “expansion”, I’m not completely sure it lives up to that description. Agents of Yesterday overall added 10 new missions, a handful of new queues (multi-player “dungeons”), and a new early 23rd century “faction”, which is really just the Federation faction with a few added UI elements, some extra loot, some flavor text, and a new introduction. Half of the new missions can only be performed by starting a new character from this faction. So, as far as an overall content drop, it really doesn’t hold a candle to the other expansions Star Trek Online has offered over the years. Legacy of Romulus added a new zone, faction, and new missions for every faction. Delta Rising added a whole new space map, zone, and level cap for everybody. Agents of Yesterday an expansion? Not so much.
That’s not to say the missions themselves weren’t really enjoyable, though. The attention to detail given to the level of cheese the Original Series had is top notch. In all of the missions taking place in the 23rd century, a soft filter was added to the background of every mission to replicate that old TV rabbit-ear style. It was so effective that I saw some complaining that they thought something was wrong with their video cards.
Stalking the halls, hunting rubber flying saucers.
Time Travel? Again?
However, if anyone was expecting the expansion to be completely about the Original Series, as the name sort-of suggests, well, sorry. It only takes about 3 missions in before they start with the *real* meat of the expansion: time travel. Yeah, time travel is one of the oldest and misued tropes in fiction. Star Trek has used it time and time again, and the quality has stretched from the odd Mark Twain shenanigans during Next Generation to the excellent Trials and Tribble-ations of Deep Space Nine. Mostly one or two-off episode arcs.
The time travel used in Agents of Yesterday, though, focuses mostly on one of the most obscure and confusing time travel arcs in all of Star Trek, Enterprise‘s Temporal Cold War. A storyline not for the casual Trekkie, which makes it an odd combination, especially when one is expecting the schmooze of original Trek and the everyman of Kirk. It does conclude one of Star Trek Online‘s more obscure story arcs as well, Future Proof, which, sadly, didn’t quite have the same story punch as the recent Iconian War or Delta Rising.
Aboard the USS Yorktown in the Kelvin Timeline
The Kelvin Timeline Strikes Back
And finally, somewhere in there, they also include a relatively shoe-horned feeling mission in the Kelvin Timeline! The Kelvin Timeline, by the way, is now the official name that has recently been given to the universe shown in the series of movies created by J.J. Abrams and others, named for the fated ship, the USS Kelvin. The Kelvin was destroyed at the point of universe fracture, when the Romulan mining vessel, the Narada, entered the split-universe via black hole and attacked. The legitimacy of the universe within the Trek community has been rather contentious since the 2009 Star Trek movie released, but mostly the contention has been coming from the Trek purists who aren’t as big a fan of lens flare as Abrams thought they were.
That, and although the timelines are completely different, they destroyed Romulus! To say the Prime universe’s canon wasn’t hugely affected would be overlooking a major race’s entire home world. Plus, there’s already the Mirror Universe, which is very canon. Like it or not, the different timelines are inexorably intertwined. It’s been officially named, it’s been legitimized, and it’s here for good. If the new upcoming CBS Star Trek series doesn’t acknowledge Romulus’s destruction in the first few episodes, I’ll be shocked (but technically, citizens of the Prime universe shouldn’t know the *name*, like they do the Mirror Universe, as the Prime’s USS Kelvin wouldn’t have been a part of the incident… but that’s a minor detail).
The mission feels shoe-horned, though, because it’s a one-off mission that doesn’t even really give a good reason as to how your ship even gets to the Kelvin timeline or a big reason why, aside from the timey-whimey shenanigans of Trek’s local Time Lord, Daniels. I don’t blame the developers at all for trying to capitalize on the new movies, though. In fact I enjoy it when, say, Marvel Heroes brings in any of the fun stuff from the plethera of Marvel movies and comics out there. A bit of “trans-media synergy” adds that extra layer for fans, which isn’t bad. However, although it’s just one mission that was added, they also dropped a special themed Kelvin Lockbox to go along with it. It contains on its loot table a bevy of costumes, weapons, and abilities or even ships for the very lucky or wallet-heavy (0.33% chance of acquiring the movie Enterprise or any ship, last I checked. 0.33%, don’t overlook that decimal). The trade of one mission for one lockbox, when they could’ve really opened up a whole arc of Kelvin Timeline stories, seems a little underwhelming. Now that they’ve opened the can of worms, hopefully they add to it more in the future.
Those sexy ships, tho.
Right, But How Was It?
Overall, though, I’ve liked the expansion. Those first few missions in the Original Series timeline, though a little awkward in their use of sound bites, are really quite fun. The use of voice actors related to the series like Walter Koenig, the late Leonard Nemoy, Christopher Doohan, and Joseph Gatt is also not to be overlooked if you’re a fan. It may not have as much bulk or heft as previous expansions, or really offer anything truly game-changing, though, but it is still entertaining. Enough to convince me to start up a new character and replay all of Star Trek Online‘s already fantastic story, but with the bonus of figuring out what those pesky Na’Khul are up to.
So, if you’re a new player looking to get into Star Trek Online, Agents of Yesterday at least offers a new path to do so, one that tugs oh-so-affectionately at the nostalgia strings. And if you’re a current player, I highly suggest making a new 23rd century character, at least to try out the TOS missions.
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For a moment, think back on a movie premiere that you were excited for and also knew very little about. Is there one that didn’t have 50 years of comic book history or a series of books or a wikipedia with 500 pages of detailed entries from which you can roughly piece together the entire plot and post credit scene? Maybe something without a batcowl by Christopher Nolan, if you’re a fan. Both new potential Star Wars fans and 36 years-to-lifers have currently found themselves in a weird liminal space of innocent ignorance since the trailer was released on April 16th. In the last two weeks however, the Force Awakens‘ team has released character and cast details and will expectedly continue to do so as we crawl closer to that December premiere date. Every subsequent piece of news will drag us out of this space of unfettered anticipation and into a surge of updates and press releases. If you’re looking for analysis of any Star Wars news or coverage of the new canon Rebel series or comics, search elsewhere. Because I’m going full dark, sweetheart.
What was it like to not know what Star Wars was and then to know, man? I’m a relative youngling, so I first saw A New Hope when it was rereleased in theaters while sitting on my dad’s lap as he whispered the scrolling prologue into my ear. Years later, I’ve explored the established and unparalleled expanded universe (cartoons, Wookiepedia, comics, and books) none of which may make it into the new Disney films. This was a decision to be upset about until the release of a second teaser trailer which promised fans that the vision for The Force Awakens was better than any live action adaptation of our favorite moments from the Expanded Universe could ever be. We can still recapture that first ingenuous viewing experience while still expecting to see a film that can capture an audience for the next 35 years, because we know what Star Wars is and can be.
Imagine if you commit to going dark: the next piece of footage you will see will be this in a packed theater at midnight.
Of course, it hasn’t actually been that long since the prequel trilogy premiered and promptly disappointed thousands of expectant fans, but I’d argue some of those expectations are the problem. Without touching all of the controversy surrounding Joss Whedon’s Avengers: Age of Ultron, it’s undeniable that some of the criticism is fueled by people who had developed their own favorite versions of characters before the movie was even finished filming. Do you find yourself doing that already with The Force Awakens? Marvel fans obsessed over every teaser trailer and poster, analyzed every interview and rumor, and when Age of Ultron went in an unpredicted direction–well, saying people got upset would be a gross understatement at this point. Is it a mistake to corrupt our innocent hype with addicting pursuit of new expectations?
It’s probably not that serious, because in light of the Joss Whedon mess across social media, I feel like we all need a preemptive reminder that these are just movies. Besides, we Star Wars fans are made of nobler and less temperamental stuff. After all, we survived Jar Jar Binks. It’s not like anyone has ever cursed out George Lucas or his decisions with the franchise. Joke.
Click through to read about J. J. Abrams’ commitment to telling a new story instead of relying on references to the old. Delete your twitter now, J. J.
To be clear, I’m not judging everyone who is enjoying Rebels or the new books in order to feel ready for December, since I’ll be picking up all that stuff up December 19th. I’m just saying that I am ready now; I’m ready to be surprised and delighted by new characters, stories, and visuals, even if it means sacrificing the ability to natter every behind-the-scenes piece of trivia or history factoid to my most likely less-indoctrinated companion on premiere day. You’re welcome, future date.
Have I convinced you? Are you ready to bury your head in sands of the Dune Sea for the next 5 months? I promise it’s not that hard. Beware of social media and be ready to scroll rapidly past undesirable links and thumbnails worth of information. Movie theaters will become stressful places, so skip the trailers or bring headphones and keep a remote control close by when watching television. Or you know, just invest in a shielded helmet like Luke used in IV. If you find yourself in a Star Wars mood play around in the Expanded Universe of old, which I promise you’re still allowed to love. Welcome to the dark (not side) and reward your commitment with another viewing of The Force Awakens Trailer
Also, just because I (Kaitlyn) will not be posting about Star Wars VII news doesn’t mean that Sub-cultured won’t be covering it! Check back from now until December for updates on the Force Awakens’ situation.
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Simon Pegg got it right.
Usually, when any celebrity criticizes the public, I tend to ignore their out-of-touch statements, but my fellow fanboy was spot-on when he recently expressed his feelings for the club of Abrams-bashers for their criticism of his signature “lens flares.” Pegg, who loves the effect, mentioned its effectiveness (in his own opinion) to Spielberg’s use of bloody seawater shots in “Saving Private Ryan.” While promoting his role of Scotty in Abrams’s “Star Trek: Into the Darkness,” he was asked who first made the criticism about these visuals, to which he replied:
“Probably some film student who wanted to demonstrate his or her knowledge of film terminology, thus elevating themselves to an assumed level of critical superiority, which gave them the kind of smug, knowing smile that indicates a festering sour grape, fizzing in the pit of their own ambition,” Mr. Pegg said, before profoundly…and profanely continuing to rip these critics a new one (including referring to them as “boring neggyballs.”)
Of course, this commentary was met with counter-commentary from several film bloggers who decided to tell him how his comparison was inaccurate and went on to describe in boring detail how much they knew about cinematography (with the help of Wikipedia, I’m sure).
This example is just one of the thousands of instances where über-criticism of movies is beginning to tarnish the movie-going experience. Many of today’s money-making filmmakers (Lucas, Shyamalan, Burton, Snyder, Nolan and the aforementioned Abrams) have become punching bags for the masses of online critics who will sometimes verbally beat-down and destroy a film sometimes based on its teaser poster, trailer or casting choice alone.
Granted, all of these directors have made some less-than-successful-choices in their work, but there must be a reason audiences keep throwing their cash their way.
Dissing movies and movie makers has been around as long as movies themselves. Since Edison and Dickson cranked out their first moving pictures on the kinetograph, there was probably some frustrated inventor out there scoffing “that running horse looks soooo fake…and since when are horses that tiny??”
The difference today is the rise of social media, including endless movie sites (Rotten Tomatoes and Movie Mistakes come to mind), coupled with the easy availability of apps and apparatus that make us all film editors and YouTube stars, has turned the movie world into a virtual minefield for over-the-top nit-picking. We can post, meme, tweet and blog away endlessly today at our disdain for a certain, film, actor or director until our fingers bleed and our butt’s asleep in the desk chair.
I’m guilty of this myself, (I probably know lines from Mystery Science Theatre 3000 as well as I do movie quotes), and I realize there are plenty of God-awful-throw-up-in-you-popcorn-crappy-made movies out there. I won’t give examples, lest some of what I consider garbage may be someone else’s favorite of all time. I also realize the service legitimate criticism is for helping us make smarter movie choices, instead of just drinking the Kool-Aid offered by every filmmaker.
I also know even movies I love are not perfect, and watching for mistakes can be part of the fun (admit it, you wait for the Storm Trooper in “Star Wars: A New Hope” to bash his head walking under the door, too). I’m sadly often a “book was better” utterer, but that doesn’t necessarily mean I disliked the film.
However, there is a difference between watching a movie with a critical eye, and with a jaded one. This vile-filled “everything you do, SUCKS” attitude complaining about A) poorly done effects, B) too-much eye-candy CGI sucking the life out the story, or C) pretty much everything else, comes across more petty than professionally-minded.
There are some who have made criticism-for-laughs a fine art, and I am fully supportive of these cyber-humorists as long as what they do they do out of fun, and not bitterness. Some of the one’s I’m prone to waste some time and having a laugh with include:
• Rifftrax: I made it through college and grad school with the help of MST3K, and the stars of this show (Michael J. Nelson, Kevin Murphy and Bill Corbett) have evolved beyond B-Movies and vintage film shorts to offering commentary tracks for many of today’s first-run hits (along with even more B-movie and vintage film shorts. Purchase a track to play in sync with your movie and let the fun begin). These guys are still the best at what they do, and what they do is bring the worst out of the best and the even worse out of the worst).
• Honest Movie Trailers: Found on the Screen Junkie’s YouTube channel, these “truthful” trailers do for blockbusters what Carfax does for used car salesmen, “where guys go to get honest and authoritative advice on what movies and TV shows they should watch and which ones aren’t worth the time.” It appears the only thing worth watching is their commentary, but it’s entertaining and, for lack of a better synonym, very, very honest — and blunt — indeed.
• CinemaSins: Another YouTube phenom not quite as popular as Honest Trailers, but gaining quite a following, this channel tallies up the mistakes, distractions, inconsistencies and anything else in films they deem unsatisfactory. Kind of a video combo of Rifftrax and Movie Mistakes, they point out some things you might not want to know about your favorite (or least favorite films).
Both Honest Movie Trailers and CinemaSins take suggestions from viewers of which films to slaughter next, so be prepared to watch even the biggest budget hits get torn to pieces, often with admittedly hysterical results.
It’s all right (better, actually) to watch movies with an open, critical mind, knowing you aren’t going to see a perfect specimen of film. Humans, after all, are the ones making movies and there is nothing less perfect than those gangly apes (yours truly included).
But, I leave you, fellow movie-watcher, with a word of caution and invitation: If you can do better, please do (no excuses about ‘I would if I had the money, manpower, etc’). Someday you may (I hope you do, because I want to see you do well), but when you do, be ready to join the other piñatas for the public pummeling.
Lisa Kay Tate
Staff Writer & Resident Geek Mom
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We all know the internet is full of useful information, be it how to stick a glass jar in your asshole, or how to steam a fish fillet in a dishwasher. This is not quite the stuff I like to look for generally (aw, who am I kidding…it totally is) BUT this week seemed to be ripe with all kinds of stuff I love so without further ado, here is the stuff I’ve found interesting so far this week! (more…)
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