You're right, M'Benga's only other appearance is "That Which Survives," but I believe he is mentioned in passing by McCoy in one other episode. His experience as a human among Vulcans would have made for some interesting parallels to Spock as a Vulcan among humans. If TOS were produced today, he would probably get at leas one ongoing story arc per season! Just goes to show how different the approach is to serial/serialized drama and continuity today. (Chris, I had never thought about the inconsistency re: McCoy's complaints about Vulcan anatomy and internal medicine!)
I wanted to read "Vulcan Academy Murders" for the longest time as a kid, but it was never in my local bookstores, and this was way pre-Internet shopping. When I was finally given a copy, it was a HUGE disappointment. Maybe you will like it better than I did. "The Klingon Gambit" is # 2 or 3 in the series, but I have never read it. I didn't like "The Final Reflection," either, but it is notable for being the first in-depth (although non-canonical) exploration of Kilngons in their own right, and apparently it is highly regarded by many fans. I've occasionally thought I should give it another try (but I probably won't -- life's too short). I also never got the appeal of John M. Ford's other Trek novel, "How Much for Just the Planet?" That's another one with a huge fan following, but the appeal eludes me.
I like the idea of soliciting feedback in advance. I'll try to send in some thoughts before next time!
For argument's sake: if the shuttlecraft "Galileo" in "The Galileo Seven" counts as Spock's first command (McCoy: "And so ends your first command"), then the "D'Artangan" should get to count as Sulu's first command, whether or not it's "just a shuttle." And, frankly, I wouldn't want to be on a shuttlecraft with a commanding officer who was of the mindset, "This doesn't count as a command, it's just a shuttlecraft." Just sayin', there's precedent.
"All women are unstable at their core"? No less so than all men.
Data may not be "alive," but if you deny his sentience and capacity for growth and self-determination, you're undercutting an awful lot of later TNG stories and pretty much gutting the character as he's presented. Maybe that's a legitimate choice, but, if so, what's the point? Why have him at all -- except, I guess, to be that Spock-esque commentator on humanity? That second season episode you allude to lists the scientific criteria of defining life, and the script (at least) determines that Data meets each and every one of them (although I suppose one could argue the opposite point, that the definitions have to be stretched to include him). And surely he passes the Turing test with flying colors (that's the scenario Chris alludes to -- an artificial intelligence indistinguishable from the real thing). Anyway, I'll be looking forward to hearing more on this subject when we get there, because it is one of the more interesting conundrums TNG posed. It does seem counter-intuitive that this android would be declared life ("We are called to seek new life? Well there it sits!"), but that does seem to be pretty firmly where TNG came down on the question.
I don't know bootlegs, but FSM is now shipping a massive box set of all of Ron Jones' TNG stores except "Best of Both Worlds" (to which GNP Crescendo still has the rights) --
http://www.screenarchives.com/title_det ... -PRE-ORDER. As it's $150, though, I don't think I'll be getting it any time soon!
I don't think it's ever been done, but someone in a fan forum years ago speculated that maybe Dr. Crusher's "year at Starfleet Medical" was really a time in which she was working in some capacity, willing or unwilling, for Section 31. I don't care for the idea of Section 31, but I would enjoy that story, I have to admit!
The other reason the adults' treatment of Wesley doesn't make sense is that just a few months earlier, in "Where No Man Has Gone Before," Riker didn't listen to Wesley about the Traveler, and later acknowledged he should have. I don't have any great love for Wesley, either, so it doesn't keep me up at night; but it's just another sign of how poorly put together this episode (and, indeed, most of the first season) was cobbled together.
Scott, maybe this'll surprise you, but I agree with your criticisms re: the Borg Queen. That, I think, is a far better reason to dislike "First Contact" than anything about the Vulcans, per our earlier discussions. For my own part, I manage somehow to "buy it" enough for the duration of the movie, because I think that Alice Krige does a fantastic job with the role; but there's no denying that the concept *behind* the role is flawed, and that only becomes more apparent as the role "evolves" in "Voyager." So I think you're right, it is a very strong strike against that film, even if I come out at a more positive view of the film as a whole than you do.
On a non-Trek note, I was really interested to hear, in fuller detail, the story of Scott's employment with Disney. Again, many congratulations and very best wishes as you start! Sounds like you handled the "casting" interview in just the right way. It's an awesome thing when people can get the jobs they want, where they want, and I am really happy for you, and I hope this will be the beginning of many long and happy years of employment with the company. Very awesome. We are tentatively planning a trip to WDW 4 years from now -- you'll have to let me know your job and shift at that time so we can say hi!
And Chris -- spill those pinnacle beans! We need a chance to cheer for you, too!
