From: v129j6ed@ubvmsb.cc.buffalo.edu (This is F.U.N.)
Newsgroups: rec.arts.sf.tv
Subject: Re: ST:DSN - the ULTIMATE COSMIC RIP-OFF!
Date: 8 Jan 93 20:29:00 GMT
Organization: University at Buffalo
News-Software: VAX/VMS VNEWS 1.41

In article <1993Jan8.164023.13066@julian.uwo.ca>, larocqu@gaul.csd.uwo.ca (JOHN LAROCQUE) writes...
>Everybody has probably seen the pilot by now, but I am going to treat
>the ST:DSN premiere as a spoiler anyways:
>This show is the greatest rip-off of SF movies and tv shows ever. Every
>other scene reminded me of other SF shows. So here goes.

Like there has been an original idea in writing for the past how many years?
Take a guess...

>1. This show rips off from ST:TNG. Yes, that's right. It's Star Trek. Why
>   shouldn't it? I thought about at least a dozen ST:TNG episodes, including
>   that Borg 2-parter reintroduced in the opener, and the space amoeba inside
>   a human being episode. By the way, that concept was ripped off (with style
>   and originality) from a Buck Rogers episode where Wilma's boyfriend is
>   a symbiote - his head and his body were two species acting together. Way
>   cool.

Don't blame the writers for the beginning episode, the TNG have been recycling
the same three plots for the past three seasons.  Can you name how many
episodes when Troi is the main character that she is either has trouble with
her empathy or is possessed.(mentally and physically invaded)  
Don't forget Total Recall's mutant in a mutant. 
Also, don't forget the Star Trek :TOS episode with the deadly fryed flying eggs
who use Spock to do some really back special effects work.

>4. Star Wars/Indiana Jones. Remember when the Perjoran Dalai Lama sends
>   Sisko on a quest to retrieve the "tears of the prophet". That's the
>   whole plot to IJ: The Temple of Doom. And that casino scene with the
>   alien scene harkened back to the cantina scene on Tatooine. I almost
>   expected Han Solo to pop a laser blast at Greedo here.

Your argument with the cantina scene is really out of line.  What did you
expect, a homo-sapians only club med bar or something.   It is a FEDERATION
OF PLANETS. There should be many races there, especially now.  I mean the
cantina scene in SW reeks of old Westerns.  Don't forget the Buck Rogers
casino in space.  The point is, that casino/cantina would exist in latter
centuries.  They should have similiar qualities to them, or they would
be not casinoes/bars.   
I didn't care for the religious quest.

>5. Battlestar Galactica. Sisko's shuttle side arms reminded me of the
>   much larger Galactica ship. When that shuttle entered the TV screen
>   from the right side, I almost expected Adama to whine about the evil
>   Cylons and the music to the show to start up. Oh, the casino scene
>   also reminded me of the casino on Carillon (where the evil Ovions eat
>   human beings). "Blue Squadron leader to Galactica, over".

It is also similiar to the Buck Rogers fighter launcher too.  (they were
done by the same production team)  I have to wonder thou, unless you 
expect the smaller ships to be harriers, how they would be launched from a 
ship/space station. 

>6. James Bond. Yes, that whole space station is almost identical to 
>   Blofelds complex in The Spy who Loved Me. (his was undersea, but who
>   cares). And I almost crack up thinking about Moonraker. "Oh James,
>   take me around the world one more time).

Too bad Blofeld was never in The Spy Who Loved Me.  It was some ocean
freak(can't remember his name, but he was forgettable).  Maybe Lucas
could sue the military.  The space shuttle kinda me of some of his ships.
It seems you are being way too picky on stuff. 

>7. Terminator II. The shape shifter here morphs just like the T2000.
>   Way cool.

Personally, I think he will turn into Benson for a cameo, eventually.

>8. Babylon 5. The whole plot stinks of theft here. But this is Star Trek,
>   so expect them to make something original of it all. And there are 
>   enough unsolved issues in the premiere to provice many TV hours of
>   enjoyment.

I heard about this, and the evidence seems to fit that description.
However, it seems that there are more differences between the show than
there are similiarities.  Sure they both are in a space station, and they
have multiple races there.  Those factors should be wiped from your mind.

>Now that Gene is dead, apparently the guys at Paramount are letting their
>SF influences really show. This premiere has many of them. Say, did anybody
>watch the Space Rangers premiere. I missed it, but with one person here
>comparing it to "A-Team in space" I have definitely got to check it out.

Great, That means one of the space rangers has a fear of flying in space.
What I would like to see is that Paramount and Rick Berman to loosen their
grip on all Star Trek books, comics, and so forth.  That limits different
stories.  My main example is the 1st DC Star Trek comic book series. When
they cancelled it, some of the best writing was being taken place, and was
cancelled because the made for series supporting characters were being given
some limelight, and were becoming very interesting. Paramount wanted only
the regular seven to be looked, and the other characters were done away with.

>Bubble gum for the mind, just like V, Battlestar Galactica and the $6
>Million Man. I loved them all. Unintelligent SF adventure and proud of it.

Don't forget Doctor Who and Blake's Seven.(I hope we dont get a discussion
on B7. That would really tick me off)


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"If you love your foot, dive for it!" - The Power of Lard - Lard
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Jef Kolodziej                    Cliche Dude                    The KaTeFan(tm)
v129j6ed@ubvms.cc.buffalo.edu           State University of New York at Buffalo
History Major                                                  611 LaSalle Ave.
(716) 834-2606                                                Buffalo, NY 14215