From: larocqu@gaul.csd.uwo.ca (JOHN LAROCQUE)
Subject: ST:DSN - the ULTIMATE COSMIC RIP-OFF!
Organization: Computer Science Dept., Univ. of Western Ontario, London, Canada
Date: Fri, 8 Jan 1993 16:40:23 GMT

Everybody has probably seen the pilot by now, but I am going to treat
the ST:DSN premiere as a spoiler anyways:

^L

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.

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.

2. 2001: A Space Odyssey. The entire wormhole sequence was a half minute
   version of Dave's ride to Saturn. And when he landed on that planetoid
   in the wormhole and gets knocked out - that WHOLE scene harkens back to
   when Dave lands and remembers his entire life experiences. Real neat, 
   except here Captain Sisko actually talks to his captors and explains 
   to God why human beings exist in linear time and have a beginning and an
   end. The station sort of reminds me of Dave jogging around the circles
   in his ship. Way cool.

3. Alien Nation. The pimples on that symbiote babe remind me of that one.

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.

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".

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).

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

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.

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.
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. Unlike Star Trek which is watered down SF adventure, sometimes
intelligent plots and lots of soap opera. I like Star Trek too, but am
smart enough to admit the series many flaws (I am getting real tired
of the TNG crew and that whole sterile flawless space ship). DSN should
give Trek some new life for a few seasons, and allow TNG to die and
come back as a movie series after this season. And Captain Sisko is the
greatest character - a guy with an attitude.

Keep on Trekkin'

-- 
***FEAR*AND*LOATHING**FEAR*AND*LOATHING**FEAR*AND*LOATHING**FEAR*AND*LOATHING**
**  John LaRocque         **   "If you're the new messiah.. I'm going to be  **
**  marshall.law@uwo.ca   **   the one to drive in the nails"  MARSHALL LAW  **
***FEAR*AND*LOATHING**FEAR*AND*LOATHING**FEAR*AND*LOATHING**FEAR*AND*LOATHING**
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