Monday, August 22, 2011

Star Trek Blogfest & Conan Review

Today is Ellie Garratt’s Star Trek Blogfest!

While not geeky enough to ever dress the part, I am a Trekkie and proud of it. So I have chosen to list my top five favorite episodes, choosing one from each of the series. Enjoy my snarky descriptions!


Star Trek: Deep Space 9 - "Trials and Tribble-ations" Season 5 Episode 6
This episode merges DS9 with the classic Trek episode "The Trouble with Tribbles.” The episode has so many great moments and scenes. In particular, Worf attempting to explain why his Klingon brethren look so different. Hilarious!



Star Trek: TNG - "Cause and Effect" Season 5 Episode 18
The Enterprise becomes trapped in a causality loop and keeps repeating the last few hours before the ship is destroyed. This is Trek at its best, combining time travel and déjà vu. The writing is sharp and the episode plays out like a great mystery.


Star Trek: Voyager - "Timeless" Season 5 Episode 6
An experiment with a faster-than-light drive causes Kim and Chakotay to make it back to earth in the Delta Flyer, but Voyager crash lands on an ice planet and everyone dies. Talk about an opening that will keep you on the edge of your seat. This episode deals with Kim and Chakotay trying to alter the timeline that has tormented them for so many years. A really great time paradox story and the appearance of Geordi La Forge (Directed by LeVar Burton) make this one of the best.


Star Trek: The Original Series - "Operation: Annihilate!” Season 1 Episode 29
One of my all time favs, this episode introduced an intelligent hive-mind society of creatures hell bent on destroying the universe. As a youngster, my version of aliens always revolved around bipedal entities. This episode blew all of my preconceived notions out of the water with these creepy flying sac creatures. Not just a creature feature episode, these guys had purpose and plan.



Star Trek: Enterprise - "Bound" Season 4 Episode 17
What is it about Orion Slave Girls (the green chicks in the bikinis) that I find so attractive? Well, this episode sheds some light and reveals that they are not the meek servants they appear to be. Funny and sexy, this episode will make you think twice about approaching a hot Orion girl at your local watering hole.


Conan the Barbarian
To quote Conan – “I live, I love, I slay.”
Yes, that pretty much sums up the movie. Conan was everything I expected – great sets and scenery, swordfights and battles, sorcery, and a few half-naked women. This version is nothing like the Schwarzenegger movie and moves at a faster pace. If you dig Conan or sword and sorcery, you’ll enjoy it. No, it’s not deep. No, it’s not great. No, it won’t change your life. But for two hours, you get to live a kick-butt life through Conan. (And ladies, not only is he shirtless for much of the film, you get to see him naked – so there’s eye candy for everyone.)

Anyone else see Conan? (I’ll be hitting Fright Night this coming weekend. Or maybe Don't Be Afraid of the Dark?) Any favorite Star Trek episodes or characters? Are you still wondering what the heck’s a Tribble…?

110 comments:

Jeff Beesler said...

I am fond of the Mirror Universe episodes in Star Trek and DS9. I also like the episode of TNG where they all get addicted to that game.

Old Kitty said...

Alex J Cavanaugh! I went and said aloud: "but Conan wasn't in Star Trek"! LOL!!!!!

I loved that scene where Worf tries to explain why he looks so different to the Klingons of the original Tribbles! Loved it!

Yay for these choices - sans Conan! Or rather Conan sans pretty much everything else. Awww I like the Arnie film - cos of fabulous Grace Jones! That bit where she squeaked when she saw a rat - and that's after having bulldozed a whole army..!

Take care
x

Anonymous said...

Haven't seen Conan yet, but I'm a huge fan of the originals - dying to see it:)

Laila Knight said...

Alex, your are a most noteworthy Trekkie...live long and prosper. I loved it that you picked Trials and Tribulations as your first and did't stick with just the old Star Trek. :)

Conan get naked?! Woohoo!

Nice review.

Martin T. Ingham said...

Excellent pick with Timeless. That is one of my favorite Voyager episodes, and I considered going with it for the blogfest, but I ended up picking The Year of Hell.

Rhonda @Laugh Quotes said...

Somedays I think I am the only person around that doesn't like Star Trek.

Alex J. Cavanaugh said...

Jeffrey I remember that one!

Kitty, Khan was in Star Trek, and he was a bit barbaric...

Laila, that episode is the best.

Martin, it was difficult to choose.

Rhonda, that's all right - my mom can't stand Star Trek.

Rusty Carl said...

Great picks all way round. Star Trek is near and dear to me, so much so that what I think is my earliest memory does involve Star Trek. That says a lot considering I don't think my parents ever cared for the show.

I was gonna see Conan but wound up seeing Cowboys & Aliens instead.

Will Burke said...

Damn, it's been awhile since |I've watched episodes, so I'm a little rusty. I did recently re-watch First Contact, and the humor and drama are all there in abundance! I just anounce that I'll be re-posting my Cassastar review tomorrow, so I thought I'd give you a head's up. Cheers!

kjmckendry said...

Those sound like great episodes. I had a hard time getting into the newer ones without the original cast. There was just something about Kirk that was irresistible!

Unknown said...

Loved the original Conan, have been waiting to hear about this one and now I am for sure looking forward to it :)

Tara Tyler said...

nice job on the star trek fest, i love the tribbles!
and the industry has turned conan, like so many other remakes, into a hi tech, hi action, fast paced flick for the ADHD generation of today!

Donna K. Weaver said...

Love your selection of episodes, Alex. Will all the various ST series and episodes to choose from, it was hard.

Isis Rushdan said...

I forgot about that Tribble episode. Too funny.

Conan doesn't come out here in the UK until Wed. I own the original Conan (not ashamed to say it) so I'm interested to see the new one. Glad you enjoyed it.

Hutch said...

Love those episodes to, but there are not a lot I don't like.

julie fedderson said...

Great picks Alex! "Cause and Effect" is great. Conan is totally worth seeing based on his moobs alone.

Talli Roland said...

Voyager! That's it! I was trying to remember the name of the ship. Thanks, Alex!

Huntress said...

Star Trek's longevity is amazing.
Kids, adults, grandparents - what a generational series.

Jemi Fraser said...

I love when Worf has to explain those images - hilarious!! And Tribbles of any kind have to be a favourite :)

Jules said...

I loved the original tribble episode! I don't remember the Deep Space 9 one, though I'm sure I saw it. :)
Jules @ Trying To Get Over The Rainbow

Carol Kilgore said...

Alex the Trekkie! I think I've seen some of those episodes, but not sure.
Your friend,
Carol
Not a Trekkie :(

Luanne G. Smith said...

Original Star Trek will always be my favorite. Loved that show as a kid.


And you've sold me on Conan. Sometimes sword fights, sorcery, and a naked butt is all a gal needs in a movie. :D

Charles Gramlich said...

Mirror Mirror is my favorte Trek. Space seed is number 2. Trouble with tribbles is up there of course. It's my favorite humorous episode.

Anonymous said...

That DS9 episode is one of my all-time favorites. Stinks that Netflix streaming doesn't carry DS9 -- they've got all the other series.

Karen Lange said...

I had forgotten there were so many versions of Star Trek. Have seen a handful of TNG episodes. Does that make me a trekkie?

Michelle Gregory said...

Cause and Effect is one of my all time favorite episodes. wish i'd had time to participate, but life's been crazy.

Karen Jones Gowen said...

I probably will pass on Conan LOL, but I sure wish there were new Star Trek movies coming out regularly, like in the old days. . .

Anonymous said...

Thanks for the review of Conan. I'll be seeing that this week. Previews for Fright Night look pretty cool too.

Bossy Betty said...

I do think it's time for the Trekkie costume.

Unknown said...

i have a tribble under my bed... wait i have two tribbles under my bed... wait.

trek is for everyone, it has served as a galactic peace for decades. thank you for it being part of yours.

jeremy

ps. conan... i am interested in it, but not until the dvd.

Bkloss said...

Okay, so you've convinced me to see Conan. It looked interesting, but I wasn't sure if I wanted to spend the money.

Favorite Star Trek episode? I like the few I've seen (please don't kill me) but I'm more of a Star Wars nerd. :)

Ellie Garratt said...

Tribbles. Gotta love them!

Awesome choices!

~Sia McKye~ said...

I loved Star Trek. The only one I couldn't get into was Enterprise. I have lots of favorite episodes and I've watched these series many times. I love it when one of the networks, like Scify channel, does reruns.

There's a new Conan? I've only seen Arnold's. I'll have to check it out.

Hubs and I watched an older movie we hadn't seen. I rant about it a bit on my blog today.

Sia McKye's Thoughts...OVER COFFEE

Alex J. Cavanaugh said...

Rusty, my parents didn't watch it either. What did you think of Cowboys & Aliens?

Thanks again, Will! And that's probably my favorite movie.

Tara, not to mention 3D! I just saw the 2D version though.

Isis, it's nothing really special, but it was two hours of fun.

Julie, I didn't notice the moobs, although I'm sure my wife did...

Huntress, you're right. And looks like it will live forever.

Carol, that's all right!

LG, you will get your naked butt an more.

Milo, yeah, I had to see them all again by ordering.

Karen, Trekkie if you're a casual fan, Trekker if you're serious.

Stephen, I'll probably hit Fright Night this weekend. Maybe I'll make it a double feature.

Jeremy, bet there are dozens of Tribble now!

Sia, but it does take a knowledge of Enterprise to understand the humor of Scotty beaming Archer's beagle into the unknown in the latest movie!

Michael Offutt, Phantom Reader said...

Great overview of Trek sir. I did see Conan and it was pretty terrible. Bleh. I am so disappoint.

Hart Johnson said...

Ha!!! naked Conan sounds like the kind of incentive that might get me there when otherwise I might not...

And I am giggling about your green in a bikini fetish... *snort*

PK HREZO said...

ooo yeah I'll be checking out Conan when it makes its appearance on DVD. ;)Bringing that bad boy home with me.
I totally forgot about that NG episode with the loop. That one was AWESOME!! Definitely one of the best.
This was so much fun.

Suze said...

Alex, did you ever watch the 'Freaks and Geeks' episode where they went to the Star Trek convention and all dressed up? Classic. I was trying to find a link to share with you but, sadly, did not locate one.

RHYTHM AND RHYME said...

Alex! you are a true Trekkie in everysense of the word. May the forsce be with you,
Yvonne.

Doralynn Kennedy said...

This blogfest looks like a lot of fun. Like I told Clarissa, I love Star Trek, and I'm currently watching all the original episodes on Netflix.

M.J. Fifield said...

I'm not a Star Trek fan, although I really did enjoy JJ Abrams's film version a few years back.

My mother used to watch the original Star Trek though and so I remember approximately three episodes. One was "The Trouble With Tribbles", one involved everyone stuck on some deadly fantasy planet thing (I really don't know) and the third episode had Kirk and Spock in 1930s America.

Susan Gourley/Kelley said...

I only ever watched the original Trek but I really want to see Conan.

Alex J. Cavanaugh said...

Michael, it coulc've been better, but I wasn't expecting a lot, so I was okay with it.

Hart, we all have our fetishes, right?

PK, so far it's a blast!

Never seen it, but I did watch the Trekkies documentary a few years back. Now those people are crazy.

Doralynn, good for you!

MJ, someone else mentioned that last episode as one of their favorites - good memory.

Mark said...

Oh, man, I'm a Trekkie too and this list warms the cockles of my heart, thanks:)

Dan said...

Star Trek excelled at taking riduculous premises and making great stories out of them. I described "Op: A" to my wife (who's never gotten into Star Trek) as the crew gets attacked by killer pancakes. Despite that, it's a deeply textured episode about survival and loss.

Great list.

Dan

L. Diane Wolfe said...

Tribbles are everywhere today.
My favorite will always be the Next Generation episode where Worf is bounced between timelines and in one, he's with Deanna. Almost sad it never worked out.

Danette said...

All great episodes of Star Trek. Wasn't a fan of Enterprise myself but was glad that it still kept the franchise visible. Cheers!

Heather M. Gardner said...

I'm not as well versed in Trek as I am in other geeky pleasures...wait...that sounded all wrong.

But I did enjoy your snarky comments!

I don't care if Fright Night is good or not...it's got Colin in it and he is a vampire that kills humans.

Just like Evil Mother Nature intended.

;)

Maurice Mitchell said...

Amazing. You managed to find a good episode of every series including the horrible "Enterprise." Great work Alex. "Cause and effect" is my fav too.

Christine Rains said...

Excellent choices on the episodes. "Timeless" is one of my favorites, but I have so many favorites!

M Pax said...

Deep Space Nine was a good series. It was so hard to pick just 5.

Dang, I was hoping Conan would change me life. Now what? :)

Jennie Bailey said...

You get to see Momoa NAKED? I am so there this week! I'm hesitating about Fright Night though. Maybe I'll wait until your review. The original was so cheesey perfect that I was a little ticked that they did a remake.

Unknown said...

I thought I left a comment but somehow I ended up at the very bottom. Oh well, better late than never. Great choices. At first I thought your last entry was Onion Slave Girls. I thought, what an odd title...

Tonja said...

I don't remember any of this in any kind of detail, but I am willing to wear the costume.

Mary@GigglesandGuns said...

No way I could choose a favorite episode-- too hard. It almost scared me that I could picture each of the ones you chose.

o amount of eye candy could make me see Conan.

Pearl said...

Conan the Mostly Naked Barbarian.

I think they screwed up naming that one...

Pearl

George Beremov [Nebular] said...

Not a big Star Trek fan.. Having said that, I absolutely loved the 2009 full length movie :)

So according to your review, "Conan" was, well, watchable? That's good enough for me to check it out. Did you pay attention to the scenery, Alex? You know it was shot in my country :)

Alex J. Cavanaugh said...

Karen, that's because I've seen each multiple times!

Dan, did your wife believe the one about the killer pancakes?

Diane, he was saving himself for Dax.

Thanks, Maurice!

Mary, maybe if you met him in person?

Jennie, that's how I feel, but it's gotten some great reviews.

Clarissa, hungry?

Mary, that just means you're Trek cool.

George, was it? The scenery was amazing. And yes, watchable. Especially if you dig that sort of thing.

Sarah McCabe said...

I really want to see Conan. Anyone wiling to watch my kids? I promise they won't cause any lasting psychological damage... not much anyway.

Elizabeth Mueller said...

Great Star Trek pics! How can I choose a favorite star amongts the night sky?


Don't you know what a Tribble is? They are Data's furballs! :P

♥.•*¨Elizabeth¨*•.♥
Can Alex save Winter from the darkness that hunts her?
YA Paranormal Romance, Darkspell coming fall of 2011!

Rusty Carl said...

Alex - loved Cowboys and Aliens. Didn't read reviews so I don't know the consensus was. Thought the Alien's reason for invading was stupid, but all alien invasion movies have the same problem so it's no big deal.

Sarah Ahiers said...

Yay for eye candy for the womens!!
I probably won't get around to see it until it's on DVD. Then again, i'm still holding onto Black Swan, which netflix sent me like 3 months ago, so who knows.

Belle said...

Cause and Effect was such a great show. Love your list.

Alex J. Cavanaugh said...

Sarah, I would, but I'm allergic.

Elizabeth, that's good!

Rusty, that's why I don't take those kind of movies too seriously.

Sarah, that's a long time!

Susan Oloier said...

I have only ever seen a few episodes of the original Star Trek. No movies. I know, I am probably shunned now :-)

Copyboy said...

This is your best blogfest yet!!! I've been warping to all the blogs and reliving some awesome episodes. You like how I got Warp in there? Impressive. Right? ENGAGE!!!

Elisa DeLany said...

Love your list, Alex, and the Tribbles. But not Conan. Love the original version too much to embrace a Conan that actually talks in words and sentences and not in agguubawwahhggaa noises.

Amy said...

Great list! Gotta love those Tribbles! There are so many great episodes from each of the series that it's so hard to pick a favorite, but Star Trek: TNG - "Cause and Effect" is one of mine too! :)

Unknown said...

I haven't seen Conan yet but my hubby is a huge Conan fan. Sounds like a pretty good flick. Thanks for sharing.

Sarah Tokeley said...

I'm torn about the Conan thing. On the one hand, I love the original so much I'm afraid to watch a remake but on the other...shirtless.

Fright Night is another I want to see. David Tennant. I like his acting. Stop laughing.

As for Star Trek, I'm with you except for the Enterprise series. I just couldn't get into it.

Karen M. Peterson said...

I guess I'm not that huge of a Star Trek fan since the only series I really liked was Next Gen. But I LOVED Next Generation. Loved it so much. And "Cause and Effect" was my very favorite episode too.

GYPSYWOMAN said...

oh, wow! what a dialogue over here! - star trek, conan, voyager! be still my heart!

just dropping by to say hello, mister c! have a great remainder of the evening!

Alex J. Cavanaugh said...

Susan, there is no shunning here!

Copyboy, I'm always impressed.

Marlena, that made me chuckle!

Amy, that one wins hands down.

Sarah, the new Conan is so different from the original though.

Karen, that makes you cool!

Thank you, Gypsywoman!

Luna said...

I'm going to admit this here. I used to watch Star Trek with my dad, but only because I had a crush on Wil Wheaton. :)

Charlie said...

I've never been a fan of Orion slave girls, but I did love that episode. Great twist.

Thanks for sharing your favs!

Luna said...

Looking forward to your review of either Fright Night or Don't Be Afraid of the Dark!

Mary Aalgaard said...

I liked the original Star Trek cast and show. There's one where they land on a planet where the kids have grown up w/o adults. That one was interesting.

Kelly Polark said...

Alex, I love your clarification that you've never dressed the part! :)
And I've never seen a full Star Trek episode or movie in my life...
But I love Star Wars!

alexia said...

I'm not as familiar with Star Trek as I am Star Wars, though I did see the new movie and loved it!

msmariah said...

Hi Alex-- Great list. Wasn't that tribbles episode one of the best? I really liked that one. Your Conan review is hilarious. Like you I secretly want to see this one.

I think you should definitely see Fright Night. It's a superb remake.

mshatch said...

I loved that groundhog day episode. Stargate did something like that a few times and I think those were some of my favorites.

Alex J. Cavanaugh said...

Jamie, you young thing!

Mary, I remember that one.

Kelly, never? We need to talk...

MsMariah, glad it amused you. I'll let you know what I though of Fright Night next week.

MsHatch, and the one with Jack and Teal'c repeating their day is my favorite!

Donea Lee said...

How did I not add Trials and Tribble-ations to my list?? That ep was too good. :)

Empty Nest Insider said...

I'm still wondering why William Shatner has more hair now, than he did when he starred in Star Trek in the 60's. Julie

Rawknrobyn.blogspot.com said...

This was a fun post, Alex, even for this non-trekkie. I'm still wondering why William got so big (i.e., kinda fat). I'd rather see a skinny, bald Shatner.
xoRobyn

Lynda R Young as Elle Cardy said...

Conan won't change my life? Pfft.
He does have funny eyebrows though...

Enid Wilson said...

I love watching Star Trek in Italian (I was on holiday in Italy then). I was totally in the fog, relying on actions and expressions, instead of the words. Very trekkie experience.

Every Savage Can Reproduce

Lisa said...

who is Conan in the movie, coz I do not want to see a naked Swaznegger.

Alex J. Cavanaugh said...

Donea, it was epic!

Julie, good question!

Robyn, he still gets around well for a dude who's about eighty.

Enid, sounds surreal.

Oceagirl, neither do I! It's Jason Momoa, who was Ronin in Stargate Atlantis.

Elizabeth Spann Craig said...

I'm not much of a Conan fan, I'll admit! But I'm glad it was good entertainment. Loved your Star Trek fave episodes!

Aleta said...

Do you know how Conan did with rotten tomato? Greg lives by those results, me, not so much. I'd like to see it, just for the heck of it.

And yes, I'm a Trekkie too :)

Anonymous said...

I may have to see Conan on the big screen...

Alex J. Cavanaugh said...

Born, DS9 was my favorite of the five series.

Aleta, afraid not well. But neither did Green Lantern and I enjoyed that one.

Sangu Mandanna said...

I wish I'd gotten into Star Trek when I was younger. I never did and I often feel like I missed out. Think I'm too late to jump in?

Patricia Stoltey said...

I love Tribbles, and we still go back and watch Star Trek episodes from time to time. Always enjoy picking out the characters who will be "fodder" for that segment. :)

Ciara said...

I've seen every episode of Star Trek about a million times. I love all the originals. Oh, and loved the new movie. Any word on when the next one will be coming out.
Okay, I give, I'll have to see Conan. :)

Leovi said...

I had no choice but to dedicate my post Star Trek. Not only are a great lover and conecedor of this saga, but also a writer of science fiction, if I ever find a book of yours in Spanish, maybe you can tell that you are very good. Greetings.

Margo Berendsen said...

Somehow I missed "Timeless" - sounds like a Voyager episode I will have to find, for sure! - I love time twists. And LaForge? Yay!

Alex J. Cavanaugh said...

Born, we'll just have to keep hoping for that. Still waiting for some idiot to decide Hollywood needs to remake Raiders.
So many fans didn't like DS9 because they we're traveling, but I thought that was its strength. It offered the best writing and the best characters overall. And after watching Voyager on NetFlix a few times, I've learned to really appreciate that series.

Sangu, they just started the new movies - why not?

Ciara, they've changed the release date since I last looked...

Leovi, I hope someday you can! Although you do very, very well with English.

SpacerGuy said...

I love it when the fuzzy little tribble has a panic attack and exposes the klingon.

Golden Eagle said...

I've never seen Star Trek--which it seems I'll have to fix sometime or another!

Nicki Elson said...

Ohhhh, I thought you meant Conan O'Brien.

Ella said...

I love Star Trek; I remember racing home from school to watch Dark Shadows and Star Trek. Tribbles look so innocent n' cute. My brother had a lot of the plastic men and his own Communicator. I was to be the Alien...funny, that is another nickname my husband has for me. Aliellen, lol. Fine with me~

Yes, green women, auras ,furry balls and odd rocks...I loved the endless imaginative journeys this series took me on~ Fun to read your picks~

I loved the dynamic between Captain Kirk and Spock. I also loved Lt. Uhura; Bones bothered me.

Alex J. Cavanaugh said...

Golden! We need to fix that.

I know the Little Fuzzy books.

Ella, you are no alien!

Chuck said...

I guess I am not the Star Trek geek we all aspire to be...I can name very few episodes. My main addiction to Star Trek lay in the original series. Seems so campy today but those shows, as a kid, were spellbinding to me. I am sure I will see Conan when it hits video. Too hot out even to go to the theatre.

Kimberly said...

I love Star Trek. I also loved the original series but I loved the new ones just as much. :)

Dave said...

You were far more disciplined than I was. Well done. One per series was something I just couldn't stick to. Operation -- Annihilate! and Bound are great suggestions and not episodes that always top these sort of lists...

Dave
Dave Wrote This

Elizabeth Mueller said...

Alex, LOL! Sorry, I meant to say that Tribbles are Data's cat, Spot's furballs! Lol...

♥.•*¨Elizabeth¨*•.♥
Can Alex save Winter from the darkness that hunts her?
YA Paranormal Romance, Darkspell coming fall of 2011!

Alex J. Cavanaugh said...

Chuck, campy but fun!

Thanks, Dave! I decided to just stick to episodes and it did take me a while to select one from Enterprise.

Elizabeth, that makes more sense!

Anonymous said...

That's a good list, and thanks for warping around the Federation with us. I notice that you seem to be fond of time-travel episodes!

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