Spoiler warning: do not read this post if you haven't seen Star Trek: Nemesis.

I was genuinely shocked and saddened that Data died. It's been such a long time since I thought about that show, or since I respected what the writers of the movies have done with them. First Contact was OK, but I thought that they seriously underplayed the dramatic tension of Data's temptation by the pleasures of the flesh, and the ending turned out to be, once again, Data ex machina. The rest of the cast were pretty superfluous to the defeat of the Borg, and I was oddly reminded of the old Superman tv show: one capable hero surrounded by hapless mortals. I really enjoyed parts of it a lot, but in the end, it felt precious. Insurrectionwas a second-rate episode, padded out with a higher budget. Nemesis was a good Trek film, but in many ways sadly still just a Trek film.

Some examples of what I mean: when Picard, Worf and Data go looking for the other android in the desert, who are those guys who attack them? What prompts them to start shooting? What do they hope to accomplish? Who do they think our three heroes are, anyway? Other than adding a few more explosions and a chase scene, what does it add to the plot? Frankly, since we knew that the film-makers were not going to kill off major characters so gratuitously that early into the film, we know that the good guys are in no danger, so the scene lacks any dramatic urgency or interest.

Also, why does Shinzon fixate on Troi, and attempt to telepathically rape her? I mean, yes, she's the first human woman he's ever seen, and he's clearly had a horribly abusive childhood, but why does this kind of shit always happen to Troi? It seems confusing considering that this guy has seen Troi for all of 2 minutes. Also, the imposition of Shinzon on Riker was a great choice, and the scene would have been really powerful if they had filmed it properly. Do you really expect me to believe that Troi still has a sheet tucked demurely up over her breasts when she and Riker are fucking? If so, it implies a distinct chasteness and propriety between them that rather undercuts the dramatic power of their bond.

Why is Worf in Starfleet uniform? Why is he part of the crew? I can see him being there as a wedding guest, but as of the finale of DS9 and the end of the Dominion war, Worf is Federation ambassador. Why is he back as a mere Lt. Commander in the service? I can accept that he could have made this choice, but might he not feel a certain loyalty to his adopted brother, now serving as High Chancellor? I can understand not wanting to get bogged down in Trek continuity, but

I did like a few things--the Romulans didn't appear much, but they were interestingly ambitious and yet principled characters. I liked that, having set up yet another mind-rape for Troi (if not the audience), they actually allow her empathic abilities to be useful by allowing her to turn the tables on her telepathic attacker. Troi's greatest enemies on this show have always been the writers who marginalized her abilities, and it was nice to see her get SOMETHING out of them. Properly speaking, she should have been the most dangerous bad-ass on the ship if she wanted, but one wouldn't know it from watching the show.

I like that the big action was broken up for a conversation, and in it Picard offered the bad guy a moral argument and a moral choice. It's always sad when said bad guy chooses to embrace his wickedness instead of making a hopeful or redemptive choice. (I was reminded of the Saruman/Gandalf confrontation that Peter Jackson didn't yet show us in Two Towers.) A good choice, and a very Trek choice, too.

And, of course, Data died. Heroically. Stoically. Willingly. But, still, boom--gone. I like that the characters were allowed to grieve on screen, and I like that the movie gave us enough of Data doing stuff other than being super-smart and super-capable to make his loss ache. Such a waste, just like Shinzon....

I'm sorry that Nemesis wasn't better, but I'm glad that they have ended these movies with a pretty good swansong. I wish that they'd give up on the feature films, and make a new TV series, or have TV specials, or something that would allow a broader and slower canvass.

And I do wonder what will happen to the folks from DS9. And without Data, now what will they do when the Borg attack?

Life update:

I have started working at Modern Myths, and so far it seems to be going well. I must remember to eat and maintain a good blood sugar level for my shifts--I seem to be more susceptible to that wasted feeling than I was when last I worked a service, stay-on-my-feet-for-hours job. One benefit is that I have finally had to break down a get a new watch. It's a pity I can't seem to get around to fixing the old one, but at least the new one is cool.

I got said watch yesterday, as a part of a shopping spree with Filthyassistant. The day began way too early in the morning for either of our likings, but she was accompanying me to provide moral support and possible testimony at an insurance hearing. I was protesting a rate hike that I got hit with two years ago for an accident that was not, I think, more than 50% my fault. We had to be there by 9:30, and we were done in an hour. After that, we went up to Barnes & Noble and then Holyoke Mall. Over the course of a day wandering about spending money, I/we managed to acquire the following:

I got a $3 copy of the Fountainhead, a book I suspect I shall find a big, fat pile of pretentious, arrogant crap mixed in with some repressed sexual hangups (a la Jirel of Joiry), but we'll see. I got a little stuffed tiger kitten as a travel kitty (name TBD), and went halfsies with FA on a rather ginormous stuffed lion for Sydneycat. I got a few cds for a lot less than the normal ripoff prices at FYE (Talking Heads, Bjork, System of a Down), some trousers at J.C. Penney, a new pocket watch at the watch place, and a cookie. I don't know where the cookie is, anymore.

Then we had dinner at SC's with her and Sinsselfchosen, watched some OK tv, and reflected that I like spending time with them. Finally, FA and I did some one on one gaming to get ready for tomorrow's possibly suicidal (or worse, un-suicidal) expedition to Barovia. We didn't get it all done, but we do know enough to proceed. Now I'm sitting in my carrel at the library, typing this instead of reading, but feeling OK because I am not only keeping my butt in the chair and writing something, this is something I have meant to do for a while. So there. Later today I shall train at Modern Myths while Millari trains on the sound board the Flywheel, and then we'll get together for the evening. Maybe read Two Towers or something.

Mirrors:

One of the themes of Star Trek: Nemesis was that Picard and Shinzon were psychic mirrors for one another. I have, for years, realized that this is true of people who aren't in SF movies. All of us mirror and are mirrored by the people around us, especially our friends, by the choices they make or that they have to make that differ from ours as much as by the ones that don't. The essence of friendship, I think, is that we get to experience parts of ourselves that would otherwise be hidden away without it. The pain of losing a friend is largely the pain of losing this part of one's self.

Seeing Nemesis has prompted me to wonder just what sort of mirror exactly my friends and family are to me, and I to them. What do people see in me that builds them up? What do I see that builds me up? I don't want to dwell on this too much, as it quickly made me VERY insecure, but it's an interesting and potentially engrossing subject that I hope I shall be able to keep in mind and return to in the months and years ahead.

Minor Milestone

Oh, and I do believe that I have been posting on LJ for about 5 days shy of a year now. In that time, I have posted over 146 times in my journal, and made 761 comments. Neato.