MovieChat Forums > Star Trek: The Next Generation (1987) Discussion > What do you think of "Force of Nature"?

What do you think of "Force of Nature"?

posted 8 years ago by foebane72
17 replies | jump to latest

On the one hand, I like the idea that Warp Drive is not the miraculous method of travel with absolutely no side-effects whatsoever, and that it can cause damage to the environment like other methods of propulsion like internal combustion engines, but then again, I couldn't help thinking it was a ham-fisted essay by hardcore environmentalists wanting to preach via a TV show, and a bottle episode to boot, as nothing about warp drive restrictions mentioned in this episode is ever brought up again in all of Trek... at least not to my knowledge.

So what did you all think of this episode?

Why are you here if you haven't seen the movie yet?

[–] memayse1701 8 years ago

They mentioned the warp restriction at least one other time then forgot about it.

[–] foebane72 8 years ago

They mentioned the warp restriction at least one other time then forgot about it.

That's right, I remember now. I guess they decided it was crap, and only applied to that region of space anyway, due to the sheer amount of warp traffic it got.

Why are you here if you haven't seen the movie yet?

[–] jakeconhale 8 years ago

It was supposedly the reason for Voyager's inclined nacelles, that it was an improved design which, through variable field geometry, reduced if not eliminated the environmental impact, but was never actually mentioned on screen.

Jake Meridius Conhale, at your service!
"Old Man" of the BSG (RDM) boards.

[–] memayse1701 8 years ago

Never understood why VOYAGER's nacelles had to move...just keep them in inclined position.

[–] frosted_one 8 years ago

Also not mentioned but 1701-E was meant to have a completely overhauled warp drive that didn't require the nacelles to move (thankfully).

The entire lefty-enviro scheme was dropped pretty quickly, the Defiant was pulled out of mothballs a few months later by Sisko now are we meant to believe that thing's running on unleaded? And that Starfleet had every Excelsior class we saw during DS9 up on blocks for an engine replacement?

[–] cjh8504 8 years ago

Continuity was good sometimes.

RIP Gene Wilder. One of the funniest people of all time. RIP Matt Roberts. You were great.

[–] Nakitaakita-1 8 years ago

I think it's not canon!

BRING THEM TO HEAL!

[–] cjh8504 8 years ago

Very good episode.

RIP Gene Wilder. One of the funniest people of all time. RIP Matt Roberts. You were great.

[–] Tolyngee 8 years ago

No Borg in it. I was disappt.

I was hoping for another Borg thread...

[–] AndrewGS 8 years ago

I don't have a thing against "bottle episodes" ...

I am an environmentalist and, within reason, don't mind heavy-handed or unsubtle (which most Trek message shows have been). It was an interesting allegorical concept, there was fine writing and acting of La Forge and Picard as they in the end faced the dilemma but the episode was just way too slow and full of technobabble.
You can view, although this was probably unintentional, the lack of later references to the limit as indicating that even in the better future environmental protection is a relatively low priority.

[–] cjh8504 8 years ago

Should be a higher priority, you think, Andrew?

RIP Gene Wilder. One of the funniest people of all time. RIP Matt Roberts. You were great.

[–] DSNFan 8 years ago

Probably the worst episode of the last season. And I'm counting Crusher's sex with a ghost episode.

[–] cjh8504 8 years ago

No. Sub Rosa was way worse.

RIP Gene Wilder. One of the funniest people of all time. RIP Matt Roberts. You were great.

[–] Nexus71 8 years ago

Yup it was after Shades Of grey the worst TNG episode.

[–] Nakitaakita-1 8 years ago

Nope, Sub Rosa was the worst episode!
Fully clothed Beverly having air sex, vomit worthy.

Because you'd be in jail

[–] Nexus71 8 years ago

Ì don't like clip shows it's like too much rehashing and since seasons 1&2 weren't particularly stellar those clips weren't of that a high quality had the episode come on a later season it might have been alright but after only two seasons it felt a bit cheap and lazy,I know why it was done but it still doesn't change the fact that is was born out of necessity and it shows.

[–] cjh8504 8 years ago

Shades of Gray is one of my very favorite episodes. What do you think of them apples?

Movie Theater: Young Frankenstein 10/10. RIP Gene Wilder. One of the funniest people of all time.