This submit comprises spoilers for the most recent episode of “Star Trek: Unusual New Worlds.”
Within the “Star Trek: Decrease Decks” episode “No Small Elements” (October 8, 2020), the characters make a cute reference that served as a wink to the Trekkies watching.
“Decrease Decks” is, after all, replete with references, and sometimes goes properly out of its strategy to incorporate ultra-obscure “Star Trek” nods that solely deep-cut nerds would spot. It helps that the characters on “Decrease Decks” are intimately aware of Starfleet historical past, and are armed with the identical type of Trek-nerd information possessed by the viewers. As such, when the ensigns on the united statesS. Cerritos look again to the “Star Trek” occasions from 120 years prior — Kirk’s time — they check with it as “the TOS period.” What does “TOS” stand for? “These outdated scientists,” considered one of them explains.
After all, Trekkies gave a hearty chuckle, as “Star Trek: TOS” is frequent shorthand when writing concerning the 1966 “Star Trek” sequence. For a lot of Trekkies, “TOS” stands for “the unique sequence.” Alongside that line, TNG is used for “Star Trek: The Subsequent Era,” DS9 for “Deep Area 9,” VOY for “Voyager,” ENT for “Enterprise,” SNW for “Unusual New Worlds,” LD for “Decrease Decks,” and PIC for “Picard.” Frustratingly, “Star Trek: Prodigy” would not appear to have the same abbreviation. And, sure, and not using a trace of self-awareness “Star Trek: Discovery” is usually known as STD. Every of the “Star Trek” motion pictures has shorthand as properly, however we cannot get into that right here.
The “these outdated scientists” gag carried over onto the title of the most recent episode of “Star Trek: Unusual New Worlds,” which is a crossover with “Decrease Decks.” The characters from the latter are thrown again in time 120 years to satisfy characters from the previous. They lastly get to satisfy These Outdated Scientists.
When references to Trek turn out to be Trek references
The incorporation of real-life references to “Star Trek” journalism is, after all, a recreation “Decrease Decks” performs loads. Along with the myriad references to “Star Trek” lore — Ensign Rutherford (Eugene Cordero) as soon as wore an outlandish sweater final seen on the torso of Jake Sisko on “Deep Area 9” — there are winks to followers who take note of the writings about “Star Trek.” In a single episode, as an example, Captain Riker (Jonathan Frakes) returns to the bridge of the united statesS. Titan having simply spent a couple of minutes on the ship’s holodeck. He says he was spending time with simulated variations of the crew of the very first Enterprise, NX-01. This was a reference to the ultimate episode of “Star Trek: Enterprise,” whereby Riker was seen serving because the older ship’s chef whereas he conversed with holodeck variations of the present’s characters.
Riker, nonetheless, then famous that he was feeling wistful and that “it has been an extended highway, getting from there to right here.” Followers of “Enterprise” will instantly acknowledge that phrase because the opening lyric to the present’s infamous theme tune carried out by the equally infamous Russell Watson.
This was additionally a sequence that depicted its foremost characters taking part in a board recreation that very, very a lot resembled 1993’s “Star Trek: The Subsequent Era Interactive VCR Board Sport – A Klingon Problem.” There was even an episode whereby the animators included a Spock helmet within the background. The Spock helmet could also be one of many weirdest items of “Star Trek” merchandise ever produced, because it was not an object from the present, nor was it extrapolated from the present’s aesthetic. It was a white helmet with a light-weight on the highest and the phrase SPOCK emblazoned throughout the brow.