Director: RIcky? Can I call you that? Ricky, look, we have to get all your scenes during this shoot since you are using all of the bronzer we could find in the whole LA area. We can’t do this tomorrow.
Production reason: without a stylus it looks like he’s reading, not writing. Without one, dialogue like “I’m writing a book” would come across as lying, which can completely change a scene for the worse.
In-universe lore reason: Jake is a romantic and probably feels that the more tactile approach is better for his creative process.
That sounds amazing. Honest question: how much more screen would it take before a full VR setup would seem more practical? Not everyone has a battlestation like this, and I’m genuinely curious where the line is. Thank you.
Reminds me of the paper printouts in the very earliest TOS episodes. Like, what do you do when you run out of paper in deep space? And do you really have the storage for 5 years worth of computer printouts? Logistically, even an etch-a-sketch makes more sense.
Lower Decks has the Tamarian lexicon dialed in, and I’m here for it. Especially when it’s explained that the universal translator can’t always figure Tamarian out, suggesting that Kayshon is speaking in more simple terms half the time.
But the single greatest use of this meme has to be in “Crisis Point 2” (S3x8).
In that episode, we see Ransom, Shaxs, and Kayshon break into the science lab to get the drop on Romulan invaders. Kayshon fires the first surprise shot shouting “Temba!”.
What I love about this is that “Temba, his arms wide” is a fond greeting. But in context, gives his remark more or less the same energy as “say hello to my little friend” or “surprise, motherfuckers!”
Edit:
Kayshon, shooting first, when the Romulans invaded.
One of the consequences of a wisely used but small budget. Simple sets and costumes, plus a LOT of creative lighting. All that’s left are actors to fill that otherwise empty-feeling space on the stage.
Also, color TV was in its infancy, so networks used the medium to compete for viewer attention. It really looks like NBC made sure that every scene was as vibrant as possible. But now that I think about it, it also had to “read” well in B/W too.
Edit: @StillPaisleyCat corrected me here. TOS was indeed an expensive show, which upon rewatching (as I am today), becomes more evident the longer you look at it.
Red Dwarf is good, but I find it leans on the laugh-track a little too hard sometimes. It does a good job of poking fun at sci-fi of the day, and is a great counter-point to BBC sci-fi like Trek and Dr. Who. They may have even shared some of the same sets and props with the latter.
Hyperdrive is in the same vein and has some really great moments. It sits in my head as the midway point between Red Dwarf and The Office. You could even say it was the much lower-budget BBC predecessor to The Orville.