More BSG (no spoilers)

[dreamer_easy]

That's Archie?! omfg, it is too!

Is it just me, or does Madam President look a little like Monica Lewinsky?

Meant to grumble at the Trek cliche of alienated son and father. Dad (typically dead, missing, or alienated) is always the most crucial thing in everyone's lives in TNG. (Unless you're Geordi.)

Comments

[vindaloo-vixen.livejournal.com]

In fact, offhand as I think of the 24th-century-based Trek shows, I can only think of two main characters that have two living parents (that they get on with at all). (Julian Bashir and Harry Kim, I believe.)

[wishfulaces.livejournal.com]

Sisko's dad too...

And yes it's Archie, with the stupidest accent ever! Ahem.

[drox.livejournal.com]

(typically dead, missing, or alienated)

Or just alien.

[gdwessel.livejournal.com]

While it was indeed beaten to death in TNG et al, I'd be a lot more dismissive of it if it weren't for the fact that not two blocks from my house is a billboard reading "R U MY DADDY?" with a number to call for DNA testing to determine paternity of a child. So, you know, it's not exactly without merit

(Not to mention, living with a 13 year old who's never known his father kinda makes you see things a little differently where that's concerned too)

[kateorman.livejournal.com]

Obviously, the whole Father Thing sprang from the writers' genuine experience, just as the Immigrant Thing did (half the characters in Trek are torn between two cultures). Cf Margaret's authoritarian father in MASH. But DNA tests for paternity aren't used by kids who want closeness or closure with their dads, but men who don't wish to be fathers. (Unless that's what you meant.)

[kateorman.livejournal.com]

I meant to add that paternal estrangement isn't the only use of the Father Thing in Trek. The Romulan Commander pissed off with the secret police in "Face of the Enemy"? They took her dad. The AI scientist in that one with the Execomps? Living up to her dad's example. And so on.

[gdwessel.livejournal.com]

Ah, OK, I take your point on this then. And I did admit that yes, use of parents (and offspring) as plot devices was well well worn on TREK...

[kateorman.livejournal.com]

Dude, when it comes to Devoted Fathers, you set the standard. *pecks your cheek*.

[gdwessel.livejournal.com]

stopn it yer making me blush omg !!1111

[gdwessel.livejournal.com]

Or, more accurately in most cases, by Baby Mamas who want to nail the Baby Daddy for child support (and 90% of the time, rightly so)

But really, there was more a general point there about sons (and daughters) growing up alienated, apart, and otherwise without their fathers, which there's an awful lot of in today's culture. Which is why I don't think it's actually as much a cliche as we'd like to think.