The plot is Smiley breaks into the prime universe and conscripts O’Brian to come back with him and fix the beaten-to-shit ISS Defiant for one last battle to save the newly-democratic Terra.
Plot device? It has less than nothing to do with actual plot elements within any of the shows. Usually it’s just a fun “what if” kind of thing ranging from moral philosophy to just having a fun romp.
While I don’t necessarily disagree with your characterization of the mirror universe as a “what if “. I do disagree with your characterization of it as not a plot device, and with your characterization of “what if”s in general as not plot devices.
For instance, several of the mirror universe episodes revolve around characters that are dead in one universe or the other, or have otherwise been incapacitated. Thus the plot could not exist without the mirror universe existing. In my opinion that pretty squarely makes it a plot device.
Its a story device, definitely, but one that is self-contained. It does not impact the plot of the shows overall. It helps with character depth, which is something I think the 90s shows did exceptionally well. But that’s it’s largest impact, and thus is as meaningful a plot device as any other throwaway storyline from a particular episode. Its only defining trait in that regard is that the DS9 writers made it a recurring one.
What about it as a “plot device” do you think is contrived or lazy? Or is there some other aspect that you find distasteful about it?
Ah, I never watched it, at least partly because of that. It took something whimsical and made it melodramatic (from descriptions I’ve read, at least). That seems more an effect of how it was used in that instance rather than the “plot device” itself.
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The plot is Smiley breaks into the prime universe and conscripts O’Brian to come back with him and fix the beaten-to-shit ISS Defiant for one last battle to save the newly-democratic Terra.
That honestly sounds amazing. Also it’d let them run with the story since it’s in a different universe.
I hate the mirror universe with a passion. It is by far my least favorite plot device in all of Trek.
Plot device? It has less than nothing to do with actual plot elements within any of the shows. Usually it’s just a fun “what if” kind of thing ranging from moral philosophy to just having a fun romp.
I disagree. But regardless I still don’t like it.
Why do you disagree?
While I don’t necessarily disagree with your characterization of the mirror universe as a “what if “. I do disagree with your characterization of it as not a plot device, and with your characterization of “what if”s in general as not plot devices.
For instance, several of the mirror universe episodes revolve around characters that are dead in one universe or the other, or have otherwise been incapacitated. Thus the plot could not exist without the mirror universe existing. In my opinion that pretty squarely makes it a plot device.
Its a story device, definitely, but one that is self-contained. It does not impact the plot of the shows overall. It helps with character depth, which is something I think the 90s shows did exceptionally well. But that’s it’s largest impact, and thus is as meaningful a plot device as any other throwaway storyline from a particular episode. Its only defining trait in that regard is that the DS9 writers made it a recurring one.
What about it as a “plot device” do you think is contrived or lazy? Or is there some other aspect that you find distasteful about it?
It became a major part of the entire Discovery tv show.
Ah, I never watched it, at least partly because of that. It took something whimsical and made it melodramatic (from descriptions I’ve read, at least). That seems more an effect of how it was used in that instance rather than the “plot device” itself.
That example only shows how shite Discovery is, that it could taint such a timeless trope as the mirror universe. 🤌🏼
I only responded because of the claim " less than nothing to do with plot”. Which is, like it or not, absolutely not true in anyway
Technically accurate is the best kind.
I love the Mirror Universe, I think it allows for some of the funnest episodes in the series. Especially in Enterprise.
Damn Space Irish and thier demands for a safe working environment….
Never let a working man slander the name of my father.
He was the union man.
In the name of Sean Aloysius, give us fair conditions or you”ll have a “transporter malfunction.”