Paramount
The 1991 two-part “Star Trek: The Subsequent Technology” episode “Unification” was a banner occasion for Trekkies. Though Dr. Leonard McCoy (DeForest Kelley) appeared within the present’s pilot as a 137-year-old man, the occasions of the collection have been meant to be far sufficient faraway from the unique “Star Trek” collection to guarantee no additional crossovers. “Subsequent Technology” was decided to shake off the legacy of its forebear and forge its personal path.
After 5 seasons, nonetheless, the brand new legacy was established. “Subsequent Technology” had lasted longer than the unique collection, and its characters have been now recognizable on their very own deserves. “Subsequent Technology” grew to become its personal factor. It was solely then, when the present might stand by itself two legs and did not require fixed references to the unique collection, {that a} visitor spot from a beloved authentic collection character might happen. In “Unification,” Spock (Leonard Nimoy) returned. Trekkies liked it, not simply because they liked Spock, however as a result of they have been wanting to see an old-world Trek character work together with Picard (Patrick Stewart) and Information (Brent Spiner). “Subsequent Technology” is about a couple of century after the occasions of the unique “Star Trek,” however Spock may be very long-lived, permitting him to proceed his work properly into the twenty third century.
In 1991, nonetheless, not everybody felt that NextGen was standing by itself. Certainly, numerous the Paramount executives felt that “passing the torch” was nonetheless a required motion, and needed “Unification” to be “legacy” second. It additionally was meant to tie into “Star Trek VI,” which was to open in theaters the next month.
The oral historical past e-book “The Fifty-12 months Mission: The Subsequent 25 Years: From The Subsequent Technology to J. J. Abrams,” edited by Mark A. Altman and Edward Gross, describes Paramount’s authentic intentions.
Our minds usually are not merging
Paramount
“Unification” is a political story concerning the re-unification of Vulcan and Romulus, two worlds which were at odds for hundreds of years. By “Star Trek” lore, when the Vulcans grew to become enlightened many millennia in the past, a cadre broke away, left the planet, and settled on Romulus, finally evolving into a brand new species. That was in AD 370, and Vulcan was already a sophisticated, futuristic world. By the twenty third century of “NextGen,” Spock had returned to Romulus to interact in a decades-long diplomatic mission to reunite the worlds. It was a difficult enterprise, nonetheless, because the Romulans are devious and conniving. Nimoy returned to play Spock, the primary time he had appeared on a Trek TV present since 1969.
In accordance with the “Star Trek” head honcho on the time, Rick Berman, Nimoy was known as into the Paramount places of work with a double provide. Not solely was he to look in Nicholas Meyer’s “Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Nation,” however they needed him to go his legacy to NextGen as properly. Nimoy initially balked. Berman recalled:
“It got here out of Frank Mancuso, the chairman of Paramount on the time, who mentioned to Leonard after they have been planning ‘Star Trek VI,’ why do not you determine some option to go the baton. Possibly you can make some components of ‘Star Trek VI’ that replicate on ‘Subsequent Technology’, and work with Berman to make ‘Subsequent Technology’ replicate ‘Star Trek VI.’ I sat down with Leonard and Nick Meyer, and we mentioned components of our present. Mike and I spent numerous time kicking issues round, and eventually we got here again to Leonard with an thought he did not significantly like.”
A cheerful medium, nonetheless, was reached. Berman mentioned he “made a giant change within the room and [Nimoy] liked it.”
It might have been higher
Paramount
Nimoy capitulated, and the story for “Unification” is jam-packed with precisely the type of dry, political, diplomatic speak that units Trekkies’ hearts aflutter. The episode is low on motion and excessive on intrigue. It was additionally the episode that exposed Sela (Denise Crosby), the half-Romulan daughter of Tasha Yar from one other timeline.
One other one of many head honchos at “Star Trek,” Michael Piller, agrees with the evaluation that “Unification” is dry, however he noticed that as a detriment. He felt that he might have made Spock’s look on “Star Trek: The Subsequent Technology” extra epic and attention-grabbing. Certainly he might have been doing greater than mere diplomacy. Followers might just like the episode, however Piller didn’t. He mentioned:
“It is no secret I used to be dissatisfied by my very own work on it greater than the rest. I believed it was a historic alternative, and I do not suppose we delivered what the potential of it was. I bear in mind watching it for the primary time minimize collectively and saying, ‘That is darkish, it is flat, who cares, it is talky.’ I am a author who relies upon an awesome deal on his instincts, they usually virtually all the time lead me in an excellent course. This time I do not suppose they did. It was our feeling if you are going to carry Spock out of retirement, it must be one thing of cosmic significance.”
Personally, I am glad it wasn’t a “cosmic significance” story. These action-packed tales are tiresome and never befitting an emotionally managed character like Spock. Let Mr. Piller’s surviving relations know that he did a tremendous job. “Unification” felt like an occasion whatever the lack of cosmic stakes.
