Memory Alpha:AOL chats/Ronald D. Moore/ron074.txt

Subj: Answers Date: 12/16/97 4:07:09 PM From:  RonDMoore

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Most of the Founder-worship is something programmed into the brains of the Vorta and the Jem'Hadar, but I would imagine that the Founder's success record only reinforces that instinctive response. As to other abilities, we haven't defined them yet, but it's always possible that we'll come up with something.

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This has come up in our story meetings, but we haven't made a decision one way or the other.

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Hope springs eternal.

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We haven't decided where this relationship is going yet, so the characters (like the writers) have chosen to put the issue aside for the moment and try to just get on with their lives for the time being.

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This is the kind of information that could prove damaging to the Federation should it become known to their enemies during the middle of a war, so I can't answer this one.

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Spot.

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I think Picard gets court-martialled at least once a month just because he's the Captain of the Enterprise and Starfleet knows what kind of trouble those folks usually get into.

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Not much was actually cut from the filmed footage of FC. The film came in very close to its final running time and most of the editing consisted of trims for pace or clarity.

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There could be, but we don't have any planned as yet.

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I think the station is considered to be a Starbase by the Federation, but it's not usually used as part of the official nomenclature.

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I would think so, but this has not been addressed.

Subj: Answers Date: 12/16/97 4:41:25 PM From:  RonDMoore

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We have seen a Klingon lawyer, but I'd like to see a few other non-military citizens of the Empire before the end of the series.

<< Is it true that there is going to be an episode about racism?>>

The episode in question is "Far Beyond the Stars," it does deal with racism, it was written by Ira and Hans, directed by Avery and the only other thing I'll say about it is that I'm very proud to have my name associated with a show like this one.

<<I don't think Ron is the person to ask about Odo and Kira's relationship, because I don't think Ron as a writer is interested in serious stories about romantic relationships. In his scripts, whenever romance rears its head Ron uses it as comic relief. Just look at "Looking for Par'Mach" or "You Are Cordially Invited"--in both cases Ron treats "love" as something good only for a chuckle in the TREK universe. That may be why he seems to prefer to write for Worf & Dax as a couple (besides the *Klingon* issue), as they don't demand serious treatment, but are essentially good for only light romantic comedy.

Even his treatment of Odo and Kira is "lighter" than other writers as witnessed in "Cordially" where after the serious drama of the "corruption of Odo" storyline during the war arc Ron reduces all the angst and conflict in the relationship to a throwaway gag involving a closet.>>

I think that's painting me with a pretty broad brush. Both "par'Mach" and "Cordially" were *designed* as light episodes, it wasn't as though I recoiled from "serious" romance in favor of comedy. I also happen to think that there's some very moving stuff in the wedding show, particularly the Martok/Worf scene which happens to be one of my favorite scenes of the year. Go back and listen to his speech about love and then tell me that I'm not interested in serious relationships. I just finished work on a Worf and Dax show that deals with some pretty heavy issues in their relationship, and I certainly don't think they're "only good for light romantic comedy." And having Odo and Kira talk in a closet hardly "reduced" all their angst and conflict to a "throwaway gag" -- it kept the thread of their relationship alive without overpowering the episode and if it made people smile in the process, all the better.

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Nothing against TOS, but you said it yourself --  these are examples of character "evolution", not a character "arc." The character of Spock and his relationship to Kirk & McCoy evolved over time as the series came into focus, but this wasn't a deliberate "arc" where they said "Okay, we're going to take Spock from point A to point B." What DS9 has done is to consciously change and develop the relationships and our characters. I don't think there's anything in TOS, TNG, or VOY that comes close to the kind of overall character arc seen in say, Sisko. We've taken him from a man who didn't want this job or anything to do with Bajoran religion to a man who not only thinks of Bajor as his *home* but has embraced his role of Emissary to the point where he's asking the Prophets for a "miracle" in "Sacrifice." The arc of Odo is just as strong and complex and there's really no equivalent to either one in TOS. That's not to slam TOS -- they just weren't interested in that kind of thing and the show worked just fine without it.

Subj: Answers Date: 12/16/97 5:02:23 PM From:  RonDMoore

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When we killed him in "Apocalypse Rising" we were bummed because we liked both the character and the actor so much, but making Martok the Changeling instead of Gowron made the story work better. After extended discussion, we realized that just because Martok had been replaced, it didn't mean that the real Martok couldn't still be alive somewhere and that thought then led to the two-parter "Inferno/Purgatory". I wasn't there when J.G. read for the role, but Ira said that he nailed the part on the spot and no one else even came close. ---

Subj: Answers Date: 97-12-17 14:00:08 EST From: RonDMoore

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This too, has come up in our story meetings, but we haven't made any decisions about it. Unfortunately, a lot of your questions which have to do with where we *might* take the series tend to get this kind of reply and I know that must be a little unsatisfying, but I hope you'll understand that outlining all our decisions for the rest of the series.
 * many* things are possible around here and we don't have a master plan

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I don't think the PD has anything to do with the regulations regarding time travel, which are covered in the voluminous manual entitled "Time Travel and YOU -- an Officer's Guide to Temporal Paradoxes, Adventures, and Vacations."

<<As an avid comic collector, I was woundering if you have any views of the medium, particularly the Star Trek line.>>

I haven't picked up any comic books in a long time, and I'm way out of the loop on what's happening with the Trek books.

<<Ron I just recivied a chat transcript from a freind claiming that they hosted a chat event with you as there guest there web site is www.trekweb.com I'm just wondering if this is true or not? >>

Without vouching for the accuracy of the transcript you've received, I will confirm that I did a live chat on TrekWeb a few weeks ago.

<<One thing is obvious regarding the Odo/Kira relationship - it's very important to lots of fan on AOL. Did you ever think it would become such a central theme of DS9? >.

We're happy it caught on with people, but we consider it to be one of many plot threads within DS9.

<<If Ron is reading this and planning any future Trek (although I am of the opinion expressed by others on this board that the franchise is overextended and bloated at this point), it should get back to the roots of one ship, one crew, exploring the unknown and not getting tangled up in war stories. >>

There's a ship in the Delta Quadrant that may be more to your taste.

<<While there have been many jewish actors on Trek, there has never been a Jewish character. I understand that the Earth religions arent shown, but I am talking about a character who has a Jewish surname, not showing religious practice. To the best of my knowledge, there has never been on any of the 4 Treks an Ensign "Goldberg" or such.>>

Since there have been so many different characters on four different series, it's hard for me to know if this is true or not, but I'll take your word for it. It's an interesting observation, and I'm a little surprised, but I don't think it's been a deliberate ommission. I'll point it out at our next story meeting, just to put it in the back of everyone's head.

<< I know this sounds silly, but if you went on to Season Seven of DS9 and it was really successful would Paramount let you do an 8th? Or if that was successful a 9th? Is there any limit?>>

Theorectically, there's no limit to how long the show could run, but I'd be surprised if it went beyond seven years -- and there's still NO word on whether we're going seven or not.

<<Are you planning anymore conflicts between Julien and Miles, it certainly gives there friendship an interesting twist??>.

We have some ideas for a future show involving conflict between these two.

<<And when will we have the emergence of the "Empok Nor" incident between Miles and Garek, is that going to come out in any ep. soon?>>

Still in the "just talking about it" stage.

<<Did anyone on the writer's staff ever figure out WHICH changeling gets pregnant?>>

I think we assigned that to Rene and we're still waiting for his report.

Subj: Answers Date: 97-12-17 14:36:51 EST From: RonDMoore

<<WHAT birth control is for changelings? Or if sexual contact is even necessary for the act of pro-creation to take place? Could pro-creation be asexual in its nature? Could Odo wake up one day to find that he is subdividing?>>

I sense a theme here...

<<Could linking THREE DAYS cause Jezebel to end up at the door step with a bundle of goo? Or will Odo notice that there are anomalous readings only to find that he's about to give birth himself?>>

May I suggest ordering the latest video from Playboy TV -- "Shapeshifter Sex: Playboy's Guide to Love in the Link."

<<Any chance of species such as the Tellerites and Andorians getting more exposure.>>

I doubt it.

<<How come know holiday or birthdays are celebrated on DS9????>>

We have celebrated Bajoran holidays on the show and birthdays as well.

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Congratulations!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

<<So when you think about the end of DS9...(perish the thought)...which plot threads would *you* like to see wrapped up? I'm sure we could all chime in with a ton of 'em...but I'm curious as to which ones *you'd* like to see brought to completion.>>

I'd prefer to keep this to myself for now.

<<Have you got all your Christmas shopping done?>>

My lovely and indispensible wife has had the Christmas shopping done for over a week now.

<<Have you guys (Star Trek/DS9/Voyager) had your Christmas parties yet, and do you have them together or separate?>>

The Hart building had a combined DS9/VOY Christmas party last week. A good time was had by all.

<<Do you do the secret Santa, and if so, what is the wackiest thing you've given/gotten?>>

We do, and I once got a device intended for... uh... sexual purposes which was emblazoned with a gigantic Klingon Emblem.

<< If you could ask for any prop, costume, script, sketch, model or anything else from the Trek shows/movies for Christmas, what would you ask for?>>

I'd love to have an original Kirk tunic. Feel free to send it to my office if you've got one lying around...

<<Kai Winn. Minister Shakaar. Will we be seeing both/either of them this season?>>

Not sure.

<<In "Resurrection", were we supposed to think that Mirror Bajor never had any Orbs of the Prophets, or that they used to have them, but lost them somehow? Because Mirror Bareil seemed to imply that they didn't, but if not why would they mean anything to the Mirror Bajorans at all?>>

The intention was that there were Orbs on the other side, but they had been lost or destroyed or something and that they had passed into legend for the Mirror Bajorans.

Subj: Answers Date: 97-12-17 15:41:38 EST From: RonDMoore

<<Methinks there's a lot of potential in the larger Mirror Universe story "Resurrection" set up. Will we see "The Battle for Bajor" in a future Mirror Universe episode?>>

We don't know what the next Mirror story will be.

<<Are we supposed to assume that the Dominion has the Cabrel System and all the White it needs after "Statistical Probabilities"? Bashir suggested Starfleet let them have it, but we never heard whether or not they did.>>

I don't think the Feds gave up the Cabrel system.

<<Do you have any favorite guest characters from past TNG or DS9 episodes you'd like to see pop up on DS9 before the end of the series (whenever that might be)?>>

I hope we see Kai Winn again, Tom Riker, Dr. Mora, and a bunch of other DS9 quasi-regulars like Garak and Nog many times between now and the end.

<<Look, this woman has had TWO extremely serious love relationships in six seasons. Most of us don't have that many serious love relationships in that time period. >>

Two love affairs in six years doesn't seem excessive to me.

<<When Dax became involved with Worf, she became an airhead and her scenes all were romance with Worf scenes until the writers made a concerted effort to change that. >>

And my response is... I disagree (surprise!).

<<While I don't believe for a second that Gene Roddenberry sat down and planned the evolution of Spock in 1964, neither do I believe that Rick and Mike decided in 1992 that Sisko was someday going to ask the Prophets for help in five years.>>

Maybe I wasn't clear. I was trying to contrast the development of Sisko's story arc on DS9 (which has been a deliberately planned and plotted tale regardless of whether it began in the pilot or in Season 2), with the evolution of the character of Spock on TOS. Put simply, we are taking Sisko on a journey from A to B, while the changes in Spock were not part of any overall story, rather they were simply the natural evolution of the character. Spock didn't go from a cold-hearted Vulcan to a warm and fuzzy guy, they simply explored different facets of his character and began to flesh him out more as time went on. That is fundamentally different from the journey we've laid out for Sisko from "Emissary" to "Sacrifice of Angels," which has *changed* the character. Spock was the same guy at the end of TOS that he was at the beginning in most ways except that we saw his friendship with Kirk deepen and become more important to him over time. That, to me, is the normal evolution of a character in an episodic series, not an overall story arc.