Break out your Gorn shoes and dance the blues

Plus Trekkish Questions with Matt

Oct 10, 2021

Welcome to Star Trekking, my attempt to share points of interest and random intersections in the final frontier.

Rob Watches Star Trek: Glory, Thy Name is Gorn – Primary Ignition

This week I present an observation from the archives.

My son and I watched “Arena” and thanks to the miracle of remastering and, I guess, a big TV, I noticed a BRAND NEW THING I had never seen before.

Kirk changes shoes when he fights the Gorn.

Yes, instead of regulation black boots, Kirk is now wearing lace-up athletic shoes, maybe rock-climbing or wrestling shoes (I don’t know, I’m a Doctor not a shoe salesman).

Behold.

Enhance.

All these decades later and Star Trek is still giving up secrets.

This is maybe the millionth time I’ve watched “Arena” since I discovered the show in second grade. But this was the first time I spotted Kirk’s shoes. Who knows what I might discover on the million and first viewing…

MEANWHILE…

TREKKISH QUESTIONS

Today we talk to Matt, aka @Juzel_Rix.

First, tell us a little about yourself.

My name’s Matt, I’m gay and I have a Star Trek obsession - er, passion. I’m an event planner by day, and a Trek-talker by night; at least I try to be when my dog daughter Jadzia isn’t demanding play time.

What are your first Trek memories?

I vividly remember watching TNG at night with my parents growing up, then watching DS9 and Voyager as they aired live. The idea of a utopian future that was nothing but exploration of the unknown, on so many fronts, won me over. Ever since, I’ve tried to always live by the examples Trek gave: equality, compassion, understanding, and growth. I can’t say I’ve always been successful, but that’s the beauty of Trek; you’re not always going to be your best self, but all that matters is that you try to be better than you were yesterday.

How has Trek impacted or influenced your life?

In a very real sense, Trek laid the foundation for my ethics and approach to problems. I often find myself taking a step back and thinking about how a Starfleet captain would handle a situation - keeping a level head, hearing all sides of a situation, then making the best decision with the information available.

Which Trek character do you most admire?

Captain Kathryn Janeway. Her ability to balance the rigidity of command while still being compassionate to the crew and always trying to do what she feels is best, even when all options are terrible. There’s something to be said about a person who can both feel deeply and passionately, but remain calm, cool, and collected in the face of adversity. It’s something I think we should all strive for, especially now.

What is your greatest Trek-related extravagance?

I’m not ashamed to say that I’ve spent a good chunk of change on a “working” tricorder and phaser, as well as a few commbadges and uniforms. I’ve also made a few models that inevitably ended up way over budget, but totally worth it!

If you could instantly transport yourself to a Trek vessel, which one would it be?

Any Sovereign-class starship. I won’t specifically say the Enterprise-E, but if I could command anything it would have to be that class. The elegance, the versatility, the power, she has it all.

What do you most value in Star Trek?

The hope and optimism that while our world might feel awful right now, there is always a better future if we can all just get along and put aside our petty differences. Gene’s quote saying that “humanity will reach maturity and wisdom on the day that it begins not just to tolerate, but take a special delight in differences in ideas and differences in life forms,” is something I think should be taught in every school, at every age.

Thanks, Matt!

Follow Matt on Twitter: @Juzel_Rix.

New Trek zine contains “a poem about love, dreams, autism, artificial intelligence, and star trek: the next generation.”