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Star Trek should look into doing more body-swap episodes

BBG News

As a longtime Trekkie with memories of starship voyages etched into my very soul, I can’t help but yearn for more body-swap episodes in the Star Trek universe. The concept has always held a special place in my heart, ever since I first saw Captain Kirk and Mr. Spock trading places back in the original series. It’s like a cosmic game of musical chairs that keeps me on the edge of my recliner!

Star Trek consistently excels at showcasing top-notch science fiction, often taking familiar themes and exploring them in extraordinary ways. Their innovative ideas never cease to amaze me. However, among their many impressive episodes, I’d love to see more instances of the classic body-swap plot.

The idea struck me as I watched the commercials for the approaching “Ghostmas” episode of the TV show ‘Ghost’ on CBS. The preview hinted at the primary characters exchanging roles with a pair of ghostly beings, which is a clever and impactful twist reminiscent of how Star Trek handles similar concepts.

They’ve featured several instances where characters swap bodies, with the latest one being “Spock Amok” from Strange New Worlds. While this episode effectively utilized the body-swap concept, it could have been even more impactful. The secret to making a body-swap storyline work is to find two characters who are distinctly different in terms of their movements, voices, and behaviors, then challenge them to portray the opposite of what they’re accustomed to.

A fantastic demonstration of this idea was evident in Eureka’s fifth season, specifically the fifth episode titled “A Jack of All Trades.” Due to a computer glitch, the main character Jack Carter found himself swapping bodies with different characters within the show. This episode showcased an impressive display of acting by Colin Ferguson, the series lead, as he convincingly adopted the physical gestures, tone, and speech patterns of his co-stars from Eureka.

Among the funniest and cleverly written episodes the series has produced, this one truly stands out. With Star Trek, you’d expect nothing less than matching the same level of humor and ingenuity as demonstrated by Eureka. Strange New Worlds has achieved this, albeit with a slightly more subdued approach on the comedy front. Compared to Eureka, it might seem toned down.

As Lower Decks draws to a close, it seems logical that either Prodigy or Starfleet Academy will pick up the concept next. One enjoyable aspect of the body-swap trick is observing the changes in acting styles among actors and actresses as they attempt to mimic their fellow cast members’ physical movements. However, implementing this idea in an animated series might not carry quite the same weight.

Starfleet Academy might dabble in it, but it appears this show could be an unapologetic Star Trek production, and the approach seems to thrive when things can get a bit exaggerated. Given that, the upcoming series, being spearheaded by Lower Decks’ Tawny Newsome, could lean towards the extravagant.

If her live-action series takes flight, this idea fits it wonderfully. Assuming, of course, that filming does commence for her show. Fervently, let’s see the extravagant body-swap episode Star Trek needs. Otherwise, I highly recommend checking out the amusingly funny Eureka episode referenced earlier – it’s one of the best sci-fi comedies around.

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2024-12-17 03:23

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