New Star Trek XI Trailer as screened at the Superbowl

In sad news for many fans of science fiction comes the news that Majel Barrett-Roddenberry has died.  Majel is widely known as the ‘First Lady of Stark Trek’ for she is credited with having championed the continuation of the series since the death of her husband and Star Trek creator, Gene Roddenberry.

Majel is well known for having provided the voice of the ship’s computer in the Star Trek series since the very first pilot episode. Just before her death it was announced she would provide the voice of the computer in the soon to be released Star Trek XI and the news is she managed to do so – a recording that will live on as her final Star Trek legacy.

Her son, Eugene “Rod” Roddenberry Jr., announced the following: “My mother truly acknowledged and appreciated the fact that Star Trek fans played a vital role in keeping the Roddenberry dream alive for the past 42 years. It was her love for the fans, and their love in return, that kept her going for so long after my father passed away.

What is not widely known but is in fact a very honest demonstration of her character, Majel was heavily involved in charities and particular those that aimed to help animals.  The Barrett-Roddenberry family has asked fans who wish to send flowers to instead use their money to make donations in Barrett-Roddenberry’s name to the C.A.R.E. or Precious Paw foundations as a tribute to her passion.

In February 1990, over 18 years ago, the 63rd epsiode of Star Trek: The Next Generation aired, titled Yesterday’s Enterprise. In Yesterday’s Enterprise a time rift is opened and the Enterprise C emerges 22 years after the date of its disappearance. Upon emerging, the timeline completely changes, and the crew of Enterprise D become a military crew, in the middle of a decades long war agains the Klingons. As Guinan’s unique abilities lead Picard to believe the arrival of the Enterprise C has somehow created an altered reality, it is determined the only way to avert the war against the Klingons is to send the Enterprise C back to where she came – in the middle of a losing battle where the ship and her crew will be destroyed. This episode has a 9.5 out of 10 rating on TV.com’s Summary of Yesterday’s Enterprise and for good reason, it is one of the better Next Generation episodes. I watched it again yesterday more than ten years since I last saw it, and loved it just as much. If you’ve never seen this episode grab it now, it is well worth a watch.

Enjoy a scene out of Yesterday’s Enterprise (don’t watch this if you don’t want a spoiler because this is the end scene!): Read the rest of this entry »