Monster of the Day #536

“Look, it’s a rip off we’re in. So, I’ll just rip yer head off, and that’s a rap, K?”

Ahhh yes, I’d forgotten about this one. Interesting episode. 

If this is the ST:TNG episode everyone is referencing, I always wondered how these guys managed to develop a civilization.  Somebody, somewhere, has to be the first to do something, so how could you refer to it using someone else’s past actions?

My sarcasm meter must be on the fritz, Ken- that post has gotten it going off like crazy ;)

As to the Yes Minister series- there is something about them that is dated, certainly, but they have that underlying satirical quality that still stands on its own, and it’s great for a revisit every now and then. It’s a real pleasure to watch, especially for the performances. Eddington gets top billing, and probably deservedly so in as much as he was coming off of a big hit with The Good Neighbors (iirc), but Nigel Hawthorne really does steal the show.

Patrick Stewart and Paul Winfield in the valley.
The stunt man in the rubber suit in the valley.
Patrick Stewart and Paul Winfield and the stunt man in the rubber suit in the valley.
Patrick Stewart his speech eloquent.
Paul Winfield his eyes closed.
Patrick Stewart in his Winnebago.
 
LeVar Burton on the Engineering set.
Ashley Judd on the Engineering set,
LeVar his technobabble incomprehensible.
Ashley her jumpsuit too tight.
LeVar Burton and Ashley Judd on the Engineering set,
 

Perhaps I should start speaking in metaphor: ‘Poor fool watching Manos: The Hands of Fate’ instead of saying ‘I’m bored out of my skull…’ 

I’m certain other films suggest themselves as well. 

 “Ash with his boom stick’ = Impressing the hicks.

“The Blob snacks on the audience” = Another summer blockbuster.

“Gene Kelly tap dances around the set” = What, election time again?

Well, yeah, but having an entire language of nothing but metaphors and idiom is a little far fetched.  If for nothing else then for mundane things, “Zeus, his bladder bursting”  Also, the use of metaphors means they have words with meanings.  Since they have “Sokath his eyes uncovered!”, would they have a metaphor for “my eyes hurt” or would they just say that.

It’s a prime example of fridge logic: it works at the time, but the more you think about it, the less sense it makes.  Still, I loved the episode, and loved the concept of a language that used nothing but metaphors.  It just doesn’t seem like something that would organically develop.

Besides, how would you tell those stories in the first place since everything is by metaphor?  How could you explain that “Sokath his eyes uncovered!” means someone has achieved understanding if you have no way of saying “I understand” outside of the metaphor?

Seems it would also leave out a lot of details, since this entire post could, technically, be rendered as something like, “Thomas, full of doubt.”