It’s a slightly click-baity title, but as we’re still generating more content for our magazines, this one included, why not?
My Sci-fi unpopular opinion is that 2001: A Space Odyssey is nothing but pretentious, LSD fueled nonsense. I’ve tried watching it multiple times and each time I have absolutely no patience for the pointless little scenes which contain little to no depth or meaningful plot, all coalescing towards that 15 minute “journey” through space and series of hallucinations or whatever that are supposed to be deep, shake you to your foundations, and make you re-think the whole human condition.
But it doesn’t. Because it’s just pretentious, LSD fueled nonsense. Planet of the Apes was released in the same year and is, on every level, a better Sci-fi movie. It offers mystery, a consistent and engaging plot, relatable characters you actually care about, and asks a lot more questions about the world and our place in it.
Now THIS is a bold claim. DS9 is the only consistently beloved Star Trek series I’ve seen online. I personally enjoyed it more than most of the series.
I think TNG is much more loved.
DS:9 is notorious for being the least Trekky of all the shows.
Not to mention it’s a blatant B-tier rip-off of Babylon 5.
Also, upon re-watching, the depiction of the Ferengi (especially the Grand Nagus and the ruling council) runs uncomfortably close to anti-semitic tropes. I’m honestly surprised that in a franchise & fanbase as “progressive” as Trek, this was allowed to slide past largely uncommented-upon.