Subcommander Tal
@subcommandertal.bsky.social
Mostly here to riff on Original Series Star Trek.
Anyway, enough rambling! My appreciation for Star Trek and my love of Mesoamerican archaeology in general stay in their own lanes but there are a couple fun overlaps for me. Sorry if I’ve posted about all this before!
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November 8, 2025 at 11:55 PM
Anyway, enough rambling! My appreciation for Star Trek and my love of Mesoamerican archaeology in general stay in their own lanes but there are a couple fun overlaps for me. Sorry if I’ve posted about all this before!
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I also like that a couple early TOS episodes explicitly had scenarios with Federation archaeologists working in the ruins of alien civilizations. It was also generally the time of outlandish theories about extraterrestrial influences on Earth cultures.
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November 8, 2025 at 11:53 PM
I also like that a couple early TOS episodes explicitly had scenarios with Federation archaeologists working in the ruins of alien civilizations. It was also generally the time of outlandish theories about extraterrestrial influences on Earth cultures.
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And don’t get me started on TNG’s “Masks”, which is often reviled but I have a fondness for because of its riffing on ancient Puebloan and Mayan iconography…
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November 8, 2025 at 11:52 PM
And don’t get me started on TNG’s “Masks”, which is often reviled but I have a fondness for because of its riffing on ancient Puebloan and Mayan iconography…
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The decipherment of Maya hieroglyphic writing took some big steps forward in the 1960s and 70s, and I always loved the alien scripts Star Trek came up with, mostly in the third season.
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November 8, 2025 at 11:49 PM
The decipherment of Maya hieroglyphic writing took some big steps forward in the 1960s and 70s, and I always loved the alien scripts Star Trek came up with, mostly in the third season.
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And of course there actually was an Animated Series episode that references Kukulkan, which is the late Maya variant of the Feathered Serpent deity which originated in Central Mexico at such sites as Teotihuacan and Toltec Tula.
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November 8, 2025 at 11:47 PM
And of course there actually was an Animated Series episode that references Kukulkan, which is the late Maya variant of the Feathered Serpent deity which originated in Central Mexico at such sites as Teotihuacan and Toltec Tula.
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In the films with the Original Series cast the years of service numerical convention is the same one used by the ancient Maya (i.e. bars = 5, dots = 1).
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November 8, 2025 at 11:46 PM
In the films with the Original Series cast the years of service numerical convention is the same one used by the ancient Maya (i.e. bars = 5, dots = 1).
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The little statue in Kirk’s quarters is (probably) Xochipilli, the Aztec God of love and creativity. Its name literally means “Prince of Flowers.”
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November 8, 2025 at 11:44 PM
The little statue in Kirk’s quarters is (probably) Xochipilli, the Aztec God of love and creativity. Its name literally means “Prince of Flowers.”
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Besides Star Trek, another long standing interest of mine is Mesoamerican history and archaeology. You wouldn’t think there are a lot of connections between the two, but there are a few! So I thought I’d write a short thread about them (apologies if you’ve seen it before on the other site)…
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November 8, 2025 at 11:43 PM
Besides Star Trek, another long standing interest of mine is Mesoamerican history and archaeology. You wouldn’t think there are a lot of connections between the two, but there are a few! So I thought I’d write a short thread about them (apologies if you’ve seen it before on the other site)…
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I’m going on a trip and am currently stomping around the airport with my phone on low battery trying to find a single electrical outlet that’s not either being used or broken…
November 8, 2025 at 3:02 PM
I’m going on a trip and am currently stomping around the airport with my phone on low battery trying to find a single electrical outlet that’s not either being used or broken…
True, we never actually see it, but Kirk clearly looks up at it to check how much time is left. I’m guessing it looks like this ;)
November 5, 2025 at 7:25 PM
True, we never actually see it, but Kirk clearly looks up at it to check how much time is left. I’m guessing it looks like this ;)
Precisely! I also like the shot also because it’s one of the few times we see just the three gold/green shirt regulars together, who also happen to be the only remaining surviving cast members…
November 4, 2025 at 12:41 AM
Precisely! I also like the shot also because it’s one of the few times we see just the three gold/green shirt regulars together, who also happen to be the only remaining surviving cast members…
Spock’s Brain is not a good episode (although it’s not as bad as is often claimed), but one thing I like about it is the moment when Kirk discusses which planet to explore and seeks input from Sulu, Chekov (and Uhura). It’s an unusual moment in the series, without the presence or Spock or McCoy.
November 4, 2025 at 12:26 AM
Spock’s Brain is not a good episode (although it’s not as bad as is often claimed), but one thing I like about it is the moment when Kirk discusses which planet to explore and seeks input from Sulu, Chekov (and Uhura). It’s an unusual moment in the series, without the presence or Spock or McCoy.
R.I.P. Ralph Senensky, legendary Star Trek director of some of the most sensitive episodes of the series.
November 2, 2025 at 12:32 AM
R.I.P. Ralph Senensky, legendary Star Trek director of some of the most sensitive episodes of the series.
The odd-numbered Star Trek films are often considered the weaker ones. I’m not saying I agree with that or not, but I think one thing they all have in common is they have some of DeForest Kelley’s *best* moments.
October 30, 2025 at 10:25 PM
The odd-numbered Star Trek films are often considered the weaker ones. I’m not saying I agree with that or not, but I think one thing they all have in common is they have some of DeForest Kelley’s *best* moments.
I had no idea William Shatner and James Doohan were so petite until I saw this picture!
October 28, 2025 at 2:47 PM
I had no idea William Shatner and James Doohan were so petite until I saw this picture!
For when you’re having a nervous breakdown
October 26, 2025 at 10:05 PM
For when you’re having a nervous breakdown
“Don’t remind me”
October 26, 2025 at 4:57 AM
“Don’t remind me”
I always found the witches a bit silly personally
#tossatnight
#tossatnight
October 26, 2025 at 4:10 AM
I always found the witches a bit silly personally
#tossatnight
#tossatnight
I’ve been rereading A Wizard of Earthsea with a friend who’s reading it for the first time, and it’s just such a marvelous example of High Fantasy. It’s not easy to write in formal and somewhat remote language without become stilted, but LeGuin does it…
October 14, 2025 at 11:17 PM
I’ve been rereading A Wizard of Earthsea with a friend who’s reading it for the first time, and it’s just such a marvelous example of High Fantasy. It’s not easy to write in formal and somewhat remote language without become stilted, but LeGuin does it…
It’s no surprise that the Golden Age of Science Fiction began in the 1940’s… man’s technology had reached a certain point; so, too, had man’s malevolence. No wonder then that writers cast their imaginations away from this planet with its baggage and limitations, and sent their thoughts to the stars…
October 10, 2025 at 8:07 PM
It’s no surprise that the Golden Age of Science Fiction began in the 1940’s… man’s technology had reached a certain point; so, too, had man’s malevolence. No wonder then that writers cast their imaginations away from this planet with its baggage and limitations, and sent their thoughts to the stars…
It’s such a solid story beat whenever it occurs… Spock looking up, the light glowing on him, as he delivers critical information to Kirk…
October 9, 2025 at 7:27 PM
It’s such a solid story beat whenever it occurs… Spock looking up, the light glowing on him, as he delivers critical information to Kirk…
I was up late last night but I instead of going to bed I was thinking about how cool it is that Spock’s viewer in Star Trek II is lit with blue light just like it was in the Original Series…
October 9, 2025 at 7:27 PM
I was up late last night but I instead of going to bed I was thinking about how cool it is that Spock’s viewer in Star Trek II is lit with blue light just like it was in the Original Series…
going to get the mail—but make it fashion
October 9, 2025 at 12:37 AM
going to get the mail—but make it fashion
I hear you! And of course, we all hold most dear those things to which we were exposed at a young age. For me it’s the cover art below. I was hugely influenced by Tolkien as a young person and still adore those books.
October 3, 2025 at 11:22 PM
I hear you! And of course, we all hold most dear those things to which we were exposed at a young age. For me it’s the cover art below. I was hugely influenced by Tolkien as a young person and still adore those books.