kraetos

And the pink ranger is a girl, and when combined, the Jock and the A-student are the colors of the American flag.

I felt a great disturbance in the Fandom, as if millions of Trekkies suddenly cried out in terror and were suddenly silenced.

Mr. Gendel! Glad to see that you decided to do this AMA. Here's my question: given how traumatizing Picard's experience on Kataan would be, would you have liked to have seen the other writers spend more time on the follow up? I mean we saw the flute again a few more times, including one episode where it was featured rather prominently while Picard was pursuing a romantic relationship with Commander Daren. (TNG: "Lessons") But on the other hand, in Insurrection, Anij asks him if he's ever experienced a "perfect moment," when "time seemed to stop, and you could almost live in that moment." And even though Picard has literally experienced a moment like that, he doesn't mention the Kataanian probe, even in passing.

I've always felt that an experience as impactful as that one should have had considerably more follow-up. After all, in Season 4, following his experience with the Borg, we spent an episode dealing with those repercussions. I suspect that his experience in the probe's Kataan simulation would have had just as much of an effect on his psyche, if not more, given that he was only assimilated for a week or so, but he experienced the Kataan simulation for several decades.

On the other hand, it was the 90's, the just before the dawn of serialized prime-time television. The fact that there was a follow up at all was more than most shows at the time would have done. So what are you thoughts on the follow up from his experience? Not enough, too much, or just right?

Can I buy a copy somewhere?

Hi Claudia!

I'm sorry I found this IAMA thirteen days late. I hope you still find this reply.

I just wanted to say that Ivanova is my single favorite female character in all of sci-fi. So many female characters in sci-fi are just one-dimensional caricatures, simply there as a love interest for the male lead, or worse, just because they're eye candy.

But Ivanova was a real person with her own hopes, fears, and dreams, and I've always felt that your portrayal of such a strong character was nothing short of superb. The show simply wasn't the same without you, and Lochley was no Ivanova. It's too bad we never got to see Ivanova truly in command of Babylon 5.

No questions—I just wanted to let you know how awesome you are, and how much I regret the lack of strong female characters in sci-fi these days. Everyone always says "but what about Starbuck from Battlestar Galactica?" when I mention this, but Starbuck isn't half the woman Ivanova was.

I wish the show was more popular, if only so more people could see what a real warrior woman looks like. Because you're it.