Critical Standards

Chris Willman’s review of the series premiere of “Star Trek: Deep Space Nine” (“New ‘Star Trek’ a Passion Pit Lost in Deep Space,” Jan. 5) made some astute observations. However, amid clever criticism of the show’s “diverse future demography” and “unpatronizing” script, Willman himself showed alarming insensitivity to issues of gender and race.

Is it, as Willman claims, “pointedly PC” that the commander is black, even when all of the other main characters are white or alien? Willman’s outdated perspective is even more apparent as he synopsizes the two lead women: “cute-when-she’s-angry” and “ babe-alicious .” Hmmm, that’s not my idea of enlightened, let alone acceptable, critical writing. Are Times and my standards so different?

KEN GOULD

Pasadena