Hailing Frequencies

[Niemz]

Who are the Thurmarians?

[brenn]

, the adventures of the crew of the NSEA Protector were viewed by enthusiastic television audiences of the series Galaxy Quest. Eighteen years later, the stars of the show have been reduced to convention appearances and store grand-openings. Most are variously resentful, embittered, or resigned. The only cast member who derives any sort of pleasure from the adoration of the doting fans is Jason Nesmith (Tim Allen), the egomaniacal star and "commander" of the crew, who laps up their continuing devotion.

At one convention, Jason is approached to discuss what he assumes to be a personal appearance in an amateur episode by a group of fans disguised as aliens. They send a limo to pick him up and take him to what he takes to be their production studio; there, Jason is impressed by the high production values of their spaceship set, which are unusual for an amateur effort. Jason steps into his role as Captain, and summarily orders his crew to fire upon the "evil alien overlord" Sarris, who appears on the Bridge viewscreen. When he asks to go home, he is sent through the interplanetary space in a gelatinous transportation "pod." Only then does he realise that he really was in outer space. It turns out that Mathesar (Enrico Colantoni) and the "fans" are Thermians (played by Missi Pyle, Rainn Wilson, Patrick Breen and Jed Rees), a peaceful and naïve cephalopod-like alien race who, having received twenty-year-old transmissions of Galaxy Quest (as well as other shows such as Gilligan's Island) from Earth, and having no concept of fiction, have interpreted the show as "historical documents." They have structured their entire society around the "teachings" of the series, going so far as to build an exact replica of the Protector. Special devices allow them to appear in human form, though their speech and mannerisms are never quite human.

Jason loves the idea of being regarded as a hero by a bona fide alien race and therefore recruits his reluctant fellow actors into joining him as his "crew". In the process of rushing to find them, he accidentally exchanges the communicator given him by the Thermians with a toy version of it held by Brandon (Justin Long), an avid young fan of the show. Unfortunately, just as the new Protector is real, so is Sarris, a ruthless reptilian warlord engaged in a genocidal war of annihilation wherein the Thermians are his targets. The actors, in order to help the Thermians, must fulfill their television roles. In return for the Thermians' safety, Sarris demands the "Omega 13," a device the Thermians built in the bowels of the Protector, again copied from the show. Unfortunately, the Omega 13 was used only in the cliffhanger at the end of the series' final episode, which had no follow-up, so that no one has any idea of its function.

After a battle against Sarris and his crew, the Thermian Protector is heavily damaged by autohoming mines which they encounter in space. A new Beryllium sphere is needed to revive the main power systems. The crew land on an alien planet, where they must evade a group of small, goblin-like predators in order to obtain the sphere. Jason, who is last in the line of escape, is left behind. He is captured by the native predators, who invoke a monster formed of animated rock to kill him. He evades this monster and is ultimately rescued by his fellow actor Fred, who had played his Tech Sergeant in the television series.

Eventually, the ship is overrun by their enemies. Jason tries to save his fellow actors by admitting, under duress, that the program Galaxy Quest was a "deception". Sarris, amused, orders his Lt. Lathe (Wayne Pére) to have the Protector's core to be overloaded and an oxygen seal to be opened into the chambers where the Thermians are held. He then orders the actors to be expelled into space. The actor Alexander, who had played the character of Doctor Lazarus in the group's program, engages in a mock fight with Jason, confusing their captors and providing opportunity whereby to escape. The crew then embark to rescue the Thermians and destroy Sarris as follows: Jason and his fellow actor Gwen move to stop the core from imploding, while Alexander and the Thermian Quellek attempt to save the rest of the Thermians; Fred and his temporary sidekick Guy defeat Sarris' soldiers, and Tommy, who had played the pilot in their television series, fulfills his role.

Jason uses Thermian communicators to contact Brandon and his equally enthusiastic friends, who have more knowledge of the Protector than any other human. Brandon guides Jason and Gwen through the Protector's dangerous inner systems and thence to the core's control center. En route, Brandon reveals that the Omega 13 transports the users back in time 13 seconds — enough time wherein to change one mistake. They reach the core, but fail to shut it down; however, because the ship is built to the exact specifications of the ship portrayed in the television series the core does not implode, but shuts off by itself with only one second to spare.

Meanwhile, Alexander and Quellek complete their mission by rescuing the Thermians from asphyxation. Quellek is subsequently shot and thereby killed by one of Sarris' soldiers. Alexander, because Quellek had idolized his character, assumes the role of Doctor Lazarus openly by reciting the latter's vow of vengeance and attacking Quellek's killer. Fred and Guy complete their mission by destroying Sarris' soldiers, accompanied by the female Thermian called Laliari, who is mutually infatuated with Fred.

After the crew save the Thermians and free the ship, they confront Sarris again. As before, the Protector is pummeled by Sarris' mighty flagship; Jason, anticipating the fight, orders Tommy to fly near the mines, sending them chasing after the Protector. The Protector then flies toward Sarris' ship, which is rushing toward it face-to-face. Jason, at the last available moment, orders evasion; at this, the mines following the Protector collide with Sarris' ship, destroying it.

The crew returns to the command deck to celebrate their victory. Sarris, disguised as Fred, enters the control cabin and attacks the crew. Most are killed; but before Sarris can kill all of them, Jason orders Mathesar to "activate the Omega 13", which sends him back 13 seconds in time. Jason attacks the disguised Sarris and strips him of his weapon. When Sarris reveals a knife, Mathesar knocks him insensate.

The ship cannot land; therefore those aboard it separate the command deck from the ship and land it on Earth, where it crashes into a parking lot and thence onto the stage of a Galaxy Quest convention, where fans await the missing actors. The crew step one by one onto a stage, where they face their fans. Sarris emerges behind them, whereupon Jason anticlimactically disintegrates him, to thunderous applause. The remaining Thermians fly away in their Protector to rebuild their civilization. Laliari stays behind in order to live with Fred, from whom she cannot bear to be parted.

Some time later, the crew of the Protector star in a sequel of Galaxy Quest, called the Journey Continues. Laliari and Guy, as well as the rest of the actors, assume prominent roles. The film ends as the "Protector" zooms off into space once more.

[Niemz]

I loved that movie!

[Niemz]

Welcome aboard polson!

[brenn]

Welcome aboard polson!

[earthcrusher]

welcome aboard!

[Mortalas]

Wel C om E

[Niemz]

Welcome filmnut!

[brenn]

Welcome filmnut!

[earthcrusher]

welcome aboard ay!

[Decind]

Welcome all new members! Have a nice day.

[Niemz]

Welcome joe911nc!

[brenn]

Welcome joe911nc!

[earthcrusher]

I think I am going to retire from star fleet command. Take care all! See you on the flip side!

[brenn]

Later man, sorry to see you go.