Star Trek - where to from here?

[geon]

As of this date, we currently have no new Star Trek tv series being produced. Whether this situation will continue will probably depend on a number of factors.

Firstly, how strongly the fans let the powers that be know that they are disappointed in their current attitudes and efforts and want this mess cleaned up. Secondly, whether the franchise continues with its non canonical movie series or returns to the regular tv series format. And will this new series continue in the prime timeline or carry on with the new movie storyline.

Opinions on this forum have been polarised into the ‘love it' or ‘hate it' camps when it comes to JJ Abram's film. The ‘love it' camp argue that the franchise needed a shot in the arm to make it more attractive to a younger audience and that the new state of the art special effects will make up for any storyline weaknesses it might have (a situation sadly becoming more common in recent Hollywood productions).

The ‘hate it' camp deplore how the film completely ignores the established timeline from previous tv series and films, and launches into its own little universe.

Personally, I was leaning to the ‘hate it' camp simply because of the film's total disregard to all that had been established since the 1960's. But trying to be objective, I picked up a cheap DVD of the movie and watched it for the first time.

My personal view is as follows.

As a sci fi film, the effects certainly were impressive. But the story was nothing special (good guys vs bad guys, big battle, good triumphs in the end - we've seen it all in other pictures). Ad to this the cavalier and ‘teenage don't give a damn' attitude of the main character, and I can understand how many people grew to loathe the picture, especially when comparing what JJ Abrams has done with their favourite characters.

Now, with previous Star Trek films, there was a bedrock of previous knowledge to base a story on. With ST ‘Wrath of Khan' you could watch ST ‘Space Seed' to understand Khan's origins and motives, why he was on that planet and why he hated Kirk so much. Star Trek was also famous for discussing relevant contemporary issues in its stories (admittedly, the quality of that treatment varied). ST ‘The Undiscovered Country' explored the thawing in Russian /American relations. ST ‘The Voyage Home' explored the whaling issue. There is, in short, a whole previous mythology to work with when producing future films in the prime time universe.

This new film starts from scratch. We get a story of how youthful disregard for authority saves the day. There's no foundation to develop future stories because no foundation exists. If future movies in this series are going to rely on sheer action and effects with lashings of ‘gung ho' attitudes, it's going to get stale pretty quickly. And any reference to established Star Trek lore is going to be distorted beyond description.

So, unless they come up with something really special and relevant in the next film, I don't hold much hope for this picture series.

There is a hopeful possibly that a future tv series will eventually be made. If they intend basing this on the JJ Abrams universe, I for one will not be watching it, simply because to me it's not Star Trek.

So, I am hoping that saner heads will resurrect the prime timeline for this future series, and return Star Trek to its rightful universe.

Having said all that, what type of storyline for this series would the fans like to see?

We have a number of possibilities.

A movie dealing with the Romulan War and bridging the timeframe between the ‘Enterprise' series and the start of the Federation

A tv series based on the early Federation itself, leading up to the TOS era.

A tv series dealing with the intermediate era between the TOS series and the first movies

A tv series dealing with the period between mid movies (with Kirk) and the Next generation (ie Khitomer massacre, Battle of Narenda III etc)

A tv series dealing with Captain Sulu and the Excelsior, an idea other forum members are keen to see happen.

A tv series dealing with the future beyond the Next Generation and Voyager. Perhaps one dealing with Riker on his new ship.

The point is, with the established timeline, we have a myriad of movie and tv ideas to work with, as well as the possibilities of integrating relevant social and historical statements into the stories.

With this new movie series, we are likely to simply get variations on a standard story formula.

[HsojVvad]

I will not be watching Star Trek 90210 if it ever became a TV series.

I want my old ST back with all the lore that has been established. I can sort of understand why what JJ did, but it just goes to show you the idiots we have in Hollywood who don't know how to make a proper ST movie. The last 2 or 3 ST films just prove it, espically the last one.

If a new ST TV show were to happen it better establish what we already know and not run off JJ movies. So it comes down to if Non ST fans out weigh the pure ST fans to see if it will happen.

Since there is 100 000s of ST fans and they haven't made a new TV series, I don't really see it happening, just because they don't have made a new one now.

Considering that Star Wars TV series has been cancelled or put on hold because of production costs, I can't see a new ST series that would keep the non ST fans inerested. It's the stories that kept us glued to the TV sets for over 40 years.

Since JJ movies have no real story to it, ST is doomed to failure.

[KrazeeXXL]

I can't tell how the new Jar Jar Abrams movie will be like. But I'm preparing for the worst

Perhaps Star Trek even has to recover for at least 5-10 years after the new movie came out...

I don't have a problem with waiting for a new series. It's better to use the time to develop consistent story arcs then to make another disaster with "on-the-fly-writing" as it was done with Stargate Universe.

Although we could need a new series (now!) I'm afraid it would interfere much with what Jar Jar is doing atm as he's the new man on the bridge...

So I prefer to wait. The franchise showed more then once that it is able to completely re-invent itself. I think it'll come back to old virtue if:

1. the new target audience of this new fast-food style-movies will be filled
(as it's fast-food that shouldn't take that long)

and

2. they got into trouble selling their dvd's to the broad "old" fanbase.

I picked up a cheap DVD of the movie

ah nah, you seriously did?


I'm afraid we can't do much to get a new Star Trek series which refers to the "old" original Trek values. But there are two things you can do.

show your dissatisfaction by not:

1. going to watch the new movie
2. buying the DVD/blu-ray of it

For me (1.) is inacceptable. I simply have to watch it. There's no way around it. I can't build up an opinion w/o having watched the movie as it was meant to be: on the big screen in cinema

so the only thing for me is (2.)

(2.) assures the franchise "to fill it's own stomach". I'm not going to feed them with buying their fast-food-dvd half a year after the premiere in cinema.

so... it's up to you. show your whole dissatisfaction about the last movie by combining 1+2. But if youre not going to watch it at all - there's still a slightly chance that you miss something ground-breaking. I don't expect that to happen but it would be short-sightend of me to neglect even the chance of that. Even if it's not very high.

For the record: Some Titan series would be nice. But Jonathan "Cakes" should do some sports b4

[Tethys]

A tv series dealing with the future beyond the Next Generation and Voyager. Perhaps one dealing with Riker on his new ship.

This would be my pick, HOWEVER it CAN tie into the ST movie. How? By making a prime timeline MOVIE about it. Starring Johnathan Frakes and Mirina Sirtis

2387: Romulan star exploded yes? (according to ST movie)

2387ish should be about the time for Riker to have a good command under his belt with the Titan (according to pocket books novels: http://memory-alpha.org/wiki/USS_Titan) and the perfect time to introduce a proper movie with the Romulans, in wake of their destroyed home planet. Perhaps reunification on Vulcan ensues, or a friendship is struck with the Federation as we help them find a new planet to settle on. This opens the door for a whole slew of new possibilities that I will not go into.

2387: Titan embarks on a journey through Romulan space into frontiers unknown, perhaps even with a Romulan escort, in wake of the new friendship. As they embark on their 7 year(season) journey, much can be learned about Romulans than we could ever have known from them being a secretive people. This is what Star Trek should be about

#End rant

[Tethys]

Also, what i dont understand about ST is that why did the Temporal Prime Directive not come into play? How was this missed other than by the blind stupidity of good 'ol JarJar? One could assume that 29th century or later ships did not scan this part of the timeline, but whats to say that they would eventually scan it 'sometime' in their future? Maybe the temporal disruption was not large enough? Who knows, we probably never will

[marhawkman]

the Temporal Prime Directive was only ever applied to actual time travelers. From that point of view, this was simply a part of normal history.

As for what happened to the Romulans, the PC game addressed that. A Romulan civil war began which resulted in part of the Empire being conquered by the Klingons and most of the rest joining the Federation.

It would be very interesting to see the transition of the Romulans to being Federation citizens. Especially if this means that Scotty gets to refit a D'deridex.

[HsojVvad]

Not bad Tethys, but I am getting a bit tired how Riker or Deana Troi are always involved in other TV shows, like Voyager and Enterprise. But you could be on to something.

For me, I really REALLY wanted Star Trek: The Sulu Years. I would have loved George Takai as Captian Sulu of the Excelsior for 4 or 7 year run.

[KrazeeXXL]

there's only a 7 years run when it's about real Star Trek. but might be hard to accomplish in the internet times we live in. the requirements are very high and the judgements are devastating. imho the old format of a tv show is to be considered as out-dated in those times. You have to do something which involves the fans personally. Something new, ground-breaking. Something which wasn't there. That's Star Trek for me!

Not using some stupid electric torch like Jar Jar did yelling "awesome!!! more flashes" (or whatever the jerk yelled for) - watch behind the scenes if ya wanna puke...

you know. something new which not only hits but strikes you in the face. and you sit there... BAM... wth?! it's great! it's new! it's awesome! The same what happened to me as I was 7 years old and watched TNG for the very first time.

I seriously hope this is gonna happen sometime again. We need something new which sets itself apart from all the mediocre junk we were served with...

I don't need a Riker in it. I don't care. i hope it'll be canon, logical and follows the old path in a new awesome way...

[Army37]

I doubt there's gonna be another Star Trek tv show at least not for the next 10-20 years.

If there's gonna be one, they will probably do an animated series one like the Clone Wars.

As for a future Star Trek movie, although the actors were excellent and look alike to the original ones, I doubt there's gonna be many of those movies in the future....Star Trek as we knew it is dead

[jonboylondon]

I thought the new Star Trek film was fantastic.

The opening scene was trully spectacular and the music so sad and beautifull it truly made my a huge lump grow in my throat. When the New Star Trek Tune Enterprising Young Men kicked in I felt like jumping up and screaming 'Yes' - its back.

I thought Chris Pine was excellent as Kirk and to me captured a bit of that TOS Kirk attitude and confidence and even a hint of arrogance about him along side his humour.

Spock was also excellent as the flipside of Kirk character and I liked the idea that Vulcans were a bit more like they were in Enterprise where though they were calm and calculatingly stoic most of the time you saw glimpses of how passionate and even violent those emotions could be if surfaced. In Spocks case they show his human side much more and play on this far more than previously - a topic only really explored in the later Star Trek Films.

Mccoy was simply fantastic. I cant really say more but it was almost as if a young Deforest Kelly was there in the film. Ratty, moaning and ever so dry in his wit.

Scotty - though with a bad accent was enjoyable to if a bit more daftly brilliant than the original Scotty - who was more down to earth shall we say and Uhura was far more a main Character than in the TOS being involved with Spock but still with the same strong character. Chekov was also excellent reminding me of the very early days of the brilliant russian teenage whizz that Walter first portrayed, and Sulu was good if not remarkable.

The Effects were well done but not spectacular (but I do wish they would get rid of the screen flare JJ seems to love..) but other than that the ships, tech and look of the film did not differ significantly enough to lose the trek feel and did seem to incorporate some of the feel Enterprise had in clothing, buildings and similar touches.

As mentioned the score was fantastic, full orchestral mood music, jumpy little solos and fitted in when the original song was introduced. Michael Giacchino should be asked back and told more of the same and to me it hugely added to the film.

The film as well (though I will admit with Red matter etc... was a bit daft tech wise) was well directed and kept a good pace and was supported well with Pike also being very good on top of Nero being a decent Bad guy to boot. It never really slowed and kept me interested all the way through keeping a good pace and scenes flowed well including with the original Spock and how he was involved. I did not really find some of the inconsistancies that much of an issue especially when ST has had so many in the past anyway and with Kirks Dad being killed and changing the timeline then Nero and then Vulcan - there is enough change there to continue with a familiar yet different storyline.

In summary I cant wait till the next one and find myself glad that ST managed to re-boot a dying franchise that looked dead in the water and carry on something that I have been watching since a child. I would also be delighted if they made a mini-series or TV show as well as films and would be keen to watch if they did.

Certainly from my point of view and my friends who all have been fans for years as well - we all thought it was brilliant and will be there in line at the Cinema to watch the next one.

More of the same please....

[HsojVvad]

@ jonboylondon, I liked the film as a seperate movie, but trying to say it's a Star Trek movie I hated it because it threw out all the years I grew up with.

I guess it's sad to say I connected with Star Trek that it's a part of me. I feel like I got spat on and crapped on just for the sake of a buck.

Yes on it's own, it's a good movie, the actors played a good job, I loved Chris Pine as Kirk and the guy who played Mc Coy did an excellent job.

My only complaints is I didn't like what they did with Checkov or Urhura even Spock to an extent. But then I guess I didn't care for them because they broke the Fluff the established Lore.

But if you look at as a non Star Trek movie it's not that bad.

But still it's no excuse to say this film is cannon and what I have watched for the last 40 years means nothing now.

[LoneCrusader]

I must say that if any new series or movie continues down the path of the last movie, (and to some extent even the last series) then I hope that no more are made. Let it rest in peace.

I don't want to make any fans of the various series mad, no "Kirk vs. Picard" arguments, lol, and I must say that each series had its high points and low points, and each series had some great episodes.

But as for myself, I prefer TOS and the original crew movies. I don't care as much for the later series, even though the first Star Trek I ever watched was TNG. There are a myriad of points to rant about, but one of the ones I find most irritating is the "reversal of character" of the Federation's two main adversaries - the Klingons and the Romulans.

In TOS we see the Klingons using spies, playing "dirty," using any means necessary to achieve their goals. In contrast we see the Romulans emerge from the Neutral Zone to "test" the capabilities of the Federation (and we see the Commander is not happy about possibly starting a war), and rather than be captured in defeat, the Commander commits suicide and destroys the ship to keep it out of Federation hands. Other than that, the only time we see them is when the Federation violates their space. They are always shown to act honorably, and while they are proud, they have a deep respect for the ability of their enemies.

Yet in TNG, the Klingons are portrayed to be this perfect picture of honor, and the Romulans are portrayed to be arrogant, conniving, and always looking for a way to stab someone in the back. This is a 360 degree reversal of their personalities in TOS. It's hard for me to watch this "demonization" of the Romulans, as they are my favorite ST race.


But anyway, aside from my own little rant, one of the biggest problems that I see with the last few movies has been the introduction of what I call "comic book" villains. The villains are always one-dimensional, have one single "evil" purpose in mind, and never have any significant depth or background to their characters. It began with Dr. Soran in Generations, then on to Shinzon, and this latest installment with "Nero" is even worse. It seems the galaxy is full of madmen hell-bent on destruction. It seems now that the "enemy" must always be "evil." Whoever writes these things should realize that there are other reasons for conflict than nutcases. As stated above, the movies have become simple "good vs evil" shoot-em ups. There is virtually no depth, the plotlines are easily predictable, and no thinking on the part of the viewer is required. It's all about special effects (which don't get me wrong, they're nice) and not about exploration, discovery, or humanity. It's as if they are trying to cater to an audience with attention deficit disorder.

How about a movie about a conflict between the empires? There's room for some special effects. Someone mentioned the Earth-Romulan War. I'd love to see that on screen, provided that we see TOS Romulans, not demonized TNG versions. And some depth is needed, not just "Romulans are evil and they want to destroy us" or some garbage like that, there needs to be a good reason for the conflict. One invaded the other's space, destroyed the other's ship, helped the other's enemy, something at least. Even if that "reason" comes from a misunderstanding of some sort (like described in one of the TOS novels).




-Not to mention the idiocy about "red matter" and a supernova instantly destroying multiple star systems that are light years apart, and a supernova would take millions of years to reach that far...

-And what is Star Trek without Vulcans? (and Romulans?)

[tpatz]

It's a crying shame that the franchise seems on life support.

The JJ movie is worth a watch. As a sci fi movie it is above avaerage and I will see the next one. It could use some better writting. How many crazy villans are out there destine to destroy the galaxy. It seems like every bad guy lately is out to avenge his wife.

Why did the rest of Nero's crew follow his orders anyway? If he was a civilan Capt. then the crew would probably say "screw you" after a while.

Iam also tried of the whole time travel plot. Didn't Marty and Prof. Brown already cover that, three times!

Well, at least Netflix will have Star Trek in the summer.

[Sela]

Maybe the could do a series from the point of view of another major race! maybe the Romulans and how they cope with life after the loss of their home planet. it's a shame everyone (even those who generally despise the movie, correct me if i'm wrong.) considers Romulus destroyed.

[marhawkman]

that's an idea I've pondered a good bit. the timeline that the new video game uses is after the collapse of the Romulan Empire, and a large chunk of what used to be the Empire is now part of the Federation. In that context, it'd be natural to explore that sort of theme concerning the cause of the Empire's collapse.