For whatever reason, I don't usually like Star Trek episodes, or even most of the movies, the first time I see them. After rewatching them, though, I can get on board--even with the first few seasons of Voyager, or most of Enterprise.
While the three "Kelvin timeline" movies have been good movies, I haven't found them to be good Star Trek. Still, I watch (and sometimes rewatch) them all. What they lack is the relationship between the characters; Star Trek was about the interactions of the characters, primarily the troika of Kirk, Spock, and McCoy. It should be possible to make blockbuster movies and build on the character relationships, but that isn't what happened.
We Trekkies/Trekkers (I've never understood what's wrong with the first term) have a fixation on "canon"--what the Star Trek universe is supposed to be, and the events that take place in that universe. Something that violates canon is considered a big no-no. This might explain the Kelvin timeline, as the writers would not be bound by all the history mentioned in the previous tv series and movies since the events of these movies take place in a timeline different from the "prime" timeline.
I was interested in Star Trek: Discovery when it first came out, but let's face it, I just can't get past a ship that's powered by magic mushrooms. Also, the spinning before a jump? It's just silly. Star Trek was always supposed to be science fiction, not science fantasy. I watched the first couple seasons because I liked the characters and stories but I just had a hard time accepting it as Star Trek. After the first couple seasons, though, the stories got goofier and goofier, and even before Discovery jumped almost a thousand years into the future, well, the show had become unwatchable for me. Star Trek: Picard is just horrible; Patrick Stewart speaks as if every breath will be his last, and given his age, it just might be. And then there are the Star Trek cartoon series that are available now; I don't really get into cartoon shows.
I have considered only the movies and TV shows through Enterprise to be canon.
On my flight to Puerto Vallarta last week, episodes of Discovery, Picard, and the newest show, Strange New Worlds, were available on the entertainment system. I watched an episode or two of Discovery just to fill the time, but Strange New Worlds really piqued my interest.
Star Trek: Strange New Worlds is the story of the Enterprise when it was commanded by Captain Pike (of the original series episode The Menagerie fame) in the years immediately prior to Kirk's command. Spock is a lieutenant, Uhura is a cadet, and Scotty, McCoy, Sulu, and Chekov are not yet crew members. The show is very well done; it's good science fiction, and more important, it's good Star Trek. The crew members are relatable as people and the ship, while not the 1701 of the original series, is still enjoyable to watch. There are nods to people we heard about in previous series--Robert April, Jim Kirk's brother Sam, and Khan Noonien-Singh being three who come immediately to mind. The Gorn make an appearance in the show, and in one episode there's an entire sequence that's an homage to one in my favorite original series episode Balance of Terror.
The show respects what came before it, it respects the Star Trek ethos, and it respects the long-time fans. I consider Star Trek: Strange New Worlds to be canon.
I'm not going to subscribe to Paramount+, oh heck no, so I've watched the full first season of Strange New Worlds on PlutoTV. I understand the first episode of Season 2 is there as well, and also on YouTube; I hope Season 2 will soon be added to PlutoTV's lineup.
Do you want to watch some good old fashioned Star Trek? Strange New Worlds just might be for you. It is for me.
4 comments:
I did not like Discovery, either, but SNW is interesting. This Spock is played by Gregory Peck's grandson and he's good. This week's episode shows Uhura's character traits that she had in original Star Trek. I wonder how much ST influenced my baby boomer generation. I still remember being a college sophomore, standing on my front porch as the moon landing was televised, and looking up at the moon, just gobsmacked. I hope the newer generations can regain some of the awe I felt when I was their age.
Having only seen Season 1, what TOS character traits are you referring to?
Intelligence, not being coerced into wrong decision, moral compass.
We Trekkies/Trekkers (I've never understood what's wrong with the first term)
Definition. Trekkers obviously like the show, may get dressed up as a Klingon for the convention, pay good money for a picture with Shatner or the other actors. But, come Monday morning, the costume is put away, the man is at the office making the money to support his family, pay his bills, etc.
A Trekkie is a 46 year old male living in Mom's basement who likely never got laid, works at the Way-Mart/Home Depot as a greeter, has no plan other than the convention two months from now, and if he can get some people to spot the money for the pic with one of the actors.
And yes, got through the 2nd season of SNW, enjoyed it. There is good interaction between the characters, but hopefully they get away from the original series and get some different plots.
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