Question From A New Fan

LegendarySnooch · April 8 2010, 03:23 PM

I am a new fan to the Star Trek franchise and recently purchased the complete series of TNG on the advice from a friend but an now wondering if I should watch the original series first before I start watching TNG. I know that the characters are different between the two but I am wondering if it would be beneficial from an historical context to watch the original series first?

Admiral Shran · April 8 2010, 03:29 PM

It certainly wouldn't hurt, but I don't think it's necessary. TNG stands on it's own independently of TOS fairly well.

M · April 8 2010, 03:45 PM

No, it isn't necessary at all to have watched The Original Series before watching The Next Generation. And that's coming from a huge fan of both shows. There are some episodes (especially later on) where some prior knowledge of Star Trek history wouldn't hurt (like Sarek, Relics or Unification), but even these can be easily understood without having watched The Original Series first.

By the way, welcome to the Trek BBS! It's always nice to have new folks around.

The Trekster · April 8 2010, 05:19 PM

Agreed. TNG does not need TOS. And if you're like me, TOS might turn you off of trek entirely...

Oh the wasted years!

SpyOne · April 8 2010, 06:18 PM

If you happen to have TOS lying around, do watch it first. I think you will enjoy TOS more on its own merits than compared to TNG, and there will be the occasional reference to TOS in TNG that was meant to be fun for fans who had seen it that will just blend into other comments if you haven't seen it. (It isn't like a joke that's only funny to some, and therefore unfunny to others, it's like noticing that a character in your favorite tv show has a coffee mug that references your favorite movie: it tickles you if you get it, and if you don't it is just a mug.)

But don't put off watching TNG to wait for TOS. That would be like not eating the cheesecake because you don't have any strawberries. (Actually, bad metaphor, as strawberries improve cheesecake far more than TOS will improve TNG.)

Alrik · April 8 2010, 10:58 PM

Welcome to the board.

It wouldn't hurt to watch TOS first, but its not a must. As others have said, TNG stands up on it's own pretty well. There will be some references to TOS in some episodes that you'll miss, but other than 'Relics', you'll be fine.

GalaxyX · April 9 2010, 05:56 PM

I've been religiously watching TOS and TNG with my dad, from the beginning. I always liked TOS, but recently got the TOS Remastered series and decided to see it from the beginning.

I also have practically seen every TNG episode at least 20 times each, perhaps more, but seeing it sequencially right after TOS (and the TOS movies) has made TNG so much more enjoyable to me. I can't believe how, at least in spirit, the shows are so similar to each other.

April 8 2010, 03:23 PM	#1
LegendarySnooch Cadet	Question From A New Fan I am a new fan to the Star Trek franchise and recently purchased the complete series of TNG on the advice from a friend but an now wondering if I should watch the original series first before I start watching TNG. I know that the characters are different between the two but I am wondering if it would be beneficial from an historical context to watch the original series first?

April 8 2010, 03:29 PM	#2
Admiral Shran Admiral Location: In the Before Time - the Long, Long Ago	Re: Question From A New Fan It certainly wouldn't hurt, but I don't think it's necessary. TNG stands on it's own independently of TOS fairly well. __________________ Vote Obomney 2012! "All governments suffer a recurring problem: power attracts pathological personalities. It's not that power corrupts but that it's magnetic to the corruptible." - Frank Herbert, Dune

April 8 2010, 03:45 PM	#3
M Vice Admiral	Re: Question From A New Fan No, it isn't necessary at all to have watched The Original Series before watching The Next Generation. And that's coming from a huge fan of both shows. There are some episodes (especially later on) where some prior knowledge of Star Trek history wouldn't hurt (like Sarek, Relics or Unification), but even these can be easily understood without having watched The Original Series first. By the way, welcome to the Trek BBS! It's always nice to have new folks around. __________________ Bashir: »Out of all the stories you told me, which ones were true and which ones weren't?« Garak: »My dear doctor, they're all true.« Bashir: »Even the lies?« Garak: »Especially the lies.«

April 8 2010, 05:19 PM	#4
The Trekster Lieutenant Commander Location: Chicago	Re: Question From A New Fan Agreed. TNG does not need TOS. And if you're like me, TOS might turn you off of trek entirely... Oh the wasted years! __________________ 'Like' Stockholm Santa on facebook to receive production updates! http://www.facebook.com/StockholmSanta

April 8 2010, 06:18 PM	#5
SpyOne Commander	Re: Question From A New Fan If you happen to have TOS lying around, do watch it first. I think you will enjoy TOS more on its own merits than compared to TNG, and there will be the occasional reference to TOS in TNG that was meant to be fun for fans who had seen it that will just blend into other comments if you haven't seen it. (It isn't like a joke that's only funny to some, and therefore unfunny to others, it's like noticing that a character in your favorite tv show has a coffee mug that references your favorite movie: it tickles you if you get it, and if you don't it is just a mug.) But don't put off watching TNG to wait for TOS. That would be like not eating the cheesecake because you don't have any strawberries. (Actually, bad metaphor, as strawberries improve cheesecake far more than TOS will improve TNG.)

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April 8 2010, 10:58 PM	#6
Alrik Commodore Location: Alrik is on A deck chair, somewhere....or Iowa. Brrr.	Re: Question From A New Fan Welcome to the board. It wouldn't hurt to watch TOS first, but its not a must. As others have said, TNG stands up on it's own pretty well. There will be some references to TOS in some episodes that you'll miss, but other than 'Relics', you'll be fine. __________________ When I grow up, I want to be just like you. But different.

April 9 2010, 05:56 PM	#7
GalaxyX Rear Admiral Location: Canada	Re: Question From A New Fan I've been religiously watching TOS and TNG with my dad, from the beginning. I always liked TOS, but recently got the TOS Remastered series and decided to see it from the beginning. I also have practically seen every TNG episode at least 20 times each, perhaps more, but seeing it sequencially right after TOS (and the TOS movies) has made TNG so much more enjoyable to me. I can't believe how, at least in spirit, the shows are so similar to each other. __________________ I love chemicals!!!