I think the X-Files idea is promising. Trek could be described as pre-adapted. It would give the franchise a new, fresh direction.
What is Star Trek and its future?
- Thread starter Warped9
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Just for the record, since I can't edit the post - I read the article and while the abstract implies "in a vacuum". It was a "medium in a vacuum". So not as big deal. Now I feel silly - but I still stand by understanding we are very likely not at the apex of scientific knowledge
The question I would ask, as a follow up, is the continuity what makes Star Trek? Or is it the characters and storytelling?
I personally would argue it is the characters, the adventures, and the sense of optimism that carries Star Trek forward, rather than maintaining continuity. I'm not saying the history is not important, but the needs of the story should not be constrained by making sure the details are 100% accurate or near-realistic.
I don't think Star Trek is broken, so much as it needs a fresh face. If Abrams' style is not for you, that's fine by me, but I think there needs something similar to add a younger feel, and adopt a more contemporary story-telling.
Regardless, Star Trek has been, at its best, action-adventure with social commentary and compelling characters with optimism about humanity. TOS characters may feel superficial, at times, but that is to allow us, the audience, to fill in the details, to identify with them and share a bit of their adventure.
Star Trek can still retain that by allowing individuals to have conflict, and uncertainty, and not face down the "moral crisis of the week" and just explore the unknown. Let the characters' stories unfold in a way that feels real, and most of all, feels optimistic.
Trek can't be adapted to galactic-empire-as-Middle-Earth. That's Star Wars, or something similar, Trek is too different.
However, I think planetary romance-being set on specific planets-could be used in Trek. And I think that a dash of space western could also fit, if out on the fringes of Federation space.
Now, if we combine that with an X-Files vibe....imagine Mulder and Scully visiting the Mars in the John Carter movie.
However, I think planetary romance-being set on specific planets-could be used in Trek. And I think that a dash of space western could also fit, if out on the fringes of Federation space.
Now, if we combine that with an X-Files vibe....imagine Mulder and Scully visiting the Mars in the John Carter movie.
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I am having trouble making the link to TV Tropes article for Jungle Opera.
The Indiana Jones movies are probably the most famous examples.
As I recall, quite a diversity of stories was offered by the television series based on The Lost World. Almost as diverse as Trek.
Congo is listed as a modern Jungle Opera.
Avatar is a sort of jungle opera, but is set on another world.
Lost is mentioned-that particular series is hard to categorize, but I can see how it over laps with Jungle Opera.
Potential overlaps between Jungle Opera and Trek-lost colonies, Precursors....
The Indiana Jones movies are probably the most famous examples.
As I recall, quite a diversity of stories was offered by the television series based on The Lost World. Almost as diverse as Trek.
Congo is listed as a modern Jungle Opera.
Avatar is a sort of jungle opera, but is set on another world.
Lost is mentioned-that particular series is hard to categorize, but I can see how it over laps with Jungle Opera.
Potential overlaps between Jungle Opera and Trek-lost colonies, Precursors....
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I completely agree with you. Aside from changing history and the dumb cadet-captain promotion at the end, I loved ST-09. It was a great movie! I just wish they would've placed it within the context of the prime universe. Nothing in the core plot was incompatible with established canon and there was plenty of room for it.
Trek can't be adapted to galactic-empire-as-Middle-Earth. That's Star Wars, or something similar, Trek is too different.
However, I think planetary romance-being set on specific planets-could be used in Trek. And I think that a dash of space western could also fit, if out on the fringes of Federation space.
Now, if we combine that with an X-Files vibe....imagine Mulder and Scully visiting the Mars in the John Carter movie.
Star Wars and Star Trek are not as different as others suppose, at least to a certain degree. Both are influenced by Western ideas and tropes but their focus is on different aspects. In a similar vein, Firefly is really a combination of the two franchises, with the attitude being one of rugged individualism and Western style perseverance.
Regardless, Star Trek, I think, can be adapted to a variety of formats, as long as characters are at the fore. As much as people get annoyed at the origin stories of many shows, I think that Star Trek benefited from showing a crew coming together, and I think it can do so again.
^^
I don't fault you in the slightest on that feeling, but contemporary audiences seem to gravitate towards having the back story of characters and seeing their development.
Even if it is not portrayed on screen, there is far more of a push for writers to have much of the back story worked out beforehand so that they can answer questions regarding their characters.
At least that is my impression. I think a show can get away without the origin story if they have a solid world and characters to make it believable.
I don't fault you in the slightest on that feeling, but contemporary audiences seem to gravitate towards having the back story of characters and seeing their development.
Even if it is not portrayed on screen, there is far more of a push for writers to have much of the back story worked out beforehand so that they can answer questions regarding their characters.
At least that is my impression. I think a show can get away without the origin story if they have a solid world and characters to make it believable.
This makes a measure of sense akin to having your hardware and tech basically laid out before you start and try to stay consistent with it.
Continuity is a side dish. It can compliment the main course but shouldn't take over the meal
I don't think Trek is that far removed from galactic-empire-as-Middle-Earth. Especially when dealing with its own Galactic Empires. Galactic Empires and "Middle Earths" seem to draw on similar historical and mythological sources and are somewhat contemporaneous concepts, so their similarities aren't all that shocking.Trek can't be adapted to galactic-empire-as-Middle-Earth. That's Star Wars, or something similar, Trek is too different.
However, I think planetary romance-being set on specific planets-could be used in Trek. And I think that a dash of space western could also fit, if out on the fringes of Federation space.
Now, if we combine that with an X-Files vibe....imagine Mulder and Scully visiting the Mars in the John Carter movie.
Trek has done planetary romance on the small scale and space western as well.
Trek is a big tent concept. Almost any story, setting or trope can be used in its framework.
Avatar is a planetary romance crossed with Military SF.I am having trouble making the link to TV Tropes article for Jungle Opera.
The Indiana Jones movies are probably the most famous examples.
As I recall, quite a diversity of stories was offered by the television series based on The Lost World. Almost as diverse as Trek.
Congo is listed as a modern Jungle Opera.
Avatar is a sort of jungle opera, but is set on another world.
Lost is mentioned-that particular series is hard to categorize, but I can see how it over laps with Jungle Opera.
Potential overlaps between Jungle Opera and Trek-lost colonies, Precursors....
Star Trek (TOS) doesn't really need an "origin story".I'm at the point where origin story = blech!
^^ I would argue no new Trek really needs an origin story if handled properly.
TNG didn't really need an origin even though those characters were the first crew to man the E-D. It could have started like TOS.
DS9's origin kind of worked but, again, it can be argued that if structured properly it could have started with everyone already aboard the station. As is they wanted to make a big deal of the backstory setup, but it wasn't truly necessary.
And both VOY and ENT didn't really need the origin stories they had. VOY could have started right with being in the midst of chasing the Maqis into the badlands. ENT could have had them already launched.
TNG didn't really need an origin even though those characters were the first crew to man the E-D. It could have started like TOS.
DS9's origin kind of worked but, again, it can be argued that if structured properly it could have started with everyone already aboard the station. As is they wanted to make a big deal of the backstory setup, but it wasn't truly necessary.
And both VOY and ENT didn't really need the origin stories they had. VOY could have started right with being in the midst of chasing the Maqis into the badlands. ENT could have had them already launched.
I could be interested in the story starting when Kirk first comes aboard the Enterprise as Captain.
I would assume that Spock would be already serving aboard her, and perhaps many of the other senior officers would already be in place. In comes Kirk, someone (in that continuity) none of them knew, probably except McCoy. It would be the story of how Kirk and Spock's friendship begins, after initially being at odds with each other. Perhaps Kirk wants Mitchell as his first officer, but that is strongly advised against by Kirk's superior.
Maybe even a retelling of "Where No Man Has Gone Before" but as the first mission under Kirk. Somewhere in there, Kirk realizes that Spock is just the person for the job of First Officer, that Spock has no ambition, holds no animosity against Gary, but is thinking only of the ship.
I would assume that Spock would be already serving aboard her, and perhaps many of the other senior officers would already be in place. In comes Kirk, someone (in that continuity) none of them knew, probably except McCoy. It would be the story of how Kirk and Spock's friendship begins, after initially being at odds with each other. Perhaps Kirk wants Mitchell as his first officer, but that is strongly advised against by Kirk's superior.
Maybe even a retelling of "Where No Man Has Gone Before" but as the first mission under Kirk. Somewhere in there, Kirk realizes that Spock is just the person for the job of First Officer, that Spock has no ambition, holds no animosity against Gary, but is thinking only of the ship.
That's what fanfic is for, but for television or film it's not needed.
I think origin stories are the natural evolution of small-screen drama. It only makes sense that the origin would gain popularity following the wide-spread acceptance of the series finale.
The origin helps establish the more modern, complex characters that viewers demand and sets the mood and stage for what's yet to come.
No it doesn't. The tone is set write from the beginning simply by how the story is written and executed.
I'm not saying that setting the tone wasn't possible before origin episodes became popular. I'm just saying it's a tool to help establish the series. It marks a clear beginning of a saga, just as the finale offers closure.
The benefit of marking a clear starting point of the franchise is not a necessary as contemporary storytelling and film making have insisted upon. Much of the origin stories are attempts to take existing properties (superheroes, BattleStar, Star Trek, among others) and demonstrate that this is something different from what has come before. This is new Spider-man, this is "not your father's Star Trek," etc. It's a marking point of audiences that says they don't have know what has come before.
That's a long winded way of saying that it is not necessary to have an origin story of how everyone came together and their back story.
In my opinion, if you have consistent characters, and a clearly defined world then you don't need the origin story. As pointed out, TOS didn't really need it, as it was just "Voyages of the Starship Enterprise" and that's it. Treat the world like it has always existed, rather explaining to me what is going on.
Star Trek was really about the characters, and showing how they work and react in this world. The burden is really on the writers and creators to craft a good production bible that provides the outlines for the writers to explore in to the world and characters.
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