Can Hardcore Trek Fanservice Scare Newbie Trekkies?

[VulcanMindBlown]

Is it possible for Paramount to give us fan service, like Star Trek: Deep Space Nine, but scare everyday possible-fans?

I feel like there could have been a good DS9, VOY, or ENT movie, but it would scare most normal Joes.

DS9 with it's multi-arcs it could scare away people.

 

[Degra1]

Yes fan service certainly can. I think one of the reasons TNG was so successful and had millions of viewers rivaling primetime dramas or other syndicated shows like Wherl of Fortune was due to the fact it wasn't impenetrable. It had the trappings of Trek in terms of design but it really did it's own thing and when it did draw on TOS it was explained to viewers so they caught up easily with understanding it's relevance. Unfortunately tv shows love lacing themselves with subtle nods, namedropping and Easter eggs that even can at times go over longtime fans heads thereby making it daunting to watch especially since context in a prequel is important and a newby won't fully be able to appreciate it which isn't really fair


Even Voy had the right idea as well to separate from at the time ongoing events of tng and ds9 which prevented a lot of continuity issues and keeping track of everything.

 

[Zonker]

I'm not really sure what you're asking. What was fan servicey about DS9? What do story arcs have to do with anything?

 

[The Wormhole]

I'm not really sure what you're asking. What was fan servicey about DS9? What do story arcs have to do with anything?

This, completely. Practically every TV show on the air today has involving story arcs. Why should this scare people away from Star Trek when it doesn't scare people away from Game of Thrones?

And no, there's nothing about DS9 that qualifies as "fan service." The only time Star Trek really did fan service (and overdid it at that) was Enterprise's final season, and even that was a by-product of realizing the season was only happening to get a syndication package and since it was only the die-hard Trekkies watching, why not reward them for sticking with the show?

 

[Thefallguy]

This, completely. Practically every TV show on the air today has involving story arcs. Why should this scare people away from Star Trek when it doesn't scare people away from Game of Thrones?

And no, there's nothing about DS9 that qualifies as "fan service." The only time Star Trek really did fan service (and overdid it at that) was Enterprise's final season, and even that was a by-product of realizing the season was only happening to get a syndication package and since it was only the die-hard Trekkies watching, why not reward them for sticking with the show?

Right? Making a show a little harder to watch through story arcs and complicated connections, easter eggs e.g., has nothing to do with fan service. Game of thrones is a perfect example. I'm not a native speaker and sometimes I don't realize all this family connections and stuff at first glance. Sometimes it takes me a few episode to realize. That doesn't stop me from watching GoT.

 

[Bry_Sinclair]

DS9 by its very nature was open to telling different stories, which could bring in others who may not be fans but are interested in thrillers, dramas, etc, though with a sci-fi twist in an established universe.

 

[F. King Daniel]

When the plot of your story requires knowledge of other episodes or films in order to make sense, then yes it can scare away newbies.

 

[Degra1]

There's a difference between starting to watch a series when it's been on for a few seasons and being out of the loop versus starting from the beginning on a prequel that has all these characters and events that have some sort of connection or relevance to other series or films

 

[Degra1]

Right? Making a show a little harder to watch through story arcs and complicated connections, easter eggs e.g., has nothing to do with fan service.

I'd argue it actually does since those sorts of things are specifically included to thrill the rabid fan. Beyond that I think most times those sort of things are too focused upon by the creators of those shoes and the writing suffers

 

[Ensign_Redshirt]

I guess "fan service" can scare newbies away if they don't understand what's going on anymore. As long as you keep explain everything...

 

[SpaceLama]

Hmm, "fan service" in anime circles, means to place characters in sexualised situations, as a knowing nod to fanboys and fangirls secret desires.

I guess you mean "fanwank" - also known as continuity porn - an inappropriate/poor use of canon references just because it seems cool, but actually comes off as completely unbelievable and obvious - often seen in comics, i.e. pointless superhero team ups.

 

[Brainsucker]

I don't understand the meaning of DS9 being a fan service here. What is the fan service about it?

 

[cultcross]

Is it possible for Paramount to give us fan service, like Star Trek: Deep Space Nine, but scare everyday possible-fans?

I feel like there could have been a good DS9, VOY, or ENT movie, but it would scare most normal Joes.

DS9 with it's multi-arcs it could scare away people.

I haven't a clue what DS9 has to do with anything, but fanwanky wish fulfillment doesn't make for good TV, no.

 

[Balok's Decoy]

Not sure what exactly qualifies as "hardcore Trek" and I don't want to google it, lol.

In any case, I think Trek can be daunting or intimidating for people who are curious and want to get into it but have no idea where to begin. The Trek universe is just massive. You really have to treat it like a giant pizza you must eat by yourself: one slice at a time. And longtime fans should welcome curious people, help them find something in Trek that appeals to them, and encourage them. A big problem I've seen in some places (though not here, yet, thank goodness) is gatekeeping. I don't think there's anything that locks out and discourages new fans more effectively than gatekeeping.

 

[Tenacity]

I'd say no, to new viewers it will just seem like the sort of universe building that a lot of series engage in.
A character suddenly mentioning a historical event that this show has never mentions before, pretty standard stuff. One of the advantages of the time period Discovery is being placed in is that most of the Star Trek "backstory" hasn't happen yet.

Avoiding old and tired species from previous series should help the new viewers along too.

 

[shapeshifter]

When the plot of your story requires knowledge of other episodes or films in order to make sense, then yes it can scare away newbies.

I agree.

Complicating the matter will be CBSAA policy of only leaving episodes up for a week to prevent bingers buying a month then cancelling. What about new subscribers who missed early episodes... Looks like they are going to be screwed for catching up until videos are available. Doesn't seem fair.

 

[VulcanMindBlown]

I'm not really sure what you're asking. What was fan servicey about DS9? What do story arcs have to do with anything?

I wasn't necessarily saying that it was, but Star Trek: Deep Space Nine had a passionate fan base, though it wasn't as big as the largest viewership, Star Trek: The Next Generation. Can we have season long stories and fan winks while getting new fans? I heard from a friend at a convention this year, who wrote an episode of Star Trek: Deep Space Nine, got paid for it, and it never aired, that Paramount was getting more money from advertising from DS9 than TNG.

DS9 by its very nature was open to telling different stories, which could bring in others who may not be fans but are interested in thrillers, dramas, etc, though with a sci-fi twist in an established universe.

Yes, I did here that, though I don't know what demographics that Star Trek: Deep Space Nine got into that the other shows, including Star Trek: The Next Generation didn't.

When the plot of your story requires knowledge of other episodes or films in order to make sense, then yes it can scare away newbies.

That's what I am getting at.

 

[CorporalClegg]

DS9 is the most insular series of the franchise.

 

[cultcross]

DS9 is the most insular series of the franchise.

You're only saying that because you don't get it.

 

[OpenMaw]

In DS9's defense I think it has less to do with it being fan-servicey, and more to do with DS9's leaning on the political side of the Star Trek universe. It's all about politics of alien worlds and the Federation. That might make it difficult.

Fan service in Trek terms is all the incessant need to tie things together. IE: The Doomsday Machine was created to fight the Borg, and V'ger was created by the Borg.

That's taking three separate entities and combining their origins. You've just made things less interesting.