Spoilers Starship Design in Star Trek: Picard
- Thread starter pst
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It seems clear that TPTB want to cater to the new fans brought in by the 2009 JJ Abrams 23rd century era. Many of these fans are aware of the original series; but as the 2009 film already remade that universe, and if they did anything with Kirk down the road, they'd recast again (like they did for Spock) - and they've already recast (to good effect) Pike - the feeling probably is: This IS the Prime 23rd century now. Yes, the visuals are different, but as far as we are concerned all the stories (that we don't retell or add to); that happened in TOS 1966-69, DID happen - things just looked a bit different.
They're banking on ORIGINAL older fans of TOS (like myself) will squint and come along for the ride (and as for me they're right, I will come along). While I would honestly prefer; and in all %$@! honesty don't understand WHY they felt the need to redo an iconic design that no one ever had an issue with; and which they reused to good effect in the TOS-Remastered versions of the 1966-69 series episodes); they have decided to do just that.
I'm not at all going to complain about them redoing the 1701 interior sets because yes, while they COULD work, they wouldn't give the cinematic 'flair' they want for these shows; and I do think they did a hell of a good job with the Disco 1701 Bridge set.
So yeah, while I am somewhat disappointed, I do get how and why they are approached anything in the 23rd century era the way they are.
And to be fair, while the 1701-D is pretty much unscathed, design wise; and they did do a rather basic and bare/bland recreation of the 'Ten Forward' set via CGI for a dream sequence - the TNG Shuttles are reskins/repaints of the 23c STD era Shuttles - and aside from the physical ship models sitting in Picard's Storage Trailer at Star Fleet; the other ship models shown to date haven't been like the 24th century era physical and CGI models used for the TNG series or feature films either.
But yeah, I an disappointed the producers wouldn't really even try to throw those of use who've been fans for 50+ years more of a virtual bone in some aspects; but understand what they're going for - especially if the Michelle Yeoh lead "Section 31" series does take place in the 23rd century era (and please, having her return to the 23rd from the 31st ISN'T a problem as weird time travel is a staple of Trek stories); AND if they are also planning to do a 'Pike' series with Anson mount in the 23 century era as well. But, we'll see.
That's how I feel too. had they gone with straight up nacelle pylons (even if they retained the split in the center) - I would've been able to squint and be a lot happier saying "Okay, this 1701 is what Kirk used
-- but the swept back (ala the TMP 1701 refit) is IMO asking too much for an original 50 year plus fan to go "Yeah, that's Kirk's 1701" 
I do overall like the design itself as a Starship/Constitution Class variant, and would have loved it if the Disco prize design had been done for the JJ Abrams ST2009 films.
^^^
But yeah, those ships have sailed.
The ORIGINAL SERIES TV TOS Starship/Constitution Class design will always be the best looking one to me. Not the 1701 TMP refit with its Klingon style (from a D-7) warp nacelles or swept nacelle pylons...
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How DARE you sir. I demand PISTOLS AT DAWN.
That said, IMO they were on the right track with the straight-pyloned design we saw as an ortho on the bridge. It's such a minor thing that could have been retained and still left the ship looking awesome.
Mark
That said, IMO they were on the right track with the straight-pyloned design we saw as an ortho on the bridge. It's such a minor thing that could have been retained and still left the ship looking awesome.
Mark
G
Gonzo
Guest
I have always seen it as:
BoP = Klingon
Warbird = Romulan
Never mind the rest.
I do love the Romulan ship design especially the D'Deridex, just as iconic as the BoP and the Enterprise.
Plus there is a storyline in the Shatner books (no doubt you all know it) that talks about the Klingons and Romulans sharing technologies back in the ToS era as they feared a war with the Federation for territory, which explained why the Romulans were using D7's for a while (their own ships were not great) and how the Klingons got hold of an alternative cloaking technology in return, it could still work if we accept that Starfleet found a way to completely neutralise the threat from the Klingons own cloaking technology that was introduced in Star Trek Discovery, it makes sense they would try to obtain it from the Romulans.
BoP = Klingon
Warbird = Romulan
Never mind the rest.
I do love the Romulan ship design especially the D'Deridex, just as iconic as the BoP and the Enterprise.
Plus there is a storyline in the Shatner books (no doubt you all know it) that talks about the Klingons and Romulans sharing technologies back in the ToS era as they feared a war with the Federation for territory, which explained why the Romulans were using D7's for a while (their own ships were not great) and how the Klingons got hold of an alternative cloaking technology in return, it could still work if we accept that Starfleet found a way to completely neutralise the threat from the Klingons own cloaking technology that was introduced in Star Trek Discovery, it makes sense they would try to obtain it from the Romulans.
^^^
FYI - That did come from Shatner's book only per se - it was the way many TOS fans back in the day explained Sock's line of: "Intelligence reports Romulans now using Klingon design" from TOS S3 - "The Enterprise Incident" (of course the production reason was that the production team had lobbied for a Klingon ship model, and the model was expensive; but then they cam up with this Romulan Cloaking story, but the higher ups said, "Hey you got your new model - lets see some use out of it...").
The idea was further bolstered when STIII:TSFS hit theatres. Of course the original script had the enemies AS Romulans, but again studio heads said "Romulans??" - the Klingons are the enemies most associated with Kirk and the Federation, make the Villain Captain and his crew Klingons - and they did, but they kept all the othe Romulan aspects such as the ship had a cloak (which Klingons were never shown having before) - but thanks to STIII:TSFS now they did; so yeah, the Klingons and Romulans suddenly had an alliance - which beyond the Klingons having cloaking in TNG - the writers of TNG cllearing didn't keep up with fan ideas since Worf stated MORE THAN ONCE: "The Klingon and Romulan Empires have been blood enemies for CENTURIES!"
Not very likely.
Unless for some reason we see one in one of the shows.
Haven’t they done ships that never were part of any series? Like the Phase II Enterprise and the Probert “C”.
Yes, but They still start with a previous design that is well known.
We haven't seen anything but the DISCOPRISE so fa for them to begin with.
We have concept art with straight pylons. Eaves final version had straight, it was the show's art team that changed it.
I suppose, but I'm not holding my breath.
It also shows up in Season 2 Episode 1
One of the computer screens uses the concept CG model instead of the final show model.
Yeah... I really wish they hadn’t done that. With all the other things that was done to it, it’s amazing how that one little change fucked up the whole thing.
How much honoring must be done to something? GR redesigned it almost immediately when he had the chance. The design is iconic and will never be forgotten so I don't see the need to talk about "pissing on graves" when ST has demonstrated a willingness, some times, to actually do something different.
It takes zero away from the original design work or the people who made it possible.
There will be whole new generations of people exposed to Trek, it would be nice if some of the original stuff was brought forward, since without it, none of this new stuff would exist. To expose new people to what came before.
Why should Matt Jefferies and company be written out of the universe they created?
No, that’s just supposition on your part. My point stands: the Romulans were not concerned that the shape of the ship would give it away, only that the drive system could be detected by Vulcans, who presumably didn’t know what a Romulan ship looked like anyway. They said it was a modified warbird, not an engine of a warbird put into a completely different hull.
Guess what? I can do that all on my own with people, and my wife did it without my help.
It aren't that hard.
Exactly. It almost feels like it’s crossed over from being homage to revisionism. Nobody expected the Discoprise to look exactly like the TOS-E, inside and out, with today’s production values, but I don’t think anyone expected it to be so drastically altered either, including John Eaves.
Works for me.
I have an easier time believing these are both the same ship than the one from TOS and TMP.
Before, I always had to suspend my disbelief and go along with Kirk's sentiments. He believed it was the same ship, and the writing and directing made me believe it because I went along with it. Otherwise...
If they were making TOS completely inaccessible and only providing TNG going forward I would have a problem. Since I can freely still explore those things, have references to the TOS design in TMP, DSC, and various other Trek media, as well as various merchandising, I see no issue.
