Poll Ashley Judd as Captain Robin Lefler on Lower Decks?

[BillJ]

I'll continue to say that the canon and continuity of Star Trek is one of its most valuable assets and should be used.

It seems to be Star Trek's only asset at this point. It seems the only question the writers know how to ask is; "Do you remember 'X'? So do we!!!" Lower Decks gets away with it for me because it is poking fun (at an incredibly high level). The dramatic series are simply dire, such incredible amounts of small universe syndrome that it throws me out of the drama. The universe is huge, make us believe it.

 

[Tuskin38]

Discovery is avoiding that now.

 

[F. King Daniel]

Discovery is avoiding that now.

Isn't Discovery pretty much "check out the aliens you grew up with, 900 years later!"?

And I say that as a fan of the show.

 

[fireproof78]

Isn't Discovery pretty much "check out the aliens you grew up with, 900 years later!"?

And I say that as a fan of the show.

That's what the fans want. 900 years in to the future? "Where are muh Klingons!?"

 

[DEWLine]

I don't mind seeing Lefler again, whether on PIC or LDS...or Prodigy?

 

[johnjm22]

It seems to be Star Trek's only asset at this point. It seems the only question the writers know how to ask is; "Do you remember 'X'? So do we!!!" Lower Decks gets away with it for me because it is poking fun (at an incredibly high level). The dramatic series are simply dire, such incredible amounts of small universe syndrome that it throws me out of the drama. The universe is huge, make us believe it.

I've disagreed with you many things, but on this, I think you're absolutely right.

"Hey remember this?!" Is essentially what Star Trek has become. Mixed in with elements from whatever the latest trend in popular TV & Movies is.

They've told us that SNW is going to be a Classic Trek Series. Oh joy. I can't wait for the Tribbles episode.

I know you like STID, but it's as guilty of your criticisms as anything in this sad pathetic era of Trek.

 

[BillJ]

I know you like STID, but it's as guilty of your criticisms as anything in this sad pathetic era of Trek.

The movie is absolutely guilty of it, but it is also a fun two hour ride (IMO), not thirty hours of TV. With it, I was getting together with old friends for a couple of hours. It was fun. I wouldn’t want to spend everyday with them.

 

[thribs]

Only if it’s a continuation of the New Frontier series.

 

[fireproof78]

I know you like STID, but it's as guilty of your criticisms as anything in this sad pathetic era of Trek.

That's what fans want for good or bad. But, ST ID does well enough with having newer elements, especially Kirk's journey, that it makes it work very well.

 

[johnjm22]

That's what fans want for good or bad. But, ST ID does well enough with having newer elements, especially Kirk's journey, that it makes it work very well.

In a manner of speaking, I don't think fans know what they want.

I think we really just want it to be good (entertaining/engaging), while being basically compatible with the rest of the franchise to a degree.

If it were as simple as giving fans what they want, then input from test screenings and focus groups would always result in great movies and TV, but they rarely do.

 

[fireproof78]

In a manner of speaking, I don't think fans know what they want.

I think we really just want it to be good (entertaining/engaging), while being basically compatible with the rest of the franchise to a degree.

If it were as simple as giving fans what they want, then input from test screenings and focus groups would always result in great movies and TV, but they rarely do.

No, I don't think fans know what they want. I should say that's what fans say they want. And studios are left with the task of sorting it all out. And I doubt that fans saying what they want would make great TV.

 

[Matthew Raymond]

While I don't think "the fans would love it" should be the entire basis for including things in Star Trek, that doesn't mean it's an invalid argument in support of including certain guest stars, or that fans don't know if they want specific things. For example, I would say that most fans wanted to see...

Spoiler

the U.S.S. Titan and Captain Riker show up in the season finale of Lower Decks.

And, in that case, many speculated they would see that in the show. There are definitely situations where fans clearly want something, and then clearly enjoy getting it. While it's not a good idea to blindly appease fans, ignoring what they want without cause, or worse, excluding things BECAUSE then want them, is just as irrational.

 

[fireproof78]

My main question is always "Can you tell a good story with it?" The larger problem I have with fan service is that it is inserted without consideration of is this a good story that benefits from this inclusion.

 

[Matthew Raymond]

So, it's good if it's good, it's bad if it's bad, and they'll probably do it bad?

 

[fireproof78]

So, it's good if it's good, it's bad if it's bad, and they'll probably do it bad?

I do not expect it to be good.

 

[tomalak301]

I would prefer seeing some DS9 characters on Lower Decks (Like Ezri) but Leffler wouldn't be too bad.

 

[fireproof78]

I do not expect it to be good.

Replying to myself as just a follow up to try and explain why I find fan service a struggle. I recently listened to a comedian who is a US Air Force service member and he recalls some of the weird questions he gets. One of them was a person who commented that her grandson had recently completed basic training for the US Army and stationed in Georgia. Then proceeds to ask this person if they know their grandson by virtue of both being in the US Armed Services.

I get that Starfleet is an elite club but it's not that small. It feels so forced to have these characters revisiting again and again, when this is supposedly the lesser ship of the Fleet.

 

[Matthew Raymond]

Wouldn't the natural outcome of that argument be that every guest star is a one-off character that never returns?

 

[fireproof78]

Wouldn't the natural outcome of that argument be that every guest star is a one-off character that never returns?

Yes.

 

[Unimatrix Q]

She'll retire from Starfleet and go into the private sector like Carol Marcus. I don't see her as the captain of a ship. I see her as the next Leah Brahms.

That's actually a character i'd love to see revisited in Lower Decks. Wonder what became of her and if she and Geordi finally got together