Let me offer a foreign perspective. In 2001, Russia's CTC TV channel broadcasted several seasons of "Star Trek: The Next Generation" and the first two films. The films later appeared on other channels, while the latest series, "Enterprise," aired on "Domashny" ("Home" channel). However, by the time "The Next Generation" reached our screens, viewers had already appreciated shows like "Lexx" and "Babylon 5." Thus, "Star Trek" became just another American science fiction series for us.
Imagine it's the early 2000s. The excitement over the space race had long faded, the ideals of universal equality were buried with the Soviet Union, and futuristic technologies had become commonplace. By then, the original series' graphics and special effects were outdated even before "Star Wars" premiered.
"The Next Generation" and the films didn't resonate as powerfully with the audience. They were designed for those already familiar with the "Star Trek" universe. Today, the situation is similar, but there are fans.
I remember watching "The Next Generation" when I was little and loving it. When they moved the series from 8 p.m. to around 10 p.m., I still remember asking my father if I could watch it. He said no because I was too young and couldn't stay up that late. I stood in front of the TV, waving at Data on the screen, and said, "Farewell." I was damn certain I would never see him again. Thankfully, the digital world has mostly eliminated these boundaries, and fifteen years later, I was able to watch the entire series.
I know there are more fans out there. I speak with them; we even play forum role-playing games. People older than me used to create quite decent content with fanfiction and forums, but I joined forums too late to be aware and join them when people were actually roleplaying TNG, now I am a loner in this field and switched to solo play.
Most of our fans love the JJ version, which appeals to a relatively young audience. Quite alot adore Discovery and SNW or simply eager to watch any new Star Trek content, because they love Star Trek and want something new. However, I also know there are many who appreciate the original "Trek" series. They just don't have a community or a place to express themselves. These fans are often shy and introverted, I've talked with few people, they moved on but still love it anyway and are glad for the memories... Well, I used to be like that too. It was only a year or so ago that I mustered the courage to reveal my hobby—space ships—beyond my job. I can't abandon what brings me joy, but my journey in this pursuit has been lonely so far. That's why I came here, hoping to find more TNG enthusiasts. However, I'm increasingly puzzled by the foreign fanbase, which I expected to be more... joyful, perhaps. Wherever I go, people seem bitter or angry, which might be another reason why the fanbase is shrinking or retreating into the shadows.
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