Why is TOS still #1?

[RobertScorpio]

Yes, there are TNG fans...yes there are DS9 fans...even VOYAGER and ENTERPRISE have followings...But out in rest of the world? It isn't even close. TOS is still, by far, the most popular of the TREKs. The cultural references are still going strong (The past two weeks of Big Bang Theory) the wink and nods from HEROES (Takie's licence plate on the show was NCC-1701) and so much more....

So why is TOS number one. Oh, I am sure some of you will dispute it, and say TNG is or DS9 is...but they aren't, IMO. Captain Kirk/ Mr. Spock are still the benchmark by which all other TREK characters are measured up against. Picard and Data seem to be fading as each year passes by....

Why?

Rob
Scorpio

 

[Zachary Smith]

Because Kirk and Spock et al are Number One. All others are Number Two or lower.

 

[Maurice]

Because the main characters are well defined and well cast, and the dynamic between them is perfect for expressing internal conflicts as external events.

Because the writing is good. It doesn't get lost in pointless lingo.

Because it's got dramatic music.

Because it's often fun.

 

[EnsignJulka]

because it's sexy!

 

[TrekNut87]

Because it flows well.

Because it is well written and even at its worst, is still entertaining.

No heavy technobabble, so everyone was able to comprehend the gist of an episode

 

[voggmo]

It was 1st to break the dam in several ways. It was arguably 1st "serious" attempt at serious drama sci fi, as opposed to most that preceded it which was usually horror based. Even Forbidden Planet which was a cut above most standard fare of the day was about a monster.

TOS did have some monsters, but stuff like Mirror Mirror, & the Empath were fairly cutting edge. Twilite Zone excepted, most sci fi was shock cinema, & as for tv, again the stuff that preceded TOS was silly in comparison.

Even the design of the ship was very different from the rocket ships most outer space adventures had up to that time.

The 1st one to break a certain genre usually make the biggest splash. Elvis & so on. Having great actors that blended well, & good directors & writers & special effects guys didn't hurt things either.

Timing as all comedians say is crucial.

 

[Ronald Held]

Because it was the first in many ways, believable stories, good character chemistry...

 

[cultcross]

Because it's old. That's the only reason. It was the first, and the differences between it and the later shows are too complicated for Joe not-a-fan to bother with. Most would recognise the later shows, but lump them mentally in with Kirk and Spock because they've been the Star Trek image since the 60s.
If TNG had come first by that big a margin, it would be the best known.

 

[Orac]

2 words: William Shatner.

 

[Triskelion]

I love TOS but it's not number one to me.

 

[RobertScorpio]

2 words: William Shatner.

Amen brother!

 

[TheLonelySquire]

It's still #1 because nothing else is comparable. Weak imitations at best and I actually like some TNG and VOY eps.

TOS is timeless due to the cast, characters, interactions, writing, hot alien babes, hot Starfleet babes, etc.

AND... the politically correct crap that permeates every pore of every subsequent series makes one want to reach for the vomit bag. Give me James Tiberius Kirk chasing Rand down the corridor any day. TOS "When men were men and alien babes were nervous!".

 

[maryh]

It is hard to know why but for some reason we were more able to empathize with the characters in TOS than in any other. I felt their shame, their losses, their fears and their joy. Even the lesser characters - I felt Uhura's frustrations, her dedication, her compassion etc more than I could those of the subsequent series. We laughed with these characters, and cried for them. I could never get up the emotions for the later series characters no matter how sad the story line was or how hard I tried to.

Even aliens - beside the power of the excellently scripted Spock, Romulans were really noble and courageous. Vulcans were mysterious, majestic and intimidating. Kilngons were aggressive but clever and dedicated. Later incarnations turned aliens into a hodgepodge of characteristics that had not been used yet.

 

[maryh]

because it's sexy!

Amazing how a show from the 60's, when there were tons of censoring, was somehow sexier than it later day components that didn't have the sexual limitations placed on it that TOS had. Sometimes something is sexier when it is concealed than when it is revealed!!

 

[JanineSal]

So why is TOS number one. Oh, I am sure some of you will dispute it, and say TNG is or DS9 is...but they aren't, IMO. Captain Kirk/ Mr. Spock are still the benchmark by which all other TREK characters are measured up against. Picard and Data seem to be fading as each year passes by....

Why?

Because TOS was the first Trek show . . . that's why. It's like Bond fans saying that Connery was the best James Bond. Why? Because he was the first one to become popular.

Being first does not mean being the best.

 

[Red Ranger]

It's still #1 because nothing else is comparable. Weak imitations at best and I actually like some TNG and VOY eps.

TOS is timeless due to the cast, characters, interactions, writing, hot alien babes, hot Starfleet babes, etc.

AND... the politically correct crap that permeates every pore of every subsequent series makes one want to reach for the vomit bag. Give me James Tiberius Kirk chasing Rand down the corridor any day. TOS "When men were men and alien babes were nervous!".

While I also think TOS is number 1, I don't feel that the PC stuff in the later series was crap, and I for one don't reach for the vomit bag. It's really not that overt, unless you feel personally slighted that they changed the intro to the gender-neutral "where no one has gone before." If anyone feels that way, they have issues!

What does make me want to reach for the barf bag is this extreme backlash against the so-called PC-ness of modern Trek. It's not really that overreaching, frankly.

Second, for the sake of accuracy, Kirk never chased Rand down the corridors. Yes, he felt an attraction to her, but he held himself back for professional reasons. It's one of the reasons I like Kirk. The only time something more overt happened was when his negative duplicate tried to rape her.

I know you're trying to be funny, friend. Just wanted to throw a wet blanket on you!

Red Ranger

 

[FalTorPan]

The original series is number one because it's been "out there" over 20 years longer than TNG, over 25 years longer than DS9, nearly 30 years longer than VOY, and 35 years longer than ENT.

 

[Oceanborn_angel]

Yes, there are TNG fans...yes there are DS9 fans...even VOYAGER and ENTERPRISE have followings...But out in rest of the world? It isn't even close. TOS is still, by far, the most popular of the TREKs. The cultural references are still going strong (The past two weeks of Big Bang Theory) the wink and nods from HEROES (Takie's licence plate on the show was NCC-1701) and so much more....

So why is TOS number one. Oh, I am sure some of you will dispute it, and say TNG is or DS9 is...but they aren't, IMO. Captain Kirk/ Mr. Spock are still the benchmark by which all other TREK characters are measured up against. Picard and Data seem to be fading as each year passes by....

Why?

Rob
Scorpio

It's called Baby Boomers my friend. They're still alive you know.

 

[A beaker full of death]

because it's sexy!

Amazing how a show from the 60's, when there were tons of censoring, was somehow sexier than it later day components that didn't have the sexual limitations placed on it that TOS had. Sometimes something is sexier when it is concealed than when it is revealed!!

it's more than that. By TNG's time we were so repressed about sexuality that it became taboo - which made the approach to it juvenile and silly.
TOS treated sexuality as what it should be - part of us.

 

[A beaker full of death]

So why is TOS number one. Oh, I am sure some of you will dispute it, and say TNG is or DS9 is...but they aren't, IMO. Captain Kirk/ Mr. Spock are still the benchmark by which all other TREK characters are measured up against. Picard and Data seem to be fading as each year passes by....

Why?

Because TOS was the first Trek show . . . that's why. It's like Bond fans saying that Connery was the best James Bond. Why? Because he was the first one to become popular.

Being first does not mean being the best.

Connerry was the best. Not because he was first. Because he was best. Same for TOS.