Where does the Star Trek go from here?

[Admiral Buzzkill]

I regret all of the times I spoke badly about Berman and Braga and all of the 'lousy' episodes.

That's worth having seen this movie made all on its own.

In any event, the old Trek is done. Even if producers ever backtrack on some of the continuity, they'll use the Abrams reboot as precedent for making absolutely any changes that appeal to them.

 

[TheQman]

I regret all of the times I spoke badly about Berman and Braga and all of the 'lousy' episodes.

That's worth having seen this movie made all on its own.

In any event, the old Trek is done. Even if producers ever backtrack on some of the continuity, they'll use the Abrams reboot as precedent for making absolutely any changes that appeal to them.

Looking at my comment again, that is pretty funny.

But, Dennis, do you really think personally that Abrams trek was the best way to go?

 

[Admiral Buzzkill]

But, Dennis, do you really think personally that Abrams trek was the best way to go?

It works amazingly well.

I certainly think it is far, far preferable than continuing within the "Star Trek Universe" as it had been defined in more and more detail since the mid-1980s.

To discuss "the best way to go" is to indulge hypotheticals - that is, we have to make up other options, and then debate the likelihood of both commercial success and aesthetic desirability each according to our own taste and judgment. We do that continually in this forum anyway, and it never does and never can yield any consensus - and even if it did, we'd have no way of knowing whether we're right as far as its viability is concerned.

If one put it another way - ie, "have you seen any proposal for another way to revive Star Trek that you would have preferred and that you believe would have succeeded?" then my answer would be: no, no I havent. Just about every fannish proposal for reviving Trek revolves around satisfying the existing fanbase first and foremost, and that would not have worked.

I predicted on these forums, as early as 2002, that if Enterprise didn't succeed that the studio's next move would be to reboot Star Trek altogether. I didn't make that guess because I'm particularly smart (I also predicted here, about a week before Paramount announced the Abrams movie, that it would be "years" before the studio gave Trek another go ) but simply because if you take just a couple of steps back from fandom and look at the entertainment industry as a whole and the Franchise in particular the path forward was so bloody obvious that anyone could guess it.

If I had the magic ability to have entertainment created to suit me, and me alone, I'd recreate Star Trek so similarly to early TOS that Warped9 would find it too worshipful. I do not have any illusions that this would be anything other than a money pit.

 

[TheQman]

But, Dennis, do you really think personally that Abrams trek was the best way to go?

If one put it another way - ie, "have you seen any proposal for another way to revive Star Trek that you would have preferred and that you believe would have succeeded?" then my answer would be: no, no I havent. Just about every fannish proposal for reviving Trek revolves around satisfying the existing fanbase first and foremost, and that would not have worked.

I do agree with you, to make the studio money it was great. Also, I am glad trek is still alive in some fashion. I guess I will have to just do a "Extreme Makeover-Brain Edition" on myself to look at new trek in a different light, as I do agree with you in that this will be 'trek' from now on.

Ps. Thanks for the detailed reply. It gave me a new prospective as well.

 

[Admiral Buzzkill]

I'm sure that it's rarely apparent to the few people who might read what I post that my ideal Star Trek movie would be a big-budget, enhanced but very close recreation of TOS - the work that folks like Vektor do on rethinking the original ship, for example, appeals to me immensely. I have learned the long way, though, that there are really good reasons that neither the world of art and commerce nor any other part of life are engaged in trying to give me exactly what I want. What Abrams and crew did with Star Trek instead does work, and it's got so much more going for it than any version that I've seen in decades that I'm just thrilled.

 

[ToddPence]

I want to see Stephen Ratliff's Marissa stories brought to the screen. If the franchise is going to hell, let it go to the ninth circle, baby!

 

[Temis the Vorta]

I want to see Stephen Ratliff's Marissa stories brought to the screen. If the franchise is going to hell, let it go to the ninth circle, baby!

Marissa Amber Flores Picard 4EVah!

 

[C.E. Evans]

To me, there's no doubt whatsoever that Star Trek will continue for a very long time. Now what direction and form it will go in is a matter of debate based on personal opinions, but like any long-running franchise, it will have highs and lows in popularity and then someone will come along and reinvent the thing again...

 

[jmnorville]

If a new Trek TV series ever comes about, I see no reason why it can't exist in the old timeline. In fact, it might actually help to have the current movies and current TV series take place in seperate continuities.

If there is to be a new trek series i hope they continue to move on from Voyager & DS9.

Newer, bigger, faster, stronger ships. New TECHNOLOGY please...

Just want to jump in and agree. We need to continue to move the story line forward and stop re-hashing its past. We need to continue to go where no one has gone before.

 

[RobertScorpio]

Judging by the Abrams film, straight into the toilet.

Unfortunately, I believe you are correct. All we can do is hope for old trek back. I regret all of the times I spoke badly about Berman and Braga and all of the 'lousy' episodes.

Couldn't disagree more. You can have your Berman/Braga trek, and the crappy ratings that went with it. I wanted Star Trek to be hip again..it is. I wanted a Star Trek movie that was exciting..it was.

You can have NEMESIS and INSURRECTION, those great TREK movies that did nothing but make "STAR TREK". I remember going to the opening of NEMESIS, opening night, and there were only five other people there..five.

JJ has saved TREK, got big $$$, and even the first oscar ever for a TREK movie. Not sure by what measure you classify anything a success..but in my opinion, TREK XI is that in spades...

Rob

 

[RobertScorpio]

If a new Trek TV series ever comes about, I see no reason why it can't exist in the old timeline. In fact, it might actually help to have the current movies and current TV series take place in seperate continuities.

If there is to be a new trek series i hope they continue to move on from Voyager & DS9.

Newer, bigger, faster, stronger ships. New TECHNOLOGY please...

Just want to jump in and agree. We need to continue to move the story line forward and stop re-hashing its past. We need to continue to go where no one has gone before.

Just want to jump in and disagree. Star Trek wasn't supposed to be about "bigger and faster ships". Its about the people on those ships. And when fans lose sight of that simple truth, then they lose site of Star Trek, IMO.

Rob

 

[jmnorville]

There are a couple of things being discussed here. The future of Trek Movies and the future of Trek TV. I agree, the TNG movies were dogs, and I'm thankful to JJ for saving Trek Movies from loosing face. But, I'm more concerned and interested in the future of Trek TV. I believe that DS9 was brillant and I'd like to see the future of Trek TV follow in its footsteps.

 

[zaracyn]

One possible rescuing device for the Original Trek Timeline might be to think of the New Trek Timeline as a sort of "Mirror Universe". Although it is not truly "mirror" in the sense that every thing is opposite, it can be thought of as simply a "parallel" universe/timeline. One could then pick up the OTT after the events of the branching JJAbrams inspired NTT. Just a thought

 

[xortex]

One possible rescuing device for the Original Trek Timeline might be to think of the New Trek Timeline as a sort of "Mirror Universe". Although it is not truly "mirror" in the sense that every thing is opposite, it can be thought of as simply a "parallel" universe/timeline. One could then pick up the OTT after the events of the branching JJAbrams inspired NTT. Just a thought

That's a horrible thought. That means the original time line events may never happen at all. Tos is effectively wiped from existence from now on certainly never to be done better so why do it? Am I wrong about this. All J.J. did was bring back the original universe and everybody's groveling at his feet and praising him to high heaven as Star Trek's new god. It's disgusting.

 

[Dukhat]

One possible rescuing device for the Original Trek Timeline might be to think of the New Trek Timeline as a sort of "Mirror Universe". Although it is not truly "mirror" in the sense that every thing is opposite, it can be thought of as simply a "parallel" universe/timeline. One could then pick up the OTT after the events of the branching JJAbrams inspired NTT. Just a thought

That's a horrible thought. That means the original time line events may never happen at all. Tos is effectively wiped from existence from now on certainly never to be done better so why do it? Am I wrong about this. All J.J. did was bring back the original universe and everybody's groveling at his feet and praising him to high heaven as Star Trek's new god. It's disgusting.

Disgustingly awesome, you mean! Praise be to JJ Abrams, the newest God in high heaven! I'll grovel at your feet anytime.

 

[Tyson]

The future of Star Trek is action movies for the ADD addled masses, nothing more. Trek hasn't been worth paying attention to since DS9 ended, it's time to just accept it as another cash cow for rich as fuck movers and shakers that think their shit doesn't stink and move on.

Edit: No, I don't hate the Abrams movie, in fact I think that largely due to the writers it did many things right, but the direction it indicates is a future where Trek just becomes more and more eroded until all that's left are pew pew lasers and explosions. Abrams is a godawful director though and whoever did the art design for the movie needs to be punched in the face.

 

[RobertScorpio]

One possible rescuing device for the Original Trek Timeline might be to think of the New Trek Timeline as a sort of "Mirror Universe". Although it is not truly "mirror" in the sense that every thing is opposite, it can be thought of as simply a "parallel" universe/timeline. One could then pick up the OTT after the events of the branching JJAbrams inspired NTT. Just a thought

That's a horrible thought. That means the original time line events may never happen at all. Tos is effectively wiped from existence from now on certainly never to be done better so why do it? Am I wrong about this. All J.J. did was bring back the original universe and everybody's groveling at his feet and praising him to high heaven as Star Trek's new god. It's disgusting.

Disgustingly awesome, you mean! Praise be to JJ Abrams, the newest God in high heaven! I'll grovel at your feet anytime.

Count me in the JJ church too. The dude has made TREK hip, and possibly helped a lot of TREK fans lose their virginity when they took their goofy girl friends to the movie too...

The so called "original universe" had so many holes in its continuity which is why i am glad it is GONE GONE GONE.

Rob

 

[Dukhat]

Count me in the JJ church too. The dude has made TREK hip, and possibly helped a lot of TREK fans lose their virginity when they took their goofy girl friends to the movie too...

You know what's funny? Both times I went to see Star Trek '09 in the theaters, there were actual girls there. LOTS of girls. And they were actually enjoying the movie. And they were hot too. I'm talking micro-mini-skirt Megan Fox hot. Did I care that they were there just to see Chris Pine? Hell no.

They would never have gone to see Star Trek: Nemesis. Come to think of it, they would never have gone to see The Undiscovered Country either, and that was the TOS cast.

 

[startrekrcks]

Well there was hot men in the film count me in the JJ Abrams church he's a saviour I thank you and worship you.

 

[zaracyn]

Well, it's all cult-pop fiction anyway so if the measure of success is expanding the audience and potential fan-base then open all hailing frequencies!