Would you SUPPORT the launch of "Star Trek - Phase II," as a CBS All Access Series? What would you want to SEE in such a series? Should it be "Discovery" style, "TOS" style, or a mixture of both? Do you like the idea? Markus McLaughlin markusmclaughlin.net Davis Road Productions
I would support it, yes. However, it would be nothing like what would have actually been broadcast back in 1978. What you’ll see in Strange New Worlds is what Phase II would be if CBS produced it now.
They're already doing Strange New Worlds, and personally I prefer the idea of young versions of Uhura, Kirk and the TOS crew to "in between" series and movie versions where far less character progression can occur. Unless of course it's another reboot, in which case go nuts. But if they're rebooting, reboot TOS not an unmade sequel series. Personally, I'd love a post-Wrath of Khan reboot ignoring all that came after and featuring a heartbroken Admiral Kirk, a young new science officer Saavik and kinda adapting the old DC comics of the era.
Would it be Phase II as was originally pitched or a Phase II in line with TMP? If the former then that wipes the entire continuity from the end of TAS onwards, but if the latter then the primary new elements (Decker, Ilia, Xon) wouldn't be a part of it any basically is TOS Continued (just in pastels).
Yes, but there was a purposeful rebranding of the shelved concept after "Wrath of Khan" started causing confusion. I remember there was a "making of..." doco where Shatner used the term in his interview. ("Leonard Nimoy's Star Trek Memories", perhaps?) Until then, always "Star Trek II". I have the writers' guide from Lincoln and it was clearly "Star Trek II". Ditto several scripts. Similarly, "The Cage" was "The Menagerie" - until "The Menagerie" two-parter came along. "In Thy Image" returned Ilia at the end, and Will Decker was to be returned in a yet-to-be-written scene in whichever script was selected to be Episode #2. The secondary bridge crew of TMP already had expectations of longterm work, in episodes, or a series of telemovies. I wish Xon had had a chance at some canonical scenes.
I'd like a decent, serious attempt at an animated 5 year mission. Less contentious that recasting and many people can convince themselves it isn't canon, which takes the sting out if it for hardcore fans.
For those interested in such minutia, until TWOK was released internally they referred to TOS as Star Trek I, all the attempts culminating in TMP were Star Trek II, and attempts to make a sequel to that were referred to as Star Trek III. This has led to some confusion whereby people mistakenly think Roddenberry repitched his rejected TMP sequel (with JFK) after Khan came out, because the treatment for it is labeled Star Trek III.
Maybe in .. 15 years? When Ethan Peck is older, can do a post TOS series with an older recast Kirk and others maybe?
I think they should follow up Star Trek Waypoint #6 and adapt the Phase II scripts as comics, using the unised designs, characters and ideas for that series
I would take a Phase II in a hearbeat and moreso now that i have been enjoying the Phase II Enterprise in STO, cracking ship, Jefferies in my view nailed the refit of the Tos perfectly with it.
I wouldn't mind seeing a Phase II if it used the original story ideas for the aborted Season One back in the 70s (obviously some of the slang and technology updated, of course). I wouldn't be opposed to them doing the series with the Kelvin cast, either. We could meet the Prime universe versions of them. I wouldn't recast Chekov, I'd just put Zachary Quinto's Spock in there instead. I'd be really curious to see who they'd cast as Xon, Ilia and Decker.
I would like to see a Phase 2 era story, but maybe set on a different ship (if we are keeping it prime timeline and not going the alternate timeline route), and written\directed by some of the older staff so that it has that pre-2009 Trek feel to it. Maybe have it feature one of the ships damaged by the M5 computer, then repaired and upgraded? It would be nice to see some Jeffries concepts, like that bubble canopy work pod, or either of his two shuttle concepts in the show. You could even use cool TAS ships like the Aquashuttle, the grain ships, or the Orion Pirate ship! I guess it could even have some Phase 2 characters, like Illia, Decker, or Xon (especially poor Xon) starring who we didn't see much of in the Motion Picture. Perhaps we could even see Rand aboard? Whether the crew were totally new or included some fan favorites, it would be nice to have another show that didn't center on the Enterprise . In my view it would sort of be necessary if this takes place during the last two years of the 5 year voyage as covered by TAS anyways. I think the Enterprise should remain un-upgraded until she gets home and gets a full over haul during the Motion Picture, it would fit well with the theme of her being way out on the frontier during the Original Series. Other starships, especially damaged and recently repaired ones, would need to be fitted out with all the latest doodads naturally .
I wouldn’t turn it down, but... I’m 23rd century’d out at this point. It’s not that there aren’t good stories there, but... I would like to see Star Trek advance again - give me a Picard era exploration series, give me something further out, give me a companion to Discovery’s 32nd century tales... SOMETHING, but let’s stop living in this space where the only Star Trek on the docket is prequels. Also, if I’m 23rd century’d out, I am EVEN MORE worn out of Kirk and his crew and exploits. Star Trek is so much more than that singular cast, much as I love them. I enjoy getting new characters introduced to the Star Trek family, new characters to love. If we must go into these gap periods of time in Star Trek history, give me new crews.
Not quite the ship intended for TV in 1978. Close, but some of the details are wrong, notably the sensor/deflector, base of the neck and the "torpedo deck", which should be a phaser as Jefferies intended.