How desperate are you for a new Trek TV series?

I think a new Trek series would indeed be welcomed, but there is trepidation as to what kind of series we could get. Everyone has their favoured take on Trek and that's what they'd like to see perpetuated. Some of that is realistic and some not.

The trepidation is not surprising given how many flavours we've gotten in Trek with each new incarnation. Speaking for myself I can certainly see myself rejecting Trek executed in certain ways while willing to give others at least a look and maybe even a chance. I know I would flat out reject anything perpetuating the JJtrek approach and the Abramsverse. Other than that I don't know. I'd have to learn more and see it.

 

Once again, "We reach."

new word: "Trekidation": worry over what the style/vibe of the next Trek incarnation will be

 

There is some great work on TV now, what with shows like The Walking Dead, True Detective, Breaking Bad, Dexter, House of Cards, etc., that it gives me hope that a new Trek series has the potential to be that good. Trek could be repleat with deep, rich characters that have intricate and complicated relationships set in a political and violent back drop. The space stuff needs to take a back seat to moral and ethical isssues, the kind in which the characters are placed in a damned-if-you-do-damned-if-you-don't situation.

I've always thought that the best Trek stories could have easily taken place in another setting such as a law firm, hospital, police department, fire house, or any of the other common ones for popular TV shows.

 

It has been said that good drama is basically two characters with differing viewpoints in an empty room and then let them go at each other. Everything else is window dressing.

That said the window dressing can matter and will set your story apart from being a cop & lawyer show, a medical drama, a mystery, a western or science fiction.

 

CBS best get over its "Trekidation" ... and they have their own name for it, that being "Market Saturation." Berman had a brilliant idea, back in the day, as TNG was making ready for transition to the movies: More STAR TREK is GOOD!!! But what we were presented with had all the passion of snails mating, for the most part. And it all looked the same.

Even when it was a prequel, it still looked like Zimmerman's handiwork. STAR TREK was rebooted as a movie franchise to make up all the money they felt they should've been making off the show, all along. And they don't want to chance losing money on a new series. Especially after CBS got burned with ENTERPRISE.

Watching Berman and Zimmerman tire, getting stale and tank-out over twenty years was the problem. And if they'd cared about the product, instead of just keeping themselves employed, it might've marked the beginning of an edgier, sexier STAR TREK.

And I'll tell you something else, whilst I'm thinking about it: I do not want to see Michael Dorn anywhere near the next series. Captain Worf? Are you serious? He'll throw his hip out! No ... give us Jamie Kirk, Girl Spock and Girl "Bones"! Uniforms with tight tops, low necklines ... and short skirts. And I want to see catfights. Lots and lots of catfights ...

 

There is some great drama on TV right now, the problem is the people owning the rights to Trek aren't the people making the great drama.

I think we were very lucky that they decided to make a second Star Trek series before the whole remake craze started, otherwise instead of one huge heavily developed universe we'd have a series of smaller less developed universes.

I don't think it's necessarily the case that you can't modernize the appeal of Trek and still keep the philosophical aspect of it. You just have to find that balance of accessibility, intelligence and sexiness. They probably wouldn't get quite TNG-level ratings just because that's not how the market works anymore, but they'd get ratings. The show would have the same kind of appeal as crime procedurals while also getting the nostalgic appeal of folks like us.

 

If such a story could be told in any other setting, then why set it in the Trek universe at all? Without spaceships and aliens, it aint Star Trek.

 

Yes.

 

A law firm... in space! With aliens!

A police department... in space! With aliens!

A hospital ship... in space! With aliens!

 

All right. We'll give the head detective, doctor or lawyer a raygun and it will go "pew-pew" so you can call it Star Trek.

The point is a good dramatic story doesn't always have to rely on its setting; it is more often about conflict and relationships. For me, a good example is TNG's The Drumhead. Such a great story could take place in another setting while losing nothing in translation.

 

NCIS says that you are wrong.

 

As far as whether it's true that all Star Trek stories can only be told in Star Trek? No, I think it goes the other way. Star Trek can tell any story in it's own way. In the Star Trek way. That's why in the original series outline Gene basically opens up the synopsis section by saying essentially 'this is how diverse our stories can be.' In fact he goes out of his way to emphasize the diversity of stories and worlds we can visit with what is essentially the Drake Equation if i'm not mistaken. Star Trek can tackle any kind of story you want to throw at it.

For the series itself I think you would have to redefine it closer to an occupational drama in space. The occupation of course being astronauts and the exploration of the cosmos, and by extension the human condition. Giving it that sense of sobering reality without losing the vibe of standing on an alien world and seeing a strange horizon, that sense of adventure, wonder, and fun. It's tricky, but I can see it working.

 

Well, it's only us diehards that are still here in between movies.

Then again, there's a reason this question isn't asked when site attendance is high.


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Wagon Train...to the stars!

 

Indeed!

 

Don't be silly. It's Horatio Hornblower in space.

 

Horatio Hornblower on a Wagon Train in space!

 

If I were tasked with rebooting Star Trek I think I'd play with the characters a bit.

Captain James Kirk - transferring from command of a smaller and more combat oriented vessel. He's replacing former ship's Captain, Christopher Pike, who commanded the Enterprise for its first six years.
Commander Nyota Uhura - she is the ship's Executive Officer and dubious of Pike's replacement. She is an experienced Contact Officer in dealing with alien races.
Lieutenant I'Lyik Spock - a young Vulcan/Romulan hybrid and ship's Science Officer.
Lieutenant Commander Lenora McCoy - recently assigned as ship's Chief Medical Officer.
Lieutenant Commander Montgomery Scott - a veteran spacer of many years and deeply involved in designing and building the Enterprise. He has been ship's Chief Engineer since launch and worked closely with Commodore Robert April who directed the new starship program.
Lieutenant S'ulu - a Medusan who must always wear a contact suit. He is the ship's exceptional HelmNav.
Lieutenant Olesya Chekov - ship's Chief of Security.


The setting is the 28th century. The Federation is recovering from a protracted war with the Romulan Empire ending forty years ago, a war that dragged for thirty years. The Federation had been a burgeoning alliance prior to the conflict encompassing many worlds and are now seeking to regroup its alliance. The war ended in a draw and both sides are intent on solidifying their status with current, former and new allies.

The Enterprise is among the vanguards, dispatched into the Sagittarius Arm to re-establish contact with former allies and resume exploration of unknown regions.

The Klingons - once leaders of a great empire who are rumoured to reside somewhere in the Sagittarius Arm.
The Andorians - allies of the Federation
The Gorn - allies of the Romulans

 

Have to admit, I still prefer the old name Penda over Nyota.

Nyota sound like a small Japanese car.

Hmmm, could we do it without Starfleet? I mean they're there, but not featured.

A group of "old school" explorers, no heavily armed starship, no politics.

Maybe the crew work for Cal Tech, or the University of Oxford. Or how about the National Geographic Society?

I like that last one.