A 50th Anniversary proposal for Phase II/ST Continues crews...

[Nightowl1701]

(I know, I know, the 50th Anniversary's still a couple of years out - but hey, never too soon to start planning, right?)

TOS is the only one of the various ST series that started out essentially in the middle - the five-year mission's well underway, the crew settled in and familiar with each other. All the other series got a big TV-movie that brought the crews together and introduced them to us (and to each other) at the same time. When the JJ Abrams movie started to take shape in 2008, the fandom thought maybe that's what we were getting. It turned out we were and weren't at the same time.

My proposal is for something that, to my knowledge, has only been tried twice in the Trek Expanded Universe (and not entirely satisfactorily either time): The very first voyage of the Enterprise under Captain Kirk, in the Prime Universe. The TV-movie series premiere, if you will, that we never got.

"Until now, our mission has been one of space law regulation, contact with Earth colonies and investigation of alien life. But now, a new task: A probe out into where no man has gone before..." - original Kirk intro to 'Where No Man Has Gone Before'

In this hypothetical alternate history, "The first adult space adventure" debuts a year earlier on NBC with a TV-Movie of the week, in September 1965.* WNMHGB (airing May 1966) would be the first season finale, followed by a retooling/recasting and the September premiere of the second season, relaunching as the show we're more familiar with (and where the Five Year Mission actually starts). So that's potentially a whole extra year of adventures for Kirk and company, featuring a cast we're only somewhat familiar with: Kirk, Spock, Dr. Mark Piper, Gary Mitchell, Lee Kelso, Scotty, and Communications officer Alden.

But all I'm proposing here, for the anniversary celebration, is that hypothetical series premiere, done as it would have been done back then, in the style of the 2nd pilot's early edit - alternate theme song, different Kirk narration, act headings, "Tonight's Episode" and all. (Or not, if it's an actual TV-movie.) A straightforward, well-written, exciting action-adventure in space, preferably (but not necessarily) without celebrity cameos or too many knowing winks at the future. Would that be something either team - or perhaps both teams working together - would be interested in doing?

* Ironically, this imaginary 'Wagon Train to the Stars' movie would be airing roughly a week after the series finale of the original 'Wagon Train.'

 

[USS Intrepid]

That's actually a pretty neat idea. I like it.

 

[Danlav05]

PHASE II are redoing their origin story 'The Protracted Man' but that's going to be CADET Kirk (which looks like it'll be refilmed) - this idea here has legs.

I'm sure the novel had McCoy, Uhura & Sulu in them anyway (we can assume in their continuity the two former took temporary leave before returning after WNMHGB) but it would be interesting nonetheless to explore the history of Kirk's first crew, those characters whom we have seen little of since, and maybe go a little into how he received the Captaincy.

I've seen the original WNMHGB and the different format you mention could make it all the more special. 'The Protracted Man & Your Idea, even if two separate productions, could work well together as a 'canon alternative' to the 2009 movie.

But yes Nightowl I like it a lot.

I feel cautious about thinking of the 50th Anniversary as it's a bit too early to get excited about! I did that with Doctor Who lol (in 2010 according to my GallifreyBase forum history! The celebration for those who don't know was November 2013) nevertheless with fan productions as hot as they are these days I optimistically expect good stuff.

 

[Nightowl1701]

I'm sure the novel had McCoy, Uhura & Sulu in them anyway (we can assume in their continuity the two former took temporary leave before returning after WNMHGB) but it would be interesting nonetheless to explore the history of Kirk's first crew, those characters whom we have seen little of since, and maybe go a little into how he received the Captaincy.

I leave it up to the production crew (if this idea takes off) whether McCoy is used or not. The door's wide open for it with the 'temporary leave' excuse. The DC Comics version of the first mission had McCoy planning to attend his daughter Joanna's graduation from college - since he'd only be 37-38 here, might be better to dial it back to high school!

Since Sulu is in WNMHGB*, I'm sure Gene would at least give him a one-two line cameo in the pilot and an occasional minor role throughout the season to get viewers used to his face (ala Kevin Riley or Chief Kyle). Otherwise, we never saw the 'ship's physicist' position used throughout the series, did we?

As for Uhura...in a perfect world, she would have been there from the beginning. But in 1965, with the Civil Rights Act only a year old, I figure just getting a black MAN (Lloyd Haynes as Alden) on the Enterprise crew would be a difficult enough triumph for Gene (and it's all he can do to get Spock on the crew). So I'm imagining he debuts Uhura in a one-shot 'special guest star' capacity midway through the first season (ala Chapel in 'What are Little Girls Made Of'), and uses the positive viewer reaction to that to promote her to regular after Haynes decides to leave at season's end.

Needless to say, no Chekov or Rand. Chapel would be quite likely as a cameo, given Majel's ties to Gene.

* In this alternate history, WNMHGB was still shot as the second pilot and approved, but Gene decides to repurpose it as the first season finale since Gary Lockwood can only stick around for part of the season anyway (he's got a certain movie lined up with Stanley Kubrick). The episodes with Mitchell in it are scheduled out of production order to create the impression he's still around (like with Sulu in the real season two - George Takei was shooting The Green Berets with John Wayne). This has the added benefit of beginning to beef up Spock's role in the series and his friendship with Kirk, making his transition into first officer/main co-star at season's end a smooth one.

 

[E-DUB]

"Star Trek-Year Zero"?

 

[Nightowl1701]

I would prefer "Year One," but okay. Or maybe: "Star Trek Into the Unknown."

Some miscellaneous thoughts:

- The first 10 minutes should take a page from STXI and be almost a mini-movie in itself, action-packed, with Kirk on his 'first command' doing whatever badass thing earned him the top spot on the Enterprise - showing (not telling) the audience of 1965 who Kirk is and why he's our hero.
- My personal idea for the story (and the production crew's free to throw it out) embraces the 'Wagon Train to the Stars' concept at its' root: Kirk's first assignment on the Enterprise is to escort a colony ship to a new world. The would-be colony's in disputed space - you guessed it, our first bad guys are the Klingons. But before we even get to them, we see the Enterprise protect the colony ship from Orion pirates, safely tractor it through some spatial hazards (including one that starts following them...), deal with an unexpected epidemic of unknown origin (which requires them stopping at a little-explored world containing the element McCoy needs for a cure, which brings its' own alien complications) - in short, really put our ship and crew through their paces in a very fast 80-90 minutes that plays with the whole Western-in-space conceit, but doesn't forget to throw in some serious science-fiction and a 'make you think' moral allegory moment before the end.
- Our regulars are already on the Enterprise when Kirk comes aboard, including Gary Mitchell (in a twist from the two previous takes on this tale). I'm taking Dehner's line "You've worked next to (Spock) for years" literally. It also finishes her line on "You asked for (Mitchell) aboard your first command." Well, Gary turned Kirk down, because he was on the Enterprise working for Pike (as Jose Tyler's replacement) instead!
- If McCoy's in this, then he comes aboard when Kirk does (replacing Dr. Boyce).
- Kirk's mom and dad, of course, make a cameo in the 'handing over command' scene (if only by viewscreen).
- In another twist from the two previous tellings, the handover doesn't happen at Earth (in keeping with Gene's rule "We don't see 23rd Century Earth on this series"). The Enterprise is stationed at an orbital starbase (still well within Federation space, just not in the Sol system) with the colony ship. Kirk/McCoy arrive via shuttlecraft (in a mirror of the STXI scene), Pike/Boyce say their goodbyes and leave the Enterprise the same way.

 

[Warped9]

There are so many fannish ways this could go wrong I would just assume they leave it alone. Unlike a lot of others I don't need every little dot connected.

Then again it would be a fan production so it wouldn't really matter. And it just has to be better than what JJ did.

 

[Maurice]

Sorry, but this idea is exactly what I hate about so much of fan fiction: a bunch of cameos and dot connecting.

 

[Danlav05]

Surely the title of this should be 'To Boldly Go'? No one's used that bit of the speech yet as a title!

 

[Melakon]

^ Apparently it is the title for a Trek comic book reprint published in 2005, and was used for the title of a short documentary segment on ABC's Prime Time Live in 1990 (hosted by DeForest Kelley no less).

 

[Danlav05]

^ Apparently it is the title for a Trek comic book reprint published in 2005, and was used for the title of a short documentary segment on ABC's Prime Time Live in 1990 (hosted by DeForest Kelley no less).

i meant for an episode I have that book! It'd be a good film title STAR TREK: TO BOLDLY GO

 

[Ssosmcin]

It's an intriguing idea to have a "year one" style episode, but aside from introducing Kirk to his new command and the crew as seen in WHNHGB, I wouldn't get bogged down in "origins" or cameos. Just a straightforward story with some characters meeting for the first time. Make it an adult-aimed honest to Zod science fiction story with the requisite 60's action adventure and the Roddenberry mandated message of substance. No winks or nods, no hints or cheats. No clues to the fates of others. No parents or Finnegan (I'd even balk at Klingons since they're far overused). Some good interpersonal conflicts to resolve would be cool. Kirk and Spock wouldn't be friends right off, but it would have to be different from what we've seen or read before.

Actually, I always wanted to see a fan film do an episode in the style of the early Gold Key comics, before they got more accurate. The olive drab uniforms (only Spock wore blue), the canteens and backpacks, the HUGE transporter chamber, the submarine style sets and the huge flames coming from the Enterprise. But damn, what an expense!

 

[Nightowl1701]

That's very much what I would like as well, ssosmcin. I'm certainly not wedded to cameos, and would only want a minimum of them at that - Pike would be a must, maybe Boyce (if McCoy's not in it, Piper can already be there as doctor). The parents can be tossed off in a line of dialogue from Alden - "Your parents send their congratulations and love, Captain." I wasn't even thinking of Finnegan...

As for the Klingons, I'd want them in there if only in a mention (ala the Ferengi in "Encounter at Farpoint").

 

[Danlav05]

It's an intriguing idea to have a "year one" style episode, but aside from introducing Kirk to his new command and the crew as seen in WHNHGB, I wouldn't get bogged down in "origins" or cameos. Just a straightforward story with some characters meeting for the first time. Make it an adult-aimed honest to Zod science fiction story with the requisite 60's action adventure and the Roddenberry mandated message of substance. No winks or nods, no hints or cheats. No clues to the fates of others. No parents or Finnegan (I'd even balk at Klingons since they're far overused). Some good interpersonal conflicts to resolve would be cool. Kirk and Spock wouldn't be friends right off, but it would have to be different from what we've seen or read before.

Actually, I always wanted to see a fan film do an episode in the style of the early Gold Key comics, before they got more accurate. The olive drab uniforms (only Spock wore blue), the canteens and backpacks, the HUGE transporter chamber, the submarine style sets and the huge flames coming from the Enterprise. But damn, what an expense!

This has been brought up before as a 50s b-movie style with the idea of filming on an actual submarine! If you could make the production faithful to the comics it could be a fun alternate universe film!

As a 'fan reboot it could be 10x easier that trying to do what I want - TOS with a TNG vibe!! :P

 

[mos6507]

It's a good idea, but as has been stated, there needs to be an original adventure story at the heart of this and have it not just an excuse to have Kirk walk around the ship shaking hands with his new crew.

 

[Maurice]

This has been brought up before as a 50s b-movie style with the idea of filming on an actual submarine! If you could make the production faithful to the comics it could be a fun alternate universe film!

Having shot a film on an old flying boat, I can tell you from experience it's difficult to shoot in such cramped quarters as an actual sub would be, especially since would be limited in how much lighting gear you can bring in. The results can look great, but you frequently can't put the camera where you want it.

 

[BillJ]

Sorry, but this idea is exactly what I hate about so much of fan fiction: a bunch of cameos and dot connecting.

+1

 

[Warped9]

Sorry, but this idea is exactly what I hate about so much of fan fiction: a bunch of cameos and dot connecting.

Yeah, it strikes me as being a story of the checklist variety, checking off everyone and everything that they think fans expect to be in such a story.