Am I Alone In This?
- Thread starter Bry_Sinclair
- Start date
I got into Star Trek as a child in the late-80s and early-90s watching repeats on BBC2 and absolutely loved it--much to the chagrin of my family. I loved it so much that when I learnt of TNG the very concept was an affront to me; how could they have Star Trek with Kirk and co? But I eventually started watching TNG and equally fell in love with it, even to the point where I was picking Picard over Kirk.
Since those days, I haven't gone back and revisited TOS, as it holds a very special place in my heart (as seen through the eyes of a child). The characters, stories, action, romance, friendship, laughter and overall campy goodness, are an amalgamation of my appreciation and love for TOS, something that I'm afraid of damaging going back and watching them now after 20+ years (with higher expectations of special effects, acting ability, and overall tone, not to mention a more pickier eye).
I'm asking if anyone else is in the same boat, or if you were then bit the bullet and went back and watched them?
Apparently, my lack of up-to-date familiarity with TOS could be the reason I don't "get" the NuTrek films
Nope I don't think its your unfamiliarity with TOS thats the reason you don't get NuTrek.
If you've ever watched TOS IMO you know more than enough about the characters to understand nuTrek. I think even if you hate TOS or never even saw it you could love nuTrek.
You know I'm rewatching TNG which I didn't like on original viewing and I'm appreciating its 'campy goodness' 25 years later. I'm looking at the screen and appreciating the corny humour, rolling my eyes (in a good way) at the terrible (80s) fashion and hair styles, laughing at the Riker stance. Still there are great things about it (80s effects over 60s, Patrick Stewart, Data (sometimes), the bridge, Worf).
So maybe your idea of a rewatch of TOS would be a good idea. But I don't think it will ever make you like nuTrek. Especially if your first love is Berman Trek.
I've been rewatching TOS for the first time since I watched the reruns as a teenager when the Sci-Fi Channel used to show them in the early 2000's, and I have to say that I appreciate them much more now as an adult. It's partly because I have more of an understanding of history and the world and can appreciate TOS's historical context. Having grown up on TNG and DS9, I took for granted many of the sociological, scientific, and technological concepts introduced by Star Trek that the other series reused.
The other aspect is that I find William Shatner's strange mix of hilarious overacting and occasional really good acting to be much more entertaining now. If Captain Pike had stayed in command, the show would be almost unwatchable. William Shatner made this series, and it stands the test of time largely because of him.
Also from an special effects standpoint (I'm watching the non-remastered ones on Youtube), as cheesy as they are, you have to appreciate them on a certain level. With their shoestring budget and the lack of fx technology at the time, it was remarkable that they were able to even have the ship move across the screen as it changed perspective. There are some early-to-mid 70's sci-fi movies that still didn't really get this right (even a few shots in the original cut of Star Wars were iffy).
The other aspect is that I find William Shatner's strange mix of hilarious overacting and occasional really good acting to be much more entertaining now. If Captain Pike had stayed in command, the show would be almost unwatchable. William Shatner made this series, and it stands the test of time largely because of him.
Also from an special effects standpoint (I'm watching the non-remastered ones on Youtube), as cheesy as they are, you have to appreciate them on a certain level. With their shoestring budget and the lack of fx technology at the time, it was remarkable that they were able to even have the ship move across the screen as it changed perspective. There are some early-to-mid 70's sci-fi movies that still didn't really get this right (even a few shots in the original cut of Star Wars were iffy).
Last edited:
Oh, definitely. Shatner sells it with everything he's got. I first saw the show in 1966 when I was 15. At the time, I liked the Kirk character, but didn't care for Shatner's style. It wasn't until about 20 years later with VCRs where you could rewind individual moments, that I began to realize how good he really was. He's fascinating to watch, and I sometimes think perhaps certain directors were able to get the best performances from him. I haven't tried to do a breakdown analysis of that though. I think some of his best work is in "Obsession".
I grew up with TNG, and initially regarded TOS as a dated antique. But as the years passed I realised what it was which made TOS so special, and my opinion changed. It's not the allegories or ham-fisted messages, but the characters. Kirk, Spock, McCoy and the rest were likeable. Their interactions were enough to carry even the worst stories. And they didn't go on missions, they had adventures. Instead of sitting at a table discussing tedious Klingon politics like the TNG crew did, they were out there making a difference. It was fun and exciting.
The lovable characters and sense of adventure are what the new movies capture so brilliantly.
The lovable characters and sense of adventure are what the new movies capture so brilliantly.
Even TOS briefing room scenes were more animated, with Kirk driving the conversation. TNG briefings usually had more people at the table and less activity. In that respect, they were close to actual office meetings I'd been in.
TOS is my show. I saw a rare few original airings and loved it then, but in the early 70s with reruns I was hooked.
When TNG came around I watched every week. It was ok, but not my Star Trek.
Then DS9 was spun off, and it was different. A cool different. It needed some work, but by the time Worf came on board and the Dominion War started it was really taking off. I stayed with it for the full run and enjoyed all of it.
Voyager started, and sometime after the first couple of seasons the station ownership changed hands and it wasn't aired here any more. Life went on, and later I saw the final season. At that point I wouldn't have missed it if it weren't on.
Enterprise was different, but not different enough. It seemed trite and repetitive, so I gave up on it. I have to admit though, that the 4th season episodes I saw were much better.
But going back and looking at all the series, TOS is still my favorite. I can overlook the flaws and see what I loved as a kid and a teen.
That's why I have no problem with the new movies. There is enough of the original coolness, and the modern effects work is awesome. Again, I can overlook the flaws and enjoy it for what it is.
When TNG came around I watched every week. It was ok, but not my Star Trek.
Then DS9 was spun off, and it was different. A cool different. It needed some work, but by the time Worf came on board and the Dominion War started it was really taking off. I stayed with it for the full run and enjoyed all of it.
Voyager started, and sometime after the first couple of seasons the station ownership changed hands and it wasn't aired here any more. Life went on, and later I saw the final season. At that point I wouldn't have missed it if it weren't on.
Enterprise was different, but not different enough. It seemed trite and repetitive, so I gave up on it. I have to admit though, that the 4th season episodes I saw were much better.
But going back and looking at all the series, TOS is still my favorite. I can overlook the flaws and see what I loved as a kid and a teen.
That's why I have no problem with the new movies. There is enough of the original coolness, and the modern effects work is awesome. Again, I can overlook the flaws and enjoy it for what it is.
As someone who fist started watching Star Trek first run on NBC at age 6 during it's third season in 1969 - and grew to like it more as I watched it in reruns growing older; (and I too thought TNG was okay back when it was first run, but have grown to like it less and less as time went on; but still can watch anything from TOS); I have to say the above comment sums the TOS to TNG comparison for me quite well.
I've come at this completely the opposite way myself.
I grew up first with the TOS movies, which are still probably my favourite bits of Trek to indulge. I then fell for DS9, enjoyed bits of TNG (which I grow more fond of the older it gets actually) and so on, but I never watched TOS the series... until now.
I'm watching the remasters and they are just fab. For years I thought TOS was just silly, camp & dated but I was so wrong. It's pulpy, certainly daft in places, but camp? No. Batman was camp & jokey. TOS for all it's colour & style always took itself, it's characters and it's story lines seriously, to the point of melodrama - even in the comedy episodes it had heart & believed in itself to never tip into parody.
Watch it again, is my advice. I think you'll have a surprisingly positive experience.
I grew up first with the TOS movies, which are still probably my favourite bits of Trek to indulge. I then fell for DS9, enjoyed bits of TNG (which I grow more fond of the older it gets actually) and so on, but I never watched TOS the series... until now.
I'm watching the remasters and they are just fab. For years I thought TOS was just silly, camp & dated but I was so wrong. It's pulpy, certainly daft in places, but camp? No. Batman was camp & jokey. TOS for all it's colour & style always took itself, it's characters and it's story lines seriously, to the point of melodrama - even in the comedy episodes it had heart & believed in itself to never tip into parody.
Watch it again, is my advice. I think you'll have a surprisingly positive experience.
Similar threads
