Dear Experienced Trekkies

[F. King Daniel]

Nope. It's all about this big-budget trilogy at the moment. After that, there's a chance they'll want to put all those sets, props and outfits to a good use in a TV series...

(well, we can hope )

I wouldn't be suprised if we get a new cartoon series if the next film does well, although it'll probably be aimed at selling toys to kids.

 

[TheGodBen]

In your opinion, what seasons are the best of TOS?

I go along with the popular consensus that seasons 1 & 2 are the best and that season 3 saw a drop in quality. Where most people would disagree with me is that I prefer season 2 to season 1, I feel that in season 2 the characters were better defined and there was more McCoy. So I would say that season 1 is probably the best season, but season 2 is my favourite.

i'm nervous about that hahahaa. has there been any word on another series being created or no?

As with most things in Trek, the answer is needlessly complicated.

Paramount owned the rights to Star Trek almost from the beginning, I think they took over back during the second season. They were responsible for all the movies and TV series produced from then on. In the 00s Paramount was merged with CBS television to create a super-studio, but in 2006 they split again. There's now an odd situation where CBS own the rights to the Trek franchise but Paramount has the rights to the Trek movies, and it was Paramount that made the new Trek movie. CBS could make a new Trek series if they wanted, and several former Trek writers have professed an interest in doing so, but so far CBS has decided to let the new movie series stand on its own. If CBS did make a new series it might not work as their network isn't suitable for a show like Star Trek (so I hear).

If the next movie does well there is a possibility that CBS will try to cash in on the franchise again by making a new series set in the alternate timeline. If the next two movies bomb then Trek could be dead for another decade or more.

 

[RandyS]

Age and wisdom CAN be a good thing.

I'm 24 and I've even had sex a couple of times, so I already know everything!

Which only proves that you don't my boy.

24? Please......

 

[PKTrekGirl]

Always good to see new fans that the movie brought in! That is wonderful! I love the movie (although beware - it DOES create an alternative timeline to TOS!) and am glad to see the movie fans turning up ready to dive in to the rest of Trek.

Also glad to see you enjoying TOS. I always think it is best to start at the beginning, if possible, and the only reason I would have given to start anywhere else is if you were one who just couldn't stomach 1960's production values. But it seems like you are doing well with that, which is encouraging.

Had to laugh when you said that watching all of Trek would take you a few months though. Some of us have been fans of Trek for 40+ years and wonder if there might be the odd episode out there we have not seen - especially if we watched it all as it aired on TV the first time.

For example, I'm pretty sure I have seen every episode of TOS because it was in perpetual reruns on afternoon television while I was growing up. And I know without a doubt that I have seen every episode of DS9 (by far my favorite) several times. But the rest? There might be the odd episode of VOY or TNG I have missed...and I missed an entire season of ENT (season 3) because season 2 was so terrible I gave up on the show for a year in disgust. And I have only watched a few episodes of TAS.

What I'm saying is that this is more likely to take you YEARS than months. Trek makes the Star Wars Universe look very small by comparison - it is HUGE, and with many moving parts.

It is a lot of fun...but try to look at it as a lifelong hobby - not something you want to rush through necessarily. Enjoy the journey, because you can only watch your first trip through Trek once! And believe me...there are a lot of us here who envy you, for all that you have in front of you. All of it brand new to you! What we wouldn't give for that! So savor what you have. No need to gobble it all down like fast food.

Also, as you watch each show, start to post in that show's forum. Most of the mods in the show forums will allow you to post your own 'review thread' where people won't spoil you for stuff you have not seen yet, but will discuss with you what you have seen of that show. This is especially important in 'my' forum - the DS9 forum - because DS9 is so serialized and you especially don't want to be spoiled on such a serialized show! But it can be fun for you to start such a thread in all the show forums as you move through the shows - the fans who post in each of those forums (but who might not all post here) are the most knowledgeable about that particular show, and the discussions with the 'hard core' fans of each of the series will be interesting for you.

I hope you enjoy your trip through the Trek Universe...and I look forward to seeing you a ways down the road when you get around to watching the BEST Trek show - DS9.

 

[TribbleFeeder]

Nope. It's all about this big-budget trilogy at the moment. After that, there's a chance they'll want to put all those sets, props and outfits to a good use in a TV series...

(well, we can hope )

I wouldn't be suprised if we get a new cartoon series if the next film does well, although it'll probably be aimed at selling toys to kids.

I had no idea that the new Star Trek was gonna be a trilogy! i'm excited. i love trilogies... hahaha.

yeah hopefully they don't take the cash-grab angle on any of it. i think the first movie showed TOS the respect it deserved. it didn't go too cheesey like Attack of the Clones and turn a great plot into a teenage love story hahhaa, but that is another forum entirely. lol

I go along with the popular consensus that seasons 1 & 2 are the best and that season 3 saw a drop in quality. Where most people would disagree with me is that I prefer season 2 to season 1, I feel that in season 2 the characters were better defined and there was more McCoy. So I would say that season 1 is probably the best season, but season 2 is my favourite.

I'm excited to see what McCoy's character development brings to the show, because IMO it was definitely a defining factor in the movie. hopefully his character is as quirky and interesting as they portrayed him.

As with most things in Trek, the answer is needlessly complicated.

Paramount owned the rights to Star Trek almost from the beginning, I think they took over back during the second season. They were responsible for all the movies and TV series produced from then on. In the 00s Paramount was merged with CBS television to create a super-studio, but in 2006 they split again. There's now an odd situation where CBS own the rights to the Trek franchise but Paramount has the rights to the Trek movies, and it was Paramount that made the new Trek movie. CBS could make a new Trek series if they wanted, and several former Trek writers have professed an interest in doing so, but so far CBS has decided to let the new movie series stand on its own. If CBS did make a new series it might not work as their network isn't suitable for a show like Star Trek (so I hear).

If the next movie does well there is a possibility that CBS will try to cash in on the franchise again by making a new series set in the alternate timeline. If the next two movies bomb then Trek could be dead for another decade or more.

wow. very interesting. thanks for typing all that out for me!!
i'd like to see a new series. but if they decide to go with the same characters and timeline as the new Trek movies they would need the same actors which may be difficult since they're two different companies. it would be disappointing without Chris Pine or Zachary Quinto. but now that Heroes is canceled, you never know

Always good to see new fans that the movie brought in! That is wonderful! I love the movie (although beware - it DOES create an alternative timeline to TOS!) and am glad to see the movie fans turning up ready to dive in to the rest of Trek.

THANKS!!

Also glad to see you enjoying TOS. I always think it is best to start at the beginning, if possible, and the only reason I would have given to start anywhere else is if you were one who just couldn't stomach 1960's production values. But it seems like you are doing well with that, which is encouraging.

yeah I don't mind the old sets and such. the remaster version of itl definitely helps!

Had to laugh when you said that watching all of Trek would take you a few months though. Some of us have been fans of Trek for 40+ years and wonder if there might be the odd episode out there we have not seen - especially if we watched it all as it aired on TV the first time.

For example, I'm pretty sure I have seen every episode of TOS because it was in perpetual reruns on afternoon television while I was growing up. And I know without a doubt that I have seen every episode of DS9 (by far my favorite) several times. But the rest? There might be the odd episode of VOY or TNG I have missed...and I missed an entire season of ENT (season 3) because season 2 was so terrible I gave up on the show for a year in disgust. And I have only watched a few episodes of TAS.

What I'm saying is that this is more likely to take you YEARS than months. Trek makes the Star Wars Universe look very small by comparison - it is HUGE, and with many moving parts.

It is a lot of fun...but try to look at it as a lifelong hobby - not something you want to rush through necessarily. Enjoy the journey, because you can only watch your first trip through Trek once! And believe me...there are a lot of us here who envy you, for all that you have in front of you. All of it brand new to you! What we wouldn't give for that! So savor what you have. No need to gobble it all down like fast food.

FIRST MATTER OF BUSINESS: you're icon is awesome <3 I too am a lostie

Secondly: I TOTALLLY AGREE! i've been trying to only watch two or three discs a week (three episodes on each disc) so I don't confuse myself and stiill have time to rewatch them but it's so difficult once i start watching and get hooked! hahaha. I already love it though. I'm so excited for what's to come. and it makes it even more exciting that there are still movies (and possibly series, as we were talking about above) still in the making! I'm not really too worried about how long it takes me to watch it all but i'm so psyched to see whats next! I'm gonna try to at least watch seasons one and two (maybe three) of TOS before the end of summer because I start college in september and I fear I won't have enough time to watch it. =/
You're definitely right though about it being a lifelong journey. that's a great way to look at it!
I'm just way too anxious/ambitious as a person. when I get into something new (especially things like Star Trek, Star Wars, Lost, Lord of the Rings, etc.) I get into it full throttle! but like you mentioned, this is quite different from all of the above! I really appreciate all of your advice

Also, as you watch each show, start to post in that show's forum. Most of the mods in the show forums will allow you to post your own 'review thread' where people won't spoil you for stuff you have not seen yet, but will discuss with you what you have seen of that show. This is especially important in 'my' forum - the DS9 forum - because DS9 is so serialized and you especially don't want to be spoiled on such a serialized show! But it can be fun for you to start such a thread in all the show forums as you move through the shows - the fans who post in each of those forums (but who might not all post here) are the most knowledgeable about that particular show, and the discussions with the 'hard core' fans of each of the series will be interesting for you.

definitely a great idea. I think I'll make a new one after each season, (too often?) because after episodes would definitely clog up the forums hahaha. I can't wait to see DS9, it's going to be awesome to have the same fascinating writing and storylines but with the appropriate graphics and sets!

I hope you enjoy your trip through the Trek Universe...and I look forward to seeing you a ways down the road when you get around to watching the BEST Trek show - DS9.

THANKS SO MUCH! : )

 

[DevilEyes]

Age and wisdom CAN be a good thing.

I'm 24 and I've even had sex a couple of times, so I already know everything!

Which only proves that you don't my boy.

24? Please......

At least he knows what sarcasm is...

 

[TheGodBen]

Age and wisdom CAN be a good thing.

I'm 24 and I've even had sex a couple of times, so I already know everything!

Which only proves that you don't my boy.

24? Please......

(With a newly added apostrophe to please USS Bones. )

i'd like to see a new series. but if they decide to go with the same characters and timeline as the new Trek movies they would need the same actors which may be difficult since they're two different companies. it would be disappointing without Chris Pine or Zachary Quinto. but now that Heroes is canceled, you never know

To be honest, I can't see them doing a show based on the Enterprise, it would be very expensive to bring all those actors onboard to do a series. They'd probably do what all the other series did, they'd set it on a different ship in the same universe with a different crew, and occasionally there might be a crossover episode where a character from TOS would show up. That seems like the most logical way to go.

definitely a great idea. I think I'll make a new one after each season, (too often?) because after episodes would definitely clog up the forums hahaha. I can't wait to see DS9, it's going to be awesome to have the same fascinating writing and storylines but with the appropriate graphics and sets!

There shouldn't be a problem commenting after each episode, we have several threads of that type all over the forum, I'm doing one myself as I watch Babylon 5 for the first time. Every few months someone new starts a thread like that, but it's always fun watching different people react to the various series, so if you have the time you should give it a go.

By the way, here's some fan trailers for the later Trek series so you can get a taste for what's to come:

Deep Space Nine
Voyager

I did a search for TNG and Enterprise as well but couldn't find any fan trailers, so if anyone knows of some good ones they can post them here so that 1ittle can get a taste of what those shows are like.

 

[RandyS]

I'm 24 and I've even had sex a couple of times, so I already know everything!

Which only proves that you don't my boy.

24? Please......

At least he knows what sarcasm is...

 

[DevilEyes]

I'm 24 and I've even had sex a couple of times, so I already know everything!

Which only proves that you don't my boy.

24? Please......

Which only proves that you don't my boy.

24? Please......

At least he knows what sarcasm is...

It took you a while, but better late than never!

 

[TribbleFeeder]

i'd like to see a new series. but if they decide to go with the same characters and timeline as the new Trek movies they would need the same actors which may be difficult since they're two different companies. it would be disappointing without Chris Pine or Zachary Quinto. but now that Heroes is canceled, you never know

To be honest, I can't see them doing a show based on the Enterprise, it would be very expensive to bring all those actors onboard to do a series. They'd probably do what all the other series did, they'd set it on a different ship in the same universe with a different crew, and occasionally there might be a crossover episode where a character from TOS would show up. That seems like the most logical way to go.

definitely a great idea. I think I'll make a new one after each season, (too often?) because after episodes would definitely clog up the forums hahaha. I can't wait to see DS9, it's going to be awesome to have the same fascinating writing and storylines but with the appropriate graphics and sets!

There shouldn't be a problem commenting after each episode, we have several threads of that type all over the forum, I'm doing one myself as I watch Babylon 5 for the first time. Every few months someone new starts a thread like that, but it's always fun watching different people react to the various series, so if you have the time you should give it a go.

By the way, here's some fan trailers for the later Trek series so you can get a taste for what's to come:

Deep Space Nine
Voyager

I did a search for TNG and Enterprise as well but couldn't find any fan trailers, so if anyone knows of some good ones they can post them here so that 1ittle can get a taste of what those shows are like.

Thanks!! I'll definitely check those out

 

[PKTrekGirl]

FIRST MATTER OF BUSINESS: you're icon is awesome <3 I too am a lostie

Yes, I am a huge LOST fan (and a big Richard Alpert fan, obviously ).

I am big into the more serialized shows. DS9, Babylon 5, LOST, Battlestar Galactica....

Secondly: I TOTALLLY AGREE! i've been trying to only watch two or three discs a week (three episodes on each disc) so I don't confuse myself and stiill have time to rewatch them but it's so difficult once i start watching and get hooked! hahaha. I already love it though. I'm so excited for what's to come. and it makes it even more exciting that there are still movies (and possibly series, as we were talking about above) still in the making! I'm not really too worried about how long it takes me to watch it all but i'm so psyched to see whats next! I'm gonna try to at least watch seasons one and two (maybe three) of TOS before the end of summer because I start college in september and I fear I won't have enough time to watch it. =/
You're definitely right though about it being a lifelong journey. that's a great way to look at it!
I'm just way too anxious/ambitious as a person. when I get into something new (especially things like Star Trek, Star Wars, Lost, Lord of the Rings, etc.) I get into it full throttle! but like you mentioned, this is quite different from all of the above! I really appreciate all of your advice

Well, by all means, if you want to watch more, watch more! Watch at whatever pace you feel like! This is YOUR journey, so if you feel like watching 3 episodes in one week, you can...and if you feel like watching 8 episodes in one day, you can. I'm just saying that you shouldn't feel obligated to get completely 'up to speed' on every Trek show in 3 months. Because most of the posters in most of the show forums will meet you where you are at right now, and not spoil you. So you can go at your own pace and enjoy the journey.

But yeah...if you get excited about the story and can't wait to pop in the next disk, then by all means, go with it.

Also, as you watch each show, start to post in that show's forum. Most of the mods in the show forums will allow you to post your own 'review thread' where people won't spoil you for stuff you have not seen yet, but will discuss with you what you have seen of that show. This is especially important in 'my' forum - the DS9 forum - because DS9 is so serialized and you especially don't want to be spoiled on such a serialized show! But it can be fun for you to start such a thread in all the show forums as you move through the shows - the fans who post in each of those forums (but who might not all post here) are the most knowledgeable about that particular show, and the discussions with the 'hard core' fans of each of the series will be interesting for you.

definitely a great idea. I think I'll make a new one after each season, (too often?) because after episodes would definitely clog up the forums hahaha. I can't wait to see DS9, it's going to be awesome to have the same fascinating writing and storylines but with the appropriate graphics and sets!

Well, I can't speak for the other mods, but most people who are on their first trip though DS9 set up a single thread, and we let it run for the entire length of their DS9 journey - people know exactly where you are at all the time then, and are careful not to spoil you in your own thread.

But you can do a separate thread for each season if you like too. Either way is fine. And while I can't speak for the other mods, most likely most of them would be good with this too.

Posters like you are the sort that the regular posters of a forum get excited about. It's always wonderful to see new fans of our shows getting excited about the show we love! In the DS9 forum, discussion threads posted by DS9 newbies stay fairly active, because people will want to read about your journey and comment on your thoughts! It reminds us of when it was all new to us! And I'm sure it's that way in the other forums too. So take advantage of them and have fun!

As for appropriate sets and stuff - yeah, DS9 has actually aged very well and you should not have any problems there. In fact, although the first couple of seasons of TNG have some pretty cheesy sets and costumes, once you get into about S3 of TNG you are pretty well home free when it comes to more modern sets, costumes, and use of models, CGI, etc.

 

[Luther Sloan]

THAT SOUNDS SO EPIC! i'm so stoked to watch it!
i've really liked what I've seen so far but i'm trying to pace myself so episodes don't bleed into each other and i start to confuse myself lol.
ps.

1ittle:

I envy the journey you are on.
You are in for one wild ride. And there have been a lot of helpful suggestions so far in this thread, too. I hope it is helpful.

The City on The Edge of Forever is also A Skylit Drive song, so that should probably make it more interesting hahahha

I know these songs don't sound exactly like Skylit's City on the Edge song, but it reminds me of these two songs, though...

http://songza.org/~gbp10c

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jn4nzFmyNfw

I know.
It is very odd.

 

[TribbleFeeder]

Yes, I am a huge LOST fan (and a big Richard Alpert fan, obviously ).

I am big into the more serialized shows. DS9, Babylon 5, LOST, Battlestar Galactica....

Well, by all means, if you want to watch more, watch more! Watch at whatever pace you feel like! This is YOUR journey, so if you feel like watching 3 episodes in one week, you can...and if you feel like watching 8 episodes in one day, you can. I'm just saying that you shouldn't feel obligated to get completely 'up to speed' on every Trek show in 3 months. Because most of the posters in most of the show forums will meet you where you are at right now, and not spoil you. So you can go at your own pace and enjoy the journey.

But yeah...if you get excited about the story and can't wait to pop in the next disk, then by all means, go with it.

thanks! I'm trying so hard not to overwhelm myself with it but it's quickly becoming an obsession hahahaha. I've been at my shore house all weekend and I can't wait to get home and continue watching hahaha.

Well, I can't speak for the other mods, but most people who are on their first trip though DS9 set up a single thread, and we let it run for the entire length of their DS9 journey - people know exactly where you are at all the time then, and are careful not to spoil you in your own thread.

But you can do a separate thread for each season if you like too. Either way is fine. And while I can't speak for the other mods, most likely most of them would be good with this too.

Posters like you are the sort that the regular posters of a forum get excited about. It's always wonderful to see new fans of our shows getting excited about the show we love! In the DS9 forum, discussion threads posted by DS9 newbies stay fairly active, because people will want to read about your journey and comment on your thoughts! It reminds us of when it was all new to us! And I'm sure it's that way in the other forums too. So take advantage of them and have fun!

that's a really good idea! i'll probably start a thread in the TOS forum eventually. after watching a few more episodes : )

As for appropriate sets and stuff - yeah, DS9 has actually aged very well and you should not have any problems there. In fact, although the first couple of seasons of TNG have some pretty cheesy sets and costumes, once you get into about S3 of TNG you are pretty well home free when it comes to more modern sets, costumes, and use of models, CGI, etc.

good to know! I'm so excited

1ittle:

I envy the journey you are on.
You are in for one wild ride. And there have been a lot of helpful suggestions so far in this thread, too. I hope it is helpful.

I know these songs don't sound exactly like Skylit's City on the Edge song, but it reminds me of these two songs, though...

http://songza.org/~gbp10c

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jn4nzFmyNfw

I know.
It is very odd.

thank you!! I really like the Dream Theatre song. I'm a big fan of experimental music. : )

 

[TribbleFeeder]

so, I've been a bit disappointed with the last couple episodes I've watched. I feel like the theme of women who are older or unattractive transform into young and beautiful women keeps showing up, it's a little repetative. I wouldn't mind, but I'm only on disk 6 of season one. also the shape-shifting theme came up twice already. it's kind of not motivating me to watch as intently. but I'm sure it will get better as i keep watching : )

 

[Mr. Scott]

I am surprised you have never seen TOS, even as a child on TV. I am 43 years old and have watched this series all my life. I'd watch TOS, especially Season 1 and 2. By Season 3, the meager budget for production went even smaller, and it was common knowledge among the cast and crew that it was going to get cancelled and that was that. But still, I don't think that it was so bad that it was not worth watching. I have not seen any of these, but they have remastered TOS and from the ads really looks a lot better. But, we have watched this program for 45 years and love it.

Then watch The Next Generation (TNG). The First 2 seasons are not that bad. Well, Season one IS BAD, but I think by the second season, the show found it's feet and ran with it. But there is a character from Season 1 who is not there afterwards who comes back as the child of the original character, so it is good to know who this character is because you will run into her occasionally in later seasons.


In my opinion, the TOS movies were excellent except for Star Trek 5 (V). Most people dislike this film, but I loved "Star Trek: The Motion Picture". II, III and IV are more or less a trilogy (II and IV are great films, even by the standards of non-Trekkies. I remember I and my friend in High school telling our friends to go see it.) III has Christopher Lloyd playing a Klingon with a sidekick Klingon played by John Larroquette (yea, Dan Fielding from Night Court who is on Boston Legal).

Star Trek V was bad. Just bad. Star Trek VI was a good sendoff for the old crew, even if they were getting older. My hero, Mr. Scott had a pronounced beer gut by this time, and poor Deforest Kelly was near death. But still, it was a good film.

I like TNG, but I really disliked the TNG movies, all four of them. I wish I could tell you which one was the best film but I can't. Nemesis was the worst of the bunch. Bad, bad, bad. I would love if Mystery Science Theater 3000 would do a review on them.

DS9 is a wonderful SciFi series and is far better than any of the other series. I own the series and there are almost no episodes that I wont rewatch again. This show had the best actors, best scripts, just best everything. I enjoyed all the different characters and how they reacted to each other. It was also a show that focused more on families. DS9 had two single fathers, two teenage boys. A married man with a wife and two children. The boss of the bar is the brother of one of the single father, whose loves/dislikes his widowed mother. The main antoganist alien (who is evil) is also a single father to a daughter whom he really loves. (Note, I want to be a bit vague since the OP has never seen the series.)

I have recently been watching Voyager again and it has really grown on me, especially after Season 4. That is the funny thing about Star Trek vs. other TV shows. Usually a popular show starts very popular and then after a few years runs out of gas, while Star Trek series usually got better as they went along.

I think women would like this series the best because there are three strong women on the ship, the Captain, the engineer (who is 1/2 Vulcan) and the Borg chick (who wears a catsuit).

Enterprise is crap in my opinion. This is really a series that could of been special and just didn't make it.

However......however, it did have some good actors in it. (well, everyone except Scott Bakula and that English guy). Jolene Blalock does the catsuit duties. Linda Park plays the lovely Hoshi Sato (I like Asian women!).

If you want to PM me, I can tell you where to watch a lot of these episodes free online.

Also, these are my own opinions. Your kilometer may vary.

 

[F. King Daniel]

Re: Should novels set in the JJVerse rectify the film's plot holes?

so, I've been a bit disappointed with the last couple episodes I've watched. I feel like the theme of women who are older or unattractive transform into young and beautiful women keeps showing up, it's a little repetative. I wouldn't mind, but I'm only on disk 6 of season one. also the shape-shifting theme came up twice already. it's kind of not motivating me to watch as intently. but I'm sure it will get better as i keep watching : )

That's why I think you should watch another series concurrently and alternate episodes. It kept me sane rewatching Voyager .

I'd like to recommend again Stargate SG-1 and Atlantis. I'll probably get flamed for this, but I think they're closer in tone to nuTrek than oldTrek is. SG-1's first season is a little rough, but past that it's awesome. Excitement, explosions, running around... it's great fun. And only loosly based on the Stargate film, so if you didn't like that, don't worry.

 

[CorporalClegg]

so, I've been a bit disappointed with the last couple episodes I've watched. I feel like the theme of women who are older or unattractive transform into young and beautiful women keeps showing up

You got that too? I thought it was just me.

I've pointed it out before and was accused of being too critical.

"It was the 60s!" As if that's some sort of justification...

I'm sad to say the trend continues, albeit more subtly

 

[DevilEyes]

so, I've been a bit disappointed with the last couple episodes I've watched. I feel like the theme of women who are older or unattractive transform into young and beautiful women keeps showing up, it's a little repetative. I wouldn't mind, but I'm only on disk 6 of season one. also the shape-shifting theme came up twice already. it's kind of not motivating me to watch as intently. but I'm sure it will get better as i keep watching : )

What part of season 1 is that? By episodes about women looking more attractive than they are, do you you mean "Mudd's Women" and "The Menagerie" (very different episodes... the former is awful, the latter great, IMO) - I can't think of any other that fit that description, apart from maybe "The Man Trap", but that wasn't a woman at all... I can't think of too many shapeshifters in TOS apart from the M-113 creature (though I think it was actually an illusion-maker?)...

If there is an overused theme in TOS, it's alien beings with godlike powers... and there are more to come in later Trek series!

 

[TheGodBen]

so, I've been a bit disappointed with the last couple episodes I've watched. I feel like the theme of women who are older or unattractive transform into young and beautiful women keeps showing up, it's a little repetative. I wouldn't mind, but I'm only on disk 6 of season one. also the shape-shifting theme came up twice already. it's kind of not motivating me to watch as intently. but I'm sure it will get better as i keep watching : )

Well, season 1 is the popular favourite for TOS, so there is a possibility that the show isn't for you, but I'd encourage you to keep going because I happened to prefer season 2 for some strange reason.

Sadly, sexism is one of the things you have to accept while watching TOS, just like the cheap sets and the fact that all the aliens look like humans, although the sexism is the hardest of those things to forgive. It doesn't go away I'm afraid, and even in the final episode it is strongly suggested that women in the time period are not allowed be starship captains. (Luckily, that's one thing Enterprise managed to disprove before it was cancelled.) If it does get to the stage where it really bothers you then you can skip ahead to the movies.

As for shape-shifters, they're a recurrent theme throughout the franchise. My favourite use of them was on DS9, the security chief (Odo) was a shape-shifter of unknown origin that was made up of a liquid that could take any form. It doesn't hurt that he's a good character in his own right.

 

[TribbleFeeder]

so, I've been a bit disappointed with the last couple episodes I've watched. I feel like the theme of women who are older or unattractive transform into young and beautiful women keeps showing up

You got that too? I thought it was just me.

I've pointed it out before and was accused of being too critical.

"It was the 60s!" As if that's some sort of justification...

I'm sad to say the trend continues, albeit more subtly

totallllly. glad to see someone else picked up on it hahaha

so, I've been a bit disappointed with the last couple episodes I've watched. I feel like the theme of women who are older or unattractive transform into young and beautiful women keeps showing up, it's a little repetative. I wouldn't mind, but I'm only on disk 6 of season one. also the shape-shifting theme came up twice already. it's kind of not motivating me to watch as intently. but I'm sure it will get better as i keep watching : )

What part of season 1 is that? By episodes about women looking more attractive than they are, do you you mean "Mudd's Women" and "The Menagerie" (very different episodes... the former is awful, the latter great, IMO) - I can't think of any other that fit that description, apart from maybe "The Man Trap", but that wasn't a woman at all... I can't think of too many shapeshifters in TOS apart from the M-113 creature (though I think it was actually an illusion-maker?)...

If there is an overused theme in TOS, it's alien beings with godlike powers... and there are more to come in later Trek series!

those three episodes specifically, actually.

so, I've been a bit disappointed with the last couple episodes I've watched. I feel like the theme of women who are older or unattractive transform into young and beautiful women keeps showing up, it's a little repetative. I wouldn't mind, but I'm only on disk 6 of season one. also the shape-shifting theme came up twice already. it's kind of not motivating me to watch as intently. but I'm sure it will get better as i keep watching : )

Well, season 1 is the popular favourite for TOS, so there is a possibility that the show isn't for you, but I'd encourage you to keep going because I happened to prefer season 2 for some strange reason.

Sadly, sexism is one of the things you have to accept while watching TOS, just like the cheap sets and the fact that all the aliens look like humans, although the sexism is the hardest of those things to forgive. It doesn't go away I'm afraid, and even in the final episode it is strongly suggested that women in the time period are not allowed be starship captains. (Luckily, that's one thing Enterprise managed to disprove before it was cancelled.) If it does get to the stage where it really bothers you then you can skip ahead to the movies.

As for shape-shifters, they're a recurrent theme throughout the franchise. My favourite use of them was on DS9, the security chief (Odo) was a shape-shifter of unknown origin that was made up of a liquid that could take any form. It doesn't hurt that he's a good character in his own right.

i noticed the shape-shifting theme also!


i still enjoy it though. : )