Ditch Morality

[Sululu]

The moral conscience behind Trek has made it what it is. To completely remove the moral element behind Trek storylines would be to relegate it to the same league as other cheapo scifi franchises with two-bit acting and nothing to it than SFX.

I grew up watching Trek (TNG) - but not just watching it; it really shaped me and influenced me as a kid and so I emulated some of the aspects of it. E.g. I tried to develop rounded qualities and skills of Picard (like diplomacy, even appreciation for culture), the scientific acumen of Data (leading me to major in Physics), and I even tried a little aggression as Worf when I was 8 or so.

To remove the human/moral dimension of Star Trek would reduce it to yet another vacuous sci-fi show on some two-bit cable TV channel.

 

[Sululu]

That said, I would prefer to see more attention to detail given to the battles/military-aspect when they are done e.g. like in the Siege of AR558, some military uniforms, kit, phasers burning out after usage etc.

 

[Mistral]

While I don't agree 100% with Shaw he makes some very good points. Simplicity and Star Trek do not get along. TOS hid subtle complexity in simple presentations and it seems that 40 years later it still holds interest. Imagine that.

 

[Deimos Anomaly]

There should be a certain subtle level of "saying something" perhaps, but they'd need to keep an eye on themselves. For example TNG was abominable for the way it really ran away with itself, more often than not TNG episodes ended up just basically preaching at the audience.

 

[TrekNut87]

I say stay above the rest. Balance the action and "saying something" so the two even each other out during the course of an episode. Like others have said, without morality, it wouldn't be Star Trek.

 

[MiralParis]

Morality was a major theme in all the Star Trek shows, it made Star Trek special and stand above the rest. I think Rodenberry always wanted to focus on the grow and maturation of the human race and how that made us better than other species. It is important to hold up the moral standards in Star Trek because it has been and always will be an important theme and I would not want to sacrifice that for more FX.

 

[Joshua Howard]

The beauty of Star Trek is it's idealistic manner of addressing something of a deeper level than the mere desire for bland entertainment.

If a great man in a film dies a terrible death, the theme of the work is bound to be sacrifice and honor. If a worthless man dies a terrible death in a film however, the theme of the work is going to rather be the sacrifice of honor for the sake of violence.

Such a proposal in the Star Trek world would more or less be akin to an ongoing mission to go boldly where everyone else already is.

 

[Philo]

As has been said, you're essentially asking if Star Trek should no longer be Star Trek. Trek could be even more adult and still be enjoyable to children. Doesn't mean it can't still be fun. In fact, I think this is the direction it should go. Trek has been 60's TV adult and 80's TV adult. It deserves to be 2000's TV adult as well. The kids'll still like it.