Do fans want the prime timeline back? Part 2: Poll edition.

[ThankYouGeneR]

It occurs to me that, given how some folks seem to have such a problem with the Newverse, they'd be vaguely grateful that Abrams et al. at least had the courtesy to set their films in an alternate timeline instead of futzing around with the established continuity.

Indeed. I keep using a Band-Aid analogy. Better to rip the continuity Band-Aid off in one fell swoop than deal with years of nitpicking over "canon violations."

That was my first thought when I was watching the crew talking about the timeline in ST2009: "THIS IS SO GREAT! It won't compete with anything in my decades of StarTrek that I love! IT'S LIKE A MIRROR UNIVERSE WHERE ANYTHING CAN HAPPEN!"

(I was really excited)

 

[BigJake]

^ Probably one of the smartest things they did.

 

[ThankYouGeneR]

I also am not too fond of folks that say its for the "drooling masses" or that the movies are "least common denominator" fare.

That pushes my buttons, too. Every time someone tries to frame the debate as "The Fans" versus "The Masses," my hackles rise and I start arming the photon torpedoes.

In real life, of course, "fannishness" exists along a spectrum. At one extreme you have the folks who know every episode by heart. At other extreme, you have the folks who think that "Star Track" has something to with Darth Vader and light sabers. But in-between, which is where the vast majority of the audience lives, you have a wide range of viewers who have had some exposure to Trek and are interested in it to varying degrees.

And, of course, there are also sorts of different flavors of fans, who gravitate to different aspects of the various shows. Some fans prefer TOS to the later shows; others prefer the 24th-century shows and movies; some people are in it for the hardware and technical stuff; some people are all about the "message" and social allegory; some people are all about their favorite characters; others just want an exciting space opera adventure; some people want to be Klingons; etc.

Anytime someone claims that all the "true" fans want the same thing, I roll my eyes and hit "Reply."

Wait, do I know you in Real Time?

 

[ThankYouGeneR]

-"real fans" vs. "the masses".
-When someone gets called, basically, a dumbass, stupid, or some other variation of a "drooling" idiot because they like a movie, I think that crosses a line to personal insult
-I'd bet, easy, that most of the people here who like the new movies don't need to have their "fan cred" questioned.
-We didn't just show up in 2009.

I know!
Since the first episode ever aired, as it aired!
It does!
I didn't!

(awesome)

 

[ThankYouGeneR]

That pushes my buttons, too. Every time someone tries to frame the debate as "The Fans" versus "The Masses," my hackles rise and I start arming the photon torpedoes.

And I think it's even worse than just "real fans" vs. "the masses". When someone gets called, basically, a dumbass, stupid, or some other variation of a "drooling" idiot because they like a movie, I think that crosses a line to personal insult and I'd bet, easy, that most of the people here who like the new movies don't need to have their "fan cred" questioned. We didn't just show up in 2009.

Exactly this. I've been a fan of Star Trek in all it's forms since September of 1966, when I was five years old.

-September 8, l966 = me + Star Trek
-teenager

 

[ThankYouGeneR]

^ Probably one of the smartest things they did.

That is exactly what I thought. I thought it was brilliant!

 

[Orphalesion]

The general audience is easy to satisfy; a bit of action, nice visuals, a plot that makes sene and attractive characters they can "ship" with each other.

If those criteria were met the "general audience" woudl accept a Trek movie in the prime timeline as well. I don't think the average teenager would let Nemesis or Insurrection influence his decision to see a new "Prime Timeline" movie/TV show, he'd likely not even know about them.

In the end we don't know what will happen anyway and have little/no influence on it. While my wish would be to return to the Prime Timeline, or at least moe on to a new set of characters, I would give ANY Star Trek television show a fair chance. Hell, there is not a lot deep space scifi on TV anymore.

 

[EnriqueH]

Wouldn't mind if it came back.

I love the prime universe like everyone else, but these last two movies were entertaining and exciting.

 

[Greg Cox]

^ Probably one of the smartest things they did.

That is exactly what I thought. I thought it was brilliant!

Agreed. It was a pretty smart move, which has obviously paid off.

 

[Mudd]

I certainly don't. I want Star Trek to evolve.

 

[Jedi_Master]

I certainly don't. I want Star Trek to evolve.

I agree with one caveat.
I would love to see more stories set during the "historical" period depicted on Star Trek: Enterprise.
I feel there is a lot of potential in exploring the beginning of the Federation, the Romulan War, etc.

As for the 24th and 25th centuries, the novels are handling those eras just fine.

 

[Mudd]

Well, you can set a story in any time period - it doesn't have to be part of the prime, JJ or any other particular so-called universe. I certainly think the era before Kirk's - either the TOS or Abrams version - has the most potential (along with Kirk's era).

 

[Jedi_Master]

Well, you can set a story in any time period - it doesn't have to be part of the prime, JJ or any other particular so-called universe. I certainly think the era before Kirk's - either the TOS or Abrams version - has the most potential (along with Kirk's era).

That's true.
With that in mind I also think the post-Kirk era has some potential. It would be interesting to fill in the gap between TOS and TNG.

 

[RandyS]

The fourth movie should settle this "issue" once and for all. Here's how:

In the 24th century, Picard is cruising along on the Enterprise-D, minding his own business, when suddenly a wormhole opens, and out pops the JJ-verse Enterprise, with Chris Pine introducing himself as Kirk. A minute or so later, a second wormhole opens up, and out pops the Prime Enterprise, with Bill Shatner introducing himself as Kirk.

The two Kirks get into a shouting match over this, reaching the point where phasers are fired. Picard then finds himself caught in the middle and having to decide which Kirk he is going to side with. The fate of the entire universe hangs in the balance.

 

[Jedi_Master]

The fourth movie should settle this "issue" once and for all. Here's how:

In the 24th century, Picard is cruising along on the Enterprise-D, minding his own business, when suddenly a wormhole opens, and out pops the JJ-verse Enterprise, with Chris Pine introducing himself as Kirk. A minute or so later, a second wormhole opens up, and out pops the Prime Enterprise, with Bill Shatner introducing himself as Kirk.

The two Kirks get into a shouting match over this, reaching the point where phasers are fired. Picard then finds himself caught in the middle and having to decide which Kirk he is going to side with. The fate of the entire universe hangs in the balance.

Shut up and take my money!

 

[bbjeg]

^Though I'd probably pay to see that, I'd rather they do something like keep NuTrek in the movies and put Prime Trek on TV.

 

[Orphalesion]

I certainly think the era before Kirk's - either the TOS or Abrams version - has the most potential (along with Kirk's era).

First you say you want Star Trek to evolve and then you talk about going back to the TOS era?

Sticking to the same is not really evolving.

 

[bbjeg]

^Yeah, a real evolution would be a 25th century series.

 

[Orphalesion]

^ Well not necessarily if we'd just get "24th century Trek in the 25th century" it would be less an evolution than a rehash (just like doing back to Kirk is a rehash in my eyes, or the first season of TNG was a rehash of TOS). A true evolution of Star Trek would be as much advancing the setting as it would have to be changing and improving the storytelling. The last season of Enterprise, despite taking place in a setting that was prior to Kirk did evolve the way stories were told in Star Trek, for instance, it was just too little too late.

While I would prefer a 25th century setting as well, I'd say a series set during the Romulan War could also constitute an "evolution" if the era presented is visually and culturally distinct enough from both ENT and TOS and the storytelling is improved/modernized.

 

[dub]

I think a show about the Enterprise-C would be interesting. Show how it ends up front. Then take us on the ride.