Does anyone really think 2017 will break the mold?

[Frontier]

Does anyone here believe that the new Star Trek series in 2017 will not be, in some way shape or form, the following basics?

• Star Trek (Subtitle)
• Set aboard an Enterprise
• Explores the Galaxy
• Main Crew of About 7-9 PPL

I mean, does anyone think we'll see some dramatic departure from established formula? That they'll do a ground-based show, or Starfleet Academy, or MACO, or Klingon based, or... anything else, really?


3 out of 5 shows have been on an Enterprise, 4 out of 5 on a ship, all with about the same number of cast, all basically doing the same general thing...



Why would they shake that up now, with their first new attempt at a show in a decade?


I know we've all theorized about other shows, other formulas and what not, but I don't think we'll actually see that. Not at this particular time. Maybe if 2017 does as well or better than hoped, then they might do another show concurrent with it that departs from the foundations, but... not with this next series.



I think it's going to keep the basic structure and make sure the wheels don't fall off before they take any risks.

 

[ancient]

It probably won't break any of the basic rules you listed. Maybe it'll have only 3 or so main characters.

It could go the star wars route, where it just follows the main characters & the ship is whichever one they happen to be on at the time. Maybe some of the crew are from the Enterprise & others are just whoever.

 

[Kor]

Those are just superficial trappings.

Within that format there is a wide range of possibility for either brilliant or abysmal storytelling, or anything in between.

As long as this show is engaging and doesn't bore me to tears like Star Trek: Enterprise, then I will keep watching.

Kor

 

[Mudd]

I think they may abandon the fourth thing - a fixer cast of a certain size. Two to four leads to anchor the series, and a large cast of recurring characters whose storyline come and go.

Gaeta, we hardly knew ye.

 

[hux]

I hope so otherwise it'll be a little disappointing. New people, new writers, new ideas. I expect they'll want it to stand out as being fresh and different whilst simultaneously keeping it Trek-like.

I doubt it will be on Enterprise (just because, why not do something else) and even though it may revolve around space exploration, I don't see why they can't have the show set in more than one location. That would be my personal preference. Large cast with various complex strands, characters and stories.

 

[CJCade]

Explores the Galaxy

This would actually be something of a break in the previous pattern. Would be nice to get away from the ship knowing where they were going and who was going to be there when they arrived.

Instead see them interacting with species no one has ever seen before.

I agree! That, to me, was where the potential was with Voyager, despite it's other flaws.

As for the 2017 Trek breaking the mold, I highly doubt it. They may bend and reshape it a bit, but they probably won't try something totally new.

 

[rahullak]

Explore the physical galaxy and explore life and the living condition, human or alien. And have only those aspects of both these that have not been explored in any other previous Trek show. That would be enough for me to say that 2017 has broken the mold.

Of course the usual factors of plot, drama, character interaction, development etc. needs to be there for entertainment purposes.

 

[JoeZhang]

Please god let them abandon the "non-human wants to be human" character which has resulted in some of the most 'led the viewer by the nose' childrens TV series writing we've ever seen on TV.

 

[Ryan8bit]

Does anyone here believe that the new Star Trek series in 2017 will not be, in some way shape or form, the following basics?

I think it's possible for them to not have these things, maybe it's just not that probable.

The title
This was touched upon a lot in the other title thread, but I wouldn't preclude them from going the Gotham route. However, in order to place the show next to the others alphabetically, and in order to reinforce their brand, it will probably have Star Trek in the title.

The Enterprise
So far they've said that it's not going to be related to Star Trek Beyond so I don't know that it would be on the Enterprise. It's possible that the show could take place in several locations, similar to the way that DS9 did, although making not one particularly central location. Several popular shows these days do this, so I wouldn't rule it out. It's possible an Enterprise could be involved, but maybe not as the main location.

So if this isn't going to be about Kirk's Enterprise, then I really doubt it's going to be about Picard's Enterprise. It wouldn't ever be about Archer's, and the B & C captains are nobodies that no one cares about. So that leaves a possibility of one before Archer (which would probably be a snooze), one after Archer and before Kirk (which would get nitpickers' undies in a twist), and one after Picard. Being after Picard is admittedly the best option they could take of those, but I don't particularly feel that they're going to go that route, at least not without some sort of reboot.

So I don't think it will be on an Enterprise necessarily.

Exploration
It has been argued that the shows have mostly not done a lot of exploration of the galaxy to begin with, and I don't think it needs to every episode. At the same time, I doubt that they will completely go without some sort of aspect of being somewhere new and unfamiliar. Even a dreaded show about Section 31 might have them going to new places. It's kinda hard to nix that one.

Cast size
This is one I find most likely to be broken. It's possible they do go the same route, but this is where they have the biggest opportunity to break the mold without it being too jarring or much of a risk. Like I said, a show may take place in several locales, and we may have a main character at each one. So there could be 4-5 main cast, several supporting cast, and lots of guest stars. That's a pretty popular mold with TV these days, and they could totally do that without it being risky.

As for a dramatic departure series like all the ones you mention, no, they probably won't do those. You don't come back after a dozen years off TV to make a show about the Klingons. I don't know that too many people cared about stuff like that in the first place, much less now. Only if the new series was an amazing success would they think about creating any further spin-offs that are radically different, and even then, they may not want to dilute the brand. You might be able to argue that some of the molds you mention are part and parcel of the brand. So the question becomes if they want to change the brand? I think by necessity it needs some tweaks, but they will be safe tweaks, most likely.

 

[Frontier]

Please god let them abandon the "non-human wants to be human" character which has resulted in some of the most 'led the viewer by the nose' childrens TV series writing we've ever seen on TV.

Indeed. Spock was good because it was fresh. Data got on my nerves. Odo didn't want to be human, which was refreshing. Seven and the Doctor where both retreads of old ground. T'Pol just... it would have been cool if they'd gotten season 5 and it was to be revealed she was half Romulan. But meh.

If we have an outsider, they should be one well versed in humanity who "gets it" all, and their commentary isn't "huh?" but something unique.

 

[Tim Walker]

Re: Ryan8bit's comments

Yeah, imagine a smaller hero ship, with a handful of regular characters...and many guest stars. (The ship has a few spare cabins).

The guest stars might be specialists for whatever mission they are on. Perhaps they are university professors and grad students. Or whatever.

The stories would be character centric, many revolving around the guest stars. Drama. Exploring the human condition.

Was it Wagon Train that had a similar format?


BTW, with Voyager and the Defiant as examples, it has been established that the hero ship needn't be called "Enterprise".

 

[Isolinear]

You forgot the most important one: Episodic storytelling.
I don't expect it will be episodic, unfortunately. But one can hope.

If they do decide on serialized, in my opinion:

DS9 Season 3-5 / ENT Season 4 serialized storytelling = perfect.
ENT Season 3 = ok, but pushing it.
DS9 Season 7 (2nd half) = way too serialized for Star Trek.

 

[-Brett-]

Does anyone here believe that the new Star Trek series in 2017 will not be, in some way shape or form, the following basics?

• Star Trek (Subtitle)
• Set aboard an Enterprise
• Explores the Galaxy
• Main Crew of About 7-9 PPL

I mean, does anyone think we'll see some dramatic departure from established formula? That they'll do a ground-based show, or Starfleet Academy, or MACO, or Klingon based, or... anything else, really?


3 out of 5 shows have been on an Enterprise, 4 out of 5 on a ship, all with about the same number of cast, all basically doing the same general thing...



Why would they shake that up now, with their first new attempt at a show in a decade?


I know we've all theorized about other shows, other formulas and what not, but I don't think we'll actually see that. Not at this particular time. Maybe if 2017 does as well or better than hoped, then they might do another show concurrent with it that departs from the foundations, but... not with this next series.



I think it's going to keep the basic structure and make sure the wheels don't fall off before they take any risks.

I expect that the new series will share a universe with the reboot movies, where the Enterprise is already taken. So yeah, I expect that the main ship (if there is one) won't be named Enterprise.

Given the current trends in television, yes I think it's completely possible that the new series will be Starfleet Academy and/or Starfleet Command or some other ground based premise. Klingon based might be fine for die hards, but it would be an instant turn off to anyone not already a fan. MACO is a reference to the series that killed Star Trek the last time, so they'll want to stay as far away from that as they can if they have any sense.

 

[Frontier]

I expect that the new series will share a universe with the reboot movies, where the Enterprise is already taken. So yeah, I expect that the main ship (if there is one) won't be named Enterprise.

Given the current trends in television, yes I think it's completely possible that the new series will be Starfleet Academy and/or Starfleet Command or some other ground based premise. Klingon based might be fine for die hards, but it would be an instant turn off to anyone not already a fan. MACO is a reference to the series that killed Star Trek the last time, so they'll want to stay as far away from that as they can if they have any sense.

I'd bet good money that it won't be the Abrams-verse. For financial reasons alone - CBS would have to pay Paramount I think to use it.

But if it is Abrams-verse, I don't see it being concurrent with the films. Before or after, but not side-by-side. IDK why...

 

[Mudd]

I'd bet good money that it won't be the Abrams-verse. For financial reasons alone - CBS would have to pay Paramount I think to use it.

Not really.

 

[stardream]

May not break the mold but no matter what they do it might break the fandom.

 

[eyeresist]

even though it may revolve around space exploration, I don't see why they can't have the show set in more than one location. That would be my personal preference.

I agree, but they do run the risk of having some locations/characters being less popular/interesting than others. They need to keep some sort of common motivation between the different groups, so it doesn't just turn into a soap opera.

Please god let them abandon the "non-human wants to be human" character which has resulted in some of the most 'led the viewer by the nose' childrens TV series writing we've ever seen on TV.

I don't look at it like that. I like that they have an "outsider" character to whom human ways are strange, and who has to deal with fitting in. And we awkward repressed types like seeing our own Mary Sue in amongst the gallant captains and brilliant engineers.

 

[somebuddyX]

No but I don't think that's a bad thing. I think making all that other random crap straight out of the gate after being off the air for years would kill any new show's chances. Let it be an updated version of classic Trek for a bit to get some success behind it and then it can go do whatever spinoff it wants.

 

[JoeZhang]

I don't look at it like that. I like that they have an "outsider" character to whom human ways are strange, and who has to deal with fitting in. And we awkward repressed types like seeing our own Mary Sue in amongst the gallant captains and brilliant engineers.

Outsider character isn't a problem - the problem is that it often leads to a lot of 'afterschool special' writing. You can write complex characters without that sort of nonsense.

 

[eyeresist]

^ Are you basically talking about Data?