Favorite aspect of Star Trek?

[Mk_Sn]

Simple question: What aspect of the Trek franchise do you like the most? I love a lot about Star Trek in general, but I think the thing I like the most oddly enough is its ability to take rather unimaginative stuff on the surface and make them interesting. For example: the Vulcans. On the surface they're just humans (or confused elves?) with pointy ears and weird eyebrows. Hardly alien. Yet their culture and behavior are quite alien. I think I just realized this after seeing the ENT three partner about the Vulcan rebels. Yeah, not the best Trek series but this three partner is surprisingly well-written and I'd be comfortable putting it among my favorite Trek episodes. I guess it and the Vulcans in general made me realize that on the inside, Trek can be really fascinating and show some truly alien and unique takes on stuff, even if on the surface it can look rather generic and unimaginative (again, esp. with the alien designs) and you don't see that a lot in sci-fi, at least not on TV and film.

So what draws you the most to Trek?

 

[BillJ]

The adventurous spirit of the original Star Trek. Just plain fun to watch people take on problems with gusto.

 

[C.E. Evans]

The adventurous spirit of the original Star Trek. Just plain fun to watch people take on problems with gusto.

Pretty much my exact same sentiments.

Plus cool starships.

 

[Kilana2]

I'm someone who enjoys plots, character development, friendships and problem solving.

 

[Autistoid]

A strong vision of the future.

The idea that people are focused on self improvement.

The fact that money isn't used as the primary driver of society.

I donno, to many these are just concepts to strange to get, but to me they actually fit under quite a logica understanding of the future.


Automation doesn't mean no scarcity of resources however it does mean there is zero scarcity of labor, which makes our traditional economy null and void.

Tie in the idea of organized society, based often on science and exploration, what else could one want.

 

[F. King Daniel]

The adventurous spirit of the original Star Trek. Just plain fun to watch people take on problems with gusto.

Yep. Great characters on fantastic adventures.

 

[Sybok Was Wrong]

The adventurous spirit of the original Star Trek. Just plain fun to watch people take on problems with gusto.

Yep. Great characters on fantastic adventures.

This, plus all that awesome, bombastic TOS music backing the characters up.

 

[Vger23]

I like the adventure in a sci-fi/imaginative context and the character relationships.

I'm much less concerned about the "philosophy" or "messaging." Give me a dynamic show, drama/action balanced with fun, and strong action-oriented characters with strong personalities and I'm there.

 

[TheGoodStuff]

'Roddenberry's Vision'

I watch for the moral, ethical and philosophical conundrums. My rule is every episode should have some kinds of 'point' to be made.

I watch to see this socialist, scientific, humanist version of humanity thrive.

 

[JirinPanthosa]

The world. And in the best episodes, the writing.

 

[2takesfrakes]

The fact that the nostalgia holds up, for me. That, more than anything is my favourite aspect of STAR TREK. This show I first discovered and loved as a ten year old boy has still got legs! Best of all is that I can enjoy it exactly as it was and can do so as an adult. Maybe I was more happy to accept the franchise, then, as it was, without judging it like I sometimes do now. And yes, some of it seems corny and much of it seems dated, but I don't mean it unkindly (though that may not be how it always seems). There is an expression I picked up somewhere, "as long as your parents are alive, you'll always be a kid." I suspect the same is true as long as there's STAR TREK. So, yeah ... for me, it would be the nostalgia, I would say.

 

[Mk_Sn]

A lot of good responses. I guess the other thing that drives me to it the most is its philosophy and Promethean vision for humanity. I'd say Captain Picard is a better guide for morals and ethics than most religious texts, for example :P

 

[Granola Gwen]

The society on Earth is less selfish and a majority of the problems today in our world are nonexistent anymore in theirs. Starfleet in general just feels so squeaky clean from what I've seen and it makes me really happy. All the philosophy is good too.

 

[BillJ]

Starfleet in general just feels so squeaky clean...

You obviously have a lot of Star Trek to still watch!

 

[Mk_Sn]

Section 31!

This, plus all that awesome, bombastic TOS music backing the characters up.

Do you mean the intro music? Because it's probably as bad as ENT's theme imo.

 

[Overgeeked]

TOS. The campy fun and ham-handed attempts at 'message' episodes.

TNG. The attempt at more science fiction and the morality plays. Character development over time.

DS9. The more serial nature of the unfolding story, politics, religions, clear real-world parallels, intrigue, and the character evolution.

VOY. The basic premise was great and that they were in a completely new part of the galaxy, so lots of new stuff to explore and aliens to encounter.

ENT. The more down-to-Earth portrayal of the characters and their stumbling and struggles. You can see why some of the later rules exist because of their early adventures. The return of the Andorians and Vulcans.

 

[HIjol]

The Sci Fi

The Camaraderie

The Escape

And, yeah, the Techno-Babble!

 

[His Eyes Opened]

I'm all about the philosophy and the point behind each story. Sometimes the philosophy isn't even a scenario we can apply to our own lives but food for thought to help expand our thinking and what we accept. I watched the TNG episode A Matter of Time yesterday and there was this gem that I just adored of Picard trying to persuade a time traveler to use his knowledge to help save lives.

(copypasted from chakoteya dot net)





PICARD: Every choice we make allows us to manipulate the future. Do I ask Adrienne or Suzanne to the spring dance? Do I take my holiday on Corsica or on Risa? A person's life, their future, hinges on each of a thousand choices. Living is making choices. Now you ask me to believe that if I make a choice other than the one found in your history books, then your past will be irrevocably altered. Well, you know, Professor, perhaps I don't give a damn about your past, because your past is my future and as far as I'm concerned, it hasn't been written yet.

 

[Mk_Sn]

VOY. The basic premise was great and that they were in a completely new part of the galaxy, so lots of new stuff to explore and aliens to encounter.

Sucks that they waste the best premise any Trek series has by the second episode :P

The rest I agree with you to varying degrees.

TOS. The campy fun and ham-handed attempts at 'message' episodes.

Finally someone who agrees.

 

[BillJ]

Star Trek's big strength has always been it characterizations, its big weakness has always been science.