Favorite Opening Credit Sequence from a Star Trek TV show
- Thread starter tim0122
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Hmmm, didn't fully expect the votes to go in that direction.
I find Voyager's intro to be quite... dull. The visuals are nice, but the music is a bit drab to my ears. It isn't as upbeat or cheerful as TOS's opening, it isn't as grand or striking as TNG's opening, it isn't as poignant or majestic as DS9's opening. It's good work, but I wouldn't consider it outstanding or even the best of Goldsmith's work on Trek.
After wrapping up season 5 of DS9 a few days ago, I almost forgot how great DS9's opening for the first three seasons really is, I gained a new appreciation for it. I found it to be boring for a time, especially after TOS and TNG, but listening to it again after hearing the faster, more noisy and active post-season 4 intro, it was a very different experience. The camera movement from the comet, to the stars, to the music coming in right when the station enters the picture. The solo trumpet leading into the solo French horn. It's gorgeous, gives me chills every time.
I like them all for their own reasons, but early-DS9 is pretty special.
I find Voyager's intro to be quite... dull. The visuals are nice, but the music is a bit drab to my ears. It isn't as upbeat or cheerful as TOS's opening, it isn't as grand or striking as TNG's opening, it isn't as poignant or majestic as DS9's opening. It's good work, but I wouldn't consider it outstanding or even the best of Goldsmith's work on Trek.
After wrapping up season 5 of DS9 a few days ago, I almost forgot how great DS9's opening for the first three seasons really is, I gained a new appreciation for it. I found it to be boring for a time, especially after TOS and TNG, but listening to it again after hearing the faster, more noisy and active post-season 4 intro, it was a very different experience. The camera movement from the comet, to the stars, to the music coming in right when the station enters the picture. The solo trumpet leading into the solo French horn. It's gorgeous, gives me chills every time.
I like them all for their own reasons, but early-DS9 is pretty special.
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I remember thinking at the time that the changes to the DS9 intro, while pointed in the right direction, seemed like overkill.
I voted ENT (sans that stupid song) for the great tribute to exploration, and VOY for the great visuals.
I voted DS9 (4-7) because while I liked the first DS9 opening, the revamped credits made the show feel more urgent. I did like the theme tune as it was but the revamp gave it more oomph and with the new busier DS9 it felt like it was a much busier place.
The first time I saw Voyager I remember looking forward to seeing the credits and being left with a very big 'oh' as while it looked pretty, the theme tune felt a little slow and plodding. I've since changed my mind about the tune but I'll still be left with that memory.
By the way, going back to DS9 for a moment. I keep seeing a rumour that Spock's face appears in the comet at the beginning. I've looked and I've looked and have never been able to see it. Are they pulling my leg?
The first time I saw Voyager I remember looking forward to seeing the credits and being left with a very big 'oh' as while it looked pretty, the theme tune felt a little slow and plodding. I've since changed my mind about the tune but I'll still be left with that memory.
By the way, going back to DS9 for a moment. I keep seeing a rumour that Spock's face appears in the comet at the beginning. I've looked and I've looked and have never been able to see it. Are they pulling my leg?
I would describe the overall effect of the VOY opening as "Postcards from space".
The original TOS theme followed by Voyager. Never cared for any of the others.
TOS opening sequence. Classic visuals and reverberating narration by Shatner. Belongs up there with Twilight Zone, Hawaii 5-0 and Wild Wild West intros.
All of the TNG intros were on a different level for me (except I didn't like the weird thing they did with the letters in season 5). Such a sense of gravitas that the others don't have, in part because of the Goldsmith TMP theme.
I like the TOS openings from season 1-2, but a lot of that is simply because of how good the show is, so I always get an excited "you're about to have a great time" feeling when I hear the music and see the gold letters and the ship flying by. The Ds9 theme music (in both arrangements) was also pretty.
I like the TOS openings from season 1-2, but a lot of that is simply because of how good the show is, so I always get an excited "you're about to have a great time" feeling when I hear the music and see the gold letters and the ship flying by. The Ds9 theme music (in both arrangements) was also pretty.
And that's what still stops me in my tracks after all these years.
A good "saga sell" in the narration, soaring theme, and nifty (for the time) visuals.
I try to imagine what it must have been like, fifty years ago, when that first episode premiered.
A strange teaser:
"Captain's log, Stardate 1513.1. Our position, orbiting planet M-113. On board the Enterprise, Mister Spock temporarily in command. On the planet the ruins of an ancient and long-dead civilisation. Ship's surgeon McCoy and myself are now beaming down to the planet's surface. Our mission, routine medical examination of archaeologist Robert Crater and his wife Nancy. Routine but for the fact that Nancy Crater is that one woman in Doctor McCoy's past."
A strange-looking ship circling a weird-looking planet.
Then three figures sparkle into view on a desolate-looking surface. They sparkled! What kind of transportation was that?!?
Some dialog, some byplay between the fellow in the gold and the older of the two fellows in blue.
And that woman who looks different to all three men! Weird!
Then fade to black ... not black, but space. Four pings.
"Space .. the final frontier."
Mindblowing!
Back then ... .
Loved DS9's intros, both before and after the arrival of the Defiant. The music and the visuals all just jelled together so well. In comparison, I felt they were trying too hard to outdo it with VOY's intro.
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