How did everyone survive the Trek Drought?
- Thread starter Trek4Ever
- Start date
What drought? I remember the drought of the 1970s. I discovered Trek through reruns in the early '70s (it took years before I was sure I'd seen every episode at least once -- no videos or DVDs). There was the animated series, but that wasn't widely aired in Canada, and there was one episode I probably didn't see until I bought the VHS tapes many years later. Fewer original Trek novels were published from 1970 to 1979 than are now published in a single year, and the comics were... well, not terribly good.
By contrast, since 2005 there have been dozens of novels, many of them outstanding (since DS9 went off the air, the novels have been the best place to get a Trek fix, AFAIC), lots of comics, fan videos, and lots of DVDs to watch. (Not to mention Doctor Who, Lost, Galactica....)
By contrast, since 2005 there have been dozens of novels, many of them outstanding (since DS9 went off the air, the novels have been the best place to get a Trek fix, AFAIC), lots of comics, fan videos, and lots of DVDs to watch. (Not to mention Doctor Who, Lost, Galactica....)
I'd stopped paying much attention to so-called "modern Trek" since well before ENT ended. Re-watching TOS and TNG episodes has been the extent of my Trek viewing for a long time now.* And as time goes by, I'm noticing more and more TNG episodes are falling off my re-watch list. Eventually I suppose I'll be back to just those original 79 episodes of TOS. Funny how things come full circle, isn't it. 
*Okay, okay, I will watch any ENT clip that has Linda Park in it, but that's a whole other issue.
*Okay, okay, I will watch any ENT clip that has Linda Park in it, but that's a whole other issue.
Myself?
I bought up the DVD sets for TOS, TNG, and DS9. By the time ENT was over, I'd already bought TOS, first season.
I watched the three shows front-to-back, cover-to-cover, a few episodes a day.
Still, there was a bit of a lag between my buying TOS and TNG. Then, the books kept me going.
Still do, BTW.
I bought up the DVD sets for TOS, TNG, and DS9. By the time ENT was over, I'd already bought TOS, first season.
I watched the three shows front-to-back, cover-to-cover, a few episodes a day.
Still, there was a bit of a lag between my buying TOS and TNG. Then, the books kept me going.
Still do, BTW.
I didn't really mind the gap, because for me it was starting to feel like a Trek overload. I felt like everything had started to go downhill after TNG and DS9, and didn't mind the franchise taking a break.
I think the gap actually helped my enjoyment of the new film, because it came out right as I was starting to crave new Trek again.
I think the gap actually helped my enjoyment of the new film, because it came out right as I was starting to crave new Trek again.
Far as I'm concerned, the Drought still continues. All we've gotten is some toxic acid rain and a bit of fog.
Thank the various and sundry deities that I have my Space:1999 dvd'S!
Thank the various and sundry deities that I have my Space:1999 dvd'S!
I learned a long time ago that Trek is not the totality of life. I have always loved science fiction since picking up my first Isaac Asimov and Andre Norton novels in 2nd and 3rd grades. Then there was Harry Potter, Star Wars and many other good television shows.
I missed Trek in the way one misses a dear, departed friend. The new movie gave me a new friend and hope that Star Trek still lives on screen.
I missed Trek in the way one misses a dear, departed friend. The new movie gave me a new friend and hope that Star Trek still lives on screen.
I hear ya, Steve. "What draught" indeed. I started watching in 1966. From the end of TOS to ST:TMP - THAT was a draught.
But we've always had reruns.
We've had Trek Lit for years.
We've had lotsa other ST series after TOS plus their reruns. And their videos/DVDs. I'd go so far as to say that there was a time that we had a Trekglut.
I like SF in general, lit and movies, plus many other kinds of film. Plus, just on TV, there's Dr. Who, BSG, Firefly et al. I admit there's been little SF on the big screen to excite me for awhile (with notable excpetions like Children of Men), but that's why I love DVDs.
If I needed a ST fix, I simply pulled out one of my fave ST eps or movies. or a favorite book. Or check out the new releases in Treklit. No draught.
But - honestly - although I'm exceedingly fond of Trek, lurve it in fact, there's a lot of other stuff to enjoy out there.
I must also confess that I've never been able to sit through a Voyager ep from beginning to end. I even liked the last two seasons of Enterprise, but I seem allergic to V. I must give it another shot.
Who says any of us...truly...survived...?
I did. Knowing that B&B left Trek for good gave me hope for better future. May 7th was my ultimate prize.
That "drought" was actually one of the peaks of my Star Trek fandom. I watched TNG as a child, but this was the period when I got the age (20s) where I could really appreciate it in a mature way. Part of that came from Spike TV (when it was called TNN) getting the rights to air TNG and actually putting a lot of promotion behind it, including skits with actors, and TNG cast members (i.e. Marina Sirtis, Patrick Stewart, Jonathan Frakes) actually going on the air to promote stuff like marathons of episodes.
Then there was the 2005 'special collector's edition' release of "Star Trek: First Contact" which made me realize that I loved that movie more than I remembered and it's only gotten better as it has aged over the years (for me). Then, a friend introduced me to "Star Trek: Deep Space Nine" in 2007. It took me until mid 2009 to get through the whole series (kept leaving it, then coming back), and during that period I started watching the original "Star Trek" for the first time (I'd previously only seen a few of the movies based on it) too, so the 2009 movie was like the just about perfect (well it would have been perfect if the movie was a little better, but as it is, still a good one) climax to a period of really building up my love for Star Trek.
Then there was the 2005 'special collector's edition' release of "Star Trek: First Contact" which made me realize that I loved that movie more than I remembered and it's only gotten better as it has aged over the years (for me). Then, a friend introduced me to "Star Trek: Deep Space Nine" in 2007. It took me until mid 2009 to get through the whole series (kept leaving it, then coming back), and during that period I started watching the original "Star Trek" for the first time (I'd previously only seen a few of the movies based on it) too, so the 2009 movie was like the just about perfect (well it would have been perfect if the movie was a little better, but as it is, still a good one) climax to a period of really building up my love for Star Trek.
Hmmmm. As a huge Enterprise fan, I clearly didn't...
Okay, so I did go back to the start and rewatch everything from TOS thru VOY on DVD... but I do that from time to time anyway. As far as I'm concerned, the latest film didn't make up for the loss of ENT seasons 5-7.
So the drought is very much an ongoing thing in my house...
Okay, so I did go back to the start and rewatch everything from TOS thru VOY on DVD... but I do that from time to time anyway. As far as I'm concerned, the latest film didn't make up for the loss of ENT seasons 5-7.
So the drought is very much an ongoing thing in my house...
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You had to go spoil my plan to leave an original, insightful comment dissenting from the rest of the thread.
I agree. It's Ent 5-7 that I want.
Or even a new series.
Don't get me wrong, I enjoy the occasional Trek movie or book, but for me Trek only really shines on the small screen. The drought isn't over until there's a Trek tv series again.
Well, I'm not sure what I really did. I was'nt out of likeing Star Trek, because I still did like Star Trek. I did watch the TNG movies here and there, when I was in the mood to watch them. I was hoping there be another movie after "Nemies" but I just was't sure if there would be or not. I wasnt sure they had anything else to tell a story about. I was a little disapointed, because I did want to see another movie, but after while I got over it. In the meantime I was really into a lot of other things since there was no new movie. I was into Backstreet Boys,Titanic,New Kids On The Block and other things. I'm still big fan of those movies and music, but that doesnt mean I stoped likeing Star Trek because I havent then and havent now, I still do like Star Trek. Anyways, about year ago in early part of the year, I saw a trailer for the new movie when I went to the movies. It was just that trailer of the Enterprise that they showed. Anyways when I saw the trailer, I got excited about it even though I didn't know what it was about. I could'nt belive it, after all these years of nothing, then this was comming! I tell you I was really happy about it. I said then I want to see that. It didnt matter to me what the movie was about, I decied to see it. Finally months and months later, I hapened to watch tv and I think one of those entertainment shows was on, and they showed a behind the scenes of the movie on it.It was then I realized what the movie was gonna be about. But I still wanted to see it no matter what it was. Then later they showed the other trailer, and I got more excited about it. So when it came out I saw it, and loved it from the begaing! I'm hoping this time around it wont be as long for another movie to come ut like it was with this one. Regardless of the wait, it was well worth it!
Doctor Who, LOST, Heroes, BSG, Star Trek novels.
Battlestar Galactica, Lost, and Dexter were enough for me.
Trek and I simply took a break from each other during the drought. It was like an old flame or something. It gave me a chance to do something else with my life for a change! Lol! 
Of course, I came running back to it with open arms as soon as fresh meat showed up (Trek XI).
I do agree that Trek is at its best on the small, not the big, screen. The drought won't truly be over til another series is greenlit.
Basically, we still have a drought of two to three years between films at the moment.
Between 1987 and 2005, there wasn't a single year without new Trek eps on the air. After a run like that, anything will seem like a drought.
Of course, I came running back to it with open arms as soon as fresh meat showed up (Trek XI).
I do agree that Trek is at its best on the small, not the big, screen. The drought won't truly be over til another series is greenlit.
Basically, we still have a drought of two to three years between films at the moment.
Between 1987 and 2005, there wasn't a single year without new Trek eps on the air. After a run like that, anything will seem like a drought.
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