Introducing people to ST

[JohnnyTenToes]

What kind of experiences have you had of "converting" people to watch ST? What would you say is the best introductory episode for people who have never seen ST?


On Friday I watched Mirror, Mirror with a few of my friends who have never seen an episode of Star Trek. They liked it!

I'm always talking about ST so they were like "ok, lets see what all this fuzz is about and check it out". we were pretty drunk and high at this point and everyone was in a good mood, what better time to introduce your friends to ST

Mirror, Mirror might not be the best episode for first time viewers because they don't know the characters and how different they are from their alternates. Still, good writing triumphs all and they liked it. Even laughing their asses off at the excellent McCoy/Spock/Kirk banter to close the show.

I think they might be interested in seeing the STC sequel to the episode

 

[USS Firefly]

I start with DS9 or with the movies 2,3,4,6.

 

[Sparkle Fabulosa]

The fourth movie, The Voyage Home. It's the most accessible.

 

[Warped9]

I have never bothered trying to introduce anyone to Trek. It's enough to know that Trek is widely known (whether someone watches it or not) and that those who know me know I like parts of it. The rest is up to them.

I simply know from my own experience of checking out things others have empatically recommended. More often than not it was a bust with my general reaction being, "Meh." Of course, there have been exceptions.

But usually I've checked certain things out based primarily on buzz I've heard and my own curiosity.

 

[USS Triumphant]

I'm trying to think if I've ever intentionally introduced anyone to Trek. One of the first movies I ever took my wife to see on a date was Star Trek VI - but I didn't think of that as introducing her to Trek so much as a given that we would go see it. And I guess I could say I introduced my kids, but never in a "okay, we're going to sit down and watch these because I want you to like Trek" sort of way - more of just as a matter of course of being in a house that watches Trek.

If I was going to, I have to differ with Janeway's Girl - TVH is certainly accessible in some ways, but there's a lot of backstory to some of what is going on that it is taken for granted that the viewer will understand, too. Plus, I feel like it gives an impression of the tone of Trek that isn't quite right as an overview. And for similar reasons of backstory I can't really endorse USS Firefly's suggestions either.

I think I'd start a new viewer with the revised effects version of "The Corbomite Maneuver", and then move on to "Balance of Terror", "What Are Little Girls Made Of?", and then continue on through what I consider the highlights of TOS and then of each series in (original viewing) order until they either loved Trek or they begged me to stop.

 

[Galileo7]

I have. These two episodes and two films made them fans too.

TOS "Galileo Seven"
TOS "Balance of Terror"
Star Trek:TMP
Star Trek:TUC

 

[Greg Cox]

The fourth movie, The Voyage Home. It's the most accessible.

Good one. Although you should probably warn newbies that the first ten minutes or so, where they're still dealing with loose ends from the previous movie, might be a bit confusing.

But once Kirk and Co. take off back into past to find the whales, it's fun for everyone, even people who don't know what a "Genesis Device" is . . ..

FYI: I seem to recall that there was a similar thread along these lines not too long ago. Might be worth tracking down if anyone's interested.

 

[eyeresist]

I've been trying to introduce my sisters' boys to Trek. They have seen at least one of the Nu movies (STID, I think), but I don't know if it made much of an impression. The oldest is 12 now. Last year for Xmas I gave him the comic of ST09 plus a couple of tie-ins. This year I am thinking I might give a boxset of the TNG movies, which are the most modern-looking of the original ten.

Whether they'll watch them is another thing. I am kind of getting the impression everything I give them goes immediately into storage.
Except Donald Duck. Apparently the younger one loved the Carl Barks comics I gave him.

 

[JohnnyTenToes]

I think most people that like action and sci-fi would probably like ST 2. Even without seeing Space Seed first

 

[Paradise City]

Star Trek II - IV. Then Unification I & II (ft. Sarek and Spock). Then swing back to TOS (which can be an acquired taste as is most 60s TV).

They'll really dig the nice cross generational touch, IMO.

 

[omnirad]

Where No Man Has Gone Before has action, good characterization, and cool FX. It sold the show to NBC, and to the world at large. Should work for your friends.

 

[stardream]

I don't have to convert anyone because everyone in my family and circle of friends at the very least 'likes' it. I'm surrounded by geeks and nerds of all sorts. It's my normal.

 

[JohnnyTenToes]

I don't have to convert anyone because everyone in my family and circle of friends at the very least 'likes' it. I'm surrounded by geeks and nerds of all sorts. It's my normal.

I'm envious... Must be nice

 

[RandyS]

The fourth movie, The Voyage Home. It's the most accessible.

Good one. Although you should probably warn newbies that the first ten minutes or so, where they're still dealing with loose ends from the previous movie, might be a bit confusing.

No he shouldn't, then presumably that would make his friends want to see III. Likewise, III's early recap of II would make them want to see THAT. By then hopefully they want to see more.

 

[stardream]

I don't have to convert anyone because everyone in my family and circle of friends at the very least 'likes' it. I'm surrounded by geeks and nerds of all sorts. It's my normal.

I'm envious... Must be nice

It is. I thought the people who didn't like scifi/fantasy were the weird ones.

 

[IndyMac]

A friend who knows I am a Trekkie asked me where he should start watching Star Trek since it's all on Netflix. I told him to start with TNG, but warned him that the first season isn't that great, and the show doesn't really become the show everyone loves until season 3. I then suggested watching DS9 and then Voyager as the 3 shows are all closely related.

Enterprise is similar in tone to the Next Gen era shows, but set in a different era. TOS is also distinct from the other series in that it is older, and therefore may not seem as relatable to younger generations.

 

[JTShanks]

I've had some pretty bad luck in attempting to bring the fandom to other people.

 

[JirinPanthosa]

Depends on the person.

When I sold one of my friends on Stargate the episode I picked was Shades of Grey. Ironically the episode named the same as the worst possible Trek choice, but I chose that because my friend was of the picky nerdy persuasion and it both showcased the characters well and showed a more interesting side of the show than the regular formula adventures do.

For folks of the picky nerdy persuasion I might pick something like Chain of Command or The Die Is Cast. The sort of episode that is both inside and outside the show's normal comfort zone.

For non-nerdy friends who like more formulaic television shows I'd pick a more comfy episode which executes the normal formula well. Something like Balance of Terror, Q Who, Timescape.

 

[Timewalker]

I've tried, but only ever succeeded with my grandmother and dad.

My attempt to introduce a college friend to Star Trek resulted in him continuing to ignore Star Trek, but I became a Whovian.

 

[eyeresist]

TOS is also distinct from the other series in that it is older, and therefore may not seem as relatable to younger generations.

I think TOS and TNG will seem equally ancient to actual young people.