PRO was better than a big chunk of both eras.
The public don't really care about the fictional era IMO, people just want a good show.
I reckon TNG was a hit in large part because:
A) it was on. At 6 PM, at least here in the UK. Like, what else are you gonna watch?
B) it wasn't very demanding (despite the "this is the Most Cerebral Television of All Time" reputation it's gotten among its biggest fans), and you could half-watch any given episode in the background and get the gist of it
C) it was largely procedural and you knew essentially what you were getting each week, even if the writers obviously did a wide variation of stories within that framework
D) the cast and characters were broadly likeable, and Frakes' face perpetually being on your TV in the corner for an entire decade was a reassuring sight
That's about it. You could make a new Star Trek set in the 22nd century or the 35th century or anything in between and people would just go "yeah" as long as it hit those same markers.
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This. It's focusing on the wrong elements to actually tell entertaining stories.
Would going back to the Berman era mean never seeing Andorians or Tellarites again because Berman thought they were silly looking*? Because I would like to keep seeing them.
*With the exception of Enterprise of course. They were kind of unavoidable there. But there certainly weren't many of either of those species in view between the years 2364 and 2377, were there?
*With the exception of Enterprise of course. They were kind of unavoidable there. But there certainly weren't many of either of those species in view between the years 2364 and 2377, were there?
wonder who will take over the star trek universe now that the trumpers owns paramount and star trek
Some who can make them money. The "trumpers" ate not going to steer it differently because they need to appeal to a broad audience to make money.
The general public used to be. When Trek gets too fan conscious it gets buried in lore and loses the general audience.
The "Homework Conundrum"
And no one should need to read background materials in licensed books and play video games or see every episode or film that preceded a show to understand it. When you need to watch 500 episodes of something or buy a $45 book to understand a film or series, you've already fallen behind.
Definitely not. All media changes over the decades. Like music. What was popular in the 70's in terms of styles, isn't popular now. Sure, it's still being listened to and sometimes gains new fans, like you said. But that's mostly the big bands/artists from back then. Most styles are simply not popular anymore.
The Berman era fitted the late 80's till early 2000's of storytelling and how tv was made. Things have changed. It won't work anymore. So no, like anything in the world Star Trek should NOT be stuck in the past but change along with the times. As we all should. Being stuck in the past is unhealthy.
In 1988, Information Society sampled Leonard Nimoy as Spock in their song "What's on Your Mind?" ("Pure energy" -- Errand of Mercy)
The song Trinity by Amaranthe opens with a soundbite of Locutus saying resistance is futile
Is it time to put Star Trek to rest?
Yeah. No one's watching anymore*, the viewership ratings are dreadful and the audience ratings are terrible. There's too much good sci-fi out there that Star Trek hasn't come close to matching.
Foundation, For All Mankind, Severance, Murderbot, Pluribus - to name just a few.
* I know the pedants will say this is wrong, but the point stands, the ratings have cratered and that's why its all stopped.
30 years ago, I wrote an article for a fanzine titled 'what is special about Star Trek'. I don't think Star Trek is special anymore, it's become very generic, it's moved closer to Star Wars. Star Trek (for me) shows the crews making rational choices when faced with the unknown. You don't see characters praying or acting overly emotional, humanity has evolved, people are good, they live in comfort, they aren't greedy or envious and they respect everyone else. They are educated, they don't hate, they work together toward a common good. The future is better in Star Trek - especially TNG. I think that's been lost.
Yeah. No one's watching anymore*, the viewership ratings are dreadful and the audience ratings are terrible. There's too much good sci-fi out there that Star Trek hasn't come close to matching.
Foundation, For All Mankind, Severance, Murderbot, Pluribus - to name just a few.
* I know the pedants will say this is wrong, but the point stands, the ratings have cratered and that's why its all stopped.
30 years ago, I wrote an article for a fanzine titled 'what is special about Star Trek'. I don't think Star Trek is special anymore, it's become very generic, it's moved closer to Star Wars. Star Trek (for me) shows the crews making rational choices when faced with the unknown. You don't see characters praying or acting overly emotional, humanity has evolved, people are good, they live in comfort, they aren't greedy or envious and they respect everyone else. They are educated, they don't hate, they work together toward a common good. The future is better in Star Trek - especially TNG. I think that's been lost.
Yeah, but that's never been realistic. Not for humanity in general. Maybe some people would be like that, but others wouldn't.
Exactly. The characters in TNG might be more rational but they're not relatable. They come across as elevated humans, feeling very detached at times. It's harder for me to care about them because they're often just elitist. So, calling them better basically says that no modem humans belong.
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Isn't this an over-simplification somewhat?
Picard was happy to come up with a way to genocide the Borg. Sure it's the Borg but genocide is his first thought and not an attempt to liberate them like he was.
Picard straight up murdered people that hijacked the Enterprise.
Riker wanted revenge at the crystalline entity.
Riker was also happy to violate the prime directive, yes it was to save someone from conversion therapy but it's not his place to impose his values on another culture.
The whole Maquis plot, the Siege of AR-558, humans are only evolved and better when sated by their creature comforts.
Kasidy mentioned her mother wanting her to be married by a minister.
Sisko nuked a planet.
Janeway provided technology to the Borg.
Characters acted very emotional a lot, there were just more seasons and more episodes in the seasons.
The list can go on and on.
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