Just an idea...

[BigC]

I have an idea for a new series. How about following a officer from graduation to his/her first posting through their carer through promotions and friendships and tragic loss. Ending with his first command posting, and the last scene of the last show could show our hero aged and about to retire reminiscing about their carer in a darkened ready room. There is a beep from his combadge and word he is needed on the bridge as he stands we can see Captains pips on his collar his face still in shadow'
As he steps through the door, Surprise! We see old friends he and we met along the way.The scene shifts to another young face full of promise a new Ensign reporting aboard for the first time.

 

[Kaziarl]

Sounds like a good idea to me. But how might you keep the audience interested over the years?

 

[Jadzia]

Oh BigC, you've told us how it ends

Well it's a nice idea in theory, but the more I think about it, the less I like the idea. So much risk. Remember that every episode would effectively have to focus on this person.
How would person be received by fans? If nobody likes him/her it's dead in the water, you can't kill the character off, or make him/her less visible. It's a bit like taking TNG and stripping out all episodes that don't focus on Picard in that episode. I believe the viewer would want to know about those other characters.

I think that part of trek's beauty is in the friendly togetherness of the crew. The one-person perspective would undermine that quite a lot, since all others characters would have to have background roles, and by the time we'd get to know them, lead character would be posted to a new assignment and we'd lose touch with everyone else. Over 7 series, focusing on one character and being unable to develop other characters, I don't think that's the kind of star trek I want to watch, sadly. But the biographical storyline is a nice idea in theory.

 

[Jack Bauer]

^^^ I agree. It would make for a good series of novels however.

 

[BigC]

I can think of many TV shows that center on a specific character and the other players come and go. 24 is a good example. But I see what you guy's are saying. We get to liking Lt. Bixbe his best friend, then Bixbe is eaten by a giant Gerbil on RUseriousI VIII. The idea of writing novels though does appeal to me.

 

[hellsgate]

I like your idea. Any specific details already worked-out? I'd love to host / feature your story. Any specific time period?

 

[D Man]

I like this idea a lot. It's a slightly untraditional way to do TV by looking at this character's entire life rather than just "a mission per week" for seven years. It would be important to do A LOT of planning in advance to make it all fit together, though. Some kind of structure would have to be in place beforehand.

Are you thinking something like every season is a particularly eventful year in his life and you jump forward however many years you want for the next season? Or more of a gradual progression? Now that I just asked those questions, I'm seeing how it would be pretty tough to pull off on TV convincingly.

 

[BigC]

It's just and idea that's been bouncing around in the back of my head for awhile now, maybe I'll sit down this summer and work out a timeline and chariter outline. The story would begin just before our heros graduation from Star Fleet Academy to his first posting and end on the day of his retirement. probable some 20 to 40 years later. Everything would have to be planned out in advance.

 

[RobertScorpio]

Don't let any one deter you..best idea I have seen in this forum in QUITE sometime...you have taken the TREK idea, oh and yes you may be using 24 as a template..(around these parts, using ideas from SUCCESSFUL shows (24) is a no-no) and have come up with a unique idea.

Some of the TREK fans in this forum are as rigid as you can imagine. If your crew compliment is less than seven, and doesn't have at least one outsider observing humanity, then you might challenge them to 'think' a litte out side of the box...their heads might blow up from the creativity you show...

Bravo Zulu to you..keep it up..

Rob
Scorpio

 

[BigC]

Don't let any one deter you..best idea I have seen in this forum in QUITE sometime...you have taken the TREK idea, oh and yes you may be using 24 as a template..(around these parts, using ideas from SUCCESSFUL shows (24) is a no-no) and have come up with a unique idea.

Some of the TREK fans in this forum are as rigid as you can imagine. If your crew compliment is less than seven, and doesn't have at least one outsider observing humanity, then you might challenge them to 'think' a litte out side of the box...their heads might blow up from the creativity you show...

Bravo Zulu to you..keep it up..

Rob
Scorpio

Perhaps each episode could be a personal log entry' that way it would tell an interesting story each time? Bounce bounce it go's in the back of my head.

 

[D Man]

I think the biggest challenge would be maintaining the audience's interest and empathy with the main character and his situation, which could be difficult when the time period, setting, and supporting players changing so often. (Unless you never get canceled and it's on for 40 years. )