I know there's a few threads about the episodes here, but I thought I'd start a general one here.
Phase II is arguably the most prolific Star Trek fanfilm, attracting several industry professionals including Trek veterans to donate their talent. David Gerrold, DC Fontana and Jon Povill have all written scripts, James Cawley was an assistant to William Ware Theiss, and George Takei & Walter Koenig have both guest starred. Even the late Majel Barrett-Roddenberry has recorded the Computer Voice for the show. There are more people I could name.
I honestly believe that these guys helped reignite the interest in Kirk & Spock before JJ Abrams - for me it definitely did - I was never interested in the 60s show itself, though I was a fan of The Movies, TNG, DS9 and VOY. After looking at New Voyages that changed, and I came back to Trek.
Come What May/In Harm's Way was at the time very advanced, and at 5yearmission.com they were promising the fourth season. They were even discussing adapting comic/novel storylines, but the show has flourished. It was because of this I wanted to go back and watch Seasons 1-3 and The Animated Series.
Highlights include Kirk’s gay nephew, the focus episodes for Sulu and Chekov, a revisitation of Excelsior (Zicree has pitched a Sulu webseries, but unfortunately it hasn’t reached fruition). Coming up are an origin story, a Klingon story with a visit to Qu’Onos and an appearance by Arex from TAS.
Now the show has of course developed into Phase II. I read the Reeves-Stevens' book and thought it was such a pity those cotumes, set designs and scripts were never used. Now they're being used which is great - Xon is onboard the Enterprise even though he's a supporting character, he's there. If you consider 'In Thy Image' as the original pilot, I consider this set THE OTHER SIDE of the story - leading up to TMP rather than after.
After the backlash of fans to the JJ Enterprise, they decided not to use a slightly redesigned ship, again based on the unused show. I think moving towards the movies by updating a bit is a GREAT move - It will give Phase II its own identity rather than another interpretation of 'Season 4' (like in comics, novels and a few other fan projects). Also using unused elements such as finally making unused TOS/P2/TNG scripts will in my mind close chapters, finally letting fans see shows such as Blood and Fire/the upcoming Kitumba etc. However good or not (i.e. Tim Burton’s Superman Lives) there is always a curiosity surrounding well-documented unmade projects.
So , earlier this year Cawley announced that this Summer the show is ‘relaunching ’ the show, with a ‘Teaser Poster’ with the updated ship, and a typeface similar to that on the Ballantine Books of the 1970s. My prediction is that rather than the 60s show, they’ll do the 70s show, using more elements from the Lost Series.
Cawley’s teased the Motion Picture uniforms, so are they being phased in (no pun intended!!) How many episode will there be before the ship goes in for a full refit? Will more Phase II scripts finally be shot? Will Spock leave early as per the Lost Series? Will they ignore the movie and take Kirk and Crew in a whole new direction? I doubt it, as they said they like to keep with established canon. It will be nice to have a full ‘season’ or two to slot between The Animated Series and The Motion Picture.
They’re filming to a sequel to a TOS episode next week, but I think the subplot will be the updated ship. Cawley says there are a few surprises in store – and I cannot wait.
Thank you Phase II for a great show, I’m still so excitied by this project nearly a decade on! And I watch developments like a hawk.
Phase II is arguably the most prolific Star Trek fanfilm, attracting several industry professionals including Trek veterans to donate their talent. David Gerrold, DC Fontana and Jon Povill have all written scripts, James Cawley was an assistant to William Ware Theiss, and George Takei & Walter Koenig have both guest starred. Even the late Majel Barrett-Roddenberry has recorded the Computer Voice for the show. There are more people I could name.
I honestly believe that these guys helped reignite the interest in Kirk & Spock before JJ Abrams - for me it definitely did - I was never interested in the 60s show itself, though I was a fan of The Movies, TNG, DS9 and VOY. After looking at New Voyages that changed, and I came back to Trek.
Come What May/In Harm's Way was at the time very advanced, and at 5yearmission.com they were promising the fourth season. They were even discussing adapting comic/novel storylines, but the show has flourished. It was because of this I wanted to go back and watch Seasons 1-3 and The Animated Series.
Highlights include Kirk’s gay nephew, the focus episodes for Sulu and Chekov, a revisitation of Excelsior (Zicree has pitched a Sulu webseries, but unfortunately it hasn’t reached fruition). Coming up are an origin story, a Klingon story with a visit to Qu’Onos and an appearance by Arex from TAS.
Now the show has of course developed into Phase II. I read the Reeves-Stevens' book and thought it was such a pity those cotumes, set designs and scripts were never used. Now they're being used which is great - Xon is onboard the Enterprise even though he's a supporting character, he's there. If you consider 'In Thy Image' as the original pilot, I consider this set THE OTHER SIDE of the story - leading up to TMP rather than after.
After the backlash of fans to the JJ Enterprise, they decided not to use a slightly redesigned ship, again based on the unused show. I think moving towards the movies by updating a bit is a GREAT move - It will give Phase II its own identity rather than another interpretation of 'Season 4' (like in comics, novels and a few other fan projects). Also using unused elements such as finally making unused TOS/P2/TNG scripts will in my mind close chapters, finally letting fans see shows such as Blood and Fire/the upcoming Kitumba etc. However good or not (i.e. Tim Burton’s Superman Lives) there is always a curiosity surrounding well-documented unmade projects.
So , earlier this year Cawley announced that this Summer the show is ‘relaunching ’ the show, with a ‘Teaser Poster’ with the updated ship, and a typeface similar to that on the Ballantine Books of the 1970s. My prediction is that rather than the 60s show, they’ll do the 70s show, using more elements from the Lost Series.
Cawley’s teased the Motion Picture uniforms, so are they being phased in (no pun intended!!) How many episode will there be before the ship goes in for a full refit? Will more Phase II scripts finally be shot? Will Spock leave early as per the Lost Series? Will they ignore the movie and take Kirk and Crew in a whole new direction? I doubt it, as they said they like to keep with established canon. It will be nice to have a full ‘season’ or two to slot between The Animated Series and The Motion Picture.
They’re filming to a sequel to a TOS episode next week, but I think the subplot will be the updated ship. Cawley says there are a few surprises in store – and I cannot wait.
Thank you Phase II for a great show, I’m still so excitied by this project nearly a decade on! And I watch developments like a hawk.
