"Pilgrim Of Eternity" - is it good enough?

[marksound]

I really don't have an unofficial continuity in my head. Partly because official Trek was/is so often contradictory. But watching this felt like episode 80, if that tells ya anything. Now I gotta check out Phase II. Anyone recommend the best ep of theirs to start with?

You could watch them in order (see below). But if you start with our not-too-good early ones, you might become disinclined to watch later, better ones. If you start with the better ones, you'll become disappointed if you hope for the same quality when you watch earlier ones.

I think there's consensus that "World Enough and Time" with George Takei as Sulu has the broadest appeal--sort of like Star Trek IV with the whales. I guess I'd start with that one. And then the episode written by David ("The Trouble With Tribbles") Gerrold, that he originally wrote as a never-actually-got-made Next Generation episode: "Blood and Fire."

Episode 0 (Pilot Episode): "Come What May"
Release: January 16, 2004
Running Time: 39:45

Episode 1: "In Harm's Way"
Release: October 8, 2004
Running Time: 57:29

Vignette 1: "Center Seat"
Release: March 17, 2006
Running Time: 5:46

Episode 2: "To Serve All My Days"
Release: November 23, 2006
Running Time: 59:59

Episode 3:"World Enough and Time"
Release: August 23, 2007
Running Time: 64:26

Episode 4: "Blood and Fire, Part One"
Release: December 20, 2008
Running Time: 43:47

Episode 5: "Blood and Fire, Part Two"
Release: November 20, 2009
Running Time: 54:54

Episode 6: "Enemy: Starfleet!" (working title was "Enemy Starfleet")
Release: April 16, 2011
Running Time: 58:06

Vignette 2: "No Win Scenario"
Release: October 8, 2011
Running Time: 8:59

Episode 7: "The Child"
Release: 4/2012
Running Time: TBD

I think I've seen all these over the years. The quality has definitely improved.

Funny, JC's acting improved so much I actually got used to seeing him as Kirk. John Kelley is no De Kelley, but he does a good job and I like his performance.

I didn't get Jeff Quinn's Spock at first, but I missed him when he was gone.

The rest of the cast has been decent, but as said above the kid playing young Chekov in "Days" was really good. I believed his performance.

Some of the stories haven't been so good, but some have bordered on great. "Time" and "Days" are very good and deserve the praise they've received.

Overall I enjoy NV/P2 and look forward to more.

 

[Maurice]

I'm struggling to understand how someone who is such a fervent advocate of TOS and fan films hasn't watched all of the Phase II episodes. Blows my mind a bit.

I know lots of hardcore TOS fans who can't make it past one act of any fanfilm. Just because you like Star Trek doesn't mean you automatically like fan-made spinoffs.

I didn't say anything about liking them. I just don't understand why you wouldn't watch them as soon as they come out if you're a hardcore fan, that's all.

Because if you don't LIKE them you won't WATCH them.

 

[plynch]

I have been more or less ignorant of them, though come to think of it, I saw the shuttle-in-garage William Windom one at a small convention in Marquette, MI. And re. my earlier Sulu comment I was replying to the recommendation to watch "World Enough."

To anyone connected with these -- I understand the tacit understanding w/ CBS is "no revenue." But I think you accept donations to the production company? They are ok with that, apparently? Still just curious, and feel free not to answer if it's to your benefit not to.

My earlier expressed interest in rights comes from writing a book about a famous figure, Louis Armstrong. I had to explore the concept of publicity rights, plus I was quoting primary sources found in secondary sources, which I had always done in academic writing. But now this one was for money (supposedly) . So I had to explore the whole gray mess that is fair use. Just read of a case involving EA and the likeness of college football players in their video games. Athletes are on one side and speech advocates on the other.

Rambling now. Time to go watch. Be well, imaginary friends.

 

[GSchnitzer]

I know lots of hardcore TOS fans who can't make it past one act of any fanfilm. Just because you like Star Trek doesn't mean you automatically like fan-made spinoffs.

I didn't say anything about liking them. I just don't understand why you wouldn't watch them as soon as they come out if you're a hardcore fan, that's all.

Because if you don't LIKE them you won't WATCH them.

I think boobatuba was expressing surprise that someone would not watch a new release of a fan series based on their experience with earlier episodes. People do check out each new one, don't they, when they are released? They don't indict and refrain from watching new releases based on dissatisfaction with earlier releases, do they? (I think was his point.)

 

[Maurice]

I didn't get that from his sentence at all.

 

[Marsden]

I just watched it. I'm really liked it and next time I watch "Who Mourns for Adonais?" I'm going to have this in the back of my mind similar to watching "Space Seed" and WoK. It's a continuation for me.

I know I'm going to get lots of rejection for this, but I enjoyed it a lot more than that movie that came out in 2009.

 

[Avon]

I know I'm going to get lots of rejection for this, but I enjoyed it a lot more than that movie that came out in 2009.

anythings better than Bride Wars

 

[Warped9]

I know I'm going to get lots of rejection for this, but I enjoyed it a lot more than that movie that came out in 2009.

Welcome to the party.

 

[boobatuba]

I didn't get that from his sentence at all.

He was exactly right.

If you're a big fan of TOS, I don't understand why you wouldn't jump at the chance to watch a fan-produced series in that era. There's no way to know BEFORE you watch it that you don't like it, after all.

I keep up with Barbreader's list and watch them all. Some of them are real stinkers, but there's always the expectation that I might enjoy the next one. And there are hardly any in which I don't enjoy something.

 

[Kelso]

I liked "Pilgrim of Eternity" a lot. I think it felt like the Star Trek I used to watch from my grandparent's rug more than any other fan film I've seen.

But I don't have a personal continuity.

 

[Amaris]

I know I'm going to get lots of rejection for this, but I enjoyed it a lot more than that movie that came out in 2009.

anythings better than Bride Wars

 

[F. King Daniel]

I wish Trek fan films weren't so obsessed about continuity and making 100%-accurate uniforms and sets. It only emphasizes that these are not Shatner, Nimoy, Kelley and the rest that we're watching.

 

[Kelso]

I wish Trek fan films weren't so obsessed about continuity and making 100%-accurate uniforms and sets. It only emphasizes that these are not Shatner, Nimoy, Kelley and the rest that we're watching.

Oh, I don't agree. Seeing the old sets and costumes again is a big part of the fun!

 

[Warped9]

The Phase II folks seem more inclined to deviate more. Part of that I get from how the f/x are done which (as I mentioned earlier) make me think of TOS-R or a more contemporary production. The STC folks look more like recreating the original ambiance and the f/x, while albeit clean and finished, are definitely meant to evoke the original look.

Casting definitely has an impact. The only one on the Phase II cast that really works for me is Chekov. I just can't buy any of the others as the original characters. That said the STC isn't perfect, but no cast really can be. I will say in general I prefer the STC cast to the JJverse cast. Larry Nemecek isn't bad for what he's doing, but he just doesn't really evoke McCoy. Grant Imihara needs to dial it back some. Haberkorm needs to have his hair fixed.

Context matters too. I'll watch the Phase II productions for the stories because otherwise there's a lot that I find distracting. The STC production, so far, just floors me in how much it feels like the original series. But both productions generally respect the original source materiel.

 

[plynch]

I just watched it. I'm really liked it and next time I watch "Who Mourns for Adonais?" . . .

I know I'm going to get lots of rejection for this, but I enjoyed it a lot more than that movie that came out in 2009.

Hey, yeah, that's a good point about "Adonais." People who read the novels must have similar experiences when they tie in to episodes.

And I too "enjoyed" Pilgrim way more than the current movies. But many people loved 'em, so that's fine too.

 

[Barbreader]

I wish Trek fan films weren't so obsessed about continuity and making 100%-accurate uniforms and sets. It only emphasizes that these are not Shatner, Nimoy, Kelley and the rest that we're watching.

Try The Further Adventures of Star Trek Unity, http://startrekreviewed.blogspot.com/2009/06/90.html from England. Set after the Dominion war and a conflict with the Borg that was so expensive the Federation could not afford uniforms, this follow-up series to a teen trek series (Star Trek Unity) is the work of film school students in England. It has used the Iconians to explain introducing ideas from other sci fi franchises, from Stargate to Dr. Who.

 

[beamMe]

I didn't get Jeff Quinn's Spock at first, but I missed him when he was gone.

Nothing against Nimoy and Quinto, but Quinn IS Spock to me

Really too bad we've only seen him from behind in Star Trek ('09).

 

[BillJ]

I wish Trek fan films weren't so obsessed about continuity and making 100%-accurate uniforms and sets. It only emphasizes that these are not Shatner, Nimoy, Kelley and the rest that we're watching.

Try The Further Adventures of Star Trek Unity, http://startrekreviewed.blogspot.com/2009/06/90.html from England. Set after the Dominion war and a conflict with the Borg that was so expensive the Federation could not afford uniforms, this follow-up series to a teen trek series (Star Trek Unity) is the work of film school students in England. It has used the Iconians to explain introducing ideas from other sci fi franchises, from Stargate to Dr. Who.

How could the Federation not afford uniforms in the age of replicators?

 

[CorporalCaptain]

I wish Trek fan films weren't so obsessed about continuity and making 100%-accurate uniforms and sets. It only emphasizes that these are not Shatner, Nimoy, Kelley and the rest that we're watching.

Try The Further Adventures of Star Trek Unity, http://startrekreviewed.blogspot.com/2009/06/90.html from England. Set after the Dominion war and a conflict with the Borg that was so expensive the Federation could not afford uniforms, this follow-up series to a teen trek series (Star Trek Unity) is the work of film school students in England. It has used the Iconians to explain introducing ideas from other sci fi franchises, from Stargate to Dr. Who.

How could the Federation not afford uniforms in the age of replicators?

Sounds like they wrote in a reason to justify the wardrobe department's shoestring budget.

 

[Barbreader]

The original Star Trek Unity was started when they ranged in age from 11 to 14. The series has continued as they have become adults... I strongly encourage all who do not madly love watching fan films (which means almost everyone but me) to start with "The Further Adventures..." rather than their original series, even though I frankly think Luke Sutton could write better stories at 13 than most people can at 30. The kid series literally sometimes used Crayon drawing for space battles. The current series uses uniforms, greens screens, and has had interaction between animated aliens and live action. The technical growth in this series is the most in any Star Trek Fan Film series.