Star Trek Discovery in trouble, and a de facto reboot?

[WebLurker]

But, new iterations have always affected the old. TNG affected TOS. How is this any different?

The others were approached as a continuation. This one is treated by the creators as a reboot, but it still keeps its internal connections to the original stuff. That's a recipe for muddying the waters, since the Powers That Be have no concerns about whether their stuff fits with the old, in some cases creating problems on purpose.

 

[Dukhat]

The others were approached as a continuation. This one is treated by the creators as a reboot, but it still keeps its internal connections to the original stuff. That's a recipe for muddying the waters, since the Powers That Be have no concerns about whether their stuff fits with the old, in some cases creating problems on purpose.

That makes no sense to me. It kept the internal connections to the original stuff because that was integral to the story they were trying to tell. And now that they did that in order to create their own alternate universe, there's no need to ever go back to the original stuff (at least for the films). So how can the "waters be muddied" if they never return to it?

 

[Takeru]

This one is treated by the creators as a reboot, but it still keeps its internal connections to the original stuff. That's a recipe for muddying the waters, since the Powers That Be have no concerns about whether their stuff fits with the old, in some cases creating problems on purpose.

That description fits the creation of TNG like a glove and that turned out really good.

 

[tomalak301]

While I'm not a fan of the time period it takes place in, I want Discovery to succeed. I'm watching DS9 (almost done, have two episodes to go), and it will be great to get Star Trek back on again, in a serialized format like DS9 was. We're in a golden era of TV, and Star Trek needs to enjoy that just as any other show does.

 

[INACTIVEUSS Einstein]

One day we might get a full reboot of TOS.

Complete with nanotech everywhere, gender/race-blind-casting of Kirk, modern physics, an Enterprise in line with ideas of what the future will be like according to current scientific predictions - smart paper thin foldable displays - materials that are grown rather than machined - engineering of the human form - hard science - a re-imagined Federation and Milky Way galaxy - rebooted Klingons/Romulans/Cardassians/Breen/Dominion.

Until that day I think a nice avanue to try would be having multiple series side-by-side on CBS-Whatsit/Netflix in a sort of attempt to fill some of the "Lost Eras" of the prime timeline. Star Trek: Discovery being the beginning. A CGI Star Trek: Phase II exploring what happened after TMP, bringing back prime Kirk/Spock McCoy? A post-TNG series, maybe Star Trek: Challenger? Maybe alien series, or ones with strange settings within the Star Trek universe. Maybe that's what the plan is, assuming there is any kind of plan for the long term destiny of Star Trek at CBS.

 

[Blooded]

Netflix has only purchased the rights to exclusively distribute the show internationally, this is not a co production between CBS Studios (the studio division formally known as Paramount Television) and Netflix. They have no creative input into the production whatsoever.

That was literally what I said.

 

[Sakonna]

Homicidal, profit-crazed Rom now a hapless softie?

I always imagined Rom accidentally partially lobotomized himself while setting a trap to kill Quark and take over the bar.
'Regarding Rom', if you will.

That. Is. Brilliant. In the headcanon it goes!

For me, continuity across the vastness of Trek is more game than anything else. When something on-screen doesn't connect, it's fun to imagine the connective pieces that could pull it all together. But even when I can't come up with such fanwanks, it tends not to bother me, because there's usually a good artistic motivation behind the continuity error. Or it's a necessary update in response to the changing times in which the new properties are made. Or it's just "we have more money now, just imagine the Borg always looked this good."

The big exception being Voyager. Voyager's attitude towards continuity drove me insane -- they set up a premise that demanded an unusually high degree of continuity, then made almost no attempt to follow through on it, in favor of stories that were significantly less interesting than what they would have had if they followed their own history more rigidly (so even here it was the storytelling, and not the continuity, that truly turned me off)

This is the trick with all these updates of old properties. I appreciate continuity-porn fan shoutouts, but I'm happy to play along with inconsistent details as long as it's not completely egregious, the story is good, and there is an essential core of Trekness that is respected. So far, everything I've learned about Discovery suggests the creative team is on this same wavelength, so I remain optimistic.

 

[Tesophius]

One day we might get a full reboot of TOS.

Complete with nanotech everywhere, gender/race-blind-casting of Kirk, modern physics, an Enterprise in line with ideas of what the future will be like according to current scientific predictions - smart paper thin foldable displays - materials that are grown rather than machined - engineering of the human form - hard science - a re-imagined Federation and Milky Way galaxy - rebooted Klingons/Romulans/Cardassians/Breen/Dominion.

Until that day I think a nice avanue to try would be having multiple series side-by-side on CBS-Whatsit/Netflix in a sort of attempt to fill some of the "Lost Eras" of the prime timeline. Star Trek: Discovery being the beginning. A CGI Star Trek: Phase II exploring what happened after TMP, bringing back prime Kirk/Spock McCoy? A post-TNG series, maybe Star Trek: Challenger? Maybe alien series, or ones with strange settings within the Star Trek universe. Maybe that's what the plan is, assuming there is any kind of plan for the long term destiny of Star Trek at CBS.

That would be absolutely amazing. As much as I like Star Trek, it doesn't make any sense technologically or scientifically, especially when it comes to later centuries. It seems that apart from warp drive everything else is at barely mid 21st century or even early 21st century capabilities. I would love to see a fully realistic projection with just one unrealistic component (the warp drive) written in accordance with the world's leading futurists' forecasts, such as Ray Kurzweil and Michio Kaku.

One might have to exclude A.I. from it though, because it would literally remove the human element from beyond ~ 2050 in most cases and it's probably very difficult to write exciting fiction when the decisions are made instantaneously by AI and not a charismatic captain. It's all about finding the right balance between realism and entertainment. For 1960's Star Trek universe was a fantastic projection into the future, but it just doesn't make any sense anymore.

 

[jaime]

People can accept reboots of the origins of Sherlock Holmes, Batman, Superman and every other fictional characters but don't touch Star Trek! Please..kiss me neck!

Pick one of that list that isn't already an adaptation of an existing property in different media, and therefore by definition cannot be a reboot when a different screen adaptation comes along. Just another adaptation.

 

[jaime]

Yeah, they slipped that one past folks.

To be fair ...there's a big overlap between the two. Look at Dune.

 

[BillJ]

One day we might get a full reboot of TOS.

I believe that is the next step if Discovery is popular.

 

[jaime]

I believe that is the next step if Discovery is popular.

I have this feeling that a post Nemesis show will be next...if only because they might, might, be able to get Pat Stewart in for a third series pilot that way, and his star is on the ascent again at the moment....depending on if they decide that its existing fans bringing in the moolah. Given the popular demographic chasing at the moment, something from that era is likely. That want that mid thirties money.

 

[tomalak301]

I believe that is the next step if Discovery is popular.

Haven't we had enough of the whole rebooting of the original though? I thought that was what the movies were for. I'd like to see trek travel new ground, and because there is so much of the movie era and before TNG we don't know, i wish the new series was set during that time.

 

[Sakonna]

One day we might get a full reboot of TOS.

Complete with nanotech everywhere, gender/race-blind-casting of Kirk, modern physics, an Enterprise in line with ideas of what the future will be like according to current scientific predictions - smart paper thin foldable displays - materials that are grown rather than machined - engineering of the human form - hard science - a re-imagined Federation and Milky Way galaxy - rebooted Klingons/Romulans/Cardassians/Breen/Dominion.

I believe that is the next step if Discovery is popular.

My dream is a Kelvin-timeline TNG series. Explore the long-term aftermath of the destruction of Vulcan and the stresses that put on their society, Vulcans have left the Federation and become antagonists after extremists came to power in their society ("Vulcans first" could have been their slogan...). Keep Tasha alive and explore her character. Kill Beverly instead. Make Dr. Selar a proper character -- she's now the only Vulcan in Starfleet. Wesley's an early 20's Academy grad and low-level ensign, instead of a magical wunderkid, struggling with his feelings toward Picard, who could be blamed for the death of both of Wesley's parents. Use Geordi as a character to explore more current ideas of human enhancement through technology. And I would LOVE to see a modern conception of Troi, the woman whose role in the story was often to be violated to make everyone else feel outrage.

I also love... basically every other Trek series idea anyone has proposed in this thread. After these years of spare content, I am eager to take whatever I can get!

 

[WebLurker]

That makes no sense to me. It kept the internal connections to the original stuff because that was integral to the story they were trying to tell. And now that they did that in order to create their own alternate universe, there's no need to ever go back to the original stuff (at least for the films). So how can the "waters be muddied" if they never return to it?

For example, Beyond established information about Star Trek's 22nd century. That's stuff that took place before the timeline changed, so affects both timelines. While in that case, they did their homework and everything works, if they hadn't, there would've been problems and muddy waters.

That description fits the creation of TNG like a glove and that turned out really good.

That doesn't sound a thing like TNG (which was pretty good).

 

[Ovation]

There is NOTHING onscreen about the Kelvinverse that even remotely suggests that ANYTHING is "overwritten" on the original (if we're going to discard what the filmmakers say for no overwriting, then we must also discard what other filmmakers say about overwriting). The scope of things that can "fit in the original", even though never seen until the Kelvinverse (with respect to pre-2233; afterward, there is zero to worry about), is, quite literally, as vast as the universe (minus the very tiny slice that has already been on screen). That they are not all "explained" does NOT make them inconsistent with prior works.

 

[Takeru]

That doesn't sound a thing like TNG (which was pretty good).

Yes it does. TNG was for all intents and purposes a reboot of Star Trek, Roddenberry changed the style of the show completely to fit his new "vision" of the future, less militaritic, no conflict between main characters (which were the bread and butter of Star Trek before TNG) and he had no problem comtradicting the original series while still keeping TNG in continuity with it.

 

[Danlav05]

One day we might get a full reboot of TOS.
.

I'm sure it will happen one day, maybe when the JJ films are done and dusted. Maybe an animated series? I won't lie I would be interested in another take on the series.

I have this feeling that a post Nemesis show will be next...if only because they might, might, be able to get Pat Stewart in for a third series pilot that way, and his star is on the ascent again at the moment....depending on if they decide that its existing fans bringing in the moolah. Given the popular demographic chasing at the moment, something from that era is likely. That want that mid thirties money.

The USTV industry has been littered by reunion series for 24, Prison Break, X-Files and more recently. Whiel I doubt they will gete everyone back, but some TNG, DS9 and Voyager peeps would be cool

 

[Dukhat]

For example, Beyond established information about Star Trek's 22nd century. That's stuff that took place before the timeline changed, so affects both timelines. While in that case, they did their homework and everything works, if they hadn't, there would've been problems and muddy waters.

I'm still trying to figure out how that's any different from what TNG did. Heck, in TNG's first episode it was established that after WWIII, there were drug-controlled soldiers running around killing lawyers. That wasn't something stated in TOS, but it became part of the canon. And both DS9 and VOY also established new things about the past as well.

That doesn't sound a thing like TNG (which was pretty good).

I'd have to agree with Takeru.

 

[donners22]

stuff that took place before the timeline changed, so affects both timelines.

Not necessarily. Pegg has said that the timeline was affected in both directions, which is not unreasonable given the amount of time travel which goes on.