Star Trek TOS Design Retrospective

[Admiral Archer]

As someone who grew up watching TNG, and being introduced to TOS pretty late in the game (I didn't know who Captain Kirk was until I saw Generations) I always thought at a young age that the Enterprise-D was the ONLY Enterprise, and so whenever I did see the TOS ship, such as in Micro Machines toy form which I received as a present for Christmas one year, I thought it odd that the engines should be so long and skinny and that the saucer should be so small. Even stranger, I figured the Klingon Battlecruiser was a 24th century ship, and when Generations came out I thought at first the Enterprise-B was a brand new Enterprise-D refit (I was used to Power Rangers getting new Megazords, and Batman a new set of vehicles whenever he crashed one, so I was not unfamiliar with new and improved vehicles for heroes).

Are their any other viewers who were introduced to Star Trek through TNG and discovered TOS later? If so, did you guys see the Enterprises from the 23rd century as being oddly thin and sleek? Let me know below, it would be refreshing to see someone other than me who doesn't think the Enterprise-D is 'fat' or 'lopsided'

 

[Romulan_spy]

As someone who grew up watching TNG, and being introduced to TOS pretty late in the game (I didn't know who Captain Kirk was until I saw Generations) I always thought at a young age that the Enterprise-D was the ONLY Enterprise, and so whenever I did see the TOS ship, such as in Micro Machines toy form which I received as a present for Christmas one year, I thought it odd that the engines should be so long and skinny and that the saucer should be so small. Even stranger, I figured the Klingon Battlecruiser was a 24th century ship, and when Generations came out I thought at first the Enterprise-B was a brand new Enterprise-D refit (I was used to Power Rangers getting new Megazords, and Batman a new set of vehicles whenever he crashed one, so I was not unfamiliar with new and improved vehicles for heroes).

Are their any other viewers who were introduced to Star Trek through TNG and discovered TOS later? If so, did you guys see the Enterprises from the 23rd century as being oddly thin and sleek? Let me know below, it would be refreshing to see someone other than me who doesn't think the Enterprise-D is 'fat' or 'lopsided'

Same here. TNG was my first Star Trek and the D was my first Enterprise. I love the D. I think she is beautiful.

Shots like this make the D look really good IMO.

 

[Tenacity]

did you guys see the Enterprises from the 23rd century as being oddly thin and sleek?

Short anwser is no.

I thought the "thin" neck and engine struts were owing to the advanced material science of the time and besides thre was a propulsion field that drove the ship forward and there would be no direct strain on the thin parts.

 

[Poltargyst]

I started watching TOS in reruns in the early 70's way before TNG, so I was well used to the original Enterprise's looks before TNG came on. I never liked the look of the D. The saucer is too big, the nacelles too squat. I like Voyager's looks better too.

 

[NCC-73515]

When we saw the TNG Playmates toys, my mom first thought the D is "the old Enterprise", and the Goddard was "the new one". I also grew up and became a fan with TNG, and found TOS silly and cheap as a kid. Takes maturity to understand and appreciate it, I guess. I actually thought they should change the pylons like they did for the Discoprise - younger me would've liked that.

 

[johnnybear]

TOS was a space adventure series and TNG isn't as such! It's more a space drama show to be honest with the occasional action episode that is unless Picard or anyone else gets trapped in a lift again? I saw The Defector last week though and enjoyed it immensley!!!
JB

 

[Delta Vega]

I just can't get my head round anyone not knowing who Kirk was, and regarding TNG and Picards crew as definitive Trek.
I guess everyone isn't the same age as me

 

[plynch]

The D is so squished, pancake-y, squat to me. All because I grew up with the elegance and tall-ships vibe of the big E.

 

[johnnybear]

The original Enterprise is the one that I love! The D was a ship that sort of confounded me although I love the reused shot of it approaching the large planet! The CGI Enterprise is a cartoon of ugly long shots which do not improve the look of the model work but make it seem more awkward!
JB

 

[Warped9]

I just can't get my head round anyone not knowing who Kirk was, and regarding TNG and Picards crew as definitive Trek.
I guess everyone isn't the same age as me

I knew someone who discovered Trek through TNG first and thought it had been spun off the TOS films which he thought is where Trek had started. He was completely oblivious to the existence of TOS. When I lent him some DVDs of the original series he was blown away (mostly in a good way) by it and how it differed from TNG.

I really disliked the E-D when I first saw it, but it has grown on me. That said I think they could have done much better. Probert’s original design for the E-C is what I would have liked to see as the TNG hero ship.

 

[TimeIsAPredator]

I knew someone who discovered Trek through TNG first and thought it had been spun off the TOS films which he thought is where Trek had started. He was completely oblivious to the existence of TOS. When I lent him some DVDs of the original series he was blown away (mostly in a good way) by it and how it differed from TNG.

I really disliked the E-D when I first saw it, but it has grown on me. That said I think they could have done much better. Probert’s original design for the E-C is what I would have liked to see as the TNG hero ship.

I think I started with the TOS movies too but I cant really remember as I have loved Trek since I was 4 or 5yo in the early 90s. I do remember a very brief period of telling my stepdad that TNG looks silly and isnt real Trek but I gave it a go and due to my impressionable age it became my real entry point into hardcore Trek fandom and was the show I spent every birthday and christmas getting merch from.

As for design style I took every show on its merits and have liked some ships and uniforms from all the shows.