It may be time to recalibrate “fan service” as a critique. Our JOB is to service the fans. To give them the very best version of what they came for, what they love. Sometimes, that involves elevating the familiar while evolving the story or world into something new by degrees.
Honoring history is important. Tonal, mythological, visual touch points are important. It’s necessary to challenge expectations, to move the story in dynamic ways — but within the context and creative language of the thing you’ve been tasked with safeguarding.
This is especially true in franchise storytelling. If you’re creating something new, by all means, push the form, press the genre to its limits. But when given something with a deep, shared history, your job is neither to impulsively redefine it nor pander to its simplest ideas.
If people show up for a burger, make the best damn shirt-rib, truffle, brioche-bun burger you can. Don’t lazily toss McDonald’s at them because it’s familiar. But also, don’t give folks a salad and tell them you know what’s best for their tastes.
I adore nothing more as a fan than when elements I once loved reappear — but with a new context, a fresh POV. Dr. Who excels at this. That Dalek dopamine hit is important. It’s why we watch and love things. How those things evolve is why we keep watching.
What critics mean when they say “fan service” is narrative pandering, hamfistedly tossing out memberberries. Fine. But the term is as insulting to fans as it is to writers. That all a “fan” really needs is some familiar nerd nugget to be happy. Bullshit. Fans are fucking smart.
S3 of Picard is thematically about the pace at which old things change as new things come along. Historical references are narratively thematic. Aesthetic & tonal choices underline the era of the character and the preferences of the creators. Nothing wasn’t carefully considered.
Yes, using the language of history to say new things is absolutely fan service. We share their love for Trek or Who or whatever legacy we’re hired to honor. That’s the gig. And there’s no bigger disservice to fans than tossing out what they loved & telling them what to love next.
If we can offer ways to view familiar things differently, find new ideas in old places, suggest creative pairings of your favorite ingredients — while making additive new contributions along the way — that’s how we tell fans we love not just what they love, but THEM, as well.
