what if the movies had continued with the crew as outlaws after TSFS?

[sonak]

One of the interesting things about the classic Trek movie series, as opposed to the Next Gen movie series was how many potential points of divergence there were, where the films could have gone off into a totally different direction than they did. I got this idea for a thread from an old article in an old magazine, "Trek," where the author of the article was speculating on possible directions to go after TSFS. One of the possibilities mentioned was the senior officers continuing as outlaws in the Klingon bird-of-prey.

Now, I can see that this would've been unrealistic for several reasons. While it might've opened up some story possibilities, it would've closed off others, like those involving a political scenario or the UFP itself.(it would've made a premise like TUC's unworkable, for example)

Also, it would've seemed un-Trekkian to watch a small band of cargo haulers or mercenaries or whatever they'd have ended up doing making their way in the galaxy. Too Star Wars EU, not very Star Trek.


However, it would've solved a minor issue of realism in terms of this senior crew all staying together for twenty years, which they tried to do at various points, like with Chekov in TWOK and Sulu in TUC. With this premise, they'd be together out of friendship and necessity.


so what would the series have been like with this radically changed premise? Would greater interest have been the result, or would a massive fan backlash been more likely?

 

[C.E. Evans]

Re: what if the movies had continued with the crew as outlaws after TS

They would have eventually been reinstated in Starfleet no matter what. If not in Star Trek IV, then in Star Trek V. They wouldn't have remained renegades for too long, IMO, and Kirk would still have been busted back down to captain and given another Enterprise.

 

[Captain Mike]

Re: what if the movies had continued with the crew as outlaws after TS

These Are the Voyages of the Bird of Prey "Enterprise"....

 

[Yevetha]

Re: what if the movies had continued with the crew as outlaws after TS

It works for a couple of episodes.

Picard once went merc in TNG, but for the whole show...

No way.

 

[Nerys Myk]

Re: what if the movies had continued with the crew as outlaws after TS

"Kirk's Seven"?

 

[Campe]

Re: what if the movies had continued with the crew as outlaws after TS

I agree that eventually, they would need to go back to Starfleet, I think Star Trek IV could have been interesting had they gone in a different route. Perhaps, playing into Kirk's "I don't like to lose" mentality from Star Trek II, the crew decides to go in a new direction and try to be mercenaries, or guns for hire, the A-Team of the Trek universe if you will, a la Ashes of Eden. They, of course, end up saving the day, but decide in the end to go home. Star Trek V then would deal with the ramifications of coming home. I realize that this eliminates the lighter nature of Trek IV, but I always thought it was a little out of place.

 

[Lyon_Wonder]

Re: what if the movies had continued with the crew as outlaws after TS

If Kirk and crew didn't surrender and come back to Starflleet, we would have got this.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WyfhzqhJNbg&NR=1&feature=fvwp

And Dwight Schultz could have guest starred too.

 

[Yevetha]

Re: what if the movies had continued with the crew as outlaws after TS

Had you done this?

 

[Winterwind]

Re: what if the movies had continued with the crew as outlaws after TS

If Kirk and crew didn't surrender and come back to Starflleet, we would have got this.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WyfhzqhJNbg&NR=1&feature=fvwp

And Dwight Schultz could have guest starred too.

Hilarious! Loved it. Thanks for posting.

 

[HaventGotALife]

Re: what if the movies had continued with the crew as outlaws after TS

One of the interesting things about the classic Trek movie series, as opposed to the Next Gen movie series was how many potential points of divergence there were, where the films could have gone off into a totally different direction than they did. I got this idea for a thread from an old article in an old magazine, "Trek," where the author of the article was speculating on possible directions to go after TSFS. One of the possibilities mentioned was the senior officers continuing as outlaws in the Klingon bird-of-prey.

Now, I can see that this would've been unrealistic for several reasons. While it might've opened up some story possibilities, it would've closed off others, like those involving a political scenario or the UFP itself.(it would've made a premise like TUC's unworkable, for example)

Also, it would've seemed un-Trekkian to watch a small band of cargo haulers or mercenaries or whatever they'd have ended up doing making their way in the galaxy. Too Star Wars EU, not very Star Trek.


However, it would've solved a minor issue of realism in terms of this senior crew all staying together for twenty years, which they tried to do at various points, like with Chekov in TWOK and Sulu in TUC. With this premise, they'd be together out of friendship and necessity.


so what would the series have been like with this radically changed premise? Would greater interest have been the result, or would a massive fan backlash been more likely?

I think it would've been hard for people to accept that Jim Kirk was no longer in Starfleet, especially in 1984. Science Fiction has changed a lot since then and being a captain of a Firefly-type ship would've been sacriledge without constantly reminding the audience that they did this for Spock's sake. I think if they had found a way to prove themselves to Starfleet after the trial, that would've been more realistic. Maybe one more movie with them as renegades and then back to the bridge of the Enterprise. As it stands, I think the writer's painted themselves into a corner and then couldn't find a way out without ruining the movie franchise.