What is it about Star Trek?

[TrekResearcher]

Hello Star Trek fans!

I'm in the process of writing up a research report based on cult television. Star Trek has had a massive following for quite some time, this has intrigued me.

What I really want from you to help me form this report is for you just to answer the below couple of questions as honestly and openly as you can. Please don't feel you need to respond in depth, give as little or as much information as you like.

I can't emphasise enough how much your responses will help, and I fully intend to make the findings available to any of you that take part. If you would like to see them, please message me and I will... (sorry)... make it so.

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What is the reason for your love of the Star Trek franchise? (Specific series, Characters, Stories)

Would you consider there to be any rivalry between the varying series'?
(I.e. do T'he Original Series' fans harbour any specific feelings towards 'The Next Generation' fans).

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Thank you in advance for your help!

 

[Romulan_spy]

To answer your first question, the reason I fell in love with Star Trek was the sense of adventure and future technology. I remember seeing the Enterprise D for the first time and being in awe of it. Here was this amazing ship going faster than light to these amazing places where our characters would get into all kinds of incredible situations. In a nutshell, Star Trek stimulates my imagination.

 

[TheLobes]

There just isnt another show like it. I like it because it can do so much (Im talking TOS, TNG and DS9), the characters can at once be very human and subtle, then at other times be very bold embodiments of a certain value or feeling. This means you can play around with different concepts, and have the dynamics going on within the show being both a statement about humanity in a larger sense, but also the effect it has on the individual.

At the same time, you can just have a fun little character study, you can do slapstick, you can do social/political/historical comedy. You can do pretty much anything. Deep Space Nine had an episode where three Ferengi go back and are responsible for Roswell, an episode concerning race relations in post-war America, an episode concerned with the holocaust, a huge war story, a spoof of James Bond, and several detailed character studies. The best bit is that all those episodes were great! There arent a hell of a lot of shows with that much scope.

I think theres generally a bit of tension between people who like Voyager or Enterprise and those who dont, since those two shows are generally regarded as inferior. The same is probably true of those who liked the 2009 movie. Id say there might be a tiny bit of tension between the ardent 'old guard' of TOS fans and fans of the fewer trek, but this is all just speculation, I dont really know.

Edit: Ive got to say that I am probably a bit more zealous in my distaste for Voyager and Enterprise than I should be. I know its wrong to do so, but if someone says that either show had strong characters or was a well told drama etc, I cant help thinking they're stupid. Even if I know they arent.

 

[SchwEnt]

I said it decades ago and now there are hundreds of more hours of ST to confirm it.
Star Trek is broad enough to be all things to all people.
No wonder it has endured and thrived for so long.

Oh sure, there are varying degrees of success but ST is able to be drama, action, comedy, adventure, more.

There are dramatic adult themes regarding love, war, loss, faith, friendship, life. There are explorations of historical allegory, philosophical questions of existence and meaning.

There are kewl space battles with phazers and awesome 'splosions.

There are just damn good stories that are entertaining and fun and well worth watching.

There's an appeal for the old, the young, the fanboy, the pseudo-intellectuals, the scholars, the scientists, the man, the woman, the child.

While so many shows or movies or "franchises" can only be what they can be, I see ST as unique is being able to encompass quite a diversity in its format. The comedy doesn't always work, the action may be lackluster, but so very many themes and styles are at least *possible* in ST.

Tribbles and false gods and genocide and time travel and boobs in catsuits and resurrections and blowed-up heads and physics and EVERYTHING.

 

[Admiral Shran]

In answer to your first question - I think the reason Star Trek has been so successful is that it can be a lot of different things to a lot of different people. Some like the philosophy behind it, some prefer the action, others like the characters. For me, personally, I like the action-adventure element it offers and the characters. The shows might not have the most special-effects laden action sequences, but what there is is gold, IMO. And action doesn't have to mean only "stuff gets blowed up real good!" Good action can also be more subdued, which is what Star Trek offers. As for the characters, I've only encountered one area of the franchise (the new movie) where I didn't feel the characters were well fleshed out and realized.

In answer to your second question - I think there can be rivalries between fans of different parts of the franchise, but it's not widespread. Mostly, I feel that my fellow Trekkies are all-inclusive of Trek. It's only vocal minorities that seem to have fierce rivalries. There's definitely one such between fans of DS9 and Voyager - probably because both shows ran at the same time and many Voyager fans feel that the show was unfairly compared to DS9. There's also a clear difference of opinion when it comes to Enterprise. It seems you either love it (as I do) or you hate it. The only clash I've found that I'm a part of is with the new movie (God, I hated it!). But, even there, I say "to each their own." If you like it, fine. If you don't, also fine.

 

[The Wormhole]

What is the reason for your love of the Star Trek franchise? (Specific series, Characters, Stories)

Because spaceships are cool.

Would you consider there to be any rivalry between the varying series'?
(I.e. do T'he Original Series' fans harbour any specific feelings towards 'The Next Generation' fans).

No.

 

[TrekResearcher]

Thank you for the responses so far guys, it's been a fantastic help already!

 

[C.E. Evans]

In some ways, being a Star Trek fan is like joining a big worldwide club of with people with an interest in the same subject--and it's one anyone can join regardless of their social background.

 

[lurok]

What is the reason for your love of the Star Trek franchise? (Specific series, Characters, Stories)

My fellow trek lovers above have already expressed many of the sentiments I share with them. Dramatically, I think Trek has been successful in a way few other tv series have in being able to challenge audience's preconceptions, even from its earliest TOS days. Its 'heroes' are shining role models of virtue and honesty, but are also flawed and sometimes do the wrong or questionable thing; its 'villains' can do despicable things, yet also be sympathetic characters who challenge our beliefs. Very few TV series have been able to do this. But if I was to cite every example of why love for specific series, characters and stories I might as well write paper for you

Would you consider there to be any rivalry between the varying series'?
(I.e. do T'he Original Series' fans harbour any specific feelings towards 'The Next Generation' fans).


Yes, sadly. Some of it is friendly banter; the rest is deeply-held conviction. By and large we're able to debate those feelings without resorting to flaming or trolling With a few exceptions... But probably to be expected. I often feel Trek fans are passionate in their love for series (plural or singular) and passions tend to elicit strong responses

 

[Temis the Vorta]

What is the reason for your love of the Star Trek franchise? (Specific series, Characters, Stories)

Optimism about the future, specific and unapologetic point of view (secular liberalism is the best organizational structure for the cosmos), joy of exploring the stars, and the sheer vast size of the Star Trek playground, full of fun, crazy, scary, sexy and charismatic alien critters.

Would you consider there to be any rivalry between the varying series'? (I.e. do T'he Original Series' fans harbour any specific feelings towards 'The Next Generation' fans).

Trekkies snark at each other, basically because they can't believe anyone would be so foolish and lacking in common sense and good taste to rank the series any differently than they do.

 

[Merky]

What is the reason for your love of the Star Trek franchise? (Specific series, Characters, Stories)

It's a sci-fi epic with compelling characters, provoking stories and interesting relationships. I don't care much for the action... I just want great character development and excellent stories. Star Trek manages to do that... most of the time.

Would you consider there to be any rivalry between the varying series'?
(I.e. do T'he Original Series' fans harbour any specific feelings towards 'The Next Generation' fans).

I would not know. I only watch TOS, stay in TOS related threads, and don't engage in anything that is not TOS. Now, if its shipping within the specific fandom (ie, relationships between characters), then yeah there's hard feelings all over the place.

 

[TEACAKE'S PLEATHER DOME]

What is the reason for your love of the Star Trek franchise? (Specific series, Characters, Stories)

It's very big and has spanned decades of my life. I've lived with it a long time, it's basically a culture to me. That's why I love even the dorky parts.

Would you consider there to be any rivalry between the varying series'?
(I.e. do T'he Original Series' fans harbour any specific feelings towards 'The Next Generation' fans).

Not rivalry, merely preferences.

 

[Eyes]

What is the reason for your love of the Star Trek franchise? (Specific series, Characters, Stories)

I got into Star Trek because I like stories about characters. And, really, I find that sci-fi provides the best way of showing these characters. Putting them in impossible situations, and allowing them to experience both sides of the coin caused by the futuristic elements (both dark and utopian). While I like VOY and what I've seen of Enterprise, I'm more a fan of DS9, as I like the fact it tried to put the human into the space. And all the dark and morally questionable conflicts. I've watched some of TNG, and while I enjoyed some parts, it often felt hopelessly optimistic and outdated. The characters are also for the most part rather bland, with the exception of Picard, and Wesley (who is not bland for the wrong reasons). I think it's the only series I've come across where I like the 'by necessity bland' leader of the cast more than everyone else. Not a good thing, although La Forge and Data occasionally have a good relationship. As for TOS, I plan to try to watch it someday, but with the 60s theme and the fact that there's a Power Trio of characters, only one of which, McCoy, appeals to me from the films, with the more interesting minor characters not involved much, has put me off trying. Sorry for rambling, but that's why I like Star Trek and the specific series, the characters.

There's also the spaceships and the kewl explosions.

The music is not a factor, by the way. I cannot think of a single series with less engaging music than Star Trek's generic boring background music. The opening themes were good, otherwise...

Would you consider there to be any rivalry between the varying series'?
(I.e. do T'he Original Series' fans harbour any specific feelings towards 'The Next Generation' fans).

One rivalry I've noticed quite potently on this board is the rivalry between the fans of the Original Series and Niners. I'd guess this is because DS9 is the most popular of the spinoffs among this board, and it's quite different from Gene Roddenberry's optimistic vision of the future. There's also the disdain snorted down on Voyager and Enterprise fans.
Drawing a comparison to music again, I'd say that TOS fans are like classic rock fans. They were there first, and now that there's less of them, they can get very elitist. TNG fans are pop. Will be around for a long time, and also known in the eyes of the public. Also tend to stay out of genre/series wars. DS9 fans are more the fans of hip-hop. Grew in numbers after its original introduction, but if you don't like it, nothing's going to change your mind, and the fans can get quite dismissive of 'old, boring' music. Voyager is electronica and Enterprise is dance. If you like them, you like them. If you don't, you think that they're ruining the future of the music/Star Trek industry and you are dismissive of these partying yobs that do somehow like them. Cue massive fandom wars.

Again, I've rambled on. Meh. I just want to let everyone know I did not intend to hurt anyone in that last paragraph and in no way to I want this thread to descend into an argument because of one little thing I said there earlier. I was trying to make a considered opinion.