What We Want VS What We'll Get?

[Frontier]

Everything is on the table, or up in the air, or whatever phrase you like, concerning this new show.

But if you had a vote and a guess on some core elements, what would yours be for the following?

• Universe: Prime or JJ-Verse?
• Setting: Enterprise or Elsewhere?
• Episodes: All-at-Once (binge) or One-at-a-time (old fashion)
• How Much: 13 episodes (pay cable), 16 (basic cable), 20 (hybrid), 24+ (standard)
• Cast: A Few "Names" or Just Good Actors?
• Captain: Human, Alien? Male, Female?

My wants/what I think we'll get
Universe: Want and Think We'll Get is the Same: Prime. JJ-verse keeps sounding more-and-more a Movie only domain.
Setting: Somewhere Else. I think we'll get the Enterprise though, because it's been the foundation of 3 of 5 series.
Episodes: I think we'll get them old fashion, one at a time. I'd rather have them all at once.
How Much: I'd like as much as week can get. I think we'll get about 20 episodes. I doubt we'll see more than that, and doubt we'll see less than 16.
Cast: Just good actors. Star Trek with some names would be interesting, but the bigger the star the less likely they'll do conventions and such. I think that's important. I think we'll get at least 2-3 names for prominent characters though. I don't see us being able to get names on the same level as house "House of Cards" was able to.
Captain: I want a female. Human or Alien. I think we'll get a male (I don't see CBS being brave enough.) human.

What about you?

 

[Bry_Sinclair]

Want: Prime - Get: Proper Reboot
Want: Elsewhere - Get: Enterprise
Want: All-at-Once - Get: All-at-Once (since the habit it now to binge watch series')
Want: 16 (keep it tight without fluff/filler eps) - Get: 13 (company makes more money)
Want: Just Good Actors - Get: Maybe one "Name" (someone to hook new viewers)
Want: Female, alien (Andorian) Get: All-American white male

 

[Shalashaska]

Universe
Want: Either really, both have their positives
Get: Proper reboot/JJ-verse

Setting
Want: Elsewhere (I'd be fine with a new Enterprise too though)
Get: Elsewhere

Release Format
Want: One-at-a-time (get to analyze, digest and anticipate each episode rather than binge it all as one big blur)
Get: One-at-a-time

Episodes
Want: 13 (keep it tight, higher budget per episode, less filler)
Get: 13 (it's the standard for streaming/cable television now)

Cast
Want: Just good actors ("names" or unknown, I don't care, I just want good actors who care about the show)
Get: A couple "names" (just like every other series)

Captain
Want: A deep, layered, charismatic and well-written character (is that too much to ask for?)
Get: Human captain representing the minority of the week

 

[JWPlatt]

Writers today seem oddly keen on NOT giving the audience what they want, but what the writers want instead, assuming that giving the audience what they want spells certain doom. Because the audience is a collective moron, I suppose. Too bad. As if writers are not part of the same humanity - perhaps once fans themselves until they set themselves apart on a higher plane. It makes me wonder why they make the effort for us and where and how they actually find their personal success, if not from a desire to offer something that pleases others. Is it selfish? I want to see writers who find a way to be with, listen to, and respect the audience and make a success of it.

 

[Terok Nor]

Want: Prime - Get: JJVerse
Want: Elsewhere - Get: Elsewhere
Want: All-at-Once - Get: One at a time
Want: 22 - Get: 13
Want: Don't care as long as they're good - Get: Don't care
Want: Alien Get: Human male

 

[T'Girl]

WANT
Universe: Essentially a new fresh "third universe" in terms of the here and now. Many of the basic structures already established are there, but the details of TNG-DS9-VOY can be pushed into the background, less erased, more ignored. But at the same time when they refer to the past (if they do) it will be the prime universe.

Setting: The mobile setting of a starship, over a fixed station or planet. A smaller, more intimate ship, crew of eighty or less. Lose the "mega-ship."

Episodes: Gradual release, one a week. For me television is a social experience, and it's nice if your conversation/discussion group (like here) are all on the same page. I don't binge watch by myself.

How Much: Preference would be as many episodes as possible, certainly in the twenties.

Cast: A talanted lead actor to help carry the show, but a prominent name actor wouldn't be a requirement. The cast should be a intentional mix of races and nationalities, with a balance of genders.

Captain: Don't think there's any way around the captain being Human.

GET
TPTB and the writers are going to have some set ideas, but will mostly be making this up as they go. Previously establish prime universe detail will be morph'ed and altered to suit the need of whatever way the story line flows.

It will be on a ship, big and bristling with weapons. A large crew so lot's of people can be killed without involving the main cast (sucks to be Ensign Ricky).

12 to 15 episodes, dumped at once.

A big name "star," and everyone else will basically be no-bodies.

Captain will be a Human, white, male, straight, single, early thirties, physically perfect, damned good looking.

+

 

[Shalashaska]

Writers today seem oddly keen on NOT giving the audience what they want, but what the writers want instead, assuming that giving the audience what they want spells certain doom. Because the audience is a collective moron, I suppose. Too bad. As if writers are not part of the same humanity - perhaps once fans themselves until they set themselves apart on a higher plane. It makes me wonder why they make the effort for us and where and how they actually find their personal success, if not from a desire to offer something that pleases others. Is it selfish? I want to see writers who find a way to be with, listen to, and respect the audience and make a success of it.

I don't know what shows you're watching.

We're in a "golden era" for great TV right now and most audiences are very pleased with what writers are giving them.

 

[JoeCabby]

Universe: Want: Prime+100 years Get: Prime
Setting: Want/Get: Elsewhere, I don't think it's gonna be a starship, my guess is the Earth, but the story will take us to other planets.
Episodes: Want and Get - One-at-a-time (old fashion)
How Much: Want: 24 episodes, Get: 16 episodes
Cast: Want/Get Just Good Actors?
Captain: Want and Get: Human, gender makes no difference to me.

 

[JoeZhang]

Want: a big sign in the writer's room that says 'f**k the fans'
Get: some level of pandering with cameos and other crap.

 

[JWPlatt]

Want: a big sign in the writer's room that says 'f**k the fans'

A paradoxical request.

 

[Zonker]

Universe
Want: I'd slightly prefer the Prime Universe but I'd also be happy to explore the nuverse.
Get: I also think it's slightly more likely that we'd get the prime verse, but I'm definitely not ruling out the JJ-verse.

Setting
Want: I think setting the show on the station was one of DS9's biggest strengths, the change in location not only gave it a different feel but also impacted its other strengths such as the amount of recurring characters, the long running arcs and by extension the character development.
That being said, they'd have to do a very good job in order to make a stationary show feel right. I'm not sure I trust them to do this especially not right off the bat. I definitely don't want another space station. If they're going to do another stationary show they better come up with an original way to do it. One way I would accept a station however is if it was sort of a hybrid show, with a ship based out of a certain station that goes out on adventures of its own but comes back to the station every few episodes. That could be interesting
Get: We're almost definitely getting a ship. May or may not be named Enterprise.

Captain
Want: I'd like to see an alien that doesn't conform to our ideas of gender but is completely normal for their species. Since that's probably not going to happen I'd like to see a minority female human captain.
Get: Human, race and gender are up in the air.


The rest of these issues I am not knowledgeable about to have an opinion that's even valuable to myself let alone anyone else on the forum. Though I will add one of my own.

Pacing
Want: Enterprise is actually did a very good model of what I would want. The first two seasons were mostly standalone episodes but had certain arcs weaving throughout the seasons. Season 3 had one long season arc with only a couple of diversions from the main point of the season and I thought this paid off very well. The fourth season was composed of a lot of two and three episode mini arcs that concluded pretty quickly. The point is varying the serialization of the show over the various seasons could allow for lots of different storytelling styles and I think would greatly benefit the show.
Get: Heavily serialized shows are starting to become popular so its very possible that we could get a show with one (or multiple) very long arcs that take up most if not all of the show. On the other hand more episodic shows haven't gone away so its very possible that we could get that as well. I think it's likely that we will get some combination like I suggested.

 

[SpaceLama]

• WANT: Prime or Full Reboot. GET: Not sure.
• WANT: Enterprise or Other Ship GET: Enterprise or Other Ship
• WANT: 26 Episodes GET: 10 Episodes (woe)
• WANT: Ben Browder, Huge Laurie, Claudia Black, Michael Shanks, Manu Bennet, Lisa Edelstein, Tom Hiddleston, Lucy Lawless, etc, etc, etc GET: People I don't know.
• WANT: Woman/Alien/Bisexual/Asian/Blind Casting Captain GET: Not sure.

 

[benjaminh]

In terms of how many episodes we'll have a season, I think it's much more likely we'll have a higher number. Most CBS shows have c. 22-24 episodes a season. But since this show is starting mid-season, I think we'll have c. 10-12 episodes for the first season, ramping up to c. 22-24 for the second season.

They are going to really have to hustle to get the premiere episode done in January. I'm confident they are going to release an episode every couple of weeks or so, as soon as they are done. To have an "all at once viewing" would mean waiting until c. May to get 10 or so episodes finished. Plus, all at once would be totally contrary to their desire to get people to pay for this service every month. If it was all at once you could join for a month and then cancel. They are never going to do that.

Since this show is the cornerstone of All-Access, unless you're giving fans new episodes every month there will be less incentive for renewing.

Another interesting question is how much in terms of production budget are they going to have per episode. My guess is that it will get a pretty generous budget. I think right now Game of Thrones is the most expensive TV show around, at c. 7 million or so per episode. But they are HBO and only do ten episodes per season. My guess is that CBS will still budget a fairly nice c. $4 million baseline budget.

The premiere episode, however, is going to cost several times that. The most expensive Star Trek episode ever made was the premiere episode of Voyager. Caretaker had casting problems, hair problems, lots of location photography, huge sets, lots of fx, etc. Anyway, it ending up costing c. $23 million back in 1995, which, adjusting for inflation would be about $35 million today. I don't think they'll let it go that high, but I'm guessing they'll want something spectacular that has a lot of the qualities of a movie—and that costs big money. My guess is that they'll budget at least $25 million for the premiere, and maybe more.

 

[stardream]

• Universe: Prime or JJ-Verse? I don't care. Will probably get Prime as the JJ-verse seems to be designated for the movies.
• Setting: Enterprise or Elsewhere? I would want Enterprise to be part of it but at the same time some other setting to be included. A space station or another ship perhaps. A new colony? What we will get...I have no idea.
• Episodes: All-at-Once (binge) or One-at-a-time (old fashion) Don't care as long as we don't have the dreaded 'filler' episodes. I don't mind stand along stories or bottle episodes but make them mean something. What we will get...once again I am not sure.
• How Much: 13 episodes (pay cable), 16 (basic cable), 20 (hybrid), 24+ (standard) Twenty seems good to me. Not sure where CBS will go with this one.
• Cast: A Few "Names" or Just Good Actors? At least ONE well known face be it man or woman. We will probably get several.
• Captain: Human, Alien? Male, Female? I WANT an alien. Will probably get a human male. Perhaps he will be Asian this time.

 

[T'Girl]

Want: a big sign in the writer's room that says 'f**k the fans'

Yes ... nothing improves a show like not caring what the audience thinks.



+

 

[Dukhat]

• Universe: Prime or JJ-Verse? - don't really care.
  
• Setting: Enterprise or Elsewhere? - don't really care.
  
• Episodes: All-at-Once (binge) or One-at-a-time (old fashion) - I'm not a binge watcher unless it's animation like Family Guy or Futurama, so one at a time.
  
• How Much: 13 episodes (pay cable), 16 (basic cable), 20 (hybrid), 24+ (standard) - I'd be happy with a 6 episode season like Red Dwarf, if those 6 episodes are outstanding.
  
• Cast: A Few "Names" or Just Good Actors? - all unknowns.
  
• Captain: Human, Alien? Male, Female? - a testosterone-fueled human dude.

 

[JoeZhang]

Yes ... nothing improves a show like not caring what the audience thinks.



+

Absolutely - I'm glad you agree.

 

[STEPhon IT]

WANT:
Something different from TOS, and TNG universe.

A person of color for the Captain. There's been enough white faces to represent the franchise. This is the 21st Century, producers need to start being progressive.
The crew should be diversified and doesn't simply mean more white women, but different people with cultural backgrounds and the writing should support that as well.

SETTING:
As long it's not in TNG universes or TOS universe so it doesn't get caught up in fanboy continuity; so I don't have to deal with guys like Michael Okuda and Rick Sternbach retroactively rewriting the tech from previous productions just to make things accord to their TNG world. That was disrespectful to art and hard work the previous professionals had done on Star Trek. I didn't like it then, I don't like it now. And hire new tech-advisors/ designers who will not honor what TNG guys done but try to do something different. Make it their own take on Star Trek and go with it.

EPISODES:
Make them stand alone shows, and not something I have to tune in through and through. I think episodes are stronger when they have something to say, and what the character learn from it, than something continuous and redundant like DS9 4th thru the 7th seasons where I ended up watching a finale which couldn't wrap up much of anything.

NEED:
The costumes should stay away from Nicholas Meyers vision of Star Trek; it needs to be more in the vein of Gene Roddenberry's Star Trek. The costumes I want bright and colorful, and I don't give a f*ck if Meyer thinks they're pajamas, the uniforms should be comfortable and identifiable for space travel.

The Starship should be more like JJ Abrams starship; something in the vein of Matt Jefferies fantastic Star Trek designs. And nothing like what was done on TNG universe. Ships who look beautiful and not edgy for battle. It's called Star Trek NOT Star Wars... something Rick Berman forgot to inform his production team when they did those horrible movies and the so-called prequel which will never be for me, Star Trek: Enterprise. The ship must be beautiful.

 

[Kor]

Want: Something that actually entertains me, unlike a great deal of televised Trek from 1987 onward.

What we'll get: Who knows?

Kor

 

[Shalashaska]

Yes ... nothing improves a show like not caring what the audience thinks.



+

I don't think he was being serious.