Where should Star Trek go next if going forward?

[ralfy]

I know it does, and on the surface level it sounds very appealing. But, this hints at a dystopian worldview that struggles to be optimistic. And given DISCO's current reception as "too dark" I'm not convinced that it would work.

Personally, a post Dominion War style reconstruction era, with new frontiers being expanded would be more interesting, and still be able to showcase the optimism despite the struggles of the war. And, in all honesty, you could work in that potential collapse and invasion, really combine the struggles of the Roman Empire and the United States post Civil War Reconstruction but with more optimism.

It's a "yes," then?

 

[velour]

Personally, a post Dominion War style reconstruction era, with new frontiers being expanded would be more interesting, and still be able to showcase the optimism despite the struggles of the war. And, in all honesty, you could work in that potential collapse and invasion, really combine the struggles of the Roman Empire and the United States post Civil War Reconstruction but with more optimism.

I like your idea.

I am curious what the post Dominion War galactic order looks like; how the various powers fared and if new rivalries or alliances arose in the aftermath of the war.

You hit the nail on the head there, which has been exactly my focus, too; developing things showing a while past the Dominion War, and how they're still working through issues caused by it is a great new focus. Heck, I want to see the Breen used again. Don't know about anyone else, but they're a really interesting species to me.

The Breen (is it singular or plural?) are intriguing. However, a big problem with the Breen is the spacesuit that they wear. If they are going to be in spacesuits all the time, I wouldn't find them to be compelling tv characters. I would want to see their eyes and their facial expressions.

Maybe we could see more of the Tosk species and other Gamma Quadrant aliens that we haven't seen before. Btw, some of the Tosk that appeared on DS9 wore a spacesuit that was somewhat similar to the Breen. Perhaps there was an exchange of technology between the two.

And I wouldn't mind seeing the Jem'Hadr again. I didn't grow tire of them.

 

[TheGameAce]

I like your idea.

I am curious what the post Dominion War galactic order looks like; how the various powers fared and if new rivalries or alliances arose in the aftermath of the war.


The Breen (is it singular or plural?) are intriguing. However, a big problem with the Breen is the spacesuit that they wear. If they are going to be in spacesuits all the time, I wouldn't find them to be compelling tv characters. I would want to see their eyes and their facial expressions.

Maybe we could see more of the Tosk species and other Gamma Quadrant aliens that we haven't seen before. Btw, some of the Tosk that appeared on DS9 wore a spacesuit that was somewhat similar to the Breen. Perhaps there was an exchange of technology between the two.

And I wouldn't mind seeing the Jem'Hadr again. I didn't grow tire of them.

Singular and plural. I explained my reasoning for why I think their suits still work out in the thread I dedicated to the matter. Aside from that, I'd argue that we've had masked characters in both TV and Movies that have worked before, such as Darth Vader for example. If they were going to appear like the Klingons in Discovery or the Cardassians in DS9 did, constantly around for a good majority of episodes, then maybe it could end up being an issue. I think it depends on how well they're portrayed.
Gamma Quadrant is one area I do want to have explored, although I never really figured on featuring the Jem'Hadr again. Thinking about it now though, it may be interesting to see what happened to them, since the Dominion is destroyed and they relied on the Dominion.

 

[velour]

Gamma Quadrant is one area I do want to have explored, although I never really figured on featuring the Jem'Hadr again. Thinking about it now though, it may be interesting to see what happened to them, since the Dominion is destroyed and they relied on the Dominion.

Yes, it would be interesting. There are still plenty of possible story arcs that can be done with the Jem'Hadr.

I saw "Hippocratic Oath" recently. It was a really good episode about the rogue Jem'Hadr that Bashir and O'Brien encountered. Reminded me of Hugh. What happened to him? Are there others like him? After the war, did some Jem'Hadr lose faith in the Founders and rebelled? And remember there were the Alpha Quadrant Jem'Hadr. Could there have been a civil war between the different factions after they returned to the Gamma Quadrant?

There are possibilities.

 

[Uhura's Song]

I like the post Dominion War reconstruction thing. All kinds of possibilities. Vulcan/Romulan unification? Romulan/Federation relations. Status of the Klingons? Visit lots of worlds hit hard by the war. Can take a federation tour. Plus all the gamma quadrant species.

Could also take a look at how the Borg reacted to Janeway's move to get Voyager home. Or the discovery of another one of those nodes would make travel a LOT easier.

 

[TheGameAce]

Yes, it would be interesting. There are still plenty of possible story arcs that can be done with the Jem'Hadr.

I saw "Hippocratic Oath" recently. It was a really good episode about the rogue Jem'Hadr that Bashir and O'Brien encountered. Reminded me of Hugh. What happened to him? Are there others like him? After the war, did some Jem'Hadr lose faith in the Founders and rebelled? And remember there were the Alpha Quadrant Jem'Hadr. Could there have been a civil war between the different factions after they returned to the Gamma Quadrant?

There are possibilities.

Indeed, and after mentioning that I think I'll try to incorporate the idea at a later point. Definitely think it's worth revisiting them at a point, especially with more exploration of the Gamma Quadrant.

I like the post Dominion War reconstruction thing. All kinds of possibilities. Vulcan/Romulan unification? Romulan/Federation relations. Status of the Klingons? Visit lots of worlds hit hard by the war. Can take a federation tour. Plus all the gamma quadrant species.

Could also take a look at how the Borg reacted to Janeway's move to get Voyager home. Or the discovery of another one of those nodes would make travel a LOT easier.

Exactly my thoughts! 25+ years later, reconstruction, etc, gives so many opportunities based on where TNG, Voyager, and DS9 left things off. Not sure what I'd say just yet for Vulcan/Romulan relations, or Romulan/Federation relations, other than at least maybe some minor improvement, but Klingons I think are best fitting as solid Federation allies currently, especially due to Worf and Martok.
Gamma Quadrant definitely has tons of possibilities, including like you said, visiting planets that suffered during the war or under the control of the Dominion, such as the new generation of people on that one planet the Dominion left with a horrible disease that Bashir found a vaccine for.

 

[WarpTenLizard]

I think the crew of the Orville would upvote this comment.

Why not just do an animated series. It's not like we're living in the days were cartoons are still consider children's fare, and we've had an animated series in the past. Personally, I'd go with an anime style on this one.

My sister and I discussed this recently. With how popular anime and animation in general is with the same crowd that tends to like "Star Trek," it's rather odd that they haven't attempted another animated series. If there was ever a time it could be done right, it's now.

And the best thing is that characters from TNG, DS9 and Voyager could return, since aging is far less of an issue for voice acting.

 

[Tim Walker]

There could be a change in tone. Bry Sinclair wrote Trek stories about a motley crew of black sheep, aboard a ship scorned as piece of junk. Sinclair's posts include a link to the U.S.S. Orion.

Instead of the best and brightest, think of misfits, recovering alcoholics/drug addicts, people who have violated regulations, people with relationship problems....depression....

http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/RagtagBunchOfMisfits

http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/LoserProtagonist

http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/GoodFlawsBadFlaws

Contrasted with crew members in the Everyman archetype. The person with capacities and talents which soar the heights of...average. This might be a rookie who stumbles due to inexperience, or an aging officer with a lackluster career.

May become a Jaded Washout.

http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/AlBundy

On the other hand, Everymen may be an average person thrust into extraordinary circumstances.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Everyman

http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/TheEveryman

The captain of the ship may be somewhat above average, but not exceptional.

 

[Spot261]

And the best thing is that characters from TNG, DS9 and Voyager could return, since aging is far less of an issue for voice acting.

It would be if we wanted an early Wesley Crusher

 

[Tim Walker]

Trek has had an optimistic streak. At its best, it could be expressed thus: We may be imperfect people, from an imperfect society, but today we will rise above doing the expedient thing, and do the right thing.

Likewise, I could see a a form of optimism in the lives of individuals-over coming their personal difficulties, and rising to the occasion in a difficult situation.

(Which is a lot more interesting than the TNG conceit about being perfect people of a utopian society).

Two different strands of optimism might blend together. Imagine someone-scorned as a loser-being thrust into an extraordinary situation.

 

[Tim Walker]

This may seem like a small thing, but instead of having it be set in the middle of the century it takes place in, I'd like to see it start around the beginning (2400s). So it's in line with the idea of a new century, fresh new possibilities, optimism, instead of being more than midway thru and looking ahead to the next one already. Like we are (it's 2017, not 2067).

Let's have a show that people can watch as a family. That doesn't gloss over hard issues but doesn't bathe us in blood and evil either.

Good points!

Personally, a post Dominion War style reconstruction era, with new frontiers being expanded would be more interesting, and still be able to showcase the optimism despite the struggles of the war.

The early 25th century could be a sort of interregnum, the period between two distinct Eras. Galactic politics could be relatively calm, due to a peace of exhaustion. Game changing technologies may still be in an experimental stage. Society is relatively quiescent, because people are busy rebuilding.

However... During Reconstruction, America had a frontier. In a Trek context, that frontier could be far more diverse...even mind boggling...than the American frontier.

 

[fireproof78]

However... During Reconstruction, America had a frontier. In a Trek context, that frontier could be far more diverse...even mind boggling...than the American frontier.

That would be nice.

 

[Tim Walker]

Yes, I imagine a diverse, cosmopolitan frontier....

http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/SpaceWestern

with unwittingly settlers in a volume of space ....

similar to the Bermuda Triangle....

http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/BermudaTriangle

 

[Donker]

I think probably the most interesting thing would be looking at the Romulan empire and the chaos after the destruction of Romulus. You could have several factions, revolutionaries taking advantage of the chaos, ultra-reactionary pro-Imperial zealots, Those who want Unification.

You could do a lot of interesting things with that and flesh out (and much needed reboot/redesign) the Romulans.

 

[Tim Walker]

As for a change of tone, I was rewatching the scene in which Nog explains to Sisko why he wants to join Star Fleet. This gave the Ferengi species a bit of depth-individuals who don't fit into the Ferengi stereotype.

Which would make Rom and Nog misfits-that is, they had something to offer, but they didn't fit into the "Yankee trader" role expected of them.

 

[F. King Daniel]

If Star Trek is to move forward, they need to introduce more children for Sarek.

 

[Valenti]

Well it's already gone too far and back with Voyager but Enterprise deserves a new take, a new ship (not a saucer), reimagined reason and premise for leaving our galaxy to begin with - and a new threat to Earth.

 

[fireproof78]

If Star Trek is to move forward, they need to introduce more children for Sarek.

Well, Picard does have a wedding to attend so...

 

[Valenti]

Star Trek has decided to go sideways now with disco and their novel approach which is to throw huge amounts of money into a mish mash.

 

[Herbert]

My issue with recent Trek is the change in look and tone. I know some people like and welcome that and that's fine. I do not welcome it. I want my trek to look and feel like TNG/DS9/VOY.
Yes, I do realize that's probably not coming back.