Why do fans have a strict interpretation of Trek?

[Solomon Grace]

Well, speaking as a fan of Star Trek for 35 years now, I find it odd that true fans would find fault in any Star Trek series or movie. To judge one series or movie against another is just mind boggling to me. Everyone got down on Enterprise when it came out because it was a prequel that did not roll in line with TOS. Some fans are hating on the new movie for the same reason. I look at it this way. Star Trek is always evolving and is based on the technology level at the time. In the 60's, computer tech and space science was, well, in it's infancy. Computer banks took up huge rooms, our take on space travel was limited to just getting to the moon. Mr. Roodenberry created Star Trek with his take on the future based on the technological level of the 60's. Now today, with our level of technology, it is logical that series and movies that come out now would be radically different from when the TOS came into existence. For an example, let's take the a look at the tricorder. In the TOS, it was bulky, plain and overall cumbersome. With our level of miniaturazation today, do you really think the future tricorder would look like that of the TOS or be similar to the scanning devices used in ENT? In reference to the new movie, do you think the bridge of starship would have all those switches and buttons everywhere like the TOS Enterprise or would it have more touch screen interfaces like the Enterprise in the new movie?

I think a lot of fans are stuck in the 60's and base everything Star Trek by the TOS and that is just plain wrong IMHO. We as fans have to evolve just as Star Trek has evolved.

As far as the series goes, I think they all contribute in some way to display a different take on Humanity.

ENT-Humans begin to venture out into the unknown while struggling to leave its bigotry, hatred and prejudices behind while at the same time growing as a people taking that step into a bigger universe.

TOS-Humans now have a better understanding of the unknown and find their place in the bigger universe while at the same time expanding their knowledge of it.

TNG-Humans have become leaders and seek to improve the needs of the many and continue to explore the ever expanding universe.

DS9-Shows the darker side of the utopia that is the Federation and proves things are not as perfect as believed.

VOY-Further opened up the expansion of exploration and showed that you can maintain the values and beliefs of Starfleet and the Federation, no matter to the odds stacked up against you.

So to all you fans who can not accept change, just remember this. It's all about the logical progression of Star Trek's timeline. You will have to evolve your thinking and imagination. That's my two cents.

 

[Andrew_Kearley]

Well, speaking as a fan of Star Trek for 35 years now, I find it odd that true fans would find fault in any Star Trek series or movie.

I don't. You can't be a fan of something if you don't like it. I like the original series. And it's clear that it's stylistically very different from the more modern shows. I'm not talking about differences in technology, but in the writing and performance, the style of the storytelling and characterizations. The modern shows just do not speak to me in the way the original series did. Now, I have found TNG, DS9 and even VOY to be entertaining enough television, though I never caught many episodes of ENT - but they don't affect me in the way the original show did. I don't see why, being a fan of Star Trek, means I automatically have to accept any other production that happens to have the words Star Trek in the title. It doesn't follow at all. Let me stress again: I don't dislike or disapprove of modern Trek, but I can't just blindly accept it either.

 

[trevanian]

It's all about the logical progression of Star Trek's timeline. You will have to evolve your thinking and imagination. That's my two cents.

It's pretty weird use of the words 'logical progression' to me. I don't see any logical progression at all, just a matter of circumstance, fate and mostly dumb luck. Two of the more interesting feature projects for TREK, PLANET OF THE TITANS and the HEART OF DARKNESS version of INSURRECTION, never got made, and yet if either had, it would have messed with your logical progressions significantly.

As a result, with such a level of arbitrary development to the various series and films, there can't be a grand unified theory of trek, and it would also follow that you couldn't really be a devotee of all things trek unless you had no standards whatsoever outside of the name being slapped on it.

 

[Trek Survivor]

For instance, despite all of the various incarnations of Star Wars stories, you rarely hear a Sat Wars fan say something like..."That's not Star Wars." Like fans anywhere, Star Wars fans argue about the varying quality of the stories, but no one ever argues that something is out of bounds for that universe.

You're kidding, right? Go peruse the daily whining on this very subject over at Rebelscum and then get back to us!

You'll also find Indiana Jones fans who refuse to accept the most recent movie; and Red Dwarf fans to refuse to accept the recent "Back To Earth" specials (heck, even Series VII and VIII).

All fandoms have it.

 

[Solomon Grace]

It's all about the logical progression of Star Trek's timeline. You will have to evolve your thinking and imagination. That's my two cents.

It's pretty weird use of the words 'logical progression' to me. I don't see any logical progression at all, just a matter of circumstance, fate and mostly dumb luck. Two of the more interesting feature projects for TREK, PLANET OF THE TITANS and the HEART OF DARKNESS version of INSURRECTION, never got made, and yet if either had, it would have messed with your logical progressions significantly.

As a result, with such a level of arbitrary development to the various series and films, there can't be a grand unified theory of trek, and it would also follow that you couldn't really be a devotee of all things trek unless you had no standards whatsoever outside of the name being slapped on it.

I guess I have no standards or maybe I'm wired wrong because I have not seen a Star Trek series or movie that I did not enjoy immensely. Sure, there are some episodes of the series and some of the movies I enjoy watching over and over again, but I don't compare this series against that series because they are just another part of telling stories in the Star Trek universe and to me can't really be compared. So, basically, yeah, if it has Star Trek in it's name or is related to it, I know I will enjoy it. But that's just me.

 

[RoJoHen]

It's all about the logical progression of Star Trek's timeline. You will have to evolve your thinking and imagination. That's my two cents.

It's pretty weird use of the words 'logical progression' to me. I don't see any logical progression at all, just a matter of circumstance, fate and mostly dumb luck. Two of the more interesting feature projects for TREK, PLANET OF THE TITANS and the HEART OF DARKNESS version of INSURRECTION, never got made, and yet if either had, it would have messed with your logical progressions significantly.

As a result, with such a level of arbitrary development to the various series and films, there can't be a grand unified theory of trek, and it would also follow that you couldn't really be a devotee of all things trek unless you had no standards whatsoever outside of the name being slapped on it.

I guess I have no standards or maybe I'm wired wrong because I have not seen a Star Trek series or movie that I did not enjoy immensely. Sure, there are some episodes of the series and some of the movies I enjoy watching over and over again, but I don't compare this series against that series because they are just another part of telling stories in the Star Trek universe and to me can't really be compared. So, basically, yeah, if it has Star Trek in it's name or is related to it, I know I will enjoy it. But that's just me.

I thought "Enterprise" was lame and the characters were boring. I thought "Nemesis" was one of the worst movies I've ever seen. And on top of it, I've never seen more than a handful of episodes from the Original Series.

But they're all Star Trek. I accept that they exist. I don't have to like them. Hell, I don't even have to watch them, but they're still there.

I have never liked the idea of "personal canon." If it happened on screen, it happened. I don't care how you feel about it.