Your ideal New Trek Series

[C.E. Evans]

The problem with any new series is that you run into timeline issues involving previous ST series.

That's only a problem due to bad writing or frequent attempts to go back in history and alter some things. Otherwise, Trek's continuity is merely its history, and unless a new series is hell-bent on dealing with it on a regular basis (such as in a prequel), it's really only something that's touched upon very briefly & generally, and occasionally serves as a basis for new stories (like TNG did with the Klingons from the TOS movies, DS9 with the Cardassians from TNG, and VOY initially with the Maquis from DS9). They didn't spend a whole lot of time trying to explain them, they were all simply fait accompli, which is the way Trek's continuity is usually handled onscreen.

 

[IrishNero]

I would think that at some point, they'd employ a good Star Trek 'historian' (if they don't already) to review scripts and ensure they maintain cohesiveness with Star Trek canon. Maybe it's not that important (it's not that important to me, to be honest) unless they just go overstepping things blatantly. I honestly wouldn't even notice a minor thing like different buttons on Klingon battle-wear but I'd be apt to notice a major timeline issue.

 

[C.E. Evans]

I would think that at some point, they'd employ a good Star Trek 'historian' (if they don't already) to review scripts and ensure they maintain cohesiveness with Star Trek canon.

It's not really an issue of the often-misinterpreted canon (that deals with the licensing business of Trek), but of continuity (how well things fit together onscreen). And the various Trek shows since at least TNG did have people--namely script editors and technical advisors--who kept track of the various aspects of Trek's fictional history. They weren't perfect and sometimes the occasional mistake slipped through, but they succeeded more often than not, IMO.

 

[Orphalesion]

What I understand a lot of what people upset about Enterprise (humans meeting Klingons "too early" T'Pol being in Starfleet before Kirk) did not really contradict continuity as presented on-screen but rather fanon that had been entrenched since the 70s or something, but ultimately had just been made up by fan-magazines, third-party publications etc. So yeah, the continuity was one of the less severe problems of Enterprise.
Not sure if people complained that the NX+equipment looked more advanced than Kirk's Enterprise, but....come on...they can't make a "science fiction" show with technology that's more primitive than the extremely 60s tech from TOS...

 

[Tim Walker]

I've noticed that in the future histories of several space operas that is a explosive period of colonization, just after the invention of FTL. We can imagine groups setting out to preserve their religion, or language, or promote a political ideology. Adventurers trying to make a fortune.....

 

[C.E. Evans]

What I understand a lot of what people upset about Enterprise (humans meeting Klingons "too early" T'Pol being in Starfleet before Kirk) did not really contradict continuity as presented on-screen but rather fanon that had been entrenched since the 70s or something, but ultimately had just been made up by fan-magazines, third-party publications etc. So yeah, the continuity was one of the less severe problems of Enterprise.

There were perhaps a few continuity gaffes in ENT, but no more so than in other Trek shows (if often not less so than other Trek shows). I think they worked some things into the crawl spaces of continuity with the approach of "is there something that flat-out says this didn't happen?" or "would this be considered water under the bridge by the time of TOS or TNG?"

Not sure if people complained that the NX+equipment looked more advanced than Kirk's Enterprise, but....come on...they can't make a "science fiction" show with technology that's more primitive than the extremely 60s tech from TOS...

There were definitely complaints (and sometimes heated debates) about the tech in ENT looking more advanced than that in TOS--and maybe some of it was initially valid from the standpoint of maintaining the visual continuity of a fictional universe--but I think the two-part "In A Mirror, Darkly" went a long way of showing that looks aren't everything, IMO. If nothing else, it suggests that styles change regardless if its clothes or starship designs.

As far as not being able to make things look less advanced than TOS...some folks didn't notice that many of the hairstyles in ENT were more in keeping with the early 60s (or even late 50s). Others did notice that by the time of ENT's fourth season, the NX-01's bridge displays--namely the various colored monitor "blinkies"--were looking more like those from TOS.

There's been speculation that had ENT continued past its fourth season, we would have seen even more TOS stylings in the show. Maybe if ENT had continued beyond four seasons, things would have eventually ended up looking a lot like TOS as far as designs go.

 

[Bry_Sinclair]

What I understand a lot of what people upset about Enterprise (humans meeting Klingons "too early" T'Pol being in Starfleet before Kirk) did not really contradict continuity as presented on-screen but rather fanon that had been entrenched since the 70s or something

Personally, I would've preferred it if they had left the Klingons out of ENT as they are a race that has been over-used in Trek without any new angle given to them for a while. The story could've worked just as well if it was an Andorian running from the Suliban on Earth. As for the whole Vulcans in Starfleet thing, by the time of TOS the UFP had been going for a century, for Spock to be the first Vulcan to enter Starfleet is simply ridiculous--especially with IDIC.

Not sure if people complained that the NX+equipment looked more advanced than Kirk's Enterprise, but....come on...they can't make a "science fiction" show with technology that's more primitive than the extremely 60s tech from TOS...

Hated the look of the ship, had they gone with Doug Drexler's "refit" from the beginning I would've been happier. As for the tech they used, they could've held back on the photon's and stuck with their original torpedoes, but other than that I liked seeing all the gadgets we've come to know and love in their infancy.

When it comes to the looks, its all very basic and exposed, TOS-era Starfleet is more 'lavish' and 'decadent' in their styling and finishing--which makes sense for an organisation that has celebrated a hundred years of (relative) peace and prosperity.

 

[T'Girl]

I've noticed that in the future histories of several space operas that is a explosive period of colonization, just after the invention of FTL. We can imagine groups setting out to preserve their religion, or language, or promote a political ideology.

Plus at the time of the discovery of warp drive, parts of Earth were still beat up a decade after WWIII, people would want to leave Earth, just to leave Earth.

 

[IrishNero]

Not sure if people complained that the NX+equipment looked more advanced than Kirk's Enterprise, but....come on...they can't make a "science fiction" show with technology that's more primitive than the extremely 60s tech from TOS...

They did complain and I remember the complaints. I don't know what people would expect, given that over 3 decades separated the two shows. Heck, Enterprise has been off the air for a little less than a decade and what was cutting edge at the time the show began, such as flat screen monitors, are extremely common and much thinner now. I don't know what people should realistically expect in that regard with such a vast period of time between shows.

I remember reading that one of the techs snatched up just about every existing blue LED on the West Coast to create some of the various scenery and props for Enterprise (apparently blue LEDs were somehow harder to make). Now they are as common as candy but in 2001...

 

[C.E. Evans]

Not sure if people complained that the NX+equipment looked more advanced than Kirk's Enterprise, but....come on...they can't make a "science fiction" show with technology that's more primitive than the extremely 60s tech from TOS...

They did complain and I remember the complaints. I don't know what people would expect, given that over 3 decades separated the two shows.

In hindsight, a lot of the complaints had less to do with the passage of time between TOS and ENT and more to do with latter playing it a bit too safe, perhaps not being daring enough to break the mold that often from its predecessors. I think the majority of folks weren't expecting the show to really have less advanced VFXs than TOS (although there are always a few exceptions here and there).

 

[eyeresist]

In hindsight, a lot of the complaints had less to do with the passage of time between TOS and ENT and more to do with latter playing it a bit too safe, perhaps not being daring enough to break the mold that often from its predecessors.

My impression was the opposite, and most critics reacted against everything that was different from the shows they knew. I think what they really wanted was just TNG with a slightly different ship.

 

[C.E. Evans]

In hindsight, a lot of the complaints had less to do with the passage of time between TOS and ENT and more to do with latter playing it a bit too safe, perhaps not being daring enough to break the mold that often from its predecessors.

My impression was the opposite, and most critics reacted against everything that was different from the shows they knew. I think what they really wanted was just TNG with a slightly different ship.

Heh...many complaints were that it was just TNG (or VOY) with a slightly different ship.

 

[PDX Trek]

I would enjoy a series about Robert April, the first Captain of the 1701. Fits nicely between Enterprise and TOS.

 

[eyeresist]

^ How do you know you would enjoy it if it hasn't even been made?

 

[PDX Trek]

^ How do you know you would enjoy it if it hasn't even been made?

Hey, it's THAT good of a show!

 

[darkthunder]

To me, I'd like to see the next show set at/around one of these time periods (in the Prime universe, not the JJ-alternate reality universe):

- Romulan/Earth War (Post-ENT, not centered on the NX-01)
- Pre-TOS (Robert April commanding)
- "Lost" era (Enterprise-B/Enterprise-C time period)
- Post-VOY (15-20 years after Voyager's return)

Basically, either of the known gaps in Trek history. I think the easiest would be to set the new show beyond Voyager. Not as big of a risk of running into continuity issues, while still retaining the possibility of cameos.

The Romulan-Earth War is a time period that should've been part of ENT (instead of the Temporal Cold War bs). I feel we as fans were cheated out of this storyline, when they decided to cancel the show prematurely. Like the idea of setting a show post-Voyager, a Romulan/Earth War show could still feature cameos from previous crew. Should not be focused on the NX-01 specifically. Maybe the NX-02 Columbia, or one of the later sister ships.

 

[T'Girl]

I would enjoy a series about Robert April, the first Captain of the 1701. Fits nicely between Enterprise and TOS.

With TOS in the mid 2260's that would make the time periods mid 2240's or so?

It would be a (not completely) clean slate, room for real inventiveness from the writers. We know next to nothing about April himself, TAS has him married to a doctor (forget her name), but it's unclear when the marriage occurred and he could be single in the show. Perhaps he could marry in a later season.

The show wouldn't suffer from what I refer to as "excessive magic technology" like a show set in the 25th century would.

 

[Tim Walker]

I have been having trouble linking to a web site ("Border's Edge-Star Trek Border Patrol").

With a shortage of ships/personnel, a post-war Star Fleet off loads much security/policing to private military companies.

 

[Riley]

I don't know how unique or different this would be from Enterprise, but I've always wanted to see what it was (or would be) like on the very first Federation starship constructed after the birth of the Federation and the end of the Romulan War.

The Federation and Starfleet are in new territory: no longer embroiled in war, they are now a new entity dedicated to exploration. The first ship designed and crewed by members of all the founding worlds would be a historical endeavor and would be a great setting for conflict and character development.

Obviously, there wouldn't be Vulcans on this ship (unless Spock's status as the first Vulcan in Starfleet is ignored or the series is set in the Abramsverse) but there would be Terrans, Andorians, Tellarites, and maybe a few other races. If memory serves, the Alpha Centaurians were founding members. They'd be an interesting concept to explore: originally human, they've evolved due colony life.

These races' governments may have become the Federation, but how would individuals feel about working together? Surely there would be distrust and drama.

As for the ship itself, I'd go with a play on that NX refit from Doug Drexler and call it (and the show) Phoenix, named after Cochrane's ship.

 

[eyeresist]

^ Phoenix would be an apt name for any new Star Trek series.