How would you improve Star Trek? Seriously - Science Fiction Fantasy Chronicles: forums

Neo · 22nd April 2002, 01:21 AM

The original Star Trek series got an Emmy nod for Best Dramatic Series. The Star Trek animated series got a Daytime Emmy nod for Best Children's Entertainment. Star Trek: The Next Generation got an Emmy nod for Best Dramatic Series in 1994. But ever since, Deep Space Nine, Voyager and now, Enterprise, has never gotten such prestigious nods. Sure, we've won many makeup and cinematography awards, but not ones for actors, writing, series and such.

How would you improve Star Trek? For instance, what would you do to make the current Enterprise series get a nod for Best Dramatic Series in a few years?

ray gower · 22nd April 2002, 01:36 AM

I think I would look at the continuity more.

Use the episodes to weave a story, not just an event to be got over. Events should have a cause and effect that carries from show to show.

Broken Bow was good because there was time for the actors to hint there was something behind their characters. It added a little drama and feel.
It started to happen in DS9, but too late, everybody had given up. It rarely appeared in Voyager after the second show, because it was always so rushed, when it did it brought some excellent shows

Dave · 24th April 2002, 12:49 AM

I would agree with Ray, they would need to weave story arcs and not finish every story each week to start again afresh the next week.

Unfortunately, they won't do this, because they think that they will lose viewers who don't watch every episode and cannot follow the convoluted plot.

My reaction to this is disbelief. Firstly, real fans never miss an episode.

Secondly, soap operas have huge followings, and no one complains about them doing exactly this.

Thirdly, why can't they make use of "ON THE LAST EPISODE OF STAR TREK....." Other shows do this, but Star Trek rarely does.

Fourthly, do they think the audience is so stupid it cannot follow a plot when they do miss an episode?

Cpt Larraq · 24th April 2002, 08:52 AM

There should be no technobabble. If the science is not realistic than there is no purpose in keeping it there. Keep it simple.
I think there should be a spin-off series that branches off from convention. Instead of a ship on a mission of peaceful exploration how about a Federation Captain who broke off from the Federation and assumed rogue status. A captain who would do anything to assure his/her survival.

Dave · 24th April 2002, 12:41 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Cpt Larraq
Instead of a ship on a mission peaceful exploration how about a Federation Captain who broke off from the Federation and assumed rogue status. A captain who would do anything to assure his/her survival.

Just like Voyager could have been...

If only...

ray gower · 24th April 2002, 02:28 PM

It would have added an interesting theme to Voyager. As Capt Kate had to slide from her high moral horse and started to become nearer to Equinox's Captain as she struggles to hold things together.

At least she would have changed in some way

rde · 24th April 2002, 02:57 PM

Simplest, easies, most practical answer: give creative control to J. Michael Straczynski.

ray gower · 24th April 2002, 10:45 PM

Sorry for being thick but who is the foreign geezer?

Tabitha · 24th April 2002, 11:45 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by ray gower
Sorry for being thick but who is the foreign geezer?

Do you mean J. Michael Straczynski? If so, he is most famously known as the creator of Babylon 5 (I am 99% sure he is from the US). He has also written various comics (I am currently reading Rising Stars - it's great!) and the new show "Jeremiah".

I believe he tried to get Paramount interested in B5, and there is some (heated!) discussion as to whether his idea was actually the genesis of DS9 - which came out at roughly the same time.

As for how I would improve ST? Um, I don't know - I am not very good with original ideas, but I would definitely have to agree with Dave and Ray about introducing more of an arc.

ray gower · 24th April 2002, 11:51 PM

Thanks

Babylon 5 was dark and moody. I don't think it would suit P/mounts rose tinted glasses if it set off too far along that route. Still it would be different from having the same tired crew and their tired ideas at the helm.

Tabitha · 24th April 2002, 11:53 PM

n/p

Trek could do with a bit of darkness IMO...

I have just had another idea - what about a moratorium on heavily overused themes like transporter incidents?

Dave · 25th April 2002, 02:49 AM

You've been making me laugh with this "Foreign Geezer" stuff!

Cpt Larraq · 28th April 2002, 12:32 PM

What Trek needs is darkness and lots of it. None of this utopian future fantasy garbage. I bet there are plenty of cracks in the Federation facade, I doubt the organisation is perfect. I would like to see a Section 31 spin-off series.

ray gower · 28th April 2002, 02:42 PM

I agree the Star Trek Universe looks too perfect.

Star Trek is conceived as a hopeful show, but there are a lot of cracks there- DS9 showed them and Insurrection was about a crack in their perfect universe.

I do not think it needs to be turned into something gloomy like Babylon 5 or Farscape.

Cpt Larraq · 29th April 2002, 10:14 AM

Yes but the ideas of a perfect future are boring, unoriginal and samey. A darker show might just be the thing to break the mould.

22nd April 2002, 01:21 AM	#1 (permalink)
Neo Red Pixie Boot Wearer Join Date: Mar 2001 Location: North West UK Posts: 4,596	How would you improve Star Trek? Seriously The original Star Trek series got an Emmy nod for Best Dramatic Series. The Star Trek animated series got a Daytime Emmy nod for Best Children's Entertainment. Star Trek: The Next Generation got an Emmy nod for Best Dramatic Series in 1994. But ever since, Deep Space Nine, Voyager and now, Enterprise, has never gotten such prestigious nods. Sure, we've won many makeup and cinematography awards, but not ones for actors, writing, series and such. How would you improve Star Trek? For instance, what would you do to make the current Enterprise series get a nod for Best Dramatic Series in a few years?

22nd April 2002, 01:36 AM	#2 (permalink)
ray gower Registered User Join Date: Jun 2001 Location: Gwynedd Posts: 3,584	I think I would look at the continuity more. Use the episodes to weave a story, not just an event to be got over. Events should have a cause and effect that carries from show to show. Broken Bow was good because there was time for the actors to hint there was something behind their characters. It added a little drama and feel. It started to happen in DS9, but too late, everybody had given up. It rarely appeared in Voyager after the second show, because it was always so rushed, when it did it brought some excellent shows

24th April 2002, 12:49 AM	#3 (permalink)
Dave Wherever I Am, I'm There Join Date: Jan 2001 Location: Greater London Posts: 11,429	I would agree with Ray, they would need to weave story arcs and not finish every story each week to start again afresh the next week. Unfortunately, they won't do this, because they think that they will lose viewers who don't watch every episode and cannot follow the convoluted plot. My reaction to this is disbelief. Firstly, real fans never miss an episode. Secondly, soap operas have huge followings, and no one complains about them doing exactly this. Thirdly, why can't they make use of "ON THE LAST EPISODE OF STAR TREK....." Other shows do this, but Star Trek rarely does. Fourthly, do they think the audience is so stupid it cannot follow a plot when they do miss an episode?

24th April 2002, 08:52 AM	#4 (permalink)
Cpt Larraq PK Disruptor Commander Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: Sydney, Australia Posts: 60	There should be no technobabble. If the science is not realistic than there is no purpose in keeping it there. Keep it simple. I think there should be a spin-off series that branches off from convention. Instead of a ship on a mission of peaceful exploration how about a Federation Captain who broke off from the Federation and assumed rogue status. A captain who would do anything to assure his/her survival.

24th April 2002, 02:28 PM	#6 (permalink)
ray gower Registered User Join Date: Jun 2001 Location: Gwynedd Posts: 3,584	It would have added an interesting theme to Voyager. As Capt Kate had to slide from her high moral horse and started to become nearer to Equinox's Captain as she struggles to hold things together. At least she would have changed in some way

24th April 2002, 02:57 PM	#7 (permalink)
rde Advanced Member Join Date: Nov 2001 Location: Dublin, Ireland Posts: 157	Simplest, easies, most practical answer: give creative control to J. Michael Straczynski.

24th April 2002, 10:45 PM	#8 (permalink)
ray gower Registered User Join Date: Jun 2001 Location: Gwynedd Posts: 3,584	Sorry for being thick but who is the foreign geezer?

24th April 2002, 11:51 PM	#10 (permalink)
ray gower Registered User Join Date: Jun 2001 Location: Gwynedd Posts: 3,584	Thanks Babylon 5 was dark and moody. I don't think it would suit P/mounts rose tinted glasses if it set off too far along that route. Still it would be different from having the same tired crew and their tired ideas at the helm.

24th April 2002, 11:53 PM	#11 (permalink)
Tabitha Save Angel! Join Date: Jun 2001 Location: Edinburgh Posts: 3,638	n/p Trek could do with a bit of darkness IMO... I have just had another idea - what about a moratorium on heavily overused themes like transporter incidents?

25th April 2002, 02:49 AM	#12 (permalink)
Dave Wherever I Am, I'm There Join Date: Jan 2001 Location: Greater London Posts: 11,429	You've been making me laugh with this "Foreign Geezer" stuff!

28th April 2002, 12:32 PM	#13 (permalink)
Cpt Larraq PK Disruptor Commander Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: Sydney, Australia Posts: 60	What Trek needs is darkness and lots of it. None of this utopian future fantasy garbage. I bet there are plenty of cracks in the Federation facade, I doubt the organisation is perfect. I would like to see a Section 31 spin-off series.

28th April 2002, 02:42 PM	#14 (permalink)
ray gower Registered User Join Date: Jun 2001 Location: Gwynedd Posts: 3,584	I agree the Star Trek Universe looks too perfect. Star Trek is conceived as a hopeful show, but there are a lot of cracks there- DS9 showed them and Insurrection was about a crack in their perfect universe. I do not think it needs to be turned into something gloomy like Babylon 5 or Farscape.

29th April 2002, 10:14 AM	#15 (permalink)
Cpt Larraq PK Disruptor Commander Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: Sydney, Australia Posts: 60	Yes but the ideas of a perfect future are boring, unoriginal and samey. A darker show might just be the thing to break the mould.