Where should Star Trek go next?

[Darz Rixx]

I think the prequel idea was rubbish, I personally much prefer the more futuristic Star Trek (ie. Post Dominion War). However, I think that in order to get more ratings, the writers may need to stray from the normal scenarios, and possibly include more fighting, or make a marine corps canon. Many people don't like Star Trek because they find it too boring, so make it more interesting and the fan base should increase.

[RVM45]

.....If I were to plan a new Star Trek series, it would go something like this:

.....First of all, it wouldn't be about a Starfleet vessel- it would be about a shipload of privateers-i.e. Mercenaries/escorts/sometimes even pirates or Transport.

.....No prime directive to worry about.

.....Second, the ship would be from the same era the old Enterprise was (Captain Kirk's Enterprise). Weapons and drive would be retrofited to the best currently available- though there'd be a variety of sources for the weapons- Strarfleet; Ferengi; Klingon; etc.

.....The layout of the ship- and certain hard features like the Captain's chair; layout of bridge; etc. Would be the same as on the old Enterprise- for a blast from the past. However the color scheme- furnishings would be redone in neo-hippy; psychedelic paintings on walls; generous use of hanging bead curtains where the old automatic doors had given up the ghost; etc.

.....Imagine the bridge with a parrot on a perch over by communications; and a couple bloodhounds laying on the floor. The Captain would be a big; loud; brash; brawling type- built like a modest sized Sumo. Throw in a homicidal Ferengi first officer; and two Klingon women where Sulu and Checkoff used to sit. One is a traditional Klingon. The other wears pink skirts and tries to match the 50's ideal of human femininity. Maybe a really off-the wall; speed-rapping Vulcan- exiled from his own people for lack of emotional control.

.....Our surly; sometimes mutinous crew would spend lot's of time at each
other's throats. They'd be working at cross purposes to the Federation as often as not.

.....You could do a lot of things very differently; but still make use of the existing time frame.(Say the story is set about fifteen years after Voyager made it back. The ship migh also make use of the 'new' metal armor Janeway brought back.)

.....That's just one idea. Point is, they wouldn't have to keep wearing the same ruts deeper and deeper.

.....RVM45

[Darz Rixx]

Yeah, that would definitely work but many of the hardcore fans wouldn't go along with it as it would not conform to Roddenberry's ideas and ideals. Precisely the reason why many wouldn't go along with a starfleet marine based show. Also, placing the new series in the past (as in the TOS and Ent era) is a bad idea. After all both TOS and Ent only had 4 series, whereas the most successful series were made in the future (DS9 era.

[ray gower]

Enterprise failed because during it's first three seasons it insulted the intelligence of a 6 year old. The stories were flat and unimaginative, the cast was flat and lifeless (made Shatner and co. look positively Shakespearean).

When it comes to insulting 6 year olds Andromeda does it better and keeps its tongue in its cheek doing it.
Marines should be left to the failed Above and Beyond
Nor need it be as wrist slitting miserable as BSG, though that is the best drama to come out of US TV studios in over 20 years.

Trek needs to keep it's traditional concept, if anything it needs to be more 'Traditional' like TNG or TOS. It needs better writing with imaginative stories and a cast that wants to be there from the start.