What is wrong with Star Trek?
 

Right, lets get the jokes out of the way to start with....I posted this in Entertainment, not Humour :pp

Seriously, for those who have a genuine interest in and enjoy watching Star Trek, what are your thoughts on the fact that things seem to be getting progressively worse.

- Viewing figures seem to be steadily dropping with each new addition to the franchise
- Enterprise was on the verge of being cancelled
- The movies have been performing progressively badly (to the extent where the most recent one was probably the last for the 'Next Generation')

What are your opinions on why it's gone wrong, and what would you change?

Re: What is wrong with Star Trek?
 

The same team has been writing and producing Star trek since they resurrected it in the late 1980s. 15 years is a long time to expect the same people to keep coming up with original ideas, especially when they haven't actually had that many original ideas. The fact that they have shifted through four completely different scenarios in that time has disguised the fact that the same basic plotlines keep coming back again and again.

For proof of this, look at Enterprise. This of all Trek incarnations should have been the most original and interesting, set as it is in a completely different era, with different technology, different politics and so on. But what do we find? First, that it was Archer who first met the Romulans and not Kirk; second, that 'first contact' with the Klingon empire wasn't nearly as disastrous as Picard once claimed it to be; third, that transporters, phasers and photon torpedoes were all around 100 years before Kirk, which leaves us wondering how Earth technology managed to effectively stagnate for almost two centuries .... essentially the scriptwriters of Enterprise have proven themselves unable to write Star Trek without relying on the usual kitbag of cliches, two-dimensional aliens and technological get-out-of-jail cards.

Star Trek has just grown tired. The only way of rescuing the franchise is to create a completely different series, set in the same universe but departing completely from the usual focus of interest (i.e. Starfleet/Federation/exploration). I would suggest they head back to the 24th century if they are going to have a go at this, and to try a little harder to keep away from 'particles' as an explanation for everything (a la most episodes of Voyager).

Re: What is wrong with Star Trek?
 

Kirk didn`t make first contact with the Romulans, first contact came even before the founding of the Federation, and it was the war with the Romulans that helped bring about the birth of the Federation.

http://www.nationmaster.com/encyclop...ttle-of-Cheron

Re: What is wrong with Star Trek?
 

I think towny's post illustrates another aspect of this. Namely that the various series have been around long enough for people to think of it as slightly 'real'.

I entirely take the point regarding inconsistencies in plot & timeline, but I find I enjoy Enterprise a lot more if I 'suspend disbelief' and view it as a standalone series.

I have to admit initially I made the inevitable comparisons with previous series and frankly didn't like Enterprise, however, lately I have found the episodes are edgy & entertaining. (with the caveat above)

As to where it goes - apparently only 10 episodes of a new season of Enterprise have been sanctioned, so it looks like 'Star Trek' will peter out :(

Re: What is wrong with Star Trek?
 

Enterprise was devised to try and appeal to the masses........unfortunetly they didnt realise that lots of people liked star trek anyway......all they did was alienate the people that liked it by mixing up who met who first and th ehisory and the people they tried to attract didnt come.
Next Generation was great.....poor old Riker always got the short straw.....Voyager was good (although takeon beams solved everything)....didnt fancy deep space nine much!

Re: What is wrong with Star Trek?
 

everything.... :zzz: ;)

Re: What is wrong with Star Trek?
 

Well the forth serie's has been booked :) Only one more episode of season 3 to go now too

Re: What is wrong with Star Trek?
 

I hated Enterprise when it first came out. I thought the timeline had been spoiled with some of the stories. But having said that i have come to really enjoy this last series of Enterprise. Some of the stories recently have been quite good. Plus not a big fan of the Klingons so I'm glad they haven't been around as much. :)

Re: What is wrong with Star Trek?
 

What's wrong with Star Trek?

This sort of thing springs to mind

http://www.lixonline.com/clingon_luvz_annville.jpg

Re: What is wrong with Star Trek?
 

ha-ha whoever done that looks devoted to StarTrek but can't spell Klingon right lol

Re: What is wrong with Star Trek?
 

http://www.eonline.com/Features/Live...s/trekkie2.jpg
http://home.swipnet.se/~w-34210/Hsulu.jpg
http://neleman.tmfweb.nl/trekkie-dorks/7.jpg
http://www.anti-justice.com/topics/salute.jpg
http://home.comcast.net/~whutto/DustyTrekkieR.jpg

Almost as bad as the sad acts that learn the Klingon dictionary (and think it's exceptionally cool to quote from it in normal conversation ..)

Re: What is wrong with Star Trek?
 

:LOL: sad ......

Re: What is wrong with Star Trek?
 

Kill em'......Kill em ALL!!!! :fit:

Re: What is wrong with Star Trek?
 

Well a few quick points:

1) Continuity? What continuity?

The writers seem to think (or not care) that viewers have *memories* and tend to *remember* what has gone before, even those who aren't die hard fans who can recall every word of every episode, so we get major contradictions between what we've been told previously and what is being said now.

2) Star Drek: The Same Old Plots

How many times can they ring the changes on a storyline they've already used several times in different series.

Just recently in Enterprise (on Sky, but it's not really a spoiler) we had the crew needing to get through a "dangerous nebula" and the only way to do it was for the Doctor to put everyone to sleep (the Doctor was conveniently immune). But, hang on a moment, didn't Voyager do *exactly* the same thing in one of their episodes? Did they really think people wouldn't notice??

3) The weapons and technology.

Just *how* come everyone that the Enterprise crew has to fight against has weapons that, conveniently, can damage the ship, but usually not quite seriously enough that they can't fix it?

The NX 01 doesn't have deflector shields, yet, incredibly, enemy weaponry isn't powerful enough to do too much damage. Is it *really* credible that every race is practically at the same level of technological development?

Oh, and by TNG it seems that everyone has transporters, but not in Enterprise etc etc etc...

4) The aliens.

Despite being at this for god knows how many years, most aliens are *still* two-dimensional cliched cardboard cut-outs.

That's a few things to be going on with...!

Addendum: PS Towny, I'd rep you for your post if I could!

Re: What is wrong with Star Trek?
 

BTW to those who are having a go at the Star Trek Fans, let me quote from Terry Pratchett who pointed out that anyone who dresses up in a Star Trek Uniform or wears a pair of pointed ears is seen as a sad loser, but someone who wakes up to a Manchester United alarm clock under a Manchester United duvet with Manchester United wallpaper, puts on their Manchester United shirt and goes downstairs to drink coffee out of a Manchester United mug is just a "dedicated fan"...!

Re: What is wrong with Star Trek?
 

The problem is that Star Trek had just become a cash cow and a cynical means of prising the fans from their money for the least amount of effort and cost.

Also all the while they produce such a tired formula is the reason that they cannot move on and produce some NEW and exciting SF.Something that has more edge to it and hasn't such a happy fluffy bunny feel good factor.One where main characters die.At least in DS9 they had one death.Pity they didn't have a few more.Even the bad guys fail to die in Star Trek.How boring is that?

Sorry about the short sentences.It's that sort of day.

Incog.:)

Re: What is wrong with Star Trek?
 

Tut tut, someone will be along in a min to ask you not to post like that here and go and make your own "Anti" thread ;) :D

Re: What is wrong with Star Trek?
 

Lol, not me! I knew full well we'd get at least one of those :pp

Re: What is wrong with Star Trek?
 

If only I knew where to find that mooning smilie :pp :D

Re: What is wrong with Star Trek?
 

http://www.se-an.co.uk/moons.gif

be sparing with it though, just in case I overwrite it with something far more explicit ;)

Re: What is wrong with Star Trek?
 

If you really have to:

http://home.ripway.com/2003-2/171/moons.gif

:rolleyes: ;)

Re: What is wrong with Star Trek?
 

Archer's arrogance, his moodiness, the long pauses as if he's forgotten his lines.
The accents, the endless excuses for the semi-nude scenes. The 'liberal' Vulcan behaviour.

Re: What is wrong with Star Trek?
 

But. My. God. Spock! At least he doesn't Say. Each. Word. as if it's Its. Own. Sentence!

Re: What is wrong with Star Trek?
 

like I said, i have suspended disbelief with regard to earlier 'Star Trek' ;)

What is wrong with a captain who does have emotions, a Vulcan who has aquired them via 'drug addiction', nudity, blood on the knives? - I think Enterprise has pushed the envelope too far for the 'purists', but for me, it has been enjoyable :dozey:

Re: What is wrong with Star Trek?
 

Oh god... This will be my first and last Star Trek post as you seem to all be watching a different program or have no imagination.

Here's one for just about everyone who posted in the thread about the "timeline" and the inconsistances....

Your not looking at the big picture, and yes your looking dumb (possibly :) ), but here's one for you - and this may make you think what a **** you've been for not realising it - BUT...

This series, right from the start has had an alien species that has been screwing with the timeline, it has also had a person from the future serving on Enterprise, now whats to say - just for the sake of argument that the whole series is based around the idea of an alternate timeline, similar to the voyager episodes where they had the temperal cops, who went around fixing problems with timelines.

Why do you think they may have come in to being required?

Why do you think that enterprise has all the technological goodies, why are things happening differently, WHY HAS ENTERPRISE BEEN ADVERTISED WITH THE TAGLINE "Forget what you THINK you know".

Work it out peeps.

Re: What is wrong with Star Trek?
 

Star Trek is clearly in a bit of a predicament! I agree with what has been said so far here, that the format has got tired, that the writers have run out of ideas... and it's a real shame to see one of my favourite TV shows take a turn for the worse, but they do definitely need to be a bit more edgy and interesting - just look at season 7 of TNG. Some of the best bits of sci-fi you can ever watch (all good things springs to mind...)

Nowadays, you can watch Enterprise or Voyager and watch two or three other TV shows at once. It's just become too predictable for me, and for others, as well I am sure. I was glad to hear that Enterprise would be a bit more messy and the equipment wouldn't work as well, but it's still got that squeaky-clean look that all the other series have. From what the others have said here, it offers nothing new, except confusion.

I felt the other series all had great new characters that added something to the show - Enterprise, however... you have your Vulcan, your engineer, your science guy, the captain.. all the same as before. I'd love to see a Star Trek where the captain was a *******, never did any work, never cared about what was going on, and so on! The ship could be run by the lower ranks, whilst the high-up people come along to claim the glory, but as soon as shots are fired, they run for cover! In other words, a bit more of real life and less of the utopian world that we are used to! Well... maybe!

P

Re: What is wrong with Star Trek?
 

Yes, thanks, however we *have* worked it out, unfortunately we haven't fallen for the "spin" that the series producers have been pushing out to try to con the gullible into thinking they're getting something special.

Basically they realised very quickly that they'd painted themselves into a corner with everything they've already done (and contradicted), so, in typical Star Trek style they have, once again, created a Treknobabble "Get out of Jail Free" card by creating this entire Xindi/ time travel nonsense and we're most probably going to end up with "and they woke up and it was all a nasty dream" ending...! :rolleyes:

Re: What is wrong with Star Trek?
 

:rofl: What a *wonderful* idea! I'd love to see that show too. Unfortunately, of course, they'd never be able to make it in the Trek Universe because it would be "a betrayal of everything that Gene Roddenberry stood for" or some such nonsense...

Re: What is wrong with Star Trek?
 

having watched up to the end of season 3 i can say it gets better -

Re: What is wrong with Star Trek?
 

Is this the one that's on Sky One at the moment??

Re: What is wrong with Star Trek?
 

hah yeah good point.. although i think it would be soo much fun! Put lots of pointless bureaucrats into it; have technology that never works, so loads of the ship never has hot water or is all in darkness... even better, the ship could be run on windows, and right in the middle of the battle, they could experience... the blue screen of death! ;)

Re: What is wrong with Star Trek?
 

:rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl:

Oh gods, we have *GOT* to write this one...!! :D :D :D

Re: What is wrong with Star Trek?
 

I thought they had and called it Red Dwarf.

I so miss that show. :(

Re: What is wrong with Star Trek?
 

Good point, and, likewise, although I think it hit its peak in Series 6 and went downhill from there, so I think we should remember it as it was, rather than want more that won't be as good.

Re: What is wrong with Star Trek?
 

Not heard a thing about the Red Dwarf film for ages.

Incog:)

Re: What is wrong with Star Trek?
 

Red Dwarfs not dead yet, all sources close to the show still claim that the movie will be starting some time soon.
Only problem is they have been saying that since series 8 finished 3 1/2 years ago but im still hopeful :)

Re: What is wrong with Star Trek?
 

Time to find some Red Dwarf on DVD I think

*goes off to Amazon

Re: What is wrong with Star Trek?
 

Oh yeah,, good point! Red Dwarf is the stuff of legend, much missed and will be welcome to return! They do take their time with it, and I've noticed Craig Charles appearing on TV more often now, so maybe he is hard to get hold of...