MSNBC Story: Starfleet, we have a problem

[uv23]

Giving up control is an extremely valid point. Guest writers for some episodes is a great idea. And all of the next gen movies have been utter trash, extended episodes with none of the "real movie" feel of the original movies. Just look at the new star wars flicks - same situation, sme solution needed.

 

[Hand of Evil]

All the points in the story have been discussed and abused for some time now. Enterprise and the whole of Star Trek needs to think of the fan base, which they are not doing. I just thought the article was interesting in that Star Trek use to be king of Sci-Fi now it is just a part of pop culture and answers you see applied to pop stars to revitalize their careers is being used to improve Star Trek. (if that makes sense)

Star Trek needs better.

 

[Umbran]

Enterprise and the whole of Star Trek needs to think of the fan base, which they are not doing.

I think you are wrong there. They're thinking of the fan base. But the fan base is under the mistaken impression that they are unified in what they want. It just isn't so.

"The fan base" is a misleading term, because everybody in it wants something different from the show. Some folks want it to be TOS, some want it to be TNG, some want it to be DS9, some want it to be new and radically different than anything else. There is just no way to please everybody, but they have to try anyway.

 

[Hand of Evil]

I think you are wrong there. They're thinking of the fan base. But the fan base is under the mistaken impression that they are unified in what they want. It just isn't so.

"The fan base" is a misleading term, because everybody in it wants something different from the show. Some folks want it to be TOS, some want it to be TNG, some want it to be DS9, some want it to be new and radically different than anything else. There is just no way to please everybody, but they have to try anyway.

I agree 'the fan base' is misleading.

I think we keep seeing what Rick Berman wants (time loops), most of the people I know want to see the history of the beginning of the Federation, why is there a Prime Directive, why were the Klingons hated so, show more of the Andorians (they are the 3rd prime race of the Fed). The shows should be building the Federation that we know, not creating a show of a unknown history.

 

[Mercule]

I think we keep seeing what Rick Berman wants (time loops), most of the people I know want to see the history of the beginning of the Federation, why is there a Prime Directive, why were the Klingons hated so, show more of the Andorians (they are the 3rd prime race of the Fed). The shows should be building the Federation that we know, not creating a show of a unknown history.

That's pretty good analysis HoE. I think you're pretty dead on. I know I'd be much more inclined to dig through the local listings (no UPN) to find out when it's on if there was some relevance to the history of Trek.

I don't want a sci-fi series that uses some Trek jargon. I want a new Trek series. I loved ToS, TNG, and DS9 (Voyager was utter drek, about as useful as Highlander 2). If they make Enterprise deal with the Federation and the history of the Trek universe, I'll be there.

 

[Stormfalcon]

I read the article and found it to be something that a network exec would come up with. Of course, we all know what happens when network execs start fiddling with good series (or at least once-good franchises).

Solving Trek's woes fall under three steps, really.

1) Give it a good, long rest. Finish up Enterprise (at least run it to fufill whatever contracts have been made regarding its duration), then put in a 10 to 20-year moratorium on new Trek series and movies. We've had non-stop Trek since 1987, and it's been tired since Voyager. It needs a lot of time to refresh, and so do we as fans.

2) Fire Brannon and Braga. It was under their leadership that we got Voyager and Enterprise, let alone their lousy attempts to freshen up the franchise with more action, titilation, and tossing continuity out the window. It's far better to have leadership that emphasizes good writing and respect for the audience's intelligence. Action and titilation aren't necessarily bad thing, but they could never hope to compensate for the lack of good writing.

3) Get good writers again. One of the things that made TOS great was that they got writers who put out good science fiction, and this extends to TNG and DS9. These days, we have to wonder what species of simians they have at the word processors churning out Trek scripts. They need to find decent science fiction writers willing to work on Trek. The sad part is, they don't have to look far, since some of the novels are good stuff, but they're not willing to take the minimal effort to get these authors onboard.

 

[ForceUser]

1) Give it a good, long rest. Finish up Enterprise (at least run it to fufill whatever contracts have been made regarding its duration), then put in a 10 to 20-year moratorium on new Trek series and movies. We've had non-stop Trek since 1987, and it's been tired since Voyager. It needs a lot of time to refresh, and so do we as fans.

I hate to say it, but I think you're right. Trek needs a rest. TNG was groundbreaking and amazing, DS9 enjoyable but less so, Voyager and Enterprise are crap.

 

[trancejeremy]

I think the Vulcan lady needs to wear even tighter clothing, and strip and rub some sort of oil on herself even more often.

Seriously, I think the problems are the exact opposite of what the article suggests.

I would like to see a Star Trek show that was like the original. One that made sense, canon wise, and one in which they actually explored planets.

 

[Umbran]

One that made sense, canon wise....

Which is kinda funny to ask for, since even TOS has continuity-holes you can fly a dreadnought through all by it's lonesome.

 

[mojo1701]

I read the article and found it to be something that a network exec would come up with. Of course, we all know what happens when network execs start fiddling with good series (or at least once-good franchises).

Solving Trek's woes fall under three steps, really.

1) Give it a good, long rest. Finish up Enterprise (at least run it to fufill whatever contracts have been made regarding its duration), then put in a 10 to 20-year moratorium on new Trek series and movies. We've had non-stop Trek since 1987, and it's been tired since Voyager. It needs a lot of time to refresh, and so do we as fans.

I agree. Although I've only been following Trek for a few years, I think it's badly being dragged through the mud. Maybe a movie every so often, so it's anticipated even more than Star Wars or the new 007 movies, if you know what I mean (just don't make the mistake of having Madonna singing the title theme...).

2) Fire Brannon and Braga. It was under their leadership that we got Voyager and Enterprise, let alone their lousy attempts to freshen up the franchise with more action, titilation, and tossing continuity out the window. It's far better to have leadership that emphasizes good writing and respect for the audience's intelligence. Action and titilation aren't necessarily bad thing, but they could never hope to compensate for the lack of good writing.

I'm not sure, but I think "Brannon" and "Braga" are, in fact, one and the same monster lol.

3) Get good writers again. One of the things that made TOS great was that they got writers who put out good science fiction, and this extends to TNG and DS9. These days, we have to wonder what species of simians they have at the word processors churning out Trek scripts. They need to find decent science fiction writers willing to work on Trek. The sad part is, they don't have to look far, since some of the novels are good stuff, but they're not willing to take the minimal effort to get these authors onboard.

Exactly. Some of the Trek novels I've read have been waaaaaaay better than this drivel they keep on excreting. Especially the Section 31 novels.