critical-constructive

It's 1 year and 1 month ago that Star Trek - The next Generation" (shortly TNG) was on air in the United States the first time. That's why last year in my tribute to 25 years "Star Trek - The next Generation" I have introduced the idea of TV-movies, which I now will specify.

Eight years after the last Star Trek TV series end it would be high time for a comeback on the television screen.

In the last years there have been several ideas and initiatives for a new Star Trek series, especially by former Trek-actors like Jonathan Frakes (Commander Riker) or Tim Russ (Lieutenant Commander Tuvok).

All of these concepts design new and quite interesting series just after the TNG-DS9-VOY Star-Trek main-time-line.

I however think poorly of making a regular television series with around 2 dozen episodes per year in the near future.

In all previous Star Trek series still there have been numerous poor episodes, because too few good ideas were present, to deliver high-quality for 25 episodes every year.

In order to preserve the "myth of Star Trek" and to create something special, it would seem the thing to do making 2-3 two-part TV movies every year. All the movies take place at the end of the 24th century. After the Voyager has come back in 2378 and 12 years have passed since then, we have the year 2390 today.

An apt title were "Star Trek: The new Explorations".

The potential of this conception is enormous:

According to the macro-environment the war against the Dominion, that ended some 15 years ago, has been the greatest threat and burden for the entire Alpha quadrant. Despite it's victory especially the Federation is badly affected. One could imagine that the losses in human lives and material resources, but above all the interplanetary Federations existential threat, has led to a rethink, so that the Federation is acting more military, to prevent the same thing in future.

Because the Dominion as well as the Borg still could pose a massive threat again.

Also how the Klingons, under Martok and Worf, the Romulans after the alliance with the Klingons AND the Federation as well as the Ferengi after the departure from old capitalism have developed, would be very exciting to see. Not to speak of the prostrated Cardassians after their total defeat in the Dominion War (with a possible leader Garak).

Generally, in principle, all characters from Next Generation, Deep Space Nine and Voyager could play a part in the "New Explorations" concept. I certainly would revel here not only in nostalgia, but would join in every TV-movie at least 2 former Star Trek main characters with existing side characters and with completely new characters.

Even the return of the Enterprise characters around Captain Archer were possible within the framework of a flashback episode.

The new movie-franchise definitively has been established this year with "Star Trek Into Darkness". In the late 1980s and early 1990s, it already worked really well, that in cinema and TV 2 different Star Trek generations co-exist side by side.

Smart entertainment in fictional space scenarios is something that's not only missed by many Star Trek fans but also by many television viewers in general.

So what except the incomprehensible stubbornness of the Paramount executives speaks against a new Star Trek project in television?

P.S.: Big thanks to Jörg Roth for the here used images of his models.

After the anniversaries of "Star Trek: The Next Generation" (25 years) and "Star Trek: Deep Space Nine" (20 years) within less than 5 months we can celebrate the 3rd anniversary of a major science-fiction-series:

On the 22^nd February 1993, "Babylon 5" had been on air in the United States the first time.

All 3 series together have created a previously unprecedented science-fiction hype, that has reached its peak in the mid-1990s.

My initial reluctance dealing with B5, as the series is called shortened, was even greater than with "Deep Space Nine":

For Babylon 5 is not only a new space-station, but a completely new fictional-universe of its own.

But finally I'm very happy also having dealt with this great science-fiction-series.

Babylon 5’s basic-theme is the struggle of good versus evil.

The boundaries between good and evil are blurred here, the beings of light "Vorlons" are not necessarily good and the shadow-beings not necessarily evil.

A novelty and - in my opinion - until today special-feature is the coherent story-arc throughout the entire series over 5 years:

Characters evolve fundamentally and partially change sides. And all developments are highly consistent.

The genius series inventor J. Michael Straczynski (JMS) has created not only a large, complex, consistent and really fascinating fictional-universe. He has wrapped even unforeseen elements, such as for example the station commander Sinclair’s withdrawal from the series, into a fascinating storyline of the future. Sinclair becomes a historical key figure of the alien "Minbari".

B5 is a really gloomy, pessimistic series, perhaps the darkest ever.

But exactly this gloom is very appealing, one could say even fascinating.

On "Deep Space Nine" a basically positive vision of the future has been “obscured”, means provided also with downsides. Babylon 5 however is a pessimistic vision of the future with optimistic approaches, especially with a relatively soothing end.

Deep earthly elements, history, real-politics, human strengths and weaknesses, can be found in a distant future, at a far-away place. And that’s why these elements can appear much more realistic than in every series in the here and now.

A great peculiarity still exists, which I consider shocking:

Until today not less than 5 actors of major Babylon 5 characters have died: Richard Biggs, Andreas Katsulas, Jeff Conaway, Michael O'Hare and Tim Choate.

The B5 creator JMS himself again and again in discussions (real and online) is drawing parallels between the events in the series and the real world’s society and politics.

The pessimistic Babylon 5 universe unfortunately is mirroring today’s world, dominated by highly destructive forces, rather well.

The introduction of dictatorship in the series under the pretext of a threat from the outside, is indicating alarming parallels to the so called "war on terror" and related with the massive dismantling of civil rights.

Therefore I only can repeat what I've already written in my DS9 tribute:

Everyone must commit himself politically and socially. Only active, empowered and determined citizens can make the existential turn to an ecological, social and above all democratic world!

On September 28th 1987 the 1st episode of "Star Trek - The next generation" (TNG) – in German-speaking countries "Raumschiff Enterprise – Das naechste Jahrhundert", has been on air in the United States. Around 21 years after the original Starship Enterprise it’s successor had taken over command in the Star Trek universe.

And this event now is almost unbelievable 25 years ago.

I must confess that I am a science-fiction fan. Especially the Star Trek universe is very exciting in my eyes. I've seen the first episodes of the new spaceship Enterprise around 1990 when I was staying at my aunt in the summer holidays. At that time my parents did not yet have satellite television. It took until 1994 when the series really started for me.

The next generation to me is the best of all Star Trek series. And it was TNG that has lifted the pop-cultural phenomenon "Star Trek" to the peak of success in the 1990s and that has pave Star Trek’s way into the 21st century.

On the fascinating stage of space Star Trek shows characters that are experiencing exciting adventures with a pinch of humor and thereby promoting peace and progress.

The next generation stands also for high demands:

The claim always to deal with social, scientific and political issues under the highest moral considerations.

Especially Captain Picard does refer to this claim. A school-mate told me in the 1990s that Picard to him is a kind of moral authority.

In addition to the captain Data stands out of the ensemble. The Android who wants to be humanlike is a very popular character and an ingenious whizz kid.

Also Commander Riker has had many good moments with his rather loose manner.

Together with Deanna Troi, Worf, Dr. Crusher and Geordi LaForge the result is a great ensemble of actors.

A further component of success is the large pool of well elaborated, recurring minor characters. And these are not only embodied by good but often also by well-known actors. A movie star like Whoopi Goldberg does not volunteer for a supporting role at any TV-series.

A very high level at the characters make-up, special effects and scripts completes the basic recipe of success.

However, it must be said that the series has had to develope:

Season 1 has reached only a moderate level almost across the board. The series often was a "rehash" of original Star Trek too much and had too little profile of it’s own.

That has improved already with the 2nd season and up from the 3rd season the new Enterprise has hit top form.

TNG’s popularity has lifted Star Trek to the peak of success in the 1990s: in addition to a TV-sequel with 2 further series ("Deep Space Nine" and "Voyager") from 1994 to 2002 the new Enterprise has continued it’s journey also on the big screen.

In the 2000s the great success for the "Next Generation" as well as for Star Trek as a whole has been over.

The 2009 Star Trek movie with a new Kirk and a new Spock however has been appealing to many people. It’s storyline takes place in a completely distinct universe and in addition around 100 years before the Next Generation.

10 Years after the new spaceship Enterprise’ last journey and 13 respectively 11 years after the end of "Deep Space Nine" respectively "Voyager" from my point of view it’s highest time that the adventures of this time line find their continuation on the TV-screen.

For not “burning-out” Star Trek I have in mind not to run a new series but to make 1-2 90-minute two-part TV-movies every year.

Old, well-known characters from TNG, DS9 and VOY could perform as well as new characters.

As title "Star Trek - 25th Century" would be perfect.

But how much ever I like Star Trek – it still entertains me and stimulates my mind – I also have to emphasize one thing very clearly:

Star Trek and science-fiction in general is not reality, it is an illusory world.

And nobody should escape reality by going in an illusory world.

We are living in turbulent times, facing many threats: financial crisis, environmental problems, increasing anti-democratic tendencies.

And if ever there shall be a positive future like the one on the new Enterprise, all of us have to commit engagement in our private-lifes as well as in political and social issues.

In this sense: "Engage" - for the next 25 years.

Update 04th October 2017

Last week Star Trek: The next Generation has celebrated 30th anniversary. And not only myself but also many other people still consider it just excellent.

For me this was also a good opportunity for extensively dealing with TNG. I have done so and this is the result:

1. I have added an image to this article - previously it was "imageless".
2. I have written an even more comprehensive 30th-anniversary-tribute to the new Starship Enterprise this year.

Finally my attitude 5 years later is still the same: TNG also in the 2010s still is a strong piece of television!