TREK FOR ROOKIES: OVERVIEW

With the popularity of Star Trek (2009) and Star Trek Into Darkness (2013) I’m seeing more comments online asking: “I loved the new movies, and want to get into the TV series, but I don’t know where to start!”

It’s quite a quandary since the Star Trek franchise has been around for almost fifty years, there are 12 feature films, five different series, over six hundred episodes, approximately 43 main characters and countless minor characters.

I aim to help.

Last year I found myself in circumstances where I watched all five series for the first time, back to back, within six months.

It is a vast sci-fi terrain with countless plots and story lines. Regardless of who you are, there’s Trek somewhere out there for you. But each series has its own flavor, and what some may obsess over, others may think, “What the hell is this?”  

Think of Trek as food. Some like filet mignon, others like guacamole, and others ice cream. One isn’t better than the other, they’re just different.

Every Thursday for the next five weeks I’ll be reviewing each of the series. Reviews will have the same format, which will include original air dates, the Captain, primary characters and main story line. Will also be utilizing what I call “Alphas” and “Deltas,” or more simply put, strengths and weaknesses.

Let’s apply the formula to the franchise as a whole.

Title
The Star Trek Franchise

Original Air Dates
First episode aired in 1966. Most recent creation is the film Star Trek Into Darkness (2013).

The Captains of all five series. Kirk, Picard, Sisko, Janeway and Archer.

Captain
This is an important thing to pay attention to when looking for a series to start watching. The Captain is the gravitational force which holds everything together.

Primary Characters
This section will give a brief rundown of primary players, including characteristics you may find of interest.

Main Story Line
The Star Trek franchise is set in time frames primarily during the 22nd to 24th centuries (with the occasional excursion into earlier and later eras.) Although presented to the original producers as a “Western in space,” Gene Roddenberry’s actual intent was to create a show that challenged cultural, political and religious norms. It has a reputation as being a show for geeks, but one doesn’t have to be philosophical or have a high IQ to enjoy it. You don’t have to be smart, but you should expect to think. And there’s also tons of things for which no thinking is required: aliens, explosions and sexiness. 

Prepare for some of the best sci-fi you’ll ever experience.

Alphas

Ø  Spanning over four decades, it’s fair to say that some of the best writing ever to occur on TV is contained within many of the episodes.

Ø  Not a show for cynics. Even if you have only a spark of conviction in the potential nobility of humanity, this show is for you. Sir Patrick Stewart (Picard/TNG) once said the most memorable fan letter he ever received came from a Las Vegas police officer that put forth, “No matter how bad my day was, no matter how screwed up people seem, I can always come home, pop in a Trek, and know that there is always potential for goodness and decency in people.”

Ø  This may sound cheesy, but once you really get into a series, they become like family. You actively begin caring about the characters. And unlike some modern shows, they aren’t killed off left and right for shock effect. (Well…they’re not all killed off.)

Ø  Being set in a time where humans have (for the most part) eliminated racism and the need for money, it’s truly fascinating to see how people actually prioritize their lives.

Ø  All the tech is based on actual science, even if it’s something that’s seemingly impossible for us right now. Cell phones and iPads? Trek was there first.

Ø  Regardless of your cultural/economic/political background, you’ll find characters with which you can relate. Tired of seeing African American males portrayed on film as gang members and drug dealers? Meet Captain Sisko or Lieutenant Tuvok. Think women are portrayed too often solely as sex objects? Meet Captain Janeway. Have a hard time understanding humans? Meet Commander Data and 7 of 9. The list goes on and on.

There’s cheese. But the good kind. Not that crappy, imitation, vegan kind.

Deltas

Ø  Cheesiness is ever present. Whether lightly sprinkled or gushing like a fondue, one has to have some capacity to accept, and even appreciate, certain things that are to be taken tongue in cheek.

Ø  Again, spanning almost five decades, it’s important to note that some of the worst writing ever to occur on TV occurs within the franchise. Fortunately, these episodes are few and far between. But, like anomalies in space waiting to crush the hull of your ship, it’s best to be prepared for encountering them while exploring.

Ø  The pacing, editing and special effects of some of the older shows, particularly The Original Series (TOS) and The Next Generation (TNG), are a bit lacking by today’s standards. However, some may see those as Alphas; reminders of a time when people had a little more focus, imagination and patience, and studios didn’t try to make up for lack of story with a large special effects budget.

Ø  If you really get into the show, you’ll want to talk about it with everyone you meet. But be warned. Having become a recent convert myself, it’s safe to say that there are many out there that don’t understand it, don’t want to understand it, and somehow look down upon those who do. One co-worker of mine was a huge Trekkie, but he refused to talk about it in the work environment, for fear of any negative social impact. That’s wrong. And that’s something we can change. It’s a strange world where people can freely discuss the Kardashians around the water cooler, but talk of Cardassians is frowned upon.

One is responsible for the decline and ultimate destruction of humanity. The other is a character from

Star Trek: Deep Space Nine. Can you guess which is which? 

And since this is Action A Go Go, the internet’s biggest supplier of explosions, here’s a video collection of lasers, photon torpedoes and things blowing up in space, all culled from the Star Trek realm. Enjoy!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=jqWA3BFH9GY


Next week? The first series up for launch will be the most recent: Enterprise.

Stephen Sumner is the sci-fi columnist for Action A Go Go. He’s proficient in Klingon swearing and is currently attempting the Vulcan process of Kolinar, the purging of all emotion. His other favorite sci-fi shows include Battlestar Galactica and Firefly. His Twitter handle is Sumner@Vierlights and he can also be found on Tumblr at vierlights.tumblr.com.