I guess I’m one of the other two

So such assumptions as
1.) There are an enormous number of planets that humans can beam down to and have no problem breathing the atmosphere (20% oxygen, 80% nitrogen, 101,300 pascals, ~288 deg Kelvin, etc.)

2.) There are an enormous number of planets in the galaxy containing humanoid life forms (two arms, two legs, one head with a mouth, a nose, two eyes, and two ears) who either speak English as a second language or can be understood via a universal translator

etc., etc.

There were small differences in these assumptions between TOS and TNG such as Warf getting a skull crest instead of the cheaper makeup that Klingons had in TOS, but for the most part the assumptions were pretty much the same – transporter, warp drive, subspace communication, etc., etc.

I think the TNG series would have been much better if they had started with a blank slate in terms of these assumptions. No more beaming down to planets with an earth-like atmosphere. Now, the crew must wear spacesuits and land via shuttlecraft. You can have several scenes where crew members die when their spacesuits fail or get punctured by hostile action. No more human-like aliens. Instead, six-legged creatures with exoskeletons that use bioluminescence for communication and not sound waves. Etc. Etc.

They could also have dealt with more real science issues such as what are the properties of a large Jovian-sized planet, planets with rings, planets or moons with frozen water crusts, cratering, stellar flares endangering the landing party, etc., etc. Perhaps a real classification of planets rather than the make-believe Type M, etc. Real spectral classification of stars (O, B, A. F, G, K, M). Detection of biospheres from a long distance via spectroscopy, etc., etc. I think it would have been more interesting as well as more educational. Of course, it would have required a panel of astronomers, NASA people, etc. kept on permanent retainer to keep the scripts honest.

I would have set the stories in the not-too-distant future, let’s say the year 2118 or something like that. Perhaps the aliens have only been contacted via SETI and no face-to-tentacle meeting has yet taken place. So there was a lot of stuff that could have been done if they had ditched the original 1960′s show concept. Of course, that was unlikely to happen while Gene Roddenberry was still alive (he didn’t die until 1991) so I guess I understand why it never happened.

Wesley needs to interact, as a sort of human ambassador, with higher beings- there were all sorts in the Trek universe- to take care of larger issues way beyond mortal men.

Trek didn’t really deal with interactions between higher species, just one on one with us. But the Q, the various evolved-into-energy types, that one guy who wiped out an entire alien civilization with a single thought. Trek brought together normal aliens into a common cause, the Federation. Don’t the folks on the next plane need human intervention too to achieve a greater unity?

Jess Tauber

1) In the event of an emergency, the holodeck SHUTS DOWN. Priority.
2) In the event of an anomalous object being discovered in the middle of nowhere for no apparent reason that looks completely normal, engage warp 9
3)DATA’s off switch is not to be used for recreational purposes
4)All single female guests are to be given a full security escort in the event that Commander Riker shows up
5)Picard should just make friends with Q, and let him help next time the galaxy is under threat one of the many powerless and non-omnipitent life forms which inhabit it
6)Whorf should not be allowed to carry an entire armoury in his quarters, in case he decides to a)kill other kilingons for revenge or honour b) kill himself for revenge or honour C) kill one of his family members for revenge or honour
7)Deanna should stop pretending she has psychic powers just because she senses that the Klingon is angry! Why else would he be shouting! Crew members should inform the computer exactly when an intership communication has been terminated, as they never seem to do this and just keep on talking. How does the computer know what to transmit and what not to?
9)ad inf

However, I think it is notable that Wesley Crusher is one of the only regular or semi-regular character in TNG that experienced significant character development over the course of the series (the other being Ro). If you watch the first and last episodes (barring the future versions who technically aren’t “real”) of the series, it is nearly impossible to distinguish the characterization of the principals.

It is that character development that redeems Wesley as an interesting character, and makes future stories about him worthwhile. Don’t get me wrong, I love many of the other characters, but they have no real promise for future stories because they are static and can only really serve well in the context they were developed for (i.e. the Greek play type format of TNG) which has been covered pretty much to its furthest extent, hence the repetitious episodes of the later series.

Bobcloclimar
PerryG:
“ST:OPE”, anyone?
No, no, it should be Star Trek: Other, New Exciting Directions

Star Trek: Other Wild New Exciting Directions?

J/P=?

But I just assumed that it was an original song created for the opening credits. Finding out that it wasn’t bugs me a lot.

Just like it really bugs me that BSG used “All Along the Watchtower” in last season’s finale. Harumpf.

PerryG:

but isn’t Wesley out there exploring “other planes of existence” with The Traveler?

“ST:OPE”, anyone?

No, no, it should be Star Trek: Other, New Exciting Directions

The Enterprise introduction was excellent. Everyone was turned off by the fact that there were vocals in a Trek intro, but the song fits perfectly into the montage, which really explored what Trek should be about.

I do think think the series got better toward the end. Of course.

Mind you, I agree that everything wrong about Wesley Crusher was the fault of the writers (and perhaps, to a lesser extent, the directors); Wil Wheaton’s acting was everything one could ask for, and then some. It’s a darned shame that his character’s great potential was so badly mishandled in ways he could not control or prevent.

~David D.G.

Having seen all of the originals when they were first aired

I liked all of the STs and realize my expectaions were a little less w/ each series after TNG

I am OK w/ something new but, equaly OK w/ the end of a franchise

I liked some Wesley stuff too
but mostly he was short changed

I also agree though that ST needs a complete overhaul. To quote Roger Ebert, from his review of Nemesis:

“I think it is time for “Star Trek” to make a mighty leap forward another 1,000 years into the future, to a time when starships do not look like rides in a 1970s amusement arcade, when aliens do not look like humans with funny foreheads, and when wonder, astonishment and literacy are permitted back into the series. Star Trek was kind of terrific once, but now it is a copy of a copy of a copy.”

Not with that song. If Elvis had still been alive and he had tuned it in he would have shot the tv again I’m sure. Trek got lazy with that one. A crap song from a movie (Patch Adams). At least Rod Stewart wasn’t singing it, they splurged on someone else. The idea behind the opening credits was good, the execution stunk. The song was probably one of the reasons that I couldn’t stand to watch it. That and the remakes of episodes from other Treks. With Voyager you get to the point of wondering if it will be a time travel bringing everyone back to life episode, the holodoc getting kidnapped, a holodeck malfunction, the “is the main character going mad” plot line, or the Bore-g showing up in every other season finale (TNG was guilty of that too). Enterprise just redid all the bad episodes, nothing new. Not even the theme song. Sad.

Try reading Yvonne Fern’s books, they might help you “get” ST.

Wil, you did a fantastic job with relatively poor material – I’m currently converting my 76 year old mother into a Trekkie, and she’s already a Wesley fan (though she still calls Worf “Wart”!)

Oh – and I’m 100% fictional too…

I hope Wil was able to set Phil straight on the quality of The Outer Limits remake: Wil Wheaton guest stars in the Outer Limits: The Light Brigade.

OT, but did anyone else enjoy seeing Scott Bacula’s character go flying out the 99th floor window of the “Golden Stacks” building last week on Tracy Ulmann’s new show? She’s a genius!

In both Voyager and TNG there were several episodes hinting at the potential of humans to evolve beyond their current state. So perhaps something that involves humanity during this transition. I guess that was done somewhat in the Babylon 5 series with the telepath/mundane conflict.

The other option (that would interest me) is a post war scenario. The Federation has been broken by Borg or another race and the Federation races are left as a ragged band of refugees, traveling space to survive and find a new home. Can anyone say Battle Star Galactica?

Sigh. I guess it’s all been done. Then again, what SciFi idea hasn’t been done before?

PS: I liked the Wesley character.

Still have any of your books for sale, Wil?

-OEJ

They didn’t scream at you, they screamed at Wesley, who is pretend.

/pedantry

And Janeway was fine, I think she is the only Trek character to hook up with Sam Malone:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eZ5IYH9-L8Q

On second thought, I really think I have to agree with Peter F.