I didn't see a ST thread so I went ahead and made this. I figure we can discuss all shows, OS, TNG, DS9, Voyager...
So let's get right into it, the age old question--whose is your favorite Captain?
I'm a Kirk fan... though Picard is a VERY close second! For my wife's birthday I gave her a trip to Chicago to do a big Star Trek convention where they are doing a whole reunion of the TNG crew (including Sir Patrick Stewart!) and a bunch of other stuff. She is a HUGE TNG fan, but I'm more of an original series guy! Really surprised that there wasn't already a Star Trek thread on here... glad there is now though!
Well, of course, at my age, I watched TOS. I liked NextGen, but my favorite after TOS is DS9. "Voyager" was okay, but I didn't care for "Enterprise" much. Really enjoyed the reboot movie, too.
I watched TOS when I was a kid. I have a few of them as well as The Undiscovered Country on DVD, but I can't honestly say that any of the "Captains" ever did anything for me. I enjoyed the doctor, McCoy, with his wise- cracks to Spock.
Original series for me. The follow-ups always struck me as "Star Trek: The Afterschool Special" -- all that politically correct nonsense about people's feelings - blechh. Go fight some lizard-head aliens for cryin' out loud! I particularly dislike some of the actors/characters in the follow-up series -- Data, Q, Guinan, Janeway -- ugh.
Currently watching the old eps with the new FX in HD on Netflix streaming -- looking fantastic. I do like the new movie reboot, too, so I'm not a total cranky ol' crab.
What killed this series for me, as well, was the "Prime Directive" that was so rigidly enforced but was almost never enforced.
I did enjoyThe Undiscovered Country, and a few of the other films, because it did mirror the rift between east and west- Glasnost.
Since everyone seems to be mostly fans of TOS, what was everyone's favorite TOS episode? I always have a soft spot for Arena, mostly because I love the Gorn in it, but I've also always really liked The Menagerie. It was a really well written and played out episode and made really cool use of the original pilot episode they had filmed with Captain Pike.
City on the Edge of Forever & Arena. Off the top of my head these two standout but I'm sure that there are others, just have to jog the memory a tad
City... was a short story by Harlan Ellison and it was actually pretty good.
TOS had the benefit of its own novelty but there was a lot that didn't come across as future-thinking. Trying (even if just in words and not deeds) to keep to the Prime Directive is what an intergalactic organization would have to be. I think TNG did this and is one of its strong points. Still, throughout all series, it was always very odd that Starfleet headquarters was always on Earth. It was the space version of ethnocentricity.
There were aspects of all the series that I liked though. TOS did have that 1960s adventure feel and, of course, it introduced the framework for the entire Star Trek universe. TNG brought a lot more intellectualality. DS9 was able to go with (mainly) one location and focus on the people that pass through a place that is on the edge of a new frontier. Voyager took away all of the familiarity of the known universe and forced the people onboard to deal with the unknown more than ever before. I didn't get to watch as much of Enterprise because at that time in my life, I was just so busy but I liked the "look into the past" feature.
Rob
I liked the original series but didn't love it. I guess that my favorite episode was "The Trouble with Tribbles" ..
STNG ~ I liked this series too. Patrick Stewart was very cool and I enjoyed most of the cast.
STDS9 ~ I liked this series but didn't watch it much.
Voyager ~ This is one of my favorite ST series .. I liked Janeway as captain.
Enterprise ~ I have no problem with Scott Bakula but wasn't motivated to watch the show.
Honestly it's so close for me between Kirk and Picard but Jean Luc wins by a photo finish.
In middle school when I was really getting deeper in love with all things comic book, sci-fi and horror but I just didn't care for TOS, then during the week they started showing episodes of TNG and I ended up watching them on a nightly basis. From then on I just thought JLP was the man!
Kirk is awesome too but there is something much more..I dunno.."tough guy" about him. Elements of his character could play well in an old Western, there is that passive dangerous streak you kind of sense. Picard on the other hand is the poster child for "Don't worry...I got this!" I'm gonna need that feeling as soon as I hear "Resistance is futile!"
Quote from: BlackLagoon on January 27, 2013, 07:52:06 PMKirk is awesome too but there is something much more..I dunno.."tough guy" about him. Elements of his character could play well in an old Western, there is that passive dangerous streak you kind of sense.
Well, Roddenberry did pitch "Star Trek" to NBC as "Wagon Train to the Stars".
I enjoy them all, but I'm a product of my time, TOS for me. Favorite episodes:
MIRROR, MIRROR: parallel/alternate universe theories have always fascinated me.
DAY OF THE DOVE: The Klingons--perhaps the best bad guy/space villains ever--dominate this episode, & a great anti-war message.
AMOK TIME: Our first glimpse of the planet Vulcan.
And just for fun, THE TROUBLE WITH TRIBBLES.
Quote from: Scary Terry on January 27, 2013, 12:14:49 PM
Original series for me. The follow-ups always struck me as "Star Trek: The Afterschool Special" -- all that politically correct nonsense about people's feelings - blechh.
...not to mention the "guys in miniskirts" stuff they pulled early in the series. :o When TNG came out I watched it regularly, and I remember having to work
really really hard to like the darn thing. Eventually they loosened up and created some stories with real humanity and drama, but man, it was rough sledding there for a while. Of course, my favorite captain was and is Kirk.
My Star Trek (TOS) autograph display out in the hallway with a "collector's plate" and an original TV Guide.
(http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8049/8425077657_f9e10e6921_b.jpg)
Rob
Quote from: monsterphile on January 28, 2013, 11:01:38 PM
My Star Trek (TOS) autograph display out in the hallway with a "collector's plate" and an original TV Guide.
(http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8049/8425077657_f9e10e6921_b.jpg)
Rob
NICE!!! Really cool piece!
I've enjoyed all the Treks, but the original is my all time favorite. Kirk is the man as far as i'm concerned.
Favorite episode: City On The Edge Of Forever
Favorite movie: The Wrath Of Khan
Quote from: Scary Terry on January 27, 2013, 12:14:49 PM
Original series for me. The follow-ups always struck me as "Star Trek: The Afterschool Special" -- all that politically correct nonsense about people's feelings - blechh. Go fight some lizard-head aliens for cryin' out loud! I particularly dislike some of the actors/characters in the follow-up series -- Data, Q, Guinan, Janeway -- ugh.
Currently watching the old eps with the new FX in HD on Netflix streaming -- looking fantastic. I do like the new movie reboot, too, so I'm not a total cranky ol' crab.
You and I are two
very different people. Data and Janeway are like the best characters ever. I also like when they deviate from the rubber aliens to talk about the more cerebral aspects of the series (not that I don't like lizard-headed aliens). At least we can agree that the new movie was pretty cool.
Quote from: creaturerevenge on January 27, 2013, 12:52:00 PM
Since everyone seems to be mostly fans of TOS, what was everyone's favorite TOS episode? I always have a soft spot for Arena, mostly because I love the Gorn in it, but I've also always really liked The Menagerie. It was a really well written and played out episode and made really cool use of the original pilot episode they had filmed with Captain Pike.
Those were good episodes. Some of my favorites are "Shore Leave" and "Gamesters of Triskellion.". I just watched "City on the Edge of Forever" and thought it was pretty radical as well.
I read an old book about Star Trek during last week's storm thats been sitting on my shelf for a while and the series started coming back to me. I read a lot of books about old time TV and radio and consider myself a TV and radio historian of sorts. For me it's stress relief.
Kirk tried to act as a buffer between McCoy and Spock. Their love- hate relationship was entertaining at times.
I never got the impression that Kirk was a "tough guy" captain, though. He would almost always find himself and the crew in some kind of a pickle and in the end would wiggle out of it and save face.
But the show was solid and the writing was, for the most part, very good.
Martin Landau was really the first choice to play Spock but didn't want the role and then Leonard Nimoy was hired.
Roddenberry did get the brainstorm from viewing some of the older westerns and thought of it as "Wagon Train to the Stars". Trek was actually rejected by another network before NBC picked up the second pilot.
"Star Trek the video game" is coming out late this month. I will get it for my XBOX 360
'Looks good so far:
Star Trek - the Game (2013) (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cdzfZNJh7js#ws)
'Love TOS and Star Trek Next Generation, but then I stopped watching it. I tried to get interested in other versions of Star Trek but just couldn't sit through more than a couple of episodes. I still have a communicator in my collection.
At one point I almost had all of the Next Generation on video tape, but eventually needed to make room. 'Have to get 'em on DVD one of these days.
I love that Shatner did this:
STAR TREK: THE VIDEO GAME -- Shatner vs. Gorn Trailer (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4hnBp7x2QAE#ws)
Quote from: Moonshadow on March 31, 2013, 05:07:37 PM
I love that Shatner did this:
STAR TREK: THE VIDEO GAME -- Shatner vs. Gorn Trailer (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4hnBp7x2QAE#ws)
THANKS for posting that!
I recently bought the ST: TOS sets with the redone spfx. Usually I don't like things, like colorization, but I'm kinda liking these.
Quote from: BlackLagoon on January 27, 2013, 01:12:46 AM
I didn't see a ST thread so I went ahead and made this. I figure we can discuss all shows, OS, TNG, DS9, Voyager...
I just realised I have not yet shared something really cool for this Aussie fan of "Star Trek" (since seeing "Star Trek: The Motion Picture" in December 1979). I spent much of 1980 catching up with all the previous Trek I had missed, meeting new Trek friends (most of whom hated the movie I had loved so much) and I did my first cosplay in August 1980.
(https://live.staticflickr.com/159/330738910_2e60d78d2b_n.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/ve8a1)
Therin of Andor as a redshirt (https://flic.kr/p/ve8a1) by Ian McLean (https://www.flickr.com/photos/therinofandor/), on Flickr
(https://live.staticflickr.com/1144/1213065803_811cd24ce7_w.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/2RchcD)
My first ever Photoshop: me as Therin meeting me as Grol (https://flic.kr/p/2RchcD) by Ian McLean (https://www.flickr.com/photos/therinofandor/), on Flickr
(That pic of Therin and Grol side-by-side was my first ever attempt at Photoshop in about 1997.)
So, eight loooooong months ago, I had to sign a NDA (Non-Disclosure Agreement). It was relaxed two weeks ago with the premiere of Season Two of "Star Trek: Picard".
(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51915396194_b23b946d62.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/2n6zYzQ)
10 Forward bar (https://flic.kr/p/2n6zYzQ) by Ian McLean (https://www.flickr.com/photos/therinofandor/), on Flickr
Production Designer, Dave Blass had tweeted pics from the sets, as did "Entertainment Tonight", meaning I can now discuss my secret. Look carefully at these pics of John deLancie (Q) and Patrick Stewart (Picard) and you will see... my cosplay and fanfic characters,
Therin of Andor and
Grol of Tellar (and even the insignia of the ship I used in fanfic,
USS Hood). We are
set decorations in Guinan's new 10 Forward Avenue bar.
All I can say is "Whoopi, I have become canon!"
(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51912549332_41a1f4324c.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/2n6koj1)
Therin and Grol in "Star Trek: Picard", Season 2 (https://flic.kr/p/2n6koj1) by Ian McLean (https://www.flickr.com/photos/therinofandor/), on Flickr
Here, Therin is almost sitting on Q's shoulder!:
(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51943436120_aa58ffe494.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/2n94FSQ)
Q in the 10 Forward Avenue bar (https://flic.kr/p/2n94FSQ) by Ian McLean (https://www.flickr.com/photos/therinofandor/), on Flickr
I started getting messages from friends who had invitations to the online After Party, which was being hosted live from the 10 Forward Avenue bar! The person explaining to the audience about the cosplay photos
even pointed at my framed pic! It seems they have added another version of the Therin & Grol two-shot
as a simulated Polaroid, just left of the framed pic. (The larger pic of them is still up the top in wider views.)
(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51913900542_d240a3c070_n.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/2n6siYJ)
Therin in 10 Forward Avenue bar (https://flic.kr/p/2n6siYJ) by Ian McLean (https://www.flickr.com/photos/therinofandor/), on Flickr
The bar set then toured around LA as a "pop up bar", where fans could book in for a visit.
And for a Season Three update:
https://www.universalmonsterarmy.com/forum/index.php?topic=22679.msg619165#msg619165 (https://www.universalmonsterarmy.com/forum/index.php?topic=22679.msg619165#msg619165)
Well done, Ian! How cool to be a prop on a ST show! :)
Wow! That's more than a little cool!!
Actually, he's not a prop, he's set dressing. Unless somebody picks him up, then he's a prop.
If you are into the original series I would recommend checking out Star Trek Continues. It's free to watch on YouTube. They produced a couple of short teasers before the episodes. One can sample it before watching an entire episode. It is professionally produced and had guest stars from the original series, TNG, Battlestar Galactica, Buck Rogers, Doctor Who, the Incredible Hulk and Farscape. It's like watching a lost episode of the first series.
Quote from: Scary Terry on January 27, 2013, 12:14:49 PMOriginal series for me. The follow-ups always struck me as "Star Trek: The Afterschool Special" -- all that politically correct nonsense about people's feelings - blechh. Go fight some lizard-head aliens for cryin' out loud! I particularly dislike some of the actors/characters in the follow-up series -- Data, Q, Guinan, Janeway -- ugh.
I agree!
Still I much prefer Captain Picard to Captain Kirk. It's the rest of the characters on
The Next Generation series who were execrable.
cl:)
Quote from: Paladin on January 27, 2013, 12:46:13 PMWhat killed this series for me, as well, was the "Prime Directive" that was so rigidly enforced but was almost never enforced.
Absolutely! What was particularly irritating was this episode:
A Piece of the Action (https://youtu.be/OBBhHpuXnE0)
The implication of course being that
any government, even one run by crooks/mobsters, is better than none.
Quote from: Paladin on January 27, 2013, 12:46:13 PMI did enjoyThe Undiscovered Country, and a few of the other films, because it did mirror the rift between east and west- Glasnost.
The Undiscovered Country movie delighted me upon its release for that same reason.
>:(
The prime directive was basically a subtle anti Vietnam statement by the writers of the original series.
In the first series the Enterprise crew is exploring the galaxy and having adventures. While it is dangerous work the crew is having fun and learning about themselves as they explore. In TNG, exploring the galaxy is serious business and they take themselves and their mission seriously.
Star Trek Strange New Worlds is the closest in tone to the original as any of the spin offs.
Speaking of dangerous work, Gene Roddenberry had his share too. Of the two plane crashes he survived, the wreckage from his WWII crash is still on Espirto Vanuatu. My son and I visited the crash site while on a diving trip there. The island is a great place to take an out of the way vacation with wreck diving, jungle trekking and WWII memorabilia to examine.
RF