So, there I was, thinking about the good qualities of shows like DS9, Babylon 5, Transformers, etc. Obviously, there's the character factor - if we don't care about any of the people on the show, we won't care about the show. There are many ways to draw on this, and I realized one such method would be great for a new Trek series.
The idea is this - change everything at the end of each season! (This is how many anime series work, BTW). I don't mean minor changes, I mean the show must be significantly altered each time. Say we start with the traditional crew-onboard-a-ship show. This is already been done, obviously, so, beyond establishing the show, it wouldn't be that interesting. But, at the end of the season, let's say the ship is suddenly assigned to fight in the Dominion War (assuming it's still going on, which I think it will). It's an all-new premise, but we're using the same characters, so it's still the same show. So, we get lots of interesting war episodes, although they would have to be tied together in some sort of a loose arc. At the beginning, everyone is still getting used to being in a battle-zone, but by the end, some of the crew are used to it. Etc. (This shouldn't be the main focus of any major plots, though...it should be evident as the story progresses regularly.) So, we get to the end of the season...and the ship is destroyed! Maybe a character dies too, and others are unaccounted for. (The cast should be "spread out," BTW...there's several main/recurring characters, maybe two dozen. The captain or bridge crew shouldn't be the focus of it all).
So, the next season, the crew is relocated...some are reassigned, some are waiting for a new ship. (They would get some time off, presumably...when one's ship is destroyed it can be a bit traumatic). The new ship is almost ready (it needn't be new...maybe a refitted or repaired one), but, meanwhile, we find out that when the old ship was destroyed, some of the crew (both characters we know and others) made it out at the last minute on a few escape pods. They could be anywhere, most likely near enemy territory. Some of the crew manage to get aboard the ship sent to rescue them, and head off. Later, the rest of the crew (and when I say "crew" here I mean the characters were familiar with, not the entire crew of the old ship or whatever) finally get the new ship, and head off to help in the search. Or, maybe they're assigned to do something else, but do join the search vessel when they get the chance (awaiting the next assignment, or whatever). Eventually they do find the lost crew.
When returning to Starfleet though, something else comes up...just in time for next season! Or, better yet, the ship returns to Starfleet without incident, and heads back to doing normal stuff. Instead, the next season can happen five years later. That would be really great, since the characters would once again be in a new situation (to us), and we would be seeing the future, in a way. I mean, remember the scenes from "All Good Things" in the future timeline? Wouldn't you have liked to have seen more of that? The five-years-later idea would be similar in a way (maybe even that supernifty saucer-gun-of-doom would show up too ). Instead of just a glimpse of our characters and the UFP in the future, we'd be seeing all of the rest of the show there.
This is obviously just one example of what they could do, but do you see where I'm going? The show stays interesting because it's always changing, and allows for a variety of situations. Also, in the above, you'll see that the first two seasons are still episodic, whereas the third is more arc-ish. The arc is more effective because we're familiar with what's involved.
Now, obviously, the Trek writers, while talented, probably couldn't do such a great show if they tried. But it's still a good idea!
------------------ http://frankg.dgne.com/ Motormaster: "Megatron's in trouble!" Dead End: "Who cares?" Wildrider: "It looks like Starscream's defeated him!" Dead End: "So?"
[This message was edited by The Shadow on March 26, 1999.]
Posted by The First One (Member # 35) on :
Two words: Blakes Seven. 8P
------------------ Space Corps Directive #723: Terraformers are expressly forbidden from recreating Swindon.
Posted by Aethelwer (Member # 36) on :
Huh?
------------------ http://frankg.dgne.com/ Motormaster: "Megatron's in trouble!" Dead End: "Who cares?" Wildrider: "It looks like Starscream's defeated him!" Dead End: "So?"
Posted by Fabrux (Member # 71) on :
Interesting idea.......I think anew series should be based on the New Frontier books....there is a lot of potential with the New Frontier.
------------------ "They must thinks there's still Romulans on board!" "They're right!!"
[This message was edited by Fabrux on March 26, 1999.]
Posted by Holst on :
Ok, so I'm not exactly the biggest ST fan in the world. Now that I've gotten that outta the way. I've heard about the New Frontier books, but never had any reason to compell me to read. So Iwas wondering could someone tell me what these books are about.
------------------ "It's good and well to leave the government in the hands of the perfect man but what happens when the perfect man gets a bellyache?" - Belgarath the Sorceror by David Eddings
Posted by Sol System (Member # 30) on :
It's an interesting idea, but one I fear is impossible to do with a normal show. You pointed out anime as an example, but that's animation. Switch sets for absolutely no cost, change characters, etc...it's all much cheaper.
If there was one point I could pull from your idea, Frank, it would be that change is not something to be feared in a series.
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Posted by Fabrux (Member # 71) on :
Holst: The New Frontier series is about the crew of the U.S.S. Excalibur on a peacekeeping mission in Sector-221G, the former Thallonian Empire. The Thallonian Empire has collapsed, and centuries old skirmishes are beginning to arise. All of the ruling family has been killed, save Lord Si Cwan and possibly his sister. Starfleet decided to send the Excalibur in as aid, and the captain will have broad ranging powers, sort of like Kirk on the original Enterprise. They put Captain Mackenzie Calhoun in command of the Excalibur, due to his great leadership skills and battle sense, but to much objection from Admiral Edward Jellico. The first officer of the Excalibur is Commander Elizabeth "Eppy" Shelby. Lieutenant Robin Lefler serves as ops officer, Lieutenant Mark McHenry is the astronavigator, Dr. Selar is the CMO, Lieutenant Commander Burgoyne 172 is the chief engineer, Lieutenant Soleta is the science officer, and Lieutenant Zak Kebron is the security/tactical officer. To date there have been 6 books and one Captain's Table book telling about Calhoun's horrible experience on the Grissom as first officer. I hope you will decide to read this series after reading this brief synopses. I found it very interesting, and I impatiently await for book 7 to hit the stands.
------------------ "They must thinks there's still Romulans on board!" "They're right!!"
[This message was edited by Fabrux on March 27, 1999.]
Posted by Aethelwer (Member # 36) on :
Sol: That's exactly it. It's far more interesting to see a constantly changing situation, but while maintaining characters we're familiar with.
With my example, though, the sets, characters, etc. wouldn't need to be altered often except at the end of the season. At that time, new sets can be built and contracts re-negotiated. With a large enough cast, if one or two actors/actresses didn't want to return, it wouldn't be that big of an issue; just change the story to incorporate this.
And cost isn't that big of an issue...I've heard that Trek shows tend to spend a lot more money than they need to, although I have no idea on what. B5, for example, had only half the budget of DS9.
------------------ http://frankg.dgne.com/ Vortex: "It just don't pack the punch it used to..." Swindle: "Yeah, because we're out of energy, dummy."
Posted by Cargile (Member # 45) on :
well, what would be wrong with a Trek anime?
------------------ The real problem with the United States of America is that is was founded by Europeans, Asians, and Africans.
Posted by Diane (Member # 53) on :
Frankly, I don't really care for New Frontier, neither would I like a series based on it. Books like that are usually more daring and done on a bigger scale because there are no budget limitations. I read some Trek books because I like the characters and want to know about their encounters, even though they're not canon. I've never read New Frontier because I do not know these people, and I don't feel the need to know about them.
I think Frank has a good idea, but I don't like the idea of switching characters every few seasons. That makes it sound like 91210, Melrose Place, or any one of those shows that change people often. (Besides, we have those spots reserved for guest stars.)
------------------ "I have come to the conclusion that one man is called a disgrace, that two are called a law firm, and that three on the law become a congress! And by God I have had this Congress!" --John Adams, "1776"
Posted by Aethelwer (Member # 36) on :
No...keep the characters, switch everything else. Although there should be enough characters that if one or two were eliminated it wouldn't have a negative impact.
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Posted by Jordan on :
Ooooooh!
I'm with Fabrux on this one! I LOVED the New Frontier books...they was SUCH a breath of fresh air in what was (in my opinion of course) a stale series of Trek books that was more of a chore to read....
But if you ask me, if TPTB do a new series, it should either be a Pre-Kirk series or a pre TNG, post TOS series...
I'm flexiable either way. *G*
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Goodnight...you have been my sky, my sun and my moon...
Posted by Bernd (Member # 6) on :
I have no precise idea of what a new series should look like, but I would like to see the following:
- More permanent characters (10-12). As Frank said, kill one or two off, and there are enough familiar people left.
- More of the neglected aliens (Bolians, Andorians, Tellarites), maybe as permanent crew members.
- More of the well-known aliens, though. What about mixed human/Romulan/Klingon crews? We'll have to wait how the war turns out. A new storyline could also deal with a new Klingon-Romulan conflict and the Federation caught in the middle of it.
- More diversity of races within the main characters. No, I don't plead for a black, female, de-borgified, half-Vulcan/half-Klingon character, but some more diversity would do well, considering that humans of Anglo-American origin will be only a small minority in the Federation.
-More women. About half of the main characters should be women (for the sake of equality and to catch my interest even more ).
- More ships (that's what you have expected from me? ). I'd like to stress the fleet character in a new show (no matter if it's mainly or only partially about Starfleet) rather than always see lonesome ships delivering medical supplies and transporting ambassadors.
- More relationships. The Enterprise-D was a ship without love, although love is always good for a secondary plot (see DS9).
- More consistency. Don't draw ships and change their sizes several times afterwards. Don't let people travel across the Federation in one day. Don't make up facts that unnecessarily contradict established history.
- More real science, less arbitrary science. No matter, if situated on a ship or station or whatever, the new series should have a dedicated scientist (science officer) rather than someone who permanently makes exciting discoveries or inventions in their spare time. Scientific ideas have to be universal instead of attributing them to a prticle-of-the-week.
- More fixation of stories to a story arc. DS9 had some bad examples with silly Ferengi stories, DS9's chief engineer going on a long spy mission and a long familiy vacation during the fierce Dominion war. No matter if it's realistic or not, it's just not the right time to insert such stories.
- More changes of main story arcs. No more four-season Dominion war, no more five season "trying-to-get-home-but-failing-each-time" stories. It should be like Frank suggested, the whole situation could change with each new season.
- More insight into the Federation. How does the government and economy work? What is life on Earth (or other planets) like? What are the "normal" (non-Starfleet) people doing all the time?
Or, better yet, the ship returns to Starfleet without incident, and heads back to doing normal stuff. Instead, the next season can happen five years later. That would be really great, since the characters would once again be in a new situation (to us), and we would be seeing the future, in a way. I mean, remember the scenes from "All Good Things" in the future timeline? Wouldn't you have liked to have seen more of that? The five-years-later idea would be similar in a way (maybe even that supernifty saucer-gun-of-doom would show up too 
).