This is topic what do you think the 5th series will be about? (5th series spoilers) in forum General Trek at Flare Sci-Fi Forums.


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Posted by grb on :
 
Rick Berman has revealed that the 5th series will take place on a starfleet starship. Some company was commisioned to make props i think it was for series 5, and were told that the show would take place 400 years in the future. As the company itself did not exsist in the 24th centruy, I think that this means series 5 is gonna take place 400 years into our furture, that is the late 24th or early 25th century. Berman also said that this series is unlike any trek before (that is actually the same thing he said about DS9 and Voyager before they started, and he was probabaly in someway right for both of them). Berman also said that this new show would go more back to the heart of trek than any other series.

Now what does anyone think this series might be about? Guessing might get us no where, but it might be intresting. I'm gonna guess on a starfleet ship exploring the gamma quadrant of a now peaceful dominion. Think of it, such a series would explore issues back at the root of trek (a hopeful view of the furture in which we have given up war for peace). Any other ideas? BTW, guessing that the new starfleet ship would be some kind of exissting class i believe would lead to an incorrect guess. I'm sure that the ship would be a new one. There are some viewers ou there who might just watch the series to get a look at the ships, and paramount would loose these few viewers if they used an exsisting design.

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Posted by Alpha Centauri (Member # 338) on :
 
Given the era in which Series-5 will take place, and the statement of Berman that the series will be entirely something else, I guess it will be about a Starfleet Timeship (like the Aeon and Relativity).

OTOH, if the series will get back to the roots of Trek, I think that Starfleet is able to conduct intergalactic travel (transwarp? quantum slipstream?), and meets an enemy in the Andromeda Galaxy. A new war.

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Posted by Spike (Member # 322) on :
 
I don't want a timeship-series or a 24th/25th-century-series. There are 3 series in this time, that's enough.

Back to the 23rd century!!!

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"No matter where you go, there you are."


 


Posted by Shik (Member # 343) on :
 
I don't want a new series at ALL. At least not until 2010.

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"Do you know how much YOU'RE worth??.....2.5 million Woolongs. THAT'S your bounty. I SAID you were small fry..." --Spike Spiegel
 


Posted by bear (Member # 124) on :
 
I agree....

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Posted by Mikey T (Member # 144) on :
 
OH MY GOD!!! What have they done? The entire Star Trek timeline will be further contaminated, contradicted, and be shit. What the hell are they thinking? Why don't they just continue down the current timeline?

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Posted by Michael Dracon (Member # 4) on :
 
NO PREQUEL!

I think A fresh start in the future (25th century or further) is a good idea. The TNG-DS9-Voy timeline hasn't got much to offer any more.
Let's see:
- DS9 has ended.
- TNG's last movie is coming next year.
- Voyager's last season ends next year.

I think 2001 is a nice year to end the complete TNG-DS9-Voy timeline (Except maybe for a few Voyager movies).

They need to make a step forward into the future to move beyond the TNG-DS9-VOY timeline. Make a fresh start. I sertainly hope it's going to be a 29th century series.

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"Do you want to be President?"
"Yes."
"Put you hand on the book and say 'I do'."
"I do."
"Good, done. Let's eat!"

- G'kar and Sheridan, Babylon 5.

 


Posted by Alpha Centauri (Member # 338) on :
 
*agrees*

However I still like my idea of an intergalactic war. What do you guys think?

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Advertisement in the United Federation NewsPADD, SD 53672:

"Now for sale at your local dealer: Miranda class vessels, as good as new! Survived the Dominion Wars! Only 100 years old! Only 20,000 ly on the counter! Buy now for only $1000! And if you order now, you get an Oberth class for half the price!"


 


Posted by Michael Dracon (Member # 4) on :
 
Yeah! And continuity!
DS9 proved that continuity can make a series successful.
Voyager proved that continuity can make a series successful.

So put in that continuity!

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"I think I speak for everyone here when I say, 'Huh?' "
- Buffy

[This message has been edited by Altair (edited July 08, 2000).]
 


Posted by grb on :
 
all right, so you're saying that an intergalatic war will go back to what is truly trek!?! Star trek is about PEACE, not war.

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Posted by Aethelwer (Member # 36) on :
 
Yes, but peace is boring.

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Posted by Michael Dracon (Member # 4) on :
 
I have to agree with Frank here...

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"I think I speak for everyone here when I say, 'Huh?'."
- Buffy
 


Posted by grb on :
 
Whatever you opinion on war in trek is, berman said that the new series wa more trek than any other since TNG, and this proabably means a show that has a rather peaceful setting overall. Sure there will still be conflicts and enemies, but no full scale war. BTW, i would not want to watch a trek compleytely about war. DS9 was about alot more than just the war. i think a trek series focusing on war would be pretty sad. it would turn out more like that show "space:above and beyond" which is now restriceted to being on the air at about 2pm on sunday afternoons here cause it became so bad.

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Posted by Fabrux (Member # 71) on :
 
What about Babylon 5? It was rather successful and it revolved around wars.

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-Preed, Titan A.E.

 


Posted by jh on :
 
geez, how long are these things gonna go on? By the time everyone finishes talking about the 5th series anything they do roll out is going to be anti-climatic.

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Posted by AndrewR (Member # 44) on :
 
I have read in magazines from 1992 and 1995 that say that "DS9 is the closest Trek to the Original Series" then "Voyager is back to what Trek is all about"

They're ALWAYS going to say this...

Andrew

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"chocolate cherries allamanda" - Datura, Tori Amos

 


Posted by Saltah'na (Member # 33) on :
 
Voyager proved that continuity can make a series successful.

Well, WE proved it to them, the hard way. I don't know if they ever got the message.

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Posted by Michael Dracon (Member # 4) on :
 
A different reaction than I anticipated, but at least somebody noticed it.

What I was going for is that because Voyager has such a lousy continuity, it isn't that successful.

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"I think I speak for everyone here when I say, 'Huh?'."
- Buffy
 


Posted by Captain Richard Miloshkin on :
 
I agree with JH. I'm not going to speculate about what the new series is going to be because that'll spoil the surprise.
I do hope, however, that they leave it for a few years. The Trek writers should take a few years off to get new ideas and reflect on what they did wrong in Voyager and what they can do to improve their next series.
If they wait, the anticipation of fans will build up and it'll make it much more enjoyable for all - as long as the new series is half-decent.

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Millions long for immortality who don't know what to do on a rainy afternoon. --- Susan Ertz
 


Posted by Nim (Member # 205) on :
 
I, OTOH, am pretty sure that the series V eagerness of the many will outweigh the patience of the few...

Dum-di-dum-dumm....

Hm-hm-hmmm....


Not gonna say it!

Ladadaa...

Never!


Doo-di-doo...

OR THE ONE!!! THERE, YOU HAPPY NOW???

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Ready for the action now, Dangerboy
Ready if I'm ready for you, Dangerboy
Ready if I want it now, Dangerboy?
How dare you, dare you, Dangerboy?
How dare you, Dangerboy?
I dare you, dare you, Dangerboy...

�on Flux, "Thanatophobia"

 


Posted by The_Tom (Member # 38) on :
 
quote:
Babylon 5 revolved around wars...

*nod*
quote:
...and was successful

Buh?


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"Truth about Santa Claus debunks Santa God. God evolves from Santa."
-Gene Ray, http://www.timecube.com


[This message has been edited by The_Tom (edited July 11, 2000).]
 


Posted by Aethelwer (Member # 36) on :
 
Well, successful in the sense that the people who watch it greatly enjoy it, as opposed to just mildly liking it.

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[This message has been edited by The Shadow (edited July 11, 2000).]
 


Posted by The_Tom (Member # 38) on :
 
...but not in the sense that it could secure a broad audience with reasonable ratings or spawn a successful spinoff.

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"Truth about Santa Claus debunks Santa God. God evolves from Santa."
-Gene Ray, http://www.timecube.com



 


Posted by Aethelwer (Member # 36) on :
 
Well, since it was geared toward people with intelligence and an attention span, probably not in today's society.

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Frank's Home Page
"Tetris is, and this is fact people, confirmed by the Rand Corporation; fifteen thousand times more addictive than crack. I spent three years in a Tetris-induced haze, barely eating, wandering the streets panhandling for Gameboy batteries." - Simon Sizer
 


Posted by TSN (Member # 31) on :
 
Oddly enough, I have to agree w/ Frank. The very problem lies in the idea of trying to gain a large audience. Being appealing to the masses is never a good thing...

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Posted by bear (Member # 124) on :
 
The really sad thing is I will probably find myself watching even next series is horrible. I still say a 24th century Indiana Jones is the way to go.

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Posted by Sidewinder (Member # 50) on :
 
No matter what, Trek is always going to go back to its roots with exploration. After all, that is the whole idea when the series was created. And with the exploration, there is going to be conflicts with others. Not everyone likes to be found. I mean, TOS, TNG, DS9, and VOY all have their roots with finding new places and learning about the new places. We've had four series that have dealt with this basic subject and we're about to get another. Star Trek is the same thing it was 35 years ago. New characters, plots and ships, but the basic idea remains.

A series about a pure war in Trek will never be successful. Because (like mentioned before) Trek is about peace. That's the whole Federation. However, a series based on peace would be boring. No action whatsoever. The next step could be a soap opera type thing where everyone is having sex with their commander and trying to screw the next guy over. We haven't had a series like this yet... And doesn't most of today's television focus on violence or sex?

In all honesty, the future of Trek looks bleak....


 


Posted by Savar on :
 
In my opinion, a fifth series is not a good idea at this time. The argument that there is just too much Trek right now is a valid one. Jumping into a new series seems to me to be no more than an attempt to milk the ole Trek cash cow and to keep Rick Berman and his cronies working.

I agree with others who suggest waiting a few years to let the previous series settle into place. Then, when the time is right, maybe we can have a fresh new Star Trek (created by a fresh, NEW producer). Honestly, I think the best thing for Star Trek right now would be if Rick Berman and Brannon Braga walked off the face of the Earth.
 


Posted by Sidewinder (Member # 50) on :
 
Now that was tough! Professional hitmen can be hired.... Well, that would not be very nice.

Perhaps we should let them wither away

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There's a lady who knows, all that glitters is gold...and she's buying a stairway to heaven. -Led Zeppelin, "Stairway to Heaven"


 


Posted by Shik (Member # 343) on :
 
I have less of a problem with Berman than I do with Braga. HE'S responsible for the endless 47 refs (it's his favorite number) & the Montana refs. (his home state) He's responsible for most of the crappier episodes that I consider to be filler. ("Fistful of Datas," anyone?)

And if his ascension to executive producership isn't enough of a hint that he's made a Faustian deal, he's been boinking Jeri Ryan for about 2 months or so.

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"Do you know how much YOU'RE worth??.....2.5 million Woolongs. THAT'S your bounty. I SAID you were small fry..." --Spike Spiegel
 


Posted by TSN (Member # 31) on :
 
Actually, I believe Joe Menosky was the one who brought "47" to Trek.

I wonder why they didn't call Seven of Nine "Four of Seven"...? :-)

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Posted by Sol System (Member # 30) on :
 
I think the fifth series will be about astronauts on some kind of "star trek".

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But the dead only quickly decay. They don't go about being born and reborn and rising and falling like souffle. The dead only quickly decay.
--
Gothic Archies
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Read chapter one of "Dirk Tungsten in...The Disappearing Planet"! For the love of God, Montressor!

 


Posted by AndrewR (Member # 44) on :
 
I too feel that there shouldn't be any more Trek TV series for a few years.

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"chocolate cherries allamanda" - Datura, Tori Amos

 


Posted by Alpha Centauri (Member # 338) on :
 
I must agree. Leave the new series in the refrigerator for a couple of years, and keep the audience sweet by throwing in a couple of movies. (I'd like to see a Voyager movie, BTW.)

No more Trek series until 2005 or so.

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Posted by Sidewinder (Member # 50) on :
 
IT would be wonderful if they waited for a few years for a trek series....

However, these days it is not about fans, Trek, continuity (sp) or anything that really related to Trek...

It's about MONEY.

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There's a lady who knows, all that glitters is gold...and she's buying a stairway to heaven. -Led Zeppelin, "Stairway to Heaven"


 


Posted by Matrix (Member # 376) on :
 
They should after Voyager stop for a few years let the fandom buildup again and then restart again later perhaps in the 25th century.

Right nowthey are milking out the Star Trek popularity until withers away and even if it stops it will never grow back up to the standards of what Star Trek used to be.

Voyager is a clear example of how Star Trek is falling a part. I like Voyager and I've seen every episode but the writing is getting a little cheesy. The season finale was a Voyager-Matrix remix. With Seven being Neo and the Borg being the agents.

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It is better to walk the path of the devil than to be in the path of the devil. Though it still might not be the right path.

 


Posted by Omega (Member # 91) on :
 
There were significant differences between The Matrix and Unimatrix Zero. Hardly a cloning process going on.

I think that maybe they should just kick Voyager out of the continuity all together, then redo the entire series with new writers. Keep all the good episodes (Pathfinder, Life Lines, etc.), redo the ones with good plots but that were poorly executed (Hope and Fear, MAYBE Threshold), and eliminate and replace the REALLY bad ones (Fury). Voyager as a premise was a good idea. It was just poorly executed.

To avoid being smote for "Threshold", the idea of warp 10 was a good idea, but they'd have to eliminate the whole uber-evolution thing and go a completely different direction.

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Posted by Sol System (Member # 30) on :
 
The solution to some continuity problems is to make more of them?

There is something to be said for us young kneebiters being a bit spoiled as far as things Trek go. On the other hands, I have serious doubts as to whether the current pop culture can sustain things like Trek for decades without any outside input. TOS happened to find itself ending in just the right environment for long term success. That environment no longer exists.

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But the dead only quickly decay. They don't go about being born and reborn and rising and falling like souffle. The dead only quickly decay.
--
Gothic Archies
****
Read chapter one of "Dirk Tungsten in...The Disappearing Planet"! For the love of God, Montressor!

 


Posted by AndrewR (Member # 44) on :
 
How about just having Voyager being just Naiomi Wildman's Dream... she wakes up in her quarters on DS9 with her Father and Mother in the next room...

The ultimate reset button.

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"chocolate cherries allamanda" - Datura, Tori Amos

 


Posted by Shik (Member # 343) on :
 
Or have Janeway wake up next to Bob Newhart. Or Suzanne Pleshette. (Mmmmmmmm.....SsssuuuzzzAAAAANNNE PleeeeeshhhEEEETTE.....)

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"Do you know how much YOU'RE worth??.....2.5 million Woolongs. THAT'S your bounty. I SAID you were small fry..." --Spike Spiegel
 


Posted by Sidewinder (Member # 50) on :
 
One question. I am an avid enjoyer of the Ford Mustang. I participate in a similar web board style forum on a Mustang website. On that web board, a rep from Ford asked the members to post their thoughts on what they view as important for the next Mustang. That shows that Ford wants to know what its customers would like. Now what comes to mind is something quite similar. And I can sum that up in one question:

HAS PARAMOUNT AND THE TREK WRITERS EVER ASKED
THE FANS WHAT THEY WANT TO SEE?

(That caps mode was meant to be read in an angry tone so that you may feel the anger that I feel)

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There's a lady who knows, all that glitters is gold...and she's buying a stairway to heaven. -Led Zeppelin, "Stairway to Heaven"


 


Posted by The_Tom (Member # 38) on :
 
Why the hell should they? Just read some of the fannish premises that have circulated on the net... huge starships, intergalactic wars, Navy SEALS-meets-Trek. It seems quite clear that if we let "the fans" come up with a new series, it will be an unplatable hunk of crud that only "the fans" will watch, and not the general audience that s5 must catch.

Fans weren't asked about TNG or DS9, and by most accounts they came out fine. There's no reason to believe that Paramount must have fan input in order to produce a superior work, in fact IMHO basing the series on the expectations of fans could hurt it.

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"Truth about Santa Claus debunks Santa God. God evolves from Santa."
-Gene Ray, http://www.timecube.com



 


Posted by Sol System (Member # 30) on :
 
Except mine, of course.

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But the dead only quickly decay. They don't go about being born and reborn and rising and falling like souffle. The dead only quickly decay.
--
Gothic Archies
****
Read chapter one of "Dirk Tungsten in...The Disappearing Planet"! For the love of God, Montressor!

 


Posted by TSN (Member # 31) on :
 
I believe they avoid reading fan ideas because, if they use one, that fan can come back and demand credit (probably monetary) for the idea. At least, that's what I heard once.

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"I just measured him. He's about 21"."
-Chris Martin, 14-Jul-2000
 


Posted by Harry (Member # 265) on :
 
SideWinder is right, *sigh*

If they wait a few years, who will pay all those Paramount-people? What will Activision and all the other merchandise-guys say? Or the CGIers, like Digital Muse, Foundation Imaging, etc.?

I only hope they don't make it even worse than Voyager!

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Posted by Sidewinder (Member # 50) on :
 
i love it when people tell me I am right. =)

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There's a lady who knows, all that glitters is gold...and she's buying a stairway to heaven. -Led Zeppelin, "Stairway to Heaven"


 


Posted by Aethelwer (Member # 36) on :
 
*directs people toward his signature*

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Frank's Home Page
"Frank is absolutely right." - Laz Rojas
 


Posted by Mucus (Member # 24) on :
 
Actually I'd applaud The_Tom's sentiments. A show created by the common lowest denominator would pander to the common lowest denominator and that alone.

While Voyager isn't exactly a awe-inspiring show, I honestly believe if they did everything some "fans" want it would incredibly lame and menial.

To use Sidewinder's example, remember what happened when Homer designed a car on the Simpsons? Just a thought.

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Stealing from one author is called plagarism.
Stealing from many is called research.


 


Posted by Sidewinder (Member # 50) on :
 
These ideas have merit. However, when I put the idea up, I wasn't really thinking of a show by show idea. Instead, I was thinking series. I mean, the fan doens't need to dictate the whole show, however some input could be good. Perhaps if the fans seem to enjoy a male commander versus a female commander... or perhaps they enjoy a series based on zooming around in a starship rather than a station. Just some thoughts...

And why is my signature being pointed at? I am not sure if I like that kind of pointing... I mean, it is like the best song ever (in my opinion)!

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There's a lady who knows, all that glitters is gold...and she's buying a stairway to heaven. -Led Zeppelin, "Stairway to Heaven"


 


Posted by TSN (Member # 31) on :
 
I believe Frank was pointing at his own signature. :-)

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"I just measured him. He's about 21"."
-Chris Martin, 14-Jul-2000
 


Posted by Weyoun of Borg on :
 
I hope that the next Trek show will not be set on a Federation ship or station. I'm hoping (Even though it's a little bit far) that the next series will be set on a Klingon ship. The idea is that it's the life of soldiers on a Vor'Cha-Class warship. I would absolutly love that, as would many other people, I think. A title like Kligon Battle Fleet, perhaps?

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Omet'Iklan: We pledge our allegence to the Founders, from now until death.
Weyoun: Then receive this gift from the Founders. May it keep you strong.

Remember: Obedience brings Victory, and Victory is Life!
 


Posted by The_Tom (Member # 38) on :
 
Oooh, just what we need, another series idea that is guaranteed not to appeal to a general audience.

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"Truth about Santa Claus debunks Santa God. God evolves from Santa."
-Gene Ray, http://www.timecube.com



 


Posted by Sidewinder (Member # 50) on :
 
That's evil. The next series must appeal to everyone and their brother. This new series will make everyone a Trek fan.

(Very sarcastic)

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There's a lady who knows, all that glitters is gold...and she's buying a stairway to heaven. -Led Zeppelin, "Stairway to Heaven"


 


Posted by PsyLiam (Member # 73) on :
 
Riiiggghhht.

Now, someone said that the reason DS9 was successful was continuity, and Voyager wasn't successful because it avoided continuity, right?

Now, do you honestly think that even half the people watching Trek can tell the difference between the Excelsior and the Enterprise-B? Or the Enterprise-D and D for that matter? You think they giv two hoots that Starfleet directive 4747 said something different 4 years ago?

DS9 was critically acclaimed (successful is a bit stron), because it was generally well written, had good stories,and took a few chances. Voyager tends to be slated because it has derivative storeis that have been done to death in Trek and other formats, a fair number of the characters are dull, and it rarely does something that makes you go "now THAT was a good story".

A fair number of the fans give the impression that a great episode would involve people standing around saying "It's Defiant class. It's 170m long. We did mean to foreshadow the Borg in "The Neutral Zone". Kirk did have a second five year mission after TMP. Chakotay does come from that planet seen in Wesley's final episode. Voyager cannot seperate. Blah blah blah".

What makes Star Trek good is continuity. And what makes Buffy watchable is that Sarah Michelle Gellar's attractive. Nothing else matters apart from that.

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Posted by TSN (Member # 31) on :
 
Discontinuity isn't what makes Voyager unsuccessful. It's what makes Voyager crappy. *L*

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"I just measured him. He's about 21"."
-Chris Martin, 14-Jul-2000
 


Posted by Atrocities on :
 
Well if I had to venture a guess, and mind you, these are only guesses..

Star Trek meets Mission Impossible = Section 31 Trek
Star Trek meets ER = Holo Doctor series
Star Trek meets VR = Holo ship and crew
Star Trek meets Dr. Who = Time Travel Trek


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Posted by Matrix (Member # 376) on :
 
What a new Star Trek series is either:

1. A different universe such as the Mirrior Universe. However this will not work well if you want to grab more people in watching it. No will know the difference between the two because you're on the same DS9 and the same Defiant. Or even if it was different people it would take time for those who are new at watching it to het hooked.

2. The future. Star Trek series could go into the the nect century and have new ships, a new plot and perhaps a new enemy to deal with. This is what TNG made it popular besides from its great writing and such.

3. The past. Perhaps showing the formation of the Federation and the dealings with being a new fleet. This n my opinion would be neat for an episode or two but not a series.

4. 23rd cetury revisited. Perhaps going on another refit Constitution class to explore the galaxy. (To tell you the truth, I just want to see that ship in action once again)

5. Section 31 series. Hell no, Starfleet does not sneek around causing trouble like assassainations or coverups.

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It is better to walk the path of the devil than to be in the path of the devil. Though it still might not be the right path.

 


Posted by Alpha Centauri (Member # 338) on :
 
Just having a silly(?) idea for a series:

Some sort of documentary series. It will not take place on a specific starship of space station, but every episode takes place somewhere else. The series will span the entire history from 2063 to where we are now. This might be great for creating continuity, and filling in the gaps in Trek history (for example: pre- TOS era, the gap between ST6 and TNG). But I don't think that this concept will appeal to the great audience, however it might great for the die-hard Trekkers. Also, I think we've seen enough series playing on starships. Another starship-focused series might be boring.

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Posted by The_Tom (Member # 38) on :
 
I think Daryus has hit the nail on the head here.
*pauses, and puts on a Franksbane necklace*

Although I'm certainly treading on dangerous ground here, I'd like to point out that while B5 had continuity coming out of its ass, it still, IMHO, had shallow writing and as a result didn't garner as wide an audience as DS9. At least, on this continent it didn't.

Now, back onto the topic of broad audiences.

I'll begin by reminding everyone that there is still a huge audience out there that watched and loved TNG. I can still fondly remember watching First Contact on video in my residence common room. It was at the part where the Borg were advancing through the decks of the Enterprise, pushing back the security teams, where one dude fires his phaser and the Borg adapts to it. Somebody asked what just happened, and a guy who I knew not to be a watcher of either of the newer series promptly explained at length about the Borg adapting to weapons frequencies and remodulation and all that stuff, recieving words of agreement of others in the room. TNG's huge fanbase was primarily intelligent, interested educated people who were looking for a dramatic series that was both imaginative and compelling. There's a certain snobbishness that can be found on the Internet (where one naturally finds the hardest of the hardcore fans) that TNG catered to a lower common denominator than, say, DS9 or B5, but I firmly stand by my opinion that Trek as a both a franchise and as a source of entertainment would be better off with these people watching the fifth series than just a few hardliners. I don't mean taking it to the Voyager level of populism, where kitschy action sequences and wrestling crossovers are stuck in to attract a broader audience, because both ratings and intuition tells us that these aren't bringing back the TNG legions. Voyager commonly dips out of the "smart television" bracket, and it is a myth that a television series cannot be both "smart" and popular. TNG was both, DS9 was just "smart" and Voyager was neither.

So where are the millions of fans who tuned in for All Good Things... and lined up for First Contact? Firslty, when TNG ended, this audience didn't all flock to other sci-fi shows. Like I said, these were intelligent, interested educated people who were
looking for a dramatic series that was both imaginative and compelling, and sci-fi as a genre really wasn't providing this kind of a series without resorting to the continuity-steeped 'cultish' formula of, say, DS9. We can't blame DS9/Voyager's inability to garner ratings that equalled TNG on there being more scifi/fantasy series on TV because these people didn't all run and watch Xena and B5 (indeed, I imagine most of these series' viewers were being shared amongst the series, not stolen from one another.) So where did these viewers go after that fatefall spring of '93? What shows did they watch? Well, seaQuest DSV's first season had been a big hit, but the show was abandoned en masse when it became garbage in season two. Lois and Clark had a rather large audience for a while who enjoyed the smart writing and decent acting, until both of the aforementioned qualities evaporated. The X-Files, too, caught a lot of these people for a while. Today, at a guess, they're watching The Practice, The Sopranos, and even Ally McBeal (or at least were, until the latter's ratings turned to mush). And why aren't they watching Voyager? Because it, for the most part, is not imaginative nor compelling. You may ask "But Deep Space Nine was both of the above, was it not? Then why weren't they watching it?" Simply put, a show like DS9 that is so steeped in arcs and continuity is remarkably difficult to pull new viewers in. It may enthrall most of the audience that is already familiar with Jem'Hadar and Pah'Wraiths, but like it or not, an arc-show's ratings will almost certainly never rise over time, no matter how good the writing is.

At this point, I imagine many of you are screaming "Damn the ratings! If Series V is like DS9 then I'll rejoice, and not give a damn whether the general public pushes its ratings to any level." But like it or not, Trek cannot afford to field another show that will dawdle near the Nielsons cellar. Trek is already beginning to be seen as a dead horse by the TV stations that air it and by the advertisers that fund it. Not to sound paranoid or anything, but there is only so long that a franchise can go on for if it's fueled only by a cult following. (M*A*S*H, anyone?) If Series V cannot improve on or even match DS9s best ratings, after about two or three seasons it will either start disappearing from the slate of syndicated shows bought by individual television stations (assuming s5 is syndicated, right now seen as the most likely option), go down with the sinking ship called UPN once it becomes clear that it cannot save the network (if it airs on UPN), or, in perhaps the most insulting way, be cancelled by CBS (if it airs on that network).

The TNG fans aren't a bad bunch. Its time they came home, and to do that they'll need a good home to move back to. Series V, like Berman and Braga have said, has to be fresh and new but return to the same qualities that attracted the general populace, albeit the more intelligent and discrimination slice of it. Scream and whinge all you like, but another Voyager, or even another DS9, could seriously damage or destroy the cultural phenomenon we're so fond of.


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"Truth about Santa Claus debunks Santa God. God evolves from Santa."
-Gene Ray, http://www.timecube.com

[This message has been edited by The_Tom (edited July 23, 2000).]
 


Posted by Sol System (Member # 30) on :
 
Tom, you left out an example that I think really illustrates what you're saying. Namely, that heavy continuity cannot be the basis for a show, and that it tends to hinder otherwise good shows when it is present. Murder One. JMS can talk about doing a five year novel, but he had nothing on this show, which took a single court case and stretched it out for an entire year. Critically praised, as I recall, but its ratings were generally poor and the case per season was dropped. The show was canceled shortly after.

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"If Picard was set loose on a Monopoly board, he'd try and establish peaceable diplomatic relations with Marvin Gardens and give St. James Place wide berth so that its culture could develop without interference."
--
L. Fitzgerald Sjoberg
****
Read chapter one of "Dirk Tungsten in...The Disappearing Planet"! Because I'm the passenger, and I ride and I ride.

 


Posted by PsyLiam (Member # 73) on :
 
OTOH, didn't Twin Peaks have a fairly continuity driven storyline for its first season? And didn't ratings drop whe they found out the murderer, and it just became another soap?

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"I can't believe we're actually gonna meet Guru Lou. Everyone says he's the wisest man in the universe. He's sensitive, creative, has a great sense of humour, and he's a really smooth dancer. *giggles*"
"You're confused Polly. We're not meeting Paul Newman."
- Polly & Speedy; Samurai Pizza Cats
 


Posted by Alpha Centauri (Member # 338) on :
 
*stands up*

*standing ovation*

The_Tom: I must say that I agree with every point of your post. Smashing speech!

*drops back in his chair*

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Posted by PsyLiam (Member # 73) on :
 
Although what about Buffy? It's very continutity driven, although largely within a season.

Each year they build up to a big baddie. They kill him, and then (largely) whipe the slate clean. Howsabout that approach?

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"I can't believe we're actually gonna meet Guru Lou. Everyone says he's the wisest man in the universe. He's sensitive, creative, has a great sense of humour, and he's a really smooth dancer. *giggles*"
"You're confused Polly. We're not meeting Paul Newman."
- Polly & Speedy; Samurai Pizza Cats
 


Posted by Sol System (Member # 30) on :
 
You know, I'm not entirely sure what was behind the demise of Twin Peaks, aside from people being generally afraid of David Lynch.

But I think there are examples of popular shows that do maintain tighter continuity than the norm, and by tighter I mean any at all. But there has to be more to it then that.

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"If Picard was set loose on a Monopoly board, he'd try and establish peaceable diplomatic relations with Marvin Gardens and give St. James Place wide berth so that its culture could develop without interference."
--
L. Fitzgerald Sjoberg
****
Read chapter one of "Dirk Tungsten in...The Disappearing Planet"! Because I'm the passenger, and I ride and I ride.

 


Posted by First of Two (Member # 16) on :
 
Well whatever it is, it'll probably be on UPN's piddling network, which means I won't get to watch it, at least not in first-run, when the ratings count.

What's hurting Trek now is that nobody can see it. :P

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"Nobody knows this, but I'm scared all the time... of what I might do, if I ever let go." -- Michael Garibaldi



 


Posted by Amadeus on :
 
I wonder when they'll finally release the information. It seems like most people are dying here.

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Creator of Project Phoenix

quote:
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Posted by Michael Dracon (Member # 4) on :
 
5th series information?? Where? I wanna have! I wanna wanna ARGH... *thud*

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"I think I speak for everyone here when I say, 'Huh?'."
- Buffy
 


Posted by bear (Member # 124) on :
 
I have a feeling we are going to all be praising Voyager when series V becomes reality. I honestly think that a series based on time travel is the safest bet, or maybe just the least offending to think about.

Any thoughts?

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http://www.geocities.com/Area51/Stargate/9268/index.html


 


Posted by Cammodude on :
 
A series on time travel?!?!?!?!

*runs into the bathroom to vomit*

I swear if a time travel series becomes reality I'll......I'll......Well, I don't know what I'll do, but it will be serious. As for the speach The_Tom made, I have one comment: BRILLIANT SPEACH!!!!!!!!!! I completly agree!!!!!!

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"If I knew you were coming I would have baked a cake...learned to sing....stop me Gage!"
--Aurther
The Journeyman Project 3

For a good selection of pay-to-surf web sites go to www.refercentral.com/cammodude

[This message has been edited by Cammodude (edited August 06, 2000).]
 


Posted by Omega (Member # 91) on :
 
I think that a series similar to New Frontier is the best idea I've heard so far.

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"The power of accurate observation is commonly called cynicism by those who have not got it."
- George Bernard Shaw


 


Posted by Fabrux (Member # 71) on :
 
While a series based on New Frontier would be interesting, it would be very difficult to pull off. Firstly, Peter David has said that he doesn't want NF to be on television. Secondly, some of the characters would be hard. Kebron? How do you create a moving mountain cheap enough to be used every week? And what about all the SFX? A giant flaming bird? The Black Mass? The Thul Sphere? The Quiet Place?

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"Fragile. Do not drop"
--posted on a Boeing 757
 


Posted by Omega (Member # 91) on :
 
Well, I don't mean actually BASED on NF. Just similar. Like that ST: Leeds that someone suggested a while back. Local empire colapses (Rommies, Cardies, whate'er), and a ship goes through their space helping what they can.

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"The power of accurate observation is commonly called cynicism by those who have not got it."
- George Bernard Shaw


 


Posted by Fabrux (Member # 71) on :
 
My series?

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"Fragile. Do not drop"
--posted on a Boeing 757
 




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