I don't want to get off on a rant here, but Trek is getting old. Not old with age, but old with storylines. It's getting to be where we can go "Wait a minute...haven't we seen this before?" The show isn't exactly the same...but they've got similarities. The stories in Trek used to be interesting, and intellectually stimulating. I understand making a fun episode every once in awhile, to get a laugh not only for the fans, but for cast and crew as well. But it would also be nice if they came up with some shows that after they're over...make you think. Not that when the shows over, you turn the TV off, and say "That was nice." A show that makes you go "Hmmm...I wonder..." That's what Trek is all about. It's not supposed to be "Star Trek: Day's of Our Academy".

Trek has fallen astray of the high ideals set by Gene Roddenberry when he created the series. He portrayed a future where the humanity has made it to the 23rd century. And not only that, humanity had prospered. These days, I'm inclined to agree with McCoy from STIV: "It's a wonder these people ever got out of the 20th century." TNG followed Gene's ideals, of a bright future full of wonder, and amazing things. There were dark hours, but they weren't dark for very long. DS9, was a darker, more mature Trek. Especially in the last few seasons. But it didn't have the appeal TNG or TOS did. Why? Because it was dark, and dealt with things that most people would rather not see. A perfect example is "The Seige of AR-588". I thought it was a brilliant episode, that showed the true horror of war, set in the future. But that doesn't appeal to most of the people who did watch TOS, and TNG.

Then, there's VOY. A show that had great potential, but has never really lived up to it. The tension that should have been there between Starfleet and the Maquis for at least the first few seasons, never really materialized. Writers forgot that these were two opposite sides, and instead had them all jump together on the bandwagon. What's worse, is that they never get together and use their brains to figure things out. They get together, then use the 'mystical plot device' to find the good old 'particle of the week' and save the day/ship/whatever. Plus, they've been stranded out in the Delta/Beta Quadrant for 5 years, and the ship doesn't even have a scratch! The crew is always nicely dressed, well fed, and comfortable. I suppose that they've adopted the style of MST3K, and said: "For those of you who're wondering how they eat and breath, and other science facts,(Lalala!),then repeat to yourself it's just a show, I should really just relax". I wish I could, but when you don't even try to explain something that fundamental away, it reduces the quality of the show. Not once has there been reduced power, the crew doesn't get to eat, no showers, etc. The Voyager has been destroyed so many times, and yet each time it turns out to be alternate universe/temporal distortion/or some other nonsense. Get real. Fans aren't stupid. They want to see something other that the holodeck screwing up every 5th episode, and seeing a 'fake' Voyager getting destroyed once or twice a season. It gets old, really fast.

The quality of Trek has degraded over the past few years. Especially on VOY, which has been plagued with poor writing, and storylines so weak, my 12 year old sister could come up with something better. DS9 had a good writing staff, and came up with some excellent shows, that just didn't have the broad appeal that TNG and TOS have. Trek needs a break, and we need a break from it. Take a few years, and come up with something new and exciting. Something that challenges the mind, and the limits of society. Break some taboos, and boldy go again! Make it a show that Gene Roddenberry would be proud of. Not something that will only make money. Trek isn't about money, it's about people. It's time that Paramount realized that. Of course, that's only my opinion, I may be wrong.

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"I see you have the ring. And that your Schwartz is as big as mine!
-Dark Helmet, Spaceballs

That, of course, leads weight to the idea of a break. You have to let Trek become a bit of an underdog again, so people will root for it. It's not exactly fair, but it is often true.

There is also an interesting bit about Battlestar Galactica at this site.

http://www.scifi.com

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"But, it was so artistically done."
-Grand Admiral Thrawn

1. I think there should be a large break before any new Trek TV series, the TV series Idea - for the moment had tarnished. I think Voyager had been getting better - I think Videos 5.5, 5.6 and 5.7 have been better than DS9's 7.5, 7.6 and 7.7 - and from me that is saying a LOT - I am a HUGE DS9 fan - It was my first trek, i.e. it was Emissary that pulled me into all things trek seriously.

2. I think Rick Berman is quite batty, simply because over the years he says - I don't CARE what the fans want - WE watch the show Rick - we LIVE the show - a lot of us aren't watching Trek anymore - think about it.

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"Ooh, FASA." - The Shadow, aka Frank G - June 1999

Flight Academy is a rumour, as far as I'm concerned. It can't fly.

Oh, and since Braga was willing to turn down the ninth film in order to care for Voyager 100%, is it likely he'd spend three hours a day planning a new series with Berman? I don't know, to be honest...

A three-year break sounds good to me.

Voyager deserves as many seasons as DS9. It's a different style, but as good in its own way.

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Doctor: "Run along. I'll reattach any severed limbs. Just don't misplace them." (Voyager: "The Killing Game")