Why Different Generations Love Different Star Trek Shows

Why Different Generations Love Different Star Trek Shows (youtube.com)

I am not sure if I am completely unique, or a product of the Star Trek concept as brought forward by Rodenberry. Let's start by saying that I was born in 1964 but/and I consider myself GEN-X although this is in doubt, but I have some say in this, and I CONSIDER MYSELF PART OF THE LATTER. That means that the later generations can consider that the baby boomers are not perfect, and we should never consider trying, be it with TNG or to dare to challenge the Beatles.

Perhaps, I should have started this by stating that my first taste of Trek was in the early 70’s when the show was in syndication. From here, I am not sure if it was a need to end the spell of the Boomers or what, but I desperately wanted The Next Generation to succeed, to the point that it took me a while to criticize the early episodes beyond, let’s quit redoing old TOS scripts (like “The Naked Now”, and Where No One has Gone Before”). Perhaps that is why I loved episodes like “The Battle” and “Contagion” and the death of Tasha Yar was a postscript, much less how many problems there was in the first two seasons. I only found out about this decades later. What I did notice was how the show indeed did find its identity before Picard was assimilated and “Mr. Worf, FIRE” was uttered with the legendary blue words to be continued left me in awe and wonder for the summer.

It is hard now to look at the first two seasons of TNG because of the production value. What I do want to remember is how the show ramped up into some of the best television ever made, that set a standard not only for the height of TNG in seasons 5 and 6 but moved into the entirety of Deep Space Nine (which is my favorite, if this is relevant) and memorable episodes of Voyager. Although  I like Enterprise, well I am not sure, but it does have its moments and doesn’t deserve some of the criticism. It does have the best Pilot, and “Dear Doctor” represents is groundbreaking nature. Then there is season 4, which is where the franchise shot the works because they knew it would be cancelled.

Here is where I am not sure of who I am. I don’t like the JJ Abrams movies. I believe it is because this is when Hollywood caught up with Star Trek and took the unique nature of Star Trek and turned it into just another special effects platform, or is it molding heroic characters that don’t make sense. I am not sure if it is a bad thing, but the use of graphics and special effects overuse in later Star Trek, I simply refer to as ‘The JJ Abrams effect’

With Discovery, my self definition through Star Trek takes a curious turn. I have always liked Discovery. Burnahm and cast boldly took its path into the 21st century, despite the criticism. I do have to admit that Discovery could not have gone another season in the Pre-TOS timeline, so they ingeniously moved them into a truly groundbreaking time, where many concepts of Star Fleet and the Federation face a whole new challenge and landscape. I also like Strange New Worlds and think Lower Decks is a masterpiece through its use of something that Star Trek has been lacking….humor. These new shows are truly groundbreaking and represent a successful changing of the guard, of which I am not sure if me as an X-er belongs. I have to confess that Picard is second rate in my preferences in this new Star Trek, but I do want to see what happens to Seven and will follow Season three and await Legacy. I hope this goes beyond my infatuation with Seven of Nine if I ever had a chance. “Stardust City Rag” is by far my favorite episode of Picard. Let’s not talk about Alison Pill, that may be a personal legacy from Newsroom that doesn’t belong here. I would rather say, long live Star Trek in its new 21st century incantation. Unlike with Rock and Roll, where my preference is from 67 through the early 2000’s, I hope to stay up with it.

Perhaps Sid Vicious Hey hey my my (youtube.com) is appropriate.