Why I Love the Next Generation

Celebrating the five full decades of Star Trek should be a yearlong event, so I thought I would spread the love of all things Trek. Previously in this series I wrote about why I love the Original Series. Next up, Picard and his crew aboard the USS Enterprise D and my Five Reasons for why I love the Next Generation!

It’s hard to imagine that TNG is almost 30 years old. For me, this is the series that I grew up with. I remember the excitement of hearing about a new Star Trek series, and in 1987 we began a seven year journey that furthered the story and ideology of creator Gene Roddenberry. Sadly, it was during the height of TNG that we would lose Gene, but he was able to see a renaissance of the franchise that has carried it forward for decades to come. So, in continuation of my reasons for loving all things Trek, I give you my Five Reasons for loving what became not only a worthy successor to the Original series, but arguably the most successful series in the franchise.

1.     Familiar, yet new – Whenever there is a sequel to a popular series, fans are anxious because they want to see that which is familiar, but not have it be a blatant copycat of the original. TNG achieved this in grand style. The ship is still the Enterprise with a familiar approach to the design, but is now the flagship and much sleeker. While Kirk and Picard are definitely different as captains, there is a familiarity in Riker’s charm and swagger that reminds us of good ol’ James T. Even the uniforms are familiar yet updated, with the same basic colors (red, gold, and blue), just a bit of switching (how many of you were originally concerned that all captains now wore red shirts!). It brought us a sense that yes, this is Star Trek, but it is also something new and exciting.

2.     Star Trek became cool in mainstream – The Original Series was cancelled after three years (and we were lucky to get the third season) due to low ratings. While you will get no argument from me that Star Trek was and continues to be influential, the franchise really jumped into the mainstream midway through the Next Generation. TNG became a ratings juggernaut, which was impressive for a syndicated series. Soon, it was beating out all comers, including the traditional powerhouse Monday Night Football. When it ended its seven year run (which became the unofficial bar for all future series to meet), it went out on top. Many thought it could have gone on for a few more, but people were hoping to turn it into a successful film franchise. TNG helped a lot in making it cool to be a Trekkie. I can think of no bigger endorsement for Star Trek than to have Whoopi Goldberg request to be a part of the show. To have an Oscar-winning A-lister Hollywood want to be a large part of the franchise says something, and she was not alone.

3.     A strong main cast and the characters they played – I love the original crew, but the show revolved around the triad of Kirk, Spock, and McCoy for the most part. On TNG, an equally diverse cast spread the love a little more evenly. We had stories dedicated to each of the main crew, and the actors who played them were solid. Gates McFadden gave the compassionate Dr. Crusher a level of strength that helped her character grow. Levar Burton brought a level of vulnerability and eagerness to Geordi. Michael Dorn brought depth and respect to our favourite Klingon, Worf. Marina Sirtis gave Troi a fierce conviction. Johnathan Frakes brought a sense of professionalism and charm to Riker. Arguably the strongest actors were Brent Spiner, whose portrayal of Data required such great discipline, and Sir Patrick Stewart as Captain Picard, taking the leadership role to a new realm. Many of these fine actors brought their theatre training as one of their assets, and after watching an episode like “Frame of Mind”, “Brothers”, or “The Inner Light”, we can see just how great an asset it was.

4.     Story telling ahead of its time – Ask anyone for their top 10 favorite Trek episodes, and there will most likely be some real gems from TNG. “The Inner Light”, “Yesterday’s Enterprise”, “Relics”, “The Measure of a Man”, “The Offspring”, “The Drumhead”, and the list goes on. And let’s not forget the classic “The Best of Both Worlds” that kept audiences trembling with anticipation for an entire summer, desperate to know the fate of Picard in what is arguably one of the best cliffhangers of all time. Yes, there were some duds (looking at you, Code of Honor), but we had a good mix of wonderful tales that kept us coming back each week. We dealt with the death of beloved crew member in “Skin of Evil”, tackled themes such as sexual identity, torture, terrorism, and what constitutes life. The stories also, and appropriately, brought us the odd tip of the hat to the original crew, with episodes like “Sarek” and “Unification”. Suffice it to say, the stories were more often than not very well told.

5.     It has to be Q – From the first to the last episode, Q has been there. John de Lancie appeared in eight separate episodes and each one were memorable. OK, so “Hide and Q” may not have been the best episode (it was one of de Lancie’s least favourite), but we did see Wesley get the point! All bad puns aside, Q was often one of the highlights of the season. We had the silly fun Q stories (Deja Q and Q-Pid), the serious tales (Q Who and True Q), and the truly philosophical (Tapestry). And while the crew were ultimately frustrated by this omnipotent rascal, we the audience were delighted. I particularly thought that the pilot and series finale being the ultimate bookend to the introduction to Q was perfect for the series. Q was a perfect foil for Picard and gave us some great moments. Whether it was his banter with the crew (“Growl for me micro-brain! Show me you still care!”), introducing us to the Borg, trading verbal barbs with Guinan (likely my second most favourite guest character) or teaching Picard about the value of a life lived without regret, Q was always a welcome visitor to the show.

So there you go, my Top 5 reasons as to why I love the Next Generation. I have many others, and I am sure that you have your own Top 5 list. Please feel free to share the reasons you love Picard and the crew of the Enterprise D. If you want to know what my Top Ten favorite TNG episodes are, check out this link.

Top 10 List - Pre-Reboot Movies Part 2

Last post (not counting the news update), I ranked the bottom 5 of the ten pre-reboot Trek films. Today, we look at the top 5. I expect this list to be a tougher one to figure out, and I suspect that there will be a bit more disagreement, but that is the fun of things. 

Before we take a look at #5 I just wanted to provide a link to the website that helped me decide and sort out the different movies. Flickchart.com is a great website for people who love movies and have some spare time on their hands. Check it out at www.flickchart.com/

And now, #5

5. Star Trek III: The Search for Spock - There is an old saying that in the original 10 Trek movies, all the odd number movies were inferior to all the even number movies. There are two exceptions to that rule, in my opinion: the 10th and the 3rd. Star Trek III may not be as gripping as the Wrath of Khan or as fun as the Voyage Home, but it is a worthy movie with many strengths. This movie is the second in a compelling three-part adventure. With Leonard Nimoy at the helm as director (his first of two), Spock's presence was felt throughout. Kirk and McCoy both have some great moments, while the rest of the crew each gets their moment to shine. One of the greatest strengths of this movie is the supporting cast. While the debate will likely never be settled over who was the better Saavik, Robin Curtis plays a great Vulcan. Dame Judith Anderson came out of retirement from films for her role as the Vulcan Priestess. Mark Leonard returns as Spock's father, Sarek, bringing his typical poise and dignity. Especially fun are the Klingons, who since the films began were barely a footnote. There is a barely recognizable John Laroquette as Maltz, Steven Liska as Torg, and the ever wonderful Christopher Lloyd as the evil Klingon Commander Kruge. Lloyd plays his villain perfectly with a balance of cruelty and sophistication. Added to that is Merritt Butrick returning as Kirk's estranged son. The theme of sacrifice to save a fallen comrade is hit home in the exchange between Kirk and Sarek when discussing what saving Spock cost Kirk. Kirk says "If I hadn't tried, the cost would have been my soul". So while this movie may not be the greatest, it is still great. 

4. Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country - This movie was meant to be both a farewell and a celebration. Star Trek was 25 years old, and the original crew were about to take their final voyage. TNG was amidst the height of its popularity and the obvious heir to the franchise. DS9 was on the horizon, and it was time to give Kirk, Spock, and company their proper send-off. Sadly, the passing of Gene Roddenberry cast a somber shadow over the celebration. Star Trek VI is a near-perfect film for the franchise. Everything checks off. Great story with a timely social commentary, check. Fun script with proper balance of seriousness and humor, check. The original crew at their finest, check. My favourite features of this movie include the supporting cast. Mark Leonard returns as Sarek, David Warner as the Klingon Chancellor, and Michael Dorn as Worf's ancestor of the same name. Most impressive is Christopher Plummer as the Shakespeare-quoting General Chang, likely one of the greatest villains to ever tangle with Kirk. I also like having Nicholas Meyer back at the helm as director. I have always felt that Trek is best directed by those who get it, and Meyer definitely gets it. Leonard Nimoy was also greatly involved with the story and production. I also love how they moved the characters on, especially giving Sulu his own command. It is a fitting closing chapter of an important part of Trek history. While Gene had some issues with the story, he did get to see the movie before he died, and gave it his blessing.

3. Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home - One of the most successful (both financially and critically) movies of the franchise, Star Trek IV brings Trek to one of its highest points. The end to a great trilogy sees Kirk and company travel back in time to 1980s San Francisco. Leonard Nimoy returns to the director's chair. The story of environmental conscience can be overdone and become bogged down in preachy cliches, but this movie finds the right tone. I believe this movie also is the best at using humor. It is great seeing the elite of Starfleet out of their element in our day. Of particular note is finally getting Walter Koenig's Chekov to really exercise some great comedic talent, but Spock's befuddled nature, too much LDS, and the punk on the bus are all great entertainment. Everyone gets their moment. While having a great villain makes a movie great, this one doesn't need it, and this is one of the refreshing elements of this movie. While conflict is always a necessary plot device, in this movie the conflict comes with our past. The message to care for the Earth and the creatures that inhabit is timeless, for life on Earth will always be interconnected. I also enjoyed Catherine Hicks as the marine biologist that the crew must work with to save a pair of humpback whales. Most of all, after two movies with a darker theme to them, this is such a light-hearted escapade that everyone can enjoy it.

2. Star Trek: First Contact - While most of the TNG films ended up in the bottom 5, the number 2 spot belongs to their strongest contender. This movie is one great action adventure that delves deeper into Trek lore. While going back to our present day is fun and nostalgic, I like the idea of visiting a part that is still in our future that establishes an important moment in Trek history: first contact between Earth and extra-terrestrial life. While Generations seemed like a way for the Next Generation crew to take the torch from Kirk and company, First Contact was an opportunity to paint a new look for the Picard and his crew. We have a new Enterprise, bigger and better than ever. The crew gets new uniforms (which are later picked up by the DS9 group). We also see what is arguably the greatest enemy of TNG come alive on the big screen with a new look. Yes, the Borg have returned and they are going to pull all the stops to assimilate this pesky Federation. All the fish-out-of-water fun that made the Voyage Home so enduring is here as Riker, Troi, and Geordi try to help Zefram Cochrane (played by the always talented James Cromwell) launch the first warp-capable space vessel. Added to this is likely one of the most intense action stories as Picard, Data, and the rest of the crew fight against the zombie-like Borg from assimilating the Enterprise. they come face-to-face with the Borg Queen, portrayed with delicious coldness by Alice Krige. The Queen brings great depth to an already terrifying race. This movie also has many elements that I love in a great Trek story. There is humor (drunken Troi, as an example), suspense, and great drama. Patrick Steward takes Picard to new heights (or depths, possibly) as he gives an Ahab-like obsession to our normally composed captain. While many shows cause trauma to their characters, this shows that Picard is still healing from his experiences with the Borg, even though it was years ago. Data also gets growth as he becomes the favored of the Queen. The two of them have an amazing chemistry. Throw in so many well-placed and appropriate throwbacks to the Trek universe (look for Barclay, Ogawa, the EMH, the USS Defiant, and Ethan Phillips as a hologram give nods to almost every part of what was then the current Star Trek world). The soundtrack might be my all time favourite, and Johnathan Frakes shows us that his amazing directorial skills translate equally well on the big screen. This was the last movie that I saw several times in the theatre Still, it was not quite enough for it to beat out...

1. Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan - Several years ago, a classmate of mine said that Star Trek sucks, and I could not show her anything trek that she would like. I pulled out this movie. She took it all back. On flickchart.com, this movie is my #1 of all time. I have no idea where to begin with it. Everyone is firing at warp 9. Nicholas Meyer directs an amazing story he helped create. Going back to an original series episode, "Space Seed", Meyer brings back Khan Noonien Singh, once again played with brilliance by the incomparable Ricardo Montalban. This is the villain to beat all villains. He has a reason to be evil. He shows no mercy. He is multi-dimensional. He is intelligent and passionate. He is calculating and eloquent. I would put Khan against any villain anywhere and anytime. Add to this a sweeping saga of revenge peppered with the theme of dealing with one own's mortality, and you have a phenomenal movie. I also enjoyed the acting. I know, Shatner often is the butt of many "can't act" jokes, but I think he does quite well in this movie. This movie will make you laugh, cry, scream in horror, and applaud. The ending brings so much depth to our beloved characters as for the first time in Trek history we deal with the loss of a beloved character. Spock's ultimate sacrifice touched fans deeply, and this was before all details were leaked onto the internet months before the film was released. We had no idea whether Spock was gone for good or not. I think his service at the end was one of the most emotional and touching scenes in Trek history. I remember being a very young boy and crying over it in the movie theater. To this day I cannot listen to "Amazing Grace" being played on the bagpipes without remembering this scene. So much of Trek lore can be connected to this story. The Kobyashi Maru, the Vulcan soul, Genesis, the Eugenics wars, and more. and I would be remiss if I hadn't included the famous cry of rage that fans echo every chance they get; "KHAN!!!!!!!!" I think there is a very good reason that JJ Abrams revisited Khan and the aspects of this movie in his second reboot feature, and that is because it is just rich. As I said before, whenever someone wants to see a good movie, I show them this. Trekkie or not, people connect to this movie. 

So there are my Top 5. Let me know what you think.

News - Roddenberry Back in Star Trek

March 3 2016 - It was announced today that Eugene "Rod" Roddenberry has been added to the new Star Trek TV show as an executive producer, along with Trevor Roth, who is a producer for Roddenberry Entertainment. 

My thoughts: It is obvious that having the "Next Generation" of Roddenberry involved is definitely an interesting signal. Some may argue that this is strictly a move to keep skeptical fans happy. For me, I see this as being good if not great news. Rod grew up with Star Trek in a way the rest of us could only dream of. Nobody else can come this close to having Trek in their blood. If nothing else, he will have a sense of family pride and heritage to make this work and to honor his family's legacy. As the on of the the creator and of an actress who was heavily involved in the series, he will have some high expectations.  I believe he will be up to the challenge. To paraphrase Captain Kirk "It wouldn't be Star Trek without a Roddenberry at the helm".

More info here

50 Years of Exploring "The Final Frontier"

1966. It was an interesting year. The Viet Nam war raged on. The first controlled rocket-assisted landing on the Moon occurred. The Sound of Music won the Oscar for Best Picture. Daylight Savings Time is first observed in many parts of North America. It's A Small World opens in Disneyland. Groundbreaking for the World Trading Center occurs in New York City. Martin Luther King Jr. is leading the Civil Rights movement across the United States. The Doors record their first LP and the Beatles record "Sgt Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band". The Doctor on "Dr. Who" regenerates for the first time. Mike Tyson, Halle Berry, Janet Jackson, John Cusak, and Cindy Crawford are born, while the world mourns the losses of Buster Keaton and Walt Disney. Mini-skirts hem lines moved up and support for the war moved down. 

Amidst all this a small, relatively unheralded little science fiction show debuted on September 8 on NBC. It was called "Star Trek", and the episode was entitled "Man Trap". Show creator Gene Roddenberry described it as "Wagon Train to the Stars". He envisioned a show that made commentary on social issues of the day while depicting a positive outlook of the future of humanity. For three seasons Captain James T. Kirk, vulcan science officer Spock, and down-to-earth Dr. Leonard "Bones" McCoy traveled the galaxy on the USS Enterprise. With them was an interracial crew (a first for American television) that brought diversity in appearances and perspectives to the future. For three years, they sought out new life and new civilization, boldly going where no man had gone before. For the first time in American science fiction, viewers were able to see current and former enemies in positive and productive roles as Chekov and Sulu were literally at the front of the bridge. The show touched the minds and souls of many notable figures, including Martin Luther King who was happy to see people of color not only in the future but as equals and important. Gene was witnessing the realization of his vision, and then, like so many good things, it was cancelled. Despite an unprecedented letter writing campaign, NBC decided to pull the plug on this revolutionary program.

And like so many other good things that seem to end too soon, it was not easily forgotten. As Star Trek became syndicated, its popularity grew in leaps and bounds. Fans, often referred to as "Trekkies" or "Trekkers", started coming together and bringing the world of Star Trek more and more into the public eye. Conventions started, an animated series reunited much of the original cast, and by the late 1970s Star Trek was brought to the big screen. I like to think that Star Trek became one of those moments of regret for the NBC execs who couldn't or wouldn't see the potential that they had with Star Trek, and after seeing how popular and profitable it became thought "maybe there was something to this Roddenberry guy after all". 

By the late 1990s the phenomenon known as Star Trek hit its glory years. Interest in Star Trek reached a new generation with the Next Generation. The movies were proving to be a dependable source of revenue (despite the fifth installment), TNG was earning fans and praise at a rate never before experienced, and being a Trekkie had never been cooler or more fun. Deep Space Nine and Voyager added to the mythos, and Spock, Picard, Klingon, and "Beam me up" were becoming common in our vernacular. Central to all of the glamour and celebrity that Star Trek was gaining was the continued vision of hope for humanity while making social commentary through good story telling. And while we lost Gene Roddenberry in 1991, Star Trek grew and grew.

Sure, there were downsides. Nothing stays on top forever. Many thought that Gene's vision was lost with his successors. Having so many Trek series started to dilute to quality in the eyes of some. The world continued to change as well. Cynicism started to show itself more and more. Audiences have seemed to become more receptive of dystopian stories, and darker themes became the norm in pop culture. While J J Abrams brought a much needed shot of energy and respect into the franchise with his 2009 reboot, his second showing, "Into Darkness" seemed to take Trek a bit down the darker path. 

Even with the critiques of the show and the franchise, Star Trek is still here. We are looking forward to a third movie, and CBS is developing a new live action series. Trek is far from done, and we are happy to celebrate this momentous milestone. There will be a huge convention in Las Vegas this August where they are expanding the event to five days. All over the world this internationally relevant show will have countless showings and parties. There will be somber moments as we remember the many talents that contributed to this show that are sadly no longer with us. It won't seem right without Michael Piller, Grace Lee Whitney, James Doohan, DeForest Kelley, Jerry Goldsmith, Majel Barrett, Leonard Nimoy, or Gene Roddenberry to celebrate with us (although the idea of a big convention on the other side of this life is comforting).There will be countless look-backs and hopeful look-forwards. One thing is certain, it will be a fun ride.

Nobody could have accurately predicted that we would be here 50 years later, and it is futile to predict where it will be 50 years from now. New generations will have to be taught. We may find the day when Star Trek is simply a footnote in pop culture, but it is already one of the most culturally influential shows of all time. Technology and science advanced because of it. People were inspired because of it. The world is a better place because of it. On the 50th anniversary of this franchise, after 12 (soon to be 13) feature films, 28 seasons of episodic television, 5 live action series, one animated series, hundreds of novels and comics, and countless fans, I think I have a new understanding about the show. The Final Frontier, in my eyes, is not the exploration of space, but rather of humanity. Nobody has done it better than Star Trek.

Thank you Gene, wherever you are.