Any Star Trek fans?

[Keaira]

I still like The Motion Picture too - I'm amazed and delighted by its slow pace, I miss slow films.

I think my favourite is Generations - but then I have a fascination with the general theme of "what happens when heroes get old and die?" which gets addressed in a lot of good mythology (Beowulf, for example), and is carefully dodged in more modern crap mythology. So I find deeply moving the scene where Kirk has gone, Chekov bursts in and says "My god, was anyone in here?" and Scotty just says "...Aye, lad..." and I'm left to imagine what it's like for all of them to deal with his passing.

I found Nemesis really tedious in its formulaic predictability. Sigh... And IV is just hilarious from start to finish, love it. Best line? The two garbage men: "Why are you two always fighting?" "I like the way she fights." (lots of other almost-best lines, of course - "No, I'm from Iowa - I only work in outer space" etc...)

Generations is my favorite too! It wasnt so much because it had Kirks Death. What I felt made it special to me was that it dealt with time and how one spent it and that no matter how much you wish you could relive that perfect moment, you just cant do it. You just have the memories to hold on to.

And because it had the Enterprise-D in it. I'm sorry but nothing says pride in your accomplishments in the 24th century like a Galaxy Class Starship. hmm.. I may have to do a render of the D now..

[Padma]

I stopped after TNG (I couldn't face another barrage of DVD obsession). So I don't know what Voyager and DS9 are like, and it'll probably stay that way unless I'm laid up with a broken leg or something. But I think the TNG writers were on to something very good involving archetypes. They didn't always write good dialogue(!) but the archetypes in the stories were sound. I feel the same about the films, which were even more restrained by the desire of film companies to produce a "blockbuster" and so were forced to be much more formulaic and predictable (more and more as time went on) but still managed some grandeur and dignity and nobility in amongst the slapstick and explosions and über-drama, which is something of a feat. I watched Generations last night, I still have issues with the crew in the saucer section not ending up as something resembling strawberry jam inside the saucer after a crash like that, but I don't really wish it upon them . And it upset and annoyed me that they made Renée look nothing like his younger self from the series. Picky, picky...

[Amy85]

I'm a huge fan of TNG, DS9, VOY and the last couple seasons of ENT. Nothing beats TNG though, mainly since I grew up watching it. I've played a bunch of the games too, including the MMO. It's not great as a game but since it's Star Trek I come back to it now and again. I hear it's going to be free to play at some point in the future so I'm sure I'll be playing it some more.

[mechakitty]

I stopped after TNG (I couldn't face another barrage of DVD obsession). So I don't know what Voyager and DS9 are like, and it'll probably stay that way unless I'm laid up with a broken leg or something. But I think the TNG writers were on to something very good involving archetypes. They didn't always write good dialogue(!) but the archetypes in the stories were sound. I feel the same about the films, which were even more restrained by the desire of film companies to produce a "blockbuster" and so were forced to be much more formulaic and predictable (more and more as time went on) but still managed some grandeur and dignity and nobility in amongst the slapstick and explosions and über-drama, which is something of a feat. I watched Generations last night, I still have issues with the crew in the saucer section not ending up as something resembling strawberry jam inside the saucer after a crash like that, but I don't really wish it upon them . And it upset and annoyed me that they made Renée look nothing like his younger self from the series. Picky, picky...

If you liked TNG, you will love DS9.

I would say it was the last Star Trek series to have that special, hard-to-pinpoint Trek quality that was all over TNG and the Original Series. It's incredibly well acted and written, and it crossed-over a few times with TNG here and there (the pilot episode starts with the Battle of Wolf 359 from "The Best of Both Worlds," from the perspective of a ship getting its arse handed to it by the Borg).

Also, DS9 is the first series to have an incredibly watchable and not out-of-character pilot episode. Because let's be honest: the entire first season of TNG is mostly terrible. I can barely watch it without wincing.

[nogoodnik]

I love Star Trek. TOS is my favourite but I like all the series I've seen (I've not yet watched Enterprise). Even The Animated Series. No, especially The Animated Series — I mean come on, you have an episode where Spock teaches everyone to use magic, Kirk shoots rainbows out his hands, and then they drink beer with Satan. What's not to like?

My favourite characters are Spock and Data but I love so many others I'd be listing them all day if I tried. It'd probably be easier to list the ones I don't like (Pulaski...).

I enjoyed the new film but didn't love it. I felt like it had too much lens flare and action sequences, and not enough heart. Still, it had its good points. Karl Urban as McCoy really impressed me.

[mechakitty]

Awh, I loved Pulaski. She was like a transgendered McCoy. 

[nogoodnik]

Awh, I loved Pulaski. She was like a transgendered McCoy. 

Yeah, this is something I find confusing about my Pulaski hate, too — I love McCoy. So why do I hate Pulaski so much? Why does it drive me mad when she's rude to Data but I don't feel that way when McCoy is rude to Spock? I have no answers. My friend finds my hatred of her hilarious since he doesn't mind her at all and he knows I like McCoy. And all she needs to do is appear and I'm already gritting my teeth... he just starts laughing at me, every time.


Another ridiculous Star Trek hate I have is the Enterprise-D. I just think it is the ugliest starship ever. Whenever there is a long shot of it flying I can't help groaning and then my friend cracks up laughing at me again, because seriously, it's just a starship! How bad can it be? I even like Wesley, but I hate the ship?!

I can't help but find it completely hideous, though. I don't like the way the warp nacelles attach closer to the back than the front, it looks "backwards" to me, like the ship ought to be driving backwards in space. I don't like how the nacelles are lower down than the saucer section. I don't like the way the saucer section connects to the secondary hull, the shape reminds me of a brain.

And yet, as my friend pointed out, I don't mind Intrepid class starships like Voyager, and they share some of these traits. I think it's because the Intrepid class look different enough that I accept their design as "new", whereas Galaxy class starships I can't help but compare to previous iterations of the Enterprise.

[I_am_Toni_Lynn]

I am a big fan of Star Trek: Voyager. I know that some think of it as being the weaker of the franchise, it still has a 'softer' quality, a feminine strength through Captain Janeway,  that appeals to me.

I liked TNG, but given a choice between watching a Voyager episode and TNG episode, I'd go with Voyager everytime.

I do not like DS9 at at all. It has a certain dark aura about it that total turns me off.

The original series seems past its sell by date for me these day -- and I must admit that it is source of what I consider to be the worst ST episode ever, a choice that may surprise, that being Turnabout Intruder. It espouses everything I hate about TG fiction.

Huggles

Toni-Lynn

[VeryGnawty]

So I don't know what Voyager and DS9 are like, and it'll probably stay that way unless I'm laid up with a broken leg or something.

DS9 compared to TNG:

1)  More realistic.
2)  Much darker / less optimistic
3)  Much more character depth
4)  Politics is a longstanding theme throughout DS9 which has a huge impact on the storyline.
5)  DS9 storyline is less episodic.  Stories and character development often happen over several episodes, or even several seasons.
6)  Better planning and scriptwriting (let's face it, the first season of TNG was unpolished and seemingly random in some parts)
7)  While some episodes do share a TNG style, most episodes develop more enduring themes (Dominion war, Cardassian arrogance, Ferengi greed, The Prophets, spirituality vs. science, etc.)


Also, I believe DS9 is on Netflix now, if you have Netflix.

[Tammy Hope]

excellent summary. I grew up on TOS and there are aspects of the original (particularly the interplay between the three main characters, and a few episodes that are classic for any sort of TV) that can't be matched but even as a die-hard, i have to admit that objectively DS9 was far superior work - particularly after the middle of the second season - than any other trek out there.

in fact, I'd rank it among the five or ten best SF series ever, easily.

[Joelene9]

  I am not a Trekkie but, I was a teenager when TOS came on.  The special effects haven't changed since the sci-fi of the early 50's when it came on until Star Wars in the late 70's changed how SFX was done.  The acting did fill in the deficit for allowing your imagination to kick in.  Yes, Shatner did play an over-acting space cadet Captain James Tiberius Kirk but the rest of the cast helped balance out the story lines.  I actually liked all of the sequels except for the latest movies on the alternate timeline.  I guess that I like the old story line/timeline because I watched the original evolution of the sequels and the links to the past series. 
  Capt. Kathryn Janeway Rocks!  Kate Mulgrew played that part perfectly.  Janeway is more like the tomboy image I identify with and want to be.
  Joelene

[Tammy Hope]

In fairness to Shatner, his acting was as much a reflection of the cheesiness of the given script as anything. Yes he played it "larger than life" because that was the nature of the role (more Flash Gordon than Jean-Luc) - but check his work in Errand of Mercy, or Balance of Terror, or The Doomsday Machine. you won't see the stereotypical tics associated with the general perception. Compare that to, say, "the Omega Glory (perhaps the most representative episode of the "bad acting" cliches associated with Shatner's portrayal of kirk) for contrast.

Now, that said, in the movies he veers wildly from "well played" to "clownish" without much of a pattern.

Also, if you want to see what he was capable of at a similar age apart from Kirk, go to youtube and find some clips from "The Andersonville Trial"  - it's not bad work at all.

[VeryGnawty]

excellent summary. I grew up on TOS and there are aspects of the original (particularly the interplay between the three main characters, and a few episodes that are classic for any sort of TV) that can't be matched but even as a die-hard, i have to admit that objectively DS9 was far superior work - particularly after the middle of the second season - than any other trek out there.

Technically, DS9 is by far the best Star Trek series.  However, the difference in style rubs a lot of fans the wrong way.  I have to admit that I had to watch half a dozen episodes or so before I got used to it.  It also took me a long time to get used to Avery Brooks who, although a great actor, just seemed very odd to me to be playing Commander Sisko.  It didn't really dawn on me why he was cast for the part until the whole Emissary/Bajor storyline started to play out more.

The thing I like most about DS9 over other Star Trek series is the characters.  All of the characters are very well developed, even the minor characters.

[Akashiya Moka]

I've seen all the series except for the original. Definitely a fan! Love Seven of Nine, Kes, and Jadzia Dax/Ezri Dax.

Technically, DS9 is by far the best Star Trek series.  However, the difference in style rubs a lot of fans the wrong way.  I have to admit that I had to watch half a dozen episodes or so before I got used to it.  It also took me a long time to get used to Avery Brooks who, although a great actor, just seemed very odd to me to be playing Commander Sisko.  It didn't really dawn on me why he was cast for the part until the whole Emissary/Bajor storyline started to play out more.

The thing I like most about DS9 over other Star Trek series is the characters.  All of the characters are very well developed, even the minor characters.

Yep, because of the focus on character development it appeals most to women; I eased my mom into the Star Trek universe with DS9 (She loves Quark).

[Gadgett]

Ello there my names gadget and... IMA TREK-A-HOLIC!!!! *sob sob*

j/k No seriously I'm still a fan of the voyager and TNG but never could get into DS9 or Enterprise. Though I use to be very hardcore when TNG was out. I designed ships, schmatics, and the like. But Maybe not so much anymore. Probably because of my bother keep trying to argue with me about how SW would kick ST's butt.

It was always fun when I threw in my trump card though... "Q" According to him for some reason "That doesn't count."

[CorrieK]

Funny seeing DS9, going through an accidental rewatch. (I was cancelling my Netflix and wanted to watch an episode before it expired and sure enough I was hooked again and started back over from season one.)

[Padma]

I've just begun watching Voyager for the first time - it all seems a bit clumsy to begin with, because they're busy saying: look, here are all the relationships etc etc. It amuses me how Janeway gets into other people's personal space .

[Metal Stuart]

 Sci fi is my haven and star trek leads the way. TNG is my favourite but I love all the series  Deanna trio was my first non cartoon crush haha

[Padma]

Agreed - Deanna Troi, besides being delightful, and sometimes not entirely covering up her Norf Lahndon accent (which I find charming, having grown up there myself), has in my subjective opinion the finest arse in the history of on-screen scifi .

[Metal Stuart]

Agreed - Deanna Troi, besides being delightful, and sometimes not entirely covering up her Norf Lahndon accent (which I find charming, having grown up there myself), has in my subjective opinion the finest arse in the history of on-screen scifi .

Deffinantly had to do with those tight jumpsuits haha