What does the future hold for STAR TREK?
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| Title: | What does the future hold for STAR TREK? |
| Creator: | Cathy Conrad |
| Date(s): | Nov/Dec 1984 |
| Medium: | |
| Fandom: | Star Trek |
| Topic: | |
| External Links: | |
| Click here for related articles on Fanlore. | |
What does the future hold for STAR TREK? is a 1984 essay by Cathy Conrad.
It was printed in Epsilon Nine Friendship Messages v.7 n.2.
One topic on fan minds at that time was the newly released third film, The Search for Spock.
Some Topics Discussed
- the Star Trek franchise
- fan power and pressure (aka "inveigle") on Paramount got films and a named space craft
- fan responsibility to "grow" the fandom
- possible fan support of change in the story, and support for new characters
- demographics of fans and fan service
- "capable writers and producers" are required to keep the franchise fresh and appealing
The Essay
What does the future hold for STAR TREK?
For eighteen years, since its first episode premiered, STAR TREK had endured highs and lows in its visibility and success with the public. Fans have been able to get a spacecraft — shuttle orbiter 101 — named after the Enterprise, and inveigle Paramount into filming three STAR TREK movies to date. But, how long will such fan support last, and how will STAR TREK itself change?
STAR TREK has begun to change and grow, from the days when it remained in the steady, regular holding pattern of a TV series, to the present as it has rocketed into the future. The familiar Enterprise crew has remained, yet eighteen years older now and of higher rank. However, the old Enterprise itself no longer exists and new characters are being introduced. The future will no doubt hold further changes — but will STAR TREK’s appeal remain steady and strong, and will new fans continue to emerge and actively support STAR TREK?
The rate of actual changes will probably slow down, since one bewildering major change after another in a continuing drama like STAR TREK would pall on even its fiercest fans. (Perhaps the next movie will show the original USS Enterprise retrieved from the Great Beyond just as Spock was recycled in the last movie... though that would certainly be stretching credibility just a BIT, and the "how" of bringing back a starship would be a monumental task for a scriptwriter beyond that of bringing back a Vulcan...)
It would be interesting to conduct a large survey of the demographics of STAR TREK fans, of most of their interests, why they have an interest in STAR TREK, and what they would most like to see in future movie and TV incarnations of the series. It would serve as a blueprint, or a general framework at the very least, for future STAR TREK story ideas. It would also increase the odds that public interest in STAR TREK would remain strong. In my opinion, new characters should be added slowly, to keep STAR TREK fresh, but not at the rate that too many characters would burden future movies. Lt. Saavik is an example of good handling of a new character; she was not pushed in the center of the limelight, but was allowed to "grow" on STAR TREK fans.
If STAR TREK remains in the hands of capable writers and producers, its appeal may be indefinite. As one of the few TV series whose appeal has lasted this long and has been referred to as a "phenomenon" I would say its chances are excellent.