Star Trek: Enhanced.

**econ21** · 09-05-2006, 01:36

I thought DS9 and B5 were both superb, for similar reasons - primarily the characters/acting ensemble and the long running story arcs. However, I'd give the nod to B5 on both accounts. The Star Trek characters never quite escaped the strange "perfect future" view of humanity (even the Cardassian assassin Garek is basically a good man), whereas in B5 some of the most appealing characters were damned (Londo) or redeemed sinners (G'Kar). The B5 five year story arc was just unparalled; DS9 had nowhere near the same number of twists and turns.

IMO, the torch has now been passed on to Battlestar Gallactica - it takes B5 type characters but this time with male and female hormones; I suspect the story arc will turn out to be inferior, but it goes a long way on attitude and atmosphere.

Back on topic, I always thought ToS had great graphics and special effects. I guess it was because I was comparing it with 1970s British sci-fi. Unfortunately, my son watches it and giggles. I still think it looks fine - must be some ingrained psychological effect, like always thinking your mum's cooking is great.

**Navaros** · 09-05-2006, 15:06

Originally Posted by lancelot

DS9 had all that dark broody stuff in abundence...

So much so that Rodeberry's widow complained that Trek had moved to far away from the 'Perfect future' Rodenberry had envisioned.

Yet she still came by and ruined several episodes of DS9 with her own useless, highly obnoxious character (Lwaxana Troi). She is personally responsible for moving away from the vision of "Star Trek episodes not sucking due to bad actresses playing worthless characters in worthless stories that they demanded be written as a vehicle for themselves."

Ie: The DS9 episode "Fascination" - easily one of the very worst Star Trek episodes ever.

**lancelot** · 09-05-2006, 16:21

Originally Posted by Navaros

Ie: The DS9 episode "Fascination" - easily one of the very worst Star Trek episodes ever.

I dont think anything, anywhere EVER could be as bad as the finale of Enterprise...that was one truly horrid episode of trek and a finale to boot which makes its suckiness doubly poignant.

Oh yea...what does everyone think about the next trek movie?...a bit early to tell yet but personally- Im fearing the worst...

**Sir Moody** · 09-05-2006, 16:35

Trek Movies havent been any good since First contact it was the last good one mainly because the borg are so scary and well thought out its near impossible to make a bad story with them in (tho enterprise managed it).
The movies since than have had stupid bad guys (an evil clone of Picard... how drole) and coupled with the shift towards more action than story has killed it imo - but i always have hope

**Vladimir** · 09-05-2006, 17:19

First Contact had the dark aspects similar to DS9 but my favorite part was Patrick Stuart's acting. I finally got to see that dramatic, Shakespearian acting from him that I liked so much in Excalibur and Hamlet. That whole gay, English accented, French captain thing really annoyed me. Riker was kind of a puss before the goatee but he became my hero of the series. Alas, Kirk had been demoted to 1st Officer.

**Beirut** · 09-08-2006, 11:27

Happy Birthday Star Trek!

40 years old today.

Live long and visit the Frontroom.

**Banquo's Ghost** · 09-08-2006, 11:54

Originally Posted by Beirut

Happy Birthday Star Trek!

40 years old today.

Live long and visit the Frontroom.

I second that emotion.

Happy birthday!

Reading the thread, I guess I am surprised at the dislike of Roddenberry's vision of a perfect future. It is the most inspiring and poignant element of Star Trek for me, the belief that we can move beyond our biological progamming and find fulfilment in diversity and self-fulfilment. DS9 was a great series particularly because that dream was placed under threat from civilisations that were baser, more like we are now.

The brilliance of scripts like 'Taste of Armageddon' which exposed the futility of war during one of the nastiest and most pointless of wars in Vietnam still inspires me. The spectacle of Kirk and Kor screaming at the Organians to let them fight and kill each other and thousands of innocents in 'Errand of Mercy' has a resonance even today. Look at some of these episodes in the light of their times, and Roddenberry created for me at least, a hope that we could make things different. I believe that's why Star Trek is still incredibly popular even today, whereas Bablyon 5 and its ilk are almost forgotten. Almost all science fiction is dark and gritty and a depressing version of what we see today.

Ah well, I've always been a peacenik hippy. Blame Gene.

**Gregoshi** · 09-08-2006, 13:26

Happy Birthday Star Trek!

I like your comments on the series, Banquo's Ghost. The show does indeed offer hope that mankind himself, and not just his technology, can get better in the future - not just "same humans, better gun" of many scifi shows.

BTW, IGN.com has posted information from a press conference held by the producers of the enhanced Star Trek shows. They talk about what they did and didn't do to the shows. Here's the link: http://tv.ign.com/articles/731/731274p1.html

**Kanaric** · 09-08-2006, 18:49

lol, i looks on the star trek website and they actually are remastering it. Too bad they can't remaster the acting....

If they are going to change that they might as well just redo the series. It wasn't that great to start with anyways. However they will have to get good people to do it this time, not the guys who did Voyager or Enterprise.

They are "enchancing" the music as well. Seriously, they may as well redo the series.