A live-action comedy Star Trek show will only further harm the brand

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As a long-time devoted Star Trek fan with countless hours spent watching and re-watching the original series and its spin-offs, I can’t help but feel disheartened by the recent developments in the Star Trek universe. The franchise that once brought us thought-provoking stories, complex characters, and a sense of wonder has been facing numerous challenges in recent months.

Star Trek has faced numerous challenges in the past few months. With cancelled series, stalled movie projects, and waning interest from outside fans, it’s been a tough period. The team has had to deal with strikes, the termination of key toy lines, and uncertainty from their corporate leaders.

As a longtime Star Trek fan with fond memories of watching the original series with my father and binge-watching Discovery and Picard, I must admit that I’m feeling a tad apprehensive about the latest addition to the franchise. Despite Lower Decks not living up to the hype and being a ratings disappointment, Star Trek is pushing forward with yet another live-action comedy series.

Star Trek can incorporate humor, to an extent, but a comedy series is a completely different entity altogether. While occasional humorous scenes are acceptable in more serious episodes, attempting to make an entire series comedic was the downfall of Short Treks. Fans felt that many episodes seemed not tailored for Star Trek enthusiasts. The episode “The Trouble With Edward” was particularly criticized as being both cruel and unfunny. This criticism led to a negative response from fans, effectively ending any excitement about the series.

Despite it having a cameo by Anson Mount as Christopher Pike.

Lower Decks brought in viewers, no doubt, yet it didn’t enhance Star Trek and instead seemed to undermine the esteemed franchise through juvenile humor. With Tawny Newsome, who previously starred in Lower Decks, joining the cast of the upcoming live-action series, we remain uncertain if a fresh brand of comedy is on the horizon.

If we consider the perspective, “Lower Decks” can be seen as an adult version of Cocomelon, overflowing with unrelenting excitement and scarcely any moments for significant events to unfold. The concept would be acceptable if it weren’t associated with the Star Trek franchise, as Variety reports that the show will encompass:

Federation outsiders serving a gleaming resort planet find out their day-to-day exploits are being broadcast to the entire quadrant.

Star Trek shines most when it maintains its sincerity and avoids self-deprecating or cheap humor. With a deep and meaningful tone at its core, this franchise deserves more recognition and respect. Unfortunately, we’re seeing an influx of lackluster spinoffs that neither the audience nor the source material asked for. These shows are built around weak concepts, which can’t sustain themselves, leading to insufficient branding on top of otherwise superior productions.

I for one hope that the new owners will consider changing the direction of this Star Trek series when they take over. As a devoted fan, I’m growing weary of the shows that veer away from the original Star Trek spirit.

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2024-07-30 03:23