If the creative reins for Star Trek do change hands, they should be handed to the team behind Star Trek: Prodigy

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As a long-time Trekkie who’s been navigating the final frontier since the days of Captain Kirk and Mr. Spock, I can confidently say that the recent Star Trek series have brought a breath of fresh air to this venerable franchise. While some original fans might grumble, it’s undeniable that Star Trek: Prodigy has been consistently well-received and found its rightful home on Netflix due to fan devotion.

Since 2017, with the debut of Star Trek: Discovery, the landscape of Star Trek has significantly changed. Following it were Star Trek: Picard, Star Trek: Lower Decks, Star Trek: Prodigy, and Star Trek: Strange New Worlds. Each series brought something unique to both long-time fans and new viewers. Not all original Trek enthusiasts embraced these changes, but one show has consistently garnered positive reviews. Even when it was cancelled by Paramount+, it found a home on the largest streaming platform, Netflix, due to fan loyalty. Here’s why this is crucial for the continued success of Star Trek.

It remains uncertain about what lies ahead for the franchise. Will Alex Kurtzman continue to oversee it until around 2027, as stipulated by his current contract with CBS Studios (as reported by Deadline)? However, there’s always a possibility that leadership could be passed on to another individual who might bring a unique perspective to Star Trek and its future direction. If this were to happen or if Kurtzman decides to step down or his contract isn’t renewed in the coming years, shouldn’t the quality of television produced be the deciding factor in selecting a new creative director?

Chad Porto from Red Shirts Always Die proposed Simon Pegg as a potential leader for the Star Trek franchise if needed in the future. Although Pegg is an excellent actor and writer, he may not be as deeply involved with Star Trek as some others, such as the creators of Star Trek: Prodigy, which consists of brothers Dan and Kevn Hageman, who developed the show, and Aaron Waltke, the executive producer.

Star Trek: Prodigy has been a strong competitor within the Trek series, managing to fit forty episodes across two seasons. This demonstrates that quality isn’t sacrificed by shortening seasons. I struggle to think of a single filler episode in Prodigy. Admittedly, each episode was shorter, meaning we got ten episodes per season, but none of them were disappointing.

All of this could be a moot point as Kurtzman may never decide to pass along the Star Trek decision-making job to someone else. But I think it’s fair to say that even if there are some executive changes, experience, quality, and dedication should be taken into consideration.

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2024-10-04 04:23