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Star Trek: The Animated Series is exactly why you can’t trust the Rotten Tomatoes critics

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Star Trek: The Animated Series is exactly why you can't trust the Rotten Tomatoes critics

As a gamer who’s spent countless hours exploring the vast universe of Star Trek, I can confidently say that the franchise has a unique charm that appeals to a wide range of audiences. However, it’s undeniable that not every show or film resonates equally with everyone.

The universe of Star Trek encompasses an extensive range of series, movies, literature, and comics, all contributing to a captivating and intriguing storyline. Not all parts of it are considered ‘canon’, but there’s something appealing for every viewer or reader. Given its richness and adaptability, some Star Trek content will resonate more with certain audiences compared to others.

Additionally, you can anticipate higher-quality shows and movies as well. Gone are the days when ships were merely suspended on wires in an empty studio. Instead, production values have noticeably improved, making some previous Star Trek productions appear rather simplistic by comparison. For instance, a contemporary series like Strange New Worlds seems far more sophisticated than The Original Series when viewed side-by-side.

Although they are both cutting-edge for their respective eras, there’s a significant difference between them. Remarkably, the original series continues to captivate audiences, even 60 years after its debut, due to the compelling narratives it presents. These narratives were made all the more powerful by exceptional performances. The episodes in this series can hold their own against any series from any era when it comes to storytelling quality.

It holds up, even if the special effects are rudimentary.

Despite its fond memories, not every program remains engaging. The subsequent series following the original Star Trek, titled Star Trek: The Animated Series, leverages nostalgia more than substance. Primarily designed for children, it continued the adventures of Captain Kirk and his crew, but due to being an animated production, its creative possibilities were somewhat constrained.

In contrast to today’s animated shows, those produced in the 1960s and 70s were quite minimalistic. They primarily consisted of simple images with limited detail and animation, often reusing the same assets throughout episodes and seasons. This repetition gave the impression that these shows had small budgets and were economically made.

Because they had to, due to budget constraints, the original show utilized their creativity in a remarkable way. The human mind is brimming with ideas, and there are countless methods to bring those ideas to life. However, during that time, animation was limited to one method: drawing. This was an expensive process, making many animated shows of that era challenging to watch.

Despite being compared to more popular shows with larger budgets such as The Flintstones and Scooby-Doo, Star Trek: The Animated Series didn’t enjoy the same audience numbers. Consequently, it had a smaller budget, which resulted in less polished animation. However, this didn’t deter some dedicated Star Trek fans from appreciating it. Compared to newer series within the franchise like Lower Decks and Prodigy, it’s evident that The Animated Series (even for its era) was somewhat underdeveloped.

It’s surprising to see that Rotten Tomatoes’ critics have rated it at 94%, implying a strong affection for nostalgia might be influencing their reviews. Many, including ardent fans, would agree that the show has flaws, yet somehow, according to Rotten Tomatoes, The Animated Series is not only more favorably reviewed than the original series (94% vs 80%) but even surpasses The Next Generation (94% vs 92%), a series often hailed as the best.

It’s highly unlikely that a poorly received animated series, even one deemed unofficial by fans, would be rated superior to their all-time favorite series in the franchise.

The Animated Series stands out because its rating on Rotten Tomatoes is significantly higher than other shows. This isn’t due to the show being exceptionally underrated, but rather a consequence of the way Rotten Tomatoes calculates ratings. In this case, only 18 people qualified as critics who could watch and evaluate the series, leading to an unusually high curve that places it above most other shows. This suggests that there might be issues with how Rotten Tomatoes determines its ratings.

It seems strange to many people that this show ranks so highly within the Star Trek franchise, given its low quality. Yet here we are with Rotten Tomatoes critics seemingly disregarding their own judgment by placing it as the third-best Star Trek series of all time. This inconsistency leaves us puzzled.

We rely on the fans, as they rate our animated show at 80%. Although it’s not the highest rating, it’s definitely not the top spot within the franchise.

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2024-09-25 02:23

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