So I've never seen Star Trek...
 

Now, I did see the recent movie that came out in theaters, and I really liked it. There is obviously a mythology in this universe, and I believe it might be something I want to delve into. Is this a good idea? Was the original show any good? How about following variations of the Star Trek tv show?

For a frame of reference to what I dig when it comes to Sci-fi...I HATE Star Wars, it's just a lot of boring to me, however, I LOVED Battlestar Galactica Re-imagined. Firefly was actually quite good as well, shame it never got the chance to flesh out more.

Re: So I've never seen Star Trek...
 

I love the more modern incarnations of Trek: Next Generation and Deep Space 9. I highly recommend you watch those series. Great TV!

(I am not a Star Wars fan either).

Re: So I've never seen Star Trek...
 

Well, sure its good ... you don't think it would've developed such a following if it wasn't? :p

But seriously ... I think appreciation of the original series requires a taste of 60's sensibilities. You probably know best if that's the kind of thing you could get into, or if the trappings of the time period would make it unwatchable for you. The nice thing about classic trek is that there's no continuity - as soon as you're up to speed with who the main characters are, it doesn't really matter what you watch. Check out a few of the episodes that are considered "classics" (like "City on the Edge of Forever") and take it from there. Or you could watch "Space Seed" and follow it up with "Wrath of Khan"! You might want to start with the remastered eps (some CGI touches here and there). And beware that like almost every series, there are some clunkers, so don't judge too much if you catch one of them by mistake.

The Next Generation is a bit more modern, though I think it took a couple seasons to find its legs. Deep Space Nine is also highly regarded, but is a lot more dependent on continuity (like we saw with the new BSG). Though if you're looking for more of the characters you saw in the new movie, you need to stick with the original series.

That probably bodes well ... you seem to like sci-fi that is more character and situation -driven than action and effects - which generally describes Star Trek (at least the series).

Re: So I've never seen Star Trek...
 

I liked the movie, and a couple other star trek movies, but I never could get into the series. and this is someone who LOVES firefly, Battlestar Galatica, Star wars etc.

Re: So I've never seen Star Trek...
 

Since youre a Battlestar fan. I would definitely recommend Deep Space Nine. Not only is it the best Trek show (IMO) its also probably the most accessible to non Trek fans. Ron Moore who was the Mastermind of Battlestar was also an exec producer on DS9 and wrote many of its better episodes. After DS9 I'd go with Next Generation.

Re: So I've never seen Star Trek...
 

I've spent the last month revisiting DS9 and will just warn you to be patient with the series. It doesn't start getting really good until season 4. Not to say there's anything wrong with 1-3, but it's a bit slow in developing. I have only season 7 to finish up with.

Re: So I've never seen Star Trek...
 

That's the main reason why I never got into it; when the transition came from TNG to DS9, it was a pretty big shock as to how slow and meandering it was.

I would say watch TNG if you're into the space exploration/science of Sci-Fi, DS9 if you like political/social arcs, and Voyager if you want standard fare.

The Original Series is pretty good but I'd watch it after you see the modern series to appreciate it; the remastered version is a good way to go too.

Re: So I've never seen Star Trek...
 

I LOVED TNG when I was a kid, I've seen every episode multiple times. I can still watch it now but don't like it as much as I used to. I watched the first season of DS9 on dvd and it didn't hold my interest, although I know it's supposed to get crankin' later on. Never watched Voyager, watched a lot of Enterprise, which could have been good but sucked.

Re: So I've never seen Star Trek...
 

I like the original much more than the others, but all the 60s qualities of it a plus for me. A lot of the stuff in the new movie referenced things from the original series so if you like that kind of thing you might check out a few episodes (or at least the Menagerie).

Re: So I've never seen Star Trek...
 

I loved ST:TNG but never really watched the Original Series. However, I just got the first two seasons on Blu-ray, and the third one is coming out soon, so I plan to go through them all. I'd pick up ST:TNG full collection in a heartbeat if the packaging wasn't so crappy (according to what I've read).

Re: So I've never seen Star Trek...
 

I guess I'm an old-school Star Trek fan compared to people above. I loved TNG and watched it a lot. I also enjoyed the original series. DS9 I just found really boring and could never get into it. Voyager, same thing. I TRIED to get into Enterprise, but honestly I thought it was just horrible - I did manage to watch the entire first season as it aired, but gave up after that.

Re: So I've never seen Star Trek...
 

I would agree. Frankly, I would be surprised if someone who is relatively young (say, under 30) could get into the original Trek and what passed as special effects for the time. I started watching TOS in the late 70s so it wasn't that hard for me to buy it. It still and always will be my favorite.

I really liked TNG too - asking for the complete series for X-mas. It follows the same basic pattern of TOS, although I think it's more idealistic and utopian than the original, which usually tried to give a futuristic spin on current political and social issues.

DS9 is pretty good, but it isn't all that Trek to me.

Don't bother with Voyager. Enterprise was mostly miss, particularly before the 4th season.

Anybody who gave up on Enterprise should certainly watch the fourth and final season (well, except the two-part premiere and the final episode). It was the best overall season of Trek since DS9 ended.

DS9 boring?!? :whofart: I guess he quit before the Dominion.

Re: So I've never seen Star Trek...
 

FWIW, I too liked the new movie but I can barely get through anything else in the Star Trek universe.

Re: So I've never seen Star Trek...
 

You can skip the first two seasons of TNG. Just awful, and amazing it survived them to become a great show.

DS9 is terrific, but a slow burn. It holds the honor of producing one of the best episodes in TV history, if not THE best, with "The Visitor." Even if you have no heart, that ep. will choke you up.

Start watching Voyager at season 4 with the introduction of Seven of Nine.

Enterprise. Meh.

Re: So I've never seen Star Trek...
 

You can probably say that about all the successor shows....w/o the Trek label, none of them would have survived their first few seasons. I still can't believe Voyager went on for so long.

If somebody intends to pick up TNG with the 3rd season, you really don't want to skip "Q Who?". ;)

Re: So I've never seen Star Trek...
 

I concur with most of the sentiments already expressed. I would suggest that newbies consider the Best of DVD compilations or the Fan Collective packages. With regards to the former, there are currently two, four-episode volumes each of the original series and The Next Generation. As for the Fan Collectives, the two most noteworthy are the volumes of Borg and Q, because they contain every relevant episode thereof (in the case of Q, it's got all of his appearances). The rest of them are debatable and can be frustrating because they overlap with some episodes (the Voyager series finale appears in both the Borg and Time Travel collections).

Currently, the Captain's Log and Time Travel collections can be had for $13 at Walmart.

Re: So I've never seen Star Trek...
 

Eh, the Borg are overrated.

Re: So I've never seen Star Trek...
 

Right on. It's currently the only season of ENT we own (with Connor Trinnear's autograph on the case no less!) and is what a prequel series should have been from the start. If they had let it go on another couple of seasons, I think it could have been really, really good.

And as much as I liked the new movie, the two parter episode In a Mirror, Darkly proves that the older "look" of the show could have been only slightly tweaked and made to look good on the big screen.

Re: So I've never seen Star Trek...
 

Most species are.

Re: So I've never seen Star Trek...
 

:lol:

Only after Voyager neutered them.

Re: So I've never seen Star Trek...
 

If you want to be a real Star Trek fan, you have to watch the absolute best episode of Star Trek ever:

"Threshold" from Star Trek: Voyager.

Re: So I've never seen Star Trek...
 

TNG did that on its own well before Voyager did.

Re: So I've never seen Star Trek...
 

Star Trek - :up::up::up:

The Next Generation - :shrug: Some good eps, some bad ones, with a mostly bland crew.

Deep Space Nine - :banana::rock2::clap:

Voyager - :down::down::down:

Enterprise - :mad::chainsaw: Though, I did give up halfway through season two.

Re: So I've never seen Star Trek...
 

I don't want to be a thread crapper as I have been a Trek fan in the past, but...

I seriously wonder if anyone who says that TNG got significantly better after S1 & 2 have actually watched through the series lately. I started watching it again with my wife a couple months ago - we watched a LOT of it in a short time and we're up to a few episodes into S6 - and seasons I thought I remembered as being stellar were riddled with boring, bland episodes with ridiculous plots. It was a real eye opener to me - I don't know if I can watch that series through again.

Q still rocks though.

I admit I've always been a fan of the original series - it somewhat surprises me when new viewers focus more on the sets and dated costumes than the plots which have more true SF sensibilities in the best ones than a lot of what followed in later series. I was always bummed that TNG didn't solicit more scripts from real SF writers like TOS did - it had a couple involved at the beginning I believe.

DS9 - boring 1st couple seasons - but it definitely works better as a show for me once the main series arc kicks into full swing. One of the things I've been pointing out to my wife as we go through TNG is the severe whitewashing that the federation does when it talks about how mankind has evolved - and I was glad that this show at least hints that there's more going on behind the scenes. It's a darker show and I never really felt that DS9 and Babylon 5 couldn't coexist together.

Voyager - I watched the show - less said the better

Enterprise - bland and boring for all four seasons. Couldn't finish it the first time it aired - I don't know why I forced myself to sit through it later on.

Michael

Re: So I've never seen Star Trek...
 

We are Hugh.

The Hugh influence wasn't anything more than a Cube's worth of Borg. IMO, it was nothing like an entire Quadrant of Borg like Voyager. :shrug:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Threshold_(Voyager_episode)

If Braga calls it a stinker, you know it is. :lol:

Re: So I've never seen Star Trek...
 

The films Star Trek IV: the Voyage Home and Star Trek: First Contact are probably the most newbie-accessible entry points to the original cast and the Next Gen cast, in my opinion. I'm not necessarily saying they are the best, but they are good for jumping in and getting to know the characters while still being fun for mainstream audiences who think 'Bajoran' is a member of ABBA. :)

Re: So I've never seen Star Trek...
 

Why don't you just recommend "Spock's Brain" from the original series while you're at it?

Re: So I've never seen Star Trek...
 

At least "Spock's Brain" is entertaining (provided you have a box of wine handy...)

Re: So I've never seen Star Trek...
 

Brain and brain, what is brain?!

I don't know what brainee is talking about, Spock's Brain is a great comedy episode.

Re: So I've never seen Star Trek...
 

Which episode of Voyager was about the piece of space cheese that nearly destroyed the ship? That's my favorite.

Re: So I've never seen Star Trek...
 

I consider myself more of a fan of the Trek feature films. I have watched a few episodes here and there of TNG. I recall watching the Pilot and a few eps here and there and the series finale.

I would love to revisit TNG on DVD, but the sets have always been a little too pricey and the complete series set still hovers at about $200.

Wasn't interested enough at the time to get into DS9, Voyager or Enterprise.

Re: So I've never seen Star Trek...
 

Please don't lump DS9 in with Voyager and Enterprise. DS9 is amazing TV, probably my favorite series of all-time. The character development, plots and writing were top-notch. I think anyone who appreciates good TV needs to watch Deep Space 9.

Re: So I've never seen Star Trek...
 

Bias much? ;)


But you are correct.

Re: So I've never seen Star Trek...
 

This

The less said about Voyager and Enterprise the better. Those 2 shows were responsible for killing Star Trek.

DS9 isnt just a great Star Trek show. Its a great television show period.