Star Trek is known for its ships, but the crew is what drives the fandom.
Star Trek is arguably the most famous science fiction property in the world. They’ve gotten to the point they’re in due to how they write not only stellar plots but their characters as well. They create so many unique cultures and allow the characters to express themselves in a way that makes them real and authentic.
They’re also known for their ships. Namely the U.S.S. Enterprise. Which one, you ask? Pick one, you’ll have fans from all over the franchise picking their own personal favorite. For me, it’s the NX-01 from the show Enterprise, but for someone else, it may be the NCC-1701 from the original series. For others, it may be the Enterprise-D or even the Enterprise-F.
Heck, you may have some suggest it’s not the Enterprise at all, and that their favorite is the Voyager (me) or something completely unexpected, like a space station. Deep Space Nine could be someone’s favorite. Why not?
Yet some people on the internet believe that it’s the ship that makes the show or movie, and while they’re surely important to the brand, they’re not the reason fans show up every week to watch. It’s the cast and their interpersonal relationships that have caused this worldwide event to go on for nearly 60 years.
Star Trek has thrived for nearly 60 years due to the characters, not the ships
The ships are important, we know that. They’re the most iconic science fiction vessels ever, maybe besides the Delorian from Back to the Future, but that’s really the only competition they have. Yet, it’s not the ships that draw people in. The idea that the ship is a character is a cute gimmick, but that’s all it really is. A marketing gimmick by the writers to the more “inside baseball” type of Trke fans.
The ship can be replaced and often has been, and the shows or films haven’t missed a beat.
Between the end of the original series and Star Trek VII: Generations, they had three ships; the NCC-1701 which was in the series, the NCC-1701-A, which was in the first few films, and then the NCC-1701-B, which debuted in Generations.
The crew of the Next Generation had two ships, the NCC-1701-D, and the NCC-1701-E, both ships are beloved and widely respected.
Yet, the ships never drove the audience. It was the relationships between the crews that were. Kirk, Spock, and Bones, and their brotherly love drove the fandom in the first series and across the films. Then you have Riker and Troi, their galaxy-wide love affair, and the adorable best friends in Data and Geordi. Not to mention Picard and everyone.
It was the relationships that drove The Voyage Home to be the success it was. A film that was nearly devoid of any actual Starfleet vessel, let alone the Enterprise. It’s the relationships that the crew develops that create the bonds that attract fans, not the shiny haul of a ship.