Is Star Trek: Strange New Worlds too "Star Trek-y" for casuals?
By Chad Porto
Star Trek: Strange New Worlds is a beloved new entry into the world of Star Trek. It features Captain Christopher Pike getting to finish the stories that franchise head Gene Roddenberry had hoped he would all those years ago when he created the failed first pilot of the franchise. Now, fans are fully behind the leading man character and his plucky crew of fellow Starfleet greats.
The series is a throwback to the days of old Trek and while they try to get too silly every so often, for the most part, the series has been called one of the best in franchise history by everyone from critics to fans; both old and new alike.
As a Star Trek site, we love that the franchise has created a show that caters to us fans. Yet, in our love affair with the show, an idea may be developing that we're not entirely keeping an eye on. Dustin Rowels of Pajiba.com recently spoke about Star Trek: Strange New Worlds as he recapped the latest shows to be renewed and cancelled.
In speaking of Star Trek, noting the renewal of Star Trek: Starfleet Academy already, Rowles spoke of Strange New Worlds, calling it "too 'Star Trek-y'" for him. At first, it may seem like a dig, but it's not. Not everyone watches Star Trek and that's ok. Yet, it got me thinking; should Star Trek be making itself more accessible to non-conventional Star Trek fans?
The answer, shockingly, is no. If you don't like Star Trek, that's cool. Yet, don't expect the brand to change itself to cater to you. See, no one suggests that pizza places should make pizzas differently, "Ooh, make it a steak instead of bread, and then add butter and chives instead of cheese and pepperoni!" That's called a steak. You can just go get a steak.
Star Trek is what it is, and to ask it to be different than what Gene Roddenberry and shows like The Next Generation, Voyager, and Deep Space Nine created, then you're asking Star Trek to not be Star Trek anymore. You wouldn't serve a steak and call it pizza, don't ask Star Trek to present itself differently just so you can be catered to. If it's not for you, it's not for you.
But Star Trek shouldn't tone it down to court the casual fan. It is what it is and it's ok that some people don't like it and it's ok that it caters to a specific type of fan. Star Trek needs to buck against the notions that people like JJ Abrams have, as we saw in 2009 when he attempted to make Star Trek more "mainstream" and instead just present Star Trek as it has always and should always be.