Create a new series premise

[ijdgaf]

I dunno, call me crazy (and out of character?) but I'd honestly prefer a new series where ongoing plots and continuity weren't as overpowering as DS9's. The show was great, but shows like that -- regardless of quality -- have a tendency to lose audiences eventually and get cancelled.

I'd prefer something with perhaps a few ongoing arcs, some extended multipart episodes, and some overarching themes perhaps, but also a show that could rely on and not suffer from stand-alone episodes.

I just, you know, want some quality out of it. Some good writing and good characterization.

[Nate the Great]

I can see how you might feel that way. I like plot arcs, but when they take it too far it can get VERY annoying. I particularly hated the "Let's ferret out the Maquis traiter by having Paris pretend to revert to jerk mode" arc way back in Season Two. Hated hated hated. A scene here, a scene there. Maybe it was okay when you're watching them in order on TV, but I have sporadic episodes on tape, and I almost always have to fast-forward through those scenes because they just don't matter. The entire plot could've easily fit into about four episodes.

On the other hand, NextGen was much too compartmentalized. Putting aside the two-part eps and the rare separated couplets (the Worf/K'heylar arc, the Worf's disgrace arc, the Worf/Troi arc, are we seeing a pattern here? ), you could see the eps in almost any order and not get bogged down with details. At most you'd only have to "previously on Star Trek" about two eps worth. Voyager had to recap entire SEASONS.

How about a Lower Decks series? Think about it, the central characters would be the junior officers. The senior staff would be strictly in the background. We could have more long-term relationships a la Paris/Torres because a Science ensign and a Command ensign would never directly report to each other. It'd open up some interesting plots. Think about all of the episodes where the Captain gave mysterious orders that no one but the senior staff ever knew the particulars of. What would the junior officers think was happening? What do your ordinary Federation guys do on their vacations? You'd expect the junior officers to actually take their leave. We could even see transfers between ships of the same class if we wanted (or needed to change the senior staff actors).

Here's a backup question: How would technology advance if we pushed things into the 25th century? Of course we'd have those five-bar commbadges, but what else? I'd love to see transporter wristwatches. I mean, put a transporter satellite in orbit. You'd input the coordinates for home, the office, your best friend across the planet, the space station, etc. and just hit a button to trigger a remote transport.

[PointyHairedJedi]

Originally Posted by ijdgaf

I'd prefer something with perhaps a few ongoing arcs, some extended multipart episodes, and some overarching themes perhaps, but also a show that could rely on and not suffer from stand-alone episodes.

I refer you to my suggestion of Aaron Sorkin.

I expect it has been thought of before, but what about crime and espionage? It is more or less established that there is a civvie intelligence service in the Federation (in ST:III if you care to know). That leaves the door open to a multitude of different sorts of story, and of course there's ample oppertunity for some rivalry with Starfleet Intel and a running fight against Section 31. And given in this fantasy of mine that it will be produced/written by Sorkin, lots of walking-around conversations and unnaturally witty dialogue.

[Nate the Great]

I suppose we haven't covered the inevitable "let's go out to the Delta Quadrant and revisit some of the old Voyager species again" idea in this thread yet. I think someone brought that one up somewhere else.

[ijdgaf]

...I seem to recall most of the Delta Quadrant species being pretty boring. Only exceptions coming to mind are the Malon (did I get the name right? the trash people), Species 8472, and occaisionally the Borg. And those phage guys.

Also, I never, ever, ever want to see the Kazon again. Ever. What the hell was that supposed to be, anyway?

[Nate the Great]

Other interesting Delta Quadrant races:

The Vaduaar
The Vidiians
The Talaxians
The Ocampa
Whatever Icheb is, I forget

[PointyHairedJedi]

Originally Posted by ijdgaf

Also, I never, ever, ever want to see the Kazon again. Ever. What the hell was that supposed to be, anyway?

Well... the Ferenghi were pretty dire at first. But yeah, I agree, in terms of whiny bitchiness the Kazon are quite hard to beat.

[Nate the Great]

The only problem with the Kazon is that it took three years to leave their space. Voyager always seemed to be spinning their proverbial tires in the mud those first few years.

[ijdgaf]

Originally Posted by PointyHairedJedi

Well... the Ferenghi were pretty dire at first. But yeah, I agree, in terms of whiny bitchiness the Kazon are quite hard to beat.

Exactly. I realize every species needs a quirky theme. But "the whiny bitch species" isn't exactly an audience grabber.

[Chancellor Valium]

Originally Posted by ijdgaf

I dunno, call me crazy (and out of character?) but I'd honestly prefer a new series where ongoing plots and continuity weren't as overpowering as DS9's. The show was great, but shows like that -- regardless of quality -- have a tendency to lose audiences eventually and get cancelled.

We aren't talking about some kind of Babylon 5 here, where what someone eats for breakfast in season 1 episode 2 affects season 5 episode 29... This happens over eight-to-ten years, so there is plenty of room for some episodes which go on a tangent, and for the backplot to stay in teh background for a while.
I'd prefer something with perhaps a few ongoing arcs, some extended multipart episodes, and some overarching themes perhaps, but also a show that could rely on and not suffer from stand-alone episodes.

Originally Posted by IJD GAF

I just, you know, want some quality out of it. Some good writing and good characterization.

Characterisation requires development/regression. And that in turn requires a progressing, overarching storyline, IMO.

[Nate the Great]

Yeah, but overarching storylines don't need "Previously on Star Trek" all the time. Look at Keiko's work vs. family issues, Worf and Deanna's relationship, Data's exploration of humanity, the Delaney Sisters, and so on.

[Chancellor Valium]

Originally Posted by Nate the Great

Yeah, but overarching storylines don't need "Previously on Star Trek" all the time. Look at Keiko's work vs. family issues, Worf and Deanna's relationship, Data's exploration of humanity, the Delaney Sisters, and so on.

Also true.

[Nate the Great]

Come to think of it, weren't there a few Gamma Quadrant races that it would've been nice to meet again?

This is a bit far out, but how about a sort of anthology series, but seen from the other side's perspective? Seeing events from the Romulan, Klingon, or Ferengi perspective. We could have legacy actors provide voice cameos via commlinks and manipulated video a la Riker in All Good Things. How did the Romulans react to the Borg attack on Wolf 359? Were the Klingons for or against the actions of the Maquis?

[ijdgaf]

Originally Posted by Chancellor Valium

We aren't talking about some kind of Babylon 5 here, where what someone eats for breakfast in season 1 episode 2 affects season 5 episode 29... This happens over eight-to-ten years, so there is plenty of room for some episodes which go on a tangent, and for the backplot to stay in teh background for a while.
I'd prefer something with perhaps a few ongoing arcs, some extended multipart episodes, and some overarching themes perhaps, but also a show that could rely on and not suffer from stand-alone episodes.

Characterisation requires development/regression. And that in turn requires a progressing, overarching storyline, IMO.

Whoa, I'm of variable capitalization!

And I agree with Nate. Generally, you can have good characterization and character arcs on a series without drawn-out, complicated overarching plots. Character writing and plot writing are different, complimentary crafts. You can create engaging, evolving characters on a show to draw people in, without having grandiose, must-tune-in-every-week plots which tend to push those people away.

[Nate the Great]

Oooh yeah. Like I've said before, that's what turned me off on Babylon 5. Great show, great actors, great storylines, and all that, but for goodness sakes! Miss two weeks and I was LOST! What was going on? Who could keep up the concentration necessary? Not me. I didn't like being held responsible for every sentence uttered since Day One, nosiree. This also crops up with the LOTR movies. Putting aside my oft-used complaint against huge pointless battles between fake CG armies, paying attention to that many people at once makes my brain hurt.

[PointyHairedJedi]

Originally Posted by ijdgaf

Generally, you can have good characterization and character arcs on a series without drawn-out, complicated overarching plots.

*coughcoughAaronSorkincoughcoughcough*

Yes, sometimes I'm a terrible bore.

[Nate the Great]

Just sometimes?

Once again, obvious punchline, had to be done.

[PointyHairedJedi]

I've never been trapped in a lift with other people yet, but I imagine it will happen someday. It does strike me as a pity that I won't be around afterwards to see how convincing an explanation the other occupants can come up with for the many signs of blunt force trauma that the coroner will find on my body.

[mudshark]

Originally Posted by PointyHairedJedi

It does strike me as a pity that I won't be around afterwards to see how convincing an explanation the other occupants can come up with for the many signs of blunt force trauma that the coroner will find on my body.

There must be a way to manage it, though, and then you may have your series premise. Has there ever been one before in which the main character gets murdered every week? It'd be sort of Quantum Victim, or something.