Guys, I'm back!
ProvidenceMine, in case you've forgotten the name.
I am going to write something very brief here, and its something that I feel quite strongly about.
In case you don't already know, there is a petition on Change.org that is campaigning for a pre-TOS series with Captain Pike, Spock and Number One!
I don't know about you, but I think that would be an awesome idea! Far more awesome than that series that CBS is developing starring that tired and overrated Jean-Luc Picard, that's for goddamn sure.
This is not to say that I would just die if this series with Pike didn't come into fruition, because if this series didn't happen, I would be okay with that. I would LOVE a Pike series but my life doesn't depend on it, as it seems to for those fans who have been less than enthusiastic about ST:Discovery.
Now, to be sure me and my sister have signed the petition, and it has generated over 26,000 signatures so far! Can you believe that?! It tells you of the impact that Anson Mount, Ethan Peck, and Rebecca Romijn had on the show. From what I understand, Peck and Mount are open to the idea of coming back for a series, and Alex Kurtzman said that he would love to bring back that crew. That's doesn't mean it will definitely happen, but the fact that these guys are 'open' is not a bad thing.
Let's see where this open attitude goes.
While I would adore a new series with Captain Pike, the comments that I've read online concerning such a series worried me greatly. It seems from what I've read, these fans who are pushing for this series want a return to 'old, classic Trek.'
The term 'old, classic Trek' bothers me-and I mean really, really bothers me.
In the worst way.
One fan even went as far as to write that this series should be written by the writers of The Orville and not by the writers of Discovery.
You've got to be kidding me...
I mean seriously.
One man on his YouTube video even stated that he didn't want a Pike series with Star Trek in its present incarnation-meaning he doesn't like ST:DISCO and wouldn't want the writers from that series involved.
Do wonders never cease.
I was just as excited about the prospect for a Pike series like many of the fans were and are, but to do a Pike series like 'old, classic Trek' would be an unmitigated creative and ratings disaster-and you can take that to the bank. If you want a show about Captain Pike that is the same old formulaic stuff that all of the Star Trek shows were made out of before Discovery, then failure would surely be a guaranteed result.
That's right! Bring on the long talky meetings in the Ready Room, with Pike waxing eloquently over Starfleet's obligations for this and that. Bring on the boring and irrelevant love stories that have littered Star Trek for years and years, of star-crossed lovers staring at each other like they've forgotten their lines. Bring on the neat little beginnings and ends to the stories, with a resolution neatly packaged and delivered to its none-too-demanding audience. Bring on the ridiculous obsession with more aliens that have two arms, two legs and one torso-in other words more poorly realized humanoids wearing similar costumes each week!
That's right! Bring it on!
And watch it fail.
Fail miserably.
I really don't get it, people. Don't you guys remember ST:Enterprise with all of the trappings of 'old, classic Trek' still being delivered to a 21st Century audience? That show failed, and only lasted for a fourth season because of a pathetic letter writing campaign that was the equivalent of force feeding a castrated man on saltpeter.
Wasted cause with a poor end result.
Let me ask you die hard 'old classic Trek' fans a question. Why did Enterprise fail, with Star Trek having such a huge cult following, huh? Do you honestly think that it failed because new potential fans weren't tuning in? Well, that was a part of it but not the only reason. It was the old fans, the ones who worship 'old classic Trek' who ultimately stayed away. And, you can rest assured that the same thing would happen with this Pike show. You all would stay away. I know I would.
Guys, if you truly want Captain Christopher Pike to return with his own series then you have to be a bit more open about all of the possibilities that could be done with such a show, and I believe that Alex Kurtzman and his team would do Pike, Spock and Number One justice-just like they did in ST:Discovery. I loved seeing Pike, Spock and Number One in a new take on Star Trek-working with a more continuous storyline, more organic action and strong dialogue and more dynamic, strong characters that included more women of various shapes, people of color and gays. Oh, how I LOVED seeing Pike flirt shamelessly with Ensign Tilly, the goofy plus-size darling with the epic red curly hair-a character that you would not have seen in any previous Star Trek incarnation. Discovery brought us a Captain Pike that was rendered beautifully-and rendered beautifully by a team of talented people that knew how to flesh out this character in the scripts and knew who to cast for the part-the team of Discovery, the team that you guys are bitching about right now-this was the team who brought you a heroic, dynamic, vital, sexy, and charming Captain Pike! It was not anyone from any of the past shows who brought you this dude-not Brannon Braga and not Roger D. Moore!
Guys, you want to see the return of Pike! I get that. I'd love to see a new trio of Pike, Spock and Number One on the Enterprise again! But if you want to see this show successful, then the show cannot be written with only the pre/ post menopausal and viagra imbibing Trekkies in mind.
This can not be your grandpa's Star Trek on life support! You have to bring in a younger audience as well, and you have to bring in viewers who might not otherwise watch a Star Trek show. Also, you have to be open to the possibility that this show can be just as effective as a miniseries or a limited one-like a season. In these times of streaming and cable shows why do we need a tv series lasting seven seasons or more, especially with so many tv shows that have either been on the chopping block or in the bubble. Hell, even The Orville is rumored to be in danger of cancellation!
So, I'm excited but a bit leery about this Pike series. Bring it back, if you can, with bold, risky writing and arcs that you wouldn't have considered Pike in previously. Either you take this risky approach or you leave it be, and just remember Pike as he was in Discovery-heroic, dynamic, vital, charming, and sexy!
A man who could hit it.
A man who could get it done.
It's up to you.
