So, a few years ago I attended a fan-produced sci-fi/fantasy convention in San Diego. I thought it would be a good opportunity to learn about the sci-fi/fantasy scene and meet some fellow nerds.
As it turned out, there was a panel being held to commemorate the 50th anniversary of Star Trek. At this panel, which was composed of lifelong fans, the facilitator, panel members, and the audience began to basically tear down anything that wasn’t part of the original series. No one had a bromance like Kirk and Spock. In fact, Kirk and Spock were apparently the original bromance. No series could ever compare to the original, and shame to the franchise for tampering with something so pure and holy!
I could not believe what I was hearing. I raised my hand, stood up, and explained that I grew up on Star Trek: The Next Generation. I had never seen TOS (The Original Series) before in my life. What was more, I enjoyed the Star Trek reboots and gave the franchise credit for being accessible to a whole new generation of fans who were only vaguely familiar with the original. Maybe the reboot movies would spur new interest in TOS.
The panel said some words to acknowledge my comments and then moved on with their tirade. My friend leaned over and whispered, “That means: thank you. Your opinion has been noted and is invalid. You can sit down and shut up now.” I agreed, so we left the panel and learned to play Dungeons and Dragons instead.
But, what kind of a Trekkie can I claim to be if I haven’t watched three series and a number of movies that are cannon in a franchise? Can I be a fan if I have no idea why the Klingons have three different looks throughout the show’s history? I think the answer is “no” on both counts, so I am going to rectify this and take you, my reader, with me.
I am going to watch the series in release order. This basically means I will start with TOS and finish with Discovery or whichever series is newest. (There are two new shows in the works, so I’ll add those as we go along and episodes are released.) I will review each season on my blog and talk about each series on my YouTube channel. You can catch my first video in the series I’m naming “To Boldly Go…” below.
P.S. If I get any facts or plot points wrong throughout this study, let me know. But, please, don’t be petty or rude. We are all just trying to seek out new life and new civilizations, after all.
#GoBoldly
4orty2 