If Discovery is a bust...

[ElizSalem]

No, for the average viewer (non-fan) it doesn't make any difference if it's Star Trek. It's about whether or not it's a interesting premise and is it's well produced.

It being Star Trek will get some people to watch the first episode or two, then other factors will kick in.

If the show doesn't catch a buzz on social media, bye bye.This thing going to need what, three plus million viewers to survive? Do you real think a couple of hundred (at most) fans will be able to sink it?

Now if it a pile of poo, and tens of thousand of Trek fans openly denounce it, that's another story.

My hope is that the first couple of episodes are strong enough to create some social media buzz, and I think CBS is being smart by putting DSC on streaming rather than on network television. It's going to come down to how well the show is written and if it can bring in a large enough audience (beyond us die hards).

Game of Thrones apparently has an interesting premise and is well-produced, but I don't watch it because I have no interest in the subject matter. If a non-fan of Star Trek has no interest in the subject matter of DSC, they're not going to watch it no matter how well it's produced.

I'm with you on GOT...I'm completely willing to concede that it's a great show, but having read the books, I have no desire to see some of the graphic violence described there on screen.

 

[fireproof78]

Game of Thrones apparently has an interesting premise and is well-produced, but I don't watch it because I have no interest in the subject matter. If a non-fan of Star Trek has no interest in the subject matter of DSC, they're not going to watch it no matter how well it's produced.

Indeed. Discovery being Star Trek is simply not going interest everyone. Many of my family members won't watch it because that's not their genre. Even myself, who enjoys fantasy, has no interest in something like GoT.

There are several hurdles that DSC will need to overcome as part its overall success, and yes, being Star Trek is one of them.

 

[donners22]

No, for the average viewer (non-fan) it doesn't make any difference if it's Star Trek. It's about whether or not it's a interesting premise and is it's well produced.

Absolutely it matters.

Plenty of people will not watch it because of the fact it is Star Trek. It has a negative connotation for some, especially outside the US where it was typically buried on late night TV.

I have colleagues who gush about the Marvel universe, Westworld, GoT, Stranger Things and the like, and laugh about what "nerds" they are, yet they react to mentions of Trek (mostly from me; there are only two of us out of 20-odd who know much at all about it) with scoffs.

The Kelvin films tried to combat attitudes like those, and succeeded to some degree, but the stigma is well and truly still in effect.

 

[James T Kirk]

I hate to say this but I can tell you by the name of the show and the looks of the actors that have been revealed already that the show is going to be awful.

I said the same thing about Beyond and I hit the nail right on the head.

I can just tell about these things, I have a 6th sense.

Trek died a long time ago Im sorry to say.

 

[KennyB]

I hate to say this but I can tell you by the name of the show and the looks of the actors that have been revealed already that the show is going to be awful.

I said the same thing about Beyond and I hit the nail right on the head.

I can just tell about these things, I have a 6th sense.

Trek died a long time ago Im sorry to say.

This whole post has me giggling........

 

[Shikarnov]

If Discovery is a bust, then I suspect CBS will lay off Trek for a while and try something more formulaic -- like NCIS: Yet Another City or something similar. It might very well be 10 years or more before we see a regular series again.

As for whether it will be a bust, I think it will. I have no idea how many people feel this way, but I suspect I'm far from alone in being resistant to being told how I may or may not consume my content. I have no interest in subscribing to All Access, and have no plan to do so. If Discovery isn't available to purchase a la carte via iTunes or Amazon, and isn't a part of my existing Netflix subscriptions, then CBS won't be getting any money from me.

 

[JasonJ]

I dont see CBS All Access succeeding in the swarm of other streaming services we already have to choose from. Partnering with Netflix should have been the only way this is presented, if not doing traditional broadcast tv (which is already pretty filled with shows).

I'm actually quite excited for Discovery, but on the other hand, I've almost had my fill of pre-TNG era Trek thanks to Enterprise (which I enjoyed .. enough). I'd rather see CBS work another deal with Perfect World Entertainment to do a series based in the post-Nemesis era, following some of the Star Trek Online ships, characters, and stories.

 

[Sebine_91]

My fear is that if it doesn't do well we'll be in for another 2005-2009 wilderness period (although, whilst I enjoy the films it still did feel like a 'wilderness years' period prior to the Discovery announcement). With Beyond under-performing it seems that Trek isn't in a strong position.

I hope if it doesn't do brilliantly from the get-go then it gets a chance to develop. After all, TNG and Voyager's early stuff isn't as good as what came after in my opinion and I think that's a generally held opinion re TNG. The problem is nowadays it seems that if a series doesn't do brilliantly from the get go it gets canned, look at Constantine. It seems that the Netflix deal means that financially it's not a flop. I guess the main question is can it get people interested in Trek in a big way again? Here in the UK there doesn't seem to be any buzz at all; a friend of mine who's a casual fan had no idea there was even a new series starting! Considering how omnipresent Trek was here on the BBC for years you'd imagine there could be a

I'd rather see CBS work another deal with Perfect World Entertainment to do a series based in the post-Nemesis era, following some of the Star Trek Online ships, characters, and stories.

I started playing STO a few days ago after getting an Xbox One for Christmas and I'm already intrigued by the storyline. I wonder if they wanted to do a prequel (even if it comes after Eneterprise) as it means you won't alienate new viewers who don't know the continuity - that seemed to have been the rationale behind the 2009 film. I do think you could do a 'back to basics' approach in a post Nemesis era though. Set it some time after Nemesis with a new ship and crew (the Enterprise F?). I mean when they brought Doctor Who back they managed to set it after the last TV outing without getting bogged down in continuity.

 

[JasonJ]

[QUOTE="Seb_O_91, post: 11889299, member: 73679"I started playing STO a few days ago after getting an Xbox One for Christmas and I'm already intrigued by the storyline. I wonder if they wanted to do a prequel (even if it comes after Eneterprise) as it means you won't alienate new viewers who don't know the continuity - that seemed to have been the rationale behind the 2009 film. I do think you could do a 'back to basics' approach in a post Nemesis era though. Set it some time after Nemesis with a new ship and crew (the Enterprise F?). I mean when they brought Doctor Who back they managed to set it after the last TV outing without getting bogged down in continuity.[/QUOTE]

Agree wholeheartedly.

Imagine a STO universe/post-Nemesis trek show, even set after Riker and the USS Titan era.... start fresh. New ship, new crew, interesting new stories not told before (or made complete and adapted for tv from the STO stories). We could introduce new viewers to the franchise who don't need to know anything about the last 50 years of star trek. I think that'd be good. Could even bring in the classic hero ships every once in a while just as a shout out to long-time fans; "Enterprise-G slips streams in to assist the crew of the starship Antares in their mission to do <insert something cool here>".

 

[Captain of the USS Averof]

start fresh. New ship, new crew, interesting new stories not told before… We could introduce new viewers to the franchise who don't need to know anything about the last 50 years of star trek.

You mean just like Discovery is doing?

 

[JasonJ]

You mean just like Discovery is doing?

Exactly, but not set in between Enterprise and TOS. I know there are some good stories to tell there, but I think more can be done in the far future, post-Nemesis. They've bookended themselves to a small amount of time to tell stories that wont plow right into existing shows.

It seems to me that taking the concept they have, new ship/new crew/new stories, and moving it ahead, where they have all of time and space to explore, is a better plan. Star Trek set in the year 3199 ... could be cool.

EDIT: How about a show taking place in the 26th century, on board the Enterprise, 1701-J?

 

[Sebine_91]

EDIT: How about a show taking place in the 26th century, on board the Enterprise, 1701-J?

I think setting it too far in the future could be a problem, considering how advanced technology was already by the time Nemesis ended. That being said, I think it could work. Personally, I think setting it 20 odd years after the end of Nemesis would be enough. That way you could bring back characters now and again and reference past events after the series has taken off if you wanted to like Doctor Who did.

Part of me doubts we'll ever see a post Nemesis show though

Re the success of Discovery it seemed I didn't finish one of my sentences - you'd think that with how big a presence Trek was on British TV in the '90s and early '00s that a new Trek series could have quite a big fan-base. Enough people my age would probably check it out as they watched it as a kid. Certainly when I was 10-11 a lot of kids at my school were watching Voyager.

 

[JasonJ]

Certainly when I was 10-11 a lot of kids at my school were watching Voyager.

LOL... one guess as to why they watched Voyager at that age.... it rhymes with Berry Lion.

It certainly wasn't for deep story arcs and admiration of an altruistic portrayal of human society...

 

[BillJ]

EDIT: How about a show taking place in the 26th century, on board the Enterprise, 1701-J?

 

[JasonJ]

LOL.. ok Bill.. your feelings have been noted. haha... no, seriously.. I actually laughed out loud at your response to that idea. lol.

Is it the ship, the time period, or maybe the thought that Starfleet will have a "no uniforms policy" in that century? Nekkid exploration of space for all!

 

[BillJ]

Is it the ship, the time period, or maybe the thought that Starfleet will have a "no uniforms policy" in that century? Nekkid exploration of space for all!

It is the fact they were already on the verge of the technology being magic and humans being unrecognizable as humans. That, to me, simply isn't "Star Trek".

When I watch the original, humanity isn't out there espousing the greatness of humanity and how everyone needs to be like us. Kirk makes mistakes and is faced with those mistakes. The newer stuff mostly killed my interest in the universe.

KIRK: There's just one thing I want.
SPOCK: The Klingon?
KIRK: One of us must get him.
SPOCK: Revenge, Captain?
KIRK: Why not?

I miss humanity in Star Trek.

 

[JasonJ]

It is the fact they were already on the verge of the technology being magic and humans being unrecognizable as humans. That, to me, simply isn't "Star Trek".

When I watch the original, humanity isn't out there espousing the greatness of humanity and how everyone needs to be like us. Kirk makes mistakes and is faced with those mistakes. The newer stuff mostly killed my interest in the universe.



I miss humanity in Star Trek.

That's a very good point, I hadn't thought of the newer trek in that way. I wouldn't want it to be so alien that we don't even recognize the humans any more.

Although I do recall TOS often making references to how humanity is so much improved, how they aren't so barbaric as they were in the 20th century, etc... at times the original series DID feel preachy and full of itself with regards to humanity. Early TNG was like this. I didn't get any of that in Star Trek TMP-VI thankfully. But then the newer trek series' and movies really went a different way with the entire franchise and I'm not sure if they can even be compared at all.

 

[BillJ]

Although I do recall TOS often making references to how humanity is so much improved, how they aren't so barbaric as they were in the 20th century, etc... at times the original series DID feel preachy and full of itself with regards to humanity.

I disagree. We made it to the stars, but we are still full of the frailties that had always gripped us in TOS.

Kirk: All right. It's instinctive. But the instinct can be fought. We're human beings with the blood of a million savage years on our hands, but we can stop it. We can admit that we're killers, but we're not going to kill today.

Trying to be better isn't the same as going out into the cosmos and telling everyone that they need to be like you. The crews in the 24th century felt more like missionaries than explorers.

 

[JasonJ]

I disagree. We made it to the stars, but we are still full of the frailties that had always gripped us in TOS.



Trying to be better isn't the same as going out into the cosmos and telling everyone that they need to be like you. The crews in the 24th century felt more like missionaries than explorers.

I think TNG definitely did both of these things that we are talking about. They were both full of themselves, with a human superiority complex, AND behaved like missionaries.

I'll have to rewatch TOS.. could be I'm remembering it from when I was younger and couldn't grasp all of the concepts and commentary that was going on.

In a way, this is where Enterprise excelled... they were indeed explorers, with human faults, naive but brave, humble but insatiable in their desire for more knowledge and relationships with other species (except those xenophobic jerks that tried to use the Mars colony as a weapon!).

 

[Ridcully]

I hope that something positive will rise!
The world is moving towards this, we only like our own small sphere life.
Would love to see something that has that feel of really wanting to go beyond ourselves.
Challenge our stubborn ways, not the usual naive way, nor the cynics way, but one of having a slim hope of going just that small step down to a new world...with more room!