I don’t mean necessarily a new series in either the old or the new universes or a Re-Re-Boot. What I mean is we really need some science fiction that takes place in a hopeful, optimistic future. Nearly all mainstream sci fi and YA sci fi is chockfull of Dystopias. World most people would never want to live it.
I get that that makes conflict and story telling easier but really, can’t we just have one setting that shows humanity at its best? A future that is brighter than the one we have now; that focuses on the things we do right? I say it’s way over due.
Its not Terrans but an optimistic science-fiction ‘story world’ is that depicted in The Culture series of novels by Iain M. Banks, in fact its the best materalist utopia I’ve read about though I understand why some people think its actually a dystopia, mainly because all power is ceded into the fields of godlike benign AI ‘Minds’.
But I agree with you that doom and gloom is overdone in sci-fi, John Scalzi has a number of very fun and upbeat sci-fi novels but the story-universe itself isn’t very optimistic, humanity very much has to fight, often literally, for its place in a crowded universe.
Oddly enough although its premise appeals to me I’ve never found Star Trek interesting, I haven’t watched enough of it to really explain why.
I’m sorry, but without the conflict the audience goes elsewhere. You could possibly lighten the overall mood of the show, though-Galaxy Quest-The Series might work, or a live action Legion Of Super Heroes complete with the Legion Of Substitute Heroes to draw new faces from. Another fun one would be Foglio’s Buck Godot-Zap Gun For Hire. possibly with Dwayne Johnson in the lead.
They have tried new Sci Fi like Andromeda. Which had a great premise. But the writing was such a let down.
I still think that premise had such potential. Imagine the Federation destroyed. Chaos, crime, dictators ruling small areas. Then trying to restore the Federation.
A great idea but it would take incredible writing to make it work.
Doctor Who usually shows an optimistic future (the monsters always lose), and having a optimistic future does not preclude conflict and even death. Science fiction worked on that basis for most of its history.
The big problem is that audiences like dark and futile futures, as well as characters with issues. So an optimistic SF series is unlikely to catch on.
Actually a failed Star Trek World might make a good series. Andromeda went too far where everything was in chaos.
What if the Federation split but the planets still had organized governments? The Vulcans had withdrawn and were strict isolationists. The Klingons and Ferengi were in an alliance and were attacking smaller and undefended planets. Earth had internal problems and no longer could lead.
That would be interesting. Theres a mix of darkness and also hope that the Federation could eventually get restored.
You must be kidding. While I enjoyed the show at 15 or so, I’ve caught a few clips in more recent years. A wretched attempt at serious sf, with so many details done right (I loved and still love the “Eagle” spacecraft) but so many cheesy shortcuts and stupid story lines that it’s unwatchable. The basic idea that the Moon is whipping along so fast it passes a new planet every week - but is going so slowly they have several days to make trips to said planet - is kiddie skiffy.
But as to the OP, yes, we need a solid sf series. Something that takes the best of ST:TOS, ST:TNG and B5 and moves us forward. I’m not sure Firefly DNA would be a good thing - maybe as a side story.
We’ve certainly had enough Earthbound science/fiction shows that start well and devolve into kiddie and hand-waving nonsense territory (Eureka, Fringe, Alphas, Stupornatural). To space!
<shrug> The rental would only be a few bucks. Space 1999 is worth seeing. It had problems but thats true of any tv series. British Sci Fi always suffered with low budgets and spotty writing.
Star Treks original idea was great. But its pretty much been bled dry. Theres only so many planets to visit and away missions. After awhile it gets repetitive. DS9 was smart in taking the idea in a totally different direction.
The first few seasons of Star Gate SG-1 were really good. But it got too complicated with the alien alliances that got formed. I lost interest.
All true, but I’d advise new viewers to sample lightly and move on if they aren’t crazy about what they see. Grinding through the whole run sifting for nuggets will result in wanting those hours back.
Huh. We trudged through the first season and a half and gave up without hitting anything I’d call a worthwhile moment. As 60s-70s sf produced with or by the Brits had certain hallmarks of cardboard cheese, most network sf shows of the 80s-90s had similar hallmarks of dullness and assumption that the audience was stupid. I spotted at least two or three heavily-recycled sitcom/drama themes in that sequence; even with the wild, wild possibilities network TV just can’t get out of the groove of same old mix with a new paint job.
How about a combination 0f Sliders and Quantum Leap-five or six modern day people are gathered together and told that they are part of a new program that sends teams out to help quell diplomatic crises that arise. Upon the completion of each mission a hundred thousand dollars is deposited in their individual accounts and upon completion of ten diplomatic missions they get a million dollar bonus, but this continues only if they go from mission to mission without returning home. Once they agree to the terms they are asked to step through a door to pick up their needed supplies…and they find themselves on an alien planet with their needed equipment and a pouch containing the details of their first mission and a note stating that the only detail left out of their briefing was the distance they would be travelling. All other aspects of the deal are still valid, and that the door they stepped through would appear if either they completed their mission(in which case they would be transported to the next mission), or if one of them decides to quit and go home.
Quite frankly when I rewatch STNG a lot of the episodes are pretty boring. Utopia is boring. Spacial anomalies are not compelling villains. Drama comes from conflict.
Why does it have to be drama? I’d love to see a light-hearted SF space show, like GalaxyQuest: The Series noted above. It is also possible to have conflict and drama without going off the deep end as so many writers have done in the last few decades.
A funny thing is that Foglio’s Buck Godot actually is based on a live human being, a Chicago cop of his acquaintance. I’ve actually met the man, I think it would be a scream to have him in the lead role for a Buck Godot movie since, of course, he’s a dead ringer for the character.
Except that was all 25-30 years ago and the gentleman in question would be elderly by now. Ah, merely for lack of a time machine…
I think Dwayne Johnson could fit the role regarding personality, although I would always find it jarring because to me Buck Godot will forever will be a pale white guy with a definite Chicago accent. That, and both the man the physical image is based on and the character in Foglio’s work is not muscle-bound. But I’ll freely admit that’s my problem, not Mr. Johnson’s.
(Yes, said gentleman was aware that Foglio based Buck Godot on him, at least visually, and Phil actually asked the man’s permission prior to using his likeness.)
