# What next for the Star Trek universe? Or is it goodnight? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [June 25, 2004, 7:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-next-for-the-star-trek-universe-or-is-it-goodnight/252158 "2004-06-25T07:37:02Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Smeghead](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/f1d935/32.png) [@Smeghead](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Smeghead)\ **Post date:** [June 25, 2004, 7:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-next-for-the-star-trek-universe-or-is-it-goodnight/252158/21 "2004-06-25T19:04:31Z")
> [@Diceman](#): > > Sorry, Jon, but I’ve got to side with Ethilrist here. My instincts tell me that “Starfleet Academy” would quickly devolve into a high school drama. You’d get maybe one season before the Trek’s core audience tuned out _en masse._ Buffy the Klingon Slayer. I’d watch. ---
**Author:** ![carnivorousplant](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnivorousplant/32/3563_2.png) [@carnivorousplant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnivorousplant)\ **Post date:** [June 25, 2004, 7:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-next-for-the-star-trek-universe-or-is-it-goodnight/252158/22 "2004-06-25T19:13:10Z")
A series with groups of Klingon, Romulan, Starfleet characters and a Firefly ripoff, maybe some former Maquis. Alternate episodes with each group. Have some crossover between groups. Kill a major character now and then. ^:)^ ---
**Author:** ![Ethilrist](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ethilrist/32/4604_2.png) [@Ethilrist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ethilrist)\ **Post date:** [June 25, 2004, 7:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-next-for-the-star-trek-universe-or-is-it-goodnight/252158/23 "2004-06-25T19:17:25Z")
Oh, yeah, that was another possibility: a Maquis campaign. Too bad they all died. ---
**Author:** ![elf6c](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/c57346/32.png) [@elf6c](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elf6c)\ **Post date:** [June 25, 2004, 7:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-next-for-the-star-trek-universe-or-is-it-goodnight/252158/24 "2004-06-25T19:20:06Z")
> [@Ethilrist](#): > > Oh, yeah, that was another possibility: a Maquis campaign. > > Too bad they all died. Not really, they were all so annoying I was kind of pulling for the Cardassians. . . 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Wearia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/13edae/32.png) [@Wearia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wearia)\ **Post date:** [June 25, 2004, 7:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-next-for-the-star-trek-universe-or-is-it-goodnight/252158/25 "2004-06-25T19:48:29Z")
I’ve always liked the idea of a Star Trek show done like the Outer Limit. Stories take up 2-5 episodes and then we get to see new ones develop. If one becomes a fan favourite they can always go back and make more episodes of it. If they screw up the timeline, they can easily do a time travel episode and correct the mistake. Simple and backhanded in true Star Trek fashion. We could see the origins of the Borg, excerpts from the Eugenics war, Romulan spy campaigns, what old characters from other series are doing, captains messing up royal and losing their ships etc etc. Possibilities are pretty much endless. ---
**Author:** ![rjung](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/45deac/32.png) [@rjung](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rjung)\ **Post date:** [June 25, 2004, 7:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-next-for-the-star-trek-universe-or-is-it-goodnight/252158/26 "2004-06-25T19:48:31Z")
It’ll never happen, but I’d like to see a series (possibly animated) based on Peter David’s **Star Trek: New Frontier** setup. With David supervising, natch. Granted, you’d have to tone down the wild sex a bit (poor Burgoyne! 😃 ), but you could just suggest it… ---
**Author:** ![Horatio\_Hellpop](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/e5b9ba/32.png) [@Horatio\_Hellpop](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Horatio_Hellpop)\ **Post date:** [June 25, 2004, 8:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-next-for-the-star-trek-universe-or-is-it-goodnight/252158/27 "2004-06-25T20:12:21Z")
> [@elf6c](#): > > Yeah that and his career! After the last season of B5, and two failed spin-offs (that both deserved their quick deaths IMHO), he was stuck writing comic books. Fun I am sure, but hardly the place he thought he would end up. Given his break from TV, I bet he probably has lots of cool ideas banked in his head. Strascysnky isn’t exactly exiled to the island of comic book drones. Marvel and DC have, for the last several years, agressively pursued the services of Hollywood (and fairly big-name SF/genre publishing) writers to strengthen their titles. JMS is no more slumming on _Spider-Man_ than Joss Whedon is on _X-Men_ or Andrew Vachss is on _Batman_. And with the current deluge of comic book characters onscreen, I really don’t think a side career in the funnybooks is quite the career-ender it was 30 years ago. Consider the careers of some of these comic-book pros: Jules Feiffer Howard Chaykin Michael Uslan Terry Gilliam Frank Miller Didja know John Cleese is writing an upcoming Superman title? And Steve Gerber has a TNG episode on his resume? ---
**Author:** ![carnivorousplant](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnivorousplant/32/3563_2.png) [@carnivorousplant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnivorousplant)\ **Post date:** [June 25, 2004, 8:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-next-for-the-star-trek-universe-or-is-it-goodnight/252158/28 "2004-06-25T20:22:48Z")
> [@Ethilrist](#): > > Too bad they all died. That’s what Torres was wailing to Chakotay, but some could have survived. I don’t think it’s canon that they are all dead. Who was the guy who tricked Sisko into saving some? Anyway, it would be poetic license to have enough Maquis survivors to form a Firefly like crew. ---
**Author:** ![Eonwe](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/eonwe/32/240_2.png) [@Eonwe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eonwe)\ **Post date:** [June 25, 2004, 8:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-next-for-the-star-trek-universe-or-is-it-goodnight/252158/29 "2004-06-25T20:43:38Z")
> [@Aesiron](#): > > By the way, if you really like the Romulans and don’t mind reading Trek fiction, I would suggest obtaining a copy of Diane Duane’s “The Romulan Way”. It’s as close to the idea you suggested as you’re going to get – a Starfleet op deep undercover on ch’Rihan, the homeworld of the Romulans. Ditto on that recommendation. I pick that book up and re-read it every few years. > [@Askia](#): > > Ugh. Once the original Enterprise was destroyed, and its flaming gutted husk went down in the dawn over the Genesis planet, pretty much every other ‘destructive ship’ sequence was a pale imitation. That scene was one of the Star Trek fanchise’s most cinematic moments and all others even remotely similar should be avoided. Ditto on this too. That starship explosion was awesome to watch. I haven’t really seen much to compare to it. ---
**Author:** ![rjung](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/45deac/32.png) [@rjung](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rjung)\ **Post date:** [June 25, 2004, 9:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-next-for-the-star-trek-universe-or-is-it-goodnight/252158/30 "2004-06-25T21:56:49Z")
> [@Krokodil](#): > > Didja know John Cleese is writing an upcoming Superman title? Great, now I’m imagining Superman applying for a grant from the Ministry Of Funny Walks. ---
**Author:** ![Mr.Blue\_Sky](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d26b3c/32.png) [@Mr.Blue\_Sky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Blue_Sky)\ **Post date:** [June 25, 2004, 10:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-next-for-the-star-trek-universe-or-is-it-goodnight/252158/31 "2004-06-25T22:14:14Z")
> [@Krokodil](#): > > Didja know John Cleese is writing an upcoming Superman title? Maybe a Bizarro/Python sketch: “This parrot am alive.” ---
**Author:** ![sunfish](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/96bed5/32.png) [@sunfish](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sunfish)\ **Post date:** [June 25, 2004, 11:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-next-for-the-star-trek-universe-or-is-it-goodnight/252158/32 "2004-06-25T23:04:55Z")
> [@rjung](#): > > It’ll never happen, but I’d like to see a series (possibly animated) based on Peter David’s **Star Trek: New Frontier** setup. With David supervising, natch. > > Granted, you’d have to tone down the wild sex a bit (poor Burgoyne! 😃 ), but you could just suggest it… Oooohh, me too! One of the things I love about this series is that _all_ the characters have flaws and vulnerabilities, some of which drive the serious plotlines and others of which are used to great comedic effect. You’re left thinking that just about everyone on the _Excaliber_ is earnest about their mission but also out of their gourds half the time. I’m always good for at least a few out-loud chuckles while I’m reading; I would love to see it onscreen. ---
**Author:** ![Ephemera](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8baadc/32.png) [@Ephemera](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ephemera)\ **Post date:** [June 26, 2004, 2:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-next-for-the-star-trek-universe-or-is-it-goodnight/252158/33 "2004-06-26T02:37:19Z")
The Star Trek: Firefly idea combined with cplant’s idea of throwing together a cast of Romulans, Klingons, humans, etc is a kick ass idea. I’d **love** to see that. \*\*Wearia \*\*'s Twilight Zone anthology type show is always good as well. And New Frontier is the best Trek ever. **EVER**. Peter David is God. I’d donate half my yearly salary to see an NF TV show. Okay, maybe not. But it’s better than all five TV shows rolled into one and multiplied by a billion and I would really like to see it. ---
**Author:** ![spectrum](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9fc29f/32.png) [@spectrum](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/spectrum)\ **Post date:** [June 26, 2004, 3:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-next-for-the-star-trek-universe-or-is-it-goodnight/252158/34 "2004-06-26T03:05:57Z")
I would like to see a Star Trek set a couple hundred years after DS9, where the Federation has collapsed, as have the Romulan and Klingon Empires, and life is a struggle, and all the clear lines that had previously demarked the Trek Universe are gone, replaced by a sort of frontiersmanship that is far more rough and tumble. You could set it on the Enterprise, an old Federation starship used by a crew that is attempting to prevent the “dying of the light,” so to speak, by rekindling the Federation. There’d need to be some sort of cataclysm to wreck the entire galaxy, but that’s just a notion off the top of my head. I want something where people get dirty, people argue and the good guys don’t always win. Something darker and sharper than DS9. With continuing story arcs and none of this episodic crap. Never gonna happen. ---
**Author:** ![carnivorousplant](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnivorousplant/32/3563_2.png) [@carnivorousplant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnivorousplant)\ **Post date:** [June 26, 2004, 3:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-next-for-the-star-trek-universe-or-is-it-goodnight/252158/35 "2004-06-26T03:19:41Z")
> [@spectrum](#): > > You could set it on the Enterprise, an old Federation starship used by a crew that is attempting to prevent the “dying of the light,” so to speak, by rekindling the Federation. > Never gonna happen. Already has: _Andromeda_. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![carnivorousplant](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnivorousplant/32/3563_2.png) [@carnivorousplant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnivorousplant)\ **Post date:** [June 26, 2004, 3:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-next-for-the-star-trek-universe-or-is-it-goodnight/252158/36 "2004-06-26T03:29:26Z")
> [@Aesiron](#): > > nthology type show is always good as well. > > And New Frontier is the best Trek ever. I only read one. I couldn’t buy some bronze age guy becoming educated enough to command a starship. ---
**Author:** ![Miller](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/miller/32/481_2.png) [@Miller](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Miller)\ **Post date:** [June 26, 2004, 5:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-next-for-the-star-trek-universe-or-is-it-goodnight/252158/37 "2004-06-26T05:08:32Z")
> [@spectrum](#): > > I would like to see a Star Trek set a couple hundred years after DS9, where the Federation has collapsed, as have the Romulan and Klingon Empires, and life is a struggle, and all the clear lines that had previously demarked the Trek Universe are gone, replaced by a sort of frontiersmanship that is far more rough and tumble. You could set it on the Enterprise, an old Federation starship used by a crew that is attempting to prevent the “dying of the light,” so to speak, by rekindling the Federation. > > There’d need to be some sort of cataclysm to wreck the entire galaxy, but that’s just a notion off the top of my head. I want something where people get dirty, people argue and the good guys don’t always win. Something darker and sharper than DS9. With continuing story arcs and none of this episodic crap. > > Never gonna happen. I was going to say just that. I think they’ve done all they can with the Federation universe as it is. The only way to get something really fresh out of it is to break it. ---
**Author:** ![Snooooopy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ee7513/32.png) [@Snooooopy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snooooopy)\ **Post date:** [June 26, 2004, 5:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-next-for-the-star-trek-universe-or-is-it-goodnight/252158/38 "2004-06-26T05:27:25Z")
> [@carnivorousplant](#): > > Already has: _Andromeda_. > 🙂 Well, **spectrum** was looking for something with long story arcs, but _Andromeda_ has explicitly moved toward a crisis-of-the-week mode of storytelling (Kevin Sorbo et. al. wanted people to be able to start following the show without being intimidated by a huge backstory). ---
**Author:** ![Miller](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/miller/32/481_2.png) [@Miller](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Miller)\ **Post date:** [June 26, 2004, 6:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-next-for-the-star-trek-universe-or-is-it-goodnight/252158/39 "2004-06-26T06:02:44Z")
> [@rjung](#): > > It’ll never happen, but I’d like to see a series (possibly animated) based on Peter David’s **Star Trek: New Frontier** setup. With David supervising, natch. For a second, I thought you meant [Larry David](http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0202970/), and I was confused. **Koh’Stanza** : The replicator hates me! **Spockfeld** : [Raises eyebrow] The replicator hates you? **Koh’Stanza** : It won’t give me any soup! It’s because I’m a Klingon! I know it! **Counselor Benes** : Maybe it’s a Nazi replicator. **Spockfeld** : Perhaps it comes from an alternate Earth, where the Nazi replicators won World War II. ---
**Author:** ![Ephemera](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8baadc/32.png) [@Ephemera](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ephemera)\ **Post date:** [June 26, 2004, 8:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-next-for-the-star-trek-universe-or-is-it-goodnight/252158/40 "2004-06-26T08:24:10Z")
> [@carnivorousplant](#): > > I only read one. I couldn’t buy some bronze age guy becoming educated enough to command a starship. But you buy Archer in the same role? [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-next-for-the-star-trek-universe-or-is-it-goodnight/252158.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-next-for-the-star-trek-universe-or-is-it-goodnight/252158.md?page=3)