By now, like any card-carrying member of the geek society, you will have heard that American TV network CBS has announced they are bringing Star Trek back to TV in 2017.
Alex Kurtzman steps into Gene Roddenberry’s shoes – as much as anyone can – to produce the new series. He’s got a New Zealand connection, having worked on Hercules, and with that grand nod aside, he’s also worked on the Transformers franchise, and co-wrote and produced a couple of little movies called Star Trek and Star Trek Into Darkness. Yeah. He’s also worked on The Island, The Legend of Zorro, Ender’s Game, The Amazing Spider-Man 2, Now You See Me…
We’re in good hands.
Having said that, there are a few things from the original series that we’d love to see continue.
Vulcans
We can’t get enough of these emotionless, logical, and entirely lovable aliens. Not sure how to top half-human Spock and his homo-erotic relationship with Kirk, but we’d like to see you try. Vulcan chicks are pretty kick-ass – maybe T’Pau can be reborn or something. Anyway, think about it, Kurtzman.
Diversity and boundary-pushing
During a third-season (1968) episode of Star Trek called Plato’s Stepchildren, Uhura and Kirk have some kissyfacetime. Often – and incorrectly – labeled TV’s first interracial kiss, it still pushed boundaries. Kirk also pashed an Asian woman, which was unheard of for the time.
Star Trek had a diverse cast, including their core cast. Long live this tradition! There was a time when Nichelle Nichols was thinking about quitting her role as Uhura. Of all people, Martin Luther King Jr. (!!!) said to her, “Don’t you understand, for the first time we’re seen as we should be seen. You don’t have a black role, you have an equal role.”
#boom
Catchphrases
“Live long and prosper”
“Beam me up, Scotty!”
“Scotty, damage report”
“Make it so.” (yes yes yes it’s from Next Gen but it’s so good!)
“I’m a doctor!”
WTF Aliens
Yeah boi! You get it!
Camp it up
Star Trek is nothing if not a camp-fest. It never took itself too seriously. It always had a twinkle in its eye – even its spin-offs never tried to reach too far.
We love ST’s dramatic flair; the overacting, the catchphrases, the silly aliens, and the awkward situations the team would find themselves in.
It all made Star Trek the endearing, enduring force it still is today.
Come on, Alex Kurtzman! We’re counting on you! LLAP!
