David Reddish
Valorist
September 5, 2015
"To boldly go where no man has gone before..." So the opening narration claims, and since it debuted in 1965 [sic], Star Trek became the epitome of optimistic futurism. What began as a cult show--and a failed one at that--became a cultural touchstone, and quite likely the most influential television show in history, as well as a long running series of films. Even Americans who have never seen an episode or film know of the pensive Mr. Spock, the transporter, the alien Klingons and the famous warp speed. As the fiftieth anniversary celebration of the beloved franchise approaches though, Star Trek has become less of a pop culture driving force, and more of a bumper sticker on a sputtering, self-renewing money machine. How did something so influential become something so cheap? What happened to Star Trek, and can it ever regain its emeritus status again?
More, with reader commentsThe writer gets some of his dates wrong (the original
Star Trek series debuted in 1966 - not 1965, and
Star Trek: The Next Generation came along in 1987 - not the 1990s), but it's still an interesting piece. The guy doesn't think much of J. J. Abrams.
