JC's Trek Talk

What is Star Trek About? A Reflective Essay What is Star Trek about?  This is an interesting and loaded question.  From it's beginning with the original series in the 1960's Star Trek is and always has been about deep, thoughtful, intellectual stories about an optimistic future for humanity.   The concept as conceived by Gene Roddenberry was a future in which humanity (a united humanity) works together with other races and species in common cause.  The cause being exploration, learning and personal betterment.  A future where humanity has overcome its internal struggles and provincial attitudes and prejudices and moved beyond national squabbles, beyond poverty, disease, war, into a more enlightened future.  In the original series this was often shown in the form of episodes that were in truth morality plays, set in a sci-fi concept and a future several hundred years hence. Episodes like "Let That be Your Last Battlefield" that took a very blunt look ...

A Hypothetical Scene Alex Kurtzman: May I help you sir? Scotty: Aye lad. Trek, neat. Kurtzman: (hands Scotty Section 31 movie)  There you go, sir. Scotty: Thank you.  (watches movie for two minutes, shuts it off) Scotty: What in blazes is this? Kurtzman: Didn't you order Trek? Scotty: "Laddie, I was watching Trek many years before you were born, and I can tell you that whatever this is, it is definitely NOT Trek." Data: I believe I may be of some assistance.  Captain Scott is unaware of the existence of NuTrek. Scotty: NuTrek? Data: It is a shallow, poor quality writing, low effort Trek substitute now being served to the fandom. Scotty: You're not quite human, are you? Data: No, sir. I am an android.  Lieutenant Commander Data. Scotty: Synthetic Trek, synthetic commanders.

The Star Trek Movies: A Ranking As the tile suggests, this is a ranking MY ranking, of the Star Trek movies, all of them, from 1979's Star Trek: The Motion Picture to 2025's Star Trek Section 31 streaming movie, from subjective best to worst.  Again, this is MY ranking, your mileage may and probably will vary. Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan Can anyone argue with this being at the top of the list?  Really?  The Star Trek movie of Star Trek Movies.  A riveting story, one of the best villains in the history of the franchise, a strong theme of life (Genesis, Kirk's son David, youth, the academy, young officers) juxtaposed by the theme of death (Spock's death, Kirk feeling old, the Kobayashi Maru no-win scenario and examining how one faces certain death, the idea that Genesis could be used to destroy life).  Also the themes of friendship and loyalty and sacrifice (Kirk and Spock), with some of the franchises most iconic Kirk and Spock lines "The needs of the many......

On Section 31... I have never been wild about the whole concept of Section 31, since it was first established in DS9's season 6 episode "Inquisition" in which the clandestine organization abducts Dr. Bashir and then tries to recruit him.  The organization was portrayed as rogue, operation outside the purview and even official knowledge of Starfleet and the Federation.  This is in contrast to the Cardassian Obsidian Order or Romulan Tal Shiar both of which are well known and operate with the tacit approval of their respective governments.  Although the concept of Section 31 is an intriguing one in the context of DS9s many shades of grey, I personally find it unnecessary and completely antithetical to Gene Roddenberry's original vision of Star Trek.  In season 7's "Inter Arma Enim Silent Leges" Section 31 pops up again to meddle in Romulan Tal Shiar affairs, and then at season (and series) end it's revealed that Section 31 created a virus to commit gen...

The Lost Era An era in the Star Trek timeline I would personally really like to see explored is the Lost Era, the 70-odd years between Star Trek VI/first act of Star Trek: Generations and Star Trek TNG.  Very little has been told on screen of this period in trek history, and it seems to me that it is ripe for exploration.  And yes, I know the Section 31 streaming movie is set in the Lost Era, although honestly the only thing tying to that era specifically is the presence of Lt. Rachel Garrett, future captain of the USS Enterprise-C.  Everything else in Section 31 visually and storywise could have been set in any time period.  There is a lot of material that could be covered here to provide backstory or further development to characters/plots already established in Trek canon.   To name a few:  The Cardassian occupation of Bajor Lots to establish here.  We've seen a few flashbacks to the occupation on Terok Nor (DS9) in episodes of DS9 (Necessary E...