Patrick Stewart was determined not to return to the Star Trek universe after his appearance in the film, Star Trek: Nemesis. He conveyed this to Alex Kurtzman when the latter met with him to pitch a series based on his character Jean-Luc Picard. Kurtzman brought along novelist Kirsten Beyer and screenwriter James Duff to convince Stewart that there was a lot to revisit in Picard’s character.
A promotional poster of Star Trek: Picard | Paramount
After much consideration, Stewart agreed to the series Star Trek: Picard, but not before setting a few conditions that the creators had to follow stringently. These conditions may have also sealed the fate of a potential fourth season of the series.
Patrick Stewart’s Conditions Make Star Trek: Picard Season 4 Less Likely
Patrick Stewart in a still from Star Trek: Picard Season 3 | Paramount
Patrick Stewart committed to reprising his role as Jean-Luc Picard in Star Trek: Picard...
A promotional poster of Star Trek: Picard | Paramount
After much consideration, Stewart agreed to the series Star Trek: Picard, but not before setting a few conditions that the creators had to follow stringently. These conditions may have also sealed the fate of a potential fourth season of the series.
Patrick Stewart’s Conditions Make Star Trek: Picard Season 4 Less Likely
Patrick Stewart in a still from Star Trek: Picard Season 3 | Paramount
Patrick Stewart committed to reprising his role as Jean-Luc Picard in Star Trek: Picard...
- 5/25/2024
- by Hashim Asraff
- FandomWire
There is no doubt that Star Trek is one of the best-known and most beloved science-fiction franchises of all time. The series has been a pioneering genre work that was both commercially successful and became a cult classic. Despite a few bumps here and there, the franchise as a whole is still alive and well, with several pioneering shows being produced in recent years, but the movie franchise saw its most recent work eight years ago when Star Trek Beyond was released back in 2016. We have recently reported that Paramount is looking into rebooting the movie series and that acclaimed filmmaker Simon Kinberg is currently in talks to lead the reboot as the main producer.
And while it had already been known, even before Kinberg’s potential involvement, that Toby Haynes, who directed episodes of the Star Wars series Andor, was attached to direct the new movie and that Seth Grahame-Smith...
And while it had already been known, even before Kinberg’s potential involvement, that Toby Haynes, who directed episodes of the Star Wars series Andor, was attached to direct the new movie and that Seth Grahame-Smith...
- 5/23/2024
- by Arthur S. Poe
- Fiction Horizon
Set phasers to spoilers. Read no further if you haven't watched the latest episode of "Star Trek: Discovery."
The cramped quarters of the USS Discovery bridge have felt oddly spacious lately, haven't they? As "Star Trek: Discovery" swoops in for a landing with its fifth and final season drawing to a definitive close, viewers may have noticed that several side characters remain missing in action. Essential crew members such as Lieutenant Commanders Detmer (Emily Coutts) and Owosekun (Oyin Oladejo) haven't been seen since episode 4's "Face the Strange," whisked away on a mission to pilot the mirror-universe starship Iss Enterprise to safe harbor. For a series that has drawn so much emotional bandwidth out of its supporting cast over the years, watching Captain Michael Burnham (Sonequa Martin-Green) deliver orders and offer encouragement to stand-in officers we've never met before can't help but feel ... off.
Yet even more glaringly, the heart...
The cramped quarters of the USS Discovery bridge have felt oddly spacious lately, haven't they? As "Star Trek: Discovery" swoops in for a landing with its fifth and final season drawing to a definitive close, viewers may have noticed that several side characters remain missing in action. Essential crew members such as Lieutenant Commanders Detmer (Emily Coutts) and Owosekun (Oyin Oladejo) haven't been seen since episode 4's "Face the Strange," whisked away on a mission to pilot the mirror-universe starship Iss Enterprise to safe harbor. For a series that has drawn so much emotional bandwidth out of its supporting cast over the years, watching Captain Michael Burnham (Sonequa Martin-Green) deliver orders and offer encouragement to stand-in officers we've never met before can't help but feel ... off.
Yet even more glaringly, the heart...
- 5/23/2024
- by Jeremy Mathai
- Slash Film
It's fair to say that, since 2016's Star Trek Beyond, the big and small screen incarnations of the venerable sci-fi franchise have certainly diverged in terms of output. While the films have been seemingly stuck in dry dock as different options are announced, only to fail to appear, the TV universe has exploded in all sorts of interesting directions. Part of the Paramount+ success appears to be having Alex Kurtzman as a producing/writing guiding light, and it seems that Paramount's studio division is aiming to have someone take over the film side in a similar capacity. That someone? Simon Kinberg.
The writer/director/producer, who has been behind a variety of successful projects including The Martian, Apple TV+'s Invasion and several X-Men movies, is now, according to Puck, in talks to join the Trek franchise to produce the film that appears to be closest to fruition: an origin...
The writer/director/producer, who has been behind a variety of successful projects including The Martian, Apple TV+'s Invasion and several X-Men movies, is now, according to Puck, in talks to join the Trek franchise to produce the film that appears to be closest to fruition: an origin...
- 5/21/2024
- by James White
- Empire - Movies
"Star Trek" has just added a new captain to Starfleet's prestigious ranks, and she's definitely worthy of wearing the uniform. Even as the franchise is undergoing some change on the television side of things, as "Discovery" speeds headlong towards its last couple of episodes in its final season and the animated "Lower Decks" is similarly coming to a close, fans will have another new series to look forward to -- and no less than an Oscar-winning actor is now attached as the lead.
In a tweet posted earlier today from the official account, Paramount announced that "Starfleet Academy" has found its captain in Holly Hunter. Her character will actually serve as both "captain and chancellor" for the new Paramount+ streaming series, which was first revealed to be in the works back in March of 2023 and is set to depict the famous space-faring school for new Starfleet officers-in-training. It will serve...
In a tweet posted earlier today from the official account, Paramount announced that "Starfleet Academy" has found its captain in Holly Hunter. Her character will actually serve as both "captain and chancellor" for the new Paramount+ streaming series, which was first revealed to be in the works back in March of 2023 and is set to depict the famous space-faring school for new Starfleet officers-in-training. It will serve...
- 5/21/2024
- by Jeremy Mathai
- Slash Film
While she was understandably launched into stardom by her most recent lead performance in Fallout, Prime Video’s new TV show wasn’t Ella Purnell’s first rodeo — far from that. The Lucy MacLean star has had several prominent roles over the past few years which you might have missed, including a lead performance in one of the biggest sci-fi franchises ever. No, not that one.
Ella Purnell Killed It in Star Trek: Prodigy
Star Wars’ biggest competitor, Star Trek has always had a large and devoted fan base that, while not getting as much content as their Sw counterparts, tend to get it better. Star Trek: Prodigy, Paramount Plus’ reasonably fresh animated TV show, featured Ella Purnell as Gwyndala aka Gwyn, one of the series’ lead characters.
Despite it being a voice acting gig by Purnell, Gwyn shares the actress’ facial features, so you’ll definitely recognize her on the screen.
Ella Purnell Killed It in Star Trek: Prodigy
Star Wars’ biggest competitor, Star Trek has always had a large and devoted fan base that, while not getting as much content as their Sw counterparts, tend to get it better. Star Trek: Prodigy, Paramount Plus’ reasonably fresh animated TV show, featured Ella Purnell as Gwyndala aka Gwyn, one of the series’ lead characters.
Despite it being a voice acting gig by Purnell, Gwyn shares the actress’ facial features, so you’ll definitely recognize her on the screen.
- 5/11/2024
- by dean-black@startefacts.com (Dean Black)
- STartefacts.com
This Star Trek: Discovery article contains spoilers.
Although Star Trek: Discovery season 5 is focused on a season-long quest for ancient secrets from before the dawn of history, there have also been a few episodes that have been almost standalone in structure. From the time loop in “Face the Strange” to the return of the Iss Enterprise in “Mirrors,” Discovery’s final seasons has episodic stories, woven into the bigger arc. And, out of all of season 5, episode 6, “Whistlespeak,” is probably the most standalone of the bunch.
In order to retrieve the latest clue to the Progenitor tech, the USS Discovery jumps to the planet Halem’no, a pre-warp planet. Here, Burnham and Tilly have to go undercover to not only find the clue, but also, repair some concealed technology. Along the way, Discovery pays homage to The Original Series, the prequel series Enterprise, and beyond. Here are the biggest Star Trek...
Although Star Trek: Discovery season 5 is focused on a season-long quest for ancient secrets from before the dawn of history, there have also been a few episodes that have been almost standalone in structure. From the time loop in “Face the Strange” to the return of the Iss Enterprise in “Mirrors,” Discovery’s final seasons has episodic stories, woven into the bigger arc. And, out of all of season 5, episode 6, “Whistlespeak,” is probably the most standalone of the bunch.
In order to retrieve the latest clue to the Progenitor tech, the USS Discovery jumps to the planet Halem’no, a pre-warp planet. Here, Burnham and Tilly have to go undercover to not only find the clue, but also, repair some concealed technology. Along the way, Discovery pays homage to The Original Series, the prequel series Enterprise, and beyond. Here are the biggest Star Trek...
- 5/2/2024
- by John Saavedra
- Den of Geek
Black alert! This article discusses spoilers for the latest episode of "Star Trek: Discovery."
There are two undeniable givens in the "Star Trek" universe: all Starfleet captains must accept the inevitability of encountering a no-win situation (aka the Kobayashi Maru test), and you never, ever violate General Order 1, aka the Prime Directive. While both are entrenched parts of franchise lore, the latter has always added a unique moral dilemma that transcends each captain and crew. For the technologically advanced societies that make up the backbone of the United Federation of Planets, there's nothing more detrimental than meddling with the development and evolution of pre-warp civilizations. Despite expectations for officers to treat this directive with the utmost seriousness, however, time and again "Trek" writers have sought to bend and even break the property's most unbreakable rule.
This week, "Star Trek: Discovery" all but jumped at the chance to completely upend established tradition in episode 6, titled "Whistlespeak.
There are two undeniable givens in the "Star Trek" universe: all Starfleet captains must accept the inevitability of encountering a no-win situation (aka the Kobayashi Maru test), and you never, ever violate General Order 1, aka the Prime Directive. While both are entrenched parts of franchise lore, the latter has always added a unique moral dilemma that transcends each captain and crew. For the technologically advanced societies that make up the backbone of the United Federation of Planets, there's nothing more detrimental than meddling with the development and evolution of pre-warp civilizations. Despite expectations for officers to treat this directive with the utmost seriousness, however, time and again "Trek" writers have sought to bend and even break the property's most unbreakable rule.
This week, "Star Trek: Discovery" all but jumped at the chance to completely upend established tradition in episode 6, titled "Whistlespeak.
- 5/2/2024
- by Jeremy Mathai
- Slash Film
The second season of "Star Trek: Prodigy" is still awaiting a release date in North America, although French readers should be able to view it right now on the region-specific France.TV. The story of the cancelation of "Prodigy" is sad for Trekkies, as the kid-centric animated series, created by Kevin and Dan Hageman, was just growing into its own and emerging as a proper "Star Trek" series.
The premise was fun: in an unknown and distant part of the galaxy, a group of teenage aliens -- fleeing slavery in a mine -- discover an abandoned Starfleet vessel called the U.S.S. Protostar. On board, they meet a holographic version of Captain Janeway (Kate Mulgrew), who assumes the teens are Starfleet cadets and require tutelage. The teens are hotheaded, feisty, and brooding in the way that teens tend to be, but Janeway teaches them to operate as a crew and mature as individuals.
The premise was fun: in an unknown and distant part of the galaxy, a group of teenage aliens -- fleeing slavery in a mine -- discover an abandoned Starfleet vessel called the U.S.S. Protostar. On board, they meet a holographic version of Captain Janeway (Kate Mulgrew), who assumes the teens are Starfleet cadets and require tutelage. The teens are hotheaded, feisty, and brooding in the way that teens tend to be, but Janeway teaches them to operate as a crew and mature as individuals.
- 4/14/2024
- by Witney Seibold
- Slash Film
Spoiler shields up! This article discusses events up to and including episode 3 of "Star Trek: Discovery" season 5.
Who knew we'd been watching an origin story? Last week, "Discovery" dropped the surprise reveal that the newly-introduced (former) Captain Rayner had been carefully maneuvered by the writing team to serve as a potential replacement to Mr. Saru (Doug Jones) in the position of Number One, despite firmly establishing himself as something of an antagonistic and far more reckless counterpoint to Captain Michael Burnham (Sonequa Martin-Green) during their near-disastrous away mission. It isn't every day that a Starfleet vessel recruits a new bridge officer at the onset of a critical assignment of top priority, let alone someone who was only just forced into early retirement after a scathing inquiry into his actions. But Burnham saw something in him (even if Ensign Tilly still can't figure out what that is) and with Saru off...
Who knew we'd been watching an origin story? Last week, "Discovery" dropped the surprise reveal that the newly-introduced (former) Captain Rayner had been carefully maneuvered by the writing team to serve as a potential replacement to Mr. Saru (Doug Jones) in the position of Number One, despite firmly establishing himself as something of an antagonistic and far more reckless counterpoint to Captain Michael Burnham (Sonequa Martin-Green) during their near-disastrous away mission. It isn't every day that a Starfleet vessel recruits a new bridge officer at the onset of a critical assignment of top priority, let alone someone who was only just forced into early retirement after a scathing inquiry into his actions. But Burnham saw something in him (even if Ensign Tilly still can't figure out what that is) and with Saru off...
- 4/11/2024
- by Jeremy Mathai
- Slash Film
Shields up! This article contains major spoilers for the season 5 premiere of "Star Trek: Discovery."
Who knew that "Star Trek: Discovery" would be saving its biggest reveal for last? After being responsible for kickstarting the new era of "Trek" on streaming, the fifth and final season is signaling the beginning of the end for the flagship series. But as fans would expect, the opening episode proves the writing team has no intentions of taking its final bow without crafting one last adventure worthy of Captain Michael Burnham (Sonequa Martin-Green), Mr. Saru (Doug Jones), and the rest of the Discovery crew. So perhaps it was inevitable that the biggest twist of the young season would have its roots in one of the most game-changing hours of "Trek" lore ever.
Trekkies will no doubt remember the classic "Next Generation" episode "The Chase," which first introduced the extinct race known as the Progenitors.
Who knew that "Star Trek: Discovery" would be saving its biggest reveal for last? After being responsible for kickstarting the new era of "Trek" on streaming, the fifth and final season is signaling the beginning of the end for the flagship series. But as fans would expect, the opening episode proves the writing team has no intentions of taking its final bow without crafting one last adventure worthy of Captain Michael Burnham (Sonequa Martin-Green), Mr. Saru (Doug Jones), and the rest of the Discovery crew. So perhaps it was inevitable that the biggest twist of the young season would have its roots in one of the most game-changing hours of "Trek" lore ever.
Trekkies will no doubt remember the classic "Next Generation" episode "The Chase," which first introduced the extinct race known as the Progenitors.
- 4/4/2024
- by Jeremy Mathai
- Slash Film
After a long wait, the U.S.S. Enterprise has received a response from the planet Eminiar VII. They had hoped to contact the planet and establish diplomatic relations with the inhabitants in the star cluster. But the message they receive in return is simple: stay away.
When Kirk gets that reply, he intends to respects their wishes. But no sooner does he order the Enterprise to change course than a man arrives on the bridge and overrides Kirk. This moment must have shocked the first viewers of “A Taste of Armageddon” from the first season of The Original Series of Star Trek. After all, who could override the Captain on his own ship?
The answer is the United Federation of Planets, for whom the man, Ambassador Robert Fox (Gene Lyons), works. Although “A Taste of Armageddon” aired in 1967, the distinction between Starfleet and the Federation still confuses viewers today.
When Kirk gets that reply, he intends to respects their wishes. But no sooner does he order the Enterprise to change course than a man arrives on the bridge and overrides Kirk. This moment must have shocked the first viewers of “A Taste of Armageddon” from the first season of The Original Series of Star Trek. After all, who could override the Captain on his own ship?
The answer is the United Federation of Planets, for whom the man, Ambassador Robert Fox (Gene Lyons), works. Although “A Taste of Armageddon” aired in 1967, the distinction between Starfleet and the Federation still confuses viewers today.
- 3/18/2024
- by Joe George
- Den of Geek
Approaching the final season of Star Trek: Discovery feels bittersweet. The adventures of this crew have been unique, primarily because of their time-jumping. The future of Star Fleet always had potential, and Discovery tapped into that well. No matter how you feel about Star Trek: Discovery, it’s been a show that wears its heart on its sleeve and opened the door to new viewers in the process. The final season kicked off at SXSW 2024, and the big screen premiere lived up to the venue.
Star Trek: Discovery Plot
After the events of Season 4, Captain Michael Burnham (Sonnequa Martin-Green) struggles to move on from Book (David Ajala). His betrayal landed him a rotation with Star Fleet, and he bounces around the galaxy, helping relocate those displaced by the Dma. When an 800-year-old Romulan ship suddenly appears, Kovich (David Cronenberg) joins Discovery to pick up its cargo. However, a pair of salvagers,...
Star Trek: Discovery Plot
After the events of Season 4, Captain Michael Burnham (Sonnequa Martin-Green) struggles to move on from Book (David Ajala). His betrayal landed him a rotation with Star Fleet, and he bounces around the galaxy, helping relocate those displaced by the Dma. When an 800-year-old Romulan ship suddenly appears, Kovich (David Cronenberg) joins Discovery to pick up its cargo. However, a pair of salvagers,...
- 3/15/2024
- by Alan French
- FandomWire
Making a triumphant return to television with Star Trek: Picard, Patrick Stewart reprised his beloved role as Captain Jean-Luc Picard. Narrating the story of a retired Picard, who is approached by a mysterious woman for help, only to later find that she holds the key to the secrets of his past life, the show features Alison Pill, Ed Speleers, Jonathan Frakes, and more.
Patrick Stewart as Jean-Luc Picard on Star Trek: Picard
But while the 3 seasoned 2020 show earned massive praise from fans, overall – the second season in particular turned out to be rather controversial. During a Master Replicas Collectors Club Zoom chat, Season 3 showrunner Terry Matalas thus shed some light on what went wrong with the second season. Fans will be baffled, once they learn how the show was butchered.
Terry Matalas Revealed Why Star Trek: Picard S2 Fell Short
While the third season of Star Trek: Picard is held in high regard by fans,...
Patrick Stewart as Jean-Luc Picard on Star Trek: Picard
But while the 3 seasoned 2020 show earned massive praise from fans, overall – the second season in particular turned out to be rather controversial. During a Master Replicas Collectors Club Zoom chat, Season 3 showrunner Terry Matalas thus shed some light on what went wrong with the second season. Fans will be baffled, once they learn how the show was butchered.
Terry Matalas Revealed Why Star Trek: Picard S2 Fell Short
While the third season of Star Trek: Picard is held in high regard by fans,...
- 3/15/2024
- by Krittika Mukherjee
- FandomWire
When asked about the long journey to Star Trek: Discovery‘s fifth and final season, producer Alex Kurtzman is honest but optimistic. “It’s been an incredible ride for us,” Kurtzman tells Den of Geek when we chat with him at SXSW 2024. “And yeah, it was an incredibly bumpy first year.”
Kurtzman’s referring to the behind-the-scenes difficulties that plagued the show’s first two seasons. Initially developed by Bryan Fuller, who wrote for Deep Space Nine and Voyager before going on to make fan-favorite shows such as Hannibal and American Gods, Discovery ultimately premiered with Gretchen J. Berg and Aaron Harberts as showrunners. By the end of season two, both had left the show, with Kurtzman and Michelle Paradise stepping in as showrunners to right the ship.
But for some Star Trek fans, the problems with Discovery go beyond a troubled production. Initially presented as the adventures of Spock...
Kurtzman’s referring to the behind-the-scenes difficulties that plagued the show’s first two seasons. Initially developed by Bryan Fuller, who wrote for Deep Space Nine and Voyager before going on to make fan-favorite shows such as Hannibal and American Gods, Discovery ultimately premiered with Gretchen J. Berg and Aaron Harberts as showrunners. By the end of season two, both had left the show, with Kurtzman and Michelle Paradise stepping in as showrunners to right the ship.
But for some Star Trek fans, the problems with Discovery go beyond a troubled production. Initially presented as the adventures of Spock...
- 3/15/2024
- by Joe George
- Den of Geek
Quick, who’s the most important person in Star Trek? Jim Kirk? Jean-Luc Picard? Morn?
No, no, and maybe, but not who we had in mind. The most important person in Star Trek is the character who has appeared in every series, except The Original Series: William T. Riker, the character immortalized by Jonathan Frakes.
Of course, Frakes played Commander Riker for seven seasons of Star Trek: The Next Generation. His twin/clone/variant Thomas Riker showed up as a Maquis agent on Deep Space Nine, while Q shenanigans brought Will to the Delta Quadrant on Voyager. No one, not even Frakes, likes Riker’s appearance with Troi in the finale of Enterprise. But everyone loved Riker and Troi’s vocal appearances on Lower Decks. And, yes, it takes some fudging, but Star Trek: Very Short Treks allowed Riker to blast his trombone with the Star Trek: The Animated Series crew,...
No, no, and maybe, but not who we had in mind. The most important person in Star Trek is the character who has appeared in every series, except The Original Series: William T. Riker, the character immortalized by Jonathan Frakes.
Of course, Frakes played Commander Riker for seven seasons of Star Trek: The Next Generation. His twin/clone/variant Thomas Riker showed up as a Maquis agent on Deep Space Nine, while Q shenanigans brought Will to the Delta Quadrant on Voyager. No one, not even Frakes, likes Riker’s appearance with Troi in the finale of Enterprise. But everyone loved Riker and Troi’s vocal appearances on Lower Decks. And, yes, it takes some fudging, but Star Trek: Very Short Treks allowed Riker to blast his trombone with the Star Trek: The Animated Series crew,...
- 3/12/2024
- by Joe George
- Den of Geek
In 1966, Gene Roddenberry and his co-creators gave the world Star Trek, an adventure series that imagined humanity overcoming its racist and sexist and class divisions, which inaugurated a new age of exploration. Corny? Sure. Imperfect? Of course. But that fundamental optimism remains a key aspect of Star Trek, presenting a challenge to those future creators tasked with keeping the franchise alive beyond the years of its birth.
That doesn’t mean the optimism can’t be challenged or re-contextualized. Indeed, Star Trek: Deep Space Nine did exactly that, and many put that series at the top of their franchise rankings. But Deep Space Nine also introduced Section 31, a black ops organization within Starfleet and the darkest alternative to Star Trek optimism this side of the Terran Empire.
Sadly, later Trek creators have jumped onto the Section 31 concept, resulting in darker, much more pessimistic (and paranoid) stories that forget the best...
That doesn’t mean the optimism can’t be challenged or re-contextualized. Indeed, Star Trek: Deep Space Nine did exactly that, and many put that series at the top of their franchise rankings. But Deep Space Nine also introduced Section 31, a black ops organization within Starfleet and the darkest alternative to Star Trek optimism this side of the Terran Empire.
Sadly, later Trek creators have jumped onto the Section 31 concept, resulting in darker, much more pessimistic (and paranoid) stories that forget the best...
- 3/5/2024
- by Joe George
- Den of Geek
Even if you don’t know an El-Aurian from an Illyrian, even if you can’t tell the original Enterprise from the Enterprise-D, you’re probably familiar with one of the fundamental rules of Star Trek: redshirts always die.
Unlike many of the popular misconceptions about the series, the redshirt stereotype does have grounding in the show. Over the course of three seasons in The Original Series, 26 characters wearing red tunics died, as opposed to 15 wearing gold and blue combined. But that trend stopped with the Star Trek movies, and continued to fall away with The Next Generation and the spinoffs that followed.
Why, you ask? Because the costume colors signify a crewman’s role on their particular ship, and the color scheme changed between Tos and Tng.
Although some Trekkies hate to admit it, Star Trek didn’t really have much in the way of canon in its first few episodes.
Unlike many of the popular misconceptions about the series, the redshirt stereotype does have grounding in the show. Over the course of three seasons in The Original Series, 26 characters wearing red tunics died, as opposed to 15 wearing gold and blue combined. But that trend stopped with the Star Trek movies, and continued to fall away with The Next Generation and the spinoffs that followed.
Why, you ask? Because the costume colors signify a crewman’s role on their particular ship, and the color scheme changed between Tos and Tng.
Although some Trekkies hate to admit it, Star Trek didn’t really have much in the way of canon in its first few episodes.
- 2/27/2024
- by Joe George
- Den of Geek
In September of 1987, "Star Trek" returned from a decade-long hiatus on television with a new series meant to give the franchise a somewhat overdue makeover for a more modern age. Nothing could possibly top the adventures of James T. Kirk and Spock from "The Original Series" and its assorted big-screen movies, of course, all of which heralded an idealized vision of our future and created a lasting legacy for several of the most famous characters in all of science fiction. So how could an underdog series like "The Next Generation," starring an entirely new cast and set even further in the future, possibly hope to win over a very loyal and passionate fanbase? Well, the continued involvement of original creator Gene Roddenberry surely couldn't hurt.
Roddenberry's influence on "Trek" as a whole likely only rivals that of George Lucas with "Star Wars," which is saying a lot. Throughout each new television and film adaptation,...
Roddenberry's influence on "Trek" as a whole likely only rivals that of George Lucas with "Star Wars," which is saying a lot. Throughout each new television and film adaptation,...
- 2/17/2024
- by Jeremy Mathai
- Slash Film
The third season of "Star Trek: Picard," overseen by showrunner Terry Matalas, ended with an intriguing new setup. After the season's story had concluded, the action fast-forwarded one year to when Jack Crusher (Ed Speleers) had become a provisionary ensign in Starfleet. Jack, with his father (Patrick Stewart) and mother (Gates McFadden), took a good long gander at his new assignment, the Titan-a, newly rechristened the Enterprise-g. This new ship was to be captained by Seven of Nine (Jeri Ryan), formerly the first officer on board the Titan-a, and the vessel was poised to go on its first deep-space mission with its new name.
Also on board were Raffi (Michelle Hurd), Seven's ex-girlfriend and also her first officer, as well as former Titan crewmembers Lieutenant Matthew Arliss Mura (Joseph Lee), Ensign Kova Rin Esmar (Jin Maley), and presumably Dr. Ohk (Tiffany Shepis). In a post-credits stinger after the final "Picard" episode,...
Also on board were Raffi (Michelle Hurd), Seven's ex-girlfriend and also her first officer, as well as former Titan crewmembers Lieutenant Matthew Arliss Mura (Joseph Lee), Ensign Kova Rin Esmar (Jin Maley), and presumably Dr. Ohk (Tiffany Shepis). In a post-credits stinger after the final "Picard" episode,...
- 2/14/2024
- by Witney Seibold
- Slash Film
Here lies Thomas Eugene Paris, beloved mutant. That’s what Trekkies think about every Jan. 29, known among some as “Threshold Day,” commemorating the 1996 airing of the Star Trek: Voyager season two episode “Threshold.” Threshold Day consists mostly of memes and jokes, poking fun at what most consider one of the series’ worst episodes, if not one of the most embarrassing Star Trek episodes of all time.
While it is certainly corny, “Threshold” doesn’t quite deserve its ignoble reputation. Not only is it far from the worst episode of Voyager (Chakotay’s ancestors’ bones play no part in the story), but it contains a lot of qualities found in the best Star Trek episodes. Is that enough to elevate “Threshold” to the upper Trek tiers? No, but it is enough to give the episode a better reputation than the one it has now.
Crossing the Threshold
Directed by TV veteran Alexander Singer,...
While it is certainly corny, “Threshold” doesn’t quite deserve its ignoble reputation. Not only is it far from the worst episode of Voyager (Chakotay’s ancestors’ bones play no part in the story), but it contains a lot of qualities found in the best Star Trek episodes. Is that enough to elevate “Threshold” to the upper Trek tiers? No, but it is enough to give the episode a better reputation than the one it has now.
Crossing the Threshold
Directed by TV veteran Alexander Singer,...
- 2/12/2024
- by Joe George
- Den of Geek
In 2005, actor George Takei, speaking to Frontiers magazine, described his coming out process, noting that revealing his sexuality had to be, at that late date, a political act. Speaking anecdotally, many Trekkies had known for years that Takei was gay, even though he had never had a public coming out moment. After announcing himself, Takei became an outspoken queer rights activist, speaking at public events and spreading queer news online. Sometimes his activism was even fun and cheeky; for a while, one could go to Takei's website and order rainbow t-shirts that read "That's So Takei."
Takei didn't appear in Justin Lin's 2016 film "Star Trek Beyond," as actor John Cho had taken over his 1966 role of Hikaru Sulu with the release of J.J. Abrams' "Star Trek" in 2009. Wanting to pay homage to Takei, however, the makers of "Star Trek Beyond" revealed that Sulu was raising a young daughter with his husband,...
Takei didn't appear in Justin Lin's 2016 film "Star Trek Beyond," as actor John Cho had taken over his 1966 role of Hikaru Sulu with the release of J.J. Abrams' "Star Trek" in 2009. Wanting to pay homage to Takei, however, the makers of "Star Trek Beyond" revealed that Sulu was raising a young daughter with his husband,...
- 2/11/2024
- by Witney Seibold
- Slash Film
To begin with a brief editorial: the unbinding of special effects ultimately harms "Star Trek."
One of the reasons Trekkies become attached to certain characters, or fall in love with the workspaces on various ships and space stations is because the shows spend so much time with them. There are many, many episodes of "Star Trek" that take place entirely on board the Enterprise, and fans — long paying attention — begin to know its geography. After enough time watching a Starfleet vessel, viewers feel like they could, if they should be magically transported there, find their way around.
Taking "Star Trek" away from a starship for too long can, quite tragically, rob a show of a vital sense of place. We, as Trekkies, need to see what everyday life is like on a starship and see what a "normal boring" day looks like before we can appreciate the depth of a crisis.
One of the reasons Trekkies become attached to certain characters, or fall in love with the workspaces on various ships and space stations is because the shows spend so much time with them. There are many, many episodes of "Star Trek" that take place entirely on board the Enterprise, and fans — long paying attention — begin to know its geography. After enough time watching a Starfleet vessel, viewers feel like they could, if they should be magically transported there, find their way around.
Taking "Star Trek" away from a starship for too long can, quite tragically, rob a show of a vital sense of place. We, as Trekkies, need to see what everyday life is like on a starship and see what a "normal boring" day looks like before we can appreciate the depth of a crisis.
- 1/20/2024
- by Witney Seibold
- Slash Film
As Star Trek fans, we may quibble about certain aspects of the franchise. We all have our opinions about the best captain or the general ethos of the show. But we can all agree on one thing: Star Trek is about boldly going where no one has gone before. It’s right there at the start of the show!
And yet, for whatever reason, Trek producers seem obsessed with going backwards, excavating the years before the adventures of Kirk and Spock on The Original Series. First we got Star Trek: Enterprise in 2001, then the J.J. Abrams reboot in 2009, then Discovery in 2017, and again with the spin-off Strange New Worlds. In fact, until Discovery jumped ahead 900 years at the end of the second season, the franchise had not moved the timeline past 2002’s Star Trek: Nemesis.
Unfortunately, it seems like Paramount is ready to look to the past once again. The...
And yet, for whatever reason, Trek producers seem obsessed with going backwards, excavating the years before the adventures of Kirk and Spock on The Original Series. First we got Star Trek: Enterprise in 2001, then the J.J. Abrams reboot in 2009, then Discovery in 2017, and again with the spin-off Strange New Worlds. In fact, until Discovery jumped ahead 900 years at the end of the second season, the franchise had not moved the timeline past 2002’s Star Trek: Nemesis.
Unfortunately, it seems like Paramount is ready to look to the past once again. The...
- 1/11/2024
- by Joe George
- Den of Geek
“Star Trek” is about to explore a whole new era of its timeline. A new film in the universe Gene Roddenberry created, to be produced by J.J. Abrams’ Bad Robot for Paramount, and directed by “Andor” helmer Toby Haynes and written by “Pride and Prejudice and Zombies” scribe Seth Grahame-Smith, is arriving at impulse power, if not warp.
The film will be set decades before the events of the 2009 “Star Trek” film Abrams directed, which explored a parallel timeline to the main “Star Trek” canon viewers have known and loved to show how Kirk (Chris Pine) and Spock (Zachary Quinto) met for the first time. It’s unclear if it will actually be set in that timeline — known to Trekkies as the “Kelvin Timeline” — or in the main continuity. But apparently it will be an “origin” story, so it must be connected in some way to “Trek” storytelling that’s already known and loved.
The film will be set decades before the events of the 2009 “Star Trek” film Abrams directed, which explored a parallel timeline to the main “Star Trek” canon viewers have known and loved to show how Kirk (Chris Pine) and Spock (Zachary Quinto) met for the first time. It’s unclear if it will actually be set in that timeline — known to Trekkies as the “Kelvin Timeline” — or in the main continuity. But apparently it will be an “origin” story, so it must be connected in some way to “Trek” storytelling that’s already known and loved.
- 1/11/2024
- by Christian Blauvelt
- Indiewire
The honorable Klingon Kurn (Tony Todd) first appeared in the "Star Trek: The Next Generation" episode "Sins of the Father". In that episode, he revealed that he was the long-lost little brother of Worf (Michael Dorn), the only Klingon in Starfleet. Kurn had been living under a fake name, as his and Worf's father had been (falsely) accused of betraying a camp of Klingons to the Romulans years before. In Klingon society, a son is just as guilty as their parent, hence the episode's title. The crime in question was actually committed by the father of a character named Duras (Patrick Massett), who had covered up the crime and was now poised to sit on the Klingon High Council.
Rather than accuse a potential Klingon ruler of malfeasance and potentially throw the entire Klingon Empire into a civil war, Worf chose to keep all this secret. He instead allowed his...
Rather than accuse a potential Klingon ruler of malfeasance and potentially throw the entire Klingon Empire into a civil war, Worf chose to keep all this secret. He instead allowed his...
- 12/31/2023
- by Witney Seibold
- Slash Film
"Star Trek: Deep Space Nine" is pretty unique among "Star Trek" shows in that it deals directly with war and goes to some very dark places with its characters, and no episode depicts that better than "In the Pale Moonlight" from season 6. The episode takes place during the thick of the Dominion War, which saw the Federation battling against Changelings, Jem'Hadar, Vorta, and Cardassians.
As the Dominion forces grow bolder and more violent, Captain Sisko (Avery Brooks) must find a way to convince the Romulans to join the side of the Federation and fight. Unfortunately, they have a pact of non-aggression with the Dominion, which makes his job that much more difficult. He ends up using subterfuge and has tailor/spy Garak (Andrew Robinson) help him manufacture fake proof of Dominion plans to overthrow the Romulans once they're done with the Federation. It's a messy business that's morally gray, and...
As the Dominion forces grow bolder and more violent, Captain Sisko (Avery Brooks) must find a way to convince the Romulans to join the side of the Federation and fight. Unfortunately, they have a pact of non-aggression with the Dominion, which makes his job that much more difficult. He ends up using subterfuge and has tailor/spy Garak (Andrew Robinson) help him manufacture fake proof of Dominion plans to overthrow the Romulans once they're done with the Federation. It's a messy business that's morally gray, and...
- 12/23/2023
- by Danielle Ryan
- Slash Film
Star Trek quandaries are most provocative when they illustrate a solid "What if?" scenario.
Star Trek: Lower Decks Season 4 Episode 10 offers renegade miscreant Nick Locarno up as a "What if?" foil to Mariner, embodying a potential future Beckett where rage and ego have derailed skill and talent.
Meanwhile, Tendi must live out the "What if?" of her returning to her family of pirates because the needs of the many outweigh her dream of being a Starfleet scientist.
This season finale does what Lower Decks has always done well, building a fast-paced action comedy on the foundation of Star Trek canon.
At this point, it's pretty meta, as much of the canon it references is its own.
I'll admit that this season has managed to subvert many of my expectations.
Theorizing based on the seeds planted in Star Trek: Lower Decks Season 3, I had forecast an AI uprising leading to some...
Star Trek: Lower Decks Season 4 Episode 10 offers renegade miscreant Nick Locarno up as a "What if?" foil to Mariner, embodying a potential future Beckett where rage and ego have derailed skill and talent.
Meanwhile, Tendi must live out the "What if?" of her returning to her family of pirates because the needs of the many outweigh her dream of being a Starfleet scientist.
This season finale does what Lower Decks has always done well, building a fast-paced action comedy on the foundation of Star Trek canon.
At this point, it's pretty meta, as much of the canon it references is its own.
I'll admit that this season has managed to subvert many of my expectations.
Theorizing based on the seeds planted in Star Trek: Lower Decks Season 3, I had forecast an AI uprising leading to some...
- 11/3/2023
- by Diana Keng
- TVfanatic
If there's a constant with cinematic sci-fi franchises, it's this: costume changes between movies allow for more toy designs, and thus sales. If there's a constant for sci-fi movies based on comics, it's that costumes will nearly always get a "more cinematic" redesign. Sometimes, that aligns with what the public wants, like Michael Keaton's 1989 Batsuit, which allayed fears that a less-muscular actor could play an intimidating superhero. Other times, it seems so out of left-field that we wonder what all involved were thinking.
This list encompasses many of these, and more. Whether they be alterations made in adaptation, in between sequels, or as supposed upgrades, the costume changes that follow are those which have engendered the most debate among sci-fi film fans. Sometimes, the debate clearly landed in favor of the initial skepticism. Other times, the changes actually worked for the specific story being told. Either way, as more generations continue to discover these titles,...
This list encompasses many of these, and more. Whether they be alterations made in adaptation, in between sequels, or as supposed upgrades, the costume changes that follow are those which have engendered the most debate among sci-fi film fans. Sometimes, the debate clearly landed in favor of the initial skepticism. Other times, the changes actually worked for the specific story being told. Either way, as more generations continue to discover these titles,...
- 10/29/2023
- by Luke Y. Thompson
- Slash Film
Spoilers for "Star Trek: Lower Decks" follow.
The overarching thread of "Star Trek: Lower Decks" season 4 so far has been a mysterious ship attacking a variety of ships throughout the Alpha Quadrant: we've seen it take one Klingon, Romulan, Orion, Ferengi, and Bynar ship each.
The season's penultimate episode, "The Inner Fight," reveals the pilot of this hostile ship, and it's a twist that no one saw coming. The ship doesn't belong to a new alien race, but someone with a more personal connection to Starfleet: Nicholas Locarno (Robert Duncan McNeill), a Starfleet Academy washout turned pilot for hire. The Cerritos crew discovers blueprints for the ship at Locarno's hideout while he abducts Beckett Mariner (Tawny Newsome) to the ship. The episode ends with Mariner and Locarno face to face, and they seem to have a history.
Now, the episode doesn't explain why Locarno built the ship and has been attacking others.
The overarching thread of "Star Trek: Lower Decks" season 4 so far has been a mysterious ship attacking a variety of ships throughout the Alpha Quadrant: we've seen it take one Klingon, Romulan, Orion, Ferengi, and Bynar ship each.
The season's penultimate episode, "The Inner Fight," reveals the pilot of this hostile ship, and it's a twist that no one saw coming. The ship doesn't belong to a new alien race, but someone with a more personal connection to Starfleet: Nicholas Locarno (Robert Duncan McNeill), a Starfleet Academy washout turned pilot for hire. The Cerritos crew discovers blueprints for the ship at Locarno's hideout while he abducts Beckett Mariner (Tawny Newsome) to the ship. The episode ends with Mariner and Locarno face to face, and they seem to have a history.
Now, the episode doesn't explain why Locarno built the ship and has been attacking others.
- 10/26/2023
- by Devin Meenan
- Slash Film
This article contains spoilers for the latest episode of "Star Trek: Lower Decks."
After over 50 years of canon, "Star Trek" is littered with several cautionary tales of fearsome villains who nearly brought the entirety of Starfleet and even the quadrant at large to its knees, so wasn't it about time for "Lower Decks" to get in on the action? Throughout the series and especially in the fourth season, certain recurring antagonists have been carefully established and subsequently defeated, though with a few doors left open to potentially set up their ability to inflict maximum damage down the line. Well, that time has finally come as of episode 7, titled "A Few Badgeys More," but nothing quite unfolds the way viewers may have expected.
Here, that longstanding mystery behind that unidentified ship remains shrouded in secrecy yet again, but it comes with an added wrinkle. Over the course of the episode, we...
After over 50 years of canon, "Star Trek" is littered with several cautionary tales of fearsome villains who nearly brought the entirety of Starfleet and even the quadrant at large to its knees, so wasn't it about time for "Lower Decks" to get in on the action? Throughout the series and especially in the fourth season, certain recurring antagonists have been carefully established and subsequently defeated, though with a few doors left open to potentially set up their ability to inflict maximum damage down the line. Well, that time has finally come as of episode 7, titled "A Few Badgeys More," but nothing quite unfolds the way viewers may have expected.
Here, that longstanding mystery behind that unidentified ship remains shrouded in secrecy yet again, but it comes with an added wrinkle. Over the course of the episode, we...
- 10/12/2023
- by Jeremy Mathai
- Slash Film
After a break, the Star Trek franchise is returning to Netflix. The global streamer has picked up the animated kids series Star Trek: Prodigy for the U.S. and most international territories in a deal with CBS Studios.
It follows Paramount+’s decision in June to remove a number of originals, including Star Trek: Prodigy, from the platform in a cost-cutting content write-down and not to proceed with the previously commissioned second season of the animated show.
Season 1 of Star Trek: Prodigy, which was previously available on Paramount+, will be released on Netflix later in 2023. The second season, currently in production, will debut on Netflix in 2024. Excluded from the deal are Canada, where Prodigy is carried by CTV.ca and the CTV App, and in SkyShowtime’s European territories: the Nordics, the Netherlands, Portugal, Spain and Central and Eastern Europe.
The series that launched the current Star Trek universe on Paramount...
It follows Paramount+’s decision in June to remove a number of originals, including Star Trek: Prodigy, from the platform in a cost-cutting content write-down and not to proceed with the previously commissioned second season of the animated show.
Season 1 of Star Trek: Prodigy, which was previously available on Paramount+, will be released on Netflix later in 2023. The second season, currently in production, will debut on Netflix in 2024. Excluded from the deal are Canada, where Prodigy is carried by CTV.ca and the CTV App, and in SkyShowtime’s European territories: the Nordics, the Netherlands, Portugal, Spain and Central and Eastern Europe.
The series that launched the current Star Trek universe on Paramount...
- 10/11/2023
- by Nellie Andreeva
- Deadline Film + TV
After being canceled and removed from Paramount+, “Star Trek Prodigy” has found a new streaming home: Netflix.
The series will debut on the streamer later in 2023. Additionally, a second season of the series is currently in production and is slated to debut on Netflix in 2024.
“Thank you to our incredible ‘Star Trek: Prodigy’ fans, who championed not just a show, but a community that’s always been connected by the belief that we build a better future together,” executive producer Alex Kurtzman and co-showrunners Dan and Kevin Hageman said in a press release. “We set out to inspire you, but you inspired us. The team is still hard at work on the second season, and we can’t wait to share it with the amazing fans around the world.”
“I’ve always held that the ‘Star Trek’ fan base is among the strongest and most intelligent in the world. They have shown their collective passion,...
The series will debut on the streamer later in 2023. Additionally, a second season of the series is currently in production and is slated to debut on Netflix in 2024.
“Thank you to our incredible ‘Star Trek: Prodigy’ fans, who championed not just a show, but a community that’s always been connected by the belief that we build a better future together,” executive producer Alex Kurtzman and co-showrunners Dan and Kevin Hageman said in a press release. “We set out to inspire you, but you inspired us. The team is still hard at work on the second season, and we can’t wait to share it with the amazing fans around the world.”
“I’ve always held that the ‘Star Trek’ fan base is among the strongest and most intelligent in the world. They have shown their collective passion,...
- 10/11/2023
- by Kayla Cobb
- The Wrap
Patrick Stewart was finished playing Captain Picard. The acclaimed actor had already played the character in 176 episodes of "Star Trek: The Next Generation," in one episode of "Star Trek: Deep Space Nine," and in four feature films, all between 1987 and 2002. Stewart hung up his uniform and was eager to take on other acting challenges. Indeed, the 2002 film "Star Trek: Nemesis" was a notorious bomb, and the last remaining series, "Star Trek: Enterprise" struggled through its final years before being canceled in 2005. For all intents and purposes, "Star Trek" was at an end, and Stewart could, if he so desired, merely reminisce at "Trek" conventions and stay in contact with the old castmates in his contacts folder.
When CBS All Access launched in 2017, however, Paramount became intensely keen on putting multiple new "Star Trek" shows into production. The streaming service, now called Paramount+, launched with "Star Trek: Discovery," a show set...
When CBS All Access launched in 2017, however, Paramount became intensely keen on putting multiple new "Star Trek" shows into production. The streaming service, now called Paramount+, launched with "Star Trek: Discovery," a show set...
- 10/7/2023
- by Witney Seibold
- Slash Film
This post contains spoilers for the latest episode of "Star Trek: Lower Decks."
When it comes to the "will-they-won't-they" romance, the "they won't" option is woefully underrated. For decades, TV fans have been trained to have an almost Pavlovian response to characters with good chemistry, expecting them to follow a pretty rigid narrative pathway towards endgame coupledom -- or, at least, a much-hyped hookup. The rom-com trope rulebook includes plenty of plot points designed to finally get the two fated characters together, from an "only one bed" situation to a love triangle to a fake dating scheme.
"Star Trek: Lower Decks" played around with the latter trope this week when besties Tendi (Noel Wells) and Rutherford (Eugene Cordero) were tasked with going undercover as a married tourist couple on Ferenginar. Instead of kicking their relationship into high gear, though, the challenge proved both uncomfortable and hilariously high-stakes. At episode's end,...
When it comes to the "will-they-won't-they" romance, the "they won't" option is woefully underrated. For decades, TV fans have been trained to have an almost Pavlovian response to characters with good chemistry, expecting them to follow a pretty rigid narrative pathway towards endgame coupledom -- or, at least, a much-hyped hookup. The rom-com trope rulebook includes plenty of plot points designed to finally get the two fated characters together, from an "only one bed" situation to a love triangle to a fake dating scheme.
"Star Trek: Lower Decks" played around with the latter trope this week when besties Tendi (Noel Wells) and Rutherford (Eugene Cordero) were tasked with going undercover as a married tourist couple on Ferenginar. Instead of kicking their relationship into high gear, though, the challenge proved both uncomfortable and hilariously high-stakes. At episode's end,...
- 10/5/2023
- by Valerie Ettenhofer
- Slash Film
This post contains spoilers for the latest episode of "Star Trek: Lower Decks."
Viewscreens and computer monitors seem to serve a different function in the "Star Trek" universe than they do in ours. On "Star Trek," screens are used as communication tools, merely facilitating video calls. If someone watches a playback video on "Star Trek," it's typically a recording of a Starfleet mission or a home video of family members. It's very, very rare that a Starfleet officer will watch a filmed, scripted entertainment show -- that is: traditional commercial television -- on a 2-D screen.
/Film has previously written about the lack of cinema and TV on "Star Trek," positing that the medium had been supplanted by 3-D holodecks. Why watch a movie on a screen when you can enter a digitally generated immersible environment where you can play the lead character yourself? Active entertainment will take over passive entertainment in the future.
Viewscreens and computer monitors seem to serve a different function in the "Star Trek" universe than they do in ours. On "Star Trek," screens are used as communication tools, merely facilitating video calls. If someone watches a playback video on "Star Trek," it's typically a recording of a Starfleet mission or a home video of family members. It's very, very rare that a Starfleet officer will watch a filmed, scripted entertainment show -- that is: traditional commercial television -- on a 2-D screen.
/Film has previously written about the lack of cinema and TV on "Star Trek," positing that the medium had been supplanted by 3-D holodecks. Why watch a movie on a screen when you can enter a digitally generated immersible environment where you can play the lead character yourself? Active entertainment will take over passive entertainment in the future.
- 10/5/2023
- by Witney Seibold
- Slash Film
This Star Trek: Lower Decks article contains spoilers.
Remember when we first met the Ferengi, way back in “The Last Outpost,” episode five of Star Trek: The Next Generation‘s first season? Gene Roddenberry and co. wanted so badly to make the Ferengi menacing, with their laser whips and hunched appearance. But despite Roddenberry’s plans, the Ferengi proved to be a terrible replacement for the Klingons as the Federation’s new big bads, and quickly found themselves reduced to occasional appearances throughout the rest of the series.
But instead of letting the Ferengi go to waste, Michael Piller and the producers of Deep Space Nine followed Rule of Acquisition #292: “Only a fool passes up a business opportunity.” They added Quark to the main cast, bringing back “The Last Outpost” actor Armin Shimerman to play him, and added his brother Rom (Max Grodénchik) and nephew Nog (Aron Eisenberg).
Over seven seasons,...
Remember when we first met the Ferengi, way back in “The Last Outpost,” episode five of Star Trek: The Next Generation‘s first season? Gene Roddenberry and co. wanted so badly to make the Ferengi menacing, with their laser whips and hunched appearance. But despite Roddenberry’s plans, the Ferengi proved to be a terrible replacement for the Klingons as the Federation’s new big bads, and quickly found themselves reduced to occasional appearances throughout the rest of the series.
But instead of letting the Ferengi go to waste, Michael Piller and the producers of Deep Space Nine followed Rule of Acquisition #292: “Only a fool passes up a business opportunity.” They added Quark to the main cast, bringing back “The Last Outpost” actor Armin Shimerman to play him, and added his brother Rom (Max Grodénchik) and nephew Nog (Aron Eisenberg).
Over seven seasons,...
- 10/5/2023
- by Joe George
- Den of Geek
This article contains spoilers for the latest episode of "Star Trek: Lower Decks."
Talk about rags to riches. Once considered a blight on "Star Trek" with their introduction in "The Next Generation," the Ferengi have come a long way since an inauspicious appearance that even veteran "Trek" actor Armin Shimerman once called a "disaster." Originally conceived as an alien species that would pose a Klingon-like threat, the distinctive and prominently earlobed characters received a much-needed overhaul throughout "Deep Space Nine," where they were reimagined as a more comedic, profit-hungry, and staunchly capitalist society that functioned as a dark reflection of everything that the "socialist utopia" of Starfleet stands for. That's what makes it all the more meaningful that "Lower Decks" has now dedicated an entire episode to the fan-favorite Ferengi and, more importantly, the post-"Deep Space Nine" whereabouts of their newest leader, Rom.
Episode 6, cheekily titled "Parth Ferengi's Heart Place,...
Talk about rags to riches. Once considered a blight on "Star Trek" with their introduction in "The Next Generation," the Ferengi have come a long way since an inauspicious appearance that even veteran "Trek" actor Armin Shimerman once called a "disaster." Originally conceived as an alien species that would pose a Klingon-like threat, the distinctive and prominently earlobed characters received a much-needed overhaul throughout "Deep Space Nine," where they were reimagined as a more comedic, profit-hungry, and staunchly capitalist society that functioned as a dark reflection of everything that the "socialist utopia" of Starfleet stands for. That's what makes it all the more meaningful that "Lower Decks" has now dedicated an entire episode to the fan-favorite Ferengi and, more importantly, the post-"Deep Space Nine" whereabouts of their newest leader, Rom.
Episode 6, cheekily titled "Parth Ferengi's Heart Place,...
- 10/5/2023
- by Jeremy Mathai
- Slash Film
Over the course of four seasons, “Star Trek” animated series “Lower Decks” has seen its crew of lowly officers take on the worst jobs in all of Starfleet, the type of menial work that only those at the very bottom of the chain of command are asked to do. But in the show’s upcoming episode, the core four characters get an assignment that promises much nicer pleasures: a glorified bar crawl.
“Parth Ferengi’s Heart Place,” the sixth episode of “Lower Decks” ongoing fourth season, sees junior lieutenant’s Mariner (Tawny Newsome), Boimler (Jack Quaid), Rutherford (Eugene Cordero), and Tendi (Noël Wells) assigned to Starfleet’s “Travel Guide Duty.” In a clip exclusively shared with IndieWire from the episode, directed by Brandon Williams with a script by Cullen Crawford, their superior first officer Jack Ransom (voiced by Jerry O’Connell) explains that the job, one of Starfleet’s most coveted,...
“Parth Ferengi’s Heart Place,” the sixth episode of “Lower Decks” ongoing fourth season, sees junior lieutenant’s Mariner (Tawny Newsome), Boimler (Jack Quaid), Rutherford (Eugene Cordero), and Tendi (Noël Wells) assigned to Starfleet’s “Travel Guide Duty.” In a clip exclusively shared with IndieWire from the episode, directed by Brandon Williams with a script by Cullen Crawford, their superior first officer Jack Ransom (voiced by Jerry O’Connell) explains that the job, one of Starfleet’s most coveted,...
- 10/4/2023
- by Wilson Chapman
- Indiewire
At the conclusion of the third season of "Star Trek: Picard," after the villains had been defeated, showrunner Terry Matalas had properly and carefully set up another "Star Trek" spinoff series, should Paramount+ have wanted it. Seven of Nine (Jeri Ryan) had received a posthumous recommendation for a captaincy from her late commanding officer Liam Shaw (Todd Stashwick) and was put in command of the U.S.S. Titan-a, now newly rechristened the U.S.S. Enterprise-g. One can perhaps assume that the rechristening was a special favor for the aging Jean-Luc Picard (Patrick Stewart) now over 100 and happy to have a legacy.
Also serving on the Enterprise-g were a raft of characters seen throughout "Picard," most notably Seven's ex-girlfriend Raffi (Michelle Hurd), who would serve as her first officer. Picard's adult son Jack (Ed Speleers) was hastened through Starfleet Academy and was already serving as an ensign. Also...
Also serving on the Enterprise-g were a raft of characters seen throughout "Picard," most notably Seven's ex-girlfriend Raffi (Michelle Hurd), who would serve as her first officer. Picard's adult son Jack (Ed Speleers) was hastened through Starfleet Academy and was already serving as an ensign. Also...
- 10/2/2023
- by Witney Seibold
- Slash Film
Warning: This article contains spoilers and reckless, downright irresponsible speculation about the latest episode of "Star Trek: Lower Decks."
There's a serial killer -- in a manner of speaking -- on the loose in "Star Trek: Lower Decks." Ever since the concluding moments of the season 4 premiere, almost every episode has included a brief prologue centered on the lower decks crew of some doomed alien spaceship in the moments before encountering the same, mysterious object with a nasty attitude. The pattern has remained the same in each and every encounter: Upon confronting the strange vessel, each victimized ship has had to helplessly watch as the strange enemy fires up its weapons, inexplicably drains power from its intended target, and subsequently blasts them into pieces with shocking ease. So far, the kill list has included several classic "Trek" species like Klingons, Romulans, and now Orions, with no end in sight.
This...
There's a serial killer -- in a manner of speaking -- on the loose in "Star Trek: Lower Decks." Ever since the concluding moments of the season 4 premiere, almost every episode has included a brief prologue centered on the lower decks crew of some doomed alien spaceship in the moments before encountering the same, mysterious object with a nasty attitude. The pattern has remained the same in each and every encounter: Upon confronting the strange vessel, each victimized ship has had to helplessly watch as the strange enemy fires up its weapons, inexplicably drains power from its intended target, and subsequently blasts them into pieces with shocking ease. So far, the kill list has included several classic "Trek" species like Klingons, Romulans, and now Orions, with no end in sight.
This...
- 9/21/2023
- by Jeremy Mathai
- Slash Film
In the latest episode of "Star Trek: Lower Decks," called "In the Cradle of Vexilon," Lieutenants Tendi (Noël Wells), Rutherford (Eugene Cordero), and Mariner (Tawny Newsome) are assigned a maddeningly difficult and menial task by their superior officer, a man they only refer to as Dirk. They are required to comb through hundreds and hundreds of isolinear computer chips, looking for the one that has an error. The room they're in fills with toxic gasses every few minutes, and the temperatures get unbearably hot. After a few hours on the job, the three lieutenants begin to surmise that their job isn't strictly necessary and that Dirk is secretly putting them through some sort of hazing ritual.
They instantly think of their revenge: Make Dirk play Chula.
Earlier in the episode, the trio entered a storage warehouse on the USS Cerritos and found it stocked with items and widgets seen in previous "Star Trek" episodes.
They instantly think of their revenge: Make Dirk play Chula.
Earlier in the episode, the trio entered a storage warehouse on the USS Cerritos and found it stocked with items and widgets seen in previous "Star Trek" episodes.
- 9/14/2023
- by Witney Seibold
- Slash Film
Yesterday was Star Trek day, marking the anniversary of Star Trek’s debut on tv in 1966. Since then, the series has spawned so much content that what’s considered the “best Trek” or “Worst Trek” is divisive. But, as far as the big screen movies go, one that remains divisive is 1998’s Star Trek: Insurrection. In 1996, Star Trek First Contact proved to be a sizeable hit for Paramount Pictures, with the action-packed addition to the franchise grossing a strong $92 million domestically and another $54 million abroad. Indeed, the franchise was set to continue, but as everyone who knows Trek is aware of, there’s a perceived curse on all the odd-numbered films in the series, and with this one being number nine, would Insurrection be the movie to break the pattern once and for all?
Nope.
Star Trek Insurrection is a curious follow-up to Star Trek: First Contact. While that movie was praised for being action-packed,...
Nope.
Star Trek Insurrection is a curious follow-up to Star Trek: First Contact. While that movie was praised for being action-packed,...
- 9/9/2023
- by Chris Bumbray
- JoBlo.com
The second episode of the fourth season of "Star Trek: Lower Decks" is called "I Have No Bones Yet I Must Flee," which is a fun reference to Harlan Ellison's 1967 post-apocalyptic short story "I Have No Mouth, and I Must Scream." The plot sees Lieutenant Mariner (Tawny Newsome), Commander Ransom (Jarry O'Connell), and a traditional "Star Trek" Redshirt trekking to a distant alien zoo where a pair of humans have accidentally been put on display. Mariner notes that this sort of thing happens all the time and that rescuing humans from alien zoos is a regular occurrence in Starfleet.
The alien zoo in question is overseen by a sentient humanoid root vegetable named Narj. Narj, a mild-mannered figure, explains that imprisoning humans was a mere accident and that the animals in his menagerie are all happy in their respective artificial biomes. This is a peaceful place, and Narj even...
The alien zoo in question is overseen by a sentient humanoid root vegetable named Narj. Narj, a mild-mannered figure, explains that imprisoning humans was a mere accident and that the animals in his menagerie are all happy in their respective artificial biomes. This is a peaceful place, and Narj even...
- 9/9/2023
- by Witney Seibold
- Slash Film
If you have ever watched Star Trek, you already know what the Prime Directive is. General Order One. As Kirk describes it in The Original Series episode, “Bread and Circuses,” the order decrees Starfleet crews should make “No identification of self or mission; no interference with the social development of said planet; no references to space, other worlds, or advanced civilizations.”
Of course, there’s a bit more to it than that. According to one episode of Voyager, the Prime Directive contains 47 sub-orders, including more than a few loopholes that have been exploited over the years, but the gist of it is, if a civilization has not yet developed warp travel, Starfleet is to treat their planet like a nature reserve, to be observed but never interfered with.
“I think of the Prime Directive as having two components,” says Robin Wasserman, who has written two episodes of Strange New Worlds.
Of course, there’s a bit more to it than that. According to one episode of Voyager, the Prime Directive contains 47 sub-orders, including more than a few loopholes that have been exploited over the years, but the gist of it is, if a civilization has not yet developed warp travel, Starfleet is to treat their planet like a nature reserve, to be observed but never interfered with.
“I think of the Prime Directive as having two components,” says Robin Wasserman, who has written two episodes of Strange New Worlds.
- 9/8/2023
- by John Saavedra
- Den of Geek
This article contains spoilers for the "Star Trek: Lower Decks" season 4 premiere.
No-win scenarios, moral debates, ethical dilemmas -- there's hardly a single philosophical argument or weighty concern that "Star Trek" has ever shied away from throughout the thoughtful sci-fi franchise's five-plus decades of existence. That's not to say they've all been handled equally or with consistent levels of success, mind you. For every sobering lesson learned by Kirk and Spock in "The Original Series" or patented Jean-Luc Picard speech summing up the poignant themes at the end of an episode of "The Next Generation" or the far more murky politics of "Deep Space Nine," there have been instances like the most notorious episode of "Star Trek: Voyager" to ever air: the great Tuvix controversy, which "Lower Decks" lovingly lampoons -- and, arguably, even justifies -- in its entertaining season 4 premiere.
A continuing source of debate to this day among fans and creatives alike,...
No-win scenarios, moral debates, ethical dilemmas -- there's hardly a single philosophical argument or weighty concern that "Star Trek" has ever shied away from throughout the thoughtful sci-fi franchise's five-plus decades of existence. That's not to say they've all been handled equally or with consistent levels of success, mind you. For every sobering lesson learned by Kirk and Spock in "The Original Series" or patented Jean-Luc Picard speech summing up the poignant themes at the end of an episode of "The Next Generation" or the far more murky politics of "Deep Space Nine," there have been instances like the most notorious episode of "Star Trek: Voyager" to ever air: the great Tuvix controversy, which "Lower Decks" lovingly lampoons -- and, arguably, even justifies -- in its entertaining season 4 premiere.
A continuing source of debate to this day among fans and creatives alike,...
- 9/7/2023
- by Jeremy Mathai
- Slash Film
Take a look at new footage from "Star Trek: Lower Decks", the animated comedy TV series set in the "Star Trek" universe, streaming Season 4, September 7, 2023 on Paramount +:
"...created by Emmy Award winner Mike McMahan, Season Three challenges the 'U.S.S. Cerritos' ensigns in ways they could never imagine..."
'Starfleet' crew residing in the 'lower decks' of the U.S.S. Cerritos includes 'Ensign Beckett Mariner', voiced by Tawny Newsome, 'Ensign Brad Boimler', voiced by Jack Quaid, 'Ensign Tendi', voiced by Noël Wells and 'Ensign Rutherford' voiced by Eugene Cordero.
Starfleet characters that comprise the U.S.S. Cerritos' bridge crew include 'Captain Carol Freeman', voiced by Dawnn Lewis, 'Commander Jack Ransom', voiced by Jerry O'Connell and 'Doctor T'Ana', voiced by Gillian Vigman.
Click the images to enlarge...
"...created by Emmy Award winner Mike McMahan, Season Three challenges the 'U.S.S. Cerritos' ensigns in ways they could never imagine..."
'Starfleet' crew residing in the 'lower decks' of the U.S.S. Cerritos includes 'Ensign Beckett Mariner', voiced by Tawny Newsome, 'Ensign Brad Boimler', voiced by Jack Quaid, 'Ensign Tendi', voiced by Noël Wells and 'Ensign Rutherford' voiced by Eugene Cordero.
Starfleet characters that comprise the U.S.S. Cerritos' bridge crew include 'Captain Carol Freeman', voiced by Dawnn Lewis, 'Commander Jack Ransom', voiced by Jerry O'Connell and 'Doctor T'Ana', voiced by Gillian Vigman.
Click the images to enlarge...
- 8/31/2023
- by Unknown
- SneakPeek
There is a scene in the first episode of the fourth season of "Star Trek: Lower Decks" -- called "Twovix" -- wherein the crew of the U.S.S. Cerritos has to transport the now-decommissioned U.S.S. Voyager to a museum site. The ship, it seems, has been transformed into a museum, complete with bizarre on-board exhibits, including one devoted to the time Tom Paris (Robert Duncan McNeill) and Captain Janeway (Kate Mulgrew) surpassed Warp 10 and evolved into salamanders. On the bridge of the Voyager, there are mannequins of the ship's original crew, each wearing their actual duty uniforms.
Ensign Boimler (Jack Quaid), while setting up the diorama, nearly drops a mannequin of Harry Kim (Garrett Wang), the Voyager character who notoriously stayed an ensign for seven straight years without a promotion. On a show where Boimler geeks out about legendary "Star Trek" characters, it's notable that he says nothing of Harry Kim.
Ensign Boimler (Jack Quaid), while setting up the diorama, nearly drops a mannequin of Harry Kim (Garrett Wang), the Voyager character who notoriously stayed an ensign for seven straight years without a promotion. On a show where Boimler geeks out about legendary "Star Trek" characters, it's notable that he says nothing of Harry Kim.
- 8/31/2023
- by Witney Seibold
- Slash Film
The 1967 revision of the "Star Trek" writer's guide starts by asking the reader a simple question: "Can you find the major 'Star Trek' format error in the following 'teaser' from a story outline?"
"Star Trek" is a franchise that comes with many rules and dictums, many derived from its late creator, Gene Roddenberry. Other times they came from story editors and producers across the franchise's nearly-60-year history. And all of them are fiercely debated among fans in countless fanzines, convention halls, and chat boards, as well as on social media.
But rules are made to be broken, aren't they? Or, at the very least, broadly interpreted... like Starfleet's non-interference directive by some captains. And, to paraphrase Kirk, risk was "Star Trek's" business from day one. So let's look at 13 times when the makers of "Star Trek" took a risk and broke the mold.
Read more:...
"Star Trek" is a franchise that comes with many rules and dictums, many derived from its late creator, Gene Roddenberry. Other times they came from story editors and producers across the franchise's nearly-60-year history. And all of them are fiercely debated among fans in countless fanzines, convention halls, and chat boards, as well as on social media.
But rules are made to be broken, aren't they? Or, at the very least, broadly interpreted... like Starfleet's non-interference directive by some captains. And, to paraphrase Kirk, risk was "Star Trek's" business from day one. So let's look at 13 times when the makers of "Star Trek" took a risk and broke the mold.
Read more:...
- 8/28/2023
- by Maurice Molyneaux
- Slash Film
Say what you will about the "Star Trek: Strange New Worlds" musical episode (and people have certainly said a lot), but whether you loved "Subspace Rhapsody" or thought it missed the mark, it's hard to deny the emotional truth of the experimental hour. Whether we were listening to budding comms officer Uhura (Celia Rose Gooding) singing about the loss that's underscored her career or witnessing Nurse Chapel (Jess Bush) tell Spock (Ethan Peck) she's eager to leave for her big research fellowship, the tunes of "Subspace Rhapsody" allowed us to overhear the innermost thoughts of the Enterprise crew in true musical tradition.
Musical episodes always tend towards campiness, and while I think "Strange New Worlds" was mostly saved from as much by its undercurrent of earnest emotion, the episode still allows for some purposely silly concepts -- like when the Klingons suddenly start singing a K-pop-style boy band number. In an interview with TrekMovie.
Musical episodes always tend towards campiness, and while I think "Strange New Worlds" was mostly saved from as much by its undercurrent of earnest emotion, the episode still allows for some purposely silly concepts -- like when the Klingons suddenly start singing a K-pop-style boy band number. In an interview with TrekMovie.
- 8/28/2023
- by Valerie Ettenhofer
- Slash Film
IMDb.com, Inc. takes no responsibility for the content or accuracy of the above news articles, Tweets, or blog posts. This content is published for the entertainment of our users only. The news articles, Tweets, and blog posts do not represent IMDb's opinions nor can we guarantee that the reporting therein is completely factual. Please visit the source responsible for the item in question to report any concerns you may have regarding content or accuracy.