TrekWeb.com - Brent Spiner Talks State of TREK Franchise and His Idea for Mixed-Crew TREK XI

Brent Spiner Talks State of TREK Franchise and His Idea for Mixed-Crew TREK XI

By GustavoLeao / 20:49, 29 January 2005 / Star Trek: Nemesis

The latest issue of the Star Trek Communicator, available now in the U.S., features an exclusive interview with TNG actor Brent Spiner, in which he talks about his guest role of 'Doctor Arik Soong' on STAR TREK ENTERPRISE and his opinions on the STAR TREK franchise. Here are a few excerpts :

What, in your opinion, is the state of STAR TREK these days ?

Spiner : I am not sure. I don't know if I have a solution for its future. Some people think it needs to be put to sleep for a while and then woke up again in about five to ten years with a new concept and design and a bunch of young new kids. There is something to be said for that but, at the same time, I personally just like the fact that it is on the air. I want it to be around always. It has now been on for 18 years solid. It has hardly ever been off the air since it started back in the 60s. [...] I think they are doing a pretty good job this year, thought. I think ENTERPRISE has hit its stride. That's something they need to be given credit for, because it takes a while to shake down. It wasn't so easy for us either. I think they have finally found their footing, and it just took a while to get it together.

Do you think mixing the crews from the five shows is a good idea ?

Spiner : I think it is a decent idea. John Logan and I actually had a idea for another film that followed NEMESIS that sort of did that in a way. It was a really cool idea. But, needless to say, nobody went to see NEMESIS, so Paramount wasn't likely to give us another movie.

You knew Gene Roddenberry well, Do you think he would be happy with what STAR TREK has become today ?

Spiner : For the most part, I think he would be happy with it. And I will tell you why : I can't tell you the numbers of times when we were doing the films that we wanted to do something and Rick Berman responded, "You know, that's really not Roddenberry, That's really not his vision of this, and I don't want to cross that line." People who say Rick has forgotten Gene's vision and tried to create his own STAR TREK are way off base. It is just not true and I have been privy to moments where he has stated the opposite, All you have to do is watch the shows - they are still about the same things. They are still about the hopeful vision of the future and the need for people to accept each other in whatever form.

And to read the full interview, get the latest issue of the Star Trek Communicator at your local newstand.

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RE: He's right and he's wrong | Report this post to moderator
By: Bella Oxmyx (Odo's file, contact) @ 15:35:59 on Jan 31, 2005

I love DS9. It's tied as my second-favorite Trek series, along with the TOS, behind TNG. But the show started off slowly in its first few seasons. Basing the show on a station made the characters seem either passive or reactive, as adventures and guest characters had to come to the station, instead of the crew going out to engage them. And the whole Bajor/Cardassian occupation arc never really took off in the way I think the producers had initially hoped. The show didn't really find its way until the war with the Founders broke out.

Perhaps a more significant reason for the show's lesser ratings than TNG (although they were still fairly impressive) was that the show was darker. DS9 liked exploring humanity's flaws, and while I certainly appreciated the grit and substance that approach gave the show, I can see why some people don't consider DS9 "real" Trek. I wouldn't recommend that any future re-vamp of Trek go further down that road, certainly -- the risk would be you would lose the heart and soul of Trek.

That's not to say I mind a dark approach to SF in general, though. Ron D. Moore has continued DS9's exploration of human frailty in the new BSG series, and I think it works fantastically there. I just think it would be a very tough act to balance really dark material with the optimistic message of Star Trek.

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RE: He's right and he's wrong | Report this post to moderator By: Bella Oxmyx (Odo's file, contact) @ 15:35:59 on Jan 31, 2005

RE: He's right and he's wrong | Report this post to moderator
By: Bella Oxmyx (Odo's file, contact) @ 15:35:59 on Jan 31, 2005