main index Narrative
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That's "Trekker"!
There are a lot of different ways to make a character into a Hollywood Nerd, from making them interested in science, giving them Nerd Glasses, or removing all social capabilities whatsoever. But all you really need to do is add one small characteristic: an interest in Star Trek. In fiction, only geeks like Star Trek, and all geeks like it. Those who are particularly obsessed are called "Trekkies".
Star Trek: The Original Series was a prematurely canceled television show from the 1960s that had quite a few movies and spinoffs afterward (see the page for more details). It developed one of the earliest cult classic television followings and its fans were always regarded as a little "out there" due to their devotion. Nowadays that sort of dedication is not strange at all and it's relatively common for a fandom to give its more intense fans nicknames (such as bronies or twihards). Regardless, Trekkies are still remembered above all the others.
This is a relatively widespread stereotype, although realistically not everyone interested in Star Trek is automatically a Trekkie, or even a nerd at all, and not all nerds have to like the show. But in fiction, all nerds are Trekkies, all Trekkies are nerds, and nobody just likes Star Trek - if you like it, you love it.
In Japan, the Gundam franchise fills much the same niche as Star Trek does in the west — the franchise has often been referred to as "Japan's Star Trek" due to a number of similarities: Both shows were prematurely cancelled due to poor ratings in their initial airings, only to gain massive followings in syndication, and become probably their country's most iconic science fiction series, with dedicated followings and seemingly endless spinoffs. Thus, where a western show would use a Trekkie, a Japanese show is likely to use a Gundam fanatic.
In addition to Star Trek and Gundam, this role can occasionally be filled by other movies/shows, though due to the fact that the nature of the trope requires some Popcultural Osmosis, the writer will generally use Star Trek, as its role has already been established. One of the most common replacements is Star Wars, which, incidentally, is occasionally mentioned as a rival to Star Trek.
Note that there are examples of characters who are in no other way considered nerds (although many are still losers), but may still show their inner geek with an interest in the show.
See also Geek Reference Pool.
Examples:Anime and Manga
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