Why do you love ''StarTrek''

For me, it's because it's a Super Hero story without powers. It's about people who save the universe not with Power Armor, or X-Ray vision, or God-like powers; but through dedication, faith, and perseverance.

Basically, all the things that people can be, when not being bastards.

Characters. Guys like Kirk, Spock, Bones, Sulu, Scotty, Picard, Worf, Data, Sisko, Quark, Garak, Odo, The Doctor, Seven, and I'm ashamed to admit this, Archer and Tucker make me keep coming back.

Because it was my first. Well, not really, but close. Plus it's been around so long it's familiar.

I love the bond between the power trio, which is to say the bond between Bones, Kirk and Spock.

Well I've only watched Next Generation and only recently but my Answer is Picard, Data, and La Forge. Also, the concepts they explore are all fascinating, sci-fi ideas I just like to ponder about.

It's got an engaging story, memorable characters, and a constant sense of adventure. Its world is one of the few fictional examples of a sensible (as in, not utterly ludicrous) Utopia; it's got problems, but overall it's a future I'd like us to have, as a species. There's also the fact that so much of it is just so damn good: every series has its share of bad episodes (some more than others, admittedly), but these are completely blown out of the water by the great episodes (even the 'worst' series have enough good moments to redeem their bad spots) (quantitatively speaking, I'd say that TOS has the largest ratio of bad-to-good episodes out of the lot, yet it's still one of the greatest shows ever aired). There's also the sheer versatility of the premise- you could wrap the Trek universe around any plot you like, and it will still work.

I've been a Trek fan since childhood (despite an amusing bit of childhood trauma when I thought my grandmother's life-sized cardboard cutout of Quark was a real person and was absolutely terrified) and, even though my loyalties lie with Star Wars first and foremost, I'll continue bearing the Trekkie* mantle with pride until the day I die.

• I am aware that there is some controversy over the term 'Trekkie'. I use it all the same; my grandmother refers to herself as a 'Trekkie' rather than a 'Trekker', and she's been a fan since TOS first aired, so as far as I'm concerned her terminology is more legit than any semantic-obsessed fan. A rose by any other name, and so on.

" every series has its share of bad episodes (some more than others, admittedly), but these are completely blown out of the water by the great episodes "

So true!

You take Enterprise or Voyager and even though both of them gave us some truly lame episodes, they also gave us "Scientific Method" and "In A Mirror Darkly". These are episodes that blow out the best episodes of 'better' shows even.

Because......

" Space. The final frontier. These are the voyages of the Starship Enterprise. It's mission....to explore strange, new worlds. To seek out new life, and new civilizations. To boldy go where no man has gone before. "

may be the single coolest paragraph in all of fiction.

True that.

Star Trek is what made me fall in love with sci-fi because it's so hopeful and happy compared to pretty much everything else in the genre. Also, the bright colors in TOS helped keep my ADHD 11 year old eyes attentive. God, it seems there's so much "the future is grey" in sci-fi...

And to those who complain about split infinitives, that's only because they're trying to force Latin grammar on the English language.

For me, its the Cool Starship, the fact that it's not really bound by a story arc (which was one of the reasons I found Voyager frustrating to watch), and it really made space feel "big" to me, with all the different and often obscure races with their own starship models, or the bizarre alien monsters they'd encounter.

And, of course, the characters. While I prefer Picard as a captain, I do like the chemistry of the original series' crew.

And seriously, I love the basic design for the Enterprise. Especially, the original, the movie version, the E, and the new movie version.

For me it has always been the optimism, the sense of wonder that we have exceptional potential if we can unite at human beings and not be so concerned with differences between race, ethnicity and gender. Yeah, this franchise is the poster child for Humans Are Special but you know what, even if we find evidence of aliens we need to recognize how special and rare we must be (Also the reason I like Contact so much).

Even in the bleekest episodes there is a sense that we can overcome our faults and rise to a new level. That's what the final speech of "In the Pale Moonlight" was about, Sisko recognizing what he did, accepting it and moving on. I'm certain he would have prefered the ordeal didn't come to what happened, but those things will happen.

" For me, its the Cool Starship, "

No seriously, there maybe 'cooler', quote/unquote, ships out there (the Millenium Falcon, the TARDIS, etc...)

But it's almost like the Enterprise is what you wish your own house was like. In fact, that's part of it's appeal I think. It's like a really cool cabin with all it's own stuff and on top of that it has a warp engine!!.

And.....it can blow shit up with the best of them.

Because...the characters are like Sci-Fi versions of some the greatest Real Life heroes ever. Watching Kirk, Picard, Sisko, and Janeway is like watching Kennedy, Churchill, King, and Earheart IN SPACE.

Even Archer has his moments where he demonstrates the kind of leadership, compassion, and balls worthy of someone like....Eisenhower (I guess).

It's hopeful. A lot of sci-fi is about how things are going to hell, war, famine, invasion, civil unrest, Good vs. Evil, just dark themes without a lot of hope. Trek is one of the few that is up beat. It's about humans bettering themselves expanding, exploring, meeting new cultures and making friends instead of shoving a gun in their faces. It's hopeful sci-fi. As much as I like the darker stuff Trek's hopeful optimism is refreshing.

True dat. I mean, even DS 9- the darkest of all the Trek shows- is still a pretty idealistic and hopeful series; the heroes just have to go through hell and back to keep it that way. That's probably why DS 9 is my favourite of the series, really.

On the subject of DS 9 and why I love it (and Trek in general), I absolutely adore the episode where Bashir is taking care of the genetically-engineered geniuses. I work with autistic kids and teens frequently (in addition to being an autistic adult), and each member of the 'Jack Pack' fits perfectly (in terms of behavior and personality) with actual autistic people I've worked with. Despite their not being canonically autistic, these characters are probably some of the most realistic and sympathetic portrayals of autism I've ever seen on TV. That sort of thing makes me feel good.

The fans. No disrespect to the Lord Of The Rings, Harry Potter, Star Wars, Battlestar Galactica, Doctor Who, The X Files, Twilight, or any other of the fanboys but...

Star Trek fans taught the world the power of a fanbase that simply wouldn't permit it's beloved adventure to fade into obscurity. And the fact that so many Trek fans seem to get along with other fanbases (the B5 vs. DS 9 thing notwithstanding).

We truly are a family. As much as the crews in the shows.

I haven't met many Trek fans, sadly. I'd like to now, though.

Star Trek has been a unifying love in my family, especially on my Dad's side. One of my best friends growing up shared that love as well. I can name many other shows and franchises that have made friends for me (just recently I wore a Cowboy Bebop shirt to a college activity and got many positive comments on it, including a hug), but Trek is the one I have the most history with.

It is one of the coolest things in the world when you can turn to a fellow "Trekkie" and say "Damn, was Dr. Crusher hot or what?" and they say, "Hell yeah!"

Or, the way folks eyes' light up when they discuss a common great episode, like "Best of Both Worlds" or "the one where Kirk beat up Khan......"

I love it for trying to make people think.

Also, for this:

Whoopi Goldberg has also spoken of Nichols' influence. It was seeing Nichols play a prominent role on network television that allowed her to see that African American women could contribute more than just as domestic servants. (Star Trek: The Next Generation Companion) She is often fond of recalling that when she saw Uhura on-screen for the first time she ran out of the room telling everyone in her house, "I just saw a black woman on television; and she ain't no maid!

edited 20th May '11 9:09:09 PM by Syera

Beards and laser guns.

Seriously, I liked how it has complex moral allegories that we can relate to today.

Another reason I love Star Trek is that, personally, I feel it the saga most responsible for ALL other popular Science Fiction sagas we have.

I know, I know. It sounds like sacrilege to say. I know that The X Files, Stargate SG 1, Battlestar Galactica, and Star Wars would still exist without Star Trek. And of course Doctor Who existed a good, what, six years before Trek.

But, consider this, without Treks influence and it's worldwide popularity, would any of these other franchises, well, have become franchise in the first place??

Star Trek laid the foundation of what many today consider Sci-Fi. Teleporters and ray guns. Spaceships with a slightly naval feel. Time Travel. Body switching. And the use of Sci-Fi as a tool for modern commentary.

Like I said, I know others might have done it first, but Trek set it in stone. Seriously, would there have been a Doctor Who revival in a world where Star Trek The Next Generation didn't succeed??

Also because, in a show(s) where starships travel faster than light, and pistols shoot energy, it all comes back to The Human Condition.

The stoic Vulcan (who allegedly doesn't do emotions) not only lays down his life to save his BFF and the rest of his homies, but he even "comforts" said BFF in his dying moments.

Top that shit. I dare you.

And then in the next movie....

The crew of the Lady E decide that their homie is more important than things like jail, demotion, or probably death.

I mean, is this called Star Trek or Best Buddies Among The Stars???

I remember looking forward to, and seeing the new SF show that premiered on a Thursday night forty-four years ago. It was called "Star Trek" and was completely unlike anything that ten-year-old had ever seen before. It was truly ground-breaking for its time.

I tuned in every Thursday night for that season, and every Friday night for two years after, to see what incredible stuff the writers would come up with.

Years later the original series is still my favorite incarnation of the show.