I’ve recently subscribed to a “TV” streaming service (it has a lot of well-known channels like Hallmark, INSP, METV, etc) and have found a channel that shows old Star Trek episodes (TOS is The Original Series for you non-Trekkers out there!).
Of course, as you’d expect from a show from nearly 60 years ago, the special effects are totally outdated. The concepts, themes like “Don’t judge a book by its cover,” “All humans are created equal,” and “Power corrupts,” have been copied so often that you might be tempted to think that the show has nothing original to offer. However, remember that this show did those concepts first when it comes to science-fiction. Other sci-fi shows copied TOS, not the other way around. If you keep this fact in mine, the original show doesn’t seem as stale or trite.
The thing to remember about Star Trek TOS is their firsts. The first to star a black woman in a serious (non-nursing) role, the first interracial kiss, the first serious Asian character (maybe the first actually played by an Asian–have to look that up sometime), & one of the first “Russian” characters in a sympathetic role during the Cold War. And let’s not forget they had the first half-Vulcan officer <wink>! Star Trek was also the first TV show to be returned to syndication following a massive fan-driven protest, a driving force for the franchise even today.
If you like classic science fiction, you should check out the original Star Trek series. Then watch Next Generation to see what a less hormone-driven captain would do with the role…
