Star Trek

Captain's Log, Star-Date 3018.2

After beaming down to the planet's surface with a landing party my crew and I embarked on my five-week mission to bravely explore new worlds. Specifically, we visited "Star Trek: The Original Series" [TOS]. 

Initially broadcast on Earth television in the 1960s, TOS was poorly handled by network executives (life-forms possessing inferior intelligence). Before VCRs, DVDs and other recording devices, CBS executives scheduled the show at late hours on weeknights where it was unlikely to attract an audience. This misjudgment resulted in low ratings, truncated growth and ultimately cancellation after only three seasons. Fortunately, the series was re-run a decade later (in syndication) at earlier hours (dinner-time) where enthusiastic young fans embraced the show. That fan-base grew into a powerful force and the show's reputation developed at accelerated pace.

My current report on the series is encouraging. The planet's inhabitants, while often engaged in flagrant over-acting, created intriguing characters with emotional depth. Ironically most in a Vulcan whose emotions are restrained. My sensor readings confirm sufficient data here to sustain life for numerous spin-offs including 13 television shows, 14 movies, innumerable conferences and avid fan-fiction. Kirk to Enterprise: there is enough here to build a cultural empire.

TOS writing broke new ground: its setting in a fantasy world (sci-fi) allowed it to explore themes forbidden on normal TV. Subjects like racism and oppression were probed. At the same time some retrograde views (especially on women) persisted.

Mr. Spock: "What we've just seen is not real."

Captain Kirk: "All the same, let's be prepared. Ready phasers and keep your eyes open."