by Simon Wright

Created on: September 15, 2008

I assume that we're talking here about the original Star Trek, with Kirk, Spock, Bones, and Scottie, rather than the next generation franchises? Certainly, the original is a classic of sci fi TV, with its characters much beloved. There are a number of reasons, however, why Star Trek should be confined to the archives and these include:

1. The characters are strongly associated with the actors who played them. It's fairly inconceivable to imagine Captain Kirk being played by anyone other than William Shatner.

2. The actors, from the original Star Trek, are mostly too old or (in some cases) dead, so that should rule out the prospect of having Shatner reprise once more the role of James T. Kirk. It would be stretching credibility too far, even by Hollywood standards, to have a crew of seventy-somethings slugging it out with evil forces.

3. Sci Fi has moved on and the original Star Trek would feel outdated, compared to newer sci fi shows. I suppose they could always give the Enterprise a total revamp but then I'm not sure if what we would be left with would really be the original Star Trek?

4. Sometimes the trick is to get out before you exceed your sell by date. There is a danger that further Star Trek episodes or films would damage the legacy that the show has built up. It could be argued, for example, that the recent Star Wars films have not done much for that show, being widely regarded as inferior to the original much loved trilogy.

5. Create room for new sci fi shows to prosper. There are only ever going to be so many sci fi shows that are going to get mainstream airing. Star Trek got more than its fair share of time in the spotlight. It's now time for new shows to come through that can boldly build upon the fine sci fi traditions that Star Trek introduced generations of people too. Joss Whedon's Firefly is a recent example of a fantastically innovative and well acted sci fi show that didn't get nearly as much backing as it should have. Bringing Star Trek back from the grave would be a retrospective step and would strangle the development of new innovative shows.

The title to this article is perhaps a little inaccurate. Star Trek will never be dead; at least not as long as it remains available on DVD and TV repeats. It will also continue to influence new generations of writers, so we will see aspects of Star Trek reflected in present and future shows, all trying to take us, the viewers, to far off worlds to marvel at the courageous exploits of humans who dare to explore the far depths of our universe.

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