If ever we needed a time where we could escape to the stars it’s this one.
To be fair most of human history – oh, who are we kidding? ALL of it – would likely have benefited from a future in which inclusiveness, diversity and social and economic equality are a given and humanity and a considerable number of alien races have come along for the ride.
But right here and right now as COVID continues to make the present look less than attractive, helped along of course by dirty, cruel geopolitics, climate change and a host of other reality wrecking ills, we need a franchise like Star Trek that gives us something to hope and live for.
Launched in 1966 with the now-badged The Original Series (TOS), Star Trek has always put humanity’s best foot forward, always acknowledging that while we are making a hash of the present in some fairly self-destructive ways, that we’re going to get our collective proverbial together in the future and it’s going to be wonderful.
Not perfect, of course, since people and renegade aliens will keep being people and renegade aliens, but a damn sight better than what we have right now and a future that offers the chance of going forward not backward and making the earth and yes, the whole galaxy, way better than anyone ever envisaged.
We are thankfully in a real purple patch of Star Trek shows right now, which became quite evident on the just-held Star Trek Day, which marks the day the first TOS episode went to air, and which this year showcased a richness of new shows, all of which are doing a fine, and often unexpectedly amusing job, of keeping creator Gene Roddenberry’s original vision alive and growing.
STAR TREK: DISCOVERY (season 4)
No trailer just yet for season of Discovery, affectionately known as “Disco” BUT we do have an air date of 18 November for the return of the show with a fourth season beckoning, and a vague but promising synopsis …
“Season four of Star Trek: Discovery finds Captain Burnham and the crew of the U.S.S. Discovery facing a threat unlike any they’ve ever encountered. With Federation and non-Federation worlds alike feeling the impact, they must confront the unknown and work together to ensure a hopeful future for all.” (StarTrek.com)
SNAPSHOT
The series follows young friends Dal (Brett Gray), Rok-Tahk (Rylee Alazraqui), Murf (Dee Bradley Baker), Zero (Angus Imrie), and Jankom Pog (Jason Mantzoukas) as they escape a life of servitude under the villainous “Diviner” (played by John Noble), who has his eyes on the Protostar. Dragging unwilling companion Gwym (Ella Purnell)—who has ties to the Diviner’s plans for the Starfleet ship—with them on their adventure, the new crew gets ready to see the Delta Quadrant with fresh eyes as they escape the Diviner’s grasp and the threat of his robotic agent, Drednok, voiced by Jimmi Simpson. There’s even a glimpse of familiar species like the Kazon in the trailer!As part of this year’s Star Trek Day celebrations, ViacomCBS revealed a new look at Star Trek: Prodigy, the kid-focused animated series that whisks viewers back to the Delta Quadrant for an adventure with young, alien heroes. Joining them as they take the abandoned Starfleet experimental ship U.S.S. Protostar is none other than Voyager icon Kate Mulgrew, reprising her role as Captain Kathryn Janeway with a twist: she’s actually the Protostar’s Command Training Hologram and sees the potential in this motley crew to do some boldly going of their own. (synopsis courtesy Gizmodo)
Star Trek: Prodigy premieres 28 October 2021.
SNAPSHOT
In Season 2 of Discovery, we were introduced to the original original crew of the legendary starship Enterprise before Captain James T. Kirk ever stepped foot on board — led by Anson Mount as Captain Pike, Ethan Peck as a young Spock, and Rebecca Romijn as Number One. Audience reception to these characters proved to be so overwhelmingly positive that it felt like a fait accompli for the crew to get a spin-off of their very own, and now that dream is becoming a reality. In the wake of the new teaser, join us as we break down each and every member of the show, familiar faces, and brand-new creations alike. (Synopsis Slash Film)
Star Trek: Strange New Worlds likely premieres in northern spring or summer 2022.
STAR TREK: PICARD (season 2)
SNAPSHOT
The legendary Jean-Luc Picard encountered Romulans, Borg and rogue androids in the first season of the show that bears his name. In Star Trek: Picard season 2, however, he’ll have to deal with his biggest challenge yet – negotiating life on 21st century Earth.With familiar adversaries Q and the Borg Queen coming into the mix, Star Trek: Picard season 2 will see the former USS Enterprise captain and his newly formed starship crew travelling back in time to repair a future that’s been turned into a “totalitarian nightmare”. (synopsis courtesy Tech Radar)
Star Trek: Picard season 2 premieres February 2022.
STAR TREK: LOWER DECKS (season 2)
SNAPSHOT
The second season of the American television series Star Trek: Lower Decks follows the support crew of the U.S.S. Cerritos in the year 2380. (synopsis Wikipedia)
Star Trek: Lower Decks season 2.