When you think Trek "jumped the shark?"

Macross · Post by **Macross** » 2003-03-04 09:40pm

Darth Servo wrote:I don't think there is a definite POINT where you can truly say that Trek lost its magic. Voyager was certainly a large leap in that direction, but TNG started the downward spiral. As a whole, TNG was a success in spite of the over-use of technobabble and some how, the treknobabble turned into a brain bug. I would think the writers are smart enough to realize that the treknobabble was not the cause of TNG's success.

I dont think the problem is the use of technobabble. Take a look at Deep Space Nines "The Visitor." The episode is very technobabble heavy, yet considered to be one of Treks best dramatic episodes. It wasnt until the drama was drowned out by technobabble that it really became a problem.

Eframepilot · Post by **Eframepilot** » 2003-03-04 11:22pm

When did Star Trek jump the shark? "Spock's Brain".

Or Voyager Season 5, when Braga took full control and the show lost all hope of being decent.

But you know what else has jumped the shark? Asking when television shows have "jumped the shark". In fact, not only has the phrase "jumped the shark" jumped the shark, but pointing out that "jumped the shark" has jumped the shark has, itself, jumped the shark. On the bright side, saying that saying that "jumped the shark" has jumped the shark has jumped the shark has not yet jumped the shark.

RedImperator · Post by **RedImperator** » 2003-03-05 12:11am

Technobabble is symptomatic of the decline of Trek, but it's just that--a symptom, not a cause. You know there's creative burnout when the Trek writers need an "A" plot, a toally unrelated "B" plot, pointless filler shots, slop editing that tacks an unneeded minute onto every scene, and page after script page of pseuotechnical duckspeak to fill a 42 minute episode. If I were producing Star Trek, I'd read scripts with a big fat black marker in my hand and black out all the useless technobabble, pointless scenes, time-wasting rambling, and the "B" plot, hand whatever was left back to the writer and say, "Make that plot take up the whole episode, or come up with a better idea." If they can't do either, they can find another job. Of course, since the producers WRITE more than half the episodes, there's nothing that can be done and nobody to blame but B&B.

johnmarkley · Post by **johnmarkley** » 2003-03-05 03:32pm

Definitely when DS9 went off the air, and all that remained was Voyager.

Post by **The Yosemite Bear** » 2003-03-05 07:40pm

When Gene died, and B&B were set loose on the Franchise, while Majeal began preparing all of his rejected Ideas for half baked syndications....

Commin Next year to the Sci-Fi Channel: Gene Roddenbery's Holiday Rum Cake the final conflict.

Utsanomiko · Post by **Utsanomiko** » 2003-03-05 07:47pm

I'd say DS9 did it for me. After seeing all those early-season episodes , the only Star trek I can handle watching now is TOS, and the only thing I about its sci-fi setting that doesn't bore me is Starfleet Museum, (and that's not even an official/liscenced work!).

But I'd have to agree that Voyager officially buried the franchise.

Post by **NecronLord** » 2003-03-06 03:38pm

IMO encounter at farpoint, part II (when picard begins a long run of being able to sort out all the universes' problems)

Darth Servo · Post by **Darth Servo** » 2003-03-06 03:57pm

RedImperator wrote:If I were producing Star Trek, I'd read scripts with a big fat black marker in my hand and black out all the useless technobabble, pointless scenes, time-wasting rambling, and the "B" plot, hand whatever was left back to the writer and say, "Make that plot take up the whole episode, or come up with a better idea."

Unfortunately, thats easier said than done, especially when you need to churn out a new episode every other week (on average). Gotta keep those deadlines

neoolong · Post by **neoolong** » 2003-03-06 04:19pm

Darth Servo wrote:
RedImperator wrote:If I were producing Star Trek, I'd read scripts with a big fat black marker in my hand and black out all the useless technobabble, pointless scenes, time-wasting rambling, and the "B" plot, hand whatever was left back to the writer and say, "Make that plot take up the whole episode, or come up with a better idea."
Unfortunately, thats easier said than done, especially when you need to churn out a new episode every other week (on average). Gotta keep those deadlines

I think it has to do with how they produce the episodes. Not every TV show produces it haphazardly with no clue of what they're doing each week like B&B.