I’m happy to see the resurrection, reimagining, and literal rejuvenation of the Star Trek franchise that J.J. Abrams’ 2009 film has produced. Press and filmgoers have praised the new Star Trek thoroughly (but perhaps none more lovingly than The Onion), and I don’t need to add to that cascade. What particularly pleases me is that many people who never watched the original television series are now taking a look and enjoying that show despite a 40-year gulf of political change and special effects innovation. The original Star Trek has found a new audience, and that new audience has four seasons of classic television to feast on.
Stop. I know what you’re thinking: Star Trek lasted only three seasons and I, therefore, am an idiot. But have you forgotten the Saturday morning animated Star Trek that aired in 1973-1974? Well before Star Trek: The Next Generation, Gene Roddenberry created this extension to the original series that continued the adventures of Captain Kirk & Co. The animated series brought back Roddenberry as producer and writer, also many other veteran Star Trek writers and the entire original cast save Walter Koenig (Koenig’s character, Chekov, was replaced by a three-armed alien named Arex). A number of the episodes are direct sequels to original series tales, such as “More Tribbles, More Troubles” and “Mudd’s Passion.” Although the show was ostensibly aimed at kids, Roddenberry didn’t dumb it down, but continued to use this brightly-colored space opera to explore themes of race, gender relations, first contact, war, etc.
Star Trek: The Animated Series
In fact I’ll argue that the animated series managed to out-Trek the original Star Trek in a number of ways, even though the episodes were only half an hour long. Animation gave Roddenberry an unlimited special effects budget, so he could show off wonders such as a 300 million-year-old starship that looks like a web of plant pods, or Vulcan cities glowing against the night sky. The show took greater advantage of the cast members’ talents. James Doohan, for example, who played Mister Scott, was a masterful voice actor and played a variety of human and alien roles—sometimes four in one episode. And the show’s theme by Norm Prescott and Ray Ellis evokes the same sweeping energy as the original.
So if you’re craving more Star Trek, grab your PJs, pour a bowl of Lucky Charms and have at it.
But first, watch this brilliant mashup of the show with William Shatner’s cover of Pulp’s “Common People.”
-Brooks
