Why The Original Series is Still the Best

The heart of STAR TREK was the relationship between Kirk, Spock and McCoy.

In recent years it's become popular to treat the original STAR TREK  series like the "red headed step child" of the franchise.  The sfx are ridiculed in light of what we have today.  The sets are considered cheap and the acting hammy  and cheesey.  It relegated to the bottom of the TREK franchise totem pole.  What is far too easily forgotten is that the original series was the catalyst for everything that followed and the context in which the show aired.

When STAR TREK first aired its primary competition was LOST IN SPACE, a far more traditional space opera.  Gene Roddenberry infused TREK with optimism, scope, and vision. This was exceptionally true in the programs and movies Roddenberry had direct input or control.  The original series is responsible for establishing the universe TREK would populate.   It also set the precedent of presenting stories that were character driven rather than simply encounters with the bug eyed monster of the week

There were other elements that made the original series special.  First of all they did so much with so little.  The sets and effects were simple and primitive by later standards.  The budget was paltry.  Anyone can create sci-fi magic with the kind of money that was thrown at later franchise entries buf the original series had to rely almost solely on the strength of the writing and the acting and the willingness of the audience's imagination to buy into what was presented on the screen. 

                                                                            

                                                                                                                 

The humor, humanity and foibles  of the char-acters made them identifiable and relatable.

Conflict between characters we cared about and who cared about each other made good drama.

The combination of Roddenberry's vision, quality writing by the leading SF writers of the day like Harlan Ellison and Norman Spinrad and the contributions of the show's own staff:  Dorothy Fonana, Gene L. Coon and Robert H. Justman gave STAR TREK unusual and particular depth.  I believe that depth and the open-ended quality of Gene Roddenberry's vision helped it to survive, because intentionally or not, that vision invited participation.

Another point that is frequently not considred in proper context are the contributions of the supporting cast, the so called "gang of four":  Doohan, Nichols, Takei and Koenig.  Although they were never intended to be the focus of the show, the conviction and sincerity they applied to doing what they were given resulted in their characters being warmly embraced by the fans and ensuring that all future casts in entries in the franchise were considered ensembls at the outset of their run,

Roddenberry's optimistic vision of an essentially peace ful future came during a time of war and national turmoil.

Growing up my own fascination with STAR TREK didn't happen until well into its syndicated run.  My sister's crush on Captain Kirk often delayed the supper hour.  When I stopped ridiculing and started watching I became hooked for life.  Early on our favorite episodes were those with overt humor.  Later we were drawn by hose with deeper themes.  Later series examined those and other themes, but it was only possible because the original series laid a solid foundation that could be built and expanded upon.

In TOS a typical horror plot becomes a lesson in humanity and tolerance,

Scotty's loyalty to Capt. Kirk beame an integral part of the series.

It was in TOS that Scotty firmly estab-lished his reputation as a "miracle worker".

Most people forget that TOS broke new ground with TV's first inter-racial kiss.

George Takei took every opportunity to expand Sulu's character.

Walter Koenig's talent took Chekov beyond all expectations.

Due to the participation of much of the original production team, cast and many of the writers, the animated series produced many episodes that were on a par with the original.  It also introduced important elements such as the holodeck that were later brought into live action.  Most importantly it appeased fans until the movies arrived.

The enduring  quality of the original series is testified to by the fact that it continues to inspire new versions of itself in print, the large and small screen and new forms of media and technology that it helped to inspire and create.

The persistance of the fans was paid off by a movie that was so self-celebratory and such a monument to itself that it didn't really work yet is curiously still fun to watch.

Thanks to Gene Roddenberry these two men are iconicised by the magazine that twice celeebrated the real life achievements of John Glenn.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        

The unappreciation for the rightful place of TOS is depicted here in Picard;s being in Kirk's rightful spot.

liTNG and all who follow can only perfect or mutate Gene Roddenbery's hopeful vision of the future.  Both has happened. Hopefully as STAR TREK returns to its roots in upcoming films it will also again embrace the optimistic vision of its' creator. here to add text.