Per conversations with my Trekkie wife, my Trekkie Father-in-Law, my Trekkie Mother-in-law, and my Trekkie Brother-in-law-who-writes-for-this-blog, I have decided to share this conversation with you other trekkies out there (and to you non-trekkies like me).
Yes, I said it! On a blog that prizes itself on awesome fandoms, I claim to not be a part of one of the largest fandoms of all. I am not a Trekkie...but I want to be.
As a philosophy major in college, I was initially captivated by the Next Generation episode where Data’s personhood is called into question. Then I began watching the Original Series from its first episode and the depths of the characters began to unfold.
You see, Nathaniel and a few other friends have done a fantastic job of revealing wonderful Star Trek episodes to me; but although I know these episodes are wonderful, brilliant, witty, and even entertaining, they have failed to capture me like many movies, shows, and games have done before.
What I cannot understand is how many characters on the show seem like characters I would typically fall in love with. Spock, who is claimed to be purely logical, is in many ways a character to look up to. Spock is ideal because he is someone who doesn’t have to deal with those messy emotions and is able to see a logical conclusion in all situations. (Even if that logic seems to be more utilitarian than anything.)
If only we all could shed those useless things called emotions and use Pure Reason; but alas we cannot (*cough* *cough* *Kant* *cough* *cough*).
Other characters that fascinate me are from Next Generation. Although Patrick Stewart may be one of the best actors to ever walk the face of the earth, he is not the most interesting character (as of now) on the show. Instead, I find myself fascinated by two characters from that show: Guinan (as played by Whoopi Goldberg) and the Empath Deanna Troi.
Oh, the contrast between Spock and these two.
And Yet! Despite my recognition of character depth (which is one of the things that draws me to television series) I cannot seem to gain a passion for Star Trek as I have done with other shows.
Initially, I thought I just didn’t like Science Fiction. (Science Fiction and Fantasy being two completely different subjects.) But that is not the reason I can't find a passion for Star Trek. You see, I am a huge fan of the shows Stargate SG1 and Stargate Atlantis. I even enjoyed Stargate Universe (which is rather distinct from the rest).
I think I'm in a bit of an uncommon situation here. I desperately want to enjoy this show more than I actually do. Many of my friends and family love Star Trek, so why don’t I?
I believe it has to do with what appears to me as a lack of storytelling. I am not claiming that there is no story, but that I cannot find the story. When watching the show, one finds himself already in the midst of a problem, or an anomaly. Even though there is character growth, development between the races, and lots of other things a story may have, it still doesn't captivate me like I know it should.
I will continue trying, but in the meantime...
Exist lengthy and thrive!
Oh, I will get it eventually!
Oh, he's gonna get it, all right...
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