Comment by whartung
8 days ago
Loved the show, I have no expectations for this. It's just too easy to not be "right" for all sorts of incompatible different definitions of "right".
But, the animated series a good idea and smart.
First, it lets Nathan and Morena participate considering they're pretty busy with their prime time series.
Second, there's no reason to "jump ahead 20 years". They can pick right up from where they left off after they figure out how to dig Wash out of the ground. The animated characters don't have to age. They can do a prequel, they have a lot of flexibility which helps to not pigeon hole it.
And, ideally, the animated series can be less expensive, making it perhaps more of a chance for success and continuing (I have no idea how much modern animated show development costs compared to sets and CGI etc.).
I have not seen it, but I understand that The Clone Wars is a pretty successful series, so maybe that's an inspiration.
If there’s any chance at success, animated is probably it. Alternatively they could remake the show with a different cast portraying some other crew with a whole new storyline. Of course that’s not a reboot but it could capture the same kind of magic the first did with the right writers and cast. It could even be set before, after, or contemporaneously with the original. It would be a big expensive gamble though.
Yeah, I don't think it would ever work with a different cast.
I watched "Lower Decks" episode just to see how they portrayed Deep Space 9, how actors pick their old roles. While they did good job, visuals were giving me this feeling it's a distant memory that fades away. Weird thing to say but same thing happen when I pick that "Babylon 5: The Road Home" - it's like the show you were watching but it's not the same.
And I risk saying that perhaps media that become iconic shouldn't be touched no matter what happened during production or screening. Because if you start fiddling around it even in a good faith that charm may be gone forever.
"Firefly/Serenity" for me is from same shelf as DS9 or rebooted BSG - a closed story that doesn't need any continuation. These titles got rather bitter than sweet ending; there are questions and that's good. Not everything has to be wrapped up with a picturesque idyllic scenery, where everyone "lived happily ever after".
But at the same time, I don't mind if they roll animated "Firefly". And I give them my thumbs up, will be happy if they manage to success but I don't have big expectations either.
I have exactly the same feeling. Lower Decks is one of my favorite star trek shows, and I normally don't click with animated series.
So, I hope for some of that magic with firefly, they've earned it by keeping that series relevant for 20+ years.
>They can pick right up from where they left off after they figure out how to dig Wash out of the ground.
The animated show is set between the original series and the movie, presumably because of Wash's character.
It’s sad that Ron Glass is no longer with us and can’t reprise his role as Shepherd Book.
I liked him in Barney Miller, so he and I go way back...
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> figure out how to dig Wash out of the ground
My understanding is that it fits between the series and the movie, so there will be no need to rename the land known as His Grave.
> I have no idea how much modern animated show development costs
Animation costs are all over the place. It can be dirty cheap, it can be more expensive than a highly-produced live action. You can notice the difference, but it's not what actually matters for the show's success.
Star Trek animated is pretty good and so is Lower Decks.
I usually don't like cartoons but I'm hopeful.
ST:TAS had some surprisingly good scripts for something that was somewhat a 70’s kids cartoon. Very much enjoyed how animation allowed them to run wild where practical effects wouldn’t have been possible (for better or worse at times, lol).
I adored Lower Decks. It was the right way to approach fan service for a franchise as I hate seeing fan service awkwardly ham fisted into every corner of nutrek. Some of the later seasons were a bit awkward, or rushed?, but overall I adored it. Terrific character development and overall really told that story of that period between being a bunch of green academy grads and being adaptable, competent professionals.
If only ST:TAS hadn't given us the Holodeck... IMHO TNG would have been better without the holodeck episodes.