Slashdot Mirror
Ask Slashdot: How To Introduce Someone To Star Trek?
First time accepted submitter red$hirt writes "I have a few friends, plus my girlfriend, who I would like to introduce to Star Trek. They do have a general interest to watch it, but I'm not sure what's the best way to start. There are so many series and movies and I would like to pick an order that keeps them interested. My first idea is to start off with a few good TNG episodes, and then let them watch First Contact. What does Slashdot think? I'm sure some of you have introduced others to Star Trek before. How did you do it, and how successful were you? Which particular episodes would you recommend watching for someone who is completely new to all this?"
People either know all about Star Trek or they don't. If they don't, it's because they don't want to. You'll only annoy them by trying to "introduce" them.
Sometimes I'm glad that I'm old. Sheesh, "Introduce" somebody to Star Trek. What a weird concept.
Why not? I think it's the best. It's pretty much a soap opera in space. Story arcs some tech babble thrown in.
Also, don't fucking go on a massive rant about Subject X. If she asks, "What is Warp?" Just say, "It lets the ship go faster than light." Don't regurgitate the entire Memory Alpha article that you've memorized or possibly helped write.
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Worked for me. Although, to tell the truth, Valerie watched some Star Trek with me before Stanley came along.
Bruce Perens.
No, while Q was acted well, he was the worst plot device in the entire franchise and is guaranteed to put off any new viewer. Even worse than the holodeck on Voyager.
It's fucking hard to get through the campiness of TOS, though.
I mean, Space Hippies. That's pretty much the best way to make someone never want to watch a Trek show again.
Or find a girlfriend that like Star Trek...
Bitch all you want about the /. moderation system, but that is correct in every possible way with the exception of a new Funny/Informative rating.
Please consider this account deleted, I just can't be bothered with the spam anymore.
If "It lets the ship go faster than light." is too technical, it is time for a new girlfriend.
Climate Progress - Hell and High Water
My thoughts exactly. If your girlfriend can't stand Star Trek, and you're a costume-wearing Trekkie, then you're in for a world of grief. She doesn't have to be Uhura, but she should like the franchise enough to watch the series without looking like she wants to be doing something else without you. If you're not really a Star Trek fan, forget it. Watch Twilight or Lincoln Vampire Hunter with her.
The joy in Trek is largely nostalgic. As a kid Star Trek was one of the first "grown up shows" I watched. While it covered issues and topics I didn't always get until I was older, but a Space Ship, Aliens who wern't scary, and cool tech, was enough to keep me interested. As I got older and watching the shows over again I found more complexity in the plot. As I went into adolescence it was a family approved show with babes in tights or short skirts where you sometimes get a panty shot. Then you get more of the plot. After that it is a lot nostalgic of when you were a kid and life was easy.
For most people the debat over TOS TNG DS9 VGR and ENT falls what you watched when you were 8-12 years old.
If you didn't watch Trek as a kid, you are probably not going to get that into it. For one the age of the shows covers many issues that are no longer a big deal. Second the plots and acting while ok are for the most part not spatactular.
That said... I think Deep Space 9 is the best bet. It isn't as campy as the other Trek and there is growth in all the charactors.
If something is so important that you feel the need to post it on the internet... It probably isn't that important.
Your friends will enjoy the moves a lot more after they absorb the chemistry; McCoy + Spock don't really hit their stride until the end of the first season. Anyway, while people with no background in StarTrek certainly can enjoy the movies, people with some background in StarTrek will enjoy the movies at least twice as much. (I say it is worth the wait; you asked for how to best introduce your friends to Star Trek... so realizing there is no need to rush anything will help you do a better job with that introduction).
TOS stories are (mostly) all well done. And the concepts are ground breaking when you consider they were presented in 1968. Some of the social points are astonishing; equality, moral dilemmas, and so on - especially(!) when you compare them to other shows that were airing in the late 60's early 70's. (Myself, I like using TOS as a mirror to get a glimpse of that generation's culture.)
So... maybe show them 3 TOS episodes then leave it at that; more than that will risk burning them out. If they like TOS they'll follow up on their own, or come back for more "home video nights." (And if you can do it, go with the re-mastered TOS; they really do look nicely done).
Maybe for a later "video night" in a do a few TNG episodes. Or they may be grooving on working through TOS. *shrug* Either way, at that point, they will ask for more or just politely nod and focus on other things.
Lastly, and this could be the most important part, show some restraint in pacing and tempo with what you play for your friends. And express interest in what your audience likes and is passionate about; you might find something new that you like, and you will almost certainly learn more about your friends.
Beware of anybody that makes a living in skilled hand trades in a world with replicators.
Don't blame me, I voted for Baltar.
One could show Star Trek without Star Trek, by staring with good stories.
TNG: Darmok
DS9: The Visitor
VOY: Blink of an Eye
TOS: The Devil in the Dark, The City on the Edge of Forever
(and a few others)
Such stories are accessible to new viewers since they do not depend on much cannon or story arcs or character history to be fully enjoyable. The major cannon episodes that series fans enjoy for being loaded with many intersections of individual motivations, big conflicts, implicit story, and consequence (e.g., "The Best of Both Worlds") would be lost to anyone who had not been exposed to the big players and landmarks. Starting with character development episodes would bet too much on new viewers caring about the characters on first exposure, and similarly with arc development episodes.
There are 1.1... kinds of people.