A Reader's View: The "Trek" ends

Editor:

Even before my Nov. 8 letter everyone knew of my longtime admiration for Gene Roddenberry’s “Star Trek” and the ideals and values he expressed in his best known creation, but, its only recently that I’ve learned the real reason why Gene’s Trek and mine has finally run its course.

There was that dirty, vulgar Entertainment Weekly cover story (Oct. 24) with the younger Kirk and Spock on the cover. The next film, the 11th, is a hyper flashy time travel yarn, which takes only Leonard Nimoy’s Spock back to their Starfleet Academy days. On the heels of that nasty anti-Trek article, I took a long look backward.

To refresh my memory, I looked back on both the ninth film, “Insurrection” and the 10th, “Nemesis” not just once, but several times. Each film has a great plot, characters, situations and dialogue. But, it was with Nemesis that I really learned why Gene’s Trek and mine is finished, forever.

Very few so-called fans liked either film and I now know why. It got me with “Nemesis.” Like “Insurrection,” there’s the plot, which comes with long, leisurely scenes of characterization and finally, near the end, comes the flashiest space battle scene in any Trek film. This is where I discovered the real truth. In that EW article, one so-called fan says of the ninth film, “Insurrection signaled the beginning of the end.” While with “Nemesis,” another spouts out, ‘I have been a fan 37 years and I was waiting for this film to end.”

Well, I’ve been an admirer/devotee (never a “fan” from that nasty word “fanatic”) for the same stretch. What’s different? The horrible truth got me with “Nemesis.” Trek fans no longer want plot, characters, situations and dialogue. They only want action and movement, the more the better. Today’s fans are only there for a thrill-happy roller-coaster ride, a giant video game. They don’t care for wall-to-wall dialogue, characters that talk. I would wager that very few of today’s fans have seen the original Trek pilot, “The Cage,” which starred Jeffrey Hunter as Capt. Pike. It was mostly talk, very little action. No, today’s fans aren’t Gene’s children. They have succumbed to George Lucas’ multi-billion dollar effects empire. They want mostly flashy dazzle effects. They want Star Trek Wars, not Star Trek. The real Trek is now archaic, a beautiful, brilliant, passionate, human(e) thing of the past. Today’s Trekkers are in Lucas Land. Even J.J. Abrams, director of the next Trek film, has admitted he’s more Star Wars than Star Trek.

So, what to expect? Maybe, Trek’s final burial.

I’m sorry that Gene couldn’t live to see what’s become of his brainchild. He liked and admired Lucas for his effects genius, but I’m glad he didn’t live to see what today’s audiences have become. He cared greatly about character and humanity. He cherished conversations. I’m only sorry that none of today’s audiences can hear any. I’d like to say that I despise all you Lucas Land Trekkers, but I can only feel sad and sorry for you. You don’t care any for calm, logical thinking and peaceful solutions.

So, with teary eyes, my final salute to Gene’s Trek and mine: “I have been, and always shall be, your friend.”

Calvin Walker

Mt. Vernon

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