startrekexplainedAug 10, 2023

Did anyone else dislike TOS in their youth but came around to it when they got older?

https://startrek.website/post/775423

Did anyone else dislike TOS in their youth but came around to it when they got older? - Star Trek: Website

I was born in 1989, so I grew up with the TNG era and ENT, and I always dismissed TOS as a kid as the cheesy 60s original version that TNG remade and left in the dust. It wasn’t until high school that I actually sat down and watched TOS and fell in love with it. I even now wonder if Kirk is better than Picard, it’s a debate I have with myself often. Was wondering if anyone else had a similar experience with TOS?

Show threadbenjaminAug 10, 2023

I was the same way. I happened to turn on Pluto a while back, and TNG was on. I remembered seeing it as a kid and not being a fan, but I found myself watching every episode that came on.

I got so wrapped up in it that I got Paramount+ just to watch every season, then start on all the others I’ve missed.

IMHO, Picard is a better captain than Kirk (I expect downvotes for this).

Show threadstartrekexplained
Yeah I agree Picard is overall still a better captain, but some qualities of Kirk I like more, like how he is more willing to interfere to overthrow the local false god or dictator.
Aug 10, 2023 at 6:09amWeb
Show threadlatcaAug 10, 2023
I’ll have to go with Picard on that one too it is called the PRIME directive for a reason.
Show threadstartrekexplainedAug 10, 2023
Picard is def the better one overall, but one day Ill do a ranking on qualities and say which one is better at which
Show threadVordusAug 10, 2023

Folks tend to say that Kirk is too much of a cowboy, but that’s not really who he is. He’s very much invested in the rules and hierarchy of Starfleet, but he’s also driven by a sense of justice.

He’s not a cowboy, he’s the Sheriff.

Show threadstartrekexplainedAug 10, 2023
The pop culture image of Kirk is not the same as the actual Kirk. I was surprised how much Kirk is a good Starfleet captain.
Show threadkd637_miAug 11, 2023

This is a big issue. I’ve said it before, but so many people think they know what Kirk and TOS are, and are wrong about it. It isn’t pure ham and Kirk sleeping with the galaxy. It’s tense, it’s deep, it’s ahead of its time and ahead of a lot of current shows as well. The chemistry between Kirk, Spock and Bones really shines, and there is a real sense of the unknown. Remember that the reruns of TOS are what drove demand for TNG in the first place.

This isn’t to say that people aren’t allowed to not like TOS, of course some people won’t. I just think people and especially trek fans do themselves a disservice by not giving it a good go.

Standard TOS defence rant over.