I am someone who loves when my favorite franchises and properties have new stories to tell. As a fan of both Star Trek and Star Wars, it has been wonderful to see them both grow in recent years. But that’s not how others feel about these franchises.
Recently, there has been an uptick in vitriol spewed at the new series, Star Trek: Starfleet Academy. “Fans” have decided that the series is woke, which…it is Star Trek. By your definition of “woke,” the entire franchise falls into that descriptor. But more than that, the show itself is just a celebration of the franchise as well as a doorway for new fans. That’s a good thing!
A lot of so-called fans get furious that a show isn’t a perfect recreation of the original series. Or isn’t littered with references for them to appreciate. Starfleet Academy does have plenty for fans of Star Trek to love but the vitriol spewed at the show follows an upsetting “trend” with new additions to beloved franchises.
For me, Starfleet Academy is filled with joy. The show is happy, fun, and an exciting series to watch. And that’s how I feel about a lot of the newer additions to legacy franchises. But the joy that is present within these stories seems to really anger people who deem themselves the “real” fans of said franchises.
The more I hear of these “criticisms” of things like Starfleet Academy or the hatred thrown at The Acolyte, I realize that maybe these “fans” are just a bit miserable. Because why else are you that furious that a show has a little bit of fun with the franchise that you claim to love so completely?
Are you all just that miserable?
Starfleet Academy is a harmless show. To me, it is a series that allows new fans of Star Trek to happily entire the franchise without being overwhelmed at the prospect. Part of what makes these franchises and stories so “universal” is that we can share them with new generations. But so many “fans” are stuck in this idea that the only stories worthwhile were the ones from the past.
That’s not true. These stories are meant to give new fans a chance to find something to love and for older fans of these franchises, we get to live within these stories time and time again. I think that’s a great thing! But for some reason, there is a subset of “fans” furious at that line of thinking. Why? You don’t enjoy fun stories within your favorite franchises?
Shows like Starfleet Academy are filled with joy and a love for the Star Trek franchise. If you think otherwise, then I don’t really know what to tell you. But maybe we need to look deeper at the hatred thrown at new entries into these franchises and why these so-called fans are so angry that there is joy and happiness in these stories. It is okay to have fun!
(featured image: John Medland/Paramount+)
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