Boldly Going Back

ETA: This did not post yesterday evening; either through author error or internet whatsis. I leave you to decide which seems more likely

Star Trek fandom buzzed enthusiastically with the news that Patrick Stewart would return to the franchise as Jean-Luc Picard in a new series.  In a statement, Stewart labeled the discovery of new possibilities for the character a "delightful surprise." Despite what one might think based on his extensive experience as a "high culture" stage actor, Stewart has always embraced the fandom of what is not always a high-culture television series. He repeated that in the statement, saying that the response of people who drew inspiration, leadership understanding and sometimes comfort from his role as Picard was "humbling."

The series is said to be dealing with "the next chapters" of Picard's life, which on the one hand makes sense; Stewart is 78 years old rather than the 47 he was when his series, Star Trek: The Next Generation began. Even though he played a more cerebral captain than William Shatner did in the original Star Trek series, a show that failed to acknowledge that Picard was more than 40 years older would face significant credibility hurdles.

But while that showrunning decision makes sense, it also offers a reason to wait and see. Next Generation was definitely a product of its times and often reflected too many of creator Gene Roddenberry's less creative ideas (*cough* Wesley Crusher *cough*). It lasted long enough to wear thin several of its ideas and storytelling conventions. Many of its episodes have not aged well. Burdening Picard with a backstory that carries too much of that baggage could easily make the new series just as boring as Random Mediocre Season Five Episode (or pick your own).

On the other hand, trying to shoehorn the dignified Picard into a modern Star Trek concept that includes the awful Discovery and a forecast Trek movie from Quentin Tarantino will be complete mismatch.

Stewart's full statement can offer a reason for pause as well -- "I feel I'm ready to return to him (Picard) for the same reason - to research and experience what comforting and reforming light he might shine on these often very dark times." It's next to impossible to read anything from someone in show business today that references dark times and not hear hints of plans to comment on our current president. It's hard not to be nervous about that.

Not because I have any love for President Trump, who continues to be a man without character even if he has achieved some things I agree with. And not because I expect episode after episode of something like Robert De Niro's embarrassing tantrum at the Tony Awards; Stewart's politics may be liberal but I've never read a hint of him being anything other than a polite and gracious person in his public comments or interactions with fans. At the very least he'd be a lot funnier than De Niro was.

I'm nervous about the implications of Stewart's words because I'd like to have five minutes of a movie, book or television show that doesn't talk about Donald Trump. I'd like to have my escapist idealistic space opera be escapist and idealistic instead of telling me what I already know about Trump and how showbiz folks see him. I'd like for my entertainment that comments on the human condition to comment on the condition of all humans instead of just one of them.

However, all of this is speculation about a television show that hasn't even begun being written or filmed yet, so I suppose the proper attitude is wait and see.

Except that the as-yet untitled new series will be shown on CBS All Access, the network's subscription streaming service. So my actual course of action, it seems, will be wait and don't see.