Star Trek Continues

[RickR]

I know I'm way late to this party...this is now a few years old.  But I just found it and I'm hooked.

It's called "Star Trek Continues", and it's a free on YouTube.  It's fan created Star Trek episodes.  I know, right?  Probably very nerdy.  But no...this one is special.  The acting is so-so, and pretty bad in spots...but oh my, did they ever capture the look and feel of the original series.  Very great sets, lighting, costumes and props.  Music from TOS.  Effects that look very much like the remastered TOS.  Stories that are meant to continue the 5 year mission of TOS.  I've only watched 3 episodes so far, and I'm hooked.  Some highlights so far:

• Episode one is a continuation of the "Apollo" character from the TOS episode "Who Mourns for Adonais?".  It stars the same actor that originally played Apollo.  Is that Marina Sirtis as the voice of the computer?  YES it is!
• Episode two features Lou Ferrigno as a Orion slave trader who just happens to be GREEN! 
• Episode three is set in the mirror universe and is a continuation of TOS "Mirror Mirror".  Is that Michael Dorn as the ISS computer voice?  Yep

If you squint your eyes just a tiny amount...this really feels like the real deal.  As I was watching episode two, my wife walked in and assumed it was indeed the real show..."What episode is this?". 

If you haven't seen it, I highly recommend it.  And if you have, tell me what you think

Edited November 27, 2018 by RickR

[RickR]

Link to the youtube channel:

https://www.youtube.com/user/StarTrekContinues

 

[GRay Defender]

I concur this is a great series continuation/remake.  So much fun to watch.

[TrekMD]

Oh yes, this was a great show.  An excellent continuation of the original series and it concludes up to the events of Star Trek TMP.  I've had a chance to meet Vic and several other cast members of the show and they did this out of love for Star Trek.  It is unfortunate it had to come to an end a bit earlier than planned because of the new rules from CBS. 

[Justin]

I'm still grieving over Axanar ?

[TrekMD]

8 hours ago, Justin said:

I'm still grieving over Axanar ?

I'm eagerly waiting to see what they're going to release now. 

[Justin]

Anybody else consider Star Trek Continues as part of your personal canon? It may be a fan series but I hold it in higher regard than a few films I could name.

[leolinden]

Ooh gonna have to put this one on my "to watch" list.

[TrekMD]

This page may be of interest:  https://www.startrekcontinues.com/downloads.html

[RickR]

Erin Gray (from the 80's version of Buck Rogers) as Commodore Gray! 

[RickR]

5 hours ago, TrekMD said:

This page may be of interest:  https://www.startrekcontinues.com/downloads.html

THIS IS AWESOME.  Thank you for sharing. 

[MaximumRD]

They are awesome, seen them all, very much a product of love and IMHO the closest thing we ever got or will get to the OG Trek series. 

[Justin]

In the mid-2000s when Star Trek New Voyages and Star Trek Phase II began I watched with an open mind and enjoyed the fan series for what they were. Star Trek Continues has done such a fantastic job with this though. Very disappointing to see how Paramount & CBS have treated fan films.

[RickR]

9 hours ago, Justin said:

In the mid-2000s when Star Trek New Voyages and Star Trek Phase II began I watched with an open mind and enjoyed the fan series for what they were. Star Trek Continues has done such a fantastic job with this though. Very disappointing to see how Paramount & CBS have treated fan films.

I don't know the history yet, other than TrekMD mentioning they had to stop making episodes early.  Probably when they started planning "Discovery".

But as an outsider, I think it's pretty incredible they allowed the usage of the name, music, etc for several years.  After all, that license is still very valuable.  

[TrekMD]

No, it was not because of Discovery.  Or, at least, that's not the reason we have been given to understand.  Apparently the problem was Axanar as the team behind it were a bit "loud" about how they were making a professional production and got CBS pissed.  So, the set rules for fan productions with many restrictions.  ST Continues was non-profit so they were allowed to, well, continue, but Vic decided to finish the production 2 episodes early.

[RickR]

What is Axanar?  Whoops....I found this:  https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prelude_to_Axanar

Is it also worth watching?

Edited December 1, 2018 by RickR

[Justin]

44 minutes ago, RickR said:

What is Axanar?  Whoops....I found this:  https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prelude_to_Axanar

Is it also worth watching?

I think so!  If you enjoy the original series hopefully you'll enjoy Prelude to Axanar. 🖖 I thought it was well done. 

 

 

[Justin]

56 minutes ago, TrekMD said:

Apparently the problem was Axanar as the team behind it were a bit "loud" about how they were making a professional production and got CBS pissed.  

Sounds about right to me!

[TrekMD]

Prelude to Axanar is excellent and it shows the quality of the material being developed.  It also included actors and other people behind the scenes who had worked on Star Trek before, which was another reason CBS got pissed.  We are still going to see two 15 minute vignettes from them but they won't be the same as what had been planned.  Here is an update video of the current production:

 

[TrekMD]

This video explains what happened and some of what is going on now...

 

[RickR]

Well, I have some catching  up to do.  Thanks for all the links and updates. 

I'm currently watching the "continues" episodes.  And we just started watching "The Expanse" (not Star Trek, but sci-fi).  Those should keep me busy for a while. 

[TrekMD]

The Expanse is awesome!

[RickR]

We've made through 3 episodes of "The Expanse", and it's good so far.  Picking up steam. 

I just want to mention the obvious....we (my wife and I) are terrible at "binge-watching".  It's just so hard to find time.  So season one of The Expanse will probably take us a month to get through. 

 

[TrekMD]

Oh, don't stop watching.  The show is well written and the story just gets more and  more interesting.

[RickR]

I'm really slow at binge watching.  Have you noticed?

I just made it to episode 9 of STC "What Ships are For" and just had to comment.  This one is the best episode so far.  It seriously is good enough that it fits right in with TOS.  Excellent.  I'm stunned.