With franchises like Star Wars and Star Trek, it seems like every new entry brings out another new subset of haters. In fact, the presence of arguments among the fandoms is arguably one of the most consistent aspects of any given nerd thing like these sci-fi giants. But sometimes, the positivity can shine through, and those moments are precious.
One such moment came recently when Rod Roddenberry, the son of Star Trek's late creator Gene Roddenberry, spoke about how fondly he believes his father would look on the latest offering in the series. Star Trek: Strange New Worlds has been garnering praise among fans and newcomers alike ever since its May premiere, and it looks as though it may be one of the first pieces of Star Trek media in quite some time to earn such appreciation. That sentiment apparently extends to the younger Roddenberry, and he says his dad would very likely share a similar appraisal.
"I think he'd be very proud of it," Roddenberry said in an interview with Screen Rant. "I think something that surprised me a bit is the uniqueness of each episode of Strange New Worlds. I'm impressed that they're doing that. It kind of shocked me at first, because we've got some comedic episodes - or at least, certainly some comedic moments. And these things I would initially say when reading scripts that I don't know how this is going to play out. I don't know how the audience is going to receive this."
Even aside from Gene Roddenberry's connection with Star Trek, it seems that Rod Roddenberry himself is actually surprised at how much he has enjoyed the series so far, not quite expecting the quality to reach the heights it's reaching for. "But they've nailed it," he continued. "And fans are going crazy for it. And I'm so proud of all the creators. They've done an incredible job with Strange New Worlds. And I'm thrilled for them." He's certainly right about that. The fans adore Strange New Worlds, from the perspective of the show itself to appreciating the actual actors. Anson Mount, who plays Captain Pike, likely helped that feeling along when he came out in support of Obi-Wan Kenobi star Moses Ingram against the racist backlash she'd been receiving from viewers. Given Gene Roddenberry's famously progressive views that clearly shone in the messages of Star Trek, that's just one more way the series is symbolically following in his footsteps.
For some, it may not be particularly surprising to hear that the late Roddenberry may very well have given Strange New Worlds his seal of approval. Featuring familiar characters like Spock (Ethan Peck), Nurse Chapel (Jess Bush), and the aforementioned Captain Pike, it returns to the episodic structure of past series and attempts to recapture what drew audiences to Star Trek in the first place. In a time after the tragic passing of Nichelle Nichols, perhaps finding comfort in the classic formula that she helped cultivate is a noble pursuit.
Star Trek: Strange New Worlds is off to a promising start, and the presumed endorsement of the great creator himself should hopefully serve to keep that momentum high. So here's hoping the series stays true to itself and continues to shoot for the stars.
Star Trek: Strange New Worlds is available to stream on Paramount+.
Source: Screen Rant