[TV Show Review] Star Trek Continues (2013- Episode 01)
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Plot Summary: The USS Enterprise's historic five-year mission continues with all new episodes of the original series. "Star Trek: Continues", a new Trek series, beams down with exciting adventures of the Federation's most heroic crew led by Captain James T. Kirk.
Series Directed By: Vic Mignogna, Chris White
Runtime: 52 min
Main Cast:
- Vic Mignogna as Captain James T. Kirk
- Todd Haberkorn as Mr. Spock
- Larry Nemecek as Dr. McCoy
- Christopher Doohan as Mr. Scott
- Grant Imahara as Lt. Hikaru Sulo
- Kim Stinger as Lt. Nyota Uhura
- Michele Specht as Dr. Elise McKennah
- Steven Dengler as Lt. William Drake
Review: by Kendrick
I happened upon this series completely by accident, and it could not have been a happier coincidence. But as a die hard Star Trek fan, I had mixed feelings about this entire endeavor; I was ecstatic that anyone is doing any thing with Star Trek, but, after the failures that I believe Star Trek: Enterprise and the new J.J. Abrams Star Trek movies were, I had little hope that I would be satisfied by anything that was both new and trek.
I was conflicted when I heard it was a fan parody, but after some of the bad ideas paramount has pitched (I’m looking at you Star Trek: Captain Worf), I was willing to have an open mind. Being a fan, I was disappointed to hear a Star Trek kickstarter was started and completed without giving me the opportunity to give my life savings to aid in the cause. Going into watching the first episode, I tried to keep in mind that the acting and sets might not be of the level and quality I was accustomed to. I knew that if the heart was there I would enjoy it.
I was not let down on either of those accounts. Star Trek Continues made a bold and smart move by “continuing” the original Star trek series. The reason I say bold is because of how I perceive the sci-fi fandom. Granted, I perceive the fandom through my limited group of friends. I have often seen that fans are led strongly by first impressions. You see this in a lot of sci-fi. You never forget your first Doctor in Doctor Who. The original Star Wars trilogy (Episode IV, V, VI) is better than the prequels (Episode I, II, III). Don’t change my superheroes or their origin stories. I could go on.
As a twenty-four year old, I was first introduced to Star Trek with Star Trek: The Next Generation. I was never a huge fan of the original series, but I watched most of it because i wanted to be able to fully appreciate later variations of the franchise by starting with its origins. I never took to Star Trek like I did with Star Trek: The Next Generation or Star Trek: Deep Space Nine, mostly because I saw it as out dated and frankly a little sexist.
The first episode of Star Trek Continues was entitled “Pilgrim of Eternity”. It was a call back to the the original series Star Trek Season 2 Episode 2 “Who Mourns for Adonais.” The episode had the god Apollo rescued from a ship that was supposed to give them energy for eternity but instead imprisoned them. The crew was understandably worried that he, Apollo, was on the ship after their last encounter, but he slowly changed for the better and achieved redemption.
Summary
Overall the episode was awesome. Even writing the review for it was hard because I was fanboy-ing so hard. I don’t know how they did it, but the tone of the episode matched perfectly with the original series. There were numerous little things in this episode that hearkened back to the original series that made it practically as good as the original series, and it wasn’t necessarily the acting. There were extras doing nonsense work in the background, the way the main characters seemed to be in the halls walking nowhere, dramatic pauses in talking, and even subtle sexism, which all came together to give me the show I remembered.
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A sagging old rust bucket designed like a garbage scow. If anything, it is a garbage scow that should be hauled away as garbage. Star Trek Continues is certainly a reminder of the dark side of Star Trek fandom taking physical form. It’s latest episode was certainly heavy-handed, painful, and disappointing to view
It also really boggles the mind as to why the Farragut Films staff would partner themselves with someone who has utterly tarnished, ruined, and decimated whatever credibility and reputation Farragut Films has. Especially after Mignogna’s unauthorized release of the Phase 2 episode ‘Kitumba’. An incident that made fan headlines last year and certainly did not help matters much for the Washington D.C. based film company. In fact, it pretty much was the final nail in their proverbial photon burial tube.
Like I said before about Vic Mignogna’s performance as the heroic Jim Kirk is nothing more than a belch from a bad onion. Seriously, he doesn’t even have the voice for such a strong, heroic lead.
William Shatner, James Cawley, Christopher Pine, and Brian J. Gross certainly give better performances as James Kirk than this slab of rotten Fisher’s Ham(i.e. Mignogna).
And that is only scratching the surface and putting a gloss on this situation.
Todd Haberkorn’s performance as Spock was certainly dull, dry, and regretfully one-dimensional. If anything, he could have learned a few things or more from Leonard Nimoy, Zachary Quinto, and Brandon Stacey. Those aforementioned three gave better performances as our favorite and beloved Vulcan. Haberkorn would have been better off in a different role. Maybe he could play Hikaru Sulu, again. Who knows?
Wyatt Lenart’s performance as every Star Trek fans favorite nationalistic Russian navigator, Pavel Chekov, was not all that great, either. For starters, his eye color was all wrong(Chekov was brown-eyed, NOT blue-eyed). Second, his Russian accent just was not convincing enough. Lenart, for all intenets and purposes, was seriously miscast. Better luck next time, Wyatt. Walter Koenig, Anton Yelchin, and Jonathan Zungre are the better versions of Pavel Andreivich Chekov.
Larry Nemecek did the best that he could as Dr. Leonard ‘Bones’ McCoy. Unfortunately, his weakness in his performance was the lack of a mild Southern accent(which the late DeForest Kelley wonderfully displayed)and the strong one-liners that were brilliantly conveyed by Karl Urban in the two Star Trek prequel/reboots. Larry’s greatest strengths are that of being a writer and a columnist concerning Star Trek. Sadly, acting is not one of them.
Christopher Doohan is probably the only shining light in this production. Sadly, it is a shining light that has severely faded by being part of this demented ‘French Farce’ of a Star Trek fan film. While he certainly recaptures the qualities of Montgomery Scott(who was played brilliantly by his late father and honored World War II veteran, James Doohan), it doesn’t help matters much that his talents are regretfully wasted in this less than productive endeavor. Frankly, his talents would be put to much better usage in either Star Trek – Phase 2 or the J.J. Abrams films(for which he has clearly demonstrated).
Kim Stinger’s performance as Nyota Uhura was better suited when she played the same role on Star Trek – New Voyages/Phase II. Especially when it comes to her singing voice. One wonders how much she was paid in silver to jump ship over to a production that she knew that would bring her some serious controversy. Judas would have obviously approved.
As for Grant Imahara’s performance as Hikaru Sulu…well, he worked for Lucasfilm during the making of the less than popular Star Wars prequel trilogy. He should keep his day job with Mythbusters or something better.
Michelle Specht’s performance as Dr. Elise McKenna is clear statement as to why she is even in the film. While she is a very lovely woman and an actress who seems to display some talent, her only reason for being there is just to be a symbol of nepotism. Being Vic Mignogna’s soon to be wife, her role as a ship’s counselor(a rank and position that did not start until the NG era some twenty- five years past)is merely window dressing.
I seem to recall that the name Elise McKenna was the name of the 19th Century stage actress played by British thespian Jane Seymour in the 1980 time travel fantasy ‘Somewhere In Time’. Not only do we know where the entire sets from Star Trek Continues was taken from, we now know where Mignogna hijacked the name for Michelle’s character from. Unoriginality indeed!
The bottom line is this. Star Trek Continues definitely does not have the potential to be all that entertaining. As a result, Star Trek Continues is a faulty and controversial fan film production that makes the bad points of Star Trek Into Darkness look pale in comparison.
Spare yourself this flop of a Star Trek fan film and stick with the original series, the animated series, first six films, J.J. Abrams prequel reboot, and Star Trek-New Voyages/Phase 2. The latter being the ONLY Star Trek fan film for the fans, by the fans, with professional experience in cinema/television production, acting, SFX, and quality artistic craftmanship and integrity.