The Enormous Star Trek Universe and Its Diverse Fans
Those outside the Star Trek universe often underestimate its size and global fanbase. From the youngest Trekkies to those who are in their 80s, Star Trek has a dedicated and passionate audience. The Star Trek universe has evolved from its humble beginnings with the original series even before special effects were sophisticated to the heavily hyped and overwhelming phenomena of recent series like Star Trek: Discovery.
Given the enormous audience, many STAR TREK fans are highly educated, thoughtful, and opinionated. They have been scrutinizing every iteration of Star Trek for over five decades. While it might seem that the fans are an unhappy lot, it is actually the small number of unhappy fans that are vastly larger than any other non-Star Trek fan group.
My Personal Journey As a Star Trek Fan
I have always been a fan of the original series. While I have occasionally watched reruns of Star Trek: The Next Generation (TNG), Deep Space Nine (DS9), or Voyager, I have never really enjoyed them. My stance on the latest reboot, Star Trek: Discovery, is so negative that it feels like scratching on a blackboard.
Even with these negative opinions, I assumed I wouldn't like the reboots. However, I was pleasantly surprised and found myself enjoying them a lot, particularly Benedict Cumberbatch's portrayal of Khan in the reboot films. While I didn't particularly like the original Khan storyline, Cumberbatch's version restored my faith in the franchise.
The intense debates I have read and participated in suggest that there are always Trekkies who have a different opinion. This is not unusual, as Star Trek represents a real universe to its fans, each experiencing it subjectively. This makes it impossible to satisfy every fan entirely at any given time, as every decision will upset some fans.
The Cycles of Commercialism and Fan Satisfaction
For any creator, it is inherent that decisions and content will offend some of their audience. To understand this complexity, one only needs to look at the comment sections of any online fan gatherings or communities. The eternal struggle between fan satisfaction and commercial success is a constant.
Commercial decision-makers, often referred to as the "Powers That Be" (PTB), must choose between catering to the loyal, established fanbase, and expanding the fanbase through new and potentially less loyal fans. Unfortunately, in most cases, the PTB will prioritize the latter, potentially alienating the former. Therefore, it is impossible to keep every fan in the Star Trek community happy simultaneously.
The fact that the PTB will eventually broaden the fanbase and treat more people to the marvels of Star Trek is a stark reality that forces creators to make difficult decisions. While it's sad to see the potential loss of some fan support, it is a reality of the entertainment industry.