Star Trek Through the Ages

Ah, Star Trek! The beloved sci-fi saga has had its fair share of fans and critics since it first beamed onto our screens. Each era has its own die-hard enthusiasts and disgruntled naysayers. Take The Original Series, for instance: It dazzled us with flashy colors and epic space escapades but faced ridicule for its cheesiness that would make even a grilled cheese sandwich jealous.

Then we moved on to The Next Generation, which assembled a stellar cast and delivered some of the franchise’s most memorable speeches. But people grumbled about its beige décor and lack of nail-biting action. Not to mention, Deep Space Nine went full-on dark mode, and Enterprise felt more like a return to the military days of Starfleet. Oh, the drama!

The ‘90s Legends Weigh In

But hold your phasers! When the gripes come from two legends of the franchise, Rick Berman and Brannon Braga, we should probably pay attention. They recently dropped by the D-Con Chamber podcast, hosted by former Enterprise stars Connor Trinneer and Dominic Keating. Berman, in a fit of modern Trek-induced confusion, lamented, “I watched an episode where they exclaimed, ‘Give me five!’ and I thought, ‘What in the warp drive is this?’ There’s something timeless about Star Trek, and that just doesn’t fit the vibe.”

What’s Up With the Lingo?

Berman didn’t specify which new series made him clutch his pearls, but let’s be real, phrases like ‘Give me five’ might just fit in anywhere these days. Whether it’s the hilariously awkward Tilly from Discovery or the latest Spock romance in Strange New Worlds, modern slang is taking over like a rogue Klingon battle cruiser.

Berman and Braga aren’t exactly thrilled. They argue that writing for Star Trek requires a certain charm—formal yet fun, sophisticated but not snooty. “You don’t want to dive too deep into the quagmire of contemporary jargon, but hey, a sprinkle of it isn’t the end of the galaxy!” Braga mused.

The Men Behind the Curtain

Now, these guys know their stuff. Berman helped bring TNG to life along with Gene Roddenberry, and when Roddenberry’s health took a nosedive, Berman became the go-to guru of the series. He also co-created DS9, Voyager, and Enterprise along with Braga, who journeyed from intern on The Next Generation to showrunner of Voyager faster than you can say ‘Beam me up, Scotty!’

A Complicated Legacy

But let’s not sugarcoat it: their legacy has some serious bumps. Berman has faced backlash for his infamous decisions, like allegedly shoving gay characters under the starship carpet, and, of course, the “catsuits” scandal, which made sure that only female characters got to strut around in those skin-tight outfits.

Terry Farrell, who played the fierce Jadzia Dax, didn’t hold back, blaming Berman for her early exit. “Rick’s got a serious case of misogyny, in my opinion,” she revealed in a book that wasn’t exactly a love letter to him. Seriously, commenting on bra sizes? Yikes!

A Sprinkle of Modern Flavor?

Still, in a twist, the fellows did admit that sometimes, adapting to modern lingo isn’t entirely off-limits. “We wanted Enterprise to feel a bit more relatable—more like you and me,” Braga shared. Ironically, Enterprise continues to hover in the shadow of less-loved series. Does this prove that the old school way is the best, or just that everyone has a ‘least favorite’ Trek? The jury is still out!

In the end, modern Trek’s tone is a hot topic, making fans wonder if it’s time for some space-age adjustments—or if we should just boldly go back to the golden days of classic Trek. Let us know your thoughts in the comments below!