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Comment by pacarvalho | Hacker News Reader

Initially, I attributed the difference in the sentiment of the show to them being developed by a different team of writers. However, reflecting further on the matter and taking into account that similar changes occurred in other sci-fi franchises such as Stargate SG-1 vs Universe, it does seem to be somewhat related to the eras' changes in their perception of the future.

Regardless what the reason may be, I would like to see a return to shows like Startrek Next Generation or Stargate SG-1 and a depart from their current versions. A return to the exploration and selflessness that contrasts our real-lives' hardships, socio-political discussions and routine. The utopia of Startrek.

I, for one, could not wait to engineer my next thing after an energizing episode of exploration focused sci-fi. Something that does not happen after watching the dark, emotional facsimiles of today.

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I recently came across the term "hopepunk" which I think fits with your point. There is a line where hopeful, positive stories provide a lot of value before crossing into pandering/boring territory. I wish more modern stories built that up.

I'm new to this term, and as a big fan of cyberpunk, I'm glad to see a non-dystopian take on it.

> Regardless what the reason may be, I would like to see a return to shows like Startrek Next Generation or Stargate SG-1 and a depart from their current versions

Seth MacFarlane's The Orville fills that void, even if it's scifi comedy. Clearly modeled after Star Trek TNG, it's refreshing to see adults behaving professionally, in control of their emotions. New Trek plots depend on their characters being immature, irrational, depressive and unstable psychological wrecks. Their seasons would be shortened to a few episodes if competent adults were in charge.

The cartoon show, Lower Decks, was made to compete with the Orville in the comedy department, and according to the fans, is unexpectedly good. I've lost count of how many simultaneous New Trek shows are going on now, if they were made by better people this would be a new Trek golden age.

I wonder how much this has to do with the philosophy and outlook at the time as opposed to just the mundane trend more and more action and fast-paced story telling and the need for stories that span many episodes. Some episodes of season 2 of Discovery were able to weave in the visit planets and explore stuff from older Trek, but it's hard to explore and discuss philosophical problems if you need to have a lot of action and conflict to keep an audience. TNG still had a strong following, but would a show that slow make the CFO happy today? It would get more fighting with the Borg, more war like in DS9, but without all the episodes about other stuff. In fact if you'd take the episodes related to the Dominion and make them faster and cut a lot of the interpersonal stuff, it would be much closer to Discovery than TNG.

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