thanks, but i think i'll pass . . .

How funny is it that I'm decrying the retcon and bitching about the "reinventing" of Star Trek on the same day that io9 writes Captain Wesley Crusher: SIS:

The Star Trek franchise has always been about "big picture" stories, but the next Trek series should take the opposite approach, narrow the scope and focus on a few well-developed characters - primarily Wesley Crusher. Yes, the much maligned ensign should be brought back as the captain of a Starfleet science vessel that warps around the Alpha Quadrant solving mysteries for the Federation. Think of it as CSI . . . in space! Here's how it would work ...

How do they handle the whole Traveler thing? Easy:

Oh yeah, about that whole resigning from Starfleet and tripping around the universe with that space-hippie, The Traveler? One word: retcon.

The whole thing is very entertaining, and I honestly don't know what to say when a science fiction site says nice things about me, so I'll just say thank you.

Comments

[prof_rocko]

Yay, retcon! Uh... what were we talking about just now??

[Mad Monk]

It's weird how we are all naturally suspect of those who are nice to us.

[Mad Monk]

Or, in this case, nice to Weslely.

What would Lego Wesley say about it all?

[Wil]

Reprinted from a comment I left at Bad Astronomy Blog:

"
Assuming it was serious, and CBS asked me to play Wesley again, I'd almost certainly say "thank you, but I think I'll pass." I'm 35 now; stepping back into a character that I haven't really played (Nemesis doesn't count) in 20 years doesn't really appeal to me, especially since I'm more interested in writing than I am in on-camera acting.

Interestingly (to me, at least) I was recently offered a chance to write a TNG story, with the caveat that it had to be a Wesley story. I thought about it a for a few days, but decided that I couldn't do it. I mean, how was that going to be good for me? Either way, I'd be accused of pulling a Mary Sue or an anti-Mary Sue, and when I thought about it -- I mean, *really* thought about it -- I realized that there isn't anything that interests me about playing that character again."

[jdmack]

It's been a long time since I've read a "Star Trek: TNG" novel, but I do remember one which takes place in the future and where Wesley C. is a captain. So there already exists a sanctioned universe where this series could take place.

J. D.

[SandieK]

@madmonk
Weird how we suspect when someone does/says nice things about us? Pah. Sadly, Im at a point where my first thought is something along the lines of "okay, NOW what do you want from me" when this happens. Even from my family and friends.

Although..Star Trek CSI sounds almost interesting. Theres not much to screw up in another CSI series, as Miami is almost completely FUBARd and you cant get much worse.
Besides, Id rather see a series/movie based around Klingons and Kahless.

[Ed G]

Picture the scene: you hear a steady *beep* *beep* from outside. You look and it's JJ Abrams backing a dump truck full of money into your driveway.

Would you at least think about it? :-)

[Fia]

Hell, I'd watch it. Sci-fi plus crime procedural? That's pretty much my idea of perfection.

[Mad Monk]

@SandieK

It's draining, isn't it?

I work in a helping profession (clergy) and I tend to see people as energy giving or soul-sucking vampires.

I guess I avoid the latter; however, I am an eternal optimist.

[John Welch]

J.D., IIRC, "Imzadi", by Peter David had Wesley as a captain. Data was a Commodore IIRC. (I'd be more definite, but I'm in FL, and the book is in MO)

Good book too.

The problem with Star Trek:CSI is that they'd have to can the standard ST plot devices:

1) Space-Going Wedgie of Ultimate Cosmic Power

2) YA Alien Race we don't understand until the last commercial break

3) HOLOSUITE MALFUNCTION. (Seriously, why the HELL did anyone go in those things, they were always trying to kill people. Like some futuristic version of Saw)

4) YA doohickey fucking with space-time. Space-Time in the future is pretty damned delicate if you ask me.

5) Crewman goes nuts, does bad things until the last commercial break. (I think the future lost the recipe for Prozac. Or Tasers)

6) Someone's having a damned civil war/treaty problem.

My personal "Should have been an episode of TNG" fave is "Spot's Day" by Diane Duane, (Probably the best ST author ever). She used to have the script on her site, it's a scream.

[sorakirei]

Bwahahahahaha that picture is brilliant! Personally I'd love to see that, though I'm not certain if it would work past an episode or two.

[ScottBieser]

Wesley Crusher was mostly ok as a supporting character in an ensemble cast. As a lead character, captaining a starship? No. And I actually prefer the idea of Wesley going to ever-higher planes of existence and never being heard from again until a century later when he joins the Q Continuum or something like that.

Now, a Star Trek CSI show? Well, that could work, and it would affirm Harlan Ellison's take that ST is really a cop show anyway.

[Erbo]

Aw, darn...I always wanted to see a new Star Trek series featuring the brand new USS Enterprise (NCC-1701-J), and, in the first episode, have it visited by Admiral Wesley Crusher, saying, "This is a new ship, but she's got the right name. You treat her like a lady, and she'll always bring you home." :-)

[merindab]

I just love that picture. CSI: Star Trek, not so much.

Though can I confess I actually cried when Wesley went off with the Traveler?

[malty]

I'd watch a spinoff with just Q Continuum characters, personally. That could actually be interesting-- kind of taking what makes Spiderman or Star Trek interesting (the human element) and going the exact opposite way. I bet a good writer could explore some really big themes using omnipotent characters who can't easily be drawn into standard dramatic forms.

[Hisham]

I'm trying to figure out which The Who song will be in the opening credits.

[Wil]

@Hisham: I vote for "The Seeker."

[Melanie Fletcher]

I thought the Star Trek/CSI crossover was already on the air -- after all, CSI: NY has holograms, tricorders, and high-tech equipment that Dr. Crusher would be proud to have in her sickbay, plus the pocket universe that allows them to get DNA results back in a day or two.

[Rowlock]

Now that you mention it, how were they proposing to retcon Wesley's appearance at the wedding in Nemesis, anyways?

[kriss]

I just hope they don't overdose thousands of geeks on retcon, can you imagine the mayhem when anyone said "Torchwood"?

[pandave]

Really though? I'd kill for a that show. If not for the fact that we'd get to see you A. in the captains chair and B. back on star trek, but it sounds it'd be the first good ST show since the voyager reached earth.

[Anna Harriman]

@kriss: When I saw "retcon," I IMMEDIATELY thought of Torchwood. Glad to see someone else gets it.

@Wil: My vote goes to I Can See For Miles. Am I going to get rocks thrown at me for not knowing The Seeker? *prepares to duck*

[Alan]

The Traveller doesn't need to be retconned. This is my version of what happened to Wesley.

Wesley ended up gaining control of a small starship early in his adventures with the Traveller. It turned out that the Traveller could manipulate the drive engines of that ship to travel across galaxies without straining himself too much. Not acting as a representative of Starfleet, Wesley quickly abandoned the Prime Directive in favor of his own very idealized version of right and wrong. He mucks around with alien culture and ends up with a rag tag crew of alien refuges. Wesley ends up marrying one of the hot female aliens. It is one of the happiest times of his life. He is in love. He has a loyal crew that believes in him. He is making beneficial impacts on the places he visits.

Then he ends up in a situation where his mucking around goes very, very wrong. Most of his crew is killed, including his wife. The Traveller, as his last act, transports his ship back to the Federation. Wesley limps back to Earth just in time to help defend the Earth from the Borg attack in First Contact.

Based on his experience as a Captain and his performance in that battle, Wesley is offered an officer's commission and fast-tracked for Captain.

[fferret]

I like the idea, but I think the nay-sayers, including Wil, are missing a significant point: This is not Wesley from however-many-years-ago that was. This is a new Wesley. He may have changed, been traumatized, gotten laid (finally!), any number of things we cannot imagine. It's a big universe, people! On the other hand, Wil's aversion to the character is pretty well known at this point. On the gripping hand, Wil could write a book about it! Do it, Mr. Wheaton! Make it so! (Sorry, I got a little Picarded away there.)

[davidl]

Speaking of retcon, I'd go for "Torchwood in Space", over CSI. A ST police procedural would effectively boil down to putting your suspects in a room, finding a Betazoid and waiting for someone to make a mental slip.

And because I have way too much free time right now...

"Flat Trees... outside the Federation, beyond the law. Fighting for the future of the Alpha Quadrant. The Twenty-Fourth Century is when it all goes to heck in a handbasket... again..., and Flat Trees is ready."

Damn it. I am so going to have to write that script now.