How The Biggest Sci-Fi Franchise Destroyed Itself With The Disco Era in English
The Star Trek franchise, once the pinnacle of science fiction excellence, had a dark period in the 1970s. During this time, the franchise’s popularity began to wane, and many fans and critics believed that it had reached a point of no return. The culprit behind this downfall was none other than the flashy, flashy, FABULOUS… Disco Era.
In 1977, the original Star Trek series, which had been a groundbreaking and beloved hit, came to a close. The show’s finale, "Turnabout Intruder," aired on June 3, 1969, and marked the end of an era. Fans mourned the loss of their favorite characters, and the franchise began to fade into memory.
However, just a few years later, the franchise attempted to reboot with a new show, Star Trek: Phase II. Unfortunately, this series was plagued by production issues, creative differences, and, most notably, its utter dependence on the Disco Era. The show’s writers, trying to stay relevant and hip, incorporated disco into every possible aspect of the show.
From the opening credits, which featured a glittering, flashing disco ball, to the main theme song, which boasted a catchy, if cringe-worthy, disco beat, it was clear that the show had sold its soul to the devil of Disco. The once-promising series quickly devolved into a campy, gaudy mess, with characters sporting bell-bottoms, platform shoes, and afros.
The writing on the show was equally as bad. Scripts were riddled with groan-inducing puns, and attempts at humor fell flat. Even the usually esteemed Patrick Stewart, who played Captain James T. Kirk, seemed to struggle with the show’s tone and tone-deaf direction. The once-revered actor was reduced to delivering lines like, "Beam me up, Disco-McSparkles, I mean, Scotty, back to the Enterprise."
As the show’s ratings plummeted and fans began to abandon ship, it became clear that the franchise was in dire need of a reboot. In 1978, the project was shut down, and the franchise limped along for a few more years before being revived in the 1980s with the far more successful and respected Next Generation series.
The Disco Era’s impact on Star Trek’s reputation was lasting. Many fans and critics still refer to the era as a low point in the franchise’s history, a time when the show’s creators lost sight of the core values that had made it so beloved in the first place: exploration, discovery, and adventure.
Today, as fans revisit the franchise with new shows like Discovery and Picard, they can look back on the Disco Era with a mix of nostalgia and horror. While the franchise has recovered and evolved, it remains a cautionary tale about the dangers of chasing trends and pandering to fleeting popular culture. As the saying goes: "Don’t trust a franchise that disco-izes itself."
In conclusion, the Disco Era represented a dark chapter in the history of Star Trek, one that threatened to tarnish the legacy of this beloved franchise. While it’s possible to appreciate the era’s fashion sense and askew music, it’s clear that the franchise would have been better off without it. As we look to the future of Star Trek, we can only hope that it never repeats the mistakes of the past and instead stays true to its core values and the trust of its fans.
