The producers of Star Trek Discovery don’t understand Star Trek

[Ed. note: Looking back, a month later, I underestimated how little the producers understand Star Trek. The follow-up to this is going to be a GIF of the Disco’s saucer spinning. #FreeSpaceWaterBear]

After 51 years, Star Trek has become ubiquitous in popular culture. Its popularity is a testament to the franchise’s enduring connection with its fans and culture at-large. It’s also a trap. A trap into which the producers of Star Trek Discovery have fallen head-first. And now we all get to gawk at them and their complete failure.

Point and laugh. And then weep for the death of a franchise.

The popular culture version of Star Trek is about Kirk kissing green women while overacting. Phrases like “beam me up” and “I’m a doctor not a…” are known all over the world. Pop culture Star Trek is technologically prophetic, predicting iPads and flip-phones, and Pop culture Star Trek is social commentary: aliens who were half-black/half-white obliviously hated aliens who were half-white/half-black. Pop culture Star Trek is what we see in Futurama and Family Guy. And that’s fine. If that’s all you know about Star Trek, that’s great. You’re welcome at the next convention.

But you’re not a Trekkie. And you’re not someone who should be creating new Star Trek. Pop culture Star Trek is the superficial, the collection of tropes that form the foundation of postmodern…