Back around June 4th I wrote a post about how Paramount had pushed all its first season episodes onto YouTube, and because they were free to view in June that I would binge watch them and then write my own summaries about each episode because I didn’t like reading any other Star Trek summary (I’m looking at you Wikipedia). I did watch all the episodes, but when I went back to re-view them again and to write up the summaries, a funny thing happened. I found that when I watched them again, slower this time, they did not “age” well at all. I didn’t like them nearly as much on the second viewing as I thought I did on the first.

Star Trek got its start on NBC back on September 1966 (back when I was in sixth grade). After three seasons it was canceled, and move out into reruns on the nascent UHF channels of the day. Soon after it was picked up as a cartoon series, then the first movie was released. Then more movies, more television series, etc. When I look back I see 56 years of some kind of Star Trek exposure in all types of media. Granted there were gaps between various releases, but there were all the yearly conventions where loyal fans could gather and celebrate all things Trek. Let me note that I did not see all the movies or shows, nor did I go to any of the conventions. But I read the reports, stories and reviews, so I vicariously kept up. What I’m feeling (and have for some time) is fatigue for all things Star Trek. I should have realized I was tired of Star Trek when my favorite Star Trek movie turned out to be Galaxy Quest.

I might move back to finishing these summaries. Right now I have the first season episode about a third of the way finished in draft form, which I’ll probably keep around a while. The Star Trek thrill is gone, and has been for some time.