Andy Weir Critiques New Star Trek Series

Author Andy Weir, known for his popular science fiction works like Project Hail Mary, recently shared his thoughts on Paramount+’s Star Trek series, labeling it as quite disappointing.

In a discussion with a podcaster and the YouTube reviewer known as Critical Drinker, Weir mentioned that he had pitched a new film idea for the Star Trek franchise, but was taken aback by the reactions from the streaming service.

Host Will Jordan commended Hail Mary, calling it one of the best recent sci-fi films while contrasting it with the less favorable reviews for the newest Star Trek offerings. Weir chimed in with an observation he heard from an analyst who noted that while many contemporary science fiction works take inspiration from the original Star Trek, the current series seems to stray from that essence.

This comment elicited laughter from Jordan, who has been vocal about his discontent with the “New Trek” era spearheaded by producer Alex Kurtzman.

“I’m a Gen X kid, and there used to be this rich narrative about people exploring space and doing amazing things, like in Star Trek: The Next Generation,” Weir stated.

During the interview, Weir expressed his mixed feelings about the release of the controversial latest film in the franchise, Star Trek: Starfleet Academy, which was canceled before its second season got underway. “It’s all over!” he exclaimed.

Jordan suggested that when Paramount resumes Star Trek productions, they should disregard everything produced since 2005, effectively “de-canonizing” those stories. This idea, however, didn’t sit well with Weir.

“You’re more hardcore than I am,” Weir replied. “I have my opinions, but I’m just a fan. I enjoyed Strange New Worlds. It had interesting elements, even though I found it a bit odd. I think it’s all subjective.”

He shared that he had previously attempted to pitch a Star Trek show to Paramount, spending considerable time discussing ideas with the show’s creators, including Kurtzman. Though he expressed his liking for them as individuals, he was critical of their recent works, stating that none of them resonated with him, and his pitch was ultimately rejected.

The critiques from Weir and Jordan highlight the broader concerns regarding the Star Trek series since its revival began with Discovery in 2010. Of the multiple new shows, only a select few have gained traction, while some have proven to be quite polarizing. The recent addition, Star Trek: Starfleet Academy, performed so poorly that it was outperformed by a mere still image on a YouTube channel. The series was canceled even before its second season aired.