star trek animated series review

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Star Trek: The Animated Series

The further adventures of Captain James T. Kirk and the crew of the USS Enterprise, as they explore the galaxy and defend the United Federation of Planets. The further adventures of Captain James T. Kirk and the crew of the USS Enterprise, as they explore the galaxy and defend the United Federation of Planets. The further adventures of Captain James T. Kirk and the crew of the USS Enterprise, as they explore the galaxy and defend the United Federation of Planets.

• Gene Roddenberry
• William Shatner
• Leonard Nimoy
• DeForest Kelley
• 51 User reviews
• 21 Critic reviews
• 2 wins & 3 nominations

Episodes 22

Photos 1676.

• Captain James Tiberius Kirk

• Mister Spock …

• Nurse Chapel …

• Aquan Harvester …
• Orion ensign …

• Carter Winston …

• Cyrano Jones

• Harcourt Fenton Mudd

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• Young Spock
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• Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

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• Trivia According to Lou Scheimer there were never any ego problems between the cast members during recording sessions, although William Shatner and Leonard Nimoy had a tendency to count their characters' lines and complain when one of them had too many more than the other.
• Goofs Nurse Chapel's chest insignia is the standard oval-within-a-circle symbol for the Sciences division. However, in the live Star Trek (1966) , her uniform was unique in that she wore a red cross in place of that symbol.
• Connections Featured in The NBC Saturday Morning Preview Revue (1974)

User reviews 51

• Nov 27, 2002
• How many seasons does Star Trek: The Animated Series have? Powered by Alexa
• What year does this series take place in?
• September 8, 1973 (United States)
• United States
• StarTrek.com - Episode Guide
• Star Trek: TAS
• Filmation Associates
• Norway Productions
• Paramount Television
• See more company credits at IMDbPro

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• Runtime 30 minutes

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Star Trek: The Animated Series

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Watch Star Trek: The Animated Series with a subscription on Paramount+, or buy it on Fandango at Home, Prime Video, Apple TV.

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At Boundary's Edge

Alex Hormann

TV REVIEW: Star Trek: The Animated Series

Starring: William Shatner, Leonard Nimoy, DeForest Kelly, Nichelle Nichols, George Takei, James Doohan, Majel Barett

Episodes: 22

Genre: Social SF, Space Opera

Broadcaster: Netflix (UK)

First Aired: 1973-1974

Verdict: 2/5

One of the joys of a Netflix account is having access to over fifty years of  Star Trek at the touch of a button. Having rewatched so much in the past few years, there was only one logical lace to go next. Forty-eight years after it originally aired, I finally tackled the one  Trek series I had never seen an episode of. And boy is  The Animated Series a trip and a half.

Animation has two primary components: The art itself, and the vocal talent. In terms of the animation itself, this iteration of  Star Trek has all the clunkiness of the original Scooby Doo. There’s almost no facial expression beyond the occasional look of shock (and a few classic facepalms), and characters have only a few modes of travel: sprinting, charging at the camera, or standing utterly motionless. Now, I’m not much of an animation fan, but even by my standards the quality of this show is quite poor. There are a lot of reused images, and a whole lot of standing around talking when they have such a broad canvas to work with.

The voice talent fares a little better. It’s quite clear that none of the cast were terribly experienced with voice-over work, but even so it’s nice to hear the original cast in their prime. Nimoy’s distinctive tones are as good as they ever were with his actual face to accompany them, and Shatner manages his unique combination of utterly wooden and over-acting in virtually every scene. Doohan, Nichols and Barett take on not only their own roles, but also provide voices for most of the guest characters, usually to good effect, as if it weren’t for prior knowledge I ever would have guessed they were all the same people. There are a few actual guest stars along the way too, which serves to spice things up a bit.

If you can look past the incredibly low production budget,  The Animated Series is bursting with ideas. Free from the constraints of needing to have humans play alien roles, this series allows for some more unusual alien species. Plant monsters, snail-squids, and flying octopuses all make an appearance. Two of the bridge crew are M’Ress (a humanoid cat) and Arex (who has three legs and three arms), neither of whom would have been possible in live-action, at least not in any realistic capacity. This is probably the best aspect of the show, as it really enhances the feel of a multi-species crew.

The main thing to take away from  The Animated Series is that it isn’t afraid to go too wacky. Caught between the cerebral ambitions of adult television and the zaniness expected of a children’s cartoon, this show lurches around between ideas like nobody’s business. We have love potions, miniaturisation, frequent time travel, and if you forget everything else, then at least remember the twenty-feet tall clone of Spock. Seriously, that thing is wild.  The Animated series isn’t afraid to take on bold ideas, but with only twenty-five minutes to do so, the execution falls flat more often than not.

The Animated Series is easily my least favourite  Star Trek show, but it still has things to offer. It might not always make sense, but there are worse ways to spend a few hours of your life.

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3 responses to “TV REVIEW: Star Trek: The Animated Series”

[…] a whole series has taken that lighter tone. It’s also the first animated series since, well, The Animated Series, so you could be forgiven for having low expectation in that regard. Happily, the budget is a lot […]

[…] both the Original Series and the Animated Series show us, the 23rd century was a fairly lawless time when it came to time travel. Several times a […]

[…] other appears, and they are the Kzinti. Now, these are an alien I’ve encountered before, in Star Trek: The Animated Series. I’m not entirely sure what complicated rights agreement Niven arranged to have his creations […]

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Star Trek: The Animated Series

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Star Trek: Prodigy takes a different opening tack than any previous Trek series

The show aims at viewers who are tuning into the final frontier for the first time

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Share All sharing options for: Star Trek: Prodigy takes a different opening tack than any previous Trek series

When the title of a new TV series begins with “Star Trek,” it’s natural to be intimidated. The Trek franchise has a well-earned reputation for having a dense canon, which has been built up over the course of 55 years and more than 800 canonical installments. It’s possible to start any individual series and eventually get your bearings, but many of them aren’t terribly welcoming unless you’ve absorbed the prerequisite mythology, either directly or through cultural osmosis. Star Trek: Prodigy , the new animated series that premiered Oct. 28 on Paramount Plus, fully breaks from this trend, presenting Star Trek in an entirely new way, and becoming the most accessible jumping-on point for the franchise since J.J. Abrams’ 2009 film reboot.

Most Star Trek spin-offs presume a level of pre-existing engagement in the franchise, and use their first episodes not to sell viewers on Star Trek , but to sell them on this Star Trek . They’re in the business of iteration and contrast, of proving that this incarnation has something sufficiently different in store. For 1987’s The Next Generation , the very premise of doing Star Trek without familiar characters Kirk and Spock was novel enough to differentiate the series. Deep Space Nine and Voyager are distinguished by their placement in space, Enterprise and Discovery by their placement in time, Picard and Lower Decks by their vastly different approaches to the legacy of The Next Generation . Every series has developed its own identity, but each is defined from the outset by its relationship to what’s come before.

But the double-sized premiere of Prodigy seems to be entirely in its own lane, refreshingly unconcerned with previous Star Trek series until two minutes before the closing credits. The first episode, “Lost and Found,” takes place on the mining colony asteroid Tars Lamora, where teenage prisoner Dal R’El (voiced by Brett Gray) is making his umpteenth unsuccessful escape attempt. Over the course of this opening hour, we see Dal assemble a ragtag group of fellow enslaved workers to hijack an advanced derelict starship that’s buried within a crevice of the asteroid.

Anyone even vaguely familiar with Star Trek will recognize this ship, the USS Protostar, as having all the aesthetic markers of a Starfleet vessel. Dal and his companions, however, do not — in fact, they’ve never heard of Starfleet or the United Federation of Planets that it serves. To them, it’s just a way out of bondage. The fact that it’s also their gateway into a diverse space utopia only sweetens the deal. They’re in the middle of their own space adventure, only to discover at the last minute that they’re on Star Trek , whatever that is.

Shifting the perspective of the characters from seasoned professionals coping with new wrinkles to complete outsiders learning the ropes was a deliberate decision made by series creators Kevin and Dan Hageman ( Trollhunters, LEGO’s Ninjago: Masters of Spinjitzu ), as they explained at New York Comic Con earlier this month. Star Trek head honcho Alex Kurtzman tasked them with devising an entry point through which young, uninitiated viewers might find their way into Star Trek , and determined that the best way to do that would be via characters who would be introduced to it themselves.

Exploring the Star Trek canon is typically easier with a guide, and the crew of the Protostar have one of their own — a holographic training program in the likeness of Star Trek: Voyager ’s Captain Kathryn Janeway (Kate Mulgrew). Introduced at the end of “Lost and Found,” Hologram Janeway is the only element that places the episode in a particular place or time in the Star Trek universe.

Prodigy has a few other, looser ties to the franchise’s past. Three members of the main ensemble represent races from previous Star Trek works, but each is more obscure than the last. Jankom Pog (Jason Mantzoukas) is a Tellarite, the least recognizable of the Federation’s four founding species (alongside Humans, Vulcans, and those blue guys with the antennae, the Andorians). Zero (Angus Imrie) is a Medusan, a non-corporeal entity whose people haven’t been heard from since the 1968 episode which introduced them. Rok-Tahk (Rylee Alazraqui) is a Brikar, a species that originates in Peter David’s tie-in novels from the 1990s, and has never been depicted on screen before. Since even the established pieces of lore are plucked from obscurity, viewers for whom “Lost and Found” is their very first Star Trek aren’t missing anything. At least for now, dyed-in-the-wool Trekkies have almost no advantage over the new kids.

This distance from the larger Star Trek universe won’t last, and it’s not meant to. The Hagemans have already indicated that the Protostar’s course will take them closer to Federation space, and that they’ll encounter more familiar characters and cultures over time. This doesn’t have to make the series any less approachable to new viewers. As the young crew journeys in from the outskirts, hopefully new fans can be gradually acclimatized. Success would mean that a young viewer can explore the wider Star Trek library with Prodigy as their compass, not their homework agenda.

The first episode of Star Trek: Prodigy’s 10-episode opening season is now streaming on Paramount Plus, with new episodes arriving on Thursdays.

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[REVIEW] Star Trek: The Animated Series on Blu-ray

Star Trek: The Animated Series is now available for the first time as a standalone release in high definition Blu-ray. Originally available in HD as part of the Star Trek 50th Anniversary TV and Movie Collection earlier this year, the three-disc set includes all twenty-two episodes of The Animated Series along with audio and text commentaries on select episodes and additional bonus features.

Star Trek: The Animated Series Looks Great on Blu-ray but Lacks Bonus Material

The special features included in the set are exactly the same as those found on the original 2006 DVD release (and in the 50th Anniversary box set). The most-notable of which is “Drawn to the Final Frontier,” giving TAS fans some great insight into the making of the series. Other bonus material includes “What’s the Star Trek Connection?,” which looks at the continuity of TAS in the 1970s from TOS, a storyboard gallery and the aforementioned audio and text commentaries.

The twenty-two Animated Series episodes are presented in their original 4:3 aspect ratio in 1080p high definition with Dolby and DTS surround sound. Subtitles include English, French, German, Italian and Dutch with French, German, and Italian alternate audio tracks.

While not much has changed with this standalone Blu-ray release, some fans may appreciate the twenty-two Juan Ortiz mini prints that are included in the slipcase. Plus, having The Animated Series discs in a separate snap case from The Original Series (as they were packaged in the same case previously) may be an added bonus to some. In conclusion, if you didn’t purchase the 50th Anniversary Blu-ray set, this is the best these TAS episodes have ever appeared on a home video release.

Star Trek: The Animated Series on Blu-ray is now available on Amazon .

Official description :

Boldly continuing where Star Trek: The Original Series left off, these animated adventures chart the progress of Captain Kirk and his crew in a universe unconstrained by “real-life” cinematography! With all characters voiced by their original actors, join Kirk, Spock, Bones and the crew for 22 new adventures: to boldly go where no animation has gone before!

Christopher Dalton

November 20, 2016 at 11:50 am

With David Gerrold’s involvement in the Axanar scandal, I’m surprised that CBS/Paramount did not edit out Gerrold’s segments.

Impecunious Joe

February 11, 2017 at 8:05 am

What involvement has he had other than offering his own opinions, and why would the producers of home video releases remove his supplement contributions over it?

February 14, 2017 at 12:05 am

Being guilty by association. He also worked on the production in some executive capacity.

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Book Review: ‘Star Trek: The Official Guide To The Animated Series’

| October 9, 2019 | By: Matt Wright 110 comments so far

Star Trek: The Animated Series (TAS) has been a bit of black sheep of the Trek franchise. At times considered apocryphal, more recently it has been welcomed into the CBS Trek franchise with a proper DVD set , and later, a Blu-ray release . Now it’s getting its due with a coffee table book that digs deep into its history, its production, and its legacy.

The Animated Series stood out as unique as—up until recently—it was the only animated Trek ever produced. Coming on the heels of The Original Series gaining traction in syndication, the show was blessed by Gene Roddenberry and the writing was overseen by Dorothy Fontana, with Trek alumni such as David Gerrold and Samuel Peoples involved in the writing of episodes. Regardless of the official status of TAS, “Yesteryear”, which was written by Fontana, has long been heralded as part of Spock’s backstory, and over time much of it has become worked into live-action Trek. The Animated Series has the distinction of being the first Trek show to win an Emmy; in 1975 it won for Outstanding Entertainment Children’s Series.

The series was brought to life by Filmation, a big name in cartoons during the ’70s. Filmation was known for Batman, Superman, and Archie cartoons, and perhaps most famous at the time — for Fat Albert and the Cosby Kids . In the 1980s, they created the wildly popular He-Man and She-Ra cartoons.

Written by Aaron Harvey and Rich Schepis (with an afterword by Dayton Ward), the book is much more than a simple episode guide. It provides an in-depth look at TAS from the early beginnings of NBC trying to resurrect the canceled live show to an overview of how the animation was created, voices recorded, and then brought to TV screens in 1974.

The book uses the full color and high gloss pages to full effect by making 2-page spreads out of most sections.

Aaron Harvey has a TAS podcast called “ Saturday Morning Trek ” where he was able to interview a number of people involved. He used his connections from talking with these folks to get access to behind-the-scenes information, and perhaps most importantly for such a visual show, early concept sketches, which are seen throughout the book. The authors also conducted new interviews to fill in the gaps, looking at everything from the scriptwriting process to the casting, directing, and final construction.

The book paints a picture of the making of the show via quotes from Dorothy Fontana, David Gerrold, Lou Scheimer (co-founder of Filmation), Bill Reed (animation director of TAS season 2), and Bob Kline (Filmation background artist). Bob Kline’s own archive of sketches and personal recollections of making the cartoon help fill in new details never before covered. One such detail is the pervasive urban myth about TAS, which the book officially debunks: the assumption that the abundance of pink, purple, and green in The Animated Series was due to (Filmation’s primary animation director) Hal Sutherland being color-blind. Sutherland was not responsible for the color choices; that was Irv Kaplan, who was known as the “purple and green guy.” He liked those colors and thought they were good for children’s shows.

No, it wasn’t a mistake. Purple Klingons were purposeful.

The episode guide

Each episode gets 4-6 pages (2 or 3 spreads), containing a synopsis and plenty of art, the next pages contain interesting facts about the episode, and a section called “Databank” calls out new or important characters, places, and technology introduced in each episode. Each episode also gets a “Bloopers” boxout that discusses the (mostly) minor errors the animation was sometimes infamously known for, much of it due to the hectic schedule or outright limitations on how many layers of animation cells could be easily combined. There are also fun headers like “Something For The Kids,” “Definitely Not For The Kids,” and “Canon Alert!”

The combination of bright, eye-catching design with tidbits of information, notable quotes, and close-ups of new characters, ships, and planets makes the book a fun read as well as an informative one. You can go cover-to-cover or just flip through it, picking out pages at random.

TrekMovie can give readers an exclusive look at two spreads:

Bottom line

The Official Guide… is a lovely addition to the library of Trek reference books. It’s a gorgeously designed book that carries the motif of the colors of The Animated Series across its pages, and has a whimsical layout with playful headings. A particular thrill for me personally was the inclusion of so many sketches from Bob Kline’s archives, these are the equivalent of seeing rough cuts and/or deleted scenes from a live action show.

If you’re a fan of TAS then this book is probably already on your radar, so go buy it now. If you’re generally interested in this chapter of Trek history The Official Guide To The Animated Series comes highly recommended as well, and it’s a nice book to display on your coffee table.

Star Trek: The Official Guide To The Animated Series is available now

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It blows my mind that there are people who love this show. Let alone that they accept THIS but not Discovery. Proof that it takes all kinds.

All I can say in its defense is that a number of TAS episodes were written by respected sci-fi writers of the time, and it shows. Discovery….is not. Visually, I can see where you’re coming from.

You wouldn’t know it unless you saw their names in the credits. Just… awfully written. Discovery’s writing, love it or not, is light years better than this, and if you disagree, I don’t even know where to begin.

I disagree, turf, and I know where to begin, but not where to stop when it comes to wrong DSC calls, just on 1st season (all I’ve seen) with every damn episode. At least TAS had ‘YESTERYEAR’ plus some fun ones like TIME TRAP and BEYOND THE FARTHEST STAR and … geex, I think I must like nearly half of them!

Let’s not forget ‘MORE TRIBBLES, MORE TROUBLES’.

I’ve always thought JIHAD was a good basis for a cross-platform feature teamup. Trek meets magnificent 7.

Consider it in the context of it’s day…not only as a Saturday morning kids show but as an SF show of its time. Sit through few a episodes of the old ‘Planet of the Apes’ cartoon or ‘Sealab 2020’ and get back to me.

It boggles my mind too. Even the writing wasn’t great. There were some good concepts, but they were rarely executed well.

While TAS has its problems we know that it was produced for Saturday morning and in many respects changed Saturday morning TV. It WAS and IS Star Trek with its’ high concepts, heavy sci-fi stories, and morals and messages.

Discovery on the other hand (and I am not trying to bash it) is written for adults that should not tolerate bad writing and major plot holes. The audience is very smart, especially nowadays that we have continuing storylines and can without a doubt just see bad writing. That is my problem with Discovery – it is written in such a way that the plot holes take me right out of the story. And the sad part is that each plot hole if thought about more carefully could be explained away with a few words.

TAS was written for a different audience at a different time and I can respect that and forgive its mistakes. I can’t forgive Discovery for what sometimes seems as talking down to us.

I get what you’re saying: a kids show from the 70s vs a high end drama in 2019. I can see that point, in a vacuum.

but it’s not a vacuum. put them side by side and I have to question anyone who enjoys TAS but says DSC is bad. If you’re 5? Okay, fair enough.

You know what’s the problem? TAS could easily take Discovery’s entire second season and make a twenty minute episode out of it, and nothing of substance would be lost in the process. Meanwhile, your “high end drama” spent half the season backtracking and chasing crazy Spock who wasn’t even there, and it cost them eight million dollars per episode, for what is essentially an one-watch show.

If it sounds like contempt for Discovery, that’s because it is. I don’t react well to someone wasting my time. If they omitted all the stalling, backtracking, slow-motion sequences and Burnham’s pretentious monologues, the second season could’ve been a decent, enjoyable two-parter, like Year of Hell or Dark Frontier. Instead, they opted to make it a full season, and it resulted into dragged, tired, thinly spread chore of a show. Sorry, I’d rather watch TAS, because even the worst stories of TAS have one *major* redeeming quality: I don’t have to wait fourteen episodes for them to end.

I love this repsonse

Boze nailed it. As I’ve liked to joke a while back, Discovery is the real cartoon – not in its filming style or production values, but its immature writing and characterizations. And as of the second season finale (hel1, especially the second season finale!), that hasn’t improved meaningfully.

lol I find it laughable when people “love” a response and say someone “nailed” it when they fail to see the poor logic. they respond to it’s funny nature, or that it adheres to their pre-conceived opinion.

because you could literally do the same thing with any other trek series episodes: condense them to 25 minutes and lose very little, or nothing at all. but somehow DSC is derided for the same thing.

no, you just don’t like the show, and think you can create clever ways to “prove” how bad it is.

Are you just the alter ego of Luke Montgomery? Because you guys all fail to understand the fallacy of ad hominem, and dare to talk about LOGIC in the same breath. Never mind, welcome to my blacklist, Urban Turd! :D

I can appreciate your stance, Vulcan, but you name call me in the same sentence you vehemently oppose ad hominem attacks?

Second, I was not personally attacking anyone. I did not name call or insult. I did say “if you’re 5.” but… this is a show created for 5 year olds. so a little confused by your objection if that’s where it stems from.

as for your black list.. hey. ok. no skin off my back. I think it’s every person’s right to ignore those they do not see eye to eye with, or feel offended by. particularly on the internet.

Dude, chill. Don’t attack anyone for their opinion. We could just as easily say you find reasons for something. It is our opinion, and if you’re a real Trekker/Trekkie you’d be open to others’ opinions in a constructive way without an insult.

who is it people are claiming insulted someone? I’m very confused! I also have yet to see anyone respond to the actual point I made about being able to do the same with any other trek series.

Man, you weren’t responding to the actual points being made either, you were just calling the posters stupid and their posts “laughable”, and the reaction to THAT was predictable. For example, my argument was: Discovery resembles a cartoon because its characterizations and writing are immature (regarding condensing, that was Boze’s argument). I can happily elaborate on that, but if you had followed here longer during the past 2 years, you’d already know my points, since I have written in detail repeatedly which parts of Discovery’s story and character arcs fell flat for which reason. If I keep making the same points about stuff that happened 2 years ago, people will be upset as well!

Nice analysis. TAS was limited by its animation but it told interesting stories that took some chances and were even thought provoking. I remember an episode where Captain Kirk defends Lucien, a being who is basically revealed to be what we knew as the devil (name one episode of Discovery that challenges your perceptions like that). It’s actually impressive what they were able to accomplish given the limited format and run-time they had to work with and I enjoy TAS way more than any of the recent live action shows.

I remember an episode where Captain Kirk defends Lucien, a being who is basically revealed to be what we knew as the devil (name one episode of Discovery that challenges your perceptions like that)

Um, the Terralysium episode?

Hardly the same thing.

Magics of Megas Tu basically paints the devil as a misunderstood alien and is really about the crew being tested to see whether humanity has evolved beyond its old superstitious ways.

Terralysium shows us a bunch of clueless humans who were spirited away to an alien planet (still trying to figure out how the elder Burnham pulled that off BTW) and building a religion around it for no particularly well explained reason.

TAS confronted the issue head on; Terralysium did what Discovery often does, introduced the idea and then pushed it to the background and just let it sit there instead of exploring it.

And others criticize DSC for being too fast paced and argue it should be slowed down. Personally, while I might quibble about pacing from time to time, I’ve never felt my time was wasted with a DCS episode. There have, however, been a handful of episodes from TNG, VOY, and DS9 where I felt that.

Great discussion and let us look at being 5 because I think even a 5-year old can see some plot holes in DSC. So, how would an adult explain away these things?

1. When Admiral Cornwell is at the torpedo, why didn’t they beam her out? For that matter, why didn’t they just beam the torpedo out (they can beam whales up with an old Klingon transporter – surely they could dematerialize a torpedo). 2. When the torpedo exploded, which should have a greater yield than a thermonuclear weapon, how is it that Pike can watch the explosion through a glass window? Why didn’t it disintegrate the Enterprise? 3. Two episodes prior, they made a huge deal out of the fact that Ash Tyler could not be seen by any Klingons, none-the-less be on a Klingon ship. But there he is completely ignoring the storyline of two episodes prior. 4. DSC was out in the middle of nowhere, yet Sarek can find them, get there, talk to Michael, and leave. Magic huh? 5. How is it that in only a few weeks Saru’s sister learns how to pilot a spacecraft, and not only pilot it but also take part in a battle. Oh, and how did they make it there just in time to fight. 6. Forgetting the Ash issue above, how did Ash leave the DSC, go to Klingon space, talk them into the fight and make it back in under 30 minutes (which is real-time on the show in the battle)?

I could go on and on, but the writing for an adult audience was just unbelievably weak. This is the type of writing I would forgive for a kid’s audience but not an adult one.

Urban Turf, one of my frustrations is the implicit view that underlies the position of many fans, that holds that all Trek should be developed for the same mass audience – and therefore assessed against a uniform standard.

Trek – as a franchise that’s lasted more than a half century – has bridged from the era of a single mass market audience to some niche marketing to a deliberate diversified marketing approach across streaming, cable and broadcast media.

When we’re talking about TAS, we’re looking at a children’s animated show from the 70s that stands up better than expected. I never would have thought our kids would be really enthusiastic to enter into Trek starting with TAS as primary graders. I expected that the flat, stiff 2-d animation would put them off at minimum. Instead they binged through the disks repeatedly and wanted more.

Discovery has had serious writing challenges in its first two seasons, as most Trek series post TOS have done. Unfortunately, the serial format shows the holes more.

Overall, Discovery has had as many good episodes in its first 27 (over 2 seasons) as TNG or DS9 did over their first 26 episode seasons. However, as Discovery’s episodes are built to fit in a serial, turn the card, mystery box frame, the whole suffers when the writers are not collaborating well.

Very well said, and I completely agree that you could point out weaknesses in earlier shows as well but that the serialized nature points it out more directly. Further, when you have a bad TNG episode it only ruins that week. When you have a bad DSC episode it could take you out of the entire season/storyline.

Great point and I do miss episodic sci-fi (with a touch of continuity). Thank goodness for the Orville.

Totally agree with you. I think a show for kids is wonderful. And I’m really glad we’re getting another new kids show. I probably won’t watch it, but my nieces and nephews I hope will. and I think it’s great we’re getting a more dark show like S31, and an adult cartoon, a show like Picard that caters to 90s fans.

Diversity in storytelling!

And I think TAS did a fine job of making a kids show for 1970. But it’s quality only measures up to other kids fare of the day (though I still find it curious that it would win an Emmy), and so I just… I don’t know, find it a little bizarre that adult fans would be able to digest and tolerate, and even enjoy, this show from 1970, meant for 5 year olds, in 2019, while calling DSC abject garbage. I get a genuine belly laugh from it.

look, we can all agree I think, even fans of DSC such as myself, that the writing on discovery hasn’t been award-worthy. but that also doesn’t make it as bad as most hyperbolic claims, and certainly TAS– FOR ADULTS– does not hold up to it. it’s kind of a joke when people say ‘wow, tas is much better written than dsc!’

David Moss – Sincere question: When you criticize DSC for plot holes, and then say “the sad part is that each plot hole if thought about more carefully could be explained away with a few words,” why can you not just assume those few words were spoken off screen and reconcile an apparent “hole” that way? Honestly, I find that to be one of the most enjoyable parts of being a Trek fan, to find ways to explain apparent inconsistencies so as to see a coherent and consistent “history” across episodes and across series (including TAS in my mind). And this is not new to Trek. Remember the old “Nitpickers Guides” to TOS and TNG? I used to like looking at those and finding ways to reconcile and explain away what others might see as plot holes or inconsistencies.

Hey Mike… Very good points, and I’ll give you that on many things. But issues like Ash not being able to be seen by other Klingons, then being on the bridge of a Klingon ship; Pike watching a thermonuclear explosion through a window; Saru’s sister learning how to pilot a space vehicle and making the fight in a few days; Ash making his way to Klingon space, talking the Klingons to joining the war and making it back in 30 minutes (when he can’t even be seen by other Klingons), etc… Those are just inexcusable. :)

I think among the myriad of season 2 screw ups (and there were a ton) my favorite might be the time suit. And not just that they were able to replicate the tech in a matter of minutes (which in itself is laughably absurd) but really it’s more that the time suit even existed in the first place. I mean, sure Trek has time traveled. But at least in Kirk’s day (a decade later than Discovery) traveling through time was NOT a simple thing. The easiest way they did it was using the Guardian of Forever. And that gate was not capable of creating a suit.

I love both. I have a big ole soft spot for TAS and just love Arex.

Also, I tend to think I’m a relatively smart viewer, but I almost never notice plot holes in shows (I certainly do after the fact, I suppose, but not during). And I don’t nitpick. I just accept the episode and go along for the ride. ::shrugs:: I’m watching TV to be entertained, not be a writing or acting critic. TAS and DISCO entertain me. So, I watch them!

(note: I’m not criticizing those that say DISCO has bad writing or plot holes, just that I honestly don’t notice it and, the few times folks have provided examples beyond simply stating it’s a plot hole or bad writing, I often don’t agree with that assessment.)

Matthew D, I am in a similar boat. I want to get engulfed in the story, characters, emotions, all of that. So if the show is really engaging, I am not thinking about plot holes. I’m enjoying the ride. But if the show is not grabbing me because the characters are boring or the writing and story is poor, then I WILL notice them. Big time. And I am forced to say that too many times I was noticing the plot and production mistakes more so than I was following the story being presented. Which means, the show has a problem.

You are a troll.

Maybe because TAS didn’t try to rewrite Trek history, give Spock siblings and recycle past plot elements in every episode as STD did,

Please state where TOS said Spock had no siblings.

STV gave Spock a brother and Gene Roddenberry considered it apocryphal. TOS never said Spock had no siblings, but they were never mentioned. Problem is STD made Burnham the primary driver of Spock’s personality and say she’s responsible for instigating his relationship with Kirk. But they can do what they want.

Always thought the show had superior writing. Top sci-fi authors. “Yesteryear” filled out Spock’s background. I think some of it made canon. Sam Peeples wrote “Beyond the Farthest Star”, the pilot and also later did what became STII. Peeples also did a little thing called “Where no man has gone before.” The second Trek pilot. STAS also won an Emmy.

One of the reasons Filmation’s STAR TREK had superior writing in its era was there was a writers’ strike and its production was exempt.

While limited to typical TV bargain animation, the series was created by, written by and voice-acted, by original series veterans. That alone is worth the price of admission. Discovery is an abomination. But it is pretty.

I would love someone to take some of the better episodes and recreate the voice track in full CGI.

I was thinking the same thing, David.

I mentioned it to my boss, a huge Star Trek fan. He thought it might sell!

Seriously, most of the stories were good and you have the original cast’s voices. All you need to do is the same thing they did with the remastered TOS shows. I’d buy it!

My wish exactly. Or maybe they can get the Abramsverse cast to redo them all.

And I on the the other hand would wish they would do a Discovery short trek in the exact TAS style. I immensely enjoyed the two episodes the Farragut group did some time ago.

If they took the audio track without the music, converted it to full CGI and edited the music down a bit, or maybe even added new music, I betcha they could use the CGI elements to add some time to each story as well and expand them to a full 30-minutes.

With each episode having less cartoon music (although I do know there are those that love that soundtrack), and with full correct animation, I betcha some of the stories would pop even more. Specifically, I am thinking about:

1. Yesteryear 2. Magicks of Megas-tu 3. The Slaver Weapon 4. The Time Trap 5. How Sharper than a Serpent’s Tooth 6. The Jihad

They still have the problem of NBC Saturday morning restrictions, i.e. no swearing (not even “hell”), minimize fight scenes to just a glancing blow, no blood, no hint of sexual attraction (although Fontana & Co. slipped a few things through anyway) and no hint of pain. Still it would be nice to see Yesteryear remade as CGI and to fix that awful “Guardian of Forever” voice.

It’s odd, watching Discovery and other recent streamers with a parent’s eye, I am feeling that in every premiere episode the writers are adding these ‘adult’ elements just to get a 14+ rating.

I find myself taken out of the experience, and ticking off a list:

1- sex scene with adult nudity 2- at least once incident of swearing 3- image of graphic violence or gore

Whether it’s Carnival Row, or Discovery, it’s become formulaic.

Sincerely, these things seem obligatory, in most cases do nothing to help the plot or realism.

It reminds me of the 1970s and early 80s when every cinematic feature had to have an obligatory sex scene with the principal character.

More to the point, if it’s become obligatory, isn’t that the opposite of creative freedom?

I would love to see TAS get new animation. Expand it to a full 30 minutes. Incorporate original series music. I would love to see them make one of the episodes part of Short Trek, just to see the reaction of people.

Was any of that in Discovery’s premiere? I don’t recall any sex or swearing until the middle of the first season. Maybe some violence, but Trek has always done that.

Thanks for the review Matt!

You’ve convinced me that we need this in our household collection of Trek books.

TAS is really more beloved than I’d realized. I watched it faithfully Saturday mornings the one brief season it was on, but assumed that it wasn’t popular since it was cancelled so soon.

Seeing on the DVDs with our kids when they were in their primary grades, gave me a new appreciation for it.

I’ve only just learned recently that it got an Emmy nod too.

I just wish that all the fans who would like to exclude it from canon would actually watch it all first.

It got an Emmy WIN – TOS was nominated several times but never won.

its Emmy is a joke, frankly. for outstanding children’s entertainment, and it beat Captain Kangaroo and Pink Panther?

someone was paid for that award! Those two shows outclass TAS by margins so wide they’d make sir mix-a-lot swoon

I guess that was their way of awarding Trek at the time, since TOS was never so honored

Urban Turf, the quality of kids programming then was mostly really poor, and uninformed by modern understanding of childhood development.

Blocks of one hour compilations of Looney Tunes and old Disney cartoons fron the 1940s were typical daily fair. Afterschool monster movies and endless black and white westerns were typical.

Pink Panther was out there from 1969 on, but was originally a series of animated shorts (around 6 per season), that was as I understand it, later compiled into a half hour show. So it may not have been eligible that year.

Captain Kangaroo – sigh – I know it was beloved, though I loathed it myself as a child. However, it was a Monday to Friday live action children’s show, so again was not likely in the same category.

Saturday morning offerings from Hanna Barbara and others had really low quality animation and repetitive plots. Compared to the Hardy Boys, Aquaman reruns, and Scuby Do, TAS was full of challenging adult ideas, and something new every episode.

I think you misunderstand. TAS was *nominated alongside* Captain Kangaroo and Pink Panther.

so Emmy voters thought TAS was better than Captain Kangaroo and Pink Panther. now, I know hindsight is 20/20, but even when I was 5, I could tell you that TAS was the worst of those three.

I think there may be some merit to albatrosity’s theory that it was a “franchise achievement’ award of sorts.

(also worth noting that TAS won a DAYTIME Emmy. it did not compete against more popular programming like the nominees in that year’s primetime children’s category: Sesame Street, Zoom, and Electric Company.)

Now you’re just trolling. Captain Kangaroo had been on the air for nearly 20 years and was already a tired presentation and the Pink Panther cartoons were the definition of shallow.

in honesty, I think the word “troll” gets tossed around too haphazardly. if someone has an unpopular opinion, one is labeled a troll.

No, Captain Kangaroo was a far superior show, and much better programming for kids than the downright bizarre and poorly written TAS. One can cite all of the quality names who contributed, but that’s like saying the voice work was excellent just because it was delivered by great actors. It was for both actor and writer, some of the worst work those creators ever delivered. Most likely because they weren’t being well paid: so the voice actors delivered their lines in from the kitchen table onto a cassette tape, and the writers didn’t spend time refining and approving through multiple drafts.

It’s a fun little side-note in Trek history, and has some interesting nuggets, but it is merely a curiosity to look back and laugh at, and appreciate for its sheer bizarre-ness, not a program worth watching for its quality.

“Captain Kangaroo” was great (don’t say the secret word!), but it really was in a different class than TAS. The Captain was a weekday show for its first 25 years, similar to “Bozo the Clown” or “Romper Room”. The Captain had already won Peabody awards twice but never an Emmy. It was nominated in the Primetime Emmy ceremonies before 1973. The first Daytime Emmys were in 1974, and Captain Kangaroo and TAS both lost to the deeply weird “Zoom”. TAS won in 1975.

TAS won its Emmy because it was far and away more sophisticated than most other Saturday morning fare of the time. The scripts pale (for the most part) compared to TOS, but compared to its competition (the likes of “Hong Kong Phooey” or “Wheelie and the Chopper Bunch”), it was Shakespeare. The only show close was “Fat Albert & The Cosby Kids.” So the academy was clearly rewarding NBC and Star Trek’s attempt to elevate Saturday morning fare (an attempt that largely failed, as TAS’s ratings were low and canceled after the short Season 2.)

So it was a “we appreciate you trying” award. That makes a lot more sense. Because it certainly didn’t win for results. Cap Kangaroo was still a much better show than TAS, when it came to entertaining kids.

because TAS’s largest audience was teenagers or even college students who were missing TOS.

The problem is that it was just one Emmy Award for “outstanding children’s programming” which covers a very broad range. Captain Kangaroo was decidedly preschool children’s programming, while Star Trek aimed more at the school age/pre-teen audience, especially with storylines like having to put your beloved pet to sleep in “Yesteryear”.

I enjoyed Star Trek: TAS. I didn’t understand the debate of whether it counts in-continuity. It won an Emmy Award. Looking forward to the Lower Decks series.

Its somehow even worse that those color choices were intentional.

The man in charge of animation was color blind. No kidding!

Did you not read my review? That’s not the reason for the color choices.

Oops, sorry! I just read “These Are The Voyages: The 1970s” and that book does suggest it was because the producer was color blind. Good to see the whole story now.

I’ve mentioned it before, but it’s really important to keep in mind that the experience of colours on-screen for most televisions of the day was very different than what we see in the plates from the artists, or in the DVDs that are taken directly from film.

Colour television was still relatively new. The Quasar televisions with black behind the 3 colour dot matrix were a new high-end technology in 1970 so most households that had colour TVs saw shows in pretty washed out tones. Few households had cable, and picture quality was frequently poor.

As a result, whether live action or animation, creatives went for strong colour choices. Pink, purple and green would have been more novel, cutting-edge than the orangey red, yellow, and watery blue of most colour television images.

The other thing is that many families still only had black and white televisions. Colour was new, and many families had an old second black and white television in the family room where the kids watched Saturday mornings.

So, the artists had to produce images that could be watched in black and white as well as colour.

So the trolls even hate on TAS. Why am I not surprised. Well it was created and produced by people who worked on TOS, had stories written by top writers, and best of all, it featured the voices of most of the original actors. So it was and is the closest that FANS will ever get to a season four.

Its not trolling to dislike TAS. Despite the fact that a lot of the same people were involved, a lot of people feel like there was a noticeable drop in quality between TOS and TAS. That’s nothing new. TAS has always been somewhat controversial within the fandom.

I was going to say, I was curious what people had to say about the book, or the design or even the shows, but all it seems like is “I hate Discovery” ” I hate TAS” and which do we hate more. Sheesh. Its like Reddit.

Pedigree shows promise of being good, not confirmation that it IS good.

I like TOS, but TAS is unwatchable for me, with the exception for Yesteryear. You can be a Trek fan and dislike TAS.

Mark Calcagno,

I’m really hoping that we can get to the point as fans where a Trek fan still be universally accepted as a fan even if they dislike any particular Trek series, episode or cinematic feature – be it TAS, TOS, TNG etc.

I’m also hoping that Trek fans can stop asserting that ‘NAME’ has to be considered the best Trek series of all time, and the others are boring, deficient, etc. because they have a different premise.

I am so over the Trek sibling rivalry thing.

I totally agree, and I hope that’s how I came off. If not, I’ll be more clear. I don’t like TAS, but it’s still Star Trek. My opinion shouldn’t harm anyone else’s enjoyment of a show or movie. It’s all Trek, from TOS to Disco, and everyone gets to have their favorite and least favorite, unapologetically.

I also think respectful discussion is great, but the second someone else is attacked or marginalized for their views, the discussion becomes part of the rivalry camp.

You and I have disagreed a couple of times on here, but I always enjoy talking to you, because I always feel respected. I wish others would do the same.

Thanks Mark Calcagno,

No worries, it was how you came off for me.

I just wish more of us could take the view that there isn’t a universal hierarchy of Trek quality.

I can understand someone claiming TAS is “unwatchable.” The cheap Filmation production values are the reason behind that. But while the lack of movement and repetitive underscore are difficult to digest, many of the stories are well put together in their own right. And, dare I say, most of the TAS episodes are better written than the two seasons of Discovery thus far. Because of that, the rewatch factor for TAS is much much higher than it is for Discovery.

Also, you can’t just pick out a DSC episode from the middle of the season to rewatch. You have to commit to rewatch that “13 hour movie” in its entirety! Since both seasons so far left a very sour aftertaste in me, I can’t see myself doing that, like ever, for the first time in 50 years of Trek.

In that sense, 20+ hour seasons of episodic Trek worked better than the short seasons of “premium streaming TV”. I still can’t see the disadvantages of season-long arcs outweigh the advantages, and I hope they will fall out of fashion eventually again, same as Flash Gordon serials did in the 1930s.

At least give us ONE new episodic Trek series, Kurtzman! (not the Space Hitler one)

Lower Decks will probably be episodic. And, there are plenty of episodes of Discovery that connect to the overall arc, but are largely self contained.

I can think of two Discovery semi stand alones off the top of my head. Lower Decks will likely be episodic because comedies are still fairly free of the season long story arc thing. Especially the ones that still have 20+ episodes each season. With a handful of exceptions comedies may have some story elements that are dealt with as the show moves along but the episodes are pretty stand alone overall.

There’s a very good reason why we love TAS. Alan Dean Foster – he took those stories and really turned them into something interesting. At least, as far as I remember them.

Definitely! Especially Logs Seven through Ten!

They kept me reading too!

“…the Starfleet vessel was mistakenly described by Scotty as the first in the fleet with warp drive (later to be refuted by the Enterprise NX-01).” That doesn’t exactly make him most trustworthy source.

It pains me to find such disrespectful comment in a nice book like this. Scotty knows his history, *unlike* the creators of Enterprise. When Scotty in a 1970s show says Bonaventure was the first, then Bonaventure was the first; Berman & Braga’s short-lived fanfic simply doesn’t carry enough weight to “refute” anything. It’s not TAS’s fault that the Killer Bees didn’t bother to do their homework before making a prequel to it.

If everything in the book shows as much respect for established facts as this one sentence does, then the only trustworthy part of the book might be its ISBN. :P

Even in that case the book would be wrong, since the NX-01 wasn’t the first ship in the fleet with warp drive

Its only recently that TAS has really become widely accepted as canon. Berman and Braga probably didn’t feel that it was necessary to change the plans for their show because of a throwaway line in a cartoon that most fans had never seen, and even fewer considered canon.

Legate Damar, I’d revise this to say that TAS’ status in canon has had a lot of mixed messaging around it from the powers that be, which has encouraged fans to ignore it.

Roddenberry himself went back and forth on this point when TNG was in production, so the 90s Trek showrunners can be forgiven for not respecting it word for word.

That actually puts me off it slightly. To me, that sort of “pretending-it’s-real” stuff doesn’t belong in a making-of book.

The thing here is the NX-01 was NOT the first ship with warp. It was the first capable of warp 5. This does not contradict the concept that the Bonaventure was the first warp 1 ship.

To be precise, Scotty in the Filmation series said that the Bonaventure was the first STARSHIP to have warp drive installed.

The debate, Cloud William, centers around whether the BBgun’s Phoenix, an independent invention and non-Starfleet vessel, can be considered a starship and whether the BBgun can be properly ridiculed for their attempts at erasing the Bonaventure from their previous acknowledgement of it?:

https://memory-alpha.fandom.com/wiki/Bonaventure_(C1-21)

Also, as others have pointed out, the NX-01, was not the 1st Starfleet starship with warp drive.

I don’t recall Phoenix ever being depicted as having actually reached another star – only achieving warp?

I looked up the episode’s transcript and Scotty’s line was:

“Captain, there’s the old Bonaventure. She was the first ship to have warp drive installed.” Joyce Perry, STAR TREK, “Time Trap”

It doesn’t seem as though the Bonaventure was the Cochrane of METAMORPHOSIS’ ship? So, there’s a bit of mystery, for me, as to what Mr. Scott’s meaning exactly is?

Cochrane’s ship would have had the warp engine integral to its design – NOT “installed.” One would think.

WOW this book looks like such a delight, I love its style! The Nichelle/Uhura illustration with the microphone is just really nice, and it truly makes me appreciate TAS even though I haven’t seen more than maybe 3 episodes. I’ll have to give it a proper watch before Lower Decks. It really is a fascinating and wrongfully overlooked bit of Trek history.

That looks to be a fascinating look at TAS. I’m interested but on the fence on purchasing. Perhaps I’ll be patient and see about checking it out in the future.

How does everything turn into “i hate discovery”? It’s crazy. Where are the fun trekkers? I’m excited for discovery 3. The series is fantastic. Picard looks great. The animated series is terrific. Yes the animation quality is weak of course but the core stories are really good scifi. They would have been much better off being an hour or 45 minutes. Just chill everyone and enjoy this resurgence. I know everyone has different tastes etc. I know Star Trek as most of you do too. I know good Star Trek. TOS, TNG and DS9 is my favorite. Disco is so good and you’re missing out, out of spite or stubbornness. That’s the same stubbornness that kept many people away from DS9 back in the day.

I share many of the same thoughts. Well said!

Glad there’s at least 1 lol

I guarantee you that anyone with a negative opinion of Disco has watched it, nothing about spite or stubbornness, just ppl who aren’t impressed with what they see. Count me among them

they said the same thing about ds9… i saw it… not impressed… nothing changes… pretty funny

Yeah, I was wondering about that, too.

would love to see Eaglemoss do a TAS version of the Enterprise

has anyone ever done toys? with the same limited articulation as the animation? that would be fun

Great review! I’m amazed to hear that the reason for the color selections in the show were not due to Hal Sutherland’s color-blindness, I have heard that apparently mistaken info for decades! I wonder why it took so long to come to light.

Honestly, that nugget alone makes me want to buy this book just to find out what else may be new info!

I remember waking up super early on Saturday mornings back in the 70s to watch TAS while eating sugar-bomb cereal or donuts! For some reason my local station always showed TAS at around 7:30 am on Saturday mornings…

That surprised me too. I wouldn’t swear to it, but I feel like I even remember hearing that on the special features on the DVD. That may just be my memory playing tricks on me, but that is a piece of trivia that I have just accepted at face value for years.

Loved TAS and still do. We had a b&w tv back then and I wish there was some way to see it without color now. TAS, the Gold Key comics, the Blish books, and the Foster books WERE Star Trek for me. No local station that I could consistently pick up showed TOS when I was a kid.

One weird thing happened where I got to see a TOS episode due to sheer luck. We had a tv antenna and no cable in rural NC and if conditions were right odd things would happen on rare occasions. One summer afternoon, I was flipping around the dial and a tv station from NY came in perfectly clear. It showed Let That Be Your Last Battlefield. When the episode was over, the station faded away. I still don’t know how that happened.

What you experienced back then is what’s known as a tropospheric signal skip. When atmospheric conditions are right, usually on hot summer nights, a radio or television broadcast signal could skip off the tropospheric level of the atmosphere and travel much further that it normally would and be received hundreds of miles beyond its normal broadcast area. Down in Hampton Roads Virginia, we could occasionally pick up stations from Richmond, Washington, DC, New Bern, NC, and once, a PBS station out of New Jersey. Reception would usually fade away after a half hour to an hour, but it was a way to occasionally pick up genre programming that didn’t air in our market.

Thanks, that is very interesting. I can remember it happening a few other times where we received far off signals, but only once with Star Trek.

am amazed it has taken til now for the green light for a ‘trek’ animated show years after the much loved AS. every other franchise has one or more on the air.

I wish I could buy the series off iTunes. It and The Cage are the only filmed Trek they don’t have. What’s the deal with that? :(

dear friends, i am from Estonia and am watching the animated series for the first time ever. and i think that it is very good!

but could anybody please tell me, is it considered canon? is the animated series part of the 5 year mission?

thank you all

It depends who you ask. These days, most people seem to consider it canon, but that was in dispute for a long time. We do know that Short Treks will be featuring a Caitian (M’Ress’ species), so it seems like the powers that be do consider it at least somewhat canon.

Roddenberry himself said it was canon at some points and not at others.

As Legate Damar notes, some of the current powers that be are saying it is canon, and there is definitely a newly positive attitude towards animated Trek.

My personal view is that the stories in TAS compare favourably to TOS, and while there are a few episodes that I tend to ignore in my own ‘head canon’, there are at least as many TOS season 3 episodes that I’d like to wish away.

.. I recall watching these on first-run those Saturday mornings. Rumors at the time were the stories were ideas that would have been part of TOS if it had a fourth season. It was reviewed and considered too good for Saturday morning, children’s programming and should have been shown in primetime. Yes, perhaps a filmations production animation wise; but to us who were there originally and then in reruns..I believe on the (real) scifi channel (I don’t want to start that debate again), TAS was welcomed for we Trekkers who were starving for more Trek. I mean come on.. most of the original cast doing their characters voices and more, animated! Good times!

Great series, great book.

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Boldly continuing where Star Trek: The Original Series left off, these animated adventures chart the progress of Captain Kirk and his crew in a universe unconstrained by “real-life” cinematography! With all characters voiced by their original actors, join Kirk, Spock, Bones and the crew for 22 new adventures: to boldly go where no animation has gone before!

Star Trek: The Animated Series was the first revival of Star Trek following its Cancellation in 1969.  Known just as “Star Trek” back then, it began airing in 1973.  Syndicated episodes of the original series in the past 4 years had proven so popular that this was the response to bring the show back.  It was met with critical success, winning a Daytime Emmy Award, but not so much with its ratings (Like the original show).  Especially, it wasn’t connecting with the kids’ demographic that the series was aiming for.  It was let go, and the last we would have from Star Trek until The Motion Picture in 1979.

While there has always been debate and back and forth about the show being canon, at the time it was released, it was pretty much believed to be.  Ported over from the original live action series were its writing staff and all but one of the original cast for vocals (Walter Koenig was left out due to budgetary reasons, but did write an episode becoming the first cast member to write for the show).  Also coming on board in the writing room were many notable science fiction authors of the time.  Since it was animated, the show would be able to show some bigger ideas, like more elaborate aliens, places and events.

Said animation, though, was of the Filmmation style, which was popular among Saturday morning cartoons of the 1970s.  And because of that, this show becomes a hard sell for me.  If you’re not familiar with the animation, its very primal.  Basic color are used and the image is a very stationary one with lots of “stock” animated footage that gets repeated.  You basically are treated to a stationary picture with a mouth moving and then maybe a slight movement.  Coming with that are a lot of glaring mistakes in the animation, due to the repetitious use of some shots.  Yes, it looks cheap because that’s exactly what it was.

However, for me, and I think many of my fellow Trekkers, the scripts in this show are strong enough to get past the kind dumpy animation.  There are a handful of episodes that are follow ups to ones on the original series, which actually kind of play like retreads or remakes of the episode they are linked to.  But, there are others and ones that bring about fun, unique and new adventures for the like of Kirk and company.  While it is enjoyable, you kinda just have to forgive or look past the animation.

While the debate wages on of whether this show “counts” or not, I say count it.  I’m one who is fine with looser continuity and things and also have an understanding and forgiveness for things like that.  I get it, I know how things are made and work and don’t get bothered by things being super neat in their connection. Plus, we get things that are still in play today from this series, like the “T” for Tiberius as Captain Kirk’s middle name.  This show also sets up the holodeck which would come into play later for Star Trek: The Next Generation.  So, really this animated series is not even close to being a loss.

To me, as tough as it can be to watch or whatnot, I still consider this to be that 4th season of Star Trek that we never got.  Year four of the five year mission.  Boldy going where many an animated show in the 1970s had gone before.  And for Trekkies of that era who were fans of the show, I understand the embrace you have and people probably can’t imagine a time with so little Star Trek to consume and the worry that there never would be any more.  This show is a little bit of a cult item within a cult item and is a great little bonus to have as well as a collector’s item within having all things Trek.

Beyond The Farthest Star

One Of Our Planets Is Missing

The Lorelei Signal

More Tribbles, More Troubles

The Infinitive Vulcan

The Magicks Of Megas-Tu

Once Upon A Planet

Mudd’s Passion

The Terratin Incident

The Time Trap

The Ambergris Element

The Slaver Weapon

The Eye Of The Beholder

The Pirates Of Orion

The Practical Joker

How Sharper Than A Serpent’s Tooth

The Counter-Clock Incident

Encoding : MPEG-4 AVC

Resolution : 1080p

Aspect Ratio : 1.33:1

Layers: BD-50

Clarity/Detail :  As incredibly simple as the animation was on this show, the previous DVD iteration looked pretty great.  This here is a step up, but marginally. The image features the obviously improvement in sharpness and a crisper look.  There’s a little thicker look to it as well, creating a more bold and confident appearance.  Overall, I think people will be happy though.

Depth:   This is a pretty flat, 2D as you can get 2D of a show.  That’s the animation, not this Blu-ray’s fault.  Its not too bad though, as movements are smooth and there is some sense of loose fluidity between characters, ships and backdrops.

Black Levels :  Blacks are solid and dark.  They do a good job of outlining characters and objects as well as filling them in with solid color.  No crushing witnessed on this one at all during my viewing.

Color Reproduction :  Color is an area of noticeable improvement.  While still not maybe as big of a change as I’d have liked (They’d probably actually have to recolor the whole thing), its still impressive.  Reds, blues and yellows are all stronger and bold because they are primary and not a lot of different tinting and shading is going on.

Flesh Tones :  N/A

Noise/Artifacts:   There are some dirt/specs in the episodes, but for me, it kind of adds to the look and charm of the show.

Audio Format(s) : English 5.1 DTS-HD MA, English Mono, German Mono, French Mono, Italian Mono

Subtitles : English SDH, German, French, Italian, Dutch

Dynamics :   Star Trek: The Animated Series features a surprisingly well realized 5.1 audio track.  The audio sounds pretty clear and clean and less analog than you think it would.  The effects, vocals and score are all much more loose of one another in a well balanced mix.  Effects have a good distinct full sound to them.  Its a loud track that will fill the room more than the show ever has before.

Height: N/A

Low Frequency Extension : Some decent rumbling gets done with the subwoofer in this mix.  Some explosions, ship shaking and bass in the score feels a nice, while not thunderous boom.

Surround Sound Presentation :  What this one does quite well is fully realize the environments, names the bridge.  You can hear beeps, computer hums and more.  There are some distinct sounds and the like that carry in the rear speakers too.  Movements and actions are documented pretty decently.  No, this isn’t going to be Star Trek Beyond, but its pretty solid for a piece of vintage animated television.

Dialogue Reproduction :  Dialogue is plenty loud and well captured here.  Everyone is clean and clear.

Star Trek: The Animated Series is a 3 Blu-ray Disc set.  The bonus material appears on Disc 3.  This set comes with a collectable gather of cards featuring some poster art for some of the episodes.  All the bonus features are ones carried over from the 2006 DVD release of the series.

Drawn To The Final Frontier: The Making Of Star Trek The Animated Series (SD, 24:31) – A little retrospective with writers going over the life span of this short lived animated series that kept Star Trek alive.

What’s The Star Trek Connection (SD, 7:12) –  This goes over things in the animated series and their relation to all the other films and TV series in the universe.

Show History –  Playing like still gallery, this is a written history of the show.

Star Trek: The Animated Series is definitely for Trek fans, but I doubt it’ll extend much beyond that.  Hampering that is how you feel about the animation. This Blu-ray is a nice step up, but due to the simplicity of the animation before, the DVD already looked quite good.  But, hey, an upgrade is an upgrade and this looks and sound better. Also cool are the little posters they have inserted and its appreciated that the extras are carried over.  The price is a little steep for this (Especially since its been on Netflix), but for a fan its worth it.

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Star Trek: The Animated Series

Capt. Kirk and his crew encounter an array of strange new creatures in this animated series, including an alien race that fled Earth long ago.

1. Beyond the Farthest Star

In orbit around a dead star, the Enterprise comes across a huge starship inhabited by a parasitic life form that threatens the entire ship.

2. Yesteryear

Spock must return to his own past on Vulcan to prevent his death as a youngster.

3. One of Our Planets Is Missing

The crew of the Enterprise races to find a way to stop a cloud from destroying inhabited planets.

4. The Lorelei Signal

The men of the Enterprise are victimized by a race of beautiful women who stay immortal by draining the lifeforce of men.

5. More Tribbles, More Troubles

Cyrano Jones returns, along with new tribbles that can't multiply.

6. The Survivor

The Enterprise celebrates the return of missing trader and philanthropist Carter Winston, but he may not be quite what he seems.

7. The Infinite Vulcan

Kirk and the crew are faced with a race of intelligent plants and a mad scientist who wants to impose peace on the galaxy.

8. The Magicks of Megus-Tu

The Enterprise goes to the center of the galaxy, where the crew finds a race of powerful aliens who once fled Earth.

9. Once Upon a Planet

Kirk returns to the "shore leave" planet, but it's not as peaceful as it was when the team last saw it.

10. Mudd's Passion

The crew encounters Harry Mudd again, who is selling a fake love potion.

11. The Terratin Incident

The Enterprise crew members find themselves shrinking after being bathed with radiation.

12. The Time Trap

The Enterprise and a Klingon ship must join forces to escape from a pocket universe that has been trapping starships for centuries.

13. The Ambergris Element

While exploring the planet Argo, Kirk and Spock are turned into water breathers.

14. The Slaver Weapon

Spock, Sulu and Uhura are captured by the Kzinti, who are trying to learn the secret of an ancient weapon.

15. Eye of the Beholder

While searching for a lost ship, Kirk, Spock and McCoy are captured and placed in a zoo by advanced, telepathic aliens.

Kirk and team race to retrieve a stolen religious relic before a galactic holy war erupts.

In Season 2 of this animated series, the crew of the Enterprise finds itself stuck in a universe where time runs backward.

1. Pirates of Orion

When Spock is stricken by a disease fatal to Vulcans, the Enterprise races to meet a freighter with a load of drugs that provides the only cure.

On a planetary survey mission, a reckless observer named Bem creates big trouble for Kirk and Spock.

3. The Practical Joker

After passing through an unusual cloud, the Enterprise computer develops a playful, and potentially lethal, personality.

4. Albatross

Dr. McCoy is arrested and accused of causing a plague that ravaged the planet Dramia Two, where he performed a mass inoculation 19 years earlier.

5. How Sharper Than a Serpent's Tooth

The Enterprise crew encounters an alien who visited Earth in ancient times and became known as the Mayan god Kukulkan.

6. The Counterclock Incident

The Enterprise tries to save an unidentified ship plunging into a supernova but is dragged into a universe where time runs backwards.

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Screen Rant

10 x-men: the animated series characters we hope still appear in x-men '97.

X-Men ’97 has reintroduced a swathe of beloved and iconic mutants, but numerous other X-Men: The Animated Series characters should also appear.

• X-Men '97 is a triumphant revival of the beloved X-Men: The Animated Series, featuring a swathe of familiar faces and exciting characters.
• The series proffers highly consequential narratives and bold storytelling, welcoming back classic characters like Juggernaut, Apocalypse, and Lady Deathstrike.
• Expect appearances from iconic characters like Colossus, Sabretooth, Shadow King, Omega Red, Mystique, and potential transformations like Magik and Longshot in upcoming episodes of X-Men '97.

X-Men '97 has already featured a litany of thrilling Marvel characters from X-Men: The Animated Series, but some notable missing examples would make great additions. X-Men '97 is the triumphant revival of the beloved and iconic X-Men: The Animated Series from the 1990s. The series has included a swathe of familiar faces and an ever-updating X-Men team. However, some other great characters with memorable appearances in X-Men: TAS will hopefully also feature in X-Men '97.

X-Men '97 has quickly proven itself to be one of Marvel's strongest television series - with X-Men '97 season 2 already confirmed. Though the series is not considered part of the MCU timeline , it has proffered some highly consequential narratives, recommencing the original story just months later. Numerous dynamic and exciting characters have already appeared in X-Men ’97 , such as Mister Sinister, Mojo, and Nightcrawler. However, some other beloved X-Men: TAS should also be considered.

X-Men: The Animated Series episodes were aired out of their intended order, leading to some discrepancies in cataloging the episodes. This article reflects the original scripted episode order, which has since also been adopted by Disney+.

When Every MCU Avenger Appeared In Marvel's Animated Universe

10 juggernaut had some memorable x-men: tas appearances, juggernaut appeared in x-men: tas season 1, episode 8 "the unstoppable juggernaut;" season 3, episode 5 "the phoenix saga, part iii: the cry of the banshee;" & season 4, episode 1 "the juggernaut returns".

In X-Men: The Animated Series , Juggernaut emerged as a formidable adversary, serving as the primary antagonist in two iconic episodes rooted in early X-Men comics. His towering presence and unstoppable force make him a tough villain, challenging the X-Men in ways both physical and psychological . His third appearance during “The Dark Phoenix Saga” further solidifies his status as a complex threat, weaving thrilling fight sequences between Juggernaut, the X-Men, and the Shi’ar Imperial Guard.

10 X-Men Villains Who Were Better In The Animated Show Than The Live-Action Movies

Juggernaut’s abilities often allowed him to easily thwart a single X-Men member in X-Men: TAS , allowing for a fun exploration of team dynamics and complimentary mutant powers. This could be revisited with the new X-Men ’97 line-up in a captivating update. Juggernaut’s imposing presence and unstoppable nature would make him a formidable villain to explore in a more mature narrativ e, which could explore his complicated and conflicted comic book history with more depth.

9 Apocalypse's Appearance Has Been Hinted At In X-Men '97

Apocalypse appeared in 11 episodes of x-men: tas.

Apocalypse's presence in X-Men: The Animated Series was formidable, making him a recurring antagonist across numerous episodes. With his imposing stature and godlike powers, he emerged as one of the primary adversaries of the X-Men, posing existential threats to both mutants and humans alike . His iconic appearance, characterized by his blue skin, advanced technology, and distinctive voice, solidified his status as a menacing force. Each encounter with Apocalypse showcased his relentless pursuit of power and domination, amplifying the series' tension and stakes.

Apocalypse’s return was teased in X-Men ’97 , during episode 5, “Remember It.” As Cable arrives in Genosha, he warns Madelyne Pryor that “He is coming .” Though this could be a reference to the Sentinels that promptly attack the mutant nation, it is likely a reference to Apocalypse. Cable’s appearances in X-Men: TAS typically concerned the fearsome Apocalypse , suggesting that his surprise appearance in “Remember It” could follow suit.

Every Way X-Men '97 Changed Cable's Origin Story

8 lady deathstrike has only been teased, lady deathstrike appeared in x-men: tas season 3, episodes 1-2 "out of the past".

Lady Deathstrike made a memorable mark in X-Men: The Animated Series , featuring prominently as the main antagonist in a gripping two-part episode. Her fierce combat skills and adamantium-laced enhancements posed a significant threat to the X-Men while exploring elements of Wolverine’s mysterious past. Despite her outstanding debut, Lady Deathstrike was notably absent from subsequent episodes . Nevertheless, her intense presence in those episodes remains a standout moment in X-Men: The Animated Series.

Lady Deathstrike would be a compelling addition to X-Men ’97 and would serve to rectify the missed opportunity in X-Men: TAS and include her in more adventures. Lady Deathstrike has been teased by the X-Men ’97 opening credits , which has added her to the villainous mutant line-up charging into battle. Morph also transforms into her in episode 2 for a brief moment. With Deathstrike’s appearance in the Deadpool & Wolverine trailer , including her in X-Men ’97 could allow for a more comic-accurate, modern rendition of the character.

10 Characters X-Men '97 Has Done Better Than The Movies

7 sabretooth had a compelling arc in x-men: tas, sabretooth appeared in 11 episodes of x-men: tas.

Sabretooth's presence in X-Men: The Animated Series was formidable, anchoring pivotal narratives like Wolverine's enigmatic past and the chilling rise of the Friends of Humanity . His early introduction established him as a dynamic villain, appearing in numerous episodes with his ferocity and cunning. Yet, it was his role in shaping Wolverine's character and the bigotry of the Friends of Humanity that underscored his significance, leaving an indelible mark on the series' intricate tapestry of heroism and conflict.

As a prominent villain in X-Men: TAS with an iconic rivalry with Wolverine, it is likely that Sabretooth will appear at some point in X-Men ’97 . Sabretooth’s presence would add a dynamic extra layer to the continuing Friends of Humanity narrative established in X-Men ’97 episode 1 “To Me, My X-Men,” and seen in subsequent episodes. With his fearsome demeanor, Sabretooth would make a thrilling addition to X-Men ’97.

6 Colossus Is One Of The X-Men's Closest Allies

Colossus appeared in x-men: tas, season 1, episode 8 "the unstoppable juggernaut" & season 2, episode 4 "red dawn".

In X-Men: The Animated Series , Colossus made impactful appearances in two standout episodes. His clash with Juggernaut showcased his immense strength and durability, while his confrontation with Omega Red highlighted his unwavering courage. Despite being invited to join the X-Men, Colossus chose to stay rooted in his Russian heritage, adding to his character's sense of duty and loyalty. His presence brought a unique blend of power and integrity to the series , leaving a lasting impression on audiences.

Colossus is also likely to appear at some point in X-Men ’97 , with an animated legacy comparable to Nightcrawler – who has been introduced. Colossus would make a fun addition, as evidenced in episode 2, “Mutant Liberation Begins,” when Morph transforms into Colossus to fight the X-Cuitioner. As the X-Men team continues to evolve, Colossus could seamlessly be integrated, even temporarily, in X-Men ’97 .

5 Shadow King Was A Dynamic Villain In X-Men: TAS

Shadow king appears in x-men: tas season 2, episode 3 "whatever it takes" & season 4, episode 5 xavier remembers".

In X-Men: The Animated Series, Shadow King, a formidable psychic entity, made chilling appearances in two standout episodes. His ominous presence delved into the tumultuous pasts of Storm and Xavier, revealing intricate backstories. With striking visuals and psychedelic animation, these episodes provided a gripping exploration of the characters' psyche . Shadow King's fearsome visage and menacing aura added some depth to the series, showcasing the profound impact of his influence on the X-Men's world.

Shadow King could continue X-Men ‘97 ’s impressive hallucinogenic animation sequences by thrusting the team into a psychic confrontation on the Astral Plane. With Storm’s place in the mutant world reaffirmed when she regained her powers, including Shadow King could continue exploring her character by expounding upon her complicated relationship with Shadow King as seen in X-Men comics . As one of the most fearsome and dynamic X-Men villains, Shadow King’s inclusion in X-Men ’97 poses boundless possibilities.

4 Omega Red Was A Chilling Presence In X-Men: TAS

Omega red appeared in x-men: tas season 2, episode 4 "red dawn" & season 4, episode 2 "a deal with the devil".

The fearsome Omega Red starred in two memorable episodes of X-Men: The Animated Series , establishing him as one of the strongest villains in the series. Omega Red’s appearances were marked by genuine menace, proving to be a significant obstacle for the X-Men. Particularly noteworthy were the narratives that delved into Wolverine Colossus’s backstories, where Omega Red's sinister nature heightened the tension. Through his formidable abilities and imposing demeanor, Omega Red left an indelible mark on X-Men: TAS , becoming a memorable adversary for the X-Men.

X-Men ’97 ’s updated animation style and techniques could make Omega Red even more imposing and terrifying than his X-Men: TAS appearances. With a history associated with Wolverine’s past, the series could continue exploring their storied history, perhaps even adapting classic confrontations from X-Men comics. With only two appearances in X-Men: TAS , X-Men ’97 has ample opportunity to depict the fearsome foe in new narratives.

3 Mystique May Have Already Appeared In X-Men '97

Mystique appeared in 10 episodes of x-men: tas.

In X-Men: The Animated Series , Mystique's enigmatic presence captivated audiences across 10 episodes. Her versatile abilities and shapeshifting prowess propelled her into pivotal roles within central narratives. Collaborating with formidable forces like Apocalypse and the Brotherhood of Mutants, Mystique wove intricate webs of intrigue and deceit . Her appearances were often crucial threads in the rich tapestry of the series, adding depth, tension, and complexity to the X-Men's ongoing struggle against adversaries both familiar and enigmatic.

Mystique is yet to make an official debut in X-Men ’97 . However, an X-Men ’97 theory has suggested that Mystique may have already appeared. In X-Men comics, Mystique spends some time disguised as the CIA agent Valerie Cooper. Valerie has appeared throughout X-Men ’97 , often appearing during times of crisis. During these moments, Valerie’s eye color often changes from blue to yellow, hinting that she may in fact be Mystique in disguise .

2 Illyana Rasputin's Magik Transformation Was Teased By Morph

Omega red appeared in x-men: tas season 2, episode 4 "red dawn" & season 2, episode 8 "time fugitives - part 2".

Illyana Rasputin, also known as Magik, made notable appearances in X-Men: The Animated Series . In one episode, she is captured by the menacing Omega Red, only to be rescued by her stalwart older brother, Colossus, and the X-Men. This showcased their strong familial bond, which prompted Colossus to remain in Russia. Another significant episode sees Illyana being infected with the techno-organic virus, emphasizing her struggles against formidable adversaries and the inherent dangers faced by mutants .

Illyana was teased in X-Men ’97 with some important developments. In X-Men ’97 episode 3, “Fire Made Flesh,” Morph transforms into Illyana while battling Madelyne Pryor. Initially, Morph assumes Illyana’s traditional comic book appearance before transforming into her Magik guise. Neither of these appeared previously in X-Men: TAS , where she had not gained her powers. Their appearance in X-Men ’97 suggests that Illyana’s transformation into Magik has occurred in the interim and could be explored hence.

1 Longshot Joined The X-Men After Leaving Mojo

Longshot appeared in x-men: tas season 2, episode 11 "mojovision" & season 3, episode 10 "longshot".

Longshot made memorable appearances in two episodes of X-Men: The Animated Series , both featuring the nefarious Mojo as the primary antagonist. As a genetically engineered rebel from Mojoworld, Longshot brought his acrobatic prowess and luck-altering abilities to aid the X-Men in their battles against the manipulative Mojo. His enigmatic charm and mysterious background added intrigue to these episodes, leaving the door open for subsequent appearances that never materialized .

X-Men ’97 episode 4, “Motendo,” would have been the perfect place to reintroduce Longshot, continuing his typical association with Mojo from X-Men: TAS . Longshot was, however, notably absent from the episode - though a Longshot stuffed toy is present in Jubilee's bedroom. Regardless, Longshot has a long history working with the X-Men in Marvel Comics, joining the official team after escaping from Mojo’s clutches . Longshot could, therefore, be introduced in any narrative as a new member of the ever-evolving team in X-Men ’97 .

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‘Golden Axe’ Animated Series Based On Video Game Ordered By Comedy Central; Matthew Rhys, Danny Pudi Among Voice Cast

By Denise Petski

Denise Petski

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Comedy Central has handed a 10-episode order to Golden Axe , a new animated series based on the popular Sega video game. Produced by CBS Studios in association with Sony Pictures Television and Original Film, Golden Axe voice cast is led by Emmy winner Matthew Rhys (The Americans) , Danny Pudi ( Mythic Quest ), Lisa Gilroy (Jury Duty ), Liam McIntyre ( Spartacus ) and Carl Tart (Grand Crew).

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Rhys will play Gilius Thunderhead, a grumpy battle dwarf with exceptionally poor hygiene and a chip on his shoulder.

Pudi is Hampton Squib, a naive, inexperienced first time adventurer who has dreamt of questing his entire life. He hopes his can-do attitude can make up for his inability to actually do stuff.

Gilroy portrays Tyris Flare, a fearsome battle sorceress, deadly in a fight and even deadlier with her sharp wit.

McIntyre plays Ax Battler, a barbarian warrior with a strict code of honor and sweet golden retriever demeanor. His brawn outweighs his brains, but his heart outweighs his brawn.

Tart’s Chronos “Evil” Lait, originally from Golden Axe III , is a 100% badass humanoid panther. At least that’s how Chronos describes himself. In reality he’s uncomfortably cheesy and can’t read a room.

Golden Axe is produced by CBS’ Eye Animation Productions, CBS Studios’ animation arm; Sony Pictures Television; and Original Film.

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‘Golden Axe’ Animated Series From Mike McMahan Set at Comedy Central; Matthew Rhys and Danny Pudi Among Voice Cast

By Joe Otterson

Joe Otterson

TV Reporter

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A “ Golden Axe ” animated series has been greenlit at Comedy Central , Variety has learned.

Based on the beloved Sega games of the same name, the show hails from co-creators Mike McMahan and Joe Chandler. Matthew Rhys (“The Americans,” “Perry Mason”), Danny Pudi (“Community,” “Mythic Quest”), Lisa Gilroy (“Jury Duty,” “Interior Chinatown”), Liam McIntyre (“Spartacus,” “The Flash”), and Carl Tart (“Grand Crew,” “Star Trek: Lower Decks”) will lead the voice cast.

Popular on Variety

McMahan and Chandler will co-write the first episode of the series and serve as executive producers, with Chandler also serving as showrunner. Haruki Satomi, President and CEO of Sega Sammy Holdings Inc., Shuji Utsumi, president and COO of Sega Corporation, and Sega’s Toru Nakahara will also executive produce. Neal H. Moritz, Pavun Shetty and Toby Ascher of Original Film will executive produce as well along with Titmouse’s Chris Prynoski, Shannon Prynoski, Antonio Canobbio and Ben Kalina. Titmouse will serve as the animation studio for the series. CBS Studios’ animation arm, CBS Eye Animation, will produce along with Sony Pictures Television and Original Film.

News of the series comes just after Variety exclusively reported that “Star Trek: Lower Decks,” which was created by McMahan, will be ending with its fifth season . McMahan is also known for his time as a writer and executive producer on “Rick and Morty” and is the co-creator of the Hulu animated series “Solar Opposites.” Chandler is an executive producer for the long-running animated series “American Dad” and previously wrote for shows like the “Napoleon Dynamite” animated series.

Character Descriptions

–Matthew Rhys will play Gilius Thunderhead, a grumpy battle dwarf with exceptionally poor hygiene and a chip on his shoulder.

–Danny Pudi will play Hampton Squib, a naive, inexperienced first time adventurer who has dreamt of questing his entire life. He hopes his can-do attitude can make up for his inability to actually do stuff.

–Lisa Gilroy will play Tyris Flare, a fearsome battle sorceress, deadly in a fight and even deadlier with her sharp wit.

–Liam McIntyre will play Ax Battler, a barbarian warrior with a strict code of honor and sweet golden retriever demeanor. His brawn outweighs his brains, but his heart outweighs his brawn.

–Carl Tart will play Chronos “Evil” Lait, originally from “Golden Axe III”, is a 100% badass humanoid panther. At least that’s how Chronos describes himself. In reality he’s uncomfortably cheesy and can’t read a room.

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