Reading all of the comments below from people who have never heard of Star Trek: Continues until they watched this video fills me with joy! :) You're in for a real treat let me tell you! Glad I was able to raise a bit of awareness of this fantastic fan series.
Add me to that list of "unknowing folks." I'll be giving this a watch as I long for "OG Star Trek!" I know that Vic is a HUGE Star Trek fan and I'e seen him do a great Shatner impression :) Many of the cast are taented voice actors I've seen in many anime series. This will be FUN! :D
Would you try to cover the Phase II series? I have no idea what happened to it and where it went. EDIT: Ooops, my mistake, I meant New Voyages, truth to be told I never felt wanna watch it, so never did.
I saw Star Trek Continues years ago and sang its praised back then. I am so happy that you reviewed this extremely well-made Star Trek TOS-inspired series. I find these episodes incredibly seamless to the original series.
Vic Mignona was the head of this project and proved he is much more than a prolific voice actor, he's also a gifted writer, director and screen actor. Star Trek Continues is the best Star Trek we got since 1997.
I've watched/re-watched all the episodes of Continues-GOOD-stuff. They did an episode of the after math of-Mirror-Mirror-episode that's very good. LOVE this show. And I've watched other fan-films of Star Trek,some better than others,but,I've enjoyed them,because they're showing their love for Star Trek. Live Long and prosper
Vic honored Trek with an obsessive fidelity that was breathtaking - even to finding the daughter of the Romulan commander from The Enterprise Incident to recreate the role. I was truely amazed.
She's the spitting image of her mom in that role, and that's saying a lot considering that she doesn't look anything like the character in real life. Maybe her mom didn't either though: I guess a lot of it might be the fake eyebrows.
According to Gene's son, Rod Roddenberry, after attending a screening at Las Vegas in 2014: "I do have to say, and I said this after 'Lolani', I'm pretty damn sure my dad would consider this canon. The fact that you do stories that mean something, that have depth, that make us all think a little bit, I really think he would applaud you guys, and I applaud you guys. And, as far as I am concerned, it is canon. So thank you." *Mic drop
The best thing about this quote is NOT that Roddenberry's son considers this canon, but the clear implication that he DOESN'T consider every modern show to be canon, and that it's rare and unusual for someone to actually do justice to his father's franchsie.
Vic really is a class act. The guy is absurdly talented and it pains me to think there are so many out there that were jealous of that and tried to kill him by alienating him from his fans.
@AgentGodzillaRP nah the kick vic campaign was one of the most malicious acts of misandry ever, amber heard wishes she could destroy a man for so little
@@Katya_Lastochka Still, the fact that he's repeatedly hung out with Anthony Cumia means he's a weirdo. The only question is whether he's a weirdo by volition or association.
Chris Doohan did a fantastic job as Scotty. As I understand it, he had spent time on set with his dad and was using those experiences and memories in his effort to emulate his father. This was one fan project that was truly a labor of love for the franchise and not just a cash grab or attempt at gaining popularity for the actors involved.
The reason it succeeds is because Vick actually talked to William Shatner about the role and took his advice, which is why he nails it, unlike say Chris Pine who doesn't because he didn't.
After watching this we’re going to give it a watch. Your comment regarding Chris Pine, I agree to disagree- it was a created as a parallel universe. I love Star Trek, went into watching the new movie with ‘pre’ dislike but came out really liking it. Now what was a greater disappointment was as I was TNG’er watching Picard - loving season 1 almost all couldn’t stand two , but three was good, really good. So we are excited to see what Star Trek Continues delivers. Live long & Prosper , friend
@@magzp8we tolerate JJ Abrams version of ‘Star Trek’ and the series nose dives from there. I always think ‘I’m sorry kid, you’re just to damn loud. The only outstanding performance is by the very brilliant Carl Urban.
@@thoughtsonnarrowboatingwit3882 - Urban was easily the best part of all 3 as he's the only one that feels right. Sorry, people praise Quinto but I don't see it. Watch TOS and the JJ's or SNW and they are all completely different characters.
Bloody hell! I had no idea: I've just started the first episode, and it truly feels like it was part of the original series! Nothing to do with modern crap. The creators are absolute geniuses.
I was absolutely amazed at how well this production matched the lighting, editing, set construction, writing, and overall feel of the original series. I consider Star Trek Continues to be the gold standard of Star Trek fan films. Vic and his team deserve high praise for STC. Thank you for covering this series.
I recently found out that this series was shot in a warehouse a few miles north of the Florida/Georgia border off of I-95. It's called Neutral Zone Studios and you can schedule a tour of the facility. I'm about 2 hours away and hope to go by summer.
I got to have a very small role in the show on Episode 6 "Come Not Between Dragons" and I will say it was absolutely the BEST experience I've ever had. Everyone behind the scenes is so true and authentic I absolutely recommend them to anyone.
I discovered Star Trek Continues by accident a few years ago and was enthralled because it was so accurate. Now when I binge watch the Original Series I finish off by watching Continues as it was done so perfectly. My only gripe with the show is that it ended so soon. It was sheer perfection.
I absolutely loved this series! It was well worth my time. I know it's horribly cliché to say at this point, but I'm going to say it anyway: This is more authentic Star Trek than anything we've seen for decades.
@@ajclements4627 I followed Axanar for a while, and I'm still hopeful that they'll crank out something earthshattering. Thanks for mentioning the others -- I'll be sure to check into them! 👍
@@syntaxusdogmata3333 Fingers crossed Secret Hideout take take the boot off Fan Production necks and let Axanar develop it's story. I for one want to see the Federation President give more speeches. I know the actor played Klingons in the past... But to me he'll always be the antagonist in The Rock.
This was a great series made by true fans who honored the original series. You can tell the actors loved working on the show and put a significant amount of effort into it. Vic really did a great job in bringing it together. Having some of the original actors, children of original actors, and other Star Trek actors was a great touch. I need to go watch this series again this fall.
I found STC a couple of years ago, entirely by accident, and it was like winning the lottery. You couldn't have wiped the smile off my face with a baseball bat. I agree with every single word of this review. Every. Single. Word.
The mirror universe episode was incredible. I know, I know. The mirror universe has been "done to death" in Star Trek. But this was different in that it picked up right after the Mirror, Mirror episode of TOS, aboard the imperial Enterprise. It logically laid out the events that took place aboard the I.S.S. Enterprise after "good" Kirk's plea to imperial Spock to "be that man." I'm not going to spoil it for you. Just do as Dave says and go watch this masterpiece. It's what NBC couldn't give us no matter how hard they and all their successors tried to. (Okay, most of DS9 and some of Enterprise excepted, of course.)
I was blown away by this whole series and was honoured to help crowd fund an episode in a modest way. The two part finale is some of the best Trek ever. Avalon Universe is wonderful stuff also!
You were honored to spend money... what kind of new aged bullshit is this? You didn't do anything. Are you also honored to buy the newest tech doo-dad that you also had nothing to do with? People really need to get a grip on reality.
Star Trek Continues was fabulous. It's as close to finding 'lost' episodes of the original series that we'll ever get. I love the callbacks to TOS as well... imagine that - maintaining continuity rather than rewriting it to suit your own purposes!
And Enterprise. The Mirror universe episode was a page right out of Enterprise with the opening credits and music altered for an empire. Wonderfully done!
Love that the daughter of actress Joanne Linville played the role her mother originated as the Romulan Commander in 'The Enterprise Incident' in this fan series. She look perfect in the part.
I've toured the Studio in Georgia and met Vic. Super nice guy! He let my daughter lie on one of the beds in the Sick Bay so we could take a picture. The Neutral Zone Studio is really cool! I'm 57 and grew up with TOS back when it was just called 'Star Trek'. I think they really captured the essence of the old series. I swear, its so good that you forget you are watching different actors. Its like finding a vault of old, unwatched episodes! If you tour the Studio - it is just like the original set (except they had to move Engineering). The sound effects are playing and the main bridge viewscreen shows the Enterprise in orbit around a planet. It is VERY cool!
At first, the difference in actors is jarring and glaring, but after a while, they really grow on me. I was sad to see 1 or more characters die [don't want to reveal spoilers].
Thanks for the hearty recommendation of this amazing series. It brought tears to my eyes when l first viewed it. I have seven episodes to finish, so boy am l excited. This series proves that when you genuinly care for a property and you put the right people together, you CAN go home again and even catch lightening in a bottle. All the new Trek product pales in comparison to this terrific show. Best of all, it never feels nostalgic. It simply captures the essence of the original series, fuses it with new energy and gives viewers an unbelievable experience.
Thank you Dave for this video. This series is well worth the attention. Vic Mignona duplicates even the most subtle of Shatner’s mannerisms it’s uncanny. I believe he was the creator of this series. It boggles my mind why somebody at Paramount doesn’t wake up and make him showrunner for a live Star Trek series, instead of the incompetents (not all but some) we presently have.
@@VulpasI like how the big 'win' of their allegations is just a judge (imo wrongfully) deciding he can't sue the shit out of them for defamation. They never did and never could have proven a single thing.
@@yelsahblah3270 Blame CBS/Paramount for why we don't get quality fan film productions for Star Trek anymore like this. Just read up on the whole Axanar debacle from years back. That's the official reason but it was more likely the studio didn't want competition from fan films that were miles better than what they've been doing.
Color TV was still fairly new in the mid-sixties and Star Trek had a definite visual palette to promote it. Besides the wonderful scripts, sets, props and actors, I was blown away by how ST:C absolutely NAILED the lighting and color balance of that era. Impressive, to say the least.
I watched it for the first time only a couple of months ago and was very impressed. I was expecting to turn it off within 15 minutes because I'm really not into fan films and was afraid that it would be very amateurish and cosplay-ish. It was anything but. I was shocked at how professional it is, how good the sets and costumes are, how decent the acting is, how thoughtful the writing is and just how close it comes to replicating TOS. Even if you're very skeptical, as I was, give it a chance. All 11 episodes are free here on TH-cam. I guarantee that it's worth your time and that you'll come away from it shaking your head that a bunch of fans with a small budget could make something 10x more like Star Trek than anything from Paramount and Kurtzman since.
I can’t express how appreciative I am for down loading this video. Like others, I had no knowledge of this fan based series. This was my mothers favorite show . Watching the original series during the 60s with her and my brother is one of my fondest memories. I lost her and my father in 2017 so this discovery is bittersweet. So for my beloved mother, Rosemarie, I will set out to finish the 5 year voyage we started nearly 60 years ago. Miss and love you mom! Thank you so very much.
Absolutely perfect critique and analysis, Dave. When it first came out, I was absolutely stunned by the shows authenticity. I have been in the business for 40 years and I couldn't believe it.
That was excellent. Thank you. I have just finished, today, a two-year study of Star Trek. I read several sources referencing Star Trek: Continues and other fan film series. This piece was a perfect introduction for me to start watching those programs.
Not to mention he manage to make an absolute magnificent work in both recreating TOS and honoring ENT by making several references to the previous series. Goddammit who is the "genius" who gave the light on to "Disco-Burn" and not to this masterpiece? Les Moonves? Well that it would explain a lot...Moonves is known to hate sci-fi, but Vic Mignogna definitely loves it! The man deserved a medal and check, not a slap in the face by 'Metoo'...They should watch episode 7 of STC and never criticed ever!
@TheDaveCullenShow thanks for shining a light on this great series. It was an honor to work on it, and I'm thrilled that more people might get to see it because of your video. Thanks!
Their sequel to Mirror Mirror was superb. Bittersweet plot, but realistic. The opening teaser with the main universe characters waiting for Kirk in the transporter actually fooled me for a second that they'd used canon footage even though I knew that was not legally possible. Doohan really looked like a real, slimmed down Jimmy Doohan there.
I had to watch mirror mirror first to refresh my memory of that episode. But the new episode melded beautifully with it. I felt I could watch a new series of Star Trek with that alternate universe.
Nailed it. I watched through the series a few years ago and it's just staggering how well they nailed it...and obviously had a blast in the process! I WISH Paramount would have recognized the potential this had and bought the rights to it, and let the team make a full run of it. Would have been an amazing addition to the franchise, and it's certainly the best Trek produced since ENT finished its run.
Besides being a HUGE Star Trek fan since childhood, as many reading this may already know, Vic is also an incredibly talented and well known voice actor who dubbed the voices for many characters in several successful Japanese Anime series. I had the great fortune of discovering Vic's incredible voice work from a well known Anime series where he voiced the main character. Sadly Vic became an early casualty of the now infamous hashtag me too movement and like so many actors after Vic, who openly talked about political and religious views that went against or differed from the current narrative, like Vic did, Vic had his incredible career as a voice actor destroyed by some not so nice people who he believed, at least at the time prior to his career being destroyed, were his friends.
Basically he was Russell Brand'ed. I do not accept his cancelling. If a women does not come forward immediately after an incident and sits on it for years then comes forward after a guy is successful her claim should be immediately suspect.
@@exexpat11 Whilst I somewhat empathise with your view (it's rarely that simple and consider how long Jimmy Saville got away with it before people were believed), your choice of comparative example is terrible. Brand had something of a rep already and has often demonstrated a lack of understanding of where to draw the line between acceptable & unacceptable behaviour. The allegations against him were unsurprising, if nothing else.
Vic and company did a great job. It is amazing and kind of sad that fans who love and respect the original material do such a better job than the IP holders.
My understanding is that all of the "behind the scenes" people (costuming, lighting, sets, filming, etc.) were Hollywood pros who have lot of love for the original show, which is why they put so much heart into making the episodes on an entirely volunteer basis.
Vic Mignogna is a very good friend of mine. I know he'll appreciate this review! I'm sending him the link right now. Thanks for the very generous look at this show, it really was amazing!
What these guys were doing with ST Continues was nothing short of brilliant! They showed a lot of love with the production values, writing & acting that any of this “Nu Trek” dribble produced! I know it’s over but I still watch the episodes from time to time on here & to actually tell the truth I wish they still were making episodes but what they left is absolutely GLORIOUS 🖖🏾
I’ve been a diehard TOS fan since I was a child in the 70s and Star Trek Continues absolutely nails it! The look, feel, stories, characters are all spot on. I discovered ST: Continues around 2014 and new episodes could not come out fast enough. It was like Christmas morning when a new one “aired”. I was crushed when they were forced to end the run due to Paramount updating their rules for fan videos that really limited what these productions could do (thanks a lot Axanar). At least ST: Continues got to wrap the show up with a proper ending. If you’re a Trek fan, especially of TOS, and have never seen this I envy you having the opportunity to see this for the first time. I think it is about time for rewatch…
I was in episode 2, “Lolani”. It was a great experience. Vic invited me personally to be on the show when I bumped into him at Dragon*Con. I had previously done VIP security for him. He is an absolute Star Trek fan. I spent the weekend with him, throwing Trek trivia and was only able to stump him once. The whole weekend he was very friendly and accommodating to his fans. Any rumor you’ve heard about Vic are absolutely fabricated. Kasey Shafsky was very friendly and accommodating. The cast and crew were very professional and good natured. I subsequently donated to their “KirkStarter” for future episodes. What a great show.
@@darthagaddadavida9936 They can't make any more episodes due to CBS's fan film rules. They already went past the two 15 minute episode limit that CBS has. Plus they also used actual Star Trek actors which is no longer allowed. They were fortunate not to be a target of a lawsuit and were able to finish the final couple of episodes to complete the series.
Thank you so much for introducing me to this series. I'm 51, have watched many things I've loved be destroyed by people who hated it to begin with. I'm 3 episodes in and am embarrassed by how happy some TV shows are making me. You're awesome, man. Thank you for everything, and this in particular. ❤
I loved this series when I discovered it How cool it was to see Michael Forest as Apollo from "Who Mourns for Adonais" and the many other great guests from the ST universe! I rewatch it periodically.
It just goes to show what can be done with passion. As far as I remember Star Trek Continues had a budget of less than $ 1 million dollars for all 11 episodes, versus $10 million dollars an episode for the official thrash that is been released lately! Star Trek Continues managed to be exactly like the original in every way, from the writing to the acting to the cinematography and special effects. In particular, the set is 'The Enterprise', it baffles the mind that recent official iterations of Star Trek can't replicate anything at all from the original Trek, which validates Dave Cullen's theory that modern Trek is a 'Simulacra' of the original, as if someone who had never eaten an apple in their life tried to describe what it is like to eat an apple. The modern Trek writers and producers either dislike the original or never watched any of it in the first place.
Couldn't agree more. It was such a delight when I found this fan created show that was obviously created by people who love and respect the original show.
As someone who grew up watching TOS, I felt that ST Continues was just amazing. In terms of writing, cinematography, special effects, costumes, acting, sound effects and on and on, it feels so much like the original series, I was blown away. It is by far my favourite fan series, and I love it way more than the majority of the "canon" productions.
I actually first saw this with Vic, he literally went out of his way to point at me, and sit next to me. He's the only celebrity I have ever met in over 10 years of cons where no matter how big of a fan you are of him, somehow he's more excited to see you.
I met him with my daughter (who knew him as a voice actor). He was really nice and posed for pics with us on the Bridge. You could just 'talk to him' like a regular person. He isn't 'ate up with attitude' like a lot of celebrities.
Just an FYI---the first Dr. McCoy was played by Larry Nemecek (pronounced Nim-uh-check) and he is also known as "Dr. Trek." He's been a major staple in the Star Trek world and its fandom for decades. We were in college together in the late 70's/early 80's and has made his living as an expert in everything Trek, including writing the compendium for Star Trek: The Next Generation, they even named a planet after him in the Star Trek Maps, and he hosts a live podcast every Tuesday afternoon, Portal 47. He's been at untold number of conventions as a "Trek-spert" and has had personal dealing with everyone from the original cast and writers, to today's series' still in production. Since you do try to inform people with your reviews (which are great), I thought you might like to know a little more about Larry. (Including the fact that he played McCoy in a 1979 parody made at good ole East Central University in Ada, OK...and the fact he's producing/directing/hosting a documentary entitled: The Con of Wrath--about the worst ST convention in the history of the world that he and I attended in Houston after the release of STII-The Wrath of Khan.)
Vic, Todd, Grant (rip)and Chris did a great job with this series. Super guest stars including John Delancey, Annie Lockhart, Colin Baker, Erin Gray. Awesome sauce!!
And Jamie Bamber, who played Apollo in the Battlestar Galactica reboot, had a cameo as Simone in Pilgrim of Eternity - the episode in which Apollo, played by Michael Forest, from the TOS episode Who Mourns for Adonais? returns. Very meta.
@@luminiferous1960 I didn't know that. I remember seeing Annie, Nicola, John and quite a few others. It would have struck me as weird to see Lee Adama again. Katie for example has a thing she does on TH-cam. Mr Eddie ( Edward James Olmos) would have had a blast as one of the Admirals or something.
1 thing about Spock that I liked is that he was so different at first, just like Scotty, but as the series ended, they had really become similar and respectable?
This video came up with the best possible timing for me. Every couple of years I go on a TOS binge, from EP01 all the way to Undiscovered Country. Lo and behold, I'm currently half way through Season 3. I wasn't aware of Continues, and will slot it between Season 3 and TMP, likely to become part of the tradition. Thanks so much!
I’ve toured the sets of this that are maintained in Kingsland,Georgia. Being on these sets was nothing short of magical. You can tour this by following Neutral Zone studios. It is ridiculously authentic. Vic and everyone there that maintain these sets have a real love and reverence of Star Trek. The 7 year old kid in me never dreamed that at 39 he’d really sit in Kirks chair on the bridge of the Enterprise. Star Trek: Continues is just a excellent as this video says it is and the sets were outstanding!
I caught these on you tube a couple of years back! I think these are some of the best non original copies out there, if not the best, a massive well done to all involved. I am 67. I hope there are more like these before I depart the Earth?
The very first episode of Star Trek Continues hits pretty hard by somehow creating a superior sequel to and elevating the mediocre "Who Mourns for Adonais?" episode by giving Apollo a pretty amazing conclusion that would never happen in any modern sci fi show. I'm really happy they got Apollo's original actor back as well, his age in comparison to his original appearance really helps sell the downfall his character is going through. I'm tempted to say that episode might be better than almost every episode of TOS.
Absolutely loved the series. I live close to where the sets are, and took my Mom on the Fan Appreciation weekend tour. The owner of the sets, Ray, and Vic were there. Walking onto the sets was a dream come true for both my Mom and I. Learning how they made the sets and even using the same techniques to redress the sets and move the chairs from the bridge to the briefing room like they did back in the original series. They kept everything authentic. Getting to meet Vic was also amazing as I have been a fan of his voice acting for years.
As an aside, Razorfist has made the point that DS9 episodes were filmed on a wide format and with enough resolution that a 4K remaster would be incredible; they apparently remastered a couple scenes for their documentary and those came out pitch-perfect.
The great thing about continues is you can tell everyone on the show, everyone involved, everyone in front of the camera and behind the scenes loves star trek, understands its characters, and respects its fans... because they themselves are all fans. If you have never seen it, and youre a trek fan then do yourselfna favor and watch it. Its a labor of love and it shows.
Continues is absolutely fantastic! As you say, it's authentic right down to every little detail! The amount of care and love that went into it is astounding! Something that the clueless execs in Hollywood will never understand! It gave TOS the perfect ending too and beautifully bridged the gap between TOS and The Motion Picture! It may not "Officially" be canon but in our hearts it hands down is!
Vic's the main reason this was such a success. He's a nerd at the end of the day, and surrounded himself with fellow nerds or those with connections to the franchise like the sons and daughters of Star Trek alum or alumni themselves. Definitely well worth a watch.
I gave this a shot, honestly wondering how good it could possibly be. I'd heard of it before in various Trek fan circles but never gave it much thought. Wow. I'm stunned. It's truly fantastic. Thanks, Dave, for shedding some light on this series because it is phenomenal. I'm only a few episodes deep and I can't articulate how much I've enjoyed it so far. Part of me wants to rush through it and part of me wants to draw it out and enjoy these "lost" TOS episodes for as long as possible.
Great review Dave! I'm a fan of Vic, but just from his anime work. My sister and I got to meet him at Anime Matsuri in August (he's a super nice guy) and attended his panel and yes, he is a huge Star Trek fan and talked about that half the time. Watching the original series has been on my list for a long time now (seen some episodes, just not all) and I will add ST:C to my list after that.
I attended an anime con here in Flagstaff around 2009 where Vic was a guest, and in particular a panel he held that was weirdly a TOS trivia competition. When he mentioned his plans for Continues, my thoughts were "yeah, we'll see" because of the earnest but half-baked TOS fan films up until that point. I greatly underestimated him, his drive, his production/management skills outside acting, and his shrewdness as a businessman. Vic is equal parts Shatner and Roddenberry and while I wouldn't have minded a few more episodes, Continues wrapped up before it could overstay its welcome. At about the same time I was tangentially involved with a popular labor-of-love fan visual novel project that also paid no one associated with it, had every opportunity to veer into mediocrity and self-parody, and is likewise equally well regarded to this day, so it's hard not to notice the parallels. Todd Haberkorn thankfully avoids Nimoy's constipated grimaces whenever Spock experiences pain or an emotion. Vic holds off on scene chewery, with the exception of "The Fairest of Them All" where the role demands it. As with every other fan casting so far, Huber doesn't bother trying to sound like a southerner which is pretty funny when you remember Continues was produced in McCoy's/Kelley's native Georgia where the ATL acting pool is huge. Doohan is sublime and while the late Grant Imahara wasn't a seasoned actor, his naked enthusiasm getting to play Sulu made up for it. Nichelle Nichols left giant boots to fill and we haven't seen the like since either in fan or Paramount content. I don't envy anyone cast as Uhura. As far as political correctness is concerned, Continues takes a balanced approach; we still see Kirk kissing any (non-crew) woman close enough, but at the same time because Vic's dictum was the show takes place immediately after the end of the regrettable "Turnabout Intruder," instead of sweeping it under the rug devoting an entire episode to Janice Lester's complaint. It also wisely avoids trying to fix Chapel and Rand so soon and instead replaces them with better-written, less baggage-encumbered female officers who are referred to as "Mr." in keeping with the movies. Continues is good television on its own as well as a clear template for fan content. Its imperfections and less wonderful episodes ironically add to its authenticity.
I loved "Star Trek Continues." It's a shame (and a crime) that CBS filed a lawsuit to stop the creative genius that "Star Trek Fan Films" were creating. The Fan Films were not making any money nor were they attempting to.
@@my3dviews Not to mention that CBS's new restrictions are "Only two productions with a maximum run time up to 30 minutes for any one story." and Axanar has launched ... let's see the 21 minute "Prelude", plus 4 or 5 short 3-4 minute carry-overs. Pretty sure they're breaching the agreement. I was happy to hear that Vic and crew got special permission from CBS to wrap up their series since they still had 2-3 episodes left when the Rules Hammer came down.
Again, I'm not trying to be rude at all but I think it was a great thing that they had it stopped. People who watched that may think that it is real star trek and see how really bad it was. I mean the acting was pure cringe, it was a laughing stock.
Can’t believe I’d never even heard of Star Trek: Continues before. Growing up watching TOS and now 4 of these episodes, all I can say is: Pure Gold! Thank you Dave Cullen for shining light on this excellent series.
Absolutely blew me away when I watched this a couple of years ago. The SFX deserve a mention too, & they are even better than the re made SFX for the original series. This show is a shining example of what fans who really care about a show can achieve
YES, when I watched it the first thing I was impressed by was the LIGHTING (and the sets). It literally looks like they filmed it on the same set with the same everything.
I did the set tour in GA, last October. To say it was amazing is an understatement. Vic took his time and answered all questions. Right down to how they did the lighting to match the original production. I encourage everyone to take the trip to Kingsland, GA. Quant little town with a great hidden gem.
I agree. I was skeptical when a friend recommended this show to me, but wow, was I pleasantly surprised. This show was made with so much love for Star Trek. It’s amazing how well it’s done.
I never heard of "Star Trek, Continues" until I saw your video, Mr. Cullen. I have to say, that I am more than pleasantly pleased with this series. What I really am, is happy as all get out with it. It is just nice, there is something new, well newish about Star Trek, that simply entertains and doesn't scream "The Message!"
Hi, Mr. Cullen. Thank you for posting this video. I came across Star Trek Continues a couple of years-ago. Star Trek Continues is the best fan-made Star Trek! My reasons for saying so are the same ones you gave so eloquently. Clearly, this was a labor of love by Vic Mignona and everyone involved in this wonderful continuation/conclusion to the original Star Trek series.
I spoke to Vic Mignona at a FanExpo and he was kind and generous with his time. I could tell he had a genuine enthusiasm for this project. They captured every detail of the sets but it's really the scripts and performances that have that authentic soul of Star Trek.
Oh awesome you did a video on this! Star Trek Continues was a true love letter to the franchise. Everyone did so well.. From the first few frames of Vic's Kirk staring down the barrel of a gun in a the prototype holodeck, everything was spot on! Vic does such an amazing job playing Kirk, arguably one of the most iconic and therefore truly challenging roles in history. "I'm...... quite familiar with the piece." Was said so perfectly, I was 100% sold from the moment Vic's Kirk opened his mouth! The writing was absolutely on point as well. These are the stories that the big studios just didn't have the passion or creativity for. These ARE the voyages of the Star-ship Enterprise! It's an real delight to see Chris Doohan pick up the baton passed on to him by his father. He's a much more believable Scotty than Pegg, who plays a far more comedic type, over the competent, calm and assertive OC. The follow up to the Mirror Universe episode was by FAR the best episode we have had from that universe, since the first one! A sequel done right, not just for the memberberries. Great review, Dave. Thank you for sharing this absolute piece of latinum with your sphere!
Wow! Thank you for that info. There are so many layers to this amazing production.. I suppose JJ Abrams would call them easter eggs, but it's so much more than that. @@mem1701movies
Thanks for informing us about this. I'm 66 years old and I grew up on the original series. I like everything Star Trek. As good as some of the new stuff is, none of it tops the original Star Trek. I will be watching these "new" episodes.
The fact that I live in a world where this was even CONCIEVED much less so superbly EXECUTED restores every ounce of faith I had in humanity. THAT is the power of of real Star Trek.
I love your level of fandom, Dave and I bow before the folks who made Star Trek continues. I discovered it.... what, 10 years ago? Sheesh. Imagine if these guys were in charge of Star Trek? I hope your premium stuff will just be time delayed. I'm not sure I can handle another subscription atm, but more power to you! Keep it up!
Using the original TOS music was a HUGE part of making it feel like the original. Every emotional beat or change in location, situation etc. was punctuated by a musical counterpart on the original show. TOS used music a lot like the original Bugs Bunny cartoons.
i was blown away by the quality of the writing, actors, and production design/sound... well everything. I truly appreciate all the love that went into this series.
Really glad you reviewed this fan series, Dave. It's a phenomenal work and manages to be accurate and completely faithful to the original series while mixing in some new ideas and even bridging the gap a bit between TOS and TNG. I also enjoyed the performances of the non-Trek alum guest stars that appear throughout, including Jamie Bamber, Lou Ferrigno, Erin Gray, Gigi Edgley, and Anne Lockhart, to name a few. It's a fantastic watch and I can't recommend it enough.
Unfortunately Star Trek Continues can never be replicated in its 11 episode form. The Paramount fan film guidelines hand down some draconian rules about what, who, how much and how long productions can be, which has stifled creativity and the ability to produce this high level of quality. I would honestly give anything for a second Season of Star Trek: Continues however I know it won't come to pass, and nothing this faithful to the original will come from Paramount.
I'm not sure a second season would work. I think it ended exactly where it needed to. It's a shame I have to say that, but it's a testament to how good STC really is.
the only chance for something like a second season of STC would be if Klutzman finally gets rightfully fired and they get a producer who actually likes Star Trek, not the perverted, twisted and ugly Klutzmanverse.
Thank you for shining a light on Star Trek Continues. The first thing that struck me about the show was the way they nailed the "look" of the original series. By three episodes in, I forgot it was different actors and just accepted it as TOS season 4. If you are a fan of classic Star Trek, WATCH THIS SHOW!
That one little scene in The White Iris between Kirk and Rayna really, really gets me. There are no words, but the glances the two actors exchange are superb and convey depths and depths of meaning. The looks say "we know what we are to each other and only we need to know. Only we CAN know. Now go in peace and live, my love." I tell you, instead of seeing Kirk as acting like an adolescent in Requiem for Methuseleh, this one glance redeems that episode and lets us see Kirk as a man caught in an almost cosmic force of love along with Rayna. The glance tells us that far from acting like kids, the two of them were, for a brief time, exalted above almost any other love there is.
Just a couple of things worth mentioning - it’s very cool how they showed the origins of what becames two staples of the TNG era - the Holodeck and the ship’s counselor. Also, Vic Manogna leads free tours of the sets used to film the show in Kingsland, GA, about 30 minutes north of Jacksonville. It’s called Neutral Zone Studios and it’s a must for ST fans.
Dave. Thank you for highlighting Star Trek Continues. This was and is Star Trek at its very best! Paramount/CBS you have no excuse, look at this and learn! It was a joy when I would see a new episode made available. I just love STC.
I got to meet the cast and see it at convention in Toronto with a giant room full Star Trek fans. They played the whole first episode and we gave it a standing ovation. So true to the original I never thought it was possible.
I’d give a kidney, no, not really but yeah lol to see a fan production with STC level of detail, story and characterization for Enterprise. That series was just hitting its stride when they were cancelled. Imagine the Earth Romulan war on screen from the Romulan POV while still following the Federation/Starfleet storyline.
For TNG vibes, as in a bright hopeful future there would be "The Orville", sure it starts with a bit more crude humor than TNG but the spirit is in the right place and it can be quite dark as well.
@@ajclements4627or I'd love to see an academy series which is split between Starfleet Academy, Klingon Academy and a Romulan Academy either in the TOS movie period (visually best time in Trek imho) or a TNG timeline, maybe post Voyager if they ignore seasons 1+2 of Picard and alter season 3 so it's no longer stuck in the Klutzmanverse.
Reading all of the comments below from people who have never heard of Star Trek: Continues until they watched this video fills me with joy! :) You're in for a real treat let me tell you! Glad I was able to raise a bit of awareness of this fantastic fan series.
I will watch . Old star trek is the best
Add me to that list of "unknowing folks." I'll be giving this a watch as I long for "OG Star Trek!" I know that Vic is a HUGE Star Trek fan and I'e seen him do a great Shatner impression :)
Many of the cast are taented voice actors I've seen in many anime series. This will be FUN! :D
Would you try to cover the Phase II series? I have no idea what happened to it and where it went.
EDIT: Ooops, my mistake, I meant New Voyages, truth to be told I never felt wanna watch it, so never did.
I had never heard of this either,
I know what I'm doing tonight!
I saw Star Trek Continues years ago and sang its praised back then. I am so happy that you reviewed this extremely well-made Star Trek TOS-inspired series. I find these episodes incredibly seamless to the original series.
Vic Mignona was the head of this project and proved he is much more than a prolific voice actor, he's also a gifted writer, director and screen actor. Star Trek Continues is the best Star Trek we got since 1997.
Unfortunately Vic mognona got metood
@@notabannedaccount8362 - 2019 called. It wants it blatant libel back.
@@notabannedaccount8362 No he didn't. Not a single piece of evidence was ever produced to back up those allegations.
@@notabannedaccount8362Too bad you have to lie in order to make a comment, have you thought of being a defence lawyer?
I've watched/re-watched all the episodes of Continues-GOOD-stuff. They did an episode of the after math of-Mirror-Mirror-episode that's very good. LOVE this show. And I've watched other fan-films of Star Trek,some better than others,but,I've enjoyed them,because they're showing their love for Star Trek. Live Long and prosper
Vic honored Trek with an obsessive fidelity that was breathtaking - even to finding the daughter of the Romulan commander from The Enterprise Incident to recreate the role. I was truely amazed.
she did look very much like her mother (and thus likewise very pretty) - a true-to-life next generation Star Trek
I thought they went back in time to the 1960's to get the original actress for the Romulan Commander!!
She's the spitting image of her mom in that role, and that's saying a lot considering that she doesn't look anything like the character in real life. Maybe her mom didn't either though: I guess a lot of it might be the fake eyebrows.
According to Gene's son, Rod Roddenberry, after attending a screening at Las Vegas in 2014:
"I do have to say, and I said this after 'Lolani', I'm pretty damn sure my dad would consider this canon. The fact that you do stories that mean something, that have depth, that make us all think a little bit, I really think he would applaud you guys, and I applaud you guys. And, as far as I am concerned, it is canon. So thank you."
*Mic drop
Amazing commendation.
The best thing about this quote is NOT that Roddenberry's son considers this canon, but the clear implication that he DOESN'T consider every modern show to be canon, and that it's rare and unusual for someone to actually do justice to his father's franchsie.
@@DomH75 i mean, they probably offered him absurd amounts of money for the name recognition.
@@Scripture-ManSadly the quote is from 3 years before Discovery even aired...
@@DomH75 A chunk of that would be just as much to try to mitigate damage there as anything else.
RIP Grant. His geeky enthusiasm for all things sci-fi was infectious and helped grow an already close fan-base. He will be missed.
Vic really is a class act. The guy is absurdly talented and it pains me to think there are so many out there that were jealous of that and tried to kill him by alienating him from his fans.
And hes so darn nice and likable. That probably caused the most envy.
@AgentGodzillaRP nah the kick vic campaign was one of the most malicious acts of misandry ever, amber heard wishes she could destroy a man for so little
I happily met the man.
@@Katya_Lastochka Still, the fact that he's repeatedly hung out with Anthony Cumia means he's a weirdo. The only question is whether he's a weirdo by volition or association.
Yeah, it's really gotta burn the hateful little SJWs' intestines to see how a sea of fans came to Vic's defense against their cowardly attacks.
Chris Doohan did a fantastic job as Scotty. As I understand it, he had spent time on set with his dad and was using those experiences and memories in his effort to emulate his father. This was one fan project that was truly a labor of love for the franchise and not just a cash grab or attempt at gaining popularity for the actors involved.
Chris Doohan was so PERFECT in this role that I’m amazed they didn’t offer him the role on Strange New Worlds. You can’t get any closer to Scotty!!!!!
@@AgentM79 You mean… "You *_canna_* get any closer to Scotty!"
@@Scripture-Man Exactly!
its scotty ...its same flesh as well :)
@@verenceable He’s made of the same stuff Scotty was made of!!!!!!!!
The reason it succeeds is because Vick actually talked to William Shatner about the role and took his advice, which is why he nails it, unlike say Chris Pine who doesn't because he didn't.
After watching this we’re going to give it a watch. Your comment regarding Chris Pine, I agree to disagree- it was a created as a parallel universe. I love Star Trek, went into watching the new movie with ‘pre’ dislike but came out really liking it. Now what was a greater disappointment was as I was TNG’er watching Picard - loving season 1 almost all couldn’t stand two , but three was good, really good. So we are excited to see what Star Trek Continues delivers. Live long & Prosper , friend
SPOT ON! I totally get it, I go back to it has regularly as TOS
@@magzp8we tolerate JJ Abrams version of ‘Star Trek’ and the series nose dives from there. I always think ‘I’m sorry kid, you’re just to damn loud. The only outstanding performance is by the very brilliant Carl Urban.
@@thoughtsonnarrowboatingwit3882 - Urban was easily the best part of all 3 as he's the only one that feels right. Sorry, people praise Quinto but I don't see it. Watch TOS and the JJ's or SNW and they are all completely different characters.
I heard JJ Abrams told Pine to do his own thing because he didn't want Pine doing a "Shatner impression."
Bloody hell! I had no idea: I've just started the first episode, and it truly feels like it was part of the original series! Nothing to do with modern crap. The creators are absolute geniuses.
Did you finish the series? Any comments?
I was absolutely amazed at how well this production matched the lighting, editing, set construction, writing, and overall feel of the original series. I consider Star Trek Continues to be the gold standard of Star Trek fan films.
Vic and his team deserve high praise for STC. Thank you for covering this series.
I recently found out that this series was shot in a warehouse a few miles north of the Florida/Georgia border off of I-95. It's called Neutral Zone Studios and you can schedule a tour of the facility. I'm about 2 hours away and hope to go by summer.
I got to have a very small role in the show on Episode 6 "Come Not Between Dragons" and I will say it was absolutely the BEST experience I've ever had. Everyone behind the scenes is so true and authentic I absolutely recommend them to anyone.
Thank you for helping bring this series to life. The best Trek I've seen in years, and a proper end to TOS. As far as I'm concerned, this is canon.
I donated money to the production of Star Trek: Continues. I am very proud to have supported the entire endeavor.
🖖
Its people like you who keep real art alive. Thank you from the audience seats.
@@davidrosler5413 The real praise goes to the production. I just supported a vision, a dream.
Thanks!
@@setlik3gaming80 The world is turned on dreams.
@@davidrosler5413 Agreed. And imagination.
I discovered Star Trek Continues by accident a few years ago and was enthralled because it was so accurate. Now when I binge watch the Original Series I finish off by watching Continues as it was done so perfectly. My only gripe with the show is that it ended so soon. It was sheer perfection.
I absolutely loved this series! It was well worth my time. I know it's horribly cliché to say at this point, but I'm going to say it anyway: This is more authentic Star Trek than anything we've seen for decades.
Have you seen Phase 2, it’s pretty good in my opinion. There are a few others, Ghost Ship, Farragut, Prelude to Axanar.
@@ajclements4627 I followed Axanar for a while, and I'm still hopeful that they'll crank out something earthshattering. Thanks for mentioning the others -- I'll be sure to check into them! 👍
@syntaxusdogmata3333 I couldn’t agree with you more!
@@syntaxusdogmata3333 Fingers crossed Secret Hideout take take the boot off Fan Production necks and let Axanar develop it's story.
I for one want to see the Federation President give more speeches. I know the actor played Klingons in the past... But to me he'll always be the antagonist in The Rock.
Could not agree more.
This was a great series made by true fans who honored the original series. You can tell the actors loved working on the show and put a significant amount of effort into it. Vic really did a great job in bringing it together. Having some of the original actors, children of original actors, and other Star Trek actors was a great touch. I need to go watch this series again this fall.
I found STC a couple of years ago, entirely by accident, and it was like winning the lottery. You couldn't have wiped the smile off my face with a baseball bat. I agree with every single word of this review. Every. Single. Word.
The mirror universe episode was incredible. I know, I know. The mirror universe has been "done to death" in Star Trek. But this was different in that it picked up right after the Mirror, Mirror episode of TOS, aboard the imperial Enterprise. It logically laid out the events that took place aboard the I.S.S. Enterprise after "good" Kirk's plea to imperial Spock to "be that man." I'm not going to spoil it for you. Just do as Dave says and go watch this masterpiece. It's what NBC couldn't give us no matter how hard they and all their successors tried to. (Okay, most of DS9 and some of Enterprise excepted, of course.)
I was blown away by this whole series and was honoured to help crowd fund an episode in a modest way. The two part finale is some of the best Trek ever. Avalon Universe is wonderful stuff also!
You were honored to spend money... what kind of new aged bullshit is this? You didn't do anything. Are you also honored to buy the newest tech doo-dad that you also had nothing to do with? People really need to get a grip on reality.
Avalon is far to PC for my taste.
Thank you Dave for introducing me to Star Trek Continues. Just finished watching the videos and can’t believe how like the original they are.
Star Trek Continues was fabulous. It's as close to finding 'lost' episodes of the original series that we'll ever get. I love the callbacks to TOS as well... imagine that - maintaining continuity rather than rewriting it to suit your own purposes!
Excellent point.
And Enterprise. The Mirror universe episode was a page right out of Enterprise with the opening credits and music altered for an empire. Wonderfully done!
Hey there Mage 🖖
@@strawpiglet Piglet! Fancy meeting you in this neck of the woods! 😁
Love that the daughter of actress Joanne Linville played the role her mother originated as the Romulan Commander in 'The Enterprise Incident' in this fan series. She look perfect in the part.
When I first watched it, I thought surely that actress looked the same as the original, now I understand why.
I've toured the Studio in Georgia and met Vic. Super nice guy! He let my daughter lie on one of the beds in the Sick Bay so we could take a picture. The Neutral Zone Studio is really cool! I'm 57 and grew up with TOS back when it was just called 'Star Trek'. I think they really captured the essence of the old series. I swear, its so good that you forget you are watching different actors. Its like finding a vault of old, unwatched episodes! If you tour the Studio - it is just like the original set (except they had to move Engineering). The sound effects are playing and the main bridge viewscreen shows the Enterprise in orbit around a planet. It is VERY cool!
At first, the difference in actors is jarring and glaring, but after a while, they really grow on me. I was sad to see 1 or more characters die [don't want to reveal spoilers].
Thanks for the hearty recommendation of this amazing series. It brought tears to my eyes when l first viewed it. I have seven episodes to finish, so boy am l excited. This series proves that when you genuinly care for a property and you put the right people together, you CAN go home again and even catch lightening in a bottle. All the new Trek product pales in comparison to this terrific show. Best of all, it never feels nostalgic. It simply captures the essence of the original series, fuses it with new energy and gives viewers an unbelievable experience.
Thank you Dave for this video. This series is well worth the attention. Vic Mignona duplicates even the most subtle of Shatner’s mannerisms it’s uncanny. I believe he was the creator of this series. It boggles my mind why somebody at Paramount doesn’t wake up and make him showrunner for a live Star Trek series, instead of the incompetents (not all but some) we presently have.
He'll never work in big productions again after the false allegations...
My gosh, it's wild to imagine what amazing content we'd have gotten had he had a budget like that.
@@VulpasI like how the big 'win' of their allegations is just a judge (imo wrongfully) deciding he can't sue the shit out of them for defamation. They never did and never could have proven a single thing.
@@yelsahblah3270 Blame CBS/Paramount for why we don't get quality fan film productions for Star Trek anymore like this. Just read up on the whole Axanar debacle from years back. That's the official reason but it was more likely the studio didn't want competition from fan films that were miles better than what they've been doing.
It was an honour to have worked on the last 3 episodes. Especially getting the chance to recreate the Romulan Commanders makeup on Amy Rydell .
Thanks for helping bring it to us.
Color TV was still fairly new in the mid-sixties and Star Trek had a definite visual palette to promote it. Besides the wonderful scripts, sets, props and actors, I was blown away by how ST:C absolutely NAILED the lighting and color balance of that era. Impressive, to say the least.
Matt Bucy is the guy responsible for the lighting and cinematography. He’s a genius!
I watched it for the first time only a couple of months ago and was very impressed. I was expecting to turn it off within 15 minutes because I'm really not into fan films and was afraid that it would be very amateurish and cosplay-ish. It was anything but. I was shocked at how professional it is, how good the sets and costumes are, how decent the acting is, how thoughtful the writing is and just how close it comes to replicating TOS. Even if you're very skeptical, as I was, give it a chance. All 11 episodes are free here on TH-cam. I guarantee that it's worth your time and that you'll come away from it shaking your head that a bunch of fans with a small budget could make something 10x more like Star Trek than anything from Paramount and Kurtzman since.
I can’t express how appreciative I am for down loading this video. Like others, I had no knowledge of this fan based series. This was my mothers favorite show . Watching the original series during the 60s with her and my brother is one of my fondest memories. I lost her and my father in 2017 so this discovery is bittersweet. So for my beloved mother, Rosemarie, I will set out to finish the 5 year voyage we started nearly 60 years ago. Miss and love you mom! Thank you so very much.
Wonderful!
Absolutely perfect critique and analysis, Dave. When it first came out, I was absolutely stunned by the shows authenticity. I have been in the business for 40 years and I couldn't believe it.
That was excellent. Thank you. I have just finished, today, a two-year study of Star Trek. I read several sources referencing Star Trek: Continues and other fan film series.
This piece was a perfect introduction for me to start watching those programs.
Vic Mignogna and the rest of the team did a phenomenal job with STC. It actually feels like a lost season of the OG Series.
It 100% truly does. And I became fan in early 77 watching it on syndication as a 9 year old kid. TOS forever for me, and STC is 100% TOS.
Definitely!!
Not to mention he manage to make an absolute magnificent work in both recreating TOS and honoring ENT by making several references to the previous series. Goddammit who is the "genius" who gave the light on to "Disco-Burn" and not to this masterpiece? Les Moonves? Well that it would explain a lot...Moonves is known to hate sci-fi, but Vic Mignogna definitely loves it! The man deserved a medal and check, not a slap in the face by 'Metoo'...They should watch episode 7 of STC and never criticed ever!
@TheDaveCullenShow thanks for shining a light on this great series. It was an honor to work on it, and I'm thrilled that more people might get to see it because of your video. Thanks!
Star Trek Continues is in the spirit of Star Trek, unlike the current 'official' Star Dreck we're getting.
'Star dreck' I'm gonna start using that, thanks
Mad magazine called it that decades ago
Or the new stuff is quite good but your nostalgia prevents you from seeing it.
Strange new world has been incredibly good
@@MrMac1138no.
Their sequel to Mirror Mirror was superb. Bittersweet plot, but realistic.
The opening teaser with the main universe characters waiting for Kirk in the transporter actually fooled me for a second that they'd used canon footage even though I knew that was not legally possible. Doohan really looked like a real, slimmed down Jimmy Doohan there.
I had to watch mirror mirror first to refresh my memory of that episode. But the new episode melded beautifully with it. I felt I could watch a new series of Star Trek with that alternate universe.
Nailed it. I watched through the series a few years ago and it's just staggering how well they nailed it...and obviously had a blast in the process! I WISH Paramount would have recognized the potential this had and bought the rights to it, and let the team make a full run of it. Would have been an amazing addition to the franchise, and it's certainly the best Trek produced since ENT finished its run.
Besides being a HUGE Star Trek fan since childhood, as many reading this may already know, Vic is also an incredibly talented and well known voice actor who dubbed the voices for many characters in several successful Japanese Anime series. I had the great fortune of discovering Vic's incredible voice work from a well known Anime series where he voiced the main character. Sadly Vic became an early casualty of the now infamous hashtag me too movement and like so many actors after Vic, who openly talked about political and religious views that went against or differed from the current narrative, like Vic did, Vic had his incredible career as a voice actor destroyed by some not so nice people who he believed, at least at the time prior to his career being destroyed, were his friends.
Basically he was Russell Brand'ed. I do not accept his cancelling. If a women does not come forward immediately after an incident and sits on it for years then comes forward after a guy is successful her claim should be immediately suspect.
@@exexpat11 They're all suspect now as far as I'm concerned. Trust is off the table, evidence or it didn't happen, not sorry.
@@exexpat11 Whilst I somewhat empathise with your view (it's rarely that simple and consider how long Jimmy Saville got away with it before people were believed), your choice of comparative example is terrible. Brand had something of a rep already and has often demonstrated a lack of understanding of where to draw the line between acceptable & unacceptable behaviour. The allegations against him were unsurprising, if nothing else.
Vic and company did a great job. It is amazing and kind of sad that fans who love and respect the original material do such a better job than the IP holders.
My understanding is that all of the "behind the scenes" people (costuming, lighting, sets, filming, etc.) were Hollywood pros who have lot of love for the original show, which is why they put so much heart into making the episodes on an entirely volunteer basis.
Vic Mignogna is a very good friend of mine. I know he'll appreciate this review! I'm sending him the link right now. Thanks for the very generous look at this show, it really was amazing!
Thanks Dave for reviewing and bringing this to my attention. I didn’t know about this and i look forward to watching it very soon.
What these guys were doing with ST Continues was nothing short of brilliant! They showed a lot of love with the production values, writing & acting that any of this “Nu Trek” dribble produced! I know it’s over but I still watch the episodes from time to time on here & to actually tell the truth I wish they still were making episodes but what they left is absolutely GLORIOUS 🖖🏾
I’ve been a diehard TOS fan since I was a child in the 70s and Star Trek Continues absolutely nails it! The look, feel, stories, characters are all spot on.
I discovered ST: Continues around 2014 and new episodes could not come out fast enough. It was like Christmas morning when a new one “aired”.
I was crushed when they were forced to end the run due to Paramount updating their rules for fan videos that really limited what these productions could do (thanks a lot Axanar). At least ST: Continues got to wrap the show up with a proper ending.
If you’re a Trek fan, especially of TOS, and have never seen this I envy you having the opportunity to see this for the first time.
I think it is about time for rewatch…
I was in episode 2, “Lolani”. It was a great experience. Vic invited me personally to be on the show when I bumped into him at Dragon*Con. I had previously done VIP security for him. He is an absolute Star Trek fan. I spent the weekend with him, throwing Trek trivia and was only able to stump him once. The whole weekend he was very friendly and accommodating to his fans. Any rumor you’ve heard about Vic are absolutely fabricated.
Kasey Shafsky was very friendly and accommodating. The cast and crew were very professional and good natured. I subsequently donated to their “KirkStarter” for future episodes.
What a great show.
... "future episodes?"... (🤞 please please please...)
@@darthagaddadavida9936 They can't make any more episodes due to CBS's fan film rules. They already went past the two 15 minute episode limit that CBS has. Plus they also used actual Star Trek actors which is no longer allowed. They were fortunate not to be a target of a lawsuit and were able to finish the final couple of episodes to complete the series.
@@my3dviewsAh, wonders of Corporatism. Fans are better off making their own new series in a new universe at this point...
@@blakecasimir Essentially what Seth McFarlane did.
Thank you so much for introducing me to this series. I'm 51, have watched many things I've loved be destroyed by people who hated it to begin with. I'm 3 episodes in and am embarrassed by how happy some TV shows are making me. You're awesome, man. Thank you for everything, and this in particular. ❤
I loved this series when I discovered it How cool it was to see Michael Forest as Apollo from "Who Mourns for Adonais" and the many other great guests from the ST universe! I rewatch it periodically.
And Michael Forrest STILL looked like a Greek god! He was fantastic as Apollo in both outings.
@@AgentM79 Yes he was! It was a great way to tie the two shows together!
It was a testament to Vic and the team’s dedication an craft. It was a truly amazing series.
Star Trek Continues was a passion project for Vic, and it really shows in the production values for the entire series.
It just goes to show what can be done with passion. As far as I remember Star Trek Continues had a budget of less than $ 1 million dollars for all 11 episodes, versus $10 million dollars an episode for the official thrash that is been released lately!
Star Trek Continues managed to be exactly like the original in every way, from the writing to the acting to the cinematography and special effects. In particular, the set is 'The Enterprise', it baffles the mind that recent official iterations of Star Trek can't replicate anything at all from the original Trek, which validates Dave Cullen's theory that modern Trek is a 'Simulacra' of the original, as if someone who had never eaten an apple in their life tried to describe what it is like to eat an apple. The modern Trek writers and producers either dislike the original or never watched any of it in the first place.
Couldn't agree more. It was such a delight when I found this fan created show that was obviously created by people who love and respect the original show.
As someone who grew up watching TOS, I felt that ST Continues was just amazing. In terms of writing, cinematography, special effects, costumes, acting, sound effects and on and on, it feels so much like the original series, I was blown away. It is by far my favourite fan series, and I love it way more than the majority of the "canon" productions.
I actually first saw this with Vic, he literally went out of his way to point at me, and sit next to me. He's the only celebrity I have ever met in over 10 years of cons where no matter how big of a fan you are of him, somehow he's more excited to see you.
I met him with my daughter (who knew him as a voice actor). He was really nice and posed for pics with us on the Bridge. You could just 'talk to him' like a regular person. He isn't 'ate up with attitude' like a lot of celebrities.
He's the most genuine dude
Just an FYI---the first Dr. McCoy was played by Larry Nemecek (pronounced Nim-uh-check) and he is also known as "Dr. Trek." He's been a major staple in the Star Trek world and its fandom for decades. We were in college together in the late 70's/early 80's and has made his living as an expert in everything Trek, including writing the compendium for Star Trek: The Next Generation, they even named a planet after him in the Star Trek Maps, and he hosts a live podcast every Tuesday afternoon, Portal 47. He's been at untold number of conventions as a "Trek-spert" and has had personal dealing with everyone from the original cast and writers, to today's series' still in production. Since you do try to inform people with your reviews (which are great), I thought you might like to know a little more about Larry. (Including the fact that he played McCoy in a 1979 parody made at good ole East Central University in Ada, OK...and the fact he's producing/directing/hosting a documentary entitled: The Con of Wrath--about the worst ST convention in the history of the world that he and I attended in Houston after the release of STII-The Wrath of Khan.)
Vic, Todd, Grant (rip)and Chris did a great job with this series. Super guest stars including John Delancey, Annie Lockhart, Colin Baker, Erin Gray. Awesome sauce!!
And Nicola Bryant in the finale, the Fifth and Sixth Doctor's companion, Peri.
And Jamie Bamber, who played Apollo in the Battlestar Galactica reboot, had a cameo as Simone in Pilgrim of Eternity - the episode in which Apollo, played by Michael Forest, from the TOS episode Who Mourns for Adonais? returns.
Very meta.
@@luminiferous1960 I didn't know that. I remember seeing Annie, Nicola, John and quite a few others. It would have struck me as weird to see Lee Adama again. Katie for example has a thing she does on TH-cam. Mr Eddie ( Edward James Olmos) would have had a blast as one of the Admirals or something.
1 thing about Spock that I liked is that he was so different at first, just like Scotty, but as the series ended, they had really become similar and respectable?
@@eugenetswong Todd and Chris found ways to make them their own. Yet Vic through out was a great storyteller.
This video came up with the best possible timing for me. Every couple of years I go on a TOS binge, from EP01 all the way to Undiscovered Country. Lo and behold, I'm currently half way through Season 3. I wasn't aware of Continues, and will slot it between Season 3 and TMP, likely to become part of the tradition.
Thanks so much!
I’ve toured the sets of this that are maintained in Kingsland,Georgia. Being on these sets was nothing short of magical. You can tour this by following Neutral Zone studios. It is ridiculously authentic. Vic and everyone there that maintain these sets have a real love and reverence of Star Trek. The 7 year old kid in me never dreamed that at 39 he’d really sit in Kirks chair on the bridge of the Enterprise. Star Trek: Continues is just a excellent as this video says it is and the sets were outstanding!
I caught these on you tube a couple of years back! I think these are some of the best non original copies out there, if not the best, a massive well done to all involved. I am 67. I hope there are more like these before I depart the Earth?
When I saw the Romulan commander, I thought "What!? How did they do that!" Great review, it's an amazing series.
The very first episode of Star Trek Continues hits pretty hard by somehow creating a superior sequel to and elevating the mediocre "Who Mourns for Adonais?" episode by giving Apollo a pretty amazing conclusion that would never happen in any modern sci fi show. I'm really happy they got Apollo's original actor back as well, his age in comparison to his original appearance really helps sell the downfall his character is going through. I'm tempted to say that episode might be better than almost every episode of TOS.
Agree
Mediocre? That was one of the best episodes of the series.
@@ricardocantoral7672 I personally find Who Mourns for Adonais mediocre when compared to the rest of TOS.
You nailed. It is bewildering that official trek cannot compare to what Vic and his team were able to accomplish. Talent vs Nepotism
Absolutely loved the series. I live close to where the sets are, and took my Mom on the Fan Appreciation weekend tour. The owner of the sets, Ray, and Vic were there. Walking onto the sets was a dream come true for both my Mom and I. Learning how they made the sets and even using the same techniques to redress the sets and move the chairs from the bridge to the briefing room like they did back in the original series. They kept everything authentic. Getting to meet Vic was also amazing as I have been a fan of his voice acting for years.
As an aside, Razorfist has made the point that DS9 episodes were filmed on a wide format and with enough resolution that a 4K remaster would be incredible; they apparently remastered a couple scenes for their documentary and those came out pitch-perfect.
The great thing about continues is you can tell everyone on the show, everyone involved, everyone in front of the camera and behind the scenes loves star trek, understands its characters, and respects its fans... because they themselves are all fans.
If you have never seen it, and youre a trek fan then do yourselfna favor and watch it. Its a labor of love and it shows.
Continues is absolutely fantastic! As you say, it's authentic right down to every little detail! The amount of care and love that went into it is astounding!
Something that the clueless execs in Hollywood will never understand!
It gave TOS the perfect ending too and beautifully bridged the gap between TOS and The Motion Picture!
It may not "Officially" be canon but in our hearts it hands down is!
Vic's the main reason this was such a success. He's a nerd at the end of the day, and surrounded himself with fellow nerds or those with connections to the franchise like the sons and daughters of Star Trek alum or alumni themselves.
Definitely well worth a watch.
I gave this a shot, honestly wondering how good it could possibly be. I'd heard of it before in various Trek fan circles but never gave it much thought. Wow. I'm stunned. It's truly fantastic. Thanks, Dave, for shedding some light on this series because it is phenomenal. I'm only a few episodes deep and I can't articulate how much I've enjoyed it so far. Part of me wants to rush through it and part of me wants to draw it out and enjoy these "lost" TOS episodes for as long as possible.
Great review Dave! I'm a fan of Vic, but just from his anime work. My sister and I got to meet him at Anime Matsuri in August (he's a super nice guy) and attended his panel and yes, he is a huge Star Trek fan and talked about that half the time. Watching the original series has been on my list for a long time now (seen some episodes, just not all) and I will add ST:C to my list after that.
I had never heard of this show, so I watched the first two episodes today. It’s astonishing how much this is like TOS. - Thanks for the heads up Dave.
Superb show! And it's canon, if we the fans decide it's canon. Period, end of story.
I attended an anime con here in Flagstaff around 2009 where Vic was a guest, and in particular a panel he held that was weirdly a TOS trivia competition. When he mentioned his plans for Continues, my thoughts were "yeah, we'll see" because of the earnest but half-baked TOS fan films up until that point. I greatly underestimated him, his drive, his production/management skills outside acting, and his shrewdness as a businessman. Vic is equal parts Shatner and Roddenberry and while I wouldn't have minded a few more episodes, Continues wrapped up before it could overstay its welcome.
At about the same time I was tangentially involved with a popular labor-of-love fan visual novel project that also paid no one associated with it, had every opportunity to veer into mediocrity and self-parody, and is likewise equally well regarded to this day, so it's hard not to notice the parallels.
Todd Haberkorn thankfully avoids Nimoy's constipated grimaces whenever Spock experiences pain or an emotion. Vic holds off on scene chewery, with the exception of "The Fairest of Them All" where the role demands it. As with every other fan casting so far, Huber doesn't bother trying to sound like a southerner which is pretty funny when you remember Continues was produced in McCoy's/Kelley's native Georgia where the ATL acting pool is huge. Doohan is sublime and while the late Grant Imahara wasn't a seasoned actor, his naked enthusiasm getting to play Sulu made up for it. Nichelle Nichols left giant boots to fill and we haven't seen the like since either in fan or Paramount content. I don't envy anyone cast as Uhura.
As far as political correctness is concerned, Continues takes a balanced approach; we still see Kirk kissing any (non-crew) woman close enough, but at the same time because Vic's dictum was the show takes place immediately after the end of the regrettable "Turnabout Intruder," instead of sweeping it under the rug devoting an entire episode to Janice Lester's complaint. It also wisely avoids trying to fix Chapel and Rand so soon and instead replaces them with better-written, less baggage-encumbered female officers who are referred to as "Mr." in keeping with the movies.
Continues is good television on its own as well as a clear template for fan content. Its imperfections and less wonderful episodes ironically add to its authenticity.
I loved "Star Trek Continues." It's a shame (and a crime) that CBS filed a lawsuit to stop the creative genius that "Star Trek Fan Films" were creating. The Fan Films were not making any money nor were they attempting to.
They weren't until the crew behind Axanar decided to charge money and that's what screwed up everything.
@@alucard624 And Axanar is only about six months away from completion (as has been said for the last nine years.
@@my3dviews Not to mention that CBS's new restrictions are "Only two productions with a maximum run time up to 30 minutes for any one story." and Axanar has launched ... let's see the 21 minute "Prelude", plus 4 or 5 short 3-4 minute carry-overs. Pretty sure they're breaching the agreement.
I was happy to hear that Vic and crew got special permission from CBS to wrap up their series since they still had 2-3 episodes left when the Rules Hammer came down.
Again, I'm not trying to be rude at all but I think it was a great thing that they had it stopped. People who watched that may think that it is real star trek and see how really bad it was. I mean the acting was pure cringe, it was a laughing stock.
@@MrKsan05 Continues or Axanar? I'd disagree on both counts but that's a personal opinion just as yours is.
Can’t believe I’d never even heard of Star Trek: Continues before. Growing up watching TOS and now 4 of these episodes, all I can say is: Pure Gold! Thank you Dave Cullen for shining light on this excellent series.
Absolutely blew me away when I watched this a couple of years ago. The SFX deserve a mention too, & they are even better than the re made SFX for the original series. This show is a shining example of what fans who really care about a show can achieve
Nice to see the recognition of this wonderful accomplishment; such a pleasure to have these episodes.
YES, when I watched it the first thing I was impressed by was the LIGHTING (and the sets). It literally looks like they filmed it on the same set with the same everything.
I did the set tour in GA, last October. To say it was amazing is an understatement. Vic took his time and answered all questions. Right down to how they did the lighting to match the original production. I encourage everyone to take the trip to Kingsland, GA. Quant little town with a great hidden gem.
I agree. I was skeptical when a friend recommended this show to me, but wow, was I pleasantly surprised. This show was made with so much love for Star Trek. It’s amazing how well it’s done.
I never heard of "Star Trek, Continues" until I saw your video, Mr. Cullen. I have to say, that I am more than pleasantly pleased with this series. What I really am, is happy as all get out with it. It is just nice, there is something new, well newish about Star Trek, that simply entertains and doesn't scream "The Message!"
I didn't know this existed, and now, for the first time in two decades, I'm excited to watch Star Trek.
Thank you.
Hi, Mr. Cullen. Thank you for posting this video. I came across Star Trek Continues a couple of years-ago. Star Trek Continues is the best fan-made Star Trek! My reasons for saying so are the same ones you gave so eloquently. Clearly, this was a labor of love by Vic Mignona and everyone involved in this wonderful continuation/conclusion to the original Star Trek series.
I spoke to Vic Mignona at a FanExpo and he was kind and generous with his time. I could tell he had a genuine enthusiasm for this project. They captured every detail of the sets but it's really the scripts and performances that have that authentic soul of Star Trek.
This was an exceptional production and it had exceptional performances. Kudos to those who are true trekkies.
Oh awesome you did a video on this! Star Trek Continues was a true love letter to the franchise. Everyone did so well.. From the first few frames of Vic's Kirk staring down the barrel of a gun in a the prototype holodeck, everything was spot on! Vic does such an amazing job playing Kirk, arguably one of the most iconic and therefore truly challenging roles in history.
"I'm...... quite familiar with the piece." Was said so perfectly, I was 100% sold from the moment Vic's Kirk opened his mouth!
The writing was absolutely on point as well. These are the stories that the big studios just didn't have the passion or creativity for. These ARE the voyages of the Star-ship Enterprise!
It's an real delight to see Chris Doohan pick up the baton passed on to him by his father. He's a much more believable Scotty than Pegg, who plays a far more comedic type, over the competent, calm and assertive OC.
The follow up to the Mirror Universe episode was by FAR the best episode we have had from that universe, since the first one! A sequel done right, not just for the memberberries.
Great review, Dave. Thank you for sharing this absolute piece of latinum with your sphere!
You know the gun he was staring down was PALADIN from HAVE GUN WILL TRAVEL that RODDENBERRY wrote for. Doug DREXLER played him.
Wow! Thank you for that info. There are so many layers to this amazing production.. I suppose JJ Abrams would call them easter eggs, but it's so much more than that. @@mem1701movies
Thanks for informing us about this. I'm 66 years old and I grew up on the original series. I like everything Star Trek. As good as some of the new stuff is, none of it tops the original Star Trek. I will be watching these "new" episodes.
The only complaint I have about either of these is that there aren't more of them.
The fact that I live in a world where this was even CONCIEVED much less so superbly EXECUTED restores every ounce of faith I had in humanity.
THAT is the power of of real Star Trek.
I love your level of fandom, Dave and I bow before the folks who made Star Trek continues. I discovered it.... what, 10 years ago? Sheesh. Imagine if these guys were in charge of Star Trek?
I hope your premium stuff will just be time delayed. I'm not sure I can handle another subscription atm, but more power to you! Keep it up!
The Love and Time spent on this Series is evident...I luv this so much...🖖
Using the original TOS music was a HUGE part of making it feel like the original. Every emotional beat or change in location, situation etc. was punctuated by a musical counterpart on the original show. TOS used music a lot like the original Bugs Bunny cartoons.
i was blown away by the quality of the writing, actors, and production design/sound... well everything. I truly appreciate all the love that went into this series.
Really glad you reviewed this fan series, Dave. It's a phenomenal work and manages to be accurate and completely faithful to the original series while mixing in some new ideas and even bridging the gap a bit between TOS and TNG. I also enjoyed the performances of the non-Trek alum guest stars that appear throughout, including Jamie Bamber, Lou Ferrigno, Erin Gray, Gigi Edgley, and Anne Lockhart, to name a few. It's a fantastic watch and I can't recommend it enough.
Holy crap. Lifelong Trek fan and I've never heard of this. Guess I know what I'm going to be doing the next day or so. Thanks for the info.
Unfortunately Star Trek Continues can never be replicated in its 11 episode form. The Paramount fan film guidelines hand down some draconian rules about what, who, how much and how long productions can be, which has stifled creativity and the ability to produce this high level of quality.
I would honestly give anything for a second Season of Star Trek: Continues however I know it won't come to pass, and nothing this faithful to the original will come from Paramount.
I'm not sure a second season would work. I think it ended exactly where it needed to.
It's a shame I have to say that, but it's a testament to how good STC really is.
Never say never. An asteroid strike could free the IP to fans who really love the real show.
they wouldn't nearly be so draconian, if the owners of certain other fan productions hadn't tried to monetise the hell out of everything.
@@archonixAnd ironically still haven't delivered the product.
the only chance for something like a second season of STC would be if Klutzman finally gets rightfully fired and they get a producer who actually likes Star Trek, not the perverted, twisted and ugly Klutzmanverse.
Thank you for shining a light on Star Trek Continues. The first thing that struck me about the show was the way they nailed the "look" of the original series. By three episodes in, I forgot it was different actors and just accepted it as TOS season 4. If you are a fan of classic Star Trek, WATCH THIS SHOW!
That one little scene in The White Iris between Kirk and Rayna really, really gets me. There are no words, but the glances the two actors exchange are superb and convey depths and depths of meaning. The looks say "we know what we are to each other and only we need to know. Only we CAN know. Now go in peace and live, my love." I tell you, instead of seeing Kirk as acting like an adolescent in Requiem for Methuseleh, this one glance redeems that episode and lets us see Kirk as a man caught in an almost cosmic force of love along with Rayna. The glance tells us that far from acting like kids, the two of them were, for a brief time, exalted above almost any other love there is.
Just a couple of things worth mentioning - it’s very cool how they showed the origins of what becames two staples of the TNG era - the Holodeck and the ship’s counselor.
Also, Vic Manogna leads free tours of the sets used to film the show in Kingsland, GA, about 30 minutes north of Jacksonville. It’s called Neutral Zone Studios and it’s a must for ST fans.
Dave. Thank you for highlighting Star Trek Continues. This was and is Star Trek at its very best! Paramount/CBS you have no excuse, look at this and learn! It was a joy when I would see a new episode made available. I just love STC.
I got to meet the cast and see it at convention in Toronto with a giant room full Star Trek fans. They played the whole first episode and we gave it a standing ovation. So true to the original I never thought it was possible.
Seamless facsimile of ToS, I'd love to see them pull this off with TNG also.
...and Deep Space Nine.
@@evertonporter7887As much as I'd like to see more DS9, I think it ended exactly where it should have done.
I’d give a kidney, no, not really but yeah lol to see a fan production with STC level of detail, story and characterization for Enterprise. That series was just hitting its stride when they were cancelled. Imagine the Earth Romulan war on screen from the Romulan POV while still following the Federation/Starfleet storyline.
For TNG vibes, as in a bright hopeful future there would be "The Orville", sure it starts with a bit more crude humor than TNG but the spirit is in the right place and it can be quite dark as well.
@@ajclements4627or I'd love to see an academy series which is split between Starfleet Academy, Klingon Academy and a Romulan Academy either in the TOS movie period (visually best time in Trek imho) or a TNG timeline, maybe post Voyager if they ignore seasons 1+2 of Picard and alter season 3 so it's no longer stuck in the Klutzmanverse.