Were it up to Paramount alone, there would be essentially no celebration or acknowledgment of the 60th anniversary of Star Trek. Thankfully, The Nacelle Company who produced documentary series like The Toys That Made Us, picked up the baton and gave fans The Center Seat II: 60 Years of Star Trek. Combined with the previous series, it is an in-depth look at the most important narrative universe in science fiction.
Five years ago, the first series, The Center Seat, produced an expansive documentary about all the first and second wave television series, The Original Series movies, and other aspects of this universe. Directed by Brian Volk-Weiss and narrated by Gates McFadden, The Center Seat II provides an in-depth look at the four films starring The Next Generation cast and the rebooted movie trilogy that began in 2009 with Star Trek. Those who enjoyed the first series will find more of what they love. New fans can dive into both shows for the kind of retrospective this storied universe deserves after going strong for six decades.
The Center Seat II: 60 Years Of Star Trek Keeps Its Focus On The Big Screen
Just like with TNG during the 20th anniversary, Paramount celebrated Star Trek‘s 50th by beginning development on a new spinoff, Discovery. In the ten years since, there have been more new shows than the previous 50 years combined. However, even without all the goings-on at Paramount, the third wave of shows is still far too new for this kind of retrospective. So, The Center Seat II keeps its focus primarily on theatrical films, the last of which debuted in 2016. It’s a vital addition to the first iteration of the show, wrapping up what felt like unfinished business.
For those of us deeply interested in the history of this universe, there’s not many new revelations. Yet, The Center Seat II turns to the cast, writers, directors, producers, and other Star Trek experts to tell a complete story. Things that have been discussed before, such as how Captain Kirk’s controversial death was almost worse, are given a proper examination. This show is an essential part of the “official record” of Star Trek history. It is especially a must-watch for fans of The Next Generation because it takes audiences behind the scenes for that cast’s four films.
Still, The Center Seat II does boldly go where few Star Trek retrospectives have gone before. There are two episodes looking at the making of “The Kelvin Timeline” movies, which up until now have been left largely unexplored outside of official, studio-produced featurettes. Those, as is expected, only highlight the positive side of those films. The Center Seat II delves into the still-fresh backlash those movies received. Star Trek luminaries like Doug Drexler pull no punches in expressing their distaste for the films and the direction they took Gene Roddenberry’s universe.
The Center Seat II Still Doesn’t Tell The Complete Story About Star Trek (And That’s Okay)
Given that The Nacelle Company takes its name from a key feature of Star Trek ships, this series is obviously made with deep affection for the universe. This is its primary strength. However, the weaknesses present in The Center Seat are still found here. The fast-paced editing, for example, might be somewhat challenging to viewers who appreciate a slower pacing. It can give the episodes a rushed sensibility, and the use of the cutaways to clips of the films and shows are primarily deployed as cheeky humor. (And Trek fans can be sensitive about that, too.) Viewers who don’t mind this — or, at least, can get used to it — will find it an inconsequential drawback to what is a well-made, informative, and entertaining documentary series.
Still, there is an incomplete feeling to The Center Seat II, as there was with its predecessor’s omission of The Next Generation films. The lack of any mention of the modern television shows like Starfleet Academy, Picard, et al. might feel like an oversight. Though, I don’t think it is. As both a fan and critic, I often say the “cure” for “bad” Star Trek is simply more Star Trek. This means new stories can address plot holes, canon conflicts, or dangling story threads. This same rule applies to The Center Seat II. It’s frankly too soon for any meaningful look back at the past decade of Trek on TV. This just leaves the pneumatic doors wide open for The Center Seat III in five years, just in time for the 65th anniversary.
Meanwhile, The Center Seat II fills in the gaps left open by its predecessor about the last seven theatrical Star Trek films. It also fills the void left by Paramount’s lack of any meaningful retrospectives about the studio’s oldest and most profitable franchise. This show is a wonderful 60th anniversary present to the fan community, adding a vital piece to the official historical record of sci-fi’s most important storytelling universe.
Rating: 4.5/5
The Center Seat II: 60 Years of Star Trek is currently streaming on Prime Video and The Nacelle Company’s YouTube Channel, and it will presumably be available for purchase on digital, DVD, and Blu-ray in the coming months.
