George Takei Criticises Recent Star Trek

George Takei (Hikaru Sulu) understandably was not happy when his Captain Sulu series idea was rejected in favour of Enterprise. But in a new interview, the Original Series star said Star Trek creator Gene Roddenberry would also not have been happy with the new Series V premise.

"Every artist likes to have their imprint - their creative genius," Takei said in the Atlanta Journal, speaking about Trek Executive producer Rick Berman. But if Berman cannot work within Roddenberry's framework, Takei felt he should "go off and do something original. It is Gene Roddenberry's creation he's working within. Gene was always forward-looking - the shock of the new - the new technology."

Takei's Mr. Sulu was last seen on TV in 'Flashback,' a third-season Voyager episode. But the Original Series actor felt that Voyager and the other new Trek shows were indicative of how far the current producers are straying from the original formula. "It seems the people who took over don't have the feel for the show as Gene Roddenberry," he said. "Each subsequent spinoff keeps going down in the ratings. Deep Space Nine was the polar opposite of what Gene stood for: our creativity, our ability to work together with diversity."

The Next Generation was created by Rodenberry, and so attrackted less criticism from the star. "We did peek in on it," Takei said. "We were delighted - it was so deliciously bad. But by the second season, our attitudes changed. It turned into paternal pride. Next Generation wouldn't be if we hadn't given birth to it."

What the 64-year old actor would really like to see, would be "a few more adventures of Captain Sulu."

More from George Takei, including his thoughts on Trek fans and his upcoming convention appearances, can be found by following this link to the Atlanta Journal.

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