The Launch of Discovery – and the Franchise Era of Star Trek

For the first time, The Trek Files sets course for Trek’s modern streaming era, and it all begins with a ship.

We’re looking back at the 2016 press release that introduced the U.S.S. Discovery to the world at San Diego Comic-Con, marking the first step into a new era of Star Trek on television. Our guest is Adam Kotsko, scholar and author of Late Star Trek, who joins Larry to examine how Discovery and the shows that followed have reshaped the franchise for the 21st century.

From universe-building to “fan service,” and from mythology to modern IP, this episode dives into the creative, commercial, and cultural tensions that define the current Trek landscape. Whether you’re a fan of Strange New Worlds or still grappling with Picard, there’s something here for every Trek-O-File.

Document and additional references: U.S.S. Discovery unveiled at Comic-Con International - July 23, 2016

Adam's book: Late Star Trek: The Final Frontier in the Franchise Era

The Trek Files Season 13 on Memory Alpha

All episodes and documents: The Trek Files on Memory Alpha

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