So, as you may have already read, I recently attended my first comic con of any kind. Therefore it was my first in-person exposure to cosplay (I’m assuming Halloween doesn’t count?) and merch booths, and artist signings, and all the things that come with a con. Including, of course, the infamous “Con Funk.” Just in case some of you reading this don’t actually know what that is, it’s the smell of increasingly dirty bodies that grows slowly over the days of a con, finally culminating on the final day in an almost palpable cloud of stench hanging over every area of the con.
           
The running joke about this is one of hygiene. The idea that, in our excitement, while minimizing our time spent in our hotels or homes, we all tend to neglect personal bathing for the duration of the con. I’ve heard many a joke about the “unwashed nerd” stereotype and about people not showering at conventions, most of these used in a semi-ironic, self-deprecating manner. But as I returned home after my first day of my first con, which would prove to be a very hot one, and peeled off my shirt which was clinging to my body with sweat, something occurred to me: maybe it’s not a question of the people, but of the clothing. Or, more specifically, of the cosplay.

You see, after I emerged from my shower, fresh and clean and no longer sweaty, but smelling like whatever arbitrary scent my soap company had decided was manly (Wolf spit? Motor oil? Flowers? Clint Eastwood’s poncho from The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly?) I examined my shirt once again. It still stank of sweat. It smelled worse than I had before my shower. Not a problem, really seeing as I had a closet full of clean shirts to choose from on the following day.

But what if I didn’t? What if I’d been cosplaying? I might have put on my same cosplay gear from the day before, pungent with sweat and body contact, and return to the con. And no matter how nicely I smelled, I would have this cloak of funk literally hanging off of me. After all, most cosplay getups probably don’t stand up to water very well. And on Sunday it would just be worse! That’s when it occurred to me: maybe the “not showering” joke was really just a joke, and the costumes alone are all it takes to generate a significant con funk.

Then again, maybe not.
 
…maybe we should rig garden hoses to the entrances next year?

It many ways it is a glorious time for Star Trek fans. Star Trek Beyond arrives in theaters in a few weeks to celebrate the all important 50th Anniversary of the franchise and a brand new television series arrives to satisfy the fans come early next year.  Yet despite these wonderful accomplishments, as a lifelong fan of the series, I can't help but find myself concerned that for the first time in a long time...the franchise seems to be facing an uncertain future. 

That may seem silly to say since hey, the movies are doing great financially and Chris Pine and Zachary Quinto are signed on for a fourth Trek film as well but the rest of the cast has not. Karl Urban had to be talked into reprising his role as McCoy for Beyond, and when you take all of that into account, along with the untimely passing of Anton Yelchin; changes will no doubt be coming to the cast and in turn the chemistry and magic they have produced on screen. But while the film franchise will no doubt find ways to endure and continue their voyages to seek out new worlds and new civilizations, a recent conversation with my brother is what brought about my concerns in the first place...and it all boils down to the forthcoming television series. 

While it's exciting to have a new series and we will all no doubt settle in to watch it online, my brother made a good point about this show that I hadn't really considered because of my joy over having a new series coming our way...there's a chance it's going to confuse new fans that are trying to become a part of the fandom and for that matter, some of the current more casual fans and well, in a way this kind of storytelling is simply unnecessary. I get that Trek is trying to reinvent itself, and that Paramount is trying to appease a fan base that has at times been unkind to the new universe but the fans have made it clear what their issue is with the new universe...they want fresh and original stories that celebrate the spirit of the franchise and when all is said and done, going backwards to try and fix it when you're clearly establishing a new world...kind of goes against the spirit of reinvention.

Especially when you consider that other classic sci fi franchises have been able to reboot or reinvent themselves while staying true to their roots. Doctor Who is a fine example of this, by always giving us brand new stories and adventures while finding a way to integrate fifty years of rich history and heck, even Star Wars knew the risk of trying to keep multiple universes and timelines around and simply said goodbye to the Extended Universe stories, opting instead to create new stories that are officially canon to revitalize the franchise and while there was some disgust at first over the move, the fan base eventually accepted it and moved on because the quality of what came next far exceeded expectations.  

Which means the future of Star Trek really depends on one thing; picking a timeline and sticking with it. If it just so happens to be the new universe, great...go all in and give us stories from that world and that world alone. If not, find a way to reinvent the original timeline and take us back to that. No more going back and forth between them and I think it is safe to say that once Paramount makes a solid decision on which direction to go in, the fans will indeed back them...provided we continue to get fresh and original stories that stay with the spirit of the series. Either way, a decision has to be made and soon, out of respect for the franchise and its loyal fans because Star Trek is too important a concept and too relevant to our culture to be experimented and toyed with, and I certainly hope the right call is made so that generations can boldly go where no one has gone before for another fifty years with a story that brings out the best in us.