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March 8, 2026

Why Can’t Today’s “Star Trek” Give Us What We Want?

Is “Star Trek” falling into a black hole of missed opportunities and fan disillusionment? Well, here’s one Trekkie’s opinion.

There are numerous theories why “Star Trek” has had a bumpy ride during these past years. While on the one hand, Paramount+ has given us multiple new series, they were often uneven (“Discovery” and “Picard”). Plus, the best ones were cancelled too soon. (“Lower Decks” and “Strange New Worlds.”)

And then there’s the problem with the movies… or lack of them.

Kelvin Timeline Abandoned

We waited ten long years for the fourth Kelvin timeline movie… only to have it recently cancelled after so many false starts. (The Kelvin timeline was a clever ‘alternate reality’ version of the “Star Trek” universe, which allowed the producers creative license to make certain narrative changes in this Kirk-era prequel.) 

I remember reading that the problem was the huge price tag vs. the expected box office. 

The writers would have had Chris Hemsworth come back as Kirk’s father. But Thor was too expensive (not to mention all the other actors).

That would have been a wonderful way to wrap this version of “Star Trek.” And I expect many of the other proposed scripts had potential as well. But the producers clearly couldn’t make it work. 

A New Ship with Nowhere to Go

So, Chris Pine’s Kirk and crew won’t get their final voyage together on their new ship that was constructed at the end of 2016’s “Star Trek: Beyond.”

Sure, I’ve read there’s now a completely new movie reboot in the works. And that’s fine (if it actually happens).

But that doesn’t change the fact that Trekkies waited a decade for the movie they wanted… and then never got. 

“Star Trek” on Paramount+

Instead, we’ve seen a “Star Trek” renaissance explode on television via Paramount+ since 2017. And that’s not so bad, right?

But this great streaming run is seemingly ending. “Star Trek: Strange New Worlds” has wrapped filming its truncated fifth and final season. 

And the new “Starfleet Academy” has had a rough first season. They’ve already shot the second season, but the series hasn’t been picked up beyond that.

A lot of fans (myself included) are angry that we never got the spin-off series “Star Trek: Legacy” after “Picard.” With Seven of Nine (Jeri Ryan) helming the new Enterprise-G, that series would have been spectacular. It would be the perfect bridge between the old and the new.

Instead, we got a show about some cadets in Starfleet Academy that nobody asked for.

Kurtzman Trek

It really shouldn’t be that hard to read the room when it comes to satisfying the core fan base.

I certainly understand that the recipe for “Star Trek’s” ongoing success must include bringing in new fans. And that means evolving the franchise.

I know that many Trekkies have been piling blame onto Alex Kurtzman lately. He’s the showrunner behind all the recent Star Trek series on Paramount+. And he’s clearly been tweaking the “Star Trek” formula.

There’s nothing wrong with updating the “Star Trek” universe. But I would say the core elements of great science fiction storytelling must always apply.

No, not every Trek episode has to be perfect, but with so few episodes being created for each season (10), there’s not much room for misfires.

Grading “Starfleet Academy’s” Freshman Year

“Starfleet Academy” has launched to a slow start. Happily, it’s been picking up steam. Episode 9 is the best yet. 

It’s directed by Jonathan Frakes with a more exciting plot that gets out of the classroom and tests the rigor of our cadets. Plus, we get to see Captain Ake, played by Holly Hunter finally act a little more like a strong starship leader.

Still, you might say a good 9th episode is a little late in the semester.

I think the problem with “Starfleet Academy” is that it’s trying so hard to be fresh, it doesn’t feel enough like “Star Trek.” It’s too loose and too often silly.

Sure, it gives us the Doctor from “Star Trek: Voyager” and a couple characters from “Discovery” as anchors. But that’s not enough.

This series has some real work to do, but I’m not sure how you course correct when your second season is already in the can.

“I Don’t Believe in a No-Win Scenario”

I’ve read that some fans are complaining about the politics of “Starfleet Academy.” I don’t think that’s the problem. Being a Trekkie has always required being open to inclusive ideas. That’s the point of “Star Trek.” For 60 years.

Not to oversimplify, but I think this all comes down to the basics. We need to focus more on better storytelling. Better character development. Better science fiction. 

And please just give the core fans more of what we want.

Then, I think more of everyone will show up.

I hope it’s not too late.

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March 1, 2026

My Ode to the Fading Winter

There is an upside to this year’s brutal, wicked-cold winter. Simply that it’s coming to an end. And now it’s time to start looking for spring.

Yes, there are colder places on this planet with more extreme winter conditions right now. But let me just say as I don my weatherman’s hat from the greater New York City area… it’s been a brutal winter. 

Blizzard. Ice. Single-digit temperatures. Yeah, lots of fun.

I like to say it’s been “wicked cold.”

That line harkens back to a past life when I lived up in the Boston area and just about every winter was brutal. “Wicked cold” was simply… winter. 

But I’ve softened considerably across years of experiencing coastal Connecticut’s gentler winters. And now, it’s been something of a rude (re)awakening.

I will say, however, that shoveling all the snow hasn’t been quite as difficult. Why is that? Well, we’ve got the power of a high school sophomore on our team. And that’s made a huge difference. #TeamLester #grateful.

Power Up

I’m also grateful that we haven’t lost power across these winter storms. Sure, I charge everything up, including my portable power banks. But… as we all know, without a full generator back-up system, portable power banks will only cover you for so long.

Plus, I know we’ve got an exit strategy. #thankstofriends

Wicked Fun

But here’s the really good news. Wicked cold doesn’t necessarily have to mean wicked bad. Winter can be wicked fun.

  • Plus, I’ll always take the bite of brisk over summer humidity.
  • A fire in the winter fireplace is always a special experience.
  • And I’ve got admit, there’s a certain satisfaction that comes with surviving a certain amount of adversity.

And suddenly, spring is right around the corner.

Hello Spring?

Yes, it’s early, but I hope we’re close to that tipping point. Not to predict, but I see early signs beneath the retreating snow line.

And to celebrate this pending seasonal shift, I present to you yet another
Barrett poem.*

Ode to the Fading Winter

My weatherman’s hat is placed on my head, 
To report on single digits I dread. 
From cold New Yorks streets to the Norwalk shore, 
It’s wicked cold, like Boston days of yore. 
Though I’ve softened in the years in between, 
This brutal frost is a rude, chilly scene.

The shovel goes fast, I’m happy to say, 
With my high schooler’s strength to lead the way. 
Go #TeamLester! We have strength in the snow, 
Using three shovels and stacked in a row.
With an exit plan and friends close at hand, 
We’re weathering storms across frozen land.

But wicked cold days can be wicked fun, 
More than humidity and summer sun. 
Fire in the hearth and pride in the soul, 
When you’ve survived the freeze and reached your goal. 
The struggle stings, but the win is so sweet, 
As we clear ice and the slush on the street.

Now snow retreats and the sun starts to climb, 
We’ve reached the tipping point, it’s about time! 
The signs of the green are starting to show, 
Peeking from patches of melting white snow. 
Goodbye to the ice and winter’s sharp sting, 
I’m ready to say a “Hello” to spring.

*Editor’s note: I prompted the videos and structure of this poem into existence using a little GenAI assistance via Google Gemini and Flow. Thank you!
(My ice photos are still the real deal.)

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February 22, 2026

Working from Home Sounds Great Until You Notice What’s Missing

Remote work delivers flexibility and more freedom, but it quietly erodes the human connection that many careers are built on. Here’s why.

Having a job that enables you to regularly work from home instead of the office carries many benefits. Of course, one of the biggest advantages is being able to repurpose all the time that otherwise would be spent commuting. And that usually pairs nicely with maintaining a better work-life balance compared to the office grind from the old days. 

But there’s one big downside that you might not expect. 

It’s the lost human connection.

Sure, some jobs may rely less on this factor than others. But I would say that success in any role depends on your ability to build strong work relationships with your colleagues. No employee is entirely an island, cut off from the rest of the company’s ecosystem.

When you’re tapping away on your home office computer, you might feel more effective with fewer distractions compared to an open office environment. But that in-person community carries plenty of benefits that you may not recognize until after you trade them in for your WFH solitude.

The Perfect Balance

Fortunately, I’m still able to straddle both worlds in my job today, and by doing so, I feel exceptionally fortunate. I’m able to work from home a good percentage of the time. But due to the nature of my career in video production management, I show up for studio and location video shoots. That’s the nature of the business.

Remote video recording technologies that went mainstream during the pandemic and new AI-fueled video production processes are revolutionizing video creation. But, for now, on location video work still usually requires some people in the same place. 

What I’ve noticed over the past few years is how much I look forward to my on-location days. They provide the critical opportunity for in-person interaction that remote Zoom or Microsoft Teams calls simply cannot replicate.

Yes, a Zoom meeting can allow you to see people (if their webcams are turned on). That by itself is a huge non-verbal communications factor (more on this in a moment).

Still, standing face-to-face next to a colleague carries significantly more impact. 

The Water Cooler Effect

I recognize that pointing this out may seem silly, as it should be obvious.

But when we were bombarded by these in-person moments every day, we didn’t recognize them for what they offered. It was just another busy Monday in the office.

But now… with the WFH norm solidly in place for so many, it’s easy to forget what’s been lost.

Today, if you don’t have the opportunity to connect with your work colleagues in person, I would say you’re at a distinct disadvantage.

The good news is a hybrid work schedule erases this problem. Even making the rare in-person appearance can make all the difference in how your colleagues see you.

The Cost of Convenience

It’s been six years since Covid changed the norms of how we collaborate at work. Of course, the pendulum has swung the other way for many, and plenty of workers have been called back to the office. For them, working from home is again just the occasional ‘benefit.’

But others remain permanently remote. And sometimes that’s a self-inflicted banishment.

If that’s you, I would respectfully say you’ve given up more than you know.

Don’t Forget Your Zoom Best Practices

If you have no choice, and your only communications tether to your colleagues is through your laptop, then I would remind you how critical it is to leave your webcam on during your remote meetings. 

No, living in a Zoom box is not the same as sitting in a conference room meeting. But your webcam still gives you the power of non-verbal communication. And that’s so important.

Don’t forget my golden Zoom rule: You’ve got to show up for your close up. 

  • Make sure your webcam shot is framed properly, and your face is well lit.
  • Remember that your facial cues are constantly projecting your point of view. Use that for maximum impact.
  • If you tend to use your hands when you talk, don’t forget to include them in your shot.

It’s as simple as that.

Yes, this takes a little effort (and I know there’s Zoom fatigue). But I would say it’s always worth it.

Visibility Matters 

Simply being present isn’t the same as really being seen.

So, turn your webcam on. If given the choice, show up for that in-person meeting in 3D space.

It makes a difference.

When the day comes that you can use Star Trek hologram technologies to perfectly project yourself, then maybe you can always call it in.

Until then, think twice before entirely discarding the playbook on human communication.

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