u/Big-Masterpiece1194

Over the years, I've figured out what I look for in a Star Trek book, and I was wondering if anyone can help with reccomendations if there are any titles that fit these criteria. If a book like this exists it would be the ideal Star Trek book.

1. Episodic - I don't want to start a series, I want a self-contained story
2. Something that moves the plot of the universe forward, or otherwise connects to the rest of the franchise - maybe it introduces a new character or setting that becomes important in the franchise (like how Pliable Truths "introduces" DS9 to the universe or how the books on the USS Titan have Riker to act as a connection)
3. Do not take place on the Enterprise, or at least not a well-documented enterprise (I'd be okay to dip into the B or C) - I love the Enterprise, but I want a bit more variety, I've got too many books on the Enterprises seen in the TV shows

I know there are plenty of books that fit 2/3 criteria, but I imagine most books that fit all three criteria are part of series. Litverse or Post-Picard works.

Potentially a hot take, but I really don't want to see any old actors reprise their roles in Superhero movies. People always talk about Grant Gustin coming back as The Flash, Dafne Keen being X-23 in the main MCU timeline, or that fancast of Miles Teller as The Maker. I hate those ideas.

Don't get me wrong, I loved Grant Gustin in the Flash show, I grew up watching it and The Flash is my all-time favourite superhero. But to me, one of the greatest aspects of superhero movies is being able to see new actors come in and put their own mark on the character. I want to be able to see new interpretations and move into the future to tell new stories. Bringing back an old actor to play a new version of the same character makes things too bogged down in nostalgia that you can never grow beyond what happened 10 years ago to try something new. I want to see new actors come in. That's my one problem with cinematic universes, that we will never see another live-action version of these characters for as long as the universe lasts.

I'm so happy that the MCU X-Men is (mostly) comprised of actors I have never heard about before. It shows me that we are going to get something truly new.

TLDR: reading the 1976 novel adaptation of what is now known as A New Hope was like a window into the past. Read below for my ramblings:

I want to preface this by saying I believe A New Hope is one of the greatest movies of all time and the only Star Wars story that I truly believe needs to be seen to understand this world. That being said, I recently read the original 1976 novelization of Star Wars for the first time, and I have to say, it sparked something in me that the movies were never able to do.

I think the fact that I grew up in a time when Star Wars was already a movie franchise with sequels and TV spinoffs make the original trilogy feel less magical. When I watch the original trilogy it's impossible for me to look at it without the modern lore layered on top of it. I also feel like I'm watching just "an entry in a large sci fi franchise" rather than the groundbreaking blockbuster Star Wars was when it came out. Maybe this is also partly because of the special editions. It definetely makes it feel more uniform to the rest of the franchise, for better and for worse.

But when I read the book, something clicked in my mind. I've read over a dozen Star Wars books, and they've all been original stories. Funnily enough, the original novelization sparked my imagination in a way that no other Star Wars media besides the first wave of High Republic novels and select Clone Wars episodes have. I felt like I was transported back to when the book first came out, experiencing it exactly as readers did back in 1976. Since I've read this book my mind has been non-stop coming up with sci-fi/fantasy characters and worlds, and developing new stories. I don't get that watching the original movie because I've seen it so many times, it's become routine. I know so much about what happened both on screen and behind the scenes, that there's not much to imagine anymore.

After looking around online, it seems that there are no Star Trek novels currently announced for 2027, which surprises me. When are the release dates for upcoming books usually announced?

As a follow up, what do you expect to see? In 2026, we got Picard, Original Series, and Deep Space Nine novels. 2025 had two Strange New Worlds, one Picard, and one Original Series novel. If I were to make a guess (with absolutely nothing to back it up, I would not be surprised if 2027 followed the same general release dates as 2026, with Strange New Worlds taking Picard's slot. I also think it's time for another Next Generation novel, maybe replacing the 2026 TOS slot. Not sure what the Deep Space Nine slot would be. Maybe another Picard, but I could also see Voyager or Disovery. I do not see us getting any Enterprise, Starfleet Academy, or Section 31 novels.

What do you think 2027's releases will be?

The movie wasn't terrible like people were claiming. It wasn't great, but it was okay. It wasn't "I regret watching this" levels of bad. It came out less than a year after Superman, a very popular and well-liked movie, and even featured David Corenswet himself. It was mediocre at worst, and people lost their minds.

The Flash made more money coming right off the heels of the Batgirl cancellation, with infamously bad CGI, and the most unlikable main actor possible playing two characters.

Blue Beetle, the movie who's reputation is "nobody went to see this movie" somehow made more money.

Wonder Woman 1984 made more money in the middle of the pandemic, and it gave fans the option to watch it at home.

Even Green Lantern and Black Adam made more money, although that could be because of likable/popular main actors.

Seriously, what happened? It's not my favourite movie, but I did have a good time going to the theatres to watch it, and walked out having fun. I regret watching The Flash, a movie about my favourite DC character of all time.

On a related note, why is it that DC fans seem to only opperate on extremes. Superman and the first half of Peacemaker S2 comes out and everyone loves it, but since the finale of Peacemaker it feels like DC fans on the internet have done nothing but complain about James Gunn's "priorities", without even giving it a chance.

I just remembered the song Hook sang for the musical episode, and I haven't been able to get it out of my head! I've already watched the video on youtube three times... Definetely the highlight of the musical episode and one of the most memorable moments of the whole show.

The first ever episode of The Wiggles' first TV series (simply called The Wiggles) was titled Anthony's Friend. first released in 1998, It was recently remade in 2026, as the seventh episode of the eighth season of Ready, Steady, Wiggle, this time under the title Lachy's Friend. This is the final post in my Wiggles Remake Retrospective series, and is the only time we are looking at a TV episode.

Oddly enough, Anthony does not even feature in the new version, despite being the only Wiggle who featured in the original to still be part of the group. I am curious why they chose to make the new version focused on Lachy. Actually, I don't think Anthony is in the 2026 episode at all, strangely enough.

Similarities:

• Both episodes feature roughly the same script, with slight changes the titular Wiggle and their friend play.
• In both versions, the final character to enter the script already knows about the friend, before the friend opens a door to the Wiggle's bedroom.
• Both epsodes feature three songs, although they are all different.

Differences:

• The 2026 version features the current Fruit Salad line-up of Wiggles: Tsehay, Lachy, Simon, Lucia, Evie, John, Anthony and Caterina. Although Evie only features in one song, and as far as I can tell John and Anthony are not in the episode at all outside of the theme song. The 1998 version features Greg, Jeff, Murray, and Anthony.
• In the 2026 version, Anthony's role is given to Lachy. Greg, Murray, and Jeff's roles are given to Simon, Tsehay, and Caterina. Dorothy's role is given to Lucia. The friends name is changed from Morty to Benji, and the noisy things that Anthony and Morty do are different to what Lachy and Benji do.
• The 2026 version features a song, Benji's My Shadow, which relates to the skit. In the 1998 version, all the songs are unrelated to the skit.
• In the 1998 version, all four friends (that existed at the time) are featured somewhere in the episode. In the 2026 version, the only friends in the episode are the Tree of Wisdom and Shirley Shawn the Unicorn.
• The 1998 episode is 22 minutes long, the 2026 episode is 11 minutes.

My preferences:

The original episode is iconic, and I think The Wiggles did a good job adapting it. Not giving Anthony any role at all is strange, but not a deal breaker. Overall it's hard to find much more to say, since it's just a short that lasts a couple minutes. I prefer the original version, but I do like the inclusion of the Benji's My Shadow song, I always like when the skits can lead into a related song.

Let me know in the comments: what are your thoughts on Anthony's Friend and Lachy's Friend? Which version do you prefer, and did you enjoy this series of mine?

The Wiggles' first christmas video, Wiggly, Wiggly Christmas was first released in 1997, and recieved what I would call a "loose remake" in 2017. Unlike other remakes, the 2017 version didn't follow the original super closely, but it did share a lot of similar songs, and a similar theme.

I've spoken at length on this sub before about how I do not care for Christmas videos, so I haven't seen both these videos in full, but I have listened to the albums, so this post may be shorter than others.

Similarities:

• Both videos are christmas focused, but that should be obvious.
• Despite the remake featuring the new generation of Wiggles, Greg features in the remade Go Santa Go as a nod to the original version.
• Nine of the 18 songs in the 2017 version also feature in the 1997 version.
• Both versions feature some sort of christmas themed medley at the end (although the original only has this in the 1999 re-release)

Differences:

• The 2017 version features Emma, Lachy, Simon, and Anthony. The 1997 version features Greg, Jeff, Murray, and Anthony.
• The 2017 version replaces Have a Very Merry Christmas, Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer, Here Comes Santa Claus, Ding Dong Merrily on High, Christmas Star, Unto Us, This Holy Night, Felice Navidad, Henry's Christmas Dance, Jeff's Christmas Tune, We Wish You a Merry Christmas, and Wiggly Christmas Medley with Here Come The Reindeer, A Christmas Story, Henry's Christmas Merengue, Dorothy's Special Christmas Cake, Curoo Curoo, Christmas Serenade, Shining Around The World, Great Big Man In Red, and Christmas Carol Mega Mix

My preferences:

Like I said, I really couldn't care for these two. I listened to the two albums, and I actually really liked the 1997 version. It's the only Wiggles Christmas album that I think is great. The 2017 version... I did not like very much. Truthfully that's all I really have to say about these two. It was nice to see Greg come back for the updated Go Santa Go.

Let me know in the comments: what are your thoughts on the updated Wiggly, Wiggly Christmas, and what are some things you think each version does well?

The Wiggles' first compilation video, Hot Potatoes! The Best of The Wiggles was first released in 2010, and was later remade with the new generation of Wiggles in 2014.

Similarities:

• Both videos feature old song clips dating back to 1997, meaning none of the pre-logo shirt clips are included in the video.
• Both videos have 35 songs, and generally have the same structure (with the exception of removed/added songs). Both videos also use the same style of scrolling song titles, even if the exact design is changed.
• The introduction to Do The Owl in both clips are the same, taken from Wiggly Safari.
• Songs which appear in both videos are taken from the same source.

Differences:

• The 2014 version features Emma, Lachy, Simon, and Anthony introducing the video and most songs. The 2010 version features Sam, Jeff, Murray, and Anthony
• The 2014 version replaces Fruit Salad, Wiggly Party, Tie Me Kangaroo Down Sport, The Zeezap Song, To Have A Tea Party, Dr Knickerbocker, Over In The Meadow, and Wags The Dog Is Chasing His Tail with Do the Propeller!, Ready, Steady, Wiggle!, Everybody, I Have a Question, Ooey, Ooey, Ooey Allergies!, Michael Finnegan, Simon Says, I've Got My Glasses On!, and Say the Dance, Do the Dance

My preferences:

First things first, the 2014 version removing Fruit Salad, The Wiggles' most iconic song, is an absolutely insane decision. I would have removed Here Comes The Chicken and kept Fruit Salad in. Overall, I think both versions were released slightly too early. It would have probably made more sense to release the original one year later in 2011, in time for the 20th anniversary year. The 2014 version should have waited until 2016 for the 25th anniversary, so that the new generation of Wiggles could collect some more iconic songs. Everybody, I Have a Question and Ooey, Ooey, Ooey Allergies! don't really deserve to be in a greatest hits album, and they should have waited until something better came along. However, the 2009 version made the bizarre choice of including The Zeezap Song, so I guess there's odd choices in both versions. If it were up to me, I'd take the tracklist from the 2014 version and replace Everybody, I Have a Question with Fruit Salad.

Let me know in the comments: if you could magically combine the two versions of Hot Potatoes! The Best of The Wiggles into one compilation, what aspects would you take from each, and which video do you prefer?

Some of you may disagree with calling this one a remake, but I think that 2006's Wiggledancing! Live In The USA and Wiggledancing! Live In Concert from a year later have so much in common that it's worth discussing.

First of all, we know that the 2006 version with Greg was going to be released globally in 2007, but was replaced with the Sam version once Greg retired from the group. Live In The USA was actually released with the Live In Concert subtitle in Canada! Since the 2007 version replaced the original planned release, I do consider it a remake in my mind, even if it isn't one officially.

Similarities:

• Obviously, they're both concert videos.
• Both versions feature a lot of the same songs, since the backbone of The Wiggles' concerts around that time were all the same. 12 of the 27 songs featured in Live In Concert were also on Live In The USA.
• Both videos feature songs from an album released the year prior (Sailing Around The World for the 2006 version, and Racing To The Rainbow for the 2007 version).
• For the first time in this comparison series, The Wiggles are wearing the same outfits in both versions.
• They both have basically the same backdrop of an inflatible Wiggle House with some simple background.

Differences:

• Live In The USA has Greg as the yellow Wiggle, while Live In Concert features Sam (in his debut).
• The 2007 video features a Big Duck, Middle Duck, Little Duck skit. The 2006 video features no skits in the show, aside from short ones introducing songs.
• There are differences in song list, although the structure of the show remains the same:
  • Songs unique to Live In The USA are: Lights, Camera, Action, Wiggles!, Hoop Dee Doo, The Monkey Dance, Brown Girl In The Ring, Sailing Around The World, Wiggle Bay, Swim Like A Fish, Mop Mop, Dancing In The Sand, Agapame Tin Athena (We Love Athens), Bow Wow Wow, Sydney Barcarolle, and Dorothy (Would You Like To Dance?)
  • Songs unique to Live In Concert are: Overture, Hello, We're The Wiggles, Joannie Works With One Hammer, Here Comes a Bear, Ring-A-Ding-A-Ding Dong!, Everybody Dance!, Ooh It's Captain Feathersword, Here Come The Reindeer, Great Big Man In Red, Romp Bomp A Stomp, Dance the Ooby Doo, Bump-A-Deedle, Teddy Bears' Big Day Out, Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star, We're Dancing With Wags The Dog
• The 2006 version features a spoken introduction by The Wiggles in the Big Red Car before they enter show, while the 2007 version shows the live overture before The Wiggles enter the show.

My preferences:

Growing up, I always loved the 2006 Live In The USA. It was actually the only concert video I owned. I thought it was one of the best videos The Wiggles made. I don't have as much of an emotional connection to the Sam version, but I still think it's a very strong concert video. I think the tracklist for the 2007 version is much stronger, replacing Bow Wow Wow with We're Dancing With Wags The Dog is just one example. I also like the three ducks skit. I wish the 2006 version hadn't been forgotten by The Wiggles in the modern era, so we could watch it digitally in all it's glory.

Let me know in the comments: if you could magically combine the two versions of Wiggledancing! into one concert, what aspects would you take from each, and which video do you prefer? Do you think this was a solid first outing for Sam?

The next entry in the series comparing The Wiggles' various remakes and updates of older content throughout the years is on Wake Up Jeff! from 1996 and It's Time to Wake Up Jeff! from a decade later (released as Wiggle Around the Clock in North America).

The 1996 video feels like The Wiggles are finally starting to produce higher budget content for the first time, and the 2006 remake really shows how far they came in 10 years.

Similarities:

• Both versions feature roughly the same tracklist, the 2006 video remakes all but two songs from the original, but only 12 of the 18 songs in the 2006 version come from the 1996 version.
• Just like the last video, all eight main Wiggles are involved in both versions of the video. In the previous posts we looked at, Wags the Dog did not feature in the original versions.
• Both versions feature some kind of skit within the video, although the skits themselves are different
• Captain Feathersword is played by Paul Paddick for the first time in both versions.
• For a more coincidental similarity, both videos were released in years ending in "6", and the 1996 version is the fourth video released by the OG Wiggles, and the 2006 version is the fourth video released before Greg's first retirement.

Differences:

• It's Time to Wake Up Jeff! uses a mix of animation and live action songs.
• Everyone's outfits are updated, just like I pointed out in previous posts.
• The 2006 version removes Everybody is Clever and Goodbye Dance, but adds A Frog Went A Walking, We're Playing A Trick On The Captain, Have A Happy Birthday Captain, Guess What?, Havenu Shalom Alechem, and Walking On The Moon.
• The skit in the 1996 version focuses around magic Greg, and is replaced in the remake by a Captain Feathersword-focused skit, which also acts as an intro for two songs.

My preferences:

I feel like Wake Up Jeff! is probably the video which I think least needed a remake, but I don't dislike the 2006 version. I think it works better than Here Come the Big Red Car did since it does contain a lot less green screen, so it feels more purposeful. However, the repeated use of Wiggly Animation brings it down a few points, since it makes the video fel rushed. Two of the three songs which were done in animation had never gotten a video beforehand, and it feels like The Wiggles cheaped out this time. I would have loved a live-action video for Guess What.

Let me know in the comments: if you could magically combine the two version of Wake Up Jeff! into one video, what aspects would you take from each, and which title would you use?

Apologies I couldn't post or reply yesterday to any comments left on part two. Hopefully today I will be a little more available.

Continuing with my series comparing The Wiggles' various remakes and updates of older content throughout the years. Today's discussion is on Big Red Car from 1995 and Here Comes the Big Red Car from 2006.

The 1995 video is one of my absolute favourites, but I feel the 2006 version just can't live up to what it's predecessor did so well.

Similarities:

• Both versions feature roughly the same tracklist, the 2006 video remakes all but one song from the original, meaning 13 of the 16 songs in the 2006 version come from the 1995 version.
• For the first time, all eight main Wiggles are involved in both versions of the video. In the previous posts we looked at, Wags the Dog did not feature in the original versions.
• Both versions feature some kind of skit within the video, although the skits themselves are different

Differences:

• Big Red Car primarily uses physical sets and backdrops, while Here Comes the Big Red Car uses a lot of green screen, with some practical sets or location filming sprinkled in.
• Everyone's outfits are updated, just like I pointed out in previous posts.
• Captain Feathersword is played by Paul Paddick in '98, and either Anthony Field or one of his brothers in '95.
• The 2006 version removes On Your Holiday, but adds I Want To Wear The Jacket, Sorry Again, and Henry's Dance.
• The skit in the 1995 version focuses around magic Greg, and is replaced in the remake by two Captain Feathersword-focused skits, which also act as intros for songs.

My preferences:

Like I said before, Big Red Car is one of my favourite Wiggles videos of all time. Here Comes the Big Red Car just can't live up to it. I think some charm is lost with the green screen, and overall the lower-budget feel of the original makes things feel a lot more carefully crafted. The remake loses a lot of it's personality by polishing everything. I also would have liked more of the actual songs to be rerecorded, rather than just being taken straight from albums made in the 1990s. I don't think any of the remade songs had their audio redone for this video. That being said, I do like the longer title.

Let me know in the comments: if you could magically combine the two version of Big Red Car into one video, what aspects would you take from each, and which title would you use?

Continuing with my series comparing The Wiggles' various remakes and updates of older content throughout the years. Today's discussion is on the 1994 and 1998 versions of Yummy Yummy.

Both feature an iconic tracklist, with the 1994 version building on what the group started with Wiggle Time! the previous year, and the 1998 version being reworked slightly to fit better with the remade version of Wiggle Time.

Similarities:

• Both versions feature roughly the same tracklist, mostly taking songs from the 1994 album. 7 of the 13 songs in the '94 version and 8/15 songs for the '98 version.
• The script for both videos are pretty similar, down to the general order of songs, and the introductions, although there are more changes than the Wiggle Time! remake.
• The "Magic Greg" segment is the same for both videos - the box of mystery trick.

Differences:

• The 1998 version features Wags The Dog, who did not exist in 1994, although he does not get his own song.
• The visuals are completely redesigned in 1998, matching those in the 1998 Wiggle Time!. The backgrounds in 1994 varied with different songs, but all followed the same multicoloured scheme. The 1998 backdrop is the same cloud background throughout the entire video.
• Everyone's outfits are different, just like I pointed out in yesterday's post.
• Captain Feathersword is played by Paul Paddick in '98, and Anthony Field in '94.
• The 1998 version features a slightly different songlist. It adds Pufferbillies, Havenu Shalom Alechem, and Fruit Salad. It also removes the "Dorothy's Birthday Party" skit. If you live in North America, you got two Wiggles Puppets songs in place of Teddy Bear Hug and Numbers Rhumba.
• The cook was played by John Field in 1994, and Paul Hester in 1998.

My preferences:

This time around, I prefer the consistency of the design choices in the 1998 version, and I think Fruit Salad works better here. However, I think the removal of "Dorothy's Birthday Party" is a big loss for the remake version. Maybe they felt it was not needed because the first TV series had been airing at the time?

Let me know in the comments: if you could magically combine the two versions of Yummy Yummy into one video, what aspects would you take from each?

This post begins a new 8 day-long series of posts comparing The Wiggles' various remakes and updates of older content throughout the years. Today's discussion is on the 1993 and 1998 versions of Wiggle Time!.

Both versions are iconic in their own right, with the 1993 version being The Wiggles' first video special ever, and the 1998 version being what most international audiences probably had as their first exposure to the group (it certainly was for me).

Similarities:

• Both versions feature roughly the same tracklist, mostly taking songs from their first two albums in 1991/1992. 10 of the 13 songs in the '93 version and 9/16 songs for the '98 version.
• The script for both videos are pretty similar, down to the general order of songs, and the introductions.
• The "Magic Greg" segment is the same for both videos - the colouring book trick.
• For a less purposeful similarity, both videos were released a year after The Wiggles updated their outfits. They started wearing plain coloured shirts in 1992, and the original was released in 1993. Their shirts and belt buckles were updated in 1997 to add the logos (and standardize the shade everyone wears), and the remake was released in 1998.

Differences:

• The 1998 version features Wags The Dog, who did not exist in 1993.
• The visuals are completely redesigned in 1998. The background went from being a multicoloured scene with some hand made trees, to a plain blue with clouds backdrop.
• Everyone's outfits are different. I already touched on The Wiggles, but all the friends have different costumes too
• Captain Feathersword is played by Paul Paddick in '98, and Anthony Field in '93.
• The 1998 version features a slightly different songlist. It adds Ponies and Quack Quack, as well as a concert segment featuring Wave to Wags, Five Little Ducks, and Wiggly Medley. It also removes Sing a Song of Polly (while keeping the segment it played in) and Fruit Salad (which we will touch on again tomorrow)

My preferences:

I grew up on the 1998 version, and did not see the full 1993 release until it was made available on YouTube a few years ago. I think I prefer the tracklist of the 1998 version, but I like pretty much everything else better about the 1993 video. I personally think the low budget and homemade vibe makes the video feel a lot more personal, like The Wiggles could be dancing with you, while the 1998 version feels like The Wiggles are putting on a show for you. If I had grown up with the 1993 version it may have been my favourite of all The Wiggles videos.

For some reason, I am unable to make a poll post, so let me know in the comments: if you could magically combine the two versions of Wiggle Time into one video, what aspects would you take from each?

Since we have a little while to go until the next season airs, I thought now would be a perfect time to go back and look over all the seasons of the show and rank them from worst to best. I have not seen every season all the way through, so I will only include seasons that I have completed.

1. Series 4/Season 30 (+2008-10 specials)
2. Season 12
3. Series 10/Season 36
4. Series 1/Season 27
5. Series 5/Season 31
6. Series 9/Season 35
7. Series 7/Season 33 (+2013 specials)
8. Series 12/Season 38
9. Series 3/Season 29
10. Series 6/Season 32
11. Series 11/Season 37
12. Series 8/Season 34
13. Season 1/Series 14/Season 40 (+2023 specials)
14. Season 16 - "The Key to Time"
15. Series 13/Season 39 - "Flux" (+2022 specials)
16. Series 2/Season 28
17. Season 24
18. Season 2/Series 15/Season 41

What are your personal rankings?

I'm going to try to speculate without being all doom and gloom, but there's currently no Star Trek in production on TV, which means that after the franchise airs the next 26 episodes, we may be in a quiet point. What happens to the books? It seems like the books being published focus primarily on shows while they air (except Picard still gets books, but it's been a while since the last Discovery book for example), and the older legacy shows (mostly TOS and TNG).

Do you think we'll get a wider variety of books once the Starfleet Academy and Strange New Worlds come to an end, or will the focus become more narrow?

It seems like Flash fans have a complicated relationship with Wally's red and silver rebirth suit with the open cowl. Most people seem to agree that it looks awesome, but I think Heroes In Crisis soured most people's attitudes on that suit, but how would you have felt if DC had kept it around?

What if Wally still had his rebirth suit when Jeremy Adams took charge of the title? Do you think we could have seen it become the permanent main suit for Wally?

I personally wouldn't have minded this, as I think that suit needs some redemption from Heroes In Crisis, and it would have been cool to see Barry, Jay, and Wally all have their own unique designs. All that being said, I can't say that I dislike the suits used in the current comics.