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MisterPL

Member Since 17 Dec 2013
Offline Last Active Yesterday, 01:45 PM
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#98112 Here we go again... Playmates is back in the Trek business!

Posted by MisterPL on 11 December 2023 - 11:54 AM

Three figures from TWOK were consistent peg-warmers at my local Walmart stores, even at $5 clearance. It was sad. That said, I'm not sure they got any other characters. I never saw Prodigy figures in stores.




#98061 Star Trek: The OTHER Animated Series announced

Posted by MisterPL on 11 October 2023 - 11:32 AM

I get the impression they were simply trying to bank on pent-up demand so they could illustrate to prospective streamers how popular the series is with fans.

 

Either way, Prodigy has found a new home at Netflix, which isn't exactly a stunner. Looking forward to new episodes in 2024.

 

https://www.startrek...xB9xT6wyqVp-otU




#97947 Here we go again... Playmates is back in the Trek business!

Posted by MisterPL on 24 July 2023 - 12:30 PM

I'm interested on the Kelvin timeline but I would not have recommended starting there. Boldly go where Playmates hasn't gone.




#97939 Hiya Toys

Posted by MisterPL on 20 July 2023 - 07:25 AM

Random Thoughts about the Hiya Toys figures revealed at SDCC 2023:
 
  • I'm amazed at how many requests there are for 1966 TOS figures. As a guy who started collecting with TOS Mego figures back in the 70's, I get it but can we save those for later? Especially when Kirk, Spock, and Khan are still clogging pegs at Walmart for $5.
 
  • The scale is bugging me. I'm a huge fan of 1/18 scale figures but Anton Yelchin was 5' 9" and Leonard Nimoy was 6'0" and the figures appear to be the same height even with radically different sculpts. This isn't a case of using common bucks economically (which I'm okay with where it makes sense). This is a case of these being 4" tall figures rather than 1/18 scale figures. That's disappointing.
 
  • I enjoyed the 2009 Star Trek reboot but I'm shocked this is where Hiya has decided to launch the line. If they wanted to launch with a modern take on TOS characters, Strange New Worlds is the way to go.
 
All that said, I've already got a Kelvin-verse wishlist gestating in my noggin. I hope this line prospers so that it can live long.



#97912 Errors

Posted by MisterPL on 08 June 2023 - 03:33 PM

"The pogs aren't here! What do we have that's pog-ish?"

 

Amazing. And it actually made it out of the factory.




#97872 New Star Trek Series starring Patrick Stewart

Posted by MisterPL on 20 April 2023 - 05:29 AM

I recall the final episode of Enterprise being described by producers as a Valentine to fans. It ended up being a slap in the face to its audience. As predictable as it was, the final season of Picard was an apology.

 

When The Next Generation moved immediately from television to feature film, the transition handicapped the cast by not giving them the benefit their predecessors had enjoyed; pent-up demand. As tedious as The Motion Picture was, it was still satisfying as the reunion fans had craved for over a decade and left audiences wanting more. And with the return of an old foe, The Wrath of Khan delivered what is still considered to be the best entry in the franchise while introducing a promising new generation of characters.

 

Generations was hampered with not only introducing a new villain responsible for killing off Star Trek's (if not pop culture's) most popular captain, but delivering a story worthy of cinemas only six months after The Next Generation's episodic series had wrapped. There was little question of "Where are they now?" since it never felt as if they'd left. This crew's maiden voyage to the silver screen was also a letdown but, like its predecessor, this incarnation relied on an old adversary to get fans excited about a follow-up with First Contact, arguably the second most popular Trek film.

 

Picard showrunner Terry Savalas certainly knows his stuff, not only the lore of Star Trek but its history. He knows what works and leaned into it from the very beginning of this season. From borrowed music cues and heavy-handed exposition (less like Easter eggs than blatant spoilers to the initiated) this was a comfortable, enjoyable ride with few surprises and plenty of satisfying feels. As the final episode came to a close that reeked of shameless nostalgia, one would barely have time to ponder where Savalas might go next before the unsurprising answer presented itself.

While a spinoff seems inevitable, hopefully it will feel fresher and less recycled.




#97856 Star Trek: Discovery. Series talk and discussion

Posted by MisterPL on 05 March 2023 - 04:08 PM

I feel like Discovery has told the story it always intended to – the ascension of Burnham to captain – and it did so in an entertaining way. The show successfully brought the franchise back to television (where I think it always belonged) and launched my favorite Star Trek series since DS9.

 

I'll miss that family of characters but I'll keep looking for them elsewhere.




#97834 Here we go again... Playmates is back in the Trek business!

Posted by MisterPL on 26 December 2022 - 03:37 AM

In my experience, demand is most likely coming from the retailers. If they see little Star Wars ships with 1" tall figures selling well, the corporate toy buyers will ask other manufacturers to do likewise.

 

Especially with another sci-fi boy brand, they'd probably go to Playmates and say, "Hey, can you make these for Star Trek?" As a manufacturer, that's one of the sexiest things you can hear from a retailer because it's a guaranteed order.

 

That doesn't mean the SKUs will sell through, of course, because the demand didn't begin with the end consumer. The idea might have merit but if something runs afoul, the retailer can blame the execution. Similarly, the manufacturer can blame the licensor. "Sorry but CBS wouldn't let us launch the line with more in-scale vehicles like shuttles and runabouts. They insist the money's in starships so..." Yeah.

 

Playmates can try to play Brand Manager, pitting what the retailer wants against what the licensor demands but that's a delicate tug-of-war, especially if the licensor already has a relationship with the retailer. Either way, the manufacturer is just the middle man, a position that has its challenges.




#97703 Enterprise c coming!?

Posted by MisterPL on 12 September 2022 - 10:45 AM

I know the response here will be regarded as one of the most insincere promises since "I won't come in your mouth" but here it is:

https://bit.ly/ASKDST450

 

Jeremy D.: A few years ago you guys announced the reliant and enterprise C to your electronic starship line did you guys scrap those plans?


DSTChuck: They are not scrapped, development hit some road blocks, but we still hope to be able to get them both into production.




#97686 Star Trek 4 (14)

Posted by MisterPL on 29 August 2022 - 07:30 AM

We've lost yet another director:

 

https://toynewsi.com/414-44187

 

This is just the universe saying, "Hey, the films had a good run. Keep Trek on the small screen, in long form and as far away from broadcast TV as possible."

 

Given the amount of time that has passed, I wouldn't mind seeing Decker, Ilia, Peter Preston, Demora Sulu, Saavik, and David introduced in the Kelvin timeline to become the next generation that helps bridge this version of TOS to the its version of TNG.




#97577 Star Trek: Discovery. Series talk and discussion

Posted by MisterPL on 19 March 2022 - 04:16 PM

Penultimate episodes are SO good at amping up the stakes. I imagine it's tough to deliver a good finale that isn't a cliffhanger.

 

I liked that everyone got to be heard, which seems to be a prevailing theme this season. It's important to have a voice, particularly when the issues are this big and so personal.

 

Species 10-C was pretty much what I expected, which is fine. The communication challenge was interesting. I'll admit to not being a fan of amorphic adversaries (from V'ger to Galactus and Parallax) so I was happy to see some kind of defined shape finally materialize.

 

Curious to see where the next season goes and more importantly who returns and in what capacity.




#97537 Meeting Whoopi Goldberg

Posted by MisterPL on 04 February 2022 - 12:02 PM

Too bad you're not closer. She just got an unexpected two-week vacation. Plenty of time to chat and sign memorabilia. I'm sure she'd love to hear from a fan.




#97470 Here we go again... Playmates is back in the Trek business!

Posted by MisterPL on 24 January 2022 - 03:05 PM

So when they say 5 inches is that exact or the approximation that was used for their original run?

 

That was the "scale" of the 1992-1999 line of core figures, though I've seen it referred to as 4.5" scale.

I guess this way we can either add new characters to our existing collections or upgrade. And the character selection is bland but pretty safe for a reboot.

 

I'm very interested in the packaging.




#97361 WIP USS Defiant 3D-print build.

Posted by MisterPL on 08 September 2021 - 06:18 PM

That's one way to celebrate Star Trek Day! Looking good!




#97276 WIP USS Defiant 3D-print build.

Posted by MisterPL on 06 July 2021 - 09:18 AM

That's RIDICULOUSLY brilliant.

 

I love those buttons. Obtrusive buttons on toys have been a nitpick of mine since I was wee. This is really taking shape!