Last week, Star Trek officially reached its 50th birthday.

It was a surprisingly quiet celebration…

On September 8th 1966,Star Trekofficially debuted on American television.

The episode kicked off an original run that covered three seasons.

More than that, too.

It kicked off something very special in the world of science fiction.

Last week marked the 50th birthday of that broadcast.

You could be forgiven for barely noticing it wasTreks birthday at all.

For it seems somebody forgot to arrange any kind of big celebratory party.

Whilst there were screenings and events, there was no obvious sense of a celebration.

And I cant help but think thats a missed opportunity.

Inevitably, I cant help but contrast that with 2013.

Back then,Doctor Whowas celebrating its 50th birthday, and boy, it certainly felt it.

That it was backed up with Peter Davisons exceptionally funny reunion of The Five Doctors was all the better.

That night, in fact, on November 23rd 2013, felt like something special.

And that was even before The Curator turned up.

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But that wasnt all, remember.

It felt like an event.

Heck, itwasan event.

There wasnt even a cake that I saw.

Sure, there werethings, but there wasnt something central to salute, to draw fandom together.

And I think thats a real shame.

But it also had other things it needed to do.

I fully get why it didnt.

Theres a special boxset out there too.

Thats all very much appreciated.

That, for me, is the real loss here.

It proved a lovely and fitting salute to the show.

Surely, if someone had built somethingStar Trek-y for 8th September 2016, people would have come.

Its a very welcome piece of work, albeit not strictly an official one.

For it should noted thatStar Trekis a show with more parents these days thanDoctor Who.

The BBC and BBC Worldwide were clearly very joined up onDoctor Whos 50th, as was showrunner Steven Moffat.

The result was a celebratory year thatStar Trekhas fallen a long way short of.

Trek, though, has a differing corporate family tree.

CBS is overseeing the new TV show, with Netflix picking up rights in many territories.

As such, more corporations are vested inStar Trek, and different organisations seem to have different screen rights.

Thus, bringing everyone together for one big special sounds like a lawyers dream, and an executives nightmare.

September 8th came and went, andStar Trekgoes on.

I do think thats a shame, but still: theTrekflag has been flying.

Conventions continue, as they always do.

We thus know for certain that 13 episodes ofStar Trek, along with one movie, are definitely happening.

And we couldnt say that on the 40th anniversary of the show.

As such, the 51st birthday ofTrekpromises to be a bit more exciting than the 50th.

Perhaps that one of the beauties ofStar Trek.

Live long and prosper, folks.