The best Star Trek fan film group, Phase II, formerly New Voyages, realeased their most exciting episode yet on December 20th. The two part "Blood and Fire" premiered yesterday on their website for download. There will be a dragonfly stream going up soon, which always has a reliable speed and good resolution. To say these productions are fantastic would be selling them short. The films, always with scripts from Trek Veterans, are always made with the finest attention to detail and with extreme care. James Cawley, who has essentially become TOS Patient Zero, has crafted the show with the production group he created over five years ago, with a mission to recreate the look and feel of TOS as dutifully and accurately as possible. The sets are all perfect, and rather than go for a re imagining like J.J. (whom he has come to the defense of for the new Star Trek film, which is odd given his history of looking down on tweaking the franchise formula) they have managed to seamlessly blend modern day effects and ideas onto the Trek universe that neither feel forced, nor kitschy. In fact these are some of the most easily watchable of any fan films on the internet, from any franchise. At times you really do get the impression that they have picked up right where season 3 left off. Do not let the "fan film" label scare you away, Phase II, is and will continue to be some of the best Star Trek available today. And in these times, when The Movie looms off in the distance and the promise of another series just the glint in some producer's eye (Bryan Fuller) we must savor that which is available, be it officially Paramount licensed, or not. Star Trek: Phase II Phase II Episodes
