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I finally got around to watching some Discovery (though I'm only through the first few episodes of season 4). My thoughts:

  • First three are a moderately enjoyable sci-fi drama
  • I have to admit, season 3 just presented enough interesting ideas and mystery I was able to ignore most of its flaws
  • I've really started to notice death by subplots, though. It feels like they try to do 4 different plots in an episode, 2 which they do okay and 2 which are way weaker than they should be. I would have rather they done 2 subplots really well.
  • I felt season 4's conflict was really contrived. The plot could have almost written itself with what happened in season 3. Osyra died and we don't even talk about the aftermath in the Chain - the slavery isn't just going to magically disappear, and there's sure to be a power struggle. Also, killing Book's family was kind of idiotic - talking about grief and obsession again is like beating a dead horse. Heck, if you'd let his family live but still destroyed the planet, we could have had an interesting story on diasporas instead.
  • Also, background character development feels a bit weak. I spent half the first couple seasons wondering who the heck Ariam was, and just when I did, they killed her before the audience could develop much of an attachment. They could have at least thrown in a few more crew barbecue scenes.
  • I am now more impressed at what Lower Decks did with fewer, shorter episodes a season than Discovery. They really managed to create a sense that we'd been with these characters a long time and that they were growing despite the entire show being shorter than 1 TNG season. I do have a few gripes about season 5 (my main one being how does Ma'ah go from "Beckett is honorable" like, a few hours after meeting her to immediately distrusting her in the finale), but my respect for LD has only grown.
TenForward: Where Every Vulcan Knows Your Name @lemmy.world
data1701d (He/Him) @startrek.website

I'm finally going to the 🪩DISCO🪩
10 comments

  • I honestly think season three is one of the best overall seasons of any Trek series. It's got good energy, and I've talked pretty extensively about why I think the ending is pretty great, actually.

    killing Book’s family was kind of idiotic

    The poor species was doomed once they were revealed to be spore drive-compatible. They were never going to take away the lead ship's unique feature.

    Also, background character development feels a bit weak.

    I've probably talked about this before as well, but I think Disco was pretty experimental with the extended cast - they essentially gave what would have been wordless extras on other shows and gave them a bit more to do.

    Ultimately, I think it was a bit of a failed experiment, but at least some talented Canadian actors were able to pad their resumes.

  • In another thread @ValueSubtracted@startrek.website described this plot as "Extremely TOS" and I went from not-hating-but-not-loving it to having much more positive feelings. Is it silly? Yes. Is it humanist? Also yes. And what's more Star Trek than that?

    • I do admit that while I found the plot ridiculous, I did find the character's story interesting. It's hard to go wrong with holodeck episodes, honestly.

      I though of an interesting story based on that where from childhood, someone accidentally lives an entire simulated life based on the real world 20-40 years in the past and becomes a Starfleet officer in the simulation (down to a fake 4 years at the Academy, maybe with holo Boothby). The holodeck then gets shut off by real Starfleet officers. Besides the obvious emotional story, it would also be interesting if the simulation was accurate enough that the person's experience made the captain decide to make them a provisional officer at the end of the episode.

      • I was not a fan of seasons 1-3 pretty much at all (3 was ok), but 4 was one of my favorite seasons of any Trek and 5 is also very good. I would be interested to read a follow up post when you're finished!

  • Discovery has it's flaws, but it occupies a special place in my heart...

    A place that also includes the TOS Monster Maroon Movies, TNG, and possibly Strange New Worlds?

    I'm absolutely not saying these are the best Treks (glances knowingly towards Star Trek 5) but they are my favourites

10 comments