Thoughts on Discovery Starfleet Uniforms (Trailer Edition)

Technically, the colors would be closer to "Where No Man Has Gone Before" than the prime colors of TOS proper.

 

One thing I like about the gold, copper and silver is that the gold and copper colors kind of inform the uniforms seen in "The Cage" and "Where No Man Has Gone Before", in that Command was gold and Engineering/Support was copper.

My original thinking was that these uniforms were for ships that were not on deep space assignments, and the ones we see in "The Cage" were geared for comfort on longer assignments. But a few lines in the trailer blew that theory up!

 

Uniforms can also be determined by the commanding officer, illustrated in the case Picard v. Jellico.

 

That's possible, in that Pike wanted to switch to the newest issue uniform, but Georgiou and Lorca may prefer the tried and true uniforms they've had for years.

 

So there are no compliance officers who make sure everyone makes the switch?

 

I wonder if that's the less-interesting branch of Section 31?

 

I'm wondering how fans are supposed to SEE those pips during a typical episode.

 

Who'd ya annoy to get that job?

"Oh, working for a top secret side of Starfleet?"

"Yeah, uniform compliance...sucker"

 

They are very well made suits, fitting both women and men officers alike so naturally as if they are tailor made for each one of them(and probably are with this kind of budget). Also, if the colors were purplish blue(which couldn't since its a blue suit to begin with) and the rest intact, instead of gold, I'd say 29th century and relativity, cause that's the closest match imo.(same with the UI colours, but that's another story).

 

I admit I'm curious as to why we're seeing so much blue (in both the uniforms and the viewscreen HUDs).

 

Color theory. Most people's skin tones (regardless of ethnicity) "pop" against blue backgrounds.

 

If you're watching to count pips, you're doing it wrong.

 

Guess we won't be seeing any Bolians then...

 

This has been one of my biggest gripes with science fiction rank devices. Both versions of Battlestar Galactica had this problem and, to some extent, TWOK "monster maroon" uniform rank devices did too. They're too bloody small and similar looking from a distance! The whole idea of rank devices is for each individual to be able to identify if someone approaching them is someone they need to salute to if they're of a higher grade, or to expect a salute from them if they're lower. They are to be big enough and distinctively designed enough as to very easily determine the rank/grade of every person wearing it. TNG pips weren't so bad, as they were easy to see against a black collar and the TOS uniforms were particularly good because they were based off the concepts used for actual naval cuff braids. These tiny little things they put on the fictional uniforms that are barely noticeable until you're right on top of someone else with a magnifying glass are just ridiculous and completely unrealistic.

 

Have to admit, I thought the blue-skinned guy we saw as a BO with metal plates running his skull was their interpretation of Bolians. Would be interesing if he actually is one.

 

Good thing then that they don't salute in Starfleet!

 

It's a small ship. If you don't know who the captain is, you have bigger problems than reading pips

 

Oh, c'mon! it's not just saluting and it's not just about knowing who the captain is. It's also division chiefs, senior officers and their interactions with enlisted crewpersons who may or may not necessarily be in their direct chain-of-command. Anyone of a higher rank has the right and privilege to deliver an order of a lesser rank, particularly in situations of potential danger. You can't have people wasting time wondering if the person barking an order at them to prevent a warp core breach would be allowed to do so or not. Crew members need an easy and efficient way of determining the pecking order without going out of their way, asking to see their credentials. The saluting is simply a formality. At the end of the day, it's all about general unit cohesion.

 

Although I like the uniforms overall. While they are iunconsistent with the Cage/WNMHGB uniforms, they do work as a sequel to the UESF Blues and the Franklin Greys which in-universe would be their precedents, so while they represent a retcon or parallel uniform I can live with them (I prefer blue rather than black for the base colour anyway). However, I don't think they are perfect. While I like the idea of gold/silver/bronze elements in the uniforms, I think they should be split by rank (Gold = Flag Officers and Senior Command Staff), Silver (Officers and Cadets), Bronze (Chiefs and Enlisted) rather than being used as a Divisional Colour, which I would prefer remain the traditional three colours (RYB), the modified three (RYG) or a five colour scheme (RYGBV), and I think they should have used either sleeve insignia or collar rather almost invisible dots on the badges (hoping for 4+ different ones of these) for the ranks.