Discovery is being “overshadowed" by The Orville

[Jackson_Roykirk]

I think it's ok... it just feels very... uneven. They have some interesting ideas like the first time somebody is in command then interrupt it with jarring transitions and scenes.

Yeah -- I agree with calling it "just OK".

I've already said on this board that I think The Orville has potential -- a good base idea and decent characters -- but it has not yet (in two episodes) fully realized that potential.

However, considering it has only been two episodes, and those two episodes "haven't sucked", I am certainly going to give it more chances. I don't dislike watching it, but I don't find myself really caring about it that much, either.

 

[Krandor]

Yeah -- I agree with calling it "just OK".

I've already said on this board that I think The Orville has potential -- a good base idea and decent characters -- but it has not yet (in two episodes) fully realized that potential.

However, considering it has only been two episodes, and those two episodes "haven't sucked", I am certainly going to give it more chances. I don't dislike watching it, but I don't find myself really caring about it that much, either.

That is where I am. I'll keep watching but not on the "must see TV" list.

 

[Rahul]

Star Trek needs to change as well, into something that doesn't take itself so seriously. I was hoping the TV series would take a cue from the Abrams films in this regard, but it doesn't look like it.

You know what? I'm not a big fan of the Abrams-movies, specifically because I really don't like the second, don't care for the third, and as such, in retrospect, makes the whole reboot/destruction-of-Vulcan in the first hypocritical and unnecessary.

But there is ONE THING that Abrams really, really got right: And that's the tone. It's colorful. Adventurous. Fun. If we only ever had seen ST09, it would have been worth it. (Also, the casting was top-notch)

If Star Trek ever manages to get both(!) the tone and the content right, it will succeed again. (Also, not always doing prequels or reboots would be nice. But those two things are more important-er)

 

[Rahul]

I'm goint to do a general prediction here:

1) Star Trek Discovery will be very successfull on Netflix in international markets, especially the core Trek markets like Germany, Great Britain etc. It will be moderately successfull in other markets, probably comparable to the Marvel-Netflix series or other, more American-culture centered stuff like "Stranger Things".
2) It will completely underperform in the States. Not because people here won't like it, but because noone other than hardcore fans are going to watch it. Those will like it just fine. But for DIS to become successfull beyond the Trekkies, it has WAY too little buzz going for it. And people not being able to accidentally catch it on cable will cripple the effort to gain new viewers outside original fandom.

 

[Krandor]

You know what? I'm not a big fan of the Abrams-movies, specifically because I really don't like the second, don't care for the third, and as such, in retrospect, makes the whole reboot/destruction-of-Vulcan in the first hypocritical and unnecessary.

But there is ONE THING that Abrams really, really got right: And that's the tone. It's colorful. Adventurous. Fun. If we only ever had seen ST09, it would have been worth it. (Also, the casting was top-notch)

If Star Trek ever manages to get both(!) the tone and the content right, it will succeed again. (Also, not always doing prequels or reboots would be nice. But those two things are more important-er)

And from reports from trekmovie they said it was "surprisingly light at times"

 

[BillJ]

2) It will completely underperform in the States. Not because people here won't like it, but because noone other than hardcore fans are going to watch it. Those will like it just fine. But for DIS to become successfull beyond the Trekkies, it has WAY too little buzz going for it. And people not being able to accidentally catch it on cable will cripple the effort to gain new viewers outside original fandom.

If it is good, word of mouth will drive many subscriptions here in the States. If it isn't good, well...

 

[Krandor]

If it is good, word of mouth will drive many subscriptions here in the States. If it isn't good, well...

Eactly. While I don't expect it to be on the same level but that is what GoT did for HBO... Sopranos too. Homeland and Dexter on Showtime. Good shows will get word of mouth and people will subscribe.

 

[Jackson_Roykirk]

That is where I am. I'll keep watching but not on the "must see TV" list.

Maybe Fox will use my review in a sound bite....

FOX Announcer: "Here's What people are saying about The Orville":

The Daily Planet calls it "Fun"
The Quahog Gazette says "lots of laughs"
Jackson Roykirk on TrekBBS proclaims "It doesn't suck"
​

 

[Rahul]

If it is good, word of mouth will drive many subscriptions here in the States. If it isn't good, well...

I'm betting on a hard 'mediocre' for the first season. As would be a good, old new-Trek tradition.

That means it will be enough for us hardcore Trekkies and it will satisfy us. But probably won't be enough for mainstream audiences to get into it. At least not enough for them to purchase a new service. If it would be on Netflix, they'd probably check it out. But this way? Our only hope is piracy, lots of piracy, so that more and more people will like it and talk to others about it. But even then, I'm not betting on much additional/new fans, at least not untill after there are at least a few seasons available and everyone can assure them "it get's better after the second season".

 

[BillJ]

I'm betting on a hard 'mediocre' for the first season. As would be a good, old new-Trek tradition.

They've had too long to stumble out of the gate. If they do, they need to replace the creative team.

 

[CorporalClegg]

It's a given the first season will be significantly better than any since the original. I think the main reason the show was put-off for so long is that TPTB know how important it is to get it right strait away. There is no "figuring out as you go" in today's TV market.

(Which is also why the 'sophomore suck' is so much more common these days."

 

[Rahul]

They've had too long to stumble out of the gate. If they do, they need to replace the creative team.

That's what they did!
The first season will clearly be the brain-child of the booted guy, produced by a new team, most likely under the command of a new creative commitee by the producers. Not necessarily a receipt for success.

 

[BillJ]

It's a given the first season will be significantly better than any since the original.

I'm not sure it is a given for me. I have significant fondness for the first season of TNG.

 

[MvRojo]

That's what they did!
The first season will clearly be the brain-child of the booted guy, produced by a new team, most likely under the command of a new creative commitee by the producers. Not necessarily a receipt for success.

The showrunners who took over were already working on the series, and had worked with Bryan Fuller on previous series.

 

[Krandor]

That's what they did!
The first season will clearly be the brain-child of the booted guy, produced by a new team, most likely under the command of a new creative commitee by the producers. Not necessarily a receipt for success.

and yet reports from the permier says it is really good

 

[Rahul]

and yet reports from the permier says it is really good

It's a bunch of Trekkies seeing a new Trek series for the first time. I'd be really worried if even they complain. That doesn't mean a lot though. Basically everything that has a pre-existing fanbase has a positive first press screening - hell, Fant4astic Four, Man of Steel and Batman v. Superman were burried under fan praise on their first screening.

What really matters is if general audiences can appreciate it. And it's too early to make predictions here. Us few Trekkies can't keep such an expensive show alive on our own.

 

[Cake]

1) Star Trek Discovery will be very successfull on Netflix in international markets, especially the core Trek markets like Germany, Great Britain etc.

Netflix has about 6 million subscribers in the UK and about 5 million in Germany. They surely hope to increase that number with the help of DIS. Still a lot of potential fans won't see DIS, because it is not on TV.

 

[Krandor]

Netflix has about 6 million subscribers in the UK and about 5 million in Germany. They surely hope to increase that number with the help of DIS. Still a lot of potential fans won't see DIS, because it is not on TV.

Exactly. Netflix market penetration outsdie the US is pretty low. That is what they paid so much for DSC - to try to gain new subscribers not so existing subscribers can see it for "no additional cost"

 

[CorporalClegg]

I think it's a foregone conclusion Disco will end up being one of the must pirated shows (globally) in history.

 

[Noname Given]

It's a given the first season will be significantly better than any since the original.

^^^
I wouldn't make that claim until I saw the ST: D first season in it's entirety (although I admit I would start forming my opinion based on the episodes of ST: D as I see them.)

I think it's a foregone conclusion Disco will end up being one of the must pirated shows (globally) in history.

^^^
I wouldn't say that either. Between Porn and Japanese Anime there are probably a lot more shows that will be more pirated than ST: D.