Spoilers Star Trek: Discovery 1x01 - "The Vulcan Hello"

[Amaris]

If you weren't aware that BotBS was only going to be shown on CBS All Access, you weren't paying attention, and that's not CBS' fault, or a fault of TVH itself.

I expected a complete pilot. Silly me. Well, I'm letting friends know, who were interested, to hold off, since the free episode only tells half of the pilot. They'll likely wait until the season is done and then binge for a month.

 

[David cgc]

Not really. Think about it. It's an attempt to use a cliffhanger (or dead stop in the middle of a story, YMMV) to entice you to go spend money on their streaming service.

Not good marketing, but that's the attempt made here. :P

I think the smarter play would've been to air both parts of the premiere, and have episode 3 available immediately on-line. That's where the more effective cliffhanger was. It feels like one of those two-parters that was intended to be aired in one part, like the prior pilots or "event" episodes like "The Way of the Warrior" and were only split in two for reruns.

 

[doublegoodprole]

"The Way of the Warrior" was an awesome episode.

 

[BeatleJWOL]

It feels like one of those two-parters that was intended to be aired in one part, like the prior pilots or "event" episodes like "The Way of the Warrior" and were only split in two for reruns.

Oh yeah, absolutely. Somebody at CBS marketing really dropped the ball there.

 

[Trekfan12]

Lol, I didn't realize it was over at first. I'm glad there's a free trial, because I don't think I'd pay for it based on this episode.

I haven't signed up yet, but I might do the week trial and be able to see eps 2 and 3 for free before I decide if I want to continue

 

[Tuskin38]

I think the smarter play would've been to air both parts of the premiere, and have episode 3 available immediately on-line. That's where the more effective cliffhanger was. It feels like one of those two-parters that was intended to be aired in one part, like the prior pilots or "event" episodes like "The Way of the Warrior" and were only split in two for reruns.

I agree with this 100%

 

[CorporalClegg]

I think the smarter play would've been to air both parts of the premiere, and have episode 3 available immediately on-line. That's where the more effective cliffhanger was. It feels like one of those two-parters that was intended to be aired in one part, like the prior pilots or "event" episodes like "The Way of the Warrior" and were only split in two for reruns.

Especially because, from what I can gather from people who've seen part 3, it's the conclusion of the narrative.

Really, the smart play would have been to hire a good editor and truncate. A lot.

 

[DigificWriter]

I expected a complete pilot. Silly me. Well, I'm letting friends know, who were interested, to hold off, since the free episode only tells half of the pilot. They'll likely wait until the season is done and then binge for a month.

That's your choice, but stop criticizing the episode itself for your own choices and lack of knowledge.

 

[tomalak301]

Some thoughts on the first two episodes of Discovery, so there might be some spoilers.

I think the single biggest issue I have with Discovery right now after the first two episodes (And comparing this to Orville because I like Orville) was this show feels almost robotic and doesn't have much humanity with it. Maybe it was the stilted dialogue, or the overt exposition, but I'm watching The Vulcan Hello and I'm like can we get some emotion and gravitas into what these characters are saying and believing? We got some of that in the ready room scene and that leads me to the second episode.

The second episode was a lot better than the first but the robotic dialogue is still there some. I did like how the differences in both sides escalated as the episode went. Still, the Federation kind of came across as dumb in these episodes. The Klingons are attacking and whipping up on all those ships. They don't want to talk. T'Kuvma has made that explicitly clear. The best course of action here was to retreat. Sure Burnham might have started the war, but the Federation escalated it.

The trailer for the season looks a whole lot more interesting than these two episodes, so I will continue to keep watching.

The Vulcan Hello I would rate a 4

The second episode I would rate a 7

There's plenty of room for improvement.

 

[CorporalClegg]

That's your choice, but stop criticizing the episode itself for your own choices and lack of knowledge.

Stop criticizing others for pointing out a legitimate criticism of the presentation and error in judgment by the network.

 

[doublegoodprole]

That's your choice, but stop criticizing the episode itself for your own choices and lack of knowledge.

Separated from CBS's incredibly lame-brained marketing decision, I would say it was a pretty good episode. Kept me entertained, mostly. I don't know. Still processing it.

 

[Tuskin38]

As I’m in Canada, I got to see both episodes aired side by side, it flows a lot better

 

[Spider]

That's your choice, but stop criticizing the episode itself for your own choices and lack of knowledge.

But my opinion is better than your opinion. In my opinion of course.

 

[Amaris]

That's your choice, but stop criticizing the episode itself for your own choices and lack of knowledge.

My error in judgment was having faith in the idea that CBS wouldn't be myopic enough to cut a premiere episode in half and expect people to climb on board for their pay service. Take that as you will, but I don't rightly care how you do it.

 

[CorporalCaptain]

My ranking of best to worst ST TV pilots/first episodes (tonight's version):

1. "Where No Man Has Gone Before"
2. "Beyond the Farthest Star"
3. "Emissary"
4. "Encounter at Farpoint"
5. "The Cage"
6. "The Vulcan Hello"
7. "Broken Bow"
8. "Caretaker"

Peeples wins.

 

[doublegoodprole]

Well, at least we can all agree that Young Sheldon looks really stupid.

 

[CorporalClegg]

The illusion is lost in the false pretense that it's actually two episodes.

They just hard cut the thing at the 40 minute mark "She's So Heavy" style. I'm surprised SM-G wasn't mid sentence.

A true cliffhanger comes to a dramatic conclusion of tension. This just found the closest point of drama to snip.

 

[DigificWriter]

Stop criticizing others for pointing out a legitimate criticism of the presentation and error in judgment by the network.

Penalizing The Vulcan Hello because of a lack of knowledge about how it and Battle of the Binary Stasrs were going to be aired, or an objection to that broadcasting decision on the part of CBS, is not offering legitimate criticism of the episode itself.

 

[Amaris]

As I’m in Canada, I got to see both episodes aired side by side, it flows a lot better

Definitely. Once I got All Access working, I could see immediately where things should have continued for people watching on the CBS network, and they should have absolutely included it as part of the free viewing. It would have made a great deal more sense.

All most casual viewers will think is "well that was a bunch of nothing. Pretty though."

My ranking of best to worst ST TV pilots/first episodes (tonight's version):

1. "Where No Man Has Gone Before"
2. "Beyond the Farthest Star"
3. "Emissary"
4. "Encounter at Farpoint"
5. "The Cage"
6. "The Vulcan Hello"
7. "Broken Bow"
8. "Caretaker"

Peeples wins.

Yeah, Emissary was an awesome pilot. Probably my favorite series pilot of them all.

Well, at least we can all agree that Young Sheldon looks really stupid.

Oh dear gods, yes.

 

[BeatleJWOL]

legitimate criticism of the episode itself.

The complaint is not about the method of delivery.

The complaint is about the way in which the episode was structured in that there is no natural stopping point in the middle.

I could see immediately where things should have continued for people watching on the CBS network, and they should have absolutely included it as part of the free viewing. It would have made a great deal more sense.

That said, it appears that the abrupt "wait, is it over" ending is going to be a hallmark of this series. The end of part II smacked of it as well.