Why is the acting in STD so WOODEN?

[PicardSpeedo]

I cite this video as an example - specifically, the scene near the beginning of the video where Lorca and Mister Satan or whatever his name is (I still can't make out the engineer's name clearly; it's like the actors slur it whenever they say it) are hollering at each other about the spore drive not working:

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The dialog feels forced and awkward; the acting barely above the caliber of a fan video. Was this done intentionally to make the characters seem "relatable?" Or is it an homage to Enterprise, which I've been reminded by a fellow forum-dweller followed a similar acting template?

 

[JamesRye]

I think we must be watching different shows! For me, it was Scott Bakula who was wooden in Enterprise. I'm finding the acting in DSC to be some of the best since Patrick Stewart.

 

[PicardSpeedo]

I concede that Bakula's was pretty bad as well, and forgive me for forgetting about that. I try to block Enterprise from my memories and headcanon. On balance, I would say STD's acting is about as wooden as Enterprise. That doesn't make it good, though.

 

[Jarvisimo]

the scene near the beginning of the video where Lorca and Mister Satan or whatever his name is (I still can't make out the engineer's name clearly; it's like the actors slur it whenever they say it)

It is Stamets, which you could easily learn or even just check by googling the show, going on wiki, etc. Or by turning on subtitles. This isn't a good start to your post ...

But certainly some moments are off, others are excellent. But actually I really like Isaacs and Rapp in the show.

 

[Vger23]

More data for compiling the "ignore list" right here.

 

[O_Kav]

the scene near the beginning of the video where Lorca and Mister Satan or whatever his name is

Woah. Never saw someone hate so much a Star Trek TV Show to a point where they simply refuse to say the name of a main character.

Perception is everything, you know. Maybe you're seeing "wooden acting" where there's none because you're hate-watching the thing. I don't think either Jason or Anthony are "wooden", both are great actors with three decades of experience with the industry, including stage... So...

 

[PicardSpeedo]

More data for compiling the "ignore list" right here.

Yikes, I really didn't mean any offense to anyone by asking this question. I genuinely want to understand why this show deviates so much from the others.

 

[mattyhugh]

Yikes, I really didn't mean any offense to anyone by asking this question. I genuinely want to understand why this show deviates so much from the others.

Because it’s 2017, and an entirely new production staff and studio. But you knew that.

 

[Cox of Seagulls]

Some are better than others, but the quality of the actors taken as a whole is a lot better than any 90s Trek. Aside from Stewart and Spiner, the Next Gen cast was pretty awful.

 

[GeekUSACarl]

It isnt.

 

[SJA]

I cite this video as an example - specifically, the scene near the beginning of the video where Lorca and Mister Satan or whatever his name is (I still can't make out the engineer's name clearly; it's like the actors slur it whenever they say it) are hollering at each other about the spore drive not working:

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The dialog feels forced and awkward; the acting barely above the caliber of a fan video. Was this done intentionally to make the characters seem "relatable?" Or is it an homage to Enterprise, which I've been reminded by a fellow forum-dweller followed a similar acting template?

Away! There are Billy Goats crossing your bridge...

 

[urbandefault]

As the series unfolds we're seeing the layers of each characters' onion being peeled back. I think everything will start to make sense as the seasons progress. This is not one of the old shows, giving us fully developed characters from the start. Hang in there.

 

[eschaton]

Some are better than others, but the quality of the actors taken as a whole is a lot better than any 90s Trek. Aside from Stewart and Spiner, the Next Gen cast was pretty awful.

I broadly agree about TNG, but Michael Dorm got massively better as time went on, and ultimately only Marina Sirtis was genuinely bad through the whole run.

Basically every main cast member on DS9 aside from Terry Farrell and Avery Brooks was great however. Plus of course much of the recurring cast.

 

[GeekUSACarl]

As the series unfolds we're seeing the layers of each characters' onion being peeled back. I think everything will start to make sense as the seasons progress. This is not one of the old shows, giving us fully developed characters from the start. Hang in there.

i agree with you on their attempt and focus. however its too many characters and too few episodes. im fearing in execution by the end of the season we'll be short on enough character development

 

[BillJ]

The dialog feels forced and awkward...

They can only do so much with the scripts they are given. The writing has been a big let down for me.

 

[Qonundrum]

The clip was actually rather engaging... no qualms with the acting, nice set design, has a solid and professional feel...

But then the one guy (hired because he looked like a slightly older Peter Duryea) says "this tech", the H-word - HACK - instantly kicked in. "Fan video" is most apropos a term... which is a shame, the discussion of processing power and such actually showed a modern level of consciousness. Then the writers decide to treat the audience like 7 year olds and have the actor go "goo goo gaa gaa tech goo goo gaa gaa". Sigh...

Never mind the porno voice describing "black alert" - nice lighting scheme, yes, but just how many more colors are there and what's so great about memorizing them all? Yellow = caution, red= battle, blue = no oxygen in case y'all hadn't noticed, green = okay (at least on the other side), purple = "halloween, turn off the lights and pretend nobody's home", orange="we'll scribble any old thing just to look kewl", and so on... what next, "blue and pink polkadot with tangerine stripes and lime stars alert"? Well, that one means the captain's gone off his rocker and it's okay to mutiny...

Gawd, imagine if Geordi said "tech" instead of "technology". Like Gareth Blackstock, would say, "give me strength".

It's sad.

 

[zar]

I genuinely want to understand why this show deviates so much from the others.

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[Nerys Myk]

I genuinely want to understand why this show deviates so much from the others.

The acting in Star Trek has always been a mixed bag. Discovery is no different and I'm not seeing any "deviation".

 

[Kane_Steel]

The only bad actor on this cast is Sonequa as Michael Burnham, and sadly that makes or breaks the show.

Sonequa would have been perfectly serviceable in a supporting series role, but as the series lead that audiences are supposed to connect with and root for? Nope. Failed spectacularly.


I wouldn't be shocked if STD's villain, Captain Lorca, has a significantly bigger fanbase than Burnham.

 

[GeekUSACarl]

The only bad actor on this cast is Sonequa as Michael Burnham, and sadly that makes or breaks the show.

i think she is a fantastic actress.