• Welcome! The TrekBBS is the number one place to chat about Star Trek with like-minded fans.
    If you are not already a member then please register an account and join in the discussion!

Spoilers Star Trek: Discovery 1x12 - "Vaulting Ambition"

Rate the episode...


  • Total voters
    269
Data. O'Brien. Bashir. Picard. Spock, Kirk (before the movies). Dukat. Quark. Odo. Seven. Torres. T'Pol. Archer. Saru.

All different characters in their earliest appearances, but gradually changed throughout a number of episodes into their latest iterations.

Your list is about right. Except Saru.

There has been NO character trajectory in DSC other than for furthering plot points.

NONE.
 
Your list is about right. Except Saru.

There has been NO character trajectory in DSC other than for furthering plot points.

NONE.

I'd say they've actually bent the plot in service of Tilly's nerd journey of triumph. It's the most obvious, fan-pandering character arc possible, and it's written in shorthand, but it's a character arc.
 
One reservation I have with the episode is that almost all the guest cast with lines were men. It could be evidence that they've relaxed their grip already and the old sexist casting issues have started bleeding back in almost immediately .

Hopefully it's just a blip. It's fine to have room full of men occasionally and it's fine to have a room full of women occasionally. I suppose history has taught me that the former happens a lot and the latter almost never so there is a degree of paranoia involved .

That’s so they could kill them, don’t worry.
 
Tilly has certainly evolved, or at least had hidden depths she didn't know about.

I can't see Episode 3 Tilly doing what she's done in the last few episodes.

Especially pretending to be her counterpart.
 
I'd say they've actually bent the plot in service of Tilly's nerd journey of triumph. It's the most obvious, fan-pandering character arc possible, and it's written in shorthand, but it's a character arc.
No. Tilly's arc this season was written, filmed and canned long before any fan opinions were made known, either positive or negative, and there has been a plethora of both since the premiere. In truth, hers was one of the few characters we knew almost nothing about before the show started and, as others have mentioned here, has exhibited probably the most growth of any other in the cast.

She's far more than "fan-pandering", she's what many of the fans aspire to be in this universe. I would wager that damn near every fan of the show that is on this BBS has, at one point in their life, dreamed of being in her exact position. Myself included and I'm not in any way ashamed to say it. Watching her evolve in the time we've seen her has been both impressive and quantifiably believable based on her archetype.

I was one of her ardent haters in the beginning (as my various posts in early threads attest) and have basically changed my tune about her in almost every regard. I do still find her insufferably bubbly at times, but I suspect direct contact of the MU and the mundane grind of "real life" in general once she gets back to the RU will burn that out of her soon enough. She just needs to have it done in such a way that the won't lose her humanity. That same time in the MU should hopefully prevent that, seeing how patently evil humans could be. Like an abused child, she will either completely embrace the horrid behavior of those parents or unequivocally reject it. Knowing her, I predict the latter, yet still learn the valuable lessons acquired from the experience. She's clearly one of the smartest people on the ship to be able to hand toe-to-toe with Stamets' work AND convincingly emulate "Captain Killy". She'll probably outlive them all.
 
I thought this was fine as standalone sci-fi and an atrocious episode of Star Trek. Talk about losing the plot.
 
She's far more than "fan-pandering", she's what many of the fans aspire to be in this universe. I would wager that damn near every fan of the show that is on this BBS has, at one point in their life, dreamed of being in her exact position. Myself included and I'm not in any way ashamed to say it. Watching her evolve in the time we've seen her has been both impressive and quantifiably believable based on her archetype.

This is why it's cynical fan-pandering. It's also vaguely insulting, if you think about it: Tilly is who the creators think their audience is, and, further, they think that said audience needs a blatant identification figure because all the other characters are too cool and competent and normal. They're treating us like we're children and need Robin because we can't relate to Batman, which, even as a kid, I thought was completely stupid.

It has nothing to do with fan reaction or feedback: The creators had already drawn these conclusions before the first episode aired. Feels like contempt, to me.
 
There is no proof of that

Just my interpretation. But do you really think she's not meant to be a fan proxy character?

EDIT: Let me be clear: I don't think they're deliberately trying to insult the fanbase. If anything, I would guess they're trying to be inclusive. But they've gone about it in a heavy-handed way that sends the wrong message, IMO.
 
Last edited:
But do you really think she's not meant to be a fan proxy character?
Yup, I really think that. She doesn't give me that impression at all, she strikes me as a 'probationer' type character who is very keen but very green, a bit like Nog in Empok Nor. I think she's probably the most interesting character outside of Lorca.
 
Yup, I really think that. She doesn't give me that impression at all, she strikes me as a 'probationer' type character who is very keen but very green, a bit like Nog in Empok Nor. I think she's probably the most interesting character outside of Lorca.

There's too much nerd stereotype built into her for me. Not only is she smart and painfully socially awkward, but of course she has to be the only human character who doesn't comply with Hollywood beauty standards. That bums me out. It's progress that any of the characters don't, I suppose, but I hope we get to the day when someone who is fuller figure can be introduced without having to be the nerd or comedy relief. (Or, in Tilly's case, both,)
 
And even if we were to look at Tilly as a plot device, she's probably more of "pupil who can teach a few things to their mentor as well" type of character than anything else. Burnham takes her under her wings and gets a few lessons about emotions in return. And now with the MU episodes, we have seen her convincingly play a ruthless captain, take the initiative and stand her ground against her own commanding officer to get Stamets the help he needs. If that's not character growth, I don't know what is.
 
Just my interpretation. But do you really think she's not meant to be a fan proxy character?
Of course she is. So you're saying you were born fully developed and wise in the ways of the world? Goodness, how I envy you! I'm 47 years old and, while I've experienced a great many amazing and messed-up things, I still haven't found all the answers, nor do I expect to until I shed this mortal coil.
 
If you are not already a member then please register an account and join in the discussion!

Sign up / Register


Back
Top