Who should be the antagonist for season 2?

[Succubint]

I like the following suggestions so far: Orion syndicate stuff - possibly with Georgiou gaining a leadership foothold, Harry Mudd, Vulcan extremists, Klingons (but just lingering issues with L'Rell's coup and individual houses rather than larger concerns). Maybe introduce some new players who are Andorian or Tellarite? How about a Jellicoe-like captain who's so sternly by the book that he or she is not a good fit for the Discovery?

 

[GeekUSACarl]

Except Voyager killed my interest in episodic Star Trek. I am done with planet of the week stories, where we never see those planets again.

I want to see exploration that goes beyond one week, where these discovered worlds are developed and these alien civilizations either join the Federation or another power. Villains trying to use diplomacy to defeat the Federation would be interesting, but it would a season to do it right.

Nothing wrong with that,

even then we don't need an arc for an entire season, you could do something great with three different civilizations splitting the season in thirds.

They've introduced the Enterprise years before we knew it, the Klingon war is over.

Let's explore some of the more obscure canon aspects, Cardassian first contact would be very good for example.

I can get down with that for sure.

 

[ISS-Magnum]

KILLY, please.

 

[guyute03]

I wonder if there are any Enterprise era enemies that would work well on Discovery. The 'Silent Enemy' aliens or those 'Mars Attacks' weird aliens that boarded the Enterprise in the first season. I'm sure I'm missing some other interesting alien species that could work.

 

[cultcross]

If we must have an enemy, I'd rather it be one person or a small group than a race - it's very two dimensional to have 'villain races'. I'm intrigued by the idea of the Vulcan seperatists, which may hold interesting real world relevance, but I would prefer something subtler in its allegory, terrorists has been done so much it's cliché. Even ENT did the 'war on terror'.

 

[GeekUSACarl]

If we must have an enemy, I'd rather it be one person or a small group than a race - it's very two dimensional to have 'villain races'. I'm intrigued by the idea of the Vulcan seperatists, which may hold interesting real world relevance, but I would prefer something subtler in its allegory, terrorists has been done so much it's cliché. Even ENT did the 'war on terror'.

We could always do prohibition and space age mafia, the war that brought on synthohol.

 

[Hythlodeus]

I'm intrigued by the idea of the Vulcan seperatists, which may hold interesting real world relevance, but I would prefer something subtler in its allegory, terrorists has been done so much it's cliché. Even ENT did the 'war on terror'.

If done right, it holds a lot more potential than just 'war on terror'. the first, most topic thing that comes to mind is an allegory on isolationism. the 'Logic extremists' as stand ins for Brexiteers for example. Adding to that on top the 'faith vs. science' debate, which I think might be the extremists being very devout followers of the teachings of Surak, and that adds another allegorical layer...and I'm pretty sure there are quite a few things that could be added that I can't think right now.

 

[cultcross]

If done right, it holds a lot more potential than just 'war on terror'. the first, most topic thing that comes to mind is an allegory on isolationism. the 'Logic extremists' as stand ins for Brexiteers for example. Adding to that on top the 'faith vs. science' debate, which I think might be the extremists being very devout followers of the teachings of Surak, and that adds another allegorical layer...and I'm pretty sure there are quite a few things that could be added that I can't think right now.

Indeed, if we went down the road of isolationism Vs globalisation (well, galaxisation... Oh you know what I mean) that could potentially be very interesting. A real opportunity for the writers to have that 'conflict with two valid viewpoints' they wanted this year.

 

[Hythlodeus]

isolationism Vs globalisation (well, galaxisation... Oh you know what I mean) .

that's why I settled on only mentioning isolationism, because I had the same problem

 

[GeekUSACarl]

If done right, it holds a lot more potential than just 'war on terror'. the first, most topic thing that comes to mind is an allegory on isolationism. the 'Logic extremists' as stand ins for Brexiteers for example. Adding to that on top the 'faith vs. science' debate, which I think might be the extremists being very devout followers of the teachings of Surak, and that adds another allegorical layer...and I'm pretty sure there are quite a few things that could be added that I can't think right now.

This kinda thing has been done to death though. And to be frank whe its done well, the likeness to modern times is extremely subtle. I don't trust these writers yet to get that done well. It would be too obviously the "brexit" thing or the "terrorist" thing.

I mean I don't mind there being hints of our politics in it but I for one get enough politics in the real world, its a bit eye rolling when they are too obvious and direct about the modern link.

 

[Hythlodeus]

Well, I for one appreciate the UFP leading as example where the EU seems to struggle. There are enough (former) leaders in our world that are Trekkies and it does help if they (or the next generation at least) see how the Federation would handle that topics

 

[CorporalClegg]

I'd prefer something abstract.

I"m getting tired of 'bad guys' TBH.

 

[Spider]

Making fun of any name isn't funny if no one finds it amusing.

Lucky for me I'm easily amused and amuse myself quite well.

::edit::

Any suggestions of names or types of names I'm allowed to make fun of? Old english ones? Russian ones? Aussie ones?
Or is last names off limit but I'm allowed to do first names?

Never make fun of an arachnid.

 

[Tim Thomason]

Cyrano Jones, as the biggest arms dealer/psychopath/serial killer in the Galaxy. Discovery will saddle him with a heavy bar tab.

 

[Succubint]

I forgot to mention that I love the Tholian race, can we get more interaction with them?

Someone suggested in another forum that Georgiou could always salvage the Shenzhou and hire a merc crew for some anti-fed antagonistic shenanigans and I admit that has a certain 'I aim to misbehave' appeal. I really can see Georgiou flourishing in the criminal sector, building a power base etc. Could even end up intersecting with Mudd and his father-in-law's arms trading business.

 

[Mad Jack Wolfe]

Daleks.

 

[eschaton]

Except you need stakes, a challenge to overcome, a build up to a climax, which is what antagonist provides.

You are describing sub plots, rather then the main plot. Unless Discovery can deal with a natural disaster for 13 episodes, you need an antagonist. They do not have to appear in every episode, there could be an episode where they deal with natural disasters, but it would be fun to see a villain try to beat the Federation at their own game.

I dunno. I mean, Game of Thrones is hugely popular, and there has not been a singular antagonist at any point over the course of the show. Thinking about non-genre shows, I'm pretty sure Breaking Bad, Mad Men, The Wire, etc all lacked singular antagonists - even on a seasonal basis.

 

[Hythlodeus]

I dunno. I mean, Game of Thrones is hugely popular, and there has not been a singular antagonist at any point over the course of the show.

except the Night King...

 

[WarpFactorZ]

I'd guess the Vulcan logic extremists

Maybe they'll play off the Burnham relation and introduce Sybok as someone who rebels from the logic extremist group.

KILLY, please.

Nah, a recurring evil twin will send the show right back to the 80s (and not in a good way).

 

[The Memetic Susurrus]

Kzinti

Tzenkethi

Heck, something new. A small power somewhere obscure. A place where Discovery can carve out its own niche.