Your reaction to DSC before vs. after

Discussion in 'Star Trek: Discovery' started by Lord Garth, Mar 1, 2018.

  1. StarMan

    StarMan Vice Admiral Admiral

    Joined:
    Jul 5, 2005
    Location:
    StarMan
    Before: Expectations of a reinvigorated, exciting take on Trek that would stand out as a worthy entry into the present golden age of television and see the franchise ... soar to new heights.

    After:

    [​IMG]
    [​IMG]
     
    Prax, Apparition B5 and T'Bonz like this.
  2. Discofan

    Discofan Admiral Admiral

    Joined:
    Feb 23, 2018
    Location:
    Discofan

    Breathtaking special effects?
     
  3. Mad Jack Wolfe

    Mad Jack Wolfe Fleet Captain Fleet Captain

    Joined:
    Nov 13, 2008
    Even Lea Thompson's mousse-abused mane is more compelling than most of the visual effects we got from DISCO.
     
  4. Nightcreature

    Nightcreature Lieutenant Commander Red Shirt

    Joined:
    Dec 21, 2005
    Location:
    United States
    Before: As with any Trek show, I was cautiously optimistic after so many years. When I heard they were going backwards again to set DSC in between ENT and TOS, I was disappointed to be honest. I also made a prediction years ago that the next Star Trek show, in this case DSC, would be basically BSG with a Star Trek title. The trailers didn't excite me one way or another and although I didn't hate the design of the ship as much as other fans, I didn't love it.

    After: It's not horrible for a first season yet it could have been so much better and that is definitely on the writers. I was spot on about the BSG comparison so pat in the back. Where is the typical Star Trek humor that has been in every Trek show? Also, I find that I don't like most of the crew including Burnham. I liked Saru and Lorca and that was it. I really want to know more about the other bridge crew especially Airiam and I hope to find out more about them in Season 2. Overall, DSC was a decent first season and I like it better than Enterprise so far, but it has a long way to go before it reaches Voyager and it will be really super hard for it to be nearly as good as my favorites TOS, DS9 and TNG.

    Even the New Frontier series with Captain Calhoun I would take over DSC.

    Also, what happened to the Battle of Axanar? How come they didn't even reference it at all? Did it even happen? They went out of their way to include fanservice in the season finale but no mention of a pivotal battle in Trek history during the Klingon war??
     
    Last edited: Mar 4, 2018
  5. F. King Daniel

    F. King Daniel Fleet Admiral Admiral

    Joined:
    Nov 5, 2008
    Location:
    A type 13 planet in it's final stage
    It was only during a Klingon war in an old FASA RPG book and the Prelude to Axanar fan film (based on said RPG book)

    In canon, we dont even know who the Battle of Axanar was fought against.
     
    Mirror Mirror likes this.
  6. Vger23

    Vger23 Vice Admiral Admiral

    Joined:
    Apr 19, 2014
    Location:
    Enterprise bowling alley
    One step further, in canon, there is no "Battle at Axanar." There is simply a victory that Garth had there, and a peace mission to said planet that followed. No mention of a grandiose battle. No confirmation that it was against Klingons, no indication of what kind of conflict it was, no confirmation of whether the engagement was even in space or on the ground.
     
    lawman likes this.
  7. sljolt

    sljolt Ensign Red Shirt

    Joined:
    Dec 29, 2016
    I didn't really keep up with the development of the series, so went into it without many expectations. Based on what I knew, though:

    Before:
    • A bit disappointed it's another prequel, I really hoped the new series would break ambitious new territory, but understand they wanted to cash in on the films/TOS era
    • Intrigued by the Klingon redesign
    • Loved the general aesthetic of the trailers

    After:
    • Find the mycelial network idea really farfetched, but I reminded myself that Trek was never really a show about science as much as philosophy, ethics, morality, etc.
    • I love the Klingon redesign, especially in that seems to borrow from ancient Egyptian and Babylonian cultures
    • Still a little disappointed how hemmed-in the series is by canon, this aspect of the show just doesn't interest me much
    • Very much approve that it's one continuous story, more like DS9. As other posts have pointed out, though, serialise the characters above all
    • Still enjoy the general aesthetic of the show, I don't even mind the 'blueness'
    • Being a TNG fan, I actually felt that they burned through a lot of interesting ideas way too quickly, e.g. Saru's sudden personality change as a fearful species having momentarily known peace was something that could have easily occupied more than just a few minutes. I hope the writers ease on the pace, let the watchers marinate on these points a bit, get some characters to tease out some moral and ethical conclusions, etc.
    • On that note, a general impression is that major elements of character/plot development are treated as checkboxes; "this is finished now", once something happens it's rarely referred to again
    • I genuinely like Michael's character, Sonequa Martin-Green, and think there's a tonne of potential there. I honestly think she could become iconic if she's given a more "show, don't tell" approach in the future
    • Yes I loved the end part about defining Starfleet's values, too
     
  8. Levi

    Levi Commander Red Shirt

    Joined:
    Aug 11, 2013
    Location:
    Starfleet Academy, San Francisco, Earth/Sol
    At first, I had hopes. I wanted a new Star Trek. And even more so, I had always wondered what Star Trek would be like with a bit more of a darker theme. But a lot of what I saw made me cautious about the show. I went in with the desire and want for a good new star trek series. But it felt like they were doing everything wrong.

    At the start of the show, I felt a little disappointed. Probably because I was expecting something more traditional Trek. Not that it was bad, though. So, it took a little while before I started to get used to the new approach taken with this series. Plus, getting used to such an early version of the Federation was a bit of a change to.
    But it didn't take long to get over these few things, and I began to enjoy the show.

    Overall, I do like the show. And maybe it will get better for me, but right now its just ok. While they've done a good job, it almost feels like they've tried TO hard to be different in a way, and gone to far with some things.
    Personally, I found it a little poor in taste to do such a large Alternate Universe story in the first season as they did. It was good, don't get me wrong. I just thought it seemed cheap in a way to write the beginning of a series like that.
    But most of the show seems to be that way for me. Love how they did a lot of things, but seems like they just went to far, or not far enough. The Klingons, Ship Design, their Uniforms...

    Of course, I will continue to watch the series. I am very excited to see Season 2. Maybe things will change, and maybe season 2 will make more of what happened in 1 seem more worth it.
     
  9. Spider

    Spider Dirty Old Man Premium Member

    Joined:
    May 23, 2004
    Location:
    Lost in time
    Before: excited about new Star Trek on TV

    After: meh......
     
  10. seigezunt

    seigezunt Vice Admiral Admiral

    Joined:
    Feb 2, 2007
    Location:
    Kobayashi Saru's Fried Ganglia Shack
    Before: I was cautiously excited. Cautious because I was afraid that they would go the safe route and it would have a similar aesthetic and feel to 90s Trek. My usual pattern of viewing from TNG and beyond was to watch the new show, lose interest some time early on, and only get into later via reruns and DVD. I was worried this owuld be the same, and that probably wasn't a model that could work in this instance.

    I was happy to learn it would be a prequel, because TBH my favorite show is TOS and anything in proximity to it gets my interest. While I find DS9 the most consistently good of the later series, I find myself watching TOS/TAS/ENT the most.

    I was excited to hear about Fuller's involvement, and the whole anthology premise seemed tantalizing. Disappointed when he left, but still optimistic that they would do the right thing and not simply re-hash TNG and so forth.

    I became even more optimistic when I attended Mission New York and Nick Meyer basically told fans to pull back on the control freak antics and just take it in for what it is (I paraphrase). I went into the show hoping that it would ruffle the right feathers, both in terms of gatekeepers and the usual suspects that Star Trek takes to task in its message, and just concentrate on being a good show, and not a fan film.

    After: Surprisingly ecstatic. I think it ended up being less edgy than I had hoped, and it went for wrapping things up neatly in ways that I hoped it wouidn't, but every time it did so, it did so with the heart of the franchise beating strong. I've never yelled so much watching Star Trek, and as the arc progressed, many of the yells were along the lines of "Yes! That's Star Trek right there!"

    Was it deep, edgy, trail-blazing science fiction? Not really. Was it picture-perfectly consistent with TOS continuity? Impossible. Was it lined up neatly with the continuity of TNG and later shows? I don't care.

    Was it damned entertaining? Yes. Did it make me get emotional at times? Straight up.

    I repeat myself, but this old TOS fan hasn't had as good a time watching a new season of Star Trek since the days when all we had were TOS reruns. I was frankly surprised that I never, ever had to wince my way through anything and convince myself that it would get better and that I should just be patient and support the franchise, which I did for every other series that came after TOS. Didn't need that here. I can't wait to see what comes next.
     
  11. SpaceViking

    SpaceViking Ensign Red Shirt

    Joined:
    Aug 11, 2016
    Before: Yeah! Finally Star Trek is back.
    After: A little disappointing. Too dark and gritty for Trek. But OK to watch.

    Hoping for more exploration in season 2.
     
  12. middleagednerdgirl

    middleagednerdgirl Lieutenant Red Shirt

    Joined:
    Jun 21, 2017
    Before: excited to be getting new Trek set in the Prime universe. Encouraged that it was being run by people who know Trek.
    Later: Worried at the turmoil. Not pleased with the new Klingons. But still hopeful and thrilled about Jason Isaacs.
    Episodes 1-2: cautiously optimistic but unsure. It sure looks good.
    Episodes 3-8: really enjoying the show but uncertain about its destination.
    Episodes 9-12: this may be the Best Fucking Thing Ever.
    Episode 13: really pissed that Lorca suddenly became a cartoon villain; still much else to like but deep concern setting in.
    Episode 14: that wasn't bad but I fear there is no way to land this plane in one more week.
    Episode 15: I was unfortunately right. The ending was monumentally stupid. At least the comedy and Michelle Yeoh were compensating factors.
    After contemplation: despite how much the last 3 episodes pissed me off it is a beautifully executed show with a stellar cast that made me happy a majority of the time. Not a bad batting average for a first season. Still hate the new Klingons. Hopeful.
     
    lawman likes this.
  13. ItIsGreen

    ItIsGreen Captain Captain

    Joined:
    Oct 29, 2015
    Location:
    Coventry, UK
    Before: Yay!

    After: Yay!
     
    Ovation and SJGardner like this.
  14. Discofan

    Discofan Admiral Admiral

    Joined:
    Feb 23, 2018
    Location:
    Discofan
    That's the spirit!
     
  15. SJGardner

    SJGardner Commodore Commodore

    Joined:
    Jan 10, 2018
    Location:
    In the cesspool of Europe
    Before: Yay, I can finally watch Star Trek as it airs. I've heard some worrying rumors about its production, I hope it won't suck.

    After: Awesome! If only it lasted a few more episodes, now I'm hooked and have to wait until 2019, such a shame. Also, all hail Multiversal Manifestation of Awesomeness Sylvia Tilly.

    (But to be serious, before it aired I was hoping it won't suck; now after watching it I'm glad it didn't, and I'm hoping the next season will be even better.)
     
  16. Discofan

    Discofan Admiral Admiral

    Joined:
    Feb 23, 2018
    Location:
    Discofan
    It's great watching history being made, isn't it? ;)
     
  17. Lord Garth

    Lord Garth Admiral Admiral

    Joined:
    May 7, 2011
    Location:
    Aug 10, 1999
    I have another type of History. When I first registered on TrekBBS, it was summer of 1999. Right after DS9 ended. And when Ron Moore left VOY that fall, so did I. In the sense that I stopped watching. I took his side 100% after his falling out with B&B. Then, I stopped watching ENT after six episodes.

    So, despite having been on TrekBBS for almost 20 years, this is the first time I'm permanently watching a new Star Trek series, as it airs, while posting here. This has pretty much been a new experience.
     
  18. Burning Hearts of Qo'nOs

    Burning Hearts of Qo'nOs Commodore Commodore

    Joined:
    Mar 15, 2017
    Location:
    Burning Hearts of Qo'nOs
    Hottest take of the whole thread, perhaps the whole board! lol.

    I registered here about a year ago, but had been lurking for a good 10 or so years. Being part of the board while a series actually airs has been a great experience!
     
  19. Vger23

    Vger23 Vice Admiral Admiral

    Joined:
    Apr 19, 2014
    Location:
    Enterprise bowling alley
    Word. :techman:
     
  20. Prax

    Prax Rear Admiral Rear Admiral

    Joined:
    Jan 1, 2017
    Location:
    Prax
    Before:
    Dark, mysterious, top secret project, lonely asteroid base, intriguing, exciting, different.

    It sprung a lot of the same emotions that that first Force Awakens teaser in 2014 did, but quieter. I was pretty excited.