Michael Burnham is the Chosen One

[Cake]

I don't have any particular beef about Burnham's character, but that's because I find it hard to find anything likable about any of the characters so far.

Same here. So far I don't care much about any of the characters. They could kill them all and replace them and it wouldn't bother me.

When it comes to the video, Burnham has really a lot of Mary Sue characteristics. But the same is true for practically all Star Trek characters of all series ever made. The franchise is full of Gary Stus and Mary Sues. She doesn't stand out in this regard.

 

[shapeshifter]

There can be only one Chosen One.

 

[BurnhamAll]

I would also include TNG and DS9 on that list, a series who conducts a pattern to open a new world which its focus is on the characters and doesn't attempt to alter or diminish a former series like TOS is an impeccable 1st season success IMO. There's too much of this blatant revisionism coming from the powers who are at CBS to make Star Trek everything its not and will never be.

Sorry, but no Trek series' first seasons were near-perfect. I don't think ANY season was near perfect. In fact, i'd say DSC S1 is perhaps the best full season of any Trek series, just by virtue of the fact that there were no terrible episodes. It's certainly not my favorite, nor a season i'd pick to be the only season to ever re-watch, but in terms of overall quality, yes. Because even the best Trek seasons in years past were littered with 6-7 absolutely awful episodes, and a minimum of 1 or 2 that were nearly unwatchable.

 

[MakeshiftPython]

Since I'm the one referring to DIS having a rocky first season, I'll be clear: That doesn't mean it's terrible. I actually enjoyed it for the most part, but there were rough edges that prevented it from being near perfect for me like how the first TOS season turned out. IMO, its biggest weakness was the Klingon war storyline. I just don't think that was all that compelling, and it's resolution was so rushed it didn't feel like a proper resolution but more like the writers saying "we're really not into this, so let's get it over with and move onto a more interesting adventure" which had me respond "yes! please do that!". A lot of the best stuff were either standalone adventures or the campy Mirror Universe thread. Its biggest strength for me were the characters, particularly Stamets and Tilly. Now that Burnham doesn't have to go through a redemption arc I'm ready to see her loosen up in upcoming episodes.

 

[BurnhamAll]

Same here. So far I don't care much about any of the characters. They could kill them all and replace them and it wouldn't bother me.

When it comes to the video, Burnham has really a lot of Mary Sue characteristics. But the same is true for practically all Star Trek characters of all series ever made. The franchise is full of Gary Stus and Mary Sues. She doesn't stand out in this regard.

My biggest issue with Burnham is the wasted potential. Raised by Vulcans, fast-tracked t command, but betrayed her Captain at the outset of an intergalactic war-- that's a fantastic starting point to a character story, and it started off well enough, but her redemption arc wasn't nearly as well executed as i'd have like, and just didn't have the emotional impact it could and should have.

That said, I like a lot of characters on the show. Stamets, Tilly (and their chemistry together), Tyler, Mirror Lorca, all very well done.

 

[BurnhamAll]

there were rough edges that prevented it from being near perfect for me like how the first TOS season turned out.

Rough edges now means rocky? SMH.

I also SMH when people repeatedly refer to TOS S1 as perfect. It's fine. It's good. It was excellent for its day, and a pioneer of science fiction. But in retrospect it's middling at best.

 

[Vger23]

Rough edges now means rocky? SMH.

I also SMH when people repeatedly refer to TOS S1 as perfect. It's fine. It's good. It was excellent for its day, and a pioneer of science fiction. But in retrospect it's middling at best.

I agree with almost every post you've made...but this I can't agree with.

TOS S1 was probably one of the best seasons of television ever produced. Not "best in the franchise." Im arguing "best ever."

Aside from Mudd's Women and Alternative Factor, which were admittedly blah, nearly every episode was a unique achievement.

 

[Jadeb]

Yeah, TOS 1 and 2 and the better TOS movies are the pinnacle of Trek for me, by far. When someone doesn’t rate those, I can only assume we’re looking for very different things out of Star Trek. (Which is fine.)

 

[MakeshiftPython]

I also SMH when people repeatedly refer to TOS S1 as perfect. It's fine. It's good. It was excellent for its day, and a pioneer of science fiction. But in retrospect it's middling at best.

I said "near perfect". When you have episodes like "Miri" and "The Alternative Factor", it kinda hurts its chances at total perfection. Of all the first seasons I find it the one I rewatch the most, with DS9 coming a close second with DIS right behind it. TNG if I really need a laugh. VOY or ENT if I need to something to put me to sleep, especially if it's Scott Bakula trying to deliver a rousing speech (I know I know, that was mean, Berman and Braga did him no favors with their writing of Archer).

 

[Jadeb]

I can see that. On the other hand, I kinda feel that Discovery’s season 1 was like a couple of Alternative Factor-quality episodes that were reeeaaally stretched out. (And subtitled.)

 

[BurnhamAll]

I said "near perfect". When you have episodes like "Miri" and "The Alternative Factor", it kinda hurts its chances at total perfection. Of all the first seasons I find it the one I rewatch the most, with DS9 coming a close second with DIS right behind it. TNG if I really need a laugh. VOY or ENT if I need to something to put me to sleep, especially if it's Scott Bakula trying to deliver a rousing speech (I know I know, that was mean, Berman and Braga did him no favors with their writing of Archer).

TNG is one of those shows where, when its at it's best it's the best Trek ever, but when it's not, it's only ever average. The charisma of the cast is what keeps me coming back. But if we're talking first seasons only? Ugh, i'll admit I don't think i've watched anything other than "The Neutral Zone" and "Conspiracy" in over a decade. And even those are merely watchable in retrospect.

 

[MakeshiftPython]

I can see that. On the other hand, I kinda feel that Discovery’s season 1 was like a couple of Alternative Factor-quality episodes that were reeeaaally stretched out. (And subtitled.)

Impossible. Nothing is as bad as Lazarus' dime store facial hair. I think that episode made me come to hate that certain music cue of Kirk fighting Gary Mitchell, which was constantly reused every time we get that negative image of Lazarus fighting Lazarus.

TNG is one of those shows where, when its at it's best it's the best Trek ever, but when it's not, it's only ever average. The charisma of the cast is what keeps me coming back. But if we're talking first seasons only? Ugh, i'll admit I don't think i've watched anything other than "The Neutral Zone" and "Conspiracy" in over a decade. And even those are merely watchable in retrospect.

If you ever want to kill yourself but don't quite feel up to the task, just watch "Haven", it'll help you want to die quick.

 

[Jadeb]

I remember seeing Conspiracy as a kid and being afraid it was a real turn for Star Trek into something darker — that things might never be the same. Then they never mentioned any of it again.

 

[Jadeb]

I think that episode made me come to hate that certain music cue of Kirk fighting Gary Mitchell, which was constantly reused every time we get that negative image of Lazarus fighting Lazarus.

If they played that every time we saw L’Rell standing around in her cell, it might have livened things up.

 

[Lord Garth]

I said "near perfect". When you have episodes like "Miri" and "The Alternative Factor", it kinda hurts its chances at total perfection.

I won't call it "total perfection" but it's up there with the best. When you have to crank out 26 episodes per season, there are going to be a couple episodes like "Miri" and "The Alternative Factor". That's just the nature of the situation.

Having said that, between you and me, don't tell anyone else this (I don't want hordes of regulars here after me with pitch forks!), but I actually like the second season of TOS a little bit better than the first. The characters were more fully formed, the humor was at its sharpest, Gene L. Coon was at his height, John Meredyth Lucas was good when he took over too, and I like the selection of episodes.

 

[Jadeb]

Heck, I like TOS 3 better than much of the Trek that followed it. (I’m looking at you, entirety of Voyager.)

 

[MakeshiftPython]

Heck, I like TOS 3 better than much of the Trek that followed it. (I’m looking at you, entirety of Voyager.)

I'm conflicted. On the one hand, there's some serious bad shit in that third season. On the other, there's so much mediocrity in VOYAGER.

I rather watch INTO DARKNESS and just laugh at so much of the unintended silliness.

*Cumberbatch off frame*
Khan: "I KHAN save har."
Officer: "What did you say??"
Khan. "Your daughtah. I KHAN save har."
Officer: "Who are you?"
*music swells up as Cumberbatch gets his dolly close up for ten seconds, not answering*
Officer: "...?"
Khan: "..."
*awkward silence continues on*

 

[Mudd]

The first season of the original Star Trek is Star Trek.

 

[Lord Garth]

I also SMH when people repeatedly refer to TOS S1 as perfect. It's fine. It's good. It was excellent for its day, and a pioneer of science fiction. But in retrospect it's middling at best.

Though I like TOS S1, I agree that nothing is perfect. Perfect is akin to Supreme, and I don't believe that anything Supreme exists. Perfection is something that can be aspired to, but nothing created by the human race will ever be perfect. At best, it can only become better. And if we're really evolving, then that better work isn't behind us. It's still ahead of us.

 

[CorporalClegg]

I agree with almost every post you've made...but this I can't agree with.

Yup. The first season of TOS is still one of the best seasons (first or otherwise) in TV history. It really is that good.