What are your controversial Star Trek opinions?

[darrenjl]

There could have been a great storyline with Reed and Major Hayes both falling in love with each other. The tension was there from the start and the macho chemistry during the fight in Harbinger was off the scale.

 

[Tenacity]

It seems odd to me that some of you guys have only watched one or two episodes of some of these series.

In my own case, in order to steadily watch a new show one of the series I'm currently watching would have to be dropped. It's a question of availible time.

Watch a few episodes of Below Decks sure, but if it doesn't quickly excede the enjoyment i recieve from any of my current watch list, it will be discarded. I won't watch it for say the entirety of it's first season to see if it "gets better."

I didn't like Tom Paris, but Voyager was never the Tom Paris show, so I could watched Voyager. I don't like Micheal Burnham, unfortunately Discovery IS the Micheal Burnham show, so no watch after about four episodes. Star Trek's track history wasn't enough to stay.

 

[Muji]

The second set of Short Trek isn't available here yet unfortunately.

Sorry to hear that. It’s brilliant.

 

[marlboro]

I understand about having limited free time. In the case of Discovery, I watched the first episodes of seasons 1 & 2 and only got around to watching the rest of it after getting a good deal on the dvds. Not my cup of tea, but there are enough positive aspects that I'd be willing to check out future episodes if I hear good things about them.

The older shows have the advantage of being non-serialized. There are pretty big differences between City on the Edge of Forever, The Trouble with Tribbles, and The Doomsday Machine. I don't think you can get a proper view of the series after only a single episode.

 

[fireproof78]

I didn't like Tom Paris, but Voyager was never the Tom Paris show, so I could watched Voyager. I don't like Micheal Burnham, unfortunately Discovery IS the Micheal Burnham show, so no watch after about four episodes. Star Trek's track history wasn't enough to stay.

While I don't agree about Burnham the sentiment is definitely one I agree with. If the characters don't resonate for whatever reason (I don't like them, irritating, just don't connect) then I won't continue forward. And, it's not just with Trek-BSG, Jessica Jones, and Babylon 5 all ended up there. Some I've revisited, like B5, but that took a while.

 

[sljolt]

I hadn't even heard of SNW or Lower Decks before checking this thread. Sounds like plenty of gambles are being taken.

SNW sounds interesting, with the episodic format. I think what will really hook me, though, is a "next" Next Generation. Go into the future with an entirely new crew, new ethical problems, push the concept of the Federation and Star Fleet a bit further. Riding around with Pike and Spock still feels like retreading old ground, too much of a safe bet.

 

[marlboro]

While I don't agree about Burnham the sentiment is definitely one I agree with. If the characters don't resonate for whatever reason (I don't like them, irritating, just don't connect) then I won't continue forward. And, it's not just with Trek-BSG, Jessica Jones, and Babylon 5 all ended up there. Some I've revisited, like B5, but that took a while.

Everyone tells me that B5 is great, but I tried it when it was new and multiple times since then and I've never made it past the first season. I hear it gets really good, but that the last season is a bit of a disappointment, which doesn't fill me with an urge to stick with it.

 

[sljolt]

DS9 Season 7 isn't very good.

I didn't really enjoy watching the Dominion War. I understand conceptually the Federation was being "pushed to its limits", but ithe action WASN'T interesting viewing for me. I think my favourite episode of DS9 is Past Tense. Great concept, fun to watch, well acted, strong social commentary -- feels more prescient than ever.

Sidenote: I also really enjoy the character of Bashir, I relate to the naivety, the ambitiousness, the ego, being humbled, but still with sincere altruistic ideals. Almost all his episodes are great (aside from when he plays Bond).

 

[BillJ]

Everyone tells me that B5 is great, but I tried it when it was new and multiple times since then and I've never made it past the first season. I hear it gets really good, but that the last season is a bit of a disappointment, which doesn't fill me with an urge to stick with it.

The production values really hurt it, even when it was new. As a complete story, seasons 1-4 are very good, but it is a slow boil.

 

[Qonundrum]

Everyone tells me that B5 is great, but I tried it when it was new and multiple times since then and I've never made it past the first season. I hear it gets really good, but that the last season is a bit of a disappointment, which doesn't fill me with an urge to stick with it.

You've never seen the second season? Season two starts out fairly strong and quickly improves, with three and four mopping the floor. Four was also altered because WB axed the show, but changed its mind too late to have restored the season's original episode order, hence its fifth and final season being a letdown - which can help if you view it as an overly long epilogue... but that's also why "Voyager" avoided doing the same thing, possibly. Epilogues often feel like unimportant aftermaths. Which isn't to say they don't or can't work, but the more I think about it now the more I'm glad they didn't do it (despite wanting it in the past). But that's like 50 tv shows saying this other show needs to be the same as them too. Or a room full of smokers telling the dweeb to light up to be just like them.

But I couldn't get past Buffy season one either. Despite being a fan of Dollhouse, Firefly, the seasons of Roseanne Whedon directed, wrote, or edited, etc... And like Buffy, B5 does refer to season one plot points. This, I believe, is why networks loathed serialized storytelling. It has to draw in viewers fast enough, never mind the inverse of if enough viewers fully embrace it but enough leave or potential newcomers waltz in during mid season-3 and get confused and go away... and nowadays serialized stories need to be done 100% right from the get-go...

 

[marlboro]

The production values really hurt it, even when it was new. As a complete story, seasons 1-4 are very good, but it is a slow boil.

They would have been better off not using CGI effects whenever possible. They just weren't up to snuff even then. It just feels like an unnecessary expense for very poor results. And I say this as someone who has zero issues with using Muppets in the original Star Wars movies.

On a similar note, I'm watching Enterprise, and while the effects are good for their time, I can't help but think that the show would have been better served by being more budget conscience early on. Did we really need Xindi Insectoids?

 

[marlboro]

nowadays serialized stories need to be done 100% right from the get-go...

As someone who's been burned by disappointing series finales a time or two, I basically wait until a series is over to see what the fan reaction is before even beginning to watch.

 

[Orphalesion]

I thought Lorca was one of the more likable characters on Discovery. .

Really? I was under the impression that the Disco version of Pike was a season-long apology for Lorca hahaha.

But I agree that Mirror Georgiou is a terrible character, which is a pity because I like the actress in her other stuff and thought that Prime Timeline Georgiou was an excellent character.

So dunno if that is a controversial opinion, but Disco's greatest mistake and original sin was killing off Prime Timeline Georgiou. She was the most interesting character in season one.
(And I sincerely hope Mirror Gerogiou will be shipped off to that Section 31 series and we won't have to deal with her on SNW or Disco Season 3

 

[fireproof78]

snip

You might want to fix your quote bracket

Also, Georgiou will be on Season 3, since he was there when they jumped in to the future. I doubt they'll lampshade that character's disappearance.

And, all the critiques I've seen of Season 1 Lorca is usually regarded as one of the highlights, aside from his reveal to be the Mirror Lorca.

So, controversial opinion, I don't have a problem with Lorca being the Mirror Lorca.

 

[Orphalesion]

Also, Georgiou will be on Season 3, since he was there when they jumped in to the future. I doubt they'll lampshade that character's disappearance.

Argh right I forgot about that Maybe my mind made me willfully forget/ignore that.

As I said her existence just pains me so much because I like Michelle Yeoh as an actress and really liked the original Georgiou. And Mirror Georgiou is such a silly character.

I didn't mind Lorca turning out to be Mirror Lorca either, but I didn't care for the character to begin with, so of course I wasn't bothered by the reveal.

 

[marlboro]

Really? I was under the impression that the Disco version of Pike was a season-long apology for Lorca hahaha.

But I agree that Mirror Georgiou is a terrible character, which is a pity because I like the actress in her other stuff and thought that Prime Timeline Georgiou was an excellent character.

So dunno if that is a controversial opinion, but Disco's greatest mistake and original sin was killing off Prime Timeline Georgiou. She was the most interesting character in season one.
(And I sincerely hope Mirror Gerogiou will be shipped off to that Section 31 series and we won't have to deal with her on SNW or Disco Season 3

Andrew Robinson on the MU version of his character:

"I was really, really, really happy about Garak's death. I never liked those alternate universe shows because that Garak was just a stupid bad guy. The thing that's great about our Garak is that he has subtext. There's a lot going on beneath the surface, and if you don't pay attention, then you're in trouble because he's got you. But the mirror Garak had no subtext."


Mirror Georgiou embodies the worst traits of the DS9 Mirror Universe episodes. One dimensional, campy, and the attempts at being sexy are cringe inducing. The actress deserves better.

I hope we get a flashback episode featuring the Shenzhou crew at some point.

 

[BillJ]

I thought Lorca was one of the more likable characters on Discovery.

Jason Isaacs is a great actor. You should catch his turn as General Zhukov in The Death of Stalin.

 

[Nerys Myk]

I can't wait to see SNW, Lower Decks, and DSC Season 3.

I'm not even sure I want to watch Picard anymore after that season finale. I think it was the worst one in franchise history, and actually lowered my overall enjoyment of the series.

Didn't care for the finales of PIC 1 and DISCO 2. But I'll be back. Especially since I can get my 23rd Century fix from SNW. (The DISCO time jump was disappointing) Lower Decks looks fun, though I've not see a single minute of Rick and Morty

 

[Paul755]

Ezri Dax was a better character than Jadzia Dax, as she had potential to develop and grow as a person.

I think having to recast the part hampered the final season overall. And pairing her off with Bashier just felt thrown together.

So dunno if that is a controversial opinion, but Disco's greatest mistake and original sin was killing off Prime Timeline Georgiou. She was the most interesting character in season one.

killing her off so soon was the issue I had. Her death doesn’t land any kind of punch.

 

[NCC-73515]

I totally agree with that. It's especially true when you include the - quite excellent - Short Treks with the SNW crew in them. I think Q&A is right up there with any Trek content I've watched. To be honest, I love Short Treks. I think they're brilliant.

I only liked 3 of the 10 episodes. The rest don't even deserve a second viewing XD