so i finally took the plunge and watched lower decks

1.) it moves extremely fast and everyone is yelling all the time. but that's my problem. this appears to be common in contemporary adult animation. i haven't had television (as in, had a TV in the house with cable) in two decades so i've been unable to warm to how fast and loud it's gotten. for me it's like being thrown into scalding water. but, again, that's not the fault of the show. my friends tell me it's like rick and morty and archer, but i don't know i haven't seen those.

2.) too short. the episodes seem to be over before i've even settled in. what was simpsons in the 90s, 22 minutes? at the pace these go they feel like 15. i wish the show was prestige length (40–50 min).

3.) the characters are cute and for the most part smartly written.

4.) i didn't really laugh at anything. i think i smiled a few times. the comedy i go for is quiet, cerebral, and dry. understated jokes. obscure references. sort of joel in the early years of MST3K. this show is more like the last years on the sci-fi channel with mike. more "obviously written" comedy.

5.) i think the cat doctor is the funniest of the lot.

6.) this show has a really good heart. like the orville, it manages to mock trek tropes and also be a loving tribute. and the fan service works because of the format. it would be tacky in a live action show to have so many references and in-jokes. here, it works.

7.) lastly, i really appreciate that even though all of the people and aliens are drawn disney channel / nickelodeon "silly looking" (i don't know what else to call this style), all of the settings, technology etc (the world building) are drawn photorealistic and consistent with what we saw on TNG. i think if the set pieces were in the more wacky kids morning style too, it would make the show very difficult to watch. the computer animated effects (the show's "CGI") like the ships and lighting and space stuff are especially beautifully done.

conclusion: it's not really my cup of tea in the comedy department, but i really admire what they have done. everyone involved clearly cares a great deal for trek. i could see it going on for many seasons, and having cameos from every live action show. with animation, the sky is the limit.

 

They really tone down the yelling and screaming that's common with Rick and Morty after the first couple of episodes. I assume that some focus groups helped in that regard. It becomes much less frantic as the series progresses.

 

If you watch all ten episodes I think you'll be surprised at how good it becomes.

 

The last two episodes of S1 are particularly good. If you take your Trek super serious and can't stand to see it parodied, you won't like it. But if you can laugh at Trek, it's a fun diversion. Especially considering how dark and moody other Trek series are these days.

 

i watched all ten in the same night. you're correct that they toned it down a bit on the yelling. but it still moves very fast and i didn't audibly laugh once. still, as i said, it has a good heart and they're done something nice with it. i smile at the in-jokes and references. but as scripted comedy goes, it's just not my bag.

 

i agree that it's fun just not "funny."

 

Fair enough.

 

They did? Much less frantic? To me, the yelling, fast talking, and frenzied behavior, which I did expect to subside, never changed at all.

 

in binging all ten eps, i did perceive a little softening from how it started. not the pace (which remained fast) or the frenzied behavior (still present) but the yelling came down a bit. nothing like the shift on the orville from its earliest eps to how it ended up in season 2. but something.

i've accepted that lower decks will likely never be a show i "love" but its heart is in the right place and there are wide smile trek fan moments.

 

I watched the first episode last night for the very first time, and just an hour ago I finished the season finale. Such a pleasant and diverting show brimming with enthusiasm. It's not the Star Trek show I wanted, but it turned out to be the one I actually needed.

Easily the best show of the Kurtzman era.

 

I don't go into these things expecting to be rolling on the floor laughing. If I smile or giggle, it's been worth it. And Lower Decks made me smile and snort a lot. And laugh out loud once or twice. I enjoyed the stories and by the end, adored the characters.

 

I never laughed out loud watching this, but then again I rarely do for anything. Most I'll do is just smile every now and then. It did its job.

 

I'd dispute that.

If comedy doesn't amuse me (and that's got to include laughter) it's not done it's job. For instance there's only a handful of standups I'd pay money to see as I'd want to risk asphyxiation for it to be worth it (Billy Connolly take a bow !).

I've not finished season one, but in the six episodes I've seen, I have not so much as smiled - it's not at all funny. To me at least.

 

If no like, no watch. Free country, this is.

 

Like anything else in life, not everything works for everyone. But it sounds like you gave it a fair chance to entertain you.

 

I'll watch (and buy) the others no doubt. It's Trek after all...

 

Trek is a demanding mistress...

 

Trek and I have amore amicable relationship. I rarely spend money on her.

 

She's the only thing I'll pay for a streaming service for.
No Netflix.
No YouTube premium.
No Disney +.
But CBS All Access has Trek.