What is Star Trek: Discovery about?

[Amasov]

This is absolutely not meant to dig at the show or flame the board in any way. I was thinking about this the other day; if you were to take a moment and explain the plot of the show, how would you describe it? What is the journey of the show?

I've been watching the series since the day it premiered and I honestly can't answer this question. Every other Star Trek show has a plot that you can easily spell out and explain.

For example: Voyager is about a ship lost on the other side of the galaxy, trying to find its way home. Lower Decks is about a group of low-level ensigns aboard an unimportant starship. Picard focuses on Jean-Luc Picard's post-Starfleet life.

Are my explanations perfect? No. But, they at least give you an idea of what the shows are truly about. I really struggle to try and define Discovery in a similar vein.

Thinking back to the first season, I probably would've said something like, it focuses on Michael Burnham, the half-sister of Spock, after she mutinies against her captain; causing the Federation and the Klingon Empire to come into conflict with another. Beyond that, I don't have a clue.

 

[Lord Garth]

The adventures of Michael Burnham and the crew of the USS Discovery who journey through time, space, and dimension with the help of an experimental Spore Drive that makes their ship unique.

 

[Tim Thomason]

Discovery

 

[TheMadCloner]

The voyages of the crew of the USS Discovery as they try to find a home for themselves in Trek fandom.

 

[Dukhat]

Michael Burnham is the greatest thing ever, and all the other characters exist just to reinforce that point.

 

[Tuskin38]

Michael Burnham is the greatest thing ever, and all the other characters exist just to reinforce that point.

Just like Picard, and Kirk, and Spock and Data and Sisko etc.

 

[Turtletrekker]

I almost want to say it's about Star Treks Legacy. It explores the days before the original series and the days beyond the previously known canon. This most recent season has had references, some more direct and substantial than others, to every other live-action Star Trek series. I've never really thought in terms of Star Trek being a saga until this most recent season. In fact, I might compose a larger post on that subject once I get all the particulars organized in my head.

 

[fireproof78]

Honestly, think it is a personal journey of trauma and pain and healing.

 

[Dukhat]

Just like Picard, and Kirk, and Spock and Data and Sisko etc.

No, not like them at all.

Please don’t take my tongue-in-cheek response as an indication that I hate the show. Quite the opposite. But I stand by what I wrote.

 

[Lord Garth]

Okay, let's get serious now. Not this one show versus another nonsense.

DSC was structured to be one major arc per season. Which means the main storyline would have a different focus each season. I, for one, would not have wanted DSC to be about nothing but the Klingon War from Season 1. It had more potential than to be just about that. So I'm glad each of the three seasons has been about a different thing. The Klingons, Control, and now the mystery of The Burn.

The benefit of the main story this season is that it's broad enough to accommodate a lot of the stories while it looms in the background. If the Burn really is still a mystery, then it shouldn't be easy to solve and it shouldn't be able to be solved quickly, i.e. within a few episodes or less.

Up above, when I say "was structured", I used the past tense because I don't think the storyline going on with DSC right now is going anywhere. I think it'll continue into the fourth season.

 

[Therin of Andor]

From the very first publicity, DSC was promoted as being the fall and hard-won redemption of a female first officer in Starfleet.

 

[CorporalClegg]

That depends on what you mean by "about". Do you mean conceptually or thematically? Usually when people say "about" pejoratively they mean the latter.

For example (and I'm limiting to skiffy shows I know well):

Buffy is about a superpowered woman who fights demons. It is 'about' the power of choice.

Chuck is about a geeky guy who gets computer in his brain. It is 'about' the importance of trust in a partnership/relationship.

Person of Interest is about a group of people who stop crime with the help of an artificial super intelligence. It is 'about' the importance of preserving human connection in an increasingly digitally-segregated world.

Mando is about a Star Wars bounty hunter protecting his charge from the Empire. It is 'about' the ever struggle of an increasingly disenfranchised working class.

So on and so forth.

DISCO is about what any other Star Trek series is about. Or at least it's a different recipe to the same meatloaf.

Its "about" is tied to the season high-concept.

The first season was about how the traditional Vulcan Star Trek way isn't always the best way.
The second season is more or less the same as what I wrote for POI.
The third season is about (to put it poetically) forging your own path after the galactic storms destroy the roads.

 

[Takeru]

For example: ... Picard focuses on Jean-Luc Picard's post-Starfleet life.

That's probably not the best example because it tells us nothing about the show, only that Picard retired.

I'd say Discovery is about a very smart but flawed starfleet officer who made a horrible mistake and joins an experimental science ship where she must regain the trust of her fellow officers.

 

[ScottJ85]

Examining Federation values in situations where they’re pushed to breaking point.

 

[Mudd]

It varies.Usually about 40 minutes.

Or...

It's about exploiting IP and trademarks CBS owns.

 

[Dukhat]

That depends on what you mean by "about". Do you mean conceptually or thematically? Usually when people say "about" pejoratively they mean the latter.

For example (and I'm limiting to skiffy shows I know well):

Buffy is about a superpowered woman who fights demons. It is 'about' the power of choice.

Chuck is about a geeky guy who gets computer in his brain. It is 'about' the importance of trust in a partnership/relationship.

Person of Interest is about a group of people who stop crime with the help of an artificial super intelligence. It is 'about' the importance of preserving human connection in an increasingly digitally-segregated world.

Mando is about a Star Wars bounty hunter protecting his charge from the Empire. It is 'about' the ever struggle of an increasingly disenfranchised working class.

So on and so forth.

DISCO is about what any other Star Trek series is about. Or at least it's a different recipe to the same meatloaf.

Its "about" is tied to the season high-concept.

The first season was about how the traditional Vulcan Star Trek way isn't always the best way.
The second season is more or less the same as what I wrote for POI.
The third season is about (to put it poetically) forging your own path after the galactic storms destroy the roads.

Yes, there’s a difference between what the show is ‘about’ and the show’s ‘premise.’ The premise of ENT was to show the formation of the Federation. But that’s not actually what happened. The premise of VOY was a ship stranded on the other side of the galaxy. One would think that with a premise like that, the show would be completely different from, say, TNG. But yet, it really wasn’t.

 

[Tomalak]

It's about a group of people having adventures and discovering new people, places and things. It's pretty cool.

 

[Amasov]

You could say the show is about a Federation starship propelled to an uncertain future; attempting to rebuild the Federation.

But even so, that's just one of many plots.

My point is, while I'm along for the ride and do enjoy it, Discovery lacks focus. It's all over the place. I don't feel like the show has a centralized journey. It sets up these intriguing plots or mysteries but then almost seems to lose interest in them and pivots over to something else to the point where what was originally set up now becomes relegated to the background that can be resolved with a line of dialogue.

And look, perhaps this is by design. If it is intentionally set up that way, fine. It just frustrates me.

 

[Vger23]

Adventures in outer space.

I think it's a gross exaggeration to say the other series were "about" something more than that. Maybe DS9, but even that's a stretch.

 

[mdtauk]

Self Discovery.

The crew are all examples of people finding their place in the galaxy. The focus on emotion and relationships are the core for this iteration of Trek.