Spoilers Star Trek: Discovery 4x02 - "Anomaly"

[Mr. Laser Beam]

Is it just me, or is the floor of Discovery's bridge always covered with debris?

 

[Noname Given]

Is it just me, or is the floor of Discovery's bridge always covered with debris?

That's all just programable matter at the ready.

 

[Mr. Laser Beam]

Also, I see that they're openly calling the computer Zora now. Obviously this is a setup for "Calypso", but I'm wondering, who (in-universe) first came up with that name? I can't remember, did the computer ASK to be called Zora, or did somebody else think of it?

 

[Nerys Myk]

Is it just me, or is the floor of Discovery's bridge always covered with debris?

Programable matter can't take a hit.

 

[fireproof78]

Breakaway manages impact better.

 

[Tuskin38]

did the computer ASK to be called Zora,

That's what Burnham said. It probably happened between the seasons.

 

[Kamen Rider Blade]

Programable matter can't take a hit.

They aren't designed to be solid like traditional matter that is created to a pre-defined shape.

So having that much flexibility to reconfigure yourself offers certain strengths and dis-advantages depending on what you want to do.

I'm sure there are plenty of good uses for programmable matter, but it can't be the ultimate super material.

 

[Go-Captain]

Here is my own personal observations and what I think currently plagues new Trek. They are terrified of the fans and so steer in to tried and true conventions, similar to how Enterprise played largely with TNG style conventions, but under the auspices of a prequel. You had "phase pistols" that were pretty much phasers, and hull plating that still had shield style percentages. It lacked a punch to it to make its stamp in terms of distinction of a prequel period.

It's an annoying reversal. Discovery seasons 1 and 2 are so firmly doing what ever they want, damn the canon, it actually manages to be entertaining. But any time season 3 or 4 tries to call back or get technical I just think, could you not. If I believed anyone producing the show, other than the prop makers, were fans it would be different.

Now, this creates an interesting conundrum. On the one hand, it is highly appealing to someone like me who prefers the character interactions, how people engage, emote and explore with each other over technological word salad. On the other hand, it is by and large ignoring the portion of the fan base who love the technical explanations, who would prefer the long technical explanations outlining the way things work in favor of character moments, which can appeal to casual goers and people who don't speak technobabble speak daily. On the other, it has not fully formed this era's identity to make the technology stand out.

The technobable in Discovery is bad, I wold prefer they take a TOS approach. TOS managed to avoid most technobabble. Mostly we got things like the engines not having enough power, or risking damage, and Kirk just saying fix it, and Scotty saying ok I got the special rock. The warp engines got some depth, but it was usually very focused on one particular issue per episode. No one had to explain the inner workings of the transporter to make it make sense, it just needed a little contextual framing, and a name. We don't need a technobable reason for why sensors aren't working, we just need to know they're not working.

Grudge is actual alien royalty from a shapeshifting species. You'll see.

Grudge is Burnham from an alternate timeline.

By definition, a mental health issue cannot, and will never be, instantly cured.

It's 1,000 years in the Trek future, I'm honestly surprised they don't have instant cures for every mental health issue. We're talking about a setting with psychics and what should be a quantum understanding of the mind.

Actually, Detmar's doing really well, I bet the writers completely forgot about her PTSD. Until I hear otherwise I'm going to assume she has been cured.

I just got to the part where Book said he doesn't want Detmer to pilot his ship because he says she doesn't know the first thing about it. But hasn't Detmer already piloted Book's ship? I seem to remember a previous ep where she did.

In the final episode. Though I don't know if she used the transforming ability.

The transforming ability is not that big a deal, but given the shield performance we see episode 2, it is. By that period their shields should let a ship fly through a planet at warp without feeling a thing, but they don't.

 

[fireproof78]

If I believed anyone producing the show, other than the prop makers, were fans it would be different.

That's a strength in my view.

We don't need a technobable reason for why sensors aren't working, we just need to know they're not working.

Except, that's not considered Trek.

 

[Noname Given]

That's a strength in my view.

Except, that's not considered Trek.

TOS would disagree with you. Technobabble became a crutch for the Berman era of Star Trek; and I wish these new producers would consign it to the garbage heap where it belongs.

 

[fireproof78]

TOS would disagree with you. Technobabble became a crutch for the Berman era of Star Trek; and I wish these new producers would consign it to the garbage heap where it belongs.

TOS absolutely would disagree. As I said, this is the conflict now of new Trek.

 

[jackoverfull]

This season should have been about the squabbling and warfare between Federation worlds and how it threatened to ruin the post-Burn political environment. I'd be more interested in the Andorians rejoining the Federation but the Orions getting mad about the defeat of the Emerald Chain and attacking Andorian ships and bases because they want to abandon their old allies.

indeed: Andorians and Orion’s were a notable absence at the meeting and I wonder what’s up with them.

 

[Mr. Laser Beam]

Well, to be fair, it's only been a short time since the fall of the Emerald Chain. Probably take awhile before Andor even thinks about rejoining the Federation.

My question is, why isn't Ni'Var back in yet? Their president seemed reasonable, surely she would see the logic of rejoining the Federation now that the cause of the Burn has been determined?

 

[Noname Given]

One of the thing I was noticing about the new uniforms setup. Does any rank besides Captain or Admiral have a visible indicator of a crew members rank?

If so, I couldn't see it.

 

[cooleddie74]

I could be wrong but with lower officers isn't the rank on their epaulets like it is in TMP?

 

[Tim Thomason]

I don't see the problem.

Turns out the Xindi were the good guys.

 

[137th Gebirg]

I could be wrong but with lower officers isn't the rank on their epaulets like it is in TMP?

Yes. The insignia badges also have little pips molded into them. Way too small to be useful, IMO. Tilly and some of the other bridge officers had those those bow tie devices at their collar that contained rank designation. The fact that it was so difficult to see made it fail as a rank device.

 

[JoaquinSlowly]

One of the thing I was noticing about the new uniforms setup. Does any rank besides Captain or Admiral have a visible indicator of a crew members rank?

If so, I couldn't see it.

I could be wrong but with lower officers isn't the rank on their epaulets like it is in TMP?

The uniforms have their rank pips on the far right of their tri-com badges for all officers. ‪‪I kind of wish they were also on the neck devices with the offset chevrons, since they’re there for Captains, but it’s a minor nitpick for me.

Tilly and some of the other bridge officers had those those bow tie devices at their collar that contained rank designation. The fact that it was so difficult to see made it fail as a rank device.

Only the Captain’s rank neck devices have pips to indicate rank, every other bridge officer has nothing above the two chevrons.

 

[Lord Garth]

WMy question is, why isn't Ni'Var back in yet? Their president seemed reasonable, surely she would see the logic of rejoining the Federation now that the cause of the Burn has been determined?

I bet they'll probably be back in the Federation before the season is over.

I'm guessing legislature moves slow even on Ni'Var.

 

[Finn]

Well, to be fair, it's only been a short time since the fall of the Emerald Chain. Probably take awhile before Andor even thinks about rejoining the Federation.

My question is, why isn't Ni'Var back in yet? Their president seemed reasonable, surely she would see the logic of rejoining the Federation now that the cause of the Burn has been determined?

I bet they'll probably be back in the Federation before the season is over.

I'm guessing legislature moves slow even on Ni'Var.

Except Logic may not be telling them that they need to join rather than join. They may see no pressing need like it was following the end of the Romulan-Earth War...