Theory on Tilly's character arc this season

[Yistaan]

Are some fans still saying Tilly is fat and unhealthy?

Well, of course they are. Sigh.

They'd better be saying the same thing about Scotty at least if they're going to be like that.

Personally, Tilly's fine. She did take back the ship from Osyraa last season. And she's automatically better than every insane Admiral Starfleet ever produced. Her non-threatening demeanor might actually be an advantage, putting enemies off their guard before they know what hit them.

 

[cooleddie74]

Scotty by TVH was, shall we say, showing that he loved Starfleet rations and food synthesizer menus. I love Scotty and James Doohan like few other Trek characters in the history of the franchise but by the late 1980s the man was not exactly svelte nor the poster boy for fitness.

 

[TimeIsAPredator]

They'd better be saying the same thing about Scotty at least if they're going to be like that.

In fairness they were. Old and fat jokes about the TOS movies were wide spread with fans and comedians at the time.

I don't condone fat shaming of Tilly and don't do it myself but this demand that anyone criticizing Discovery must offset their insults with insults of old Trek is stupid. Those shows were years ago and the conversations were had and the jokes made at the time so they will not happen now in equal measure.

 

[Ar-Pharazon]

Are some fans still saying Tilly is fat and unhealthy?

Well, of course they are. Sigh.

Where did that come from? The comments on the YT video are all "not teh Trek" nonsense.

 

[cooleddie74]

From here, amongst other various sources across the Internet.

And that's just the mental/emotional aspect of being in Starfleet, we haven't touched on the physical standards yet.

Because contrary to what a lot of people might think. Starfleet does have physical standards. Remember when McCoy put Kirk on a diet after his regular physical showed he gained weight?

 

[Ar-Pharazon]

From here, amongst other various sources across the Internet.

I mean, I have no doubt someone is saying that. It just felt out of left field there.

 

[cooleddie74]

Oh, they're saying it. And in this forum.

 

[BillJ]

Because contrary to what a lot of people might think. Starfleet does have physical standards. Remember when McCoy put Kirk on a diet after his regular physical showed he gained weight?

Montgomery Scott ballooned to nearly 300 pounds during the movies, Riker got a bit thick during his time on the Enterprise. Do these Starfleet standards only apply to female officers?

Mary Wiseman is one of the few redeeming things about current Trek. Leave her the fuck alone.

 

[cooleddie74]

And to be fair...if she's "fat" I'd hate to see a fan's idea of "skinny" or "obese." This body shaming just gets tiresome.

Mary Wiseman is a full-figured woman and like many of us probably put on a few pounds during the pandemic. I know I did and I feel it. And she's not "fat."

 

[Locutus of Bored]

How about everyone stop discussing Mary Wiseman's appearance and get back to the subject in the OP, which has been rudely ignored. And that includes people who think they are defending her but actually just launched a page and a half derail based on what was at the time an easily ignored solitary comment about fitness standards from a noted non-fan of Discovery.

Here's the original topic, in case anyone is interested:

As of this writing, we're three episodes into Discovery's fourth season. Since Paramount's being oddly coy here, I don't know if that means we have ten more to go, or nine more, or even seven more, or what, but regardless it's still early.

Tilly's clearly on some kind of personal spiritual path here, and one of its strongest instigators has been her focus on what it felt like seeing that first new class of Starfleet Academy graduates in the premiere. As she's said, she looked at those kids and thought of herself just a few years ago, but so much has changed for her. She's really drawn into that whole thing as she searches for something that's the right "wheelhouse" for her moving forward.

What if she decides that what these new generations of graduates need is somebody who's not a whole lot older than them, who can be "hip" and approachable, and has a way with people, to help guide them on their path? What if Tilly comes to the conclusion that having a mom-like, or even big-sister-like, role model around could help? (Possible foreshadowing - Culber pointing out to Tilly that Adira looks up to her.)

All of this to say, what if the potential Starfleet Academy series is set in the 32nd century, and Mary Wiseman is one of its main cast? The writers might be dipping the character's toes in the water this year in preparation for such a possible shift.

I could be 100% off-base here. Do y'all have your own guesses on where Tilly's headed?

 

[DEWLine]

The idea of Tilly as Academy faculty at some point years from now - our viewership's time - does not come across as an unrealistic possibility for me. Same for her ambitions of starship captaincy. Maybe both at the same point in her career?

 

[Mudd]

This is actually the problem with Star Trek for the majority of its 50 year run being so military/Starfleet focused...
The Federation is supposed to be a place for everyone.

No, the "problem" exists only recently and because of changing notions of what "Star Trek is."

For at least 25 years Star Trek was about personnel serving in Starfleet. "The Federation" was just pooh-bah made up to support the backstory.

 

[Yistaan]

No, the "problem" exists only recently and because of changing notions of what "Star Trek is."

For at least 25 years Star Trek was about personnel serving in Starfleet. "The Federation" was just pooh-bah made up to support the backstory.

I mean, if you define what something is solely by how it is portrayed in a first appearance, then Batman is a thug who killed someone in his first appearance by punching him and tossing him into an acidic vat. Most everyone defines Batman now as someone who does not kill, regardless of what he did in his actual first appearance.

The concept of the Federation may have been added after the fact in Star Trek, but it's values and what it represents have ended up defining the franchise for most of its 50 years.

 

[Mudd]

what it represents have ended up defining the franchise for most of its 50 years.

Most of? Arguably half, at best: the decline.

At any given time the franchise is defined by its current cast and setting, anyway - not some bit of supporting detail like "the Federation.:

 

[NCC-73515]

They'd better be saying the same thing about Scotty at least if they're going to be like that.

Personally, Tilly's fine. She did take back the ship from Osyraa last season. And she's automatically better than every insane Admiral Starfleet ever produced. Her non-threatening demeanor might actually be an advantage, putting enemies off their guard before they know what hit them.

They mentioned that in the new episode: she needs to come along because she puts people at ease

 

[cooleddie74]

I like the direction her personality is taking. She's both more bold and at ease when on away teams and a stronger member of the crew while at the same time still struggling with her insecurities.

 

[Fateor]

They mentioned that in the new episode: she needs to come along because she puts people at ease

Which is kind of silly given Tilly is terrible with new people...

 

[Tuskin38]

Which is kind of silly given Tilly is terrible with new people...

No she isn't.

 

[cooleddie74]

She was great when she first met Po, if awkward.

 

[fireproof78]

She was great when she first met Po, if awkward.

Honest awkwardness can be a great tool. I use it a lot.