Discovery's approach to leadership and Trek's interpersonal dynamics

[Citiprime]

From the (TOS) Star Trek writer’s/director’s guide, revised in 1967:

“The time is today. We’re in Viet Nam waters aboard the navy cruiser U.S.S. Detroit. Suddenly an enemy gunboat heads for us, our guns are unable to stop it, and we realize it’s a suicide attack with an atomic warhead. Total destruction of our vessel and of all aboard appears probable. Would Captain E. L. Henderson, presently commanding the U.S.S. Detroit, turn and hug a comely female WAVE who happened to be on the ship’s bridge.

As simple as that. This is our standard test that has led to STAR TREK believability. (It also suggests much of what has been wrong in filmed sf of the past.) No, Captain Henderson wouldn’t! Not if he’s the kind of Captain we hope is commanding any naval vessel of ours. Nor would our Captain Kirk hug a female crewman in a moment of danger, not if he’s to remain believable. (Some might prefer Henderson were somewhere making love rather than shelling Asiatic ports, but that’s a whole different story for a whole different network. Probably BBC.)”

I think the above has been a problem with Discovery from my perspective that's been evident since season 1 episode 1. When you predicate the protagonist’s motivations on emotional decisions, family ties, or interpersonal romance, it undermines the believability of their decision making and their believability as an officer/captain that the audience can trust. And it undermines the show.

In the current season, we have an anomaly that has destroyed entire planets, is spread across multiple light-years of the Milky Way, and is such a threat that most of the major powers have determined it to be a threat to galactic civilization. And yet, you would think the bigger threat we're supposed to be invested in is Book’s and Michael’s relationship by the importance the show gives to things and the actions of the characters.

 

[F. King Daniel]

The classic movies began Trek's slide towards friendship over duty, and it's something that's persisted since. I like it this way, but each to their own.

The 2009 movie promoted Lt. Kirk to captain of the flagship, and Discovery followed suit with Ensign Tilly being appointed first officer of Discovery (albeit temporarily), which changed Trek's dynamic from a space navy to something where positions are appointed and swapped around at a whim like an office workspace.

Modern Trek is definitely led by characters and their friendships, with the Klingon war, Control, the Burn and now the Anomaly all being second fiddle. As said, it's each to their own how you prefer it but my friends and relationships are everything to me and at this point in my life I would also probably put them first.

All that said, I do lament the Discovery of S01E03, where everyone was a stranger and the ship was rife with distrust and mystery. Disco has gone way too far into the dynamic of the crew as a family going on adventures to ever be that again, but I'd love another Trek series to carry that feeling.

 

[Nerys Myk]

Trek's always been about friendship, family and emotions played against duty. Any classic TOS episode will usually touch on that.
The threats are nice, but tying them into something personal is relatable. Mass murderer hiding from justice solid threat, but having Kirk be a witness to the massacre makes it personal. Cloud creature killing the crew is dangerous, but having it be the same creature that Kirk faced as Ensign and was responsible for killing his Captain makes it personal. The history of the universe is altered by time travel Kirk has to set it right, another solid threat. But having Kirk fall in love with the woman who seems to be the linchpin of the change makes it personal. As does having one of his closest friends be a catalyst.

 

[Tuskin38]

https://memory-alpha.fandom.com/wiki/The_Conscience_of_the_King_(episode)

 

[Ray Hardgrit]

Lots of stories are about small personal dramas against a backdrop of huge events, I don't think that's a problem with the series. Plus Michael has consistently chosen duty to Starfleet over her love for Book anyway.

Though I do feel like Discovery changes its tone a bit every season and season 4 is the season where everyone's constantly relentlessly supportive of each other all the time. There's lots of grief and uncertainty in the characters right now, so we keep getting multple plots an episode featuring someone with a problem who talks it through with someone else on the crew. Over and over again. It's gotten to the point where I want to skip the scenes because I just don't care about what characters like Book and Culber are going through anymore, and that's kind of a problem for me.

It seems like a lot of people are enjoying the season a lot though, so it's apparently working for them.

 

[Citiprime]

Though I do feel like Discovery changes its tone a bit every season and season 4 is the season where everyone's constantly relentlessly supportive of each other all the time. There's lots of grief and uncertainty in the characters right now, so we keep getting multple plots an episode featuring someone with a problem who talks it through with someone else on the crew. Over and over again. It's gotten to the point where I want to skip the scenes because I just don't care about what characters like Book and Culber are going through anymore, and that's kind of a problem for me.

This. It's gotten to the point that we had to have an episode where the ship's computer got its own support group B-plot.

 

[Nerys Myk]

This. It's gotten to the point that we had to have an episode where the ship's computer got its own support group B-plot.

Eh, the computer is a supporting character on the show why shouldn't it?

 

[Ray Hardgrit]

This. It's gotten to the point that we had to have an episode where the ship's computer got its own support group B-plot.

True! Though that scene really worked for me to be honest, because I found the idea of an AI evolving inside a ship and freaking out when they develop emotions to be interesting and different for Star Trek.

In fact the whole episode worked for me, except for that one moment later on where Owo explained where her motivation to leave her post and be useful was coming from. It was just as awkward and eye-rolling as the scene in the earlier episode where Rhys showed up on the asteroid to explain how his own past trauma is informing his current choices. Not good writing.

 

[Citiprime]

Eh, the computer is a supporting character on the show why shouldn't it?

Because it in some ways made the senior staff look kinda ridiculous and awkward, with people running into the room to shout out their opinion about how they feel. It's a Starfleet vessel with hierarchy and a chain of command, and the way they handled that prolonged philosophical discussion didn't seem... professional. It was predicated on everyone emoting how the situation connects to their personal experiences and views, instead of debating the situation and allowing the situation itself to illuminate the differences in the characters.

 

[Nerys Myk]

Because it in some ways made the senior staff look kinda ridiculous and awkward, with people running into the room to shout out their opinion about how they feel. It's a Starfleet vessel with hierarchy and a chain of command, and the way they handled that prolonged philosophical discussion didn't seem... professional. It was predicated on everyone emoting how the situation connects to their personal experiences and views, instead of debating the situation and allowing the situation itself to illuminate the differences in the characters.

But why can't Zora have a "support group" plot?

 

[Citiprime]

But why can't Zora have a "support group" plot?

She did. But it ties into the idea that there's one almost every episode "over and over again" for someone that's either uncertain, grieving, or depressed. And this story angle has been so beaten to death that they had to work their way down to Zora the computer.

 

[StarMan]

She did. But it ties into the idea that there's one almost every episode "over and over again" for someone that's either uncertain, grieving, or depressed. And this story angle has been so beaten to death that they had to work their way down to Zora the computer.

Still missing a Jet Reno support group plot.

Although I imagine her reaction to being lined up for one would be refreshing.

 

[Nerys Myk]

She did. But it ties into the idea that there's one almost every episode "over and over again" for someone that's either uncertain, grieving, or depressed. And this story angle has been so beaten to death that they had to work their way down to Zora the computer.

Not seeing the issue. She's been a character for a while now with a developing sub-plot. It's not like some no name extra suddenly got a plot.

 

[Harpsichord]

Remember that Kovich said he was testing the crews' reaction as much as Zora's. He didn't want a buttoned-up philosophical debate he wanted to know how the crew actually felt about Zora's emergence.

 

[plynch]

She did. But it ties into the idea that there's one almost every episode "over and over again" for someone that's either uncertain, grieving, or depressed. And this story angle has been so beaten to death that they had to work their way down to Zora the computer.

It is reflecting our culture.
Why I liked the Mandalorian better.
DSC jumped the shark at the group hug and “I love you guys” near the end of one of the seasons. They’re like a high school Sophomore friend group rather than military professionals.
Ymmv

 

[Tuskin38]

It is reflecting our culture.
Why I liked the Mandalorian better.
DSC jumped the shark at the group hug and “I love you guys” near the end of one of the seasons. They’re like a high school Sophomore friend group rather than military professionals.
Ymmv

Well Starfleet isn't a military.

 

[Nerys Myk]

Well Starfleet isn't a military.

Please, no.

 

[fireproof78]

People do not realize how shared pain unites a group of people. Saying "I love you" to a traumatized group is important.

 

[F. King Daniel]

All stand in a semicircle, arms straight at your sides and take turns reciting your lines with less emotion that Data. End with a catchphrase "Make it so"/"I need to run more tests"/"They're hiding something" a music sting and a cut to the next scene. It's the TNG way.

 

[Awesome Possum]

She did. But it ties into the idea that there's one almost every episode "over and over again" for someone that's either uncertain, grieving, or depressed.

It's like they're actual human beings or something.

And this story angle has been so beaten to death that they had to work their way down to Zora the computer.

She's a character with the same emotional range as any person and has had an ongoing story arc for two seasons. There's a whole Short Trek about her falling in love with the first human she's seen in centuries and it's one of the better Star Trek stories in the entire franchise. Voyager had episodes about the Doctor who was a hologram and some of the best TNG was about Data who was an android.