Spoilers Strange New Worlds 1x01 - "Strange New Worlds"

[ananta]

Of course not. It's your threshold!


But why? Why is a difference in, say, the bridge, not comparable to a change in actors, however the actor looks? What makes it acceptable to change one and not the other? It's a genuine question. What makes each of us, individually, comfortable with one change and not the other when they are, essentially, of the same nature?

Well, I am a bit weird, I’m quite content to admit it.
Interesting question, and I think it’s because as human beings we, generally, connect to other people more than objects. To me, the sets are just a backdrop. But characters you connect with and you kind of expect some kind of continuity; for them to be recognisable. I don’t have a problem with recasting so long as the character is recognisable (Ethan Peck, for instance, I can buy as Spock because he looks the part and actually has something of Leonard Nimoy about him). If this is the same universe as TOS, and I asked you to describe Kyle now, how would you reconcile the fact he is now both Caucasian/blonde haired and Asian/dark haired? It confuses my poor brain. If I take it to be a reboot or alternative universe, no problem.

 

[cooleddie74]

Spock's also been a crewmember on the ship for at least six years at this point. His DNA profile is on record.

 

[BillJ]

If I take it to be a reboot or alternative universe, no problem.

Just a lot easier to treat it as such. The stories still have the same meaning to me.

 

[Tiberius Jim]

Real world? You're never going to come up with an explanation you are happy with. Star Trek world? Spock is a regular landing party member, Chapel could've gotten that information from M'Benga or the ship's records. As far as the DNA goes? Maybe Una was able to transmit some data on the Kiley that the Archer automatically sent it to Starfleet.

It definitely is Star Trek, because there are plot holes you can fly a starship through.

Yeah, it's just frustrating since a slightly different line from Pike plus a scene in between the conference room and sickbay would have solved basically all of my issues with it.

 

[BillJ]

Yeah, it's just frustrating since a slightly different line from Pike plus a scene in between the conference room and sickbay would have solved basically all of my issues with it.

The DNA is still a sticky spot for me. But, overall, the episode was fun so I tend to let things slide.

 

[Tiberius Jim]

The DNA is still a sticky spot for me. But, overall, the episode was fun so I tend to let things slide.

Same. A quick line from Chapel as to how she procured their genetic info would have cleared that right up. Instead we got her being snarky to La'an.

 

[Noname Given]

So she created an injection for the entire crew, or just guessed that Spock would be on the away team? I also still don't see how she knew enough about these aliens in order to create the injections in the first place. How could they have that much info on their DNA by simply observing them from orbit?

Sensors? How do you think they can determine a particular species in a ship or on a planet? (As they did often in TOS.)

And as for Chapel being surprised - When she says "Going to mess with your Genome..." - one could assume that she and the doctor had gotten more info from Pike before, during or after Spock's briefing or just assumed and wanted to be ready when Pike called for a landing party. I actually like not having every single T crossed in specific dialogue. She's there to pilot test this new first contact procedure - she knows where they are going and Federation probes have gathered a lot of info on the planet and one would think since Adm. April ordered them there as part of a first contact follow up; the 1701 main computers would have that info.

 

[IMC Headquarters]

Chapel is clearly a disciple of the Hermione Granger School of Polyjuice Potion making.

Spock has probably already formulated his plan to send Pike to the Talosians when the time comes. You can see the seed of compassion germinating in his mind.

 

[JLBTucker]

oh Robert April is in this episode... I didn't even notice, cool

 

[fireproof78]

So she created an injection for the entire crew, or just guessed that Spock would be on the away team? I also still don't see how she knew enough about these aliens in order to create the injections in the first place. How could they have that much info on their DNA by simply observing them from orbit?

Sensors.

 

[IMC Headquarters]

Okay. Bring on Ron Tracey and the Exeter next.

Please!

 

[KennyB]

Sensors.

senSORS

 

[IMC Headquarters]

senSORS

There's a cream for those.

 

[fireproof78]

senSORS

SENsors.

 

[Belz...]

people talk and make facial expressions too much like quippy 21st century Millennials in a Joss Whedon production

Trek shows are always of their time. TOS was painfully 60s, etc.

 

[CaptainWacky]

It was good, I liked it. Wasn't as completely blown away as some seem to have been, but it was definitely good and fun and much more my type of Trek than Discocard. The punchline with Sam Kirk and his moustache was very good.

Didn't think they needed to go quite so far in the montage showing how completely the aliens were change, or have Pike make the "space, the final frontier..." speech at the end when it's in the opening credits too. But it's good to just have fun Trek with charming interactions between the characters and stuff!

 

[JLBTucker]

Trek shows are always of their time. TOS was painfully 60s, etc.

TNG is also painfully late 80's early 90's aesthetics and topic it hurts

 

[ichab]

Just finished watching and I must say this feels more like Star Trek to me. Can't wait until next weeks episode and I haven't felt like that for a Trek show in a long time.

 

[Harpsichord]

Trek shows are always of their time. TOS was painfully 60s, etc.

Yeah, I'm reminded of this line I read in Neopeius' amazing fanzine thread up in the TOS forum:

No thought has gone Into preparing an integrated background, either technologically nor sociologically. The protagonists are racially Integrated (even to a half-breed between a human and non-human race; how about that for Brotherhood?), but talk and think USA circa 1967.

 

[Mudd]

If this is the same universe as TOS, and I asked you to describe Kyle now, how would you reconcile the fact he is now both Caucasian/blonde haired and Asian/dark haired?

I say, "He's played by a different actor, now."

It confuses my poor brain.

It's not complicated. Not even a little.