I don't think he's got the time.
Poll After four seasons, what major change or changes would you make to Discovery?
- Thread starter FederationHistorian
- Start date
Nothing wrong with that.
David Cronenberg's films make me hurl (nothing wrong with THAT either, I hope 
) but I thought he was totally cool as Kovich. I hope he at least has a cameo in Season 5.
Also, more Grudge.
) but I thought he was totally cool as Kovich. I hope he at least has a cameo in Season 5.Also, more Grudge.
Last edited:
He'd probably consider that beneath him. Hell, I consider it beneath him.
I'd rather make Kovich (or should I say Cronenberg) the show runner
But seriously, stop with the goddamned arcs. Or hire writers who know how to write 10 well balanced episodes and figure out the ending before they start filming so they can actually wrap up loose ends properly.
I think it's too late for Discovery, myself, and SNW is already a better Discovery than Discovery ever was, but if does come back for more seasons, let's do episodic in the 32nd century. Let's use the spore drive to explore strange new galaxies or dimensions, or bring back the time fleet and have them explore the past or future. They seem to have the budget for it.
But seriously, stop with the goddamned arcs. Or hire writers who know how to write 10 well balanced episodes and figure out the ending before they start filming so they can actually wrap up loose ends properly.
I think it's too late for Discovery, myself, and SNW is already a better Discovery than Discovery ever was, but if does come back for more seasons, let's do episodic in the 32nd century. Let's use the spore drive to explore strange new galaxies or dimensions, or bring back the time fleet and have them explore the past or future. They seem to have the budget for it.
i agree on saru should have his own ship possibly the next spore drive ship to where discovery crew has to work together on missions ect. as for the emerald chain arc it should be dead for a main bad guy plot but ok in a lower deck story due to it splintering. its time for new species to come along and introduce them to us cmon get creative and stop coming up with the same bad guys. i like the 10c a great new species to bad it was a one shot story we need more new life forms. where are the gorn or the klingons in the 32nd cent. discovery has so much potential to create its own unique story unlike the reboot of strange new worlds or any other trek show that they will reboot and with CG so good now anything should be possible one can only hope. and yes my real last name is kirk.
I strongly disagree with the calls for a more pure episodic format. We already have SNW, LD, and even "The Orville" all of which follow that format (not to mention 700 other episodes of Star Trek). There's no reason for DSC to exist if it simply falls to the same format and tone of these other current, widely viewed series. DSC needs to maintain its own identity in order to be viable.
The change I'd make to the format would be providing an overarching mystery or quest that ties the season together, but which requires a relatively contained weekly story, and all ties into the overarching serialized story. It's one of the reasons I was so bummed with the change of direction that S2 took, as I assumed after the first several episodes that the Red Angel signals were the "overarching mystery," but that we'd get individual stories (like "Brother," "New Eden" and "Obol") that each related in a pretty closed fashion to solving pieces of the mystery.
I always use the example of the episode "The Chase" TNG as a perfect opportunity for what could have been a much longer arc. Each episode would deal with a contained element of unlocking the overall puzzle, but they could also be relatively contained "beginning, middle, end" type episodes that can be watched individually without too much tie-in to the ongoing plot. If you did that, along with what SNW does with the character arcs ongoing, I think it would flow better. You cold have planet of the week stories, space battles, anomolies, time travel tomfoolery, comedy, whatever...just like a protracted Indiana Jones movie...all those locations and situations that come up in service of the ultimate quest. Just make each one of those situations more self-contained as an episode.
It's frustrating, because they have had the chance to do this...S2 is an example I already gave. S3 I thought would be filled with episodes each focusing on trying to pull the Federation back together piece by piece (another fine framework upon which to build the format I've discussed above), but that didn't happen either. S4 tried really hard to get there...but they didn't get the pace and balance quite right, and while an entertaining plot, it just felt like the individual parts were not nearly as interesting as the whole.
But, just having a "planet of the week" or "villain of the week" episodic format would be the death of the show. We already have two very popular shows doing that right now, and doing it fairly well. Gravitating toward that with DSC only homogenizes the portfolio and risks franchise burn-out all over again.
Nope, you need to keep DSC as distinct as possible...or just shut it down. But don't make it more like the other stuff. That can't be the answer.
The change I'd make to the format would be providing an overarching mystery or quest that ties the season together, but which requires a relatively contained weekly story, and all ties into the overarching serialized story. It's one of the reasons I was so bummed with the change of direction that S2 took, as I assumed after the first several episodes that the Red Angel signals were the "overarching mystery," but that we'd get individual stories (like "Brother," "New Eden" and "Obol") that each related in a pretty closed fashion to solving pieces of the mystery.
I always use the example of the episode "The Chase" TNG as a perfect opportunity for what could have been a much longer arc. Each episode would deal with a contained element of unlocking the overall puzzle, but they could also be relatively contained "beginning, middle, end" type episodes that can be watched individually without too much tie-in to the ongoing plot. If you did that, along with what SNW does with the character arcs ongoing, I think it would flow better. You cold have planet of the week stories, space battles, anomolies, time travel tomfoolery, comedy, whatever...just like a protracted Indiana Jones movie...all those locations and situations that come up in service of the ultimate quest. Just make each one of those situations more self-contained as an episode.
It's frustrating, because they have had the chance to do this...S2 is an example I already gave. S3 I thought would be filled with episodes each focusing on trying to pull the Federation back together piece by piece (another fine framework upon which to build the format I've discussed above), but that didn't happen either. S4 tried really hard to get there...but they didn't get the pace and balance quite right, and while an entertaining plot, it just felt like the individual parts were not nearly as interesting as the whole.
But, just having a "planet of the week" or "villain of the week" episodic format would be the death of the show. We already have two very popular shows doing that right now, and doing it fairly well. Gravitating toward that with DSC only homogenizes the portfolio and risks franchise burn-out all over again.
Nope, you need to keep DSC as distinct as possible...or just shut it down. But don't make it more like the other stuff. That can't be the answer.
Last edited:
I think at this point, the damage is done (so to speak) on the setting. Changing the century will not provide any substantial change for the show. In fact, I don't think the timeframe of ANY Star Trek show really matters much at this point, except as to provide the ability to reference and/or interact with characters and events established within the rest of the bulk of the franchise.
Otherwise, Star Trek is Star Trek. It's going to have spaceships and planets, phasers and torpedoes (calling them mega phasers and transpahsic torpedoes doesn't make them any more "futuristic" or interesting), Vulcans and Klingons, etc etc etc. The timeframe doesn't really substantially change those things. Lots of people want "Star Trek The NEXT Next Generation..." and I just say "whatever" to that. It's all Star Trek. That's been proven time and again. Timeframe changes nothing of actual substance regarding the core necessary components of the series.
This. Let SNW be "The Normal Star Trek Show". SNW has had a very strong first season so far. The problem is, and I can see this already, is that it's doing a good job of presenting what we've already seen before. "What's wrong with that?" You can only keep that up for so long. Eventually, that'll change and hopefully they'll have the awareness to know when it's time to stop.
As far as DSC, it needs to go more out there, not less. Especially now that SNW is around to provide cover for people who want something more conventional.
That's my biggest fear right there with SNW. It's really the show I wished TNG had been all those years ago, and it's out of the gate strong thus far...but how do they keep it creatively fresh for the long haul? That's the key. I think they need to really keep the writer's room fresh and solicit scripts from multiple talented sources (bonus if they are sci-fi writers).
I'd hate for the luster of SNW to wear off, only to find myself lamenting that every episode is just a re-hash of stuff we've seen before. That's hard to avoid when you've got a 56-year old franchise...but if they can pull it off...it will be something.
I so agree about Booker and the General.
next time booker comes on dico he should be wearing a yellow jump suit like burnham had in season one lol . its the same story that picard,sisko and others learned captains cant be in a relationship with a crew member on his/her ship although it took kirk a lil longer to figure that one out
it would be nice to see new life forms cmon get creative something close to but not so human kinda like the na'vi or even more different something with 4 arms or 4 legs the possibilities are endless with todays cgi and new tech. a gaseous form that is so different it needs a suit to interact with other life forms. like the vorlons in B5
who says it has to be humanoid like to connect with as shown with the 10c. by this time frame the gorn would have been in the federation as well as the klingons but we didnt see or hear anything of them 930 years later is kinda odd after 350+ member worlds peak that was mentioned
it would be nice to see new life forms cmon get creative something close to but not so human kinda like the na'vi or even more different something with 4 arms or 4 legs the possibilities are endless with todays cgi and new tech. a gaseous form that is so different it needs a suit to interact with other life forms. like the vorlons in B5
who says it has to be humanoid like to connect with as shown with the 10c. by this time frame the gorn would have been in the federation as well as the klingons but we didnt see or hear anything of them 930 years later is kinda odd after 350+ member worlds peak that was mentioned
I would like to see more development of the bridge crew. I know it is hard in 10 episodes. DS9 had 22 or more episodes a season to develop all their recurring characters.
I guess I would also vote for less Burnham. I don't hate her like some people do, but she is my least favorite captain of any show. I don't mind story arcs over a whole season, but not make it a threat to the universe. No more Discovery saves the Universe. I like the Federation building. I would love visits to new worlds like the aliens we saw on episode 1 of season 3. That was fun. If Tilly is gone for good, someone has to step up and be the heart of the show. It could also not be so dark allthe time. Same with Picard. Even the great DS9 had lighthearted episodes in the middle of the war.
Saying all of this, I do enjoy the show. I like the cast. I believe the show has gotten better each season. Season 4 was a very Trek storyline. I just think it should have been 10 episodes.
It still has potential and could be better. Of the 5 new shows it is number 5 for me, however I like it better than Voyager, Enterprise, TOS, and TAS.
I guess I would also vote for less Burnham. I don't hate her like some people do, but she is my least favorite captain of any show. I don't mind story arcs over a whole season, but not make it a threat to the universe. No more Discovery saves the Universe. I like the Federation building. I would love visits to new worlds like the aliens we saw on episode 1 of season 3. That was fun. If Tilly is gone for good, someone has to step up and be the heart of the show. It could also not be so dark allthe time. Same with Picard. Even the great DS9 had lighthearted episodes in the middle of the war.
Saying all of this, I do enjoy the show. I like the cast. I believe the show has gotten better each season. Season 4 was a very Trek storyline. I just think it should have been 10 episodes.
It still has potential and could be better. Of the 5 new shows it is number 5 for me, however I like it better than Voyager, Enterprise, TOS, and TAS.
It's a big galaxy. They can't mention everyone. Maybe neither of those species or powers joined and keep to themselves.
Not every option is going to be voted for and its fine that some of them go blank. It helps identify the worst ideas to adopt and therefore ignore as much as its helps identify the best ideas to capitalize on. And opinions vary a lot in regards to Discovery.
Is it? IMO, the writers just need to rotate focus on a week to week basis.
One week the A plot is Burnham, Saru & Owo, and the B plot is Nilsson, Reno & Stamets.
And then the following week the A plot is Detmer & Culber and the B plot is Tilly, Rhys & Burnham
And then the week after the A plot is Burnham & Reno, the B plot is Owo, Culber & Stamets, and the C plot is Saru, Linus & Dr Pollard.
Its obviously easier to pull off when the episodes are standalone every week, but it can be done in a serialized format too.
I'd like the writers to try to make Discovery's narrative a bit more realistic.
The crew reconnected with the Federation, solved the mystery of The Burn, and saved the galaxy from Species 10-C (are the Borg members of the Federation in this era?
), and so on.... I think it's time to let some time pass so the crew can go their separate ways, age a bit, deal with the traumas and losses of the transition to the 31st Century, work to rebuild their lives, get properly educated, and so on. It really wouldn't make them any less extraordinary to have a bit more ordinary in their stories. And then some unique threat from their own era that nobody else can competently deal with emerges. Maybe something with The Preservers. I don't know. Or something happens to one of their own and they have to get back together to help. I'd like the next seasons to give these folks some good context for being in the center of action rather than just because their names are on the opening credits and they have the magic warp drive.
The crew reconnected with the Federation, solved the mystery of The Burn, and saved the galaxy from Species 10-C (are the Borg members of the Federation in this era?
), and so on.... I think it's time to let some time pass so the crew can go their separate ways, age a bit, deal with the traumas and losses of the transition to the 31st Century, work to rebuild their lives, get properly educated, and so on. It really wouldn't make them any less extraordinary to have a bit more ordinary in their stories. And then some unique threat from their own era that nobody else can competently deal with emerges. Maybe something with The Preservers. I don't know. Or something happens to one of their own and they have to get back together to help. I'd like the next seasons to give these folks some good context for being in the center of action rather than just because their names are on the opening credits and they have the magic warp drive.
Why? Even ignoring the fact those yellow jumpsuits are 900 years out of date, Book has not been sentenced to prison, he's doing community service. So why would he be wearing a prison uniform?
Not to mention, the yellow jumpsuit Michael wore was specifically a Starfleet prison uniform, you'll note the other convicts in that episode were wearing a different outfit. Since Book's not Starfleet, he certainly would not be wearing a Starfleet prison uniform.
When was Kirk ever in a relationship with one of his crew?
Realistic narrative in a Trek series? That's funny.
