Spoilers Did Picard finally ''right the ship'' with Picard season 3?

[James Cole]

Anybody got any charts?

I remember lurking here in 2020, and there was a poster with lots of charts...

Huh? Also, surveys show that 74% of all statistics are made up.

That's from the More in Common / Political Tribes report. Basically a way of avoiding a buzz word that means different things to different people while also acknowledging there was a political element to the reception of the prior season by some. And 92% of the population aren't MAGA types so I'm trying to touch on it in a quick but nuanced way.

Nah, it’s only a big effing deal to those who care what Red Letter Media and the Critical Drinker have to say about that particular topic. Both have about 1.6 million subscribers. Fair bet that it’s probably largely the same audience. And 1.6 million subscribers does not suggest that all 1.6 million individuals actually all care about Star Trek or that they all agree with either’s general take on Trek or anything for that matter. I was subscribed to RLM for a long time. Stopped watching them quite awhile ago but only recently unsubscribed.

&

RLM and their ilk are not going to triple the size of viewership for a streaming TV show that's several years old, any more than Doomcock could drive the Kurtzman Star Trek shows off the air. That's arrant nonsense.

I'm not saying the YouTubers alone could triple the audience. Just that there was an initial audience drop off during season 1, and word of mouth from influencers with millions of subs could help increase the ratings and contribute to getting some of these people back. And if the audience increases, maybe we get more Star Trek set after TNG/DS9/VGR.

PIC Season 3 is a last hurrah for the TNG crew. Nothing more. DSC, whatever you think of it, is going into its fifth season. It's an older show now. The future of Star Trek on TV is Strange New Worlds. Not Picard.

It could also be the planted spin off at the end of PICARD season 3.

Indeed. I can't help thinking how laughable a Season 2 counterpart to this thread would have been (if we didn't have one): "This is the Trek we've all been waiting for!" Yeah? Don't get used to it...

Only three episodes of season 2 were released in advance. Here 6-10 were. People that worked on both season 2 and season 3 seem far more confident in this season as well.

But look, this is all hypothetical speculation. At the end of the day I'm really interesting in seeing whatever that planted spin off is, much like people wanted to see a Pike spin off in 2019.

 

[fireproof78]

But look, this is all hypothetical speculation. At the end of the day I'm really interesting in seeing whatever that planted spin off is, much like people wanted to see a Pike spin off in 2019.

So not interested in the show itself but only the future of the franchise?

 

[Campe]

I remember lurking here in 2020, and there was a poster with lots of charts...

Oh, I’m speaking of a very specific poster, who posted a lot of charts and graphs, and talked an awful lot about Canadian ratings.

That's from the More in Common / Political Tribes report. Basically a way of avoiding a buzz word that means different things to different people while also acknowledging there was a political element to the reception of the prior season by some. And 92% of the population aren't MAGA types so I'm trying to touch on it in a quick but nuanced way.

I don’t have the time or inclination to look up that report. Is this a global look or simply the United States? Or Canada? If you’re going to quote these things, need to be specific or at least provide a link. You do it with all of your YT “pundits” so why not here? Thanks.

I'm not saying the YouTubers alone could triple the audience. Just that there was an initial audience drop off during season 1, and word of mouth from influencers with millions of subs could help increase the ratings and contribute to getting some of these people back. And if the audience increases, maybe we get more Star Trek set after TNG/DS9/VGR.

Again, we’re a tenth of the way through this. Let’s wait for those Canadian ratings to see how much of a drop off there is with episode 2, okay?

 

[Ovation]

Anybody got any charts?

 

[Lord Garth]

Back in the 1950s, doctors recommended Camel cigarettes. They were fresh, they were healthy. Clearly our parents and grandparents should've listened to these professionals.

 

[Agony_Boothb]

I'm not saying the YouTubers alone could triple the audience. Just that there was an initial audience drop off during season 1, and word of mouth from influencers with millions of subs could help increase the ratings and contribute to getting some of these people back. And if the audience increases, maybe we get more Star Trek set after TNG/DS9/VGR.

Nu Trek has been doing perfectly fine without any of these people. We're five series deep with more on the way. A 25th century series will happen regardless of whether any of these fans jump onboard or not.

 

[Campe]

We have two 24th century shows: Lower Decks and Prodigy.

 

[James Cole]

So not interested in the show itself but only the future of the franchise?

Oh, I'm very much interested in PICARD season 3. I haven't been this excited for a season of anything currently airing since at least THE AMERICANS, and maybe not since the final season of BSG. But I guess I already kinda know I'll like this one, just not sure yet on the degree between great and awesomeness.

Oh, I’m speaking of a very specific poster, who posted a lot of charts and graphs, and talked an awful lot about Canadian ratings.

Ah gotcha...

I don’t have the time or inclination to look up that report. Is this a global look or simply the United States? Or Canada? If you’re going to quote these things, need to be specific or at least provide a link. You do it with all of your YT “pundits” so why not here? Thanks.

Ok here's the report on the US political typology and here for the UK. Could make for an interesting thread in TNZ over where the fanbase here falls.

Again, we’re a tenth of the way through this. Let’s wait for those Canadian ratings to see how much of a drop off there is with episode 2, okay?

I'm guardingly optimistic the season could actually increase viewership episode to episode, but yeah that is all speculation at this point.

Nu Trek has been doing perfectly fine without any of these people. We're five series deep with more on the way. A 24th century series will happen regardless of whether any of these fans jump onboard or not.

True, but there would be a difference between (a live action) one run by Michael Chabon and one by Terry Matalas.

 

[Campe]

True, but there would be a difference between (a live action) one run by Michael Chabon and one by Terry Matalas

My understanding is both Chabon and Matalas have moved on to new things.

And thank you for posting those surveys. I will look at them when I have a free moment. I’m curious to see if the surveyors own political bias come into play here.

 

[Agony_Boothb]

True, but there would be a difference between one run by Michael Chabon and one by Terry Matalas.

Not sure how that relates to how the opinion of Youtubers? Matalas is the golden child right now, but it may not necessarily be so the next time he takes the helm.

If anything Season 3 has shown how fickle the majority of haters are. All you need to do is throw in ships they like the look of, and some lcars displays and apparently star trek is back.

 

[ichab]

Did Picard finally ''right the ship'' with Picard season 3?

I'm certainly more interested in this season than in the previous ones. Picard is a great character, but he was not the only one I cared about from TNG. The first episode wasn't bad but I can't judge a season off just that.

 

[fireproof78]

Oh, I'm very much interested in PICARD season 3. I haven't been this excited for a season of anything currently airing since at least THE AMERICANS, and maybe not since the final season of BSG. But I guess I already kinda know I'll like this one, just not sure yet on the degree between great and awesomeness.

I'll take your word for it.

Not sure how that relates to how the opinion of Youtubers? Matalas is the golden child right now, but it may not necessarily be so the next time he takes the helm.

If anything Season 3 has shown how fickle the majority of haters are. All you need to do is throw in ships they like the look of, and some lcars displays and apparently star trek is back.

Damn straight. The trust I have in the majority is minimal.

 

[Campe]

Not sure how that relates to how the opinion of Youtubers? Matalas is the golden child right now, but it may not necessarily be so the next time he takes the helm.

Oh, I don’t know. One or two decisions that they don’t agree with could cause huge tectonic shifts in that part of fandom. That’s how fickle they are. Golden child, second coming, whatever, it’s all on a pin right now.

 

[James Cole]

My understanding is both Chabon and Matalas have moved on to new things.

Last I heard, Chabon was adapting a novel for Showtime in 2020, but there hasn't been any coverage since except for his Scott Rudin apology letter. Matalas has a pilot with Disney, but is still under an overall deal with CBS. He could come back and apparently is open to doing more Star Trek.

And thank you for posting those surveys. I will look at them when I have a free moment. I’m curious to see if the surveyors own political bias come into play here.

Enjoy. FWIW, Open Society Foundation funded it.

Not sure how that relates to how the opinion of Youtubers? Matalas is the golden child right now, but it may not necessarily be so the next time he takes the helm.

I like how he got his starting out in the industry as a PA on the franchise. Plus he is kinda Brannon Braga's protégé, and has a massive massive enthusiasm for Star Trek in general.

If anything Season 3 has shown how fickle the majority of haters are. All you need to do is throw in ships they like the look of, and some lcars displays and apparently star trek is back.

I guess for me it's a good sign that if the season is "getting it" with the small stuff, that's a good sign for the greater stuff down the line, let alone the canon minefield. And there is a big segment of the fanbase really into the ships and designs in and of itself.

I'll take your word for it.

 

[The Old Mixer]

Only three episodes of season 2 were released in advance. Here 6-10 were.

I was going on the impression that the OP had only seen the first one.

And that the people in charge felt the need to release 3/5 of the season to get good reviews doesn't necessarily speak to the strength of the season. You have to ask why they didn't feel that the first two or three episodes would be sufficient.

 

[Danja]

But I can understand folks dunking on Season 2 (not Season 1 - again Picard are very much like the JJ Trek films, with Season 3 being ST: Beyond).

Alex Kurtzman CO-WROTE Star Trek '09 and Into Darkness.

Matalas has a pilot with Disney, but is still under an overall deal with CBS. He could come back and apparently is open to doing more Star Trek.

It's not uncommon for producers to work on several projects at once (look at Jerry Bruckheimer).

Not sure how that relates to how the opinion of Youtubers? Matalas is the golden child right now, but it may not necessarily be so the next time he takes the helm.

If anything Season 3 has shown how fickle the majority of haters are. All you need to do is throw in ships they like the look of, and some lcars displays and apparently star trek is back.

I don't watch YouTube reviews. I don't listen to podcasts. I don't watch webinars.

I don't want to have to sit through forty-five minutes of someone banging their gums in order for them to get to the point!

Nothing screams, "I'm a self-important pr#ck!" more than someone with a podcast. (Explain to me why I should care about what you have to say.)

 

[The Wormhole]

It has been established through Canadian ratings data that the first season of PICARD lost over half its viewership as the season progressed.

Holy hell, just stop right there. Like I had to explain to our "friend" that loved posting the charts showing the Canadian ratings is that that information is literally meaningless. Those ratings are the broadcast night ratings on CTV Sci-Fi Channel, but do not reflect the fact that the episodes are available on the Canadian streaming service Crave over twelve hours before they air on CTV Sci-Fi. The only thing the decreasing numbers over the course of the season really means is that as the season progressed, more people decided to watch the episodes on Crave rather than wait until they aired on CTV Sci-Fi.

But of course, that doesn't fit the "Star Trek is Failing and Kurtzman will be fired" narrative YouTubers enjoy peddling so much.

 

[fireproof78]

Nothing screams, "I'm a self-important pr#ck!" more than someone with a podcast. (Explain to me why I should care about what you have to say.)

Exactly why I decided not to.

 

[Camren]

Season 1 was mediocre. Season 2 was the worst season of Star Trek I have ever seen. So the bar for me is set very low. With a different showrunner in charge and all of the TNG crew coming back for this season, I do have higher hopes though.
It's been a promising start, but then again S2 had one of the best opening episodes I've seen for a season before it plummeted into utter chaos as the season wore on. So will remain cautiously optimistic.

 

[Campe]

Holy hell, just stop right there. Like I had to explain to our "friend" that loved posting the charts showing the Canadian ratings is that that information is literally meaningless. Those ratings are the broadcast night ratings on CTV Sci-Fi Channel, but do not reflect the fact that the episodes are available on the Canadian streaming service Crave over twelve hours before they air on CTV Sci-Fi. The only thing the decreasing numbers over the course of the season really means is that as the season progressed, more people decided to watch the episodes on Crave rather than wait until they aired on CTV Sci-Fi.

But of course, that doesn't fit the "Star Trek is Failing and Kurtzman will be fired" narrative YouTubers enjoy peddling so much.

Not only that, but like I’ve said: Trek fans are not a monolith. We have differing opinions about what makes Trek special to us. Those who buy the line of “only Terry Trek is good, real nuTrek” have the right to their own opinions.

But they’re not the only ones who do. A lot of this conversation around what makes Trek Trek is all down to an opinion. Why?

Everyone say it with me now: Star Trek is different things to different people.