A most welcome return.
Kovich's infodump was indeed immaculate.
Kovich's infodump was indeed immaculate.
Spoilers Star Trek: Discovery 5x01 - "Red Directive"
- Thread starter Commander Richard
- Start date
Oh shit! It’s here!
I’ll be butting out of the DSC section until after the weekend when I’ve had chance to catch up!
I’ll be butting out of the DSC section until after the weekend when I’ve had chance to catch up!
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I have always thought The Chase was a great episode of TNG. It almost seems to get forgotten by Fandom. Concept is so Star Trekian. Love the interplay between professor Galen and Picard. And I always point to the episode whenever my wife says " trek is not bad but I don't buy all aleins look like humans ". It's not the best of explanations, but it is one at least
It does? I've seen it referenced on almost every Trek board and discussion platform I've been, including non Trek specific ones.
Holy shit! I literally just watched "The Chase" yesterday!
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I liked the episode. Good season opener. And the connection to TNG this season arc is awesome and I've been waiting 30 years for them to follow up on that!
A good episode, and likely the best season opener for Discovery. I just wish they had avoided a few crucial mistakes which really hampered my enjoyment.
On the good side, this was a well-paced action adventure with good utilization of most of the characters. The showrunner (Michelle Paradise) seemed to get the message that last season was too much of a downer, with the energy ticked up firmly into "romp" territory. Yet there's still plenty of focus on character, with every member of the main cast (and some of the extended cast) given a chance to shine. I also like they both introduced antagonists who seem a bit more complicated (Moll and L'ak - at least they love one another) and an ally they are clearly in conflict with (Captain Raynar). Finally, the little touches of continuity with the rest of Star Trek (first Picard Season 1, and then eventually TNG) is much appreciated. For the first time they're not just inventing a new threat out of whole cloth, but building on something that came before. And the idea of a simpler, archeological mystery plotline is pretty refreshing.
That said, some of the choices made here really took me out of the story.
The biggest one by far was having Michael and Book essentially break up off camera. Now, this isn't the fault of this episode per-se. I think the idea of them breaking up (or at least hitting a rocky patch) makes for good drama. However, last season one of the key themes seemed to be the undying love and trust between the two. Even when Book turned his back on the Federation and joined up with the closest thing the season had to a villain, Michael still didn't give up on him, and they ended the season rock solid. Now a few months of not returning calls, and they have 'issues?' This speaks to the major problem in Discovery with long-term character arcs. They don't plan enough from season to season. Really, it's Season 4's fault for having that consequence-free finale, but perhaps they believed the show was going to be canceled and wanted a happy ending? Regardless, this choice was so artificial it took me right out of the story.
A few of the scenes just didn't work either. The introduction of Captain Rayner as a disembodied voice over comms was just dumb, as it introduced a conflict without us know anything about him as a character. And while Saru's discussion with T'Rina about mortality near the end of the episode was mostly lovely, the argument that the settlement almost dying spurred it just didn't work for me, as he was not part of the away mission, the civilians were just tiny dots on the surface, and he's undoubtedly been in dozens of similar circumstances.
While I love the idea of The Chase being followed up on, I'm also a bit wary here. The whole point of that TNG episode was that the major powers believed they were on the hunt for a superweapon, but really, it was just a message from the ancient humanoids (apparently now called the progenitors). Now we hear that they actually had tech which could be a superweapon all along? Any conclusion to this may be troubling. If it's a red herring, they just retell The Chase a second time in longer form. If there really is some sort of superweapon, it completely undercuts the message of that episode.
Despite having three times as much to say about flaws/concerns, I did really like it. It's just got some major record scratches that make me see the seams.
On the good side, this was a well-paced action adventure with good utilization of most of the characters. The showrunner (Michelle Paradise) seemed to get the message that last season was too much of a downer, with the energy ticked up firmly into "romp" territory. Yet there's still plenty of focus on character, with every member of the main cast (and some of the extended cast) given a chance to shine. I also like they both introduced antagonists who seem a bit more complicated (Moll and L'ak - at least they love one another) and an ally they are clearly in conflict with (Captain Raynar). Finally, the little touches of continuity with the rest of Star Trek (first Picard Season 1, and then eventually TNG) is much appreciated. For the first time they're not just inventing a new threat out of whole cloth, but building on something that came before. And the idea of a simpler, archeological mystery plotline is pretty refreshing.
That said, some of the choices made here really took me out of the story.
The biggest one by far was having Michael and Book essentially break up off camera. Now, this isn't the fault of this episode per-se. I think the idea of them breaking up (or at least hitting a rocky patch) makes for good drama. However, last season one of the key themes seemed to be the undying love and trust between the two. Even when Book turned his back on the Federation and joined up with the closest thing the season had to a villain, Michael still didn't give up on him, and they ended the season rock solid. Now a few months of not returning calls, and they have 'issues?' This speaks to the major problem in Discovery with long-term character arcs. They don't plan enough from season to season. Really, it's Season 4's fault for having that consequence-free finale, but perhaps they believed the show was going to be canceled and wanted a happy ending? Regardless, this choice was so artificial it took me right out of the story.
A few of the scenes just didn't work either. The introduction of Captain Rayner as a disembodied voice over comms was just dumb, as it introduced a conflict without us know anything about him as a character. And while Saru's discussion with T'Rina about mortality near the end of the episode was mostly lovely, the argument that the settlement almost dying spurred it just didn't work for me, as he was not part of the away mission, the civilians were just tiny dots on the surface, and he's undoubtedly been in dozens of similar circumstances.
While I love the idea of The Chase being followed up on, I'm also a bit wary here. The whole point of that TNG episode was that the major powers believed they were on the hunt for a superweapon, but really, it was just a message from the ancient humanoids (apparently now called the progenitors). Now we hear that they actually had tech which could be a superweapon all along? Any conclusion to this may be troubling. If it's a red herring, they just retell The Chase a second time in longer form. If there really is some sort of superweapon, it completely undercuts the message of that episode.
Despite having three times as much to say about flaws/concerns, I did really like it. It's just got some major record scratches that make me see the seams.
I liked how they found out exactly what they're looking for at the beginning of the season. Boom. A lot of people complain about the mystery box format in a lot of modern trek . Overly drawn out mysteries. Like the mystery about Jack in Pic S3 I feel was dragged out too long. I appreciated how here it was right into it. Right into the adventure
We saw a Terran empire constitution interior in a previous trailer. So maybe the mirror enterprise?
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Yeah, I missed this point. This goes to how the pacing is right here. I hope this means they've written ten episodes of story this time around, and we don't get sidetracked mid season with wheel spinning and casino planets.
I was originally thinking 5, but the final scene and the connection to The Chase and the “this season on Discovery” trailer boosted it to 7. A lot of it was too discovery sentimental for my tastes (Like the scene between Burnham and Book after the runner, which was very nemesis-ish by the way) but the infodump really did make it all come together. I like Reynar already.
Ok I checked out the season premiere out of curiosity. I dipped out in early season 3.
I'd say it was comparable in quality to an early season 2 episode... falling into "watchable" territory at least. The "soap opera" scenes just dragged the pacing to a crawl. Tilly seems more cringe than as a cadet in season 1. They never explain what a Red Directive is... Kovach and Raynar were cool new characters, and the Romulans were well used. Might give the full season a try later in the year.
YouTube picture quality isn't the best, so I assumed the trading planet was mostly CGI and volume. But, according to the credits, it was filmed in northeastern Brazil! Lençóis Maranhenses National Park. Props to them for going to such a remote location.
Gave this episode a 7.
It was Ok for a setup episode. They seem to be going all in on the action stuff. I guess trying to liven it up.
A decent action packed romp. Big change in tone compared to before which has the potential to be positive. We'll see. Not so mopey.
Things that didn't quite work:
It was Ok for a setup episode. They seem to be going all in on the action stuff. I guess trying to liven it up.
A decent action packed romp. Big change in tone compared to before which has the potential to be positive. We'll see. Not so mopey.
Things that didn't quite work:
- Actors for Michael and Book just don't have enough depth to pull of their relationship. You can tell it's supposed to be oh so meaningful but it's not.
- Michael whispering again. Ugh.
- Really, the Dr. guy, forgetting his name, kept that a secret from the crew?! Didn't seem reasonable.
- Compared to SNW, it's really obvious how underdeveloped the rest of the bridge crew is. Was noticeable before but even more so with several years of SNW.
- I like the romance between Saru and the Vulcan lady before. But somehow the chemistry isn't there this year. Not working.
The parts were conceived more as "co-stars" rather than "also starring" when the series was based less on the bridge. Now that has changed, but the show is stuck with actors with limited talents playing visible characters on a regular basis.
I don't understand the early warp scene.
Burnham was trying to destroy their engines which would collapse the warp bubble.
But then is screaming at Reyner for almost collapsing the warp bubble ?
Burnham was trying to destroy their engines which would collapse the warp bubble.
But then is screaming at Reyner for almost collapsing the warp bubble ?
No, that they were tied together and that the destabilization would destroy the Antares.
Kovich. He clearly was paranoid. Paranoia is not reasonable.
They're not the main focus.
Brief comments on the episode itself, though I have not finished it.
- Actual tactics. Very nice.
- Dress uniforms are not that great, but I like Vance's.
- Actual comments around feeling out of place? Appreciate that acknowledgement.
- Burnham messes up. Appreciate the conflict with Kovich and Rayner.
- Was that a Brooklyn 99 reference: "Just Fred."
- Admiral Vance is still the best.
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They were out at the edge of the Beta Quadrant. So, yeah.
- Paul's arc is consistent with stages of development. Like the set up.
- Romulan looks like Picard.
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