Spoilers Star Trek: Discovery 5x01 - "Red Directive"

[Amasov]

Didn't love it, but, I didn't hate it either.

The Chase was never a favorite TNG episode of mine, but, if Discovery is going to try to expand the ideas of that story, I'm down for that.

As I watched this one and the subsequent episode, I could not stop focusing on how I fail to understand how Starfleet works in this century. It's hard to get any sense of how big the Federation and Starfleet are. What also baffles me is the seemingly complete disregard of the military language that was so present on the other shows. You can tell me that's just how Discovery does it, and you're probably right, but for many MANY iterations of Trek there has been an established formality to how Starfleet officers speak to one another, to their superiors, and subordinates. Why Discovery mostly ignores this is just odd to me.

 

[fireproof78]

Why Discovery mostly ignores this is just odd to me.

Because there's no purpose behind it at this point, but even then, there is still a formality to their language, it just isn't couched in stiffness and extreme formaility.

 

[Amasov]

Because there's no purpose behind it at this point, but even then, there is still a formality to their language, it just isn't couched in stiffness and extreme formaility.

That didn't take very long.

 

[fireproof78]

That didn't take very long.

To have a discussion? I always wondered what type of formality is being looked for?

Maybe I've heard too many of my uncle's Army stories of him threatening to charge his commanding general.

 

[Lakenheath 72]

AFAIK, the current generation of writers have not served in the military. It is not the best excuse for there is a go-around - ask people who have served in the military how the chain of command works. However, reading comments made by commentators about current issues, like homelessness, it is evident to me that doing research is another one of those skills that is sadly disappearing, and people are content to work within what they know. <shrug>

As to the size of the Federation, they are large enough to cover most of what would have been the core systems of the 24th century Federation. It is said in the episode that they are expanding, taking over many of the courier trading routes. The courier trading routes that we know about are largely in the Beta Quadrant, so it is probable that the Federation is expanding into the BQ.

 

[Lord Garth]

AFAIK, the current generation of writers have not served in the military.

Your point stands, but the last two generations, actually. Only the TOS writers had military experience, thanks to World War II. It's the movies, not the series, but Harve Bennett served in Korea.

From TNG onward, Ron Moore came the closest. He wanted to join the Navy to become a fighter pilot but was physically disqualified.

 

[WarpFactorZ]

So, Discovery decides the best way to go out is to tie itself directly to TNG/Picard and SNW. Very strong... No wonder I gave up on the show after the 2nd season.

 

[Tuskin38]

So, Discovery decides the best way to go out is to tie itself directly to TNG/Picard and SNW. Very strong... No wonder I gave up on the show after the 2nd season.

It’s still doing its own thing with it

 

[Quantum21]

So, Discovery decides the best way to go out is to tie itself directly to TNG/Picard and SNW. Very strong... No wonder I gave up on the show after the 2nd season.

It's continuing a strand ripe for expansion. Picard could have done it in season 3 but didn't.

 

[Tuskin38]

https://twitter.com/gaghyogi49/status/1778474182646341843
"Timothy Peel has kindly provided us with the names of the holographic planets seen early in #StarTrekDiscovery's "Red Directive": Schlerm IV, Ckaptir II and Kaminar Ni'Var, Kaijur XII and Hunhau They have been seen/mentioned before or are the homeworlds of known species."

Fun fact, the Schlerm species actually first appeared in Beyond. I think. It's one of the Kelvin films.

Might be the only species from those films to show up outside of them.

 

[Mr. Adventure]

Wasn't Schlerm in Futurama? It sounds familar.

nonsensical escape sequence cum disaster

No one's going to touch this? OK, I'll be mature...

 

[Commander Troi]

No one's going to touch this? OK, I'll be mature...

What fun is that?

 

[Quantum21]

https://twitter.com/gaghyogi49/status/1778474182646341843
"Timothy Peel has kindly provided us with the names of the holographic planets seen early in #StarTrekDiscovery's "Red Directive": Schlerm IV, Ckaptir II and Kaminar Ni'Var, Kaijur XII and Hunhau They have been seen/mentioned before or are the homeworlds of known species."

Fun fact, the Schlerm species actually first appeared in Beyond. I think. It's one of the Kelvin films.

Might be the only species from those films to show up outside of them.

Cool. I think they're playing up the Federation and it's members this year.

The Gorn almost showed up on Kelvin but were seen first in SNW. There was some producer out there who had to bring them back.

 

[Quantum21]

Your point stands, but the last two generations, actually. Only the TOS writers had military experience, thanks to World War II. It's the movies, not the series, but Harve Bennett served in Korea.

From TNG onward, Ron Moore came the closest. He wanted to join the Navy to become a fighter pilot but was physically disqualified.

No Gulf war vets eh?

There might have been one or two.

Has anyone mentioned the Elderly Romulan Scientist was wearing a skirt, yet?

Toga to you

 

[Lord Garth]

No Gulf war vets eh?

There might have been one or two.

The Gulf War was short, very short. And it was in early-'91. By that point, most of the TNG writing staff was already in place. The same people who would go on to write DS9 and VOY. That's why the Berman Era became so worn out by the end. It was mostly the same people. ENT, I don't know. I would bet against there being any vets among the new hires at the time.

The reason why TOS had so many WWII vets in the cast and crew was because of the draft. Same thing later on with Korea and with Vietnam. After Vietnam, it's been an all-volunteer service. Therefore, there's MUCH less likely to be vets in the writing staff.

These days, if there are any veterans writing for New Trek, they probably would've served in Afghanistan or Iraq. I think if there were any, we would've heard about it by now. Long before now. Someone would've pointed it out whenever a basher would say, "None of these writers have served in the military!" If I knew of any veterans in the writing staff, you'd bet I would've hit back with that fact at some point in the past. I would've, but I haven't, because it's not the case as far as I know.

 

[Jedman67]

I really enjoyed this episode. It was like the action from Nemesis but with better writing. I don't mind the familiarity between officers, considering what the crew of Discovery and the Federation in general has been through, I think it makes sense.

(and also, is Starfleet really a military? lol)

 

[Quantum21]

I really enjoyed this episode. It was like the action from Nemesis but with better writing. I don't mind the familiarity between officers, considering what the crew of Discovery and the Federation in general has been through, I think it makes sense.

(and also, is Starfleet really a military? lol)

They didn't break the Prime Directive in this one, but they did annoy some prickly new Federation members. So touchy.

 

[Cr0sis21]

The Gulf War was short, very short. And it was in early-'91. By that point, most of the TNG writing staff was already in place. The same people who would go on to write DS9 and VOY. That's why the Berman Era became so worn out by the end. It was mostly the same people. ENT, I don't know. I would bet against there being any vets among the new hires at the time.

The reason why TOS had so many WWII vets in the cast and crew was because of the draft. Same thing later on with Korea and with Vietnam. After Vietnam, it's been an all-volunteer service. Therefore, there's MUCH less likely to be vets in the writing staff.

These days, if there are any veterans writing for New Trek, they probably would've served in Afghanistan or Iraq. I think if there were any, we would've heard about it by now. Long before now. Someone would've pointed it out whenever a basher would say, "None of these writers have served in the military!" If I knew of any veterans in the writing staff, you'd bet I would've hit back with that fact at some point in the past. I would've, but I haven't, because it's not the case as far as I know.

I don't think you necessarily have to have people in the military to write about the military, though (See: Tom Clancy).
It just requires doing even a modicum of research and actually wanting to portray it that way.
Nicholas Meyer, I don't think, was ever in the military but his Trek was VERY militarized.

 

[Lord Garth]

I don't think you necessarily have to have people in the military to write about the military, though (See: Tom Clancy).
It just requires doing even a modicum of research and actually wanting to portray it that way.
Nicholas Meyer, I don't think, was ever in the military but his Trek was VERY militarized.

This is true, but I was strictly talking about whether or not there were veterans in the writing staff.

 

[Cr0sis21]

This is true, but I was strictly talking about whether or not there were veterans in the writing staff.

Ah. Yeah, I'm pretty sure that's not a common thing these days. But I think it would help if there was one.