What do you mean, "she didn't know better"? She grew up in a world that, by our standards, was morally reprehensive, but that doesn't mean that all values were non-existent. The Halkans clearly had values (they were ready to die for them), those who fought the Empire clearly had values. There were still choices to make and she, at least in regards to the Talosians, choose genocide.
She had choices, and choose the worst, time and again.
BillJ
If its been addressed already I apologize.
She grew up in a society whose value was cruelty. Its was one that has existed for hundreds of years, and one she I born into. Its one that spans star systems. Thus is would be far more difficult to experience first hand and in depth the value systems of others. You use examples of Halkans and Talismans, but those groups aren't part of her society. We have no idea how much direct in person contact she has that would enable a person to learn. Typically the longer time you spend with a group, especially away from your own society the easier it is to then see the suffering of other groups.
Magnify that by centuries, by societies that are different being light years away, and being different species.
So using human comparisons aren't going to pass mustard.
Now even saying that what she did is monstrous to a degree that I can't even comprehend. Certainly in her presence I would like her dead. Just like I would want to kill Hitler (or any number of other heinous individuals). But once she comes to our universe, she does learn to be different. That doesn't make anything she did disappear it doesn't wash away her actions. But it does show that environmental aspects could impact even someone who we see as so far past the point of being "human".
One thing I liked about Discovery, is even with this change we are never put in the position where we see her as someone who is good.
With the trailer, it's actually nice that they show she was monstrous. They don't hide that (especially from new viewers). And clearly we are going to see some small aspects of her life in the mirror universe. But with a TV movie I am not expected a ton of material here. Just enough to show that she wasn't born a monster, but that she was raised in an environment to become a monster. Now what is less clear is if we will see any footage showing her become aware of her own monstrous ways, and that there are better choices one can make. I don't know if they will show any of that previously that happened.
Now for the rest of the trailer. Yeah it's a big mess. Probably the worst trailer for a Trek production I've seen.
Though there is one other nice thing about the teaser. It really doesn't show much of what the story actually is. But what is shown is a mess.....Really the only part I liked that was shown, was showing yeah she's a monster. And the brief shots showing we see how she could become a monster. The rest. Flush it down the toilet.....
