Spoilers Star Trek: Discovery 1x01 - "The Vulcan Hello"

Pretty much my feelings at this point. I'm not going to give up on it though until I've seen the Discovery and Lorca in action. I hope once the real series starts going it's better than this prequel opening to a prequel series.

 

I liked it a lot better than Encounter, or any of the other series' openers for that matter. That doesn't mean I think its 'great', just that I will keep watching. For now.

 

Was that really who it was? I never would have guessed.

 

The whole point of this scene per General Order #1, is to show that this pre-TOS version is more flexible than the Prime Directive in TNG. Here, it is acceptable to minimally interfere provided (presumably) you don't change their culture. Burnham even indicates that it would be permissible to reveal herself to the natives for her survival. The writers aren't ignorant of the PD, they are just showing the differences that will allow for more/different conflict than in TNG.

- So anyone who is anti-violence/a pacifist is barred from Starfleet? An organization whose primary mission is exploration and who "never fires first". Seems like he fits in perfectly. Also, he is science division, not command. He provides his recommendations and the command officers decide.
- Agreed: the Klingons talk too stiffly. But the few shots of them walking around and moving they seemed fine.They just need to write more action and less standing around into the other episodes.
- Ever walked a switchback trail? Or walked down a ridge and needed to change direction at the bottom? There are many good reasons for a change in direction. And she wasn't surprised that they changed direction, just that they walked in a complete circle.
- Asteroid field: it only makes sense they would do what they could to minimize her exposure time, but they also have to worry about collisions with asteroids. Plus we don't see their rescue efforts. To say they don't close the distance is your own unfounded speculation not based on what is presented in the episode.
- Windows: Windows in Trek are at the very least an improved version of transparent aluminum, so you are basically saying "a metal hull around the bridge? Still a bad idea."
- Pacing: yeah, the Klingon bits were slow.
- Sarek: so one of our characters knows a previously known character. So what? That is this story. That is her background. If everyone and his brother start stopping by, then we might have something problematic.

This kind of "opinion" still baffles me, makes me frustrated, and makes me laugh. I think this just reveals pre-existing bias against the show and not an objective look at the graphics.

"unremitting hostility" doesn't preclude few contacts. It just means that each and every contact we have had with them, however frequent or scarce, have been hostile. Seems to fit with Donatu V and Burnham's childhood. No problem there.

I agree 100%.

Just a note, Geordi does it in "Justice" too. To see the Edo god ship.

 

What? You expect nuTrek to take science into consideration when a bright light is so much more dramatic?

Weak writing and poor pacing in the first episode. Sadly, with part 2 only available on CBS All Access, the first part had to come out swinging HARD in order to convince folks that they needed to see part two. Instead, we got a slow plodding story with an over abundance of subtitles and an XO that didn't once display that she should have really had the job.

Also, sand that doesn't blow in a sand storm. Seriously?

 

The look and style of the episode was fantastic. The premise of the story is very good as well. I though the execution was a little clunky though. So, a good episode that was definitely entertaining. It wasn't dull or a home run.

On the plus side, it was very easy to believe that this was taking place 10 years before TOS. It just felt like it fit right in timeline properly despite the improved SFx. The series clearly is not a reboot. So, that was cool.

I agree with the comments that starting with a long Klingon speech was odd. Not the most interesting way to suck in new viewers.

 

Presumably they're coming back to this planet. You noticed the creature that came out of the well? I wouldn't be surprised if it ate the eggs that we saw. This incident might be what leads to the Prime Directive as we know it.

You've probably got it all backwards. They've got their Trek knowledge and they're showing how we got to a point that has already been established--the Prime Directive. Remember the producer guy saying, it might look like they're violating canon but it'll be explained.

Patience! I'm virtually certain this is an example of that.

 

I disagree with the entirety of your post, except for the bit above. I agree that CBS should've just showed the first two episodes as a two hour movie on their free broadcast channels. The first episode along wasn't much of a teaser to draw people in.

 

It came to the well. To drink.

 

This is exactly what's wrong with subtitles.

 

Nothing came out of the well, that was one of the aliens

 

"We're beaming the Captain and Exec down to the planet to fix a well, despite an approaching dust storm, and despite the fact that we have no technological capability of communicating with them or locating them in the event of a dust storm."

 

I liked Sarek. And I like the degree of Vulcan-ness (I think McCoy would say Vulcanosity) Burnham displays.

But on reflection the subtitled Klingons bug me more - I think the episode would have worked much better not showing the Klingons until Burnham and Shenzou discovered them.

Still, the main disappointment was the failure to sell Burnham's big decision, despite focusing the ep so much on her.

Initial rating: 6. I'm going to rewatch and then watch the second ep, if they recorded correctly after the last minute shenanigans from CBS (which CTV and Space went along with).

 

It does take you out of the episode. "You've served under me for seven years and now it's time for you to get your own command." Something like that would've been more natural.

 

Very TOS like. Apparently Star Fleet didn't change that until TNG!

 

I enjoyed the episode, I thought it did a good job setting up Michael and had some great visuals. The desert scene was a bit clunky though (is that really the best time to talk about Michael getting her own ship???). Also I've never been particularly interested in the Klingons and this episode did nothing to change that.

 

Really? I must've blinked at the wrong moment.

 

Apparently I blinked at the wrong moment. I thought it came shooting out of the well.