The JJ movies weren't to my liking. So I learned to keep my expectations low. Nevertheless I am really liking Discovery. It has interesting characters with some depth (in my opinion) played by good actors. It seems the writers have gone out of their way to make it old-school Trek-ish with the dilemma re. the treatment of the tardigrade. I somewhat miss the episodic sci-fi "what-if" aspect of TNG and some TOS, but -- and this is huge -- I never know what's coming next. As my daughter and I watched through Enterprise finally, I could often say someone's next line, and we always played the predict-what'll-happen game. in episodic Trek (not the serialized DS9 so much), we knew it would be ship- or person-in-danger; then out-of-danger within 42 minutes. Now I really have no idea where this show is going or what's going to happen in an episode. I thought I wouldn't enjoy serialized storytelling or the serious tone, but this is enjoyable. And, Discovery is not nearly as pew-pew "kewl" as the trailers made me fear. If anyone else has been pleasantly surprised, care to weigh in and say why/how?
When announced and before any details were known, I was completely uninterested in a series with the following elements: 1. Heavy serialization 2. War 3. Political intrigue in space 4. darker, more ambiguous characters I was proven wrong on every count, despite the series being almost exactly what I didn't want. I find myself liking DSC more than any of the other post-TOS series at this phase of their lifecycle. By a LOT.
Just watched the first 3 episodes last night and I'm seriously impressed! I love the ongoing storyline and the FX are great. I even like the new Klingons that so many are complaining about.
I liked TNG and DS9. I did not like Voyager (I liked the fact that it had a female captain, but I didn't like the way her character was written). I really disliked Enterprise and Archer. When I read about a new series being planned, I didn't pay much attention. I didn't watch the pilot when it was released. I waited a week or two. I loved it from the second Georgiou and Burnham appeared on screen. I guess this isn't a spoiler thread, so I can't write what, exactly, I loved about it, but it was wonderful.
Just having a beautifully produced, lovingly crafted new Star Trek series on television again was my main reason for tuning in. Unlike some others, I was drawn in by the Mozart Klingons and their unfolding story complete with subtitles, and the tardigrade release last episode after regarded as a monster initially put that Trek stamp on the show. Mudd was well-handled, and the grey areas of war being explored brings DS9 back to mind just a bit, with Orca. Am eager to see how the 15 episodes play out...
Like many, since in the past some of the Trek shows had disappointed me, I approached Discovery with some trepidation. Thankfully, they proved my fears unfounded thus far in this case. I am loving every episode, and for the first time in a long time I am eagerly looking forward to each new one. I've even got my main character in Star Trek Online decked out in his Discovery uniform that they gave out recently.
Mark me down as another huge DSC fan. I love the serial approach. Babylon 5 introduced the concept to me in SciFi and the reboot Battlestar made me a big fan. I have no issue with the concepts of war, politics, or dark characters. IMO that's a part of real life and it's the source of intrigue. I love the story being told from Burnham's POV. It's a refreshing change from the usual captain's perspective. As for those who complain about this show not being consistent with Roddenberry's vision, IMO the themes explored so fare are perfectly in line with Roddenberry's vision. We have a war rough about ostensibly because the Klingons feel it is the Federation who are the expansionist and they fear the future for their people. We just saw the excellent segment with the tardigrade - what seemed like a monster was in fact a highly developed life form. We have a first officer who was court martialled and now has to seek redemption in unexpected ways. Too many people take the existence of Trek for granted. When the rebooted Battlestar Galactica premiered there were similar howls of disapproval from the "traditionalists". And look how it turn out. BSG became on of the nest SciFi shows ever! I'm really rooting for Discovery. I'm rooting for any and all fan wank when it comes to incorporating Shatner, Nichols, Takei or Koenig into Discovery.
Oh yeah. The special effects are tremendous. Compare it with the special effects on The Orville. Theirs are really poorly done. And their plots are a joke.
I've been pleasantly surprised. Like many battered and bruised trek fans, I was dreaming of, but not relatively hopeful of a good Trek series. So far I have to say the writing's been good, better than TNG season 1, i still think I like DS9 season 1 better so far, but still the writing has been good. The acting is superb and I like where they are going with the plot. I now feel that there is great promise with this show when it finally hits it's high water mark, whatever that may be.
I was so ready to hate Discovery based on the trailers and the pilot, but subsequent episodes have really only gotten better and have grasped that spark that makes a Star Trek series "Star Trek". It's a competent balance of classic Trek and today's more action oriented serialized television.
Right now I'm still giving TOS the top spot on that due to the fact that they were created 50 years ago in a different time and are still enjoyable. I'm sure if I had been alive in 1966 seeing them my mind would have been completely blown away. With time my opinion could change. But I definitely agree that DIS blows the rest out of the water. TNG, VOY and ENT had pedestrian first seasons. DS9's wasn't bad, but nothing extra special until the end of that season. @OP: I didn't have any expectations with this show. I always try and keep an open mind when watching new entertainment. First couple episodes didn't impress me at all as it was all backstory and could have been told in a ten minute flashback. Once we were on the Discovery ship in the third episode it has gotten better and better.