Discovery and "The Orville" Comparisons

[ITDUDE]

Galaxyquest is probably a more attainable goal.

Galaxy Quest is light years ahead of both of these. Sorry, there is Galaxy Quest, and then there is everyone else.

 

[rahullak]

Tim "The Galaxyman" Taylor? Sure, why not.

 

[fireproof78]

"More Like Trek".
Can't figure that one out. Trek means different things to different people--it's a big umbrella.

I don't think i'll ever understand...

 

[Roald]

Galaxy Quest is light years ahead of both of these. Sorry, there is Galaxy Quest, and then there is everyone else.

Sure it is...

 

[BillJ]

P.S. I somehow missed DVRing 3 eps, dammit. Why the hell isn't this on Netflix? I already have it and CBS All Access; fucked if I'm paying for Hulu too. Damned Ferengi.

The episodes might be available On Demand for free through your cable.

I started watching Orville this weekend. I really like it. Oddly enough, in spite of the zaniness, it feels like classic Trek. It's FUN!

There are a lot of folks saying the same thing.

"More Like Trek".
Can't figure that one out. Trek means different things to different people--it's a big umbrella.

The Orville reminds me more of the original Star Trek on TV than anything since season two of TNG. There is a sense of people embracing the adventure that hasn't been in Star Trek in a really long time.

 

[Borgminister]

To each their own!

 

[Rahul]

I think by its very nature, Star Trek doesn't play very well as "dark" over a period of time. There's too much in the way of "suspension of belief" for ridiculous concepts for the "dark" to actually feel dark. Things like the spore drive, or hybrid alien characters or transporter.

I think you hit the nail right here: Star Trek, at it's very core, depends on so many ludicrous elements, it has to embrace them at some point, otherwise it's suspension of disbelieve get's crushed.

Battlestar Galactica was IMO perfectly capable of pulling off that dark, realistic tone. But they went so far as to never even show a humanoid alien, lest them talking the same language or even interbreed. It was very, very controlled in everything that it ever showed, as to never, ever cross the realm into "unrealistic". Star Trek simply isn't capapble of pulling that off, by simple virtue of it's nature as a fantastical space opera.

Star Trek of course CAN tell dark stories. And it has the Borg. But those stories are usually dark and realistic in their nature instead of their execution, in that they are telling "honest" stories, not necessary "realistic" ones. Much like superheroe stories, that still can tell us honest things about human relationships, grief and fear, even while having the main character being able to fly and wear his undies on the outside.

I guess, for Star Trek to be believable, it must tell emotionally honest stories, while so far, DIS has tried to tell "realistic" stories, which they just didn't really succeed at.

 

[Spider]

After watching one episode of the Orville all the way through, and attempting to watch about three others, I've given up on it. I'll come back to it later and see if it improves. It's got spaceships in outer space, which is always the big thing with me. Discovery, I'm kinda sorta maybe almost sure I kinda sorta like it. Some.

I'm disappointed that two new scifi shows with spaceships fail to engage me. Really disappointed, because that's my favorite kind of TV show.

 

[fireproof78]

I guess, for Star Trek to be believable, it must tell emotionally honest stories, while so far, DIS has tried to tell "realistic" stories, which they just didn't really succeed at.

Maybe. I think the emotionally honest part will come more as Michael grows.

 

[Mudd]

I think you hit the nail right here: Star Trek, at it's very core, depends on so many ludicrous elements, it has to embrace them at some point, otherwise it's suspension of disbelieve get's crushed.

Battlestar Galactica was IMO perfectly capable of pulling off that dark, realistic tone. But they went so far as to never even show a humanoid alien, lest them talking the same language or even interbreed. It was very, very controlled in everything that it ever showed, as to never, ever cross the realm into "unrealistic". Star Trek simply isn't capapble of pulling that off, by simple virtue of it's nature as a fantastical space opera.

Star Trek of course CAN tell dark stories. And it has the Borg. But those stories are usually dark and realistic in their nature instead of their execution, in that they are telling "honest" stories, not necessary "realistic" ones. Much like superheroe stories, that still can tell us honest things about human relationships, grief and fear, even while having the main character being able to fly and wear his undies on the outside.

I guess, for Star Trek to be believable, it must tell emotionally honest stories, while so far, DIS has tried to tell "realistic" stories, which they just didn't really succeed at.

Yep, pretty much all that.