Discovery ending with Season 5

[Amasov]

With the news breaking yesterday that Paramount needed to cut costs or whatever the fuck it was, I wondered if Discovery was going to fall victim to that just given the fact that it already has several years behind it. Picard ending after this season was already a given.

In some ways, I think this also speaks to a larger issue and that's keeping content exclusive to one's own streaming platform. We're in an increasingly crowded streaming marketplace where subscribers are essentially forced to jump from one platform to the other if they want to watch a certain series. Some don't even bother because they don't want to pay for yet ANOTHER streaming app just for one or two shows. If you remember, this was the number one complaint back in 2017 when Discovery was premiering on then-CBS All Access.

This is just a hot take, of course. I have absolutely no idea what Discovery's performance metrics even are. I just know that speaking from personal experience, there are plenty of other shows I would love to see across several other streaming apps, but, I'm not willing to fork out more money to see them. There's just too much content out there.

 

[Quantum21]

It shows how much the tv landscape has changed that after 65 episodes of Discovery the vibe we're being given is that it naturally ran its course, whereas after 98 episodes of Enterprise it was treated as an early cancelation despite the PR from the studio at the time.

The difference is they were expected to produce quantity for syndication then, now its OK to end shows without the forced filler.

 

[TerryTrek]

Oh thank goodness.

Discovery was expensive AF and no Netflix to pay the bills this time.

Picard S3 had a very reduced budget (it's basically a 'bottle-show' season as per The Popcast).

Hopefully now, Paramount can fully fund a 25th century Star Trek series! Onwards!

 

[Quantum21]

Oh thank goodness.

Discovery was expensive AF and no Netflix to pay the bills this time.

Picard S3 had a very reduced budget (it's basically a 'bottle-show' season as per The Popcast).

Hopefully now, Paramount can fully fund a 25th century Star Trek series! Onwards!

And looked it, every penny on the screen.

 

[Yistaan]

Keep in mind that way back in 1969, 79 episodes was considered too early to cancel TOS by its fans and later by NBC after they had cancelation regret upon running the new ratings algorithm and finding they canceled a fairly popular show. Now Star Trek Discovery is ending after 65 episodes.

This wouldn't be so bad if the Discovery episodes were actually longer than sci-fi tv episodes from literally 50+ years ago. But they aren't. They're actually about the same length.

We've traded higher special effects for less number of episodes nor is there any indication the writing quality or character development is better than TOS days. Nilsson, Bryce, Rhys, Detmer etc. still feel underdeveloped for example yet new main characters like Book kept getting added in.

 

[Tuskin38]

(it's basically a 'bottle-show' season as per The Popcast).

Why should we just some randos on the internet?

 

[Amasov]

Even though I wasn't the biggest fan of this show and it left me almost-endlessly frustrated, I'm sorry for those who truly loved it. I am certainly NOT going to take this as an opportunity to theorize on the reason for the premature ending of this series is because I think it never found itself or that it wasn't good. This isn't the time for that (and probably never will be).

 

[TerryTrek]

And looked it, every penny on the screen.

That's right. It's the one unironic complement I can pay Discovery.

My friends at 'Green Harvest' did a fantastic job with the production and VFX. Thankfully they all have job security with SNW, filmed at the new Pinewood studio.

 

[TerryTrek]

Why should we just some randos on the internet?

Because they've actually seen the episodes, and are close with M'Talas Prime.

 

[Yistaan]

Rhys: Captain, I have orders from Admiral Vance. We're to put back into Spacedock immediately, ...to be decommissioned.

Saru: If I were human, I believe my response would be 'Go to Hell!' ...If I were human.

Detmer: Course heading, Captain?

Burnham: Abandon ship! Zora, maintain position for a thousand years.

 

[F. King Daniel]

Is that slang for "he liked my tweet once"?

 

[ELCHawk]

What are "fans" going to hate watch now and then post 100 times how they hated it now?

 

[Jax]

I've found the show inconsistent but overall I have enjoyed it more than not. The 4th season finale was one of the best episodes in Trek history and what I considered a mediocre ending to season 3, it was a welcome surprise. Disco is the first Trek show, where I struggle to remember everyone's names - maybe that's my age showing but a lot of the cast always seem a little ill defined but Saru is one of the best characters in Trek lore.

SNW gets Trek better IMO but the Disco cast always looks like they had a blast, which was nice to see.

Paramount+ could give us the options to return to the show or the century sometime in a spinoff, limited series or streaming movie format.

 

[ananta]

Darn. I was looking forward to s5, now it’s not only pushed back a year and also the final season. I think this is the first indication the tide is turning with regard to streaming Trek. I’ll miss the show. I’m in a minority here but it’s maybe still my favourite of the new shows. It was bold, it took chances, it had missteps but it revived a largely dead franchise and ushered in a remarkable new era. I hope it at least goes out on a high and gets a decent finale.

 

[shivkala]

Bummer but 5 seasons is a hell of a run for any show and especially a streaming one. 65 episodes. Looking forward to the end while dreading it at the same time because it’s ending. Also dreading the hateful YouTubers who will no doubt crow about their “victory”.

Sadly, that was my thought too. The same ones who were so sure that the show would never get a second/third/fourth/fifth season will finally see it as validation they were correct.

I love Discovery so much, warts and all. That doesn't necessarily mean I think it's the best, but it's the one I love most.

The good news, for me, is that I love all the new shows. Time will tell their fates, though.

 

[JoseNoodles]

Well this is a shame, but its been a hell of a run. Most streaming shows don't last three seasons, much less five. I hope we get to see more of 32nd century in another show. I only worry that this portends more Trek shows getting the axe.

 

[Yistaan]

Discovery's legacy foremost is ushering in the new era of Trek. I think for that we can all be grateful.

However, the other major one is pushing Trek's timeframe into the 32nd century. That's possibly relegated 25th century TNG era Trek into a connect the dots mode until the 32nd century. Picard has shown no hesitation in sweeping away or killing its most prominent new characters. The other TNG era shows are animated.

The last time we had such a time jump was when TNG premiered. Any TOS tie-ins wrapped up quickly or didn't materialize like Takei's hopes for an Excelsior show. Time will tell how Discovery's jump to the 32nd century will affect Trek storytelling and if it will be for the better or for the worse but the bottom line is it is affected in a major way.

 

[BillJ]

Time will tell how Discovery's jump to the 32nd century will affect Trek storytelling and if it will be for the better or for the worse but the bottom line is it is affected in a major way.

It shouldn't affect storytelling at all. 700 years is a long time and large playground for lots of adventures.

 

[I am not Spock]

I hope they get to resolve the loose ends with Calypso

 

[mattman8907]

I hate that the new Captain Rayner (Callum Keith Rennie) will only be in the final season and we still don't know what his role is.