Does this series seem more mature and grittier than the other series?

[XCV330]

When I learn what mature means, I'll reply to that.

In terms of content and subject matter, its grit is on part with DS9. We haven't seen Starfleet officers walking around with necklaces made from trophies cut from their enemies' bodies, DS9 still has that. It has had allusion to prison rape so it's about on par with other Trek shows that have done rape, ghost-rape, mind-meld rape, etc. Insane brilliant captain possibly in over his head, wait that's been done so many times its a trope, only this time he's a wonderfully written character. And let's see, a character who went through loss in war, torturous pain and then weeks trying to recover mentally hiding away among humans.. wait.. holy crap.. Voq is Nog!

Id say right now Discovery is on par with DS9 for grit, if they were both sandpaper.

 

[Rahul]

Grittier?
Absolutely. No Star Trek series has ever had that level of gore in it. We saw close-ups of kills/mutilated corpses every single episode (save the premiere two-parter).

More mature?
Absolutely not. DIS is surprisingly pulpy for how serious it takes itself.
DS9 had a way more sober way of portraying war, TNG is miles ahead in social commentary, TOS in character dynamics, and VOY in portraying female authority figures.

Does it have the potential to become more mature?
Yes. Once they find a consistent tone and ditch their overly campy liabilities (the klingon war arc in particular, the general tropiness of everything in general). And it's quite surprising how nuanced Treks first homosexual relationship has been portrayed so far. Good job there. The seeds for greatness are clearly visible, and the show IMO clearly succeeds in character portrayal. If the rest of the show can follow? Sure.

 

[Kor]

I would say Discovery seems not be very family friendly or light hearted like the other series. I haven't seen much humor in it so far either.

Grittier and less family-friendly, yes.

However, it would need a somewhat higher level of storytelling depth and complexity before I describe it as truly "mature."

Kor

 

[seigezunt]

Less G-rated, definitely, and that's an improvement. More mature? Eh, it seems pretty much in line with the franchise in that regard. Gritty? Not really. But more violent in some respects.

 

[Spot261]

I'm not personally sold on the idea trek has ever really been family friendly, it's hard to watch TOS and find many episodes that didn't involve significant sex and/or violence, murder, torture or executions. Likewise so far nothing in DSC (including CYP) has remotely compared to the impact of Picard being tortured in "Chains of Command" for me personally. Likewise "The Siege of AR558" still feels a far more genuine and harrowing portrayal of the horrors of war than BotBS.

I think the dark visual aesthetic and lack of humour is tending to bring those aspects to the forefront in ways that were moderated by the campier, more colourful tone of TOS or the ethical focus and seemingly perfect characterisations of TNG. Nonetheless sex, violence and the consequences of conflict have always figured heavily in (crucially) the best trek and whilst this show has its' shortcomings I don't fully accept it's genuinely treading new ground in terms of adult content.

 

[Uhura's Song]

Grittier? Yes. More mature? No. Absent the R rated content, of course.

I think some on here don't really understand what mature means. I mean, it has been more graphic (language, gore, nudity), but I don't think the stories are any more mature at all. In fact, I think the stories have been a tad less developed in terms of exploring ethical/moral aspects of humanity because of the war footing. Win at all costs.

When issues have come up, they have been pretty telegraphed (Tardigrade, Stamets).

I will say the crew has more shades of gray than previous Trek. They crew has always been good/by the book baring alien takeover or strange circumstance.

However, I think before the grey had to come from the story. Now, with it coming from the crew, the story is a bit more straightforward & less developed.

 

[Wadjda]

Grittier?
Absolutely. No Star Trek series has ever had that level of gore in it. We saw close-ups of kills/mutilated corpses every single episode (save the premiere two-parter).

More mature?
Absolutely not. DIS is surprisingly pulpy for how serious it takes itself.
DS9 had a way more sober way of portraying war, TNG is miles ahead in social commentary, TOS in character dynamics, and VOY in portraying female authority figures.

Does it have the potential to become more mature?
Yes. Once they find a consistent tone and ditch their overly campy liabilities (the klingon war arc in particular, the general tropiness of everything in general). And it's quite surprising how nuanced Treks first homosexual relationship has been portrayed so far. Good job there. The seeds for greatness are clearly visible, and the show IMO clearly succeeds in character portrayal. If the rest of the show can follow? Sure.

Discoveryes lows as social commentary will not be as hamfisted as TNG.

 

[Long Syntax]

Yes, both grittier and more mature - not that either makes it more or less watchable for me. Things like Klingon boobies and more graphic depictions of rape could (and rightly so) make it less appropriate for family consumption though, which is somewhat of a disappointment. But hey - I'm still watching it.

 

[Rahul]

Discoveryes lows as...

What?

 

[lab rat]

Grittier? Yes. More mature? No. Absent the R rated content, of course.

I think some on here don't really understand what mature means. I mean, it has been more graphic (language, gore, nudity), but I don't think the stories are any more mature at all. In fact, I think the stories have been a tad less developed in terms of exploring ethical/moral aspects of humanity because of the war footing. Win at all costs.
---- snip ---

As an example of the above I would like to offer as an example the stories of the Horta in TOS and Tin Man in TNG. Looking back at these the treatment of the alien was a little more complex than the story of Ripper which came across as caged animal -> set it Free! More of a classic Disney kids movie.

 

[Vger23]

As an example of the above I would like to offer as an example the stories of the Horta in TOS and Tin Man in TNG. Looking back at these the treatment of the alien was a little more complex than the story of Ripper which came across as caged animal -> set it Free! More of a classic Disney kids movie.

I'm sorry, but most TNG-era shows have the subtlety and maturity of a science-fiction version of an After School Special. That's not to say that they aren't fun and entertaining in their own way. It's just bogus to say they are "mature." Because they aint.

Discovery, on its character complexity alone, has that edge.

 

[RedAlert]

I feel overwhelmed with the excess of things to assimilate on every chapter.
Too much cream for this cake.
I miss the old and simple Trek... but I can live with that.

 

[tomalak301]

I feel overwhelmed with the excess of things to assimilate on every chapter.
Too much cream for this cake.
I miss the old and simple Trek... but I can live with that.

I called last night's episode filling and I meant that in a good way. There was just a lot to take in and think about. I still think the idea of maturity is only used to bash something in this context which is why I don't think this series is more mature than the others.

 

[Prax]

I still think the idea of maturity is only used to bash something in this context

What do you mean?

 

[Blamo]

The show is grittier than most past Trek simply because most past Trek was bad at character drama and generally looked for easy ways out (DS9 and even TOS excluded).

I haven't seen much humor in it so far either.

Certainly not in comparison to DS9 or TOS, but compared to TNG it's has slightly more attempts at humour (with the benefit of the jokes actually being funny).

 

[tomalak301]

What do you mean?

In the past I've seen people use the idea of maturity to talk negatively about a series but I think in this context it doesn't work well.

If we're only talking about discovery, it's probably mature for Discovery. I don't really know what that means though.

 

[Gul Sengosts]

Certainly not in comparison to DS9 or TOS, but compared to TNG it's has slightly more attempts at humour (with the benefit of the jokes actually being funny).

Hm, in terms of humour I rank TNG highest actually (and DSC lowest)

 

[Refuge]

Reflection. It is grittier - Lorca in a torture booth. Mature? Only if Trek caricatures doing the dumbest things is considered mature. It's almost like a dark unintentional comedy.

 

[johnjm22]

I think the show is very immature and cornball. That's part of the problem with it. The writing is on par with a Saturday morning children's action cartoon.

It's probably the "grittiest" Trek show however in terms of violence and visuals.

 

[Prax]

Reflection. It is grittier - Lorca in a torture booth. Mature? Only if Trek caricatures doing the dumbest things is considered mature. It's almost like a dark unintentional comedy.

It's all in the music