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Spoilers Is Picard season 2 a failure?

1) It's false information. The "Yellowstone" spin-off "1883" it the top show on Paramount Plus
2) That Paramount Plus is "not even close to being king of the streaming wars" is an understatement. When was the last time a PP show was in the Nielsen streaming Top 10?



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You're wrong, Halo is.

https://collider.com/halo-most-watched-series-paramount-plus/
 
There’s a lot riding on the finale. DSC season four, in spite of some pacing issues, was redeemed for me by a particularly strong season finale. I’m hoping PIC does the same.

I hear they are bringing back Stacey Abrams again.
 
Of the Kurtzman era, I've only seen STD seasons 1 and 2, three episodes of Lower Decks, and now the first nine episodes of Picard season 2. Is Picard season 2 perfect? Far from it, and any pre-2005 seasons would beat it hands down (granted I haven't seen the season finale, so my assessment could change). But I found it far far better than anything put out on the Discovery side. And it seems leaps and bounds better than Picard season 1, which I followed from afar with sheer horror based on the Red Letter Media and other YouTube recaps (some of whom warned it retroactively ruined TNG for them).

In broad strokes, the episode to episode outline for the season seems serviceable. As the episodes go on, it does sizably slip in quality, part of which I'd attribute to Terry Matalas leaving to develop season 3 and Aliva Goldsman and the dropped in at midseason and having her name on 3 of the 4 worst episodes Jane Maggs taking over the lead. At least one of the 12 Monkeys guys is writing the finale with Goldsman, so maybe it picks up!
 
Of the Kurtzman era, I've only seen STD seasons 1 and 2, three episodes of Lower Decks, and now the first nine episodes of Picard season 2. Is Picard season 2 perfect? Far from it, and any pre-2005 seasons would beat it hands down (granted I haven't seen the season finale, so my assessment could change). But I found it far far better than anything put out on the Discovery side. And it seems leaps and bounds better than Picard season 1, which I followed from afar with sheer horror based on the Red Letter Media and other YouTube recaps (some of whom warned it retroactively ruined TNG for them).

In broad strokes, the episode to episode outline for the season seems serviceable. As the episodes go on, it does sizably slip in quality, part of which I'd attribute to Terry Matalas leaving to develop season 3 and Aliva Goldsman and the dropped in at midseason and having her name on 3 of the 4 worst episodes Jane Maggs taking over the lead. At least one of the 12 Monkeys guys is writing the finale with Goldsman, so maybe it picks up!

I think you should watch Picard one. It was a fantastic season and Red Letter Media spouts nonsense.

You might also like the retool of Discovery with season 3.
 
Of the Kurtzman era, I've only seen STD seasons 1 and 2, three episodes of Lower Decks, and now the first nine episodes of Picard season 2. Is Picard season 2 perfect? Far from it, and any pre-2005 seasons would beat it hands down (granted I haven't seen the season finale, so my assessment could change). But I found it far far better than anything put out on the Discovery side. And it seems leaps and bounds better than Picard season 1, which I followed from afar with sheer horror based on the Red Letter Media and other YouTube recaps (some of whom warned it retroactively ruined TNG for them).

In broad strokes, the episode to episode outline for the season seems serviceable. As the episodes go on, it does sizably slip in quality, part of which I'd attribute to Terry Matalas leaving to develop season 3 and Aliva Goldsman and the dropped in at midseason and having her name on 3 of the 4 worst episodes Jane Maggs taking over the lead. At least one of the 12 Monkeys guys is writing the finale with Goldsman, so maybe it picks up!


Well Picard makes disco look like ds9.

So that's a positive, I learned it can get much much worse.

And am rewatching disco with no nitpicking.
 
I've certainly enjoyed this season of Picard more than season 4 of Disco, which I thought was a huge letdown.

But even season 4 of Disco is MILES better than season 2 of Enterprise. It's like they were deliberately trying to run the show into the ground with what they put out.
 
I think you should watch Picard one. It was a fantastic season and Red Letter Media spouts nonsense.

You might also like the retool of Discovery with season 3.

Thank you for the suggestions. I'm open to constructively engaging with NuTrek, but I do have my limits.

On Picard season 1... unfortunately RLM and others have clips to back up their negative points. Even the RLM season 2 opener managed to bring up new season 1 clips that made me shudder. Maybe, maybe if somehow Picard season 3 does a hard reset button on season 1 I'd check it out. But the eye gouging, completely destroying Seven's character, destroying Riker and Troi's characters over the death of their child, Picard getting f-bombed by an admiral, Michael Chabon wanting to gaslight half the fanbase, and oh yeah let's wipe out 20 years of novel continuity for this mess of character assassination... I mean, I can just think of much more fun ways to take say three months off my life. But, having not seen it myself, I admit I cannot offer a fully formed opinion on it, only why I'm actively avoiding it.

On STD season 3... it has been alleged that the plot of the season revolves around a Kelpian on a dilithium planet having a psychic temper tantrum that destroys most of the dilithium in the galaxy, causing the (smh on the phrasing) "Burn", the Federation has been "(Gene Roddenberry's) Andromeda"-ed, that the show is set in the 32nd century but somehow disregards all the 29th and 31st century long distance travel technology established on VGR and ENT, that it retcons the portrayal of the Guardian of Forever, messes with the Trill, and even has eating shit jokes. Although apparently there's a parasitic ice episode that's decently watchable? But yeah, maybe maybe when the show is over and Kurtzman has moved on I might check it out?

However, I actually watched three Lower Decks episodes (2 of the 3 I liked, granted these were the best regarded episodes of the series), so it's not like like I'm one of those burn everything with Kurtzman's name to the ground people. I might even go back to the Lower Decks board and say alright the series is ok, now can you please tell me which episodes I should avoid so as to not otherwise blacklist that series...
 
Thank you for the suggestions. I'm open to constructively engaging with NuTrek, but I do have my limits.

On Picard season 1... unfortunately RLM and others have clips to back up their negative points. Even the RLM season 2 opener managed to bring up new season 1 clips that made me shudder. Maybe, maybe if somehow Picard season 3 does a hard reset button on season 1 I'd check it out. But the eye gouging, completely destroying Seven's character, destroying Riker and Troi's characters over the death of their child, Picard getting f-bombed by an admiral, Michael Chabon wanting to gaslight half the fanbase, and oh yeah let's wipe out 20 years of novel continuity for this mess of character assassination... I mean, I can just think of much more fun ways to take say three months off my life. But, having not seen it myself, I admit I cannot offer a fully formed opinion on it, only why I'm actively avoiding it.

Having tried to watch their nonsense that they take clips out of their context for, I came to the conclusion they just aren't willing to understand the show and it's tragic. Mind you, I think Lower Decks may be my all time favorite Star Trek series and when the hatedom went for it, I had the moment of schadenfreude when they bashed it with all the expected hate and their own fandom clapped back by saying for them to get a sense of humor.

Perhaps its because I review books, movies, and video games for four fanzines but their review style angers me and I think the worst of any so-called critic who refuses to engage in the merits of a work to get cheap clicks via takedown pieces. I got a Masters in Literature and can think, "These guys refuse to engage with the work and then blame the work."

But from my own perspective:

* The gory scene of Icheb's death is something that I don't feel fails because the Borg have always alluded to body horror. Here, the script is flipped where those people who are abusing and disregarding bodily autonomy are the people who HATE the Borg. It is a statement on the xenophobia and hatred of transhumanism in the galaxy. His death is a powerful tragic scene that is acted the hell out of by Jeri Ryan.

* Seven executes a murderer and a terrorist that cannot be held accountable by the law because no such law exists on Freecloud. Frankly, it's established it is her JOB as a Fenris Ranger to bring justice to those with no recourse.

* The scene with the Admiral is only offensive if you somehow believe salty language is anti-Trekkian versus ridiculous despite said scenes in The Voyage Home. The Admiral calls out Picard for his belief that he's still able to throw his weight around and the Romulan evacuation was the one-sided morally perfect issue he believes it to be.

(The Federation didn't abandon the Romulans, they had their fleet DESTROYED)

* I have no idea what this refers to.

* Nepenthe is also one of the best written Troi and Riker characterizations. They are shown to be loving, sweet, kind, and happy couples that have retired. They have suffered a personal tragegy but they haven't been broken by it and have moved on. It is a spectacularly healthy depiction of a retirement.

* The novel continuity being wiped out is something that is a decision by the publishers not Picard. I strongly suggest you pick up THE LAST BEST HOPE and other Picard novels because they are some of the best in the franchise.

https://booknest.eu/reviews/charles/2001-startrekpicardthelastbesthope

https://booknest.eu/reviews/charles/2309-startrekthedarkveil

https://booknest.eu/reviews/charles/2313-startrekrogueelements

Honestly, they could have adjusted the novel continuity to fit Picard but the Borg and his child/marriage were judged a bridge too far.

On STD season 3... it has been alleged that the plot of the season revolves around a Kelpian on a dilithium planet having a psychic temper tantrum that destroys most of the dilithium in the galaxy, causing the (smh on the phrasing) "Burn", the Federation has been "(Gene Roddenberry's) Andromeda"-ed, that the show is set in the 32nd century but somehow disregards all the 29th and 31st century long distance travel technology established on VGR and ENT, that it retcons the portrayal of the Guardian of Forever, messes with the Trill, and even has eating shit jokes. Although apparently there's a parasitic ice episode that's decently watchable? But yeah, maybe maybe when the show is over and Kurtzman has moved on I might check it out?

In Star Trek: The Undiscovered Country, Kirk kicks a guy in the balls.

DISCO Season 3 is a fantastic exploration of the meaning of the Federation and how it is a symbol of hope as well as decency beyond its physical power. When it is reduced to a shadow of its former self, the legend and symbolism of its iconography is something that inspires hundreds of worlds across the Quadrants that the Discovery finds itself becoming a beacon to rebuilding the galaxy.

Yes, the destruction of the Federation occurred due to the actions of an all-powerful psychic alien but if the Red Lettter Media guys can't remember goddamn WHERE NO MAN HAS GONE BEFORE and CHARLIE X then they have no business reviewing Star Trek. Discovery didn't want the Burn to be a terrorist plot or an EVIL alien race. It was instead just a misunderstood all powerful child.

This is one of the most common themes as we see with V'Ger in the motion picture. Understanding and empathy triumph over aggression.
 
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Now we're claiming Picard is worse than DISCO? I like both but it's hard to take any argument seriously that begins with that premise. Picard is manifestly better in every way.

Have you seen season 2 of Picard?

It's completely insane.

I was a disco hater and nitpicked it to death.

But rewatching it, I like mirror universe, pike, saru.
 
* The novel continuity being wiped out is something that is a decision by the publishers not Picard. I strongly suggest you pick up THE LAST BEST HOPE and other Picard novels because they are some of the best in the franchise.
While I agree with all your points, I fully agree with this. The Trek novels were a mess and not fun.
This is one of the most common themes as we see with V'Ger in the motion picture. Understanding and empathy triumph over aggression.
Again, 100% agree and Discovery Season 3, and Picard Season 1, were all about rediscovering the power of hope and optimism after significant tradgedy.

If that isn't something needed in this current world then frankly I don't know what to say.
 
I can't tell if you guys are being sarcastic.

I feel like the show is artistically a big success but it is much-much sillier than Season One of Picard. Yes, there's the incredibly dark and emotional storyline of Picard's mother and his repressed memory.

However, there's ALSO:

* The BORG QUEEN singing Pat Benetar
* Seven's driving, clearly learned from Tom Paris
* Doctor Soong as an overthetop Doctor Who mad scientist villain escaped into Star Trek.
* Rios getting knocked out by a bad transport
* The Not-Mirror Universe where Seven is President and Picard is Genralissmo
* Did we mention the Borg Queen singing Pat Benetar?
* All the Battlestar Galactic homages (Jurati's red dress, James Callus)
* The punk from Star Trek IV
* The ****take on Fox Mulder and the fact he'd probably still be chasing UFOs decades later.
* Raffi and Seven's constant post-couple sniping (I love when they pretend to be a couple at the building)
* Raffi mugging a mugger
* Fighting CYBORG MERCENARIES in the basement of a chateau with WW2 French Resistance weapons.

Its zany and FUN and I had a huge amount of entertainment.
 
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I've certainly enjoyed this season of Picard more than season 4 of Disco, which I thought was a huge letdown.

But even season 4 of Disco is MILES better than season 2 of Enterprise. It's like they were deliberately trying to run the show into the ground with what they put out.

Oh, c'mon. They weren't trying to run ENT into the ground in S2. Their livelihoods depended on ENT surviving! They produced a bad season because Braga and Berman were creatively burnt out and Braga wasn't a good manager at the time.

Thank you for the suggestions. I'm open to constructively engaging with NuTrek, but I do have my limits.

On Picard season 1... unfortunately RLM and others have clips to back up their negative points. Even the RLM season 2 opener managed to bring up new season 1 clips that made me shudder. Maybe, maybe if somehow Picard season 3 does a hard reset button on season 1 I'd check it out. But the eye gouging,

Was a completely legitimate creative choice that established in visceral terms the emotional stakes of the rest of the episode for Seven.

It also wasn't even the goriest thing ST has ever done ("Conspiracy").

completely destroying Seven's character,

Did not happen. Seven of Nine is still Seven of Nine. She's always had a ruthless streak and has never been someone who necessarily believed in the authority of the state. I completely believe she would kill to avenge Icheb's death.

destroying Riker and Troi's characters over the death of their child,

What is this nonsense? In no way were Riker or Troi destroyed. They were still clearly themselves, they were loving and compassionate, they were raising an awesome kid, and they clearly had not been broken by their son's death.

Picard getting f-bombed by an admiral,

Why does that bother you? It's just a word.

Michael Chabon wanting to gaslight half the fanbase,

In what way did Pulitzer Prize-winning writer Michael Chabon "gaslight" anybody? What the heck is it with this weird desire to paint creators whose decisions you don't enjoy as bad people?

and oh yeah let's wipe out 20 years of novel continuity for this mess of character assassination...

1) There was no character assassination.

2) While I too am sad that the TrekLit continuity has come to a close, every single Trek author will tell you that that was always going to happen if TNG-era Star Trek ever came back to television. The authors got the chance to build that continuity because there were no TNG-era productions being made anymore, but in Star Trek the tail does not wag the dog. The books follow the lead of the shows, and every author knows that and accepts that as part of the cost of doing business. I would have loved it if Star Trek: Picard had been consistent with the novels, but the simple fact is that the novels were only ever read by maybe 1% of the audience of the TV shows. You can't require TV shows to remain consistent with the books, and that is not something to hold against PIC.

I mean, I can just think of much more fun ways to take say three months off my life. But, having not seen it myself,

Maybe, just maybe, you need to consider elements in their full context instead of taking the word of misogynists like RLM.

On STD season 3... it has been alleged that the plot of the season revolves around a Kelpian on a dilithium planet having a psychic temper tantrum

What actually happened is that in the backstory of the season, Su'Kal, a Kelpian born on a ship that had crashed on a dilithium planet, was mutated by radiation exposure to develop a connection to the dilithium. When he saw his mother die in front of him at the age of four, his grief was so profound that the telepathic energy it generated destabilized dilithium; since all dilithium is linked through subspace (a result of the extra-dimensional properties that allows dilithium to regulate matter/anti-matter reactions in the first place), his grief caused numerous pieces of dilithium throughout the galaxy to shatter, triggering what became known as the Burn.

So, a bit more than a "psychic temper tantrum." And I gotta say, after losing my mother last August, I relate to Su'Kal. If my grief could have entered subspace, it would have shattered the galaxy too.

In any event, S3 is not about the Burn. The Burn happened a century and a half before S3. S3 of DIS is about the crew of the starship Discovery returning to the Federation, inspiring the people they meet to realize things can be better again, and rebuilding the Federation. It is, as they say, about the triumph of hope and compassion over division and fear.

the Federation has been "(Gene Roddenberry's) Andromeda"-ed, that the show is set in the 32nd century but somehow disregards all the 29th and 31st century long distance travel technology established on VGR and ENT,

Nope. The show is very clear that the Burn affected those other forms of FTL tech as well, because they too relied upon dilithium's extra-dimensional properties to regulate their forms of power generation.

that it retcons the portrayal of the Guardian of Forever,

It doesn't retcon anything about the Guardian. It just establishes that the Guardian is capable of doing more things than we saw in "The City on the Edge of Forever."

messes with the Trill,

It features the Trill. It does not "mess" with them.

and even has eating shit jokes.

It has a very minor reference to the base matter of replicated food being generated in part by breaking down the constituent molecules of humanoid waste, as a casual remark in conversation that a small minority of members of the audience have completely over-reacted to.

Seriously, with some of these complaints, you don't just sound like you have specific creative objections -- you sound like you just don't think basic conventions of storytelling should happen. You don't sound like you dislike nuTrek; you sound like you just don't enjoy watching television.
 
Exactly. I quit watching Voyager a couple seasons before it ended. I’d just had enough. I don’t think I announced it to a single soul, either. It wasn’t a big deal. Something either works for you or it doesn’t. Either way, you gotta get over it.

Also quit Voyager off and on and gave up on Enterprise in its first season. I didn't go onto Enterprise boards and say how bad the ratings were or that I wish it would get cancelled or obsess over it. I just stopped watching and moved on. I think it bugs certain people that these shows have fans and they want to "prove" to us that we are wrong by trying to shove metrics down our throats. But we don't care. I don't care if I was the only person on Earth watching Picard I would still enjoy it and continue to watch as long as it existed.
 
1) It's false information. The "Yellowstone" spin-off "1883" it the top show on Paramount Plus
2) That Paramount Plus is "not even close to being king of the streaming wars" is an understatement. When was the last time a PP show was in the Nielsen streaming Top 10?



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Number one streaming original for new subscribers. Doesn't say number one original period. Discovery is still in the top 10 paramount shows today and 1883 isn't on the list (Discovery has been higher than 1883 for a while I noticed). 1883 was also a more expensive show to produce. I liked 1883 also so I'm not dogging on that show. Paramount Plus also said that Discovery was its most viewed show of 2021. Are you forgetting that tidbit? So even if Discovery became the second most watched show behind 1883 in 2022 (not sure if that's the case) that's bad because..why?
 
Number one streaming original for new subscribers. Doesn't say number one original period. Discovery is still in the top 10 paramount shows today and 1883 isn't on the list (Discovery has been higher than 1883 for a while I noticed). 1883 was also a more expensive show to produce. I liked 1883 also so I'm not dogging on that show. Paramount Plus also said that Discovery was its most viewed show of 2021. Are you forgetting that tidbid? So even if Discovery became the second most watched show behind 1883 in 2022 (not sure if that's the case) that's bad because..why?

You see, ANYYYY MINUTE NOW, Paramount Plus will cancel all of its Star Trek shows, retcon them away, apologize, and hire the Axanar guy.

:)
 
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