... I can say that I find the complaints about Discovery to be 25% more stupid than I did before (no secret license for this opinion). There were improvements across the board, including in areas that I previously expressed reservations. I am more excited for the third season than I am for ST:PIC or any potential Pike series.
One of the biggest complaints I had about the first season is that it put plot ahead of character. The example I put forward was that Stammets' reunion with Culber in the mycelial network should have been a full episode. This season had a lot of great character moments, "If Memory Serves" being a standout in this respect. As good as these were, they were often presented almost at the last moment. They did not serve to build up the relationships, as they should. Project Daedalus had wonderful scenes showing the conviviality between many characters, especially those that tended not to be in the spotlight, but they came only as a framing device for Airiam's death. They should have appeared earlier in the season. Being an unabashed Niner, I think they need to look more to the Bashir-O'Brien friendship, which was built up slowly over years.
Michael Burnham is a great character. I'm not sure if there was any particular improvement from season one in writing the character or in SM-G's acting, but I found myself feeling that scenes with her were more important than those without. The actress has a firm grasp on the character's duality, and it worked well with the stories. She is probably my second favorite female character, and SM-G is probably the best actress in the franchise.
In general, the characters improved and felt more genuine. Mount was wonderful, and I'll be happy if he gets his own show, but I did not feel that Pike was moving the story along as much as Burnham. Conversely, this is the best version of Pike, and the only one about whom I want to see more stories. Ash Tyler is still a drag. Stammets was wonderful, and I feel invested in his personal life. Saru is good, but it feels like the character isn't as well filled out as it should be. Maybe the future will show more personal interactions for him. In spite of the scene where the Emperor tries to seduce Stammets, I think Michelle Yeoh is being misused.
Serialization of Discovery is obviously a hot topic, but I have to say that Discovery isn't doing anything special with it. The series did slow down from its season one pace, which I appreciate. However, the story about Control trying to wipe out biological life was unoriginal and simple. As the narrative came more into view, it seemed that it was being drawn out unnecessarily (let's not forget Kirk outthought Nomad in less than an hour). Luckily, the season did not depend on the Control story. Control was really a wraparound for what were really smaller arcs and standalone episodes. Hopefully, the writers will build the third season around the characters and the challenges they face rather than imagine an ending and working towards it.
All said, I really like the series: more than TNG, Voyager and Enterprise; less than DS9 and TOS. I wrote that Season One felt more like trying to translate the film experience to the small screen. Season Two felt more like great television, perhaps a series that fulfilled what Enterprise promised and more. The themes--sacrifice vs. compromise, being the change you want to see--are a bit broad, but they honestly are in line with Trek's ethics. I am almost a little sad that the series has left the 23rd century: I think it earned enough credit to play with continuity, although I guess that could still do that from the distant future as part of the Temporal Cold War.
One of the biggest complaints I had about the first season is that it put plot ahead of character. The example I put forward was that Stammets' reunion with Culber in the mycelial network should have been a full episode. This season had a lot of great character moments, "If Memory Serves" being a standout in this respect. As good as these were, they were often presented almost at the last moment. They did not serve to build up the relationships, as they should. Project Daedalus had wonderful scenes showing the conviviality between many characters, especially those that tended not to be in the spotlight, but they came only as a framing device for Airiam's death. They should have appeared earlier in the season. Being an unabashed Niner, I think they need to look more to the Bashir-O'Brien friendship, which was built up slowly over years.
Michael Burnham is a great character. I'm not sure if there was any particular improvement from season one in writing the character or in SM-G's acting, but I found myself feeling that scenes with her were more important than those without. The actress has a firm grasp on the character's duality, and it worked well with the stories. She is probably my second favorite female character, and SM-G is probably the best actress in the franchise.
In general, the characters improved and felt more genuine. Mount was wonderful, and I'll be happy if he gets his own show, but I did not feel that Pike was moving the story along as much as Burnham. Conversely, this is the best version of Pike, and the only one about whom I want to see more stories. Ash Tyler is still a drag. Stammets was wonderful, and I feel invested in his personal life. Saru is good, but it feels like the character isn't as well filled out as it should be. Maybe the future will show more personal interactions for him. In spite of the scene where the Emperor tries to seduce Stammets, I think Michelle Yeoh is being misused.
Serialization of Discovery is obviously a hot topic, but I have to say that Discovery isn't doing anything special with it. The series did slow down from its season one pace, which I appreciate. However, the story about Control trying to wipe out biological life was unoriginal and simple. As the narrative came more into view, it seemed that it was being drawn out unnecessarily (let's not forget Kirk outthought Nomad in less than an hour). Luckily, the season did not depend on the Control story. Control was really a wraparound for what were really smaller arcs and standalone episodes. Hopefully, the writers will build the third season around the characters and the challenges they face rather than imagine an ending and working towards it.
All said, I really like the series: more than TNG, Voyager and Enterprise; less than DS9 and TOS. I wrote that Season One felt more like trying to translate the film experience to the small screen. Season Two felt more like great television, perhaps a series that fulfilled what Enterprise promised and more. The themes--sacrifice vs. compromise, being the change you want to see--are a bit broad, but they honestly are in line with Trek's ethics. I am almost a little sad that the series has left the 23rd century: I think it earned enough credit to play with continuity, although I guess that could still do that from the distant future as part of the Temporal Cold War.
