Spoilers Picard News & Reviews from Outside Sources

[fireproof78]

I have never understood the thinking of studios and producers of using a legacy property to bring in an audience and then feeling you have to change it to bring it "forward."

Why not? Life is not static and it's fatiguing to be told that it is and must remain the same. I love TLJ but that's because it spoke to me in that moment, not because other fans must agree with me. Don't agree with me. Hell, that's the majority of my fan experience is fans telling me I'm wrong (hyperbole) in some fashion for liking the "wrong thing" (I like the USS Lexington, Commodore Wesley, R5-D4 over R2, Y-Wings over X-Wings, Pike over Kirk, and on it goes).

The same goes for Last Jedi, much of “NuTrek” and many other things beyond. I don’t necessarily bail on things that I like but don’t challenge my expectations (PIC S3 is a prime example) but it’s always a bonus when they are challenged. It’s especially so in a long running IP where I’ve already had hundreds of hours of the traditional stuff (and can revisit it anytime).

Indeed. Challenge me and I usually find that I love it more. Leave it the same and I love it less.

 

[donners22]

He set out to make a divisive season, and succeeded.

The situation reminds me a lot of THE LAST JEDI and Rian Johnson. At least I'm enjoying PICARD season 3 far more than THE RISE OF SKYWALKER, albeit I'm saying that as a casual general audience Star Wars fan.

So why might a long-time Trek fan and exceptionally well-credentialled writer "set out to make a divisive season"?

Could it be that the least divisive option - wallowing in nostalgia for a 30-year-old series, as S3 has descended into - was a creatively bankrupt and commercially unviable option to begin a new series? Matalas only has the luxury to present S3 in this way because it is the third and last - it doesn't need to draw in a wider audience. He's hardly doing it just for love of the series, either; he is actively trying to use fan sentiment to get himself more work.

Not to mention, of course, that S3 is divisive in its own way. Observe this very forum, where the biggest proponent of this season is a new account which does nothing but shill this season and hate on the previous seasons, or the various YouTubers and the like who have done the same. Such binary opinions are as divisive as they are shallow, and do not represent the more nuanced and diverse views of the wider fanbase.

 

[ToddCam]

I liked "Nepenthe". I also like the Troi/Riker stuff from "Surrender". Not sure why it's considered either/or.

I haven't rewatched it or anything, but knowing Will is partially emotionally manipulated doesn't ruin the episode for me.

 

[fireproof78]

I liked "Nepenthe". I also like the Troi/Riker stuff from "Surrender". Not sure why it's considered either/or.

That is my very question. Why can't both things be true?

 

[Orac Zen]

I haven't seen the entire review yet but the notion that the lines about Nepenthe are there simply to trash someone else's work seems ridiculous. If it was actually the case it says very little for the maturity of those involved.

Matalas only has the luxury to present S3 in this way because it is the third and last - it doesn't need to draw in a wider audience. He's hardly doing it just for love of the series, either; he is actively trying to use fan sentiment to get himself more work.

I'm enjoying - rather than wallowing in - the nostalgia of this season, but I completely agree with these remarks. Matalas has joined the ranks of Trek writers / showrunners who are perceived as the be all and end all, which is just as tedious a viewpoint with him as it's been with all the others.

I liked "Nepenthe". I also like the Troi/Riker stuff from "Surrender". Not sure why it's considered either/or.

Agreed. But of course like anything else there's a subset of people who loathe something because it's not what they want. That's people for you.

 

[fireproof78]

But of course like anything else there's a subset of people who loathe something because it's not what they want. That's people for you.

I now loathe this post...

 

[Ovation]

I now loathe this post...

I loathe your loathing…

 

[urbandefault]

"I made an assumption...and if it's wrong, you better apologize for not making it clearer so that I don't assume!"
What a silly sausage.

And then you've got someone in the comments taking the joke about "Good in bed, bad at pizza" literally, and thinking Deanna was sexually assaulted.

I...I just...

I'm out!

And this is me, most days on the internet.

 

[fireproof78]

I loathe your loathing…

I see your loathe and raise you two despises*


*with all due credit to MASH.

 

[Ronin'sCreamyCandle]

What’s odd is taking one paragraph from a lengthy, thoughtful review that significantly praises the episode and the people making it in order to focus on a moment that was open to interpretation regarding its subtext (and while I didn’t view it the same way while watching, I can see how the reviewer’s point is possible), in order to do…what? Make it appear as if one minor point of debatable criticism of “St. Matalas” renders all else in the review moot? Too bad that only works if no one reads the actual review. Or as fodder for clumsy schadenfreude and gatekeeping by “TruFans”. But hey, it wasn’t all for naught—I got to read some thoughtful views in the review. So thanks for that.

It's in bad taste to copy and past the entire work the reviewer did over on TrekCore. I only included one paragraph. Those interested can check the link out to give proper credit to the reviewer.

 

[Bornin1980something]

It's in bad taste to copy and past the entire work the reviewer did over on TrekCore. I only included one paragraph. Those interested can check the link out to give proper credit to the reviewer.

I have. I was surprised that the review was actually largely positive, particularly with regard to Data. It just has a few honest nitpicks. As for one of their questions (where did the escape hatch come from?), I think that actually answers a lingering question regarding the 'blowout' in The Naked Now.

As for in-episde digs at season one, I think there was one in Vadic's line "I will take away your eyes." Think about it.

 

[Firebird]

People live for finding division don't they?

Welcome to the internet.

 

[fireproof78]

Welcome to the internet.

Happened to me long before the Internet in Trek circles.

 

[Ovation]

It's in bad taste to copy and past the entire work the reviewer did over on TrekCore. I only included one paragraph. Those interested can check the link out to give proper credit to the reviewer.

It’s also in “bad taste” to cherry pick a citation and use it to imply the opposite of the general tone and argument of a piece of writing. My students often lose a lot of points by doing that, regardless of the position they’re distorting.

 

[The Old Mixer]

I've merged the discussion of the episode 8 review video into a long-dormant umbrella thread for such things.

 

[NCC-73515]

I've merged the discussion of the episode 8 review video into a long-dormant umbrella thread for such things.

2 of my S3E8 posts were moved here, notifications say, but I don't see them.
I also don't remember posting about a review video.
Are they lost? Can they be restored?
The episode thread also acted weird, jumping around back and forward when just trying to get to the next page, sometimes showing 60+ pages...

 

[Turtletrekker]

2 of my S3E8 posts were moved here, notifications say, but I don't see them.
I also don't remember posting about a review video.
Are they lost? Can they be restored?
The episode thread also acted weird, jumping around back and forward when just trying to get to the next page, sometimes showing 60+ pages...

Same.

 

[The Old Mixer]

There was a thread-merging accident. The 3x8 discussion thread should be all restored as it was now.

 

[Lord Garth]

Third Party Sources. I always wanted to see reviews from members of the Libertarian Party or the Green Party.

 

[FederationHistorian]

1) She said 'good in bed', so it's not framed as an assault.

The implication is that it was a misrepresentation of Riker and not Riker himself. And since Troi did not consent to that representation, its sexual assault. It has nothing to do with being 'good in bed' or how it was framed.

Of course they miss the part were Troi knew it wasn't the real Will as she's an empath. And that it was a joke. Therefore, it never happened. But its clearly saying that if it did happen, the Changeling did not openly say "I'm not Will Riker. Is that okay?". And Troi replies "Yes, that's okay." That's what matters.

He set out to make a divisive season, and succeeded.

No, he didn’t.

He was responding to the universe created by ST’09 – that wonderful, awesome, franchise saving movie – that introduced a major catastrophe of the Romulan supernova. And the characters had to have some sort of reaction to it. As if they went about their lives like its the good ol’ days of TNG, barely bothered about that major event and optimistic, they’d look a bit callous to the situation of the Romulans. Without the supernova, Picard can still be sad about Data, but still has faith in Starfleet and still be the Picard of old. Seven still accepts mercy has a place in the galaxy, And Riker and Troi can mourn Thad without the synth ban being involved.

Don’t blame Chabon. Blame Abrams..