Season 4 = Poor

[eschaton]

Season 5 really needs to let the characters have distinct personalities.

Season 4 was basically written so that every character (even the ship) was identical. Sometimes they would be kinda damaged messes who needed a shoulder to cry on. Sometimes they would be the supportive ally who was there to listen to the damaged mess. No one ever had a bad day and was a shitty friend without later admitting they had to go into therapy. No one was ever to busy for someone else's bullshit.

The monotony is part of what made the season kinda boring. Character-focused drama requires that every time you throw two characters into a room, they have different dynamics. I mean consider all of the different reactions to Quark on DS9. Odo pretended to loathe him, but actually kind of enjoyed their interactions in a way he'd never admit. Kira had genuine contempt for him. Jadzia had a weird sort of affection for him. Miles and Julian just generally couldn't be bothered with his bullshit. That everyone had a different reaction is part of why every scene with Quark was fun.

 

[fireproof78]

I mean consider all of the different reactions to Quark on DS9

Well, he definitely inspired irritation in me. Maybe Discovery needs more irritating characters that make me want to change the channel.

 

[Charles Phipps]

Season 4 would have been awesome if the big twist at the end had been the aliens knew about all the worlds they were destroying and didn't care.

 

[eschaton]

Season 4 would have been awesome if the big twist at the end had been the aliens knew about all the worlds they were destroying and didn't care.

That kinda goes against the core Trekkian ethos - that there are assholes, and bad governments, but not evil races.

 

[Dryson]

Has Discovery branched the rebuilding of the Federation yet?

 

[Charles Phipps]

That kinda goes against the core Trekkian ethos - that there are assholes, and bad governments, but not evil races.

They wouldn't be evil because they're existentially evil. They'd be evil because they are people who don't care about lives outside their own. I grew up in a state devastated by opioids, environmental damage, and other things by people who didn't care about their fellow humans.

The fact this is all a mistake requires the aliens to be criminally negligent and the Federation to go, "Eh, it's okay."

 

[StarMan]

Come on. 10C were laughing their butts off (if they possess butts) at how gullible The Federation was to believe they didn't know. You've got an incredibly advanced species capable of deploying a multi-light year wide anomaly like it's nothing; such a species would have detected a galaxy awash in warp / transwarp / slipstream signatures and subspace comm traffic.

My theory on 10C's long term strategy: mine a millennia's worth of ore at a time; pled ignorance when caught; nine centuries later, resume mining activities once you've passed out of memory (for the most part). That way, you reduce the odds of the galaxy uniting to take you down were you to continue mining efforts once discovered.

After several millennia-long runs, start scouting for a new galaxy to park up to, as the odds are increasing each run the natives (via their histories) will twig to your con.

Feel free to nit pick the above. I gave it very little thought - on par with Discovery's writers.

 

[Tuskin38]

Has Discovery branched the rebuilding of the Federation yet?

Season 4 had some of that.

I gave it very little thought - on par with Discovery's writers.

 

[Anthony60]

I've watched season 1 & 2. I dropped paramount after that, since it would be a while until season three. I just am not sure about going for it now. If I do, it would be more for SNW's than Disco. I didn't really like that it was focused on "Michael" (WTF is that name about?). The stupid spinning saucer section, the spore drive, etc... Jeez, they made some bad choices. Please, tell me they did something right after that. What a mess!

 

[Tuskin38]

I didn't really like that it was focused on "Michael" (WTF is that name about?)

You’ve never seen a woman with a typically masculine name before?

Either way, it’s just something Bryan Fuller does. He likes to give some of his female characters typically masculine names or nicknames.

Also why did you put her name it in quotes?

Please, tell me they did something right after that. What a mess!

‘right’ and ‘wrong’ are subjective when it comes to art. So it’s basically impossible to answer that question. What you think is bad, other people will think is good and vice versa.

Just get a free trial of paramount plus and watch some of it. Or read the episode summaries on memory alpha.

 

[Anthony60]

You’ve never seen a woman with a typically masculine name before?

That's not what I said. Plus, Spock has a human sister, all of a sudden?

Either way, it’s just something Bryan Fuller does. He likes to give some of his female characters typically masculine names or nicknames.

I'll take your word on that.

Also why did you put her name it in quotes?

To draw attention to the name itself.

‘right’ and ‘wrong’ are subjective when it comes to art. So it’s basically impossible to answer that question. What you think is bad, other people will think is good and vice versa.

"Right" would pertain to making a Star Trek show that a large majority of fans love, like TOS and TNG.

Just get a free trial of paramount plus and watch some of it. Or read the episode summaries on memory alpha.

Not sure if they'll give me a free trial, since I had it a couple of years ago.

 

[fireproof78]

(WTF is that name about?).

From the Hebrew, Gift From God. It actually is a bit more common to be a female, as well as a male name. But, as @Tuskin38 notes, it is a signature mark of Fuller, the showrunner at the time.

"We've worked on many shows with Bryan and it's a motif. It's his signature move to name his lead women with names that would typically be associated as male," executive producer Aaron Harberts said at the Television Critics Association summer press tour last month.

"Right" would pertain to making a Star Trek show that a large majority of fans love, like TOS and TNG.

No, thanks. Just make a good show. I'll take Discovery over TNG. Feels more like TOS.

 

[Tuskin38]

Plus, Spock has a human sister, all of a sudden?

And in ST5 he suddenly had a Brother. Shit happens.

"Right" would pertain to making a Star Trek show that a large majority of fans love, like TOS and TNG.

Again that's subjective. I don't think a majority love TOS. What evidence is there that the majority love TOS and TNG?

If you base it off streaming figures from Netflix, Voyager is the most popular series.

 

[fireproof78]

Again that's subjective. I don't think a majority love TOS.

Definitely not in my experience. TNG tops most lists, and the only thing TOS has is visual staying power. People know of TOS, i.e. "Beam me up, Scotty," Mr. Spock, and Captain Kirk of the Starship Enterprise.

 

[plynch]

TNG tops what lists?

In the general public mind there is TOS for the reasons you cited. Note inclusion in Smithsonian. Just about nothing else of Trek is in the general public, nonfandom hive mind. I'm about to go play Christmas jazz in afew minutes for a fairly educated audience. If I make a Trek reference there, which series am I going to reference?

 

[fireproof78]

TNG tops what lists?

In the general public mind there is TOS for the reasons you cited. Note inclusion in Smithsonian. Just about nothing else of Trek is in the general public, nonfandom hive mind. I'm about to go play Christmas jazz in afew minutes for a fairly educated audience. If I make a Trek reference there, which series am I going to reference?

Make it so. Captain Picard tops a list of captains, IMDB has a TNG episode as it's top rated episode. I think that might be more Patrick Stewart, but even if I include the hive mind, I see more TNG in terms of familiarity, vs. TOS which is pop culture recognition.

But, as with many things, this could be self-confirming bias.

 

[Anthony60]

And in ST5 he suddenly had a Brother. Shit happens.

Yes, that was dumb. If Spock had a brother, I never would have pictured him like that. Then again, he had a sister that was not what I'd have pictured either.

Again that's subjective. I don't think a majority love TOS. What evidence is there that the majority love TOS and TNG?

Evidence? We are on this board 50+ years later.

If you base it off streaming figures from Netflix, Voyager is the most popular series.

They did an okay job with Voyager.

 

[Tuskin38]

Evidence? We are on this board 50+ years later.

How is that evidence? This isn't the TOS or TNG section.

 

[Anthony60]

Definitely not in my experience. TNG tops most lists, and the only thing TOS has is visual staying power. People know of TOS, i.e. "Beam me up, Scotty," Mr. Spock, and Captain Kirk of the Starship Enterprise.

The only thing I didn't like about TNG was the Enterprise. I remember when I first saw it. Just looked weird.

 

[fireproof78]

The only thing I didn't like about TNG was the Enterprise. I remember when I first saw it. Just looked weird.

Still does.