Spoilers Star Trek: Discovery 1x02 - "Battle at the Binary Stars"

[Kemaiku]

Not that new no, that was season 4 so around 2000-2001, it's in the novels too. The white space works at the speed of thought of the smarter participant and occupies no tangible space to be hampered by FTL laws.

But still, it's only a "we're fucking" thing. So let that sink in.

 

[MvRojo]

True, but at least that was consistent with the idea that Vulcans were touch telepaths. This new Vulcan power expansion pack requires the laws of physics to be torn up. It isn't without precedent - Spock did feel a great disturbance in the force, as it were, when the Intrepid was destroyed. But actual useful FTL communication at a distance because your minds are linked, without any tech at all? Bullshit.

Didn't Trip and T'Pol have a conversation across space in their minds when Trip was on the Columbia?

 

[Rahul]

We know the general outline of where things are heading, but we don't know the paths of these specific characters. Trek novelists have done a great job writing entire novels that fit within the timeline and yet are very entertaining. I have no doubt that it can be done. I'll agree that it does add an extra consideration though.

oh yeah, it certainly can be done! Hell, I think ENT season 4 is a wonderfull example that it can even work on a tv-schedule. But yes. It's harder, and people will scrutinize it more.And it runs a bigger risk of turning off general audiences and non-fans.

I think the part that makes me think she did start the war was when she killed T'Kumva (sp) rather than captured him. As she described, he'll now become a martyr rather than a disgraced captured warrior. A quick stun and beam out might've changed things. A moments indiscretion can have a lasting impact.

But, I think her actions don't entirely ring true. Even that after she had described it. Maybe the shock of Girgiou (sp?) dying can explain it, but I don't know. And the insubordination on the bridge really didn't ring true.

Yeah, but nobody is going to hold her responsible for shooting a guy during a firefight, especially since this guy just killed one of her team. What I wanted to say: Pretty much everything Burnham did was understandable, and should never be used against her. EXCEPT her suddenly nerv-pinching her Captain and wanting to give the order to fire. Which she didn't even pull off.

Which is why I think this was specifically only added to make her a pariah later on, not because it made sense during that moment.

 

[JD]

The second episode was definitely a lot better than the first.
Pretty much all of the awkwardness in The Vulcan Hello was gone here, and I thought the writing improved quite a bit.
The whole thing with Burnham and Sarek being able to commuicate hundreds or thousands of lightyears apart was a bit odd, but I don't think it was totally out of the realm of possibility given what we do and don't know about Vulcan telepathy.
I loved the battle scenes, they were some of favorite in the entire franchise.
I was a bit disappointed we didn't see any smooth headed or TNG-ENT style Klingons while T'Kuvma was talking to the members of the High Council. Same goes for some TOS style Klingon ships.
I was a little surprised how quickly the other Klingons seemed to join up with T'Kuvma and his group, although with T'Kuvma's fate at the end of the episode I guess they wanted to get all of that out of the way quickly. It does at least look Kol will probably be a source of conflict in the Empire.
I know it's not entirely in line with the other shows, but I do love how they're doing the holographic communications.
I was not surprised that Georgiou died, I had been expecting that for a while now, but T'Kuvma's death was a big shock.

 

[Sakonna]

After thinking about it some, I'm slightly relieved they killed T'Kuvma, in that he seemed to have more trouble acting through the makeup than any of the other Klingon's.

Why does Connor go to the brig?

I thought we were to conclude it was the disorientation of his head injury that sent him wandering into a random room -- he was trying to get to sickbay, the concussion just prevented him from reaching it.

This also reminds me of: the hugeness of those exploding panels! And I thought the exploding comm panels on TNG were bad... (can't Starfleet find some non-explosive materials to construct these things out of?)

I assumed that scene was thematically, rather than literally, lit like that. I can't see any reason for a courtroom to actually be lit like that, I just thought we were meant to be inside the traumatised head of Michael as she was 'sent down'. I loved it, as long as I read it that way

You make a good case for it! I'm going to adopt this interpretation as well...

However, I do agree that this specific prologue wasn't executed perfectly. Splitting it into two episodes and make only the first part free was a mistake. The first episode was not a great way to draw in new viewers because it was more talky, clunky, and slow. Too many flashbacks and slow talking Klingons. Etc.

I've also really been convinced that airing two hours on CBS, and following it with a third episode on CBSAA, would have been the best way to go. I think there's something to that model of starting with three eps, and then rolling into a weekly streaming release. It both satisfies that initial binge impulse, but keeps the show in the cultural conversation longer by extending the run. It's exactly what Hulu did with "The Handmaid's Tale", and look how well that turned out!

That's pretty much exactly how I interpreted it here. They had a countdown in seconds to lethal dose. Radiation just doesn't work that way.

Every time Saru had that line about her DNA unwinding or whatever, I kept seeing Burnham's transformation into a salamander...

 

[Starbreaker]

But why would other people not liking it, impact the way you do like it? Isn't it fun to see other perspectives even if you don't agree with them?

Jason

There is no middle ground to even discuss. People that hate it really hate it with every fiber of their mortal coil because it violates their sacred gatekeeping of all things Star Trek.

 

[Sakonna]

There is no middle ground to even discuss. People that hate it really hate it with every fiber of their mortal coil because it violates their sacred gatekeeping of all things Star Trek.

Clearly, the Klingons and their quest for purity are really meant to be a stand-in for overly rigid Trek fans...

 

[EnderAKH]

But why would other people not liking it, impact the way you do like it? Isn't it fun to see other perspectives even if you don't agree with them?

Jason

Speaking only for myself, I found in other threads (for example the Flash thread) that others unrelenting negative energy towards a show, yes, can drag down my enjoyment of it. When you get jazzed about an episode and log in ready to share that excitement and all people want to do is shit all over it from perspectives that you not only don't share but are hard to even understand, it is demoralizing. You want other examples? Ask those who like the Star Wars prequels or Batman vs Superman how great it is to have people constantly bagging on the thing they love.

 

[Sakonna]

Speaking only for myself, I found in other threads (for example the Flash thread) that others unrelenting negative energy towards a show, yes, can drag down my enjoyment of it. When you get jazzed about an episode and log in ready to share that excitement and all people want to do is shit all over it from perspectives that you not only don't share but are hard to even understand, it is demoralizing.

I know exactly how you feel! On this board, though, I feel like the "people who are determined to shit all over it just because" posts really jump out at you. I'm interested in reading thoughtful criticism or considered negative comments, but my quick-scroll finger is always at the ready to zoom by the asshole posts. They usually announce what they are with their first line.

 

[Guy Gardener]

No shuttle fancy enough to navigate all that debris?

1. #### your shuttles. Redesign immediately.

2. Use a fricken lifepod, which is smaller than a shuttle, yet more heavierly shielded than a thruster suit.

 

[cultcross]

They also have tractor beams and transporters which they could easily use to clear a path for a larger ship. But they want the star in a spacesuit, so in a spacesuit she shall go.

 

[Bernie McBear]

I enjoyed episode 2. A couple of things surprised me; the fate of T'Kuvma and the long range telepathic communication by Sarek. I'm not sure how I feel about the emphasis on holographic communication - I think I miss seeing people on screens. It did feel a little strange that we still haven't seen the Discovery yet, it was like this two parter was a prequel in itself to what is to come. I'm looking forward to episode 3 and seeing where things go.

 

[EnderAKH]

I know exactly how you feel! On this board, though, I feel like the "people who are determined to shit all over it just because" posts really jump out at you. I'm interested in reading thoughtful criticism or considered negative comments, but my quick-scroll finger is always at the ready to zoom by the asshole posts. They usually announce what they are with their first line.

And I get that, and if it just a few contrarians it doesn't bother me and I scroll on past. But if they majority of the thread is that way, I just want to be happy and enjoy the thing, not be dragged into what feels like a fight to justify why I enjoy it. I LOVED these two episodes. FOR ME, it is Star Trek through the lens of our current golden age of TV. It was largely driven by character choices, it was GORGEOUS to look at, and I think Saru may be in the upper portion of my list of favorite Star Trek characters. He had a LOT more personality that I was expecting.

 

[Sakonna]

They also have tractor beams and transporters which they could easily use to clear a path for a larger ship. But they want the star in a spacesuit, so in a spacesuit she shall go.

Maybe I was just filling this in on my own, but I thought there was some concern about revealing themselves too overtly to the mysterious object -- not knowing what it is, you want the option of retreating if new reasons for alarm emerge as you get closer, you want to be able to play it like the objects cloaking efforts have worked and you haven't spotted them yet. Thus, best to send a single individual in a space suit who could evade notice, rather than starting to clear an entire asteroid field as you barge your way up to it.

 

[Rahul]

Yeah. This scene was purely "we want to show a EVA in our pilot", and such, they showed a spacewalk in the pilot. Even though there would have been other, more palpatable options.

You know what? I'm completely fine with it. I like seeing people in spacesuits!

 

[MvRojo]

No shuttle fancy enough to navigate all that debris?

1. #### your shuttles. Redesign immediately.

2. Use a fricken lifepod, which is smaller than a shuttle, yet more heavierly shielded than a thruster suit.

I guess Discovery is one of those crappy old ships that don't get the new tech.

 

[cultcross]

Yeah. This scene was purely "we want to show a EVA in our pilot", and such, they showed a spacewalk in the pilot. Even though there would have been other, more palpatable options.

You know what? I'm completely fine with it. I like seeing people in spacesuits!

Absolutely! I loved that whole sequence. It showed a joy and wonder at exploration of which I thoroughly approved and I hope to see more.

I guess Discovery is one of those crappy old ships that don't get the new tech.

Indeed, who still uses lateral vector transporters? Come on, what is this, the Dark Ages?

 

[Guy Gardener]

They also have tractor beams and transporters which they could easily use to clear a path for a larger ship. But they want the star in a spacesuit, so in a spacesuit she shall go.

This.

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Imagine Burnham holding on to a torpedo as it rockets out of a battery?

 

[Sakonna]

And I get that, and if it just a few contrarians it doesn't bother me and I scroll on past. But if they majority of the thread is that way, I just want to be happy and enjoy the thing, not be dragged into what feels like a fight to justify why I enjoy it. I LOVED these two episodes. FOR ME, it is Star Trek through the lens of our current golden age of TV. It was largely driven by character choices, it was GORGEOUS to look at, and I think Saru may be in the upper portion of my list of favorite Star Trek characters. He had a LOT more personality that I was expecting.

Well, I agree with you totally! On the show, I loved it also. Saru was great, I can't believe how well that expository prey-species backstory dialogue played. (Though I did keep thinking: damn, Doug Jones is such a unique physicality, this is going to be tough on the casting people if we someday need more Kelpian characters that fit with his look)

I haven't perceived the consensus to be as negative, though... maybe I am employing my scrolling finger more aggressively. I am starting to see one great plus to having to pay for CBSAA -- those that really hate it will not pay and thus not be able to post overly negative rants.

 

[Guy Gardener]

Pick one:

1. They have been serving together for 7 years, and Saru never gave his backstory before now.

2. They have been serving together for 7 years, and Saru reissues his backstory every fricking day, like a tedious twat.

I guess Discovery is one of those crappy old ships that don't get the new tech.

Does the Shenzou predate The NX-01?

Archer's Enterprise, and the Franklin didn't have lateral transporters.

Pike's Enterprise is 13 years old in 2256.

Is that young or old?

It's ten years from an extensive refit, and 15 years from a complete overhaul in TMP.