Spoilers Star Trek: Discovery 2x03 - "Point of Light"

[cultcross]

I loved how the English subtitles switched to Klingon when the spoken language switched to English. That was clever.

Most Klingons still look like crap, though. The prosthetics remain way overdone.

All in all, a rather mediocre episode.

I did think of you with the line "you don't need sickbay, you need Stamets!"

The severed heads didn't bother me, btw. The Klingons are supposed to be extreme and even gross on occasion: they eat live worms, they drink "bloodwine," they like rough sex, they batter each other with pain-sticks, they have mind-rippers, etc. Severed heads are at most a difference in degree not of kind. Shocking is kinda the Klingon's thing.

And, honestly, a couple of severed heads is pretty tame by modern standards. Forget GAME OF THRONES; severed heads are a staple of Halloween horror decorations, old Vincent Price movies, etc. I get that not every Trekkie is also a horror buff, but a severed head or two are not exactly beyond the pale. You had severed heads on DARK SHADOWS back in the sixties, and that was on daytime TV.

It's probably bad that I didn't even get what people were referring to with the 'excess gore'.

Desensitised to violence? Me?

 

[Gepard]

I did think of you with the line "you need Stamets!"


It's probably bad that I didn't even get what people were referring to with the 'excess gore'.

Desensitised to violence? Me?

All I thought about was "...huh. purple blood? Cool, I guess."

 

[Kor]

... 5, Klingon Monks.
...

You must not have seen the Star Trek: The Next Generation Season 6 episode "Rightful Heir."

I wish people would stop blaming this show for things that aren't to their taste, but already occurred in prior Trek series.

Kor

 

[XCV330]

That part kinda sorta made sense to me, or at least I could see what L'Rell would be going for – if the House of Kor sacrificed to save another, different House, then the other Houses might be willing to give this alliance thing a try. "Well, if Kor thought it was worth fighting for..."

I think the "Mother" speech was a callback to Q. Elizabeth I's first speech to parliament, when factions in Parliament had been trying to force her into a marriage, and her situation was not at all stable or guaranteed as the only heir to a dynasty with many enemies in a turbulent time. Not entirely unlike L'Rell's situation, only Tudor people might have been a bit nastier than Klingons

"To conclude, I am already bound unto an husband, which is the kingdom of England, and that may suffice you. "

"And this,”quoth she, “Makes me wonder that your forget, yourselves, the pledge of this alliance which I have made with my kingdom.” And withal, stretching out her hand, she showed them the ring in express and solemn terms.

“And reproach me no more,” quoth she, “that I have no children: for every one of you, and as many as are English, are my children, and kinsfolk , of whom, so long as I am not deprived and God shall preserve me, you cannot charge me, without offense to be destitute .
Elizabeth Tudor, 1559

 

[Lord Garth]

The severed heads didn't bother me, btw. The Klingons are supposed to be extreme and even gross on occasion: they eat live worms, they drink "bloodwine," they like rough sex, they batter each other with pain-sticks, they have mind-rippers and vicious monster-dogs, etc. Severed heads are at most a difference in degree not of kind. Shocking is kinda the Klingon's thing.

And, honestly, a couple of severed heads is pretty tame by modern standards. Forget GAME OF THRONES; severed heads are a staple of Halloween horror decorations, old Vincent Price movies, etc. I get that not every Trekkie is also a horror buff, but a severed head or two are not exactly beyond the pale. You had severed heads on DARK SHADOWS back in the sixties, and that was on daytime TV.

Yes, Discovery is the first time Old School Klingons are being depicted in a way that lives up to their reputation. There's a quote from David Gerrold's The World of Star Trek that describes what the idea of the Klingons was, which I'll type up later after I track it down. And it's something you could only go so far with on a '60s TV show or in the '80s/PG-rated films.

 

[Jackson_Roykirk]

I honestly didn't know that. I was wanting to see 2Voq and Georgiou go under the Cone of Silence

"I'm sorry -- what was that, Chief?"

 

[cultcross]

I think the "Mother" speech was a callback to Q. Elizabeth I's first speech to parliament, when factions in Parliament had been trying to force her into a marriage, and her situation was not at all stable or guaranteed as the only heir to a dynasty with many enemies in a turbulent time. Not entirely unlike L'Rell's situation, only Tudor people might have been a bit nastier than Klingons

"To conclude, I am already bound unto an husband, which is the kingdom of England, and that may suffice you. "

"And this,”quoth she, “Makes me wonder that your forget, yourselves, the pledge of this alliance which I have made with my kingdom.” And withal, stretching out her hand, she showed them the ring in express and solemn terms.

“And reproach me no more,” quoth she, “that I have no children: for every one of you, and as many as are English, are my children, and kinsfolk , of whom, so long as I am not deprived and God shall preserve me, you cannot charge me, without offense to be destitute .
Elizabeth Tudor, 1559

Very much so. It also hearkens to "mother of the nation" imagery common to female leaders throughout history. L'Rell learnt this week she can have the title 'Chancellor' taken with a thumbprint on a legal document - it is a political title. 'Mother' is an iconic title. She is forging an identity as a populist leader above the petty squabbles over the chancellership. Given how fascist the TOS Klingons appeared, a single powerful leader makes a lot of sense.

 

[Amaris]

The severed heads didn't bother me, btw. The Klingons are supposed to be extreme and even gross on occasion: they eat live worms, they drink "bloodwine," they like rough sex, they batter each other with pain-sticks, they have mind-rippers and vicious monster-dogs, etc. Severed heads are at most a difference in degree not of kind. Shocking is kinda the Klingon's thing.

And, honestly, a couple of severed heads is pretty tame by modern standards. Forget GAME OF THRONES; severed heads are a staple of Halloween horror decorations, old Vincent Price movies, etc. I get that not every Trekkie is also a horror buff, but a severed head or two are not exactly beyond the pale and haven't been for decades. You had severed heads on DARK SHADOWS back in the sixties, and that was on daytime TV.

To each their own, of course. For me, though, while Ash's severed head was bad enough, the severed baby head was too much. Star Trek Discovery isn't Game of Thrones, that's an entire level higher in terms of gross violence, death, and gore. They do seem to be embracing it, though, or maybe if not Game of Thrones, then certainly Vikings in a "this is our culture" kind of way, and another show I don't watch because I have no desire to see people hacked up, chopped, beheaded, or repeatedly stabbed. It's a matter of taste, to be sure, but I read enough of that kind of thing in the real world every day, and the less I see of it (and garbage like Section 31) in the sci-fi I watch where I hope to see humanity growing more emotionally intelligent, the better.

 

[Jackson_Roykirk]

1,Spock needs his mommy because of feelings?

Well, of all the souls Kirk had come across, Spock's was the most....human. I figure Spock's humanity that Kirk spoke of came from somewhere (other than genetics).

4, Emporess/31 is intrusted by Starfleet.

Section 31 being sanctioned by Starfleet (even if it's with an intentionally blind eye) is not a DSC invention.

 

[Jackson_Roykirk]

The severed heads didn't bother me, btw. The Klingons are supposed to be extreme and even gross on occasion: they eat live worms, they drink "bloodwine," they like rough sex, they batter each other with pain-sticks, they have mind-rippers and vicious monster-dogs, etc. Severed heads are at most a difference in degree not of kind. Shocking is kinda the Klingon's thing.

I will say that the severed baby head made me realize 100% right then and there that it was a ruse. I know L'Rell's in-univese intention was that it was the actual severed head of her baby, but I don't think a TV show -- and certainly not Star Trek -- would have a story where and actual (actual "in-universe") severed baby's head is shown.

 

[cultcross]

Section 31 being sanctioned by Starfleet (even if it's with an intentionally blind eye) is not a DSC invention

In fact of his five points, the only one new to DSC is that Tilly can run.

Now if that is grounds for cancellation, well I'll shut up the forum now. Show yourself out folks.

 

[Ovation]

So this is how they fix the continuity issues. S1 ep2 we saw a ship refered to as a D7 which looked way different than anything weve ever seen. Today we see a new ship its also called a D7 and it looks like the TOS version. Bald Klingons = at war, Hair = post war/peace time. Everybody in Starfleet uses holgraphic screens, Pike and starbase 5 commanders grandmother only use Viewscreens (many years later so does Kirk and many years after that all the way to Jean-luc - only viewscreens)
This is the worst show and needs to be cancelled. 1,Spock needs his mommy because of feelings? 2,TILLY is a fast runner. 3,Chancellor vs. Mother, Mother (now thats Klingon) 4, Emporess/31 is intrusted by Starfleet. 5, Klingon Monks.
ITS OVER, PLEASE CANCELL THIS ALTERNATE STAR TREK (STD)

No.

 

[Tuskin38]

2,TILLY is a fast runner.

What the hell is wrong with that?

5, Klingon Monks.

Have been a thing since TNG

Mother (now thats Klingon)

Klingons can be mothers.

 

[urbandefault]

The severed heads didn't bother me, btw. The Klingons are supposed to be extreme and even gross on occasion: they eat live worms, they drink "bloodwine," they like rough sex, they batter each other with pain-sticks, they have mind-rippers and vicious monster-dogs, etc. Severed heads are at most a difference in degree not of kind. Shocking is kinda the Klingon's thing.

And, honestly, a couple of severed heads is pretty tame by modern standards. Forget GAME OF THRONES; severed heads are a staple of Halloween horror decorations, old Vincent Price movies, etc. I get that not every Trekkie is also a horror buff, but a severed head or two are not exactly beyond the pale and haven't been for decades. You had severed heads on DARK SHADOWS back in the sixties, and that was on daytime TV.

This was my first severed head, on Saturday afternoon TV, way back in the 60s.

 

[DigificWriter]

That was once again superb.

DSC remains my favorite Trek series because it has synthesized the perfect blend of the serialized and episodic formats that the previous installments in the franchise have vaccilated betweenbetween, and has done so from Day 1.

A few specific thoughts and observations about the episode:
* I briefly mentioned this last week, but the show has taken a page from the Game of Thrones and Westworld playbooks by having a "rotational slot" in its Main Cast, which is new for the Trek franchise but somehow still works

* I absolutely loved the Klingon story in this episode. I was somebody who didn't understand why the producers chose to so radically redesign the Klingon species, but their new look slowly grew on me as Season 1 progressed and now I'm fully onboard with it; I also loved that L'Rell continues to embody the duplicitous nature of her mother's House

* Does anybody know if we'd been introduced to L'Rell's uncle before this episode?

* I wish Michael had just told Amanda what exactly she said to irreparably damage her and Spock's sibling bond because I feel like the continued secrecy in that regard is unnecessary, but it is what it is

* Introducing retcons has pretty much become "standard operating procedure" for Star Trek, so I don't have any problems with DSC playing off the familiar green D-7 as a new project that was to have been spearheaded by Tyler despite us having previously seen D7s in ENT

* I was 100% convinced that the green spore that landed on Tilly was connected to Culber's eventual return, so to see that not be the case was both surprising and interesting

* Does anybody know what Amanda said to Michael at the end of their final scene together?

* Voq and L'Rell's son has to be the Albino from "Blood Oath", and it's kind of awesome that the writers went so far as to create that kind of bridging canonical link

* Alan Van Sprang finally makes his full onscreen debut, and I immediately want to know more about his character, especially since it seems like he might be subordinate to Mirror Georgiou despite having been the one to recruit her, which is an interesting tack to take

All in all, DSC continues to deliver excellence on pretty much every front, and I can't wait for more.

 

[Jackson_Roykirk]

Bald Klingons = at war, Hair = post war/peace time.

Those particular Klingons, the ones from the year 2255 and the leaders of the 24 houses, decided to shave their heads to go to war. However, that doesn't mean that every Klingon in history and in the future will shave their heads during wartime. 24th-century Klingons, for example, might not feel like following that custom.

 

[Gepard]

This was my first severed head, on Saturday afternoon TV, way back in the 60s.

She makes her own gravy!

 

[oberth]

It was one of those very "non-Trekkian" decisions the episode made though. In the past if there was an alien entity living as a parasite inside a main cast member and trying to communicate the entire episode (or at least one of the two plots) would be focused on trying to determine what it wants. Here Tilly just ignores everything it says, and wants it out immediately. While an understandable reaction due to visceral horror, it doesn't keep with 'seeking new life."

as long as nobody officially pronounces that 'spore being' dead i'm under the impression it' suspended in some sort of hibernation. it'll be back

... also, mccoy would have yanked it out, too - picard on the other hand ...

 

[EnderAKH]

This is the worst show and needs to be cancelled. ...
ITS OVER, PLEASE CANCELL THIS ALTERNATE STAR TREK (STD)

I know I shouldn't engage, but I can't help myself. Why is this... exactly? Why can you not simply exercise some self control and not watch, and let others who enjoy it continue watching? Why must your preference override that of others? It's not even like we're in the old days where it was "I want it cancelled so I can get a Trek series I like," there are several other series in development that may be more to your liking. So why do you feel the need that others must be punished?

 

[XCV330]

So this is how they fix the continuity issues. S1 ep2 we saw a ship refered to as a D7 which looked way different than anything weve ever seen. Today we see a new ship its also called a D7 and it looks like the TOS version. Bald Klingons = at war, Hair = post war/peace time. Everybody in Starfleet uses holgraphic screens, Pike and starbase 5 commanders grandmother only use Viewscreens (many years later so does Kirk and many years after that all the way to Jean-luc - only viewscreens)
This is the worst show and needs to be cancelled. 1,Spock needs his mommy because of feelings? 2,TILLY is a fast runner. 3,Chancellor vs. Mother, Mother (now thats Klingon) 4, Emporess/31 is intrusted by Starfleet. 5, Klingon Monks.
ITS OVER, PLEASE CANCELL THIS ALTERNATE STAR TREK (STD)

But how do you feel about Connolly?