Starfleet Academy General Discussion Thread

[eschaton]

I don't watch the MCU shows, so I have no basis for comparison.

But in STAR TREK, there are plenty of low action or low stakes episodes in the Berman era that are not only as good as the 'best' of the current era, to borrow your term, 'pew-pews', but are actually far superior because it focuses on what matters most... the characters.

Some examples:

"The Offspring"
"Family"
"The Inner Light"
"DUET"
"EXPLORERS"
"THE VISITOR"
"HARD TIME"
"IT'S ONLY A PAPER MOON"
"SHUTTLEPOD ONE"
"COGENITOR"


I think Kurtzman has done some good, and I don't think he should be hated like some do. (Or how Berman and others have in the past, and some still do.) But one issue I do have with the current era is I miss those quiet, full on character episodes.

Many of those are among my favorite episodes of classic Trek (I'd also include In the Pale Moonlight on that list, and Far Beyond the Stars).

One of the biggest issues I've had with modern Trek overall is it's kind of allergic to heavy theming. I feel like one of the most consistent elements of Trek through both the TOS and Berman Trek era is the show essentially clubs you over the head with allegory and/or message - there's no real question what a given episode is "about." However, I often finish episodes of Kurtzman Trek and think - what was it about? Obviously depending upon the level of serialization, this can be harder to pull off, but the episodes often feel like a muddle of subplots and character arcs where nothing much stands out at the end, even if it's well done in the moment.

I also think this is one reason why some people thought The Orville "felt more like Trek" - because it was heavily written in the allegorical, almost didactic style that Trek now seems allergic to.

 

[Frostscape One]

Many of those are among my favorite episodes of classic Trek (I'd also include In the Pale Moonlight on that list, and Far Beyond the Stars).

One of the biggest issues I've had with modern Trek overall is it's kind of allergic to heavy theming. I feel like one of the most consistent elements of Trek through both the TOS and Berman Trek era is the show essentially clubs you over the head with allegory and/or message - there's no real question what a given episode is "about." However, I often finish episodes of Kurtzman Trek and think - what was it about? Obviously depending upon the level of serialization, this can be harder to pull off, but the episodes often feel like a muddle of subplots and character arcs where nothing much stands out at the end, even if it's well done in the moment.

I also think this is one reason why some people thought The Orville "felt more like Trek" - because it was heavily written in the allegorical, almost didactic style that Trek now seems allergic to.

The only reason why I didn't include "IN THE PALE MOONLIGHT" (one of the best episodes of tv, period) was because while it was low action, the stakes were quite high.

And you're right about THE ORVILLE. I love that show, and it does feel more like STAR TREK than a lot of what has been made in this era. At the very least, THE ORVILLE has the spirit of the franchise, so while it doesn't belong in the list of franchise shows, it's certainly a close cousin.