What are changes are okay and what changes are to far?

[Jackson_Roykirk]

They already did, made complex mult layered morality plays that made people ask questions and challenged their assumptions. It was groundbreaking then and is exactly what I hope we see here

Those morality plays we saw in TOS were easier done due to the episodic nature of the show (a quick one-hour morality play put on each week exploring a different theme each week). However, I have a feeling that ST: Discovery will be more of a single story told over a 13-episode arc.

While I do think, and hope, that each 13 episode installment of that season-long serial story can have its own "relatively" self-contained story to tell (i.e., it won't be a 13-hour story randomly cut into one-hour arbitrary pieces, but rather each separate episode would have a reason to be structured as a separate episode), I don't think we are going to get a separate morality play each week (a la TOS) for 13 weeks.

 

[Kemaiku]

They can change whatever they like, as they've been doing on and off for decades anyway.

 

[Mr. Laser Beam]

SPOCK MUST BE CONSTANTLY SHOUTING!

IF LORCA IS A VULCAN, DOES HE SHOUT TOO? CAN THE UNIVERSE HANDLE JASON ISAACS SHOUTING?

 

[cultcross]

IF LORCA IS A VULCAN, DOES HE SHOUT TOO? CAN THE UNIVERSE HANDLE JASON ISAACS SHOUTING?

POTTER!!

 

[Mr. Laser Beam]

THE COMPUTER SHOULD SHOUT TOO!!!

 

[Spot261]

However, I have a feeling that ST: Discovery will be more of a single story told over a 13-episode arc.

We've already pretty much been told it will follow a story arc, but that doesn't reuire each episode end on a cheap "Flash Gordon" style cliffhanger in order to engage an intelligent audience (which I rather hope it's fair to call trekkies). By it's very nature that would inhibit story telling options by requiring each episode be linked to the next by some form of dramatic or life and death drama when the actual substance of the show requires it go in other directions to best serve the story.

So on balance, whilst I can live with the odd clihhhanger where it's approrpiate and useful, I'd sooner not see the described:

set of cliffhangers with stories that are so engaging that I become emotionally drained from being on the edge of my seat during the current ep and having to wait a week for resolution, only to find I have to wait again to resolve another curveball the writers threw at us

 

[CorporalClegg]

Cliffhangers are fine. Yeah, they're often pretty terrible. But there have been some excellent ones. Trek fans should know that better than anyone.

 

[Balok's Decoy]

Certain things should probably stay the same for it to be recognizably Star Trek. You probably need Starfleet and the Federation, or familiar aliens, in some form or fashion. Should probably be set in space, at least some of the time. There should be a spirit of exploration, celebration of diversity and discovery of new people and cultures, intellectually challenging stories that are relevant to the time in which the show is produced.

Other than its tone and a few familiar trappings though, they should feel free to branch out and do whatever they want. Things like aesthetics, design, how "futuristic" things look, and franchise consistency are generally meaningless and superficial.

 

[Jackson_Roykirk]

Good point, but you haven't actually disagreed with the point I was making.

I was responding to a post which endorsed EXACTLY those sort of life and death cliffhangers.

You got me!
I was just deleting my post (after re-reading yours, this time with better reading comprehension skills) when you replied. Sorry!

 

[Spot261]

You got me!
I was just deleting my post (after re-reading yours, this time with better reading comprehension skills) when you replied. Sorry!

mutually deleted