What DON’T you like about the show?

[UssGlenn]

perhaps whatever happened is related to the incident that got her demoted

I think that's quite likely. Mariner did something she believed was the morally right thing to do and it got her demoted. And she clearly thought that the judgement of Starfleet about the whole situation was so stupid it completely disillusioned her. Anyone else would have resigned in protest, but because of who her parents are, she stayed in, possibly against her will (somehow).

 

[BillJ]

It’s a fun little show, but I can’t say I enjoyed it the same way a lot of you seem to. To me, there’s nothing really of consequence to be excited about. I watch, I enjoy, it’s done. I don’t think there’s much to talk about...so it doesn’t get up to the levels of the other series I get passionate about.

I admittedly like live action better than animation, in almost any genre...so that is a bias for sure. But, these just strike me as cute little stories that poke meta-fun at Star Trek, and they don’t have a lot of value for me beyond that.

And, I love them as that...but not as a series I’d seriously consider In the running as a favorite of mine.

We tend to agree on quite a bit where Trek is concerned, except where the new stuff is mostly concerned. I've found Lower Decks to be far more memorable than either CBS live-action series to date. I love that they omitted a lot of the "oh my God, it's the end of everything" mentality that has permeated Trek for a long time now. I'm good with a Trek show that doesn't take itself so seriously.

 

[fireproof78]

I think that's quite likely. Mariner did something she believed was the morally right thing to do and it got her demoted. And she clearly thought that the judgement of Starfleet about the whole situation was so stupid it completely disillusioned her. Anyone else would have resigned in protest, but because of who her parents are, she stayed in, possibly against her will (somehow).

I'm not convinced that she stayed because she was necessarily forced out because she states to Boimler that Starfleet can do good but she's not willing to wait for the leadership to get through the red tap and protocols. She want's to do good now.

 

[Vger23]

We tend to agree on quite a bit where Trek is concerned, except where the new stuff is mostly concerned. I've found Lower Decks to be far more memorable than either CBS live-action series to date. I love that they omitted a lot of the "oh my God, it's the end of everything" mentality that has permeated Trek for a long time now. I'm good with a Trek show that doesn't take itself so seriously.

Oh don’t get me wrong, @Ricky Spanish ...I really like LD. I think I just can’t get too passionate about it because it’s so light. I agree that DSC and PIC are in the opposite end of the spectrum, and can be almost too heavy at times. I think each CBSAA series has something valuable to learn from the other...and ideal Trek is probably somewhere in between.

I agree that LD has been a welcome break from universe-ending doomsday scenarios, though. But I think I’m naturally a bigger fan of the operatic character dramas in Trek than the light and fluffy. They both have their place, but I get more sucked into TMP and TWOK than I do with TVH, for example. All are good films, but the light comedy just doesn’t excite me as much as the adventure-drama. I think I feel the same about LD. I have fun watching, but there isn’t much else to it than what meets the eye.

I think we’re lucky we are all fans of such a diverse franchise than can do a lot of different things and reach different people in different ways without becoming too stale.

 

[dswynne1]

Oh don’t get me wrong, @Ricky Spanish ...I really like LD. I think I just can’t get too passionate about it because it’s so light. I agree that DSC and PIC are in the opposite end of the spectrum, and can be almost too heavy at times. I think each CBSAA series has something valuable to learn from the other...and ideal Trek is probably somewhere in between.

I agree that LD has been a welcome break from universe-ending doomsday scenarios, though. But I think I’m naturally a bigger fan of the operatic character dramas in Trek than the light and fluffy. They both have their place, but I get more sucked into TMP and TWOK than I do with TVH, for example. All are good films, but the light comedy just doesn’t excite me as much as the adventure-drama. I think I feel the same about LD. I have fun watching, but there isn’t much else to it than what meets the eye.

I think we’re lucky we are all fans of such a diverse franchise than can do a lot of different things and reach different people in different ways without becoming too stale.

But what you REALLY want is a dramatic sci-fi program that takes itself seriously. That's great and all, but it narrows your audience into a niche market.

 

[Mudd]

WAAAY too far in my opinion. It’s almost getting to fan fiction level.

Fan fiction's not this well written.

 

[MakeshiftPython]

There are a lot of those “one-off” episodes littered throughout the franchise. Many aren’t intentionally funny, but are still funny unfortunately.

Heck, DS9, which was the most dramatic and darkest of Trek shows in its day, had episodes that were full blown comedies, most notably the Ferengi episodes. From the writing to the exaggerated acting styles (Rom is pretty much a cartoon character 26 hours a day). Heck, I've seen so many fans complain about how those episodes don't "fit" with the show and it's why they hate them. Whereas, I actually love those episodes and take them for what they are rather than complain about how reality breaking they are.

I take this show for what it is. I don't have trouble reconciling with its status in canon with the Trek universe. In fact, I pretty much view each show through their own particular set of lenses, it's just that LOWER DECKS is the most extreme example we've had. Riker in live action would probably not behave and talk as erratically as he did on his appearance in LD, but that interpretation feels perfectly consistent with the tone of the show so it works. I'm sure if we ever saw the LD character in live action they'd be considerably more grounded but still recognizably who they are.

But then again I'm one of those weirdo Trek fans that don't literally take everything in Trek as a documentary account of what actually happened like the guy who runs Ex Astris Scientia.

 

[thribs]

That it's under 30 minutes.

 

[fireproof78]

But then again I'm one of those weirdo Trek fans that don't literally take everything in Trek as a documentary account of what actually happened like the guy who runs Ex Astris Scienti

I find that makes me happier while watching a Trek show.

 

[MakeshiftPython]

I find that makes me happier while watching a Trek show.

I just can't imagine putting that kind of stress on myself trying to treat Star Trek as something as tangible and consistent as reality where you're trying to examine the Trek universe as a historian that needs the facts the align. I love examining canon as much as any fan, but I treat it like a comic book where things are loose because there have been so many writers for over 50 years and not everything is going to connect perfectly. No Trek fans or writers has a Memory Alpha embedded in their brains.

I saw a fan complaining over an episode about how Ruthford and Tendi smuggling those nifty little tools was universe breaking because they should have been able to replicate them instead, and that it was an example of how the writers are hacks who aren't "real" Star Trek fans for letting something like that slip. While it's true that they forgot about replicators and I can poke fun at that (like so many instances of Trek characters forgetting they have transporters) given what kind of show this is... Who ****ing cares?

 

[Vger23]

I just can't imagine putting that kind of stress on myself trying to treat Star Trek as something as tangible and consistent as reality where you're trying to examine the Trek universe as a historian that needs the facts the align. I love examining canon as much as any fan, but I treat it like a comic book where things are loose because there have been so many writers for over 50 years and not everything is going to connect perfectly. No Trek fans or writers has a Memory Alpha embedded in their brains.

I saw a fan complaining over an episode about how Ruthford and Tendi smuggling those nifty little tools was universe breaking because they should have been able to replicate them instead, and that it was an example of how the writers are hacks who aren't "real" Star Trek fans for letting something like that slip. While it's true that they forgot about replicators and I can poke fun at that (like so many instances of Trek characters forgetting they have transporters) given what kind of show this is... Who ****ing cares?

Post of the week, right here folks.

 

[thribs]

I just can't imagine putting that kind of stress on myself trying to treat Star Trek as something as tangible and consistent as reality where you're trying to examine the Trek universe as a historian that needs the facts the align. I love examining canon as much as any fan, but I treat it like a comic book where things are loose because there have been so many writers for over 50 years and not everything is going to connect perfectly. No Trek fans or writers has a Memory Alpha embedded in their brains.

I saw a fan complaining over an episode about how Ruthford and Tendi smuggling those nifty little tools was universe breaking because they should have been able to replicate them instead, and that it was an example of how the writers are hacks who aren't "real" Star Trek fans for letting something like that slip. While it's true that they forgot about replicators and I can poke fun at that (like so many instances of Trek characters forgetting they have transporters) given what kind of show this is... Who ****ing cares?

I get what you’re saying but they could have done a far better job with consistency with Discovery. Even my 12 year old cousin noticed all the blunders.

 

[fireproof78]

I watch a show for fun. Blunders are part of it.

 

[Mudd]

Your 12 year-old cousin is missing the point.

Which is understandable, for a 12 year-old.

 

[NCC-73515]

your point is not everyone's point.

 

[Lt. Tyler]

Everything. It’s goofy and pointless. Should be canceled.

 

[Farscape One]

The only thing I don't like is the length of the episodes. I think if you make it the typical episode length, it would also eliminaye some of the fast paced dialogue we hear that so many don't like.

 

[BillJ]

I think if you make it the typical episode length, it would also eliminaye some of the fast paced dialogue we hear that so many don't like.

The episodes seem to rate pretty well overall, so I imagine that it is a small group that can't keep up with the dialogue. Though I haven't had any issues.

 

[jackoverfull]

Well, it is annoyingly fast for me (and my girlfriend), but not so much as not being followable. On the other hand, it’s one of the few complaints I have and since I guess it helps cramming so much stuff in the limited length these episodes have I’m totally fine with it.

 

[Farscape One]

Even taking out that complaint I've heard, which I don't necessarily agree with, the episode lengths could be longer. It's on a streaming service, which is not under the same time constraints that a network or even cable show has. Take full advantage of that!

Doesn't have to be 80 minutes per episode, but like I said about PICARD and DISCOVERY, it doesn't need to be 42 minutes or less, either. As long as it gets the story told, with a little bit extra for character beats, a sweet spot for LOWER DECKS could be 35 minutes. (Just like how the live action shows could be 55 minutes... enough time for the story, while adding some important character beats and scenes.)

Some of the best scenes of the Berman era STAR TREK shows involved those little character scenes that had nothing to do with the episode itself. That's why we CARE ABOUT THESE CHARACTERS.

(Sorry if my italicizing seems like I'm yelling. Not the intention... I just get really passionate about some things. But then, that's why we all talk about these shows. )