Poll What fans of the other Star Trek series are enjoying Discovery so far?

[Vger23]

Another observation:
Most 9ers I saw. say the first episode ("Vulcan hello") was the weakest, and the series gained steam from that point onward. While I, more a TOS/TNG-guy, think the first episode was closest to what I wish in new Trek, with a focus mostly on exploration, space walks and a visit to a new planet with strange, unknown (but not hostile) alien creatures. Albeit a bit clunky in it's execution, for me personally it was more interesting than the ongoing klingon war-arc or even the subspace-mushroom-boogaloo.

Just shows how diverse the Trek fandom has gotten until this point, and how diverse the preferences have grown! While still all obvious falling under the umbrella of "Trek", and being clearly identifiably as that nonetheless!

But that there's a big overlap between DS9-fans and DIS-fans, more than between any other Trek series with DIS, is IMO both revealing and not surprising.

I agree with this point. As much as I like DSC overall...the premier episode was far closer to what I originally wanted in a new Trek series.

 

[Longinus]

Another observation:
Most 9ers I saw, say the first episode ("Vulcan hello") was the weakest, and the series gained steam from that point onward. While I, more a TOS/TNG-guy, and others think the first episode was closest to what I wish in new Trek, with a focus mostly on exploration, space walks and a visit to a new planet with strange, unknown (but not hostile) alien creatures. Albeit a bit clunky in it's execution, for me personally it was more interesting than the ongoing klingon war-arc or even the subspace-mushroom-boogaloo.

Yep. I would have preferred a show about Shenzhou gang doing more traditional explorey stuff. Stamets, Culber and Tilly can come too. Lorca is not invited, except for that one mandatory episode about crazy Starfleet captain who does bad stuff.

 

[The Lensman]

The original Star Trek is not only favorite Trek series, it's been my favorite t.v. show for 47 years, and I'm loving DISC.

 

[Crazy Eddie]

The letter D

Also the fact that the saucer section is built like a pinwheel with spokes connected the core, inner ring and outer ring. It's like they too deep space nine and bolted it to a star destroyer

 

[Crazy Eddie]

Is it? I thought that Enterprise was generally considered as improving significantly in the fourth season.

Obviously, but that was ALSO the point at which it was clear that the show was in decline and that drastic measures were needed to save it. Those measures, while admirable, proved to be "too little too late," especially with craptacular episodes like "Terra Prime" and the complete anticlimax that was "The Aenar," and then "TATV" nailed the coffin shut once and for all. Basically, while the entire Xindi story arc had a great deal of potential, it was handled (IMO) very poorly and as a result season 3 sort of plodded along, aimlessly wandering around in the Delphic Expanse running into all kinds of strange and random happenstance while the viewers patiently tagged along muttering "Okay... that was weird... can we can back to the fucking point?"

I'd regard both Voyager and Enterprise as improving from where they started, with the former peaking towards the middle of its run, and the latter in the last season.

Sure, but the term "jump the shark" actually refers to the point when a series was AT ITS BEST, and beyond which it ceases to be (as) entertaining. The climax of the Xindi Arc was arguably one of Enterprise' finest moments, and was approached or nearly topped only by Kir'Shira and Unity. If we'd had those awesome Season 4 moments EARLIER in the series, this would be a very different conversation.

 

[BillJ]

I think it was a slow burn with Voyager for most folks. It was drawn out over time, had the same old tired stories, and never really caught fire in a compelling way like I felt the others had.

I was never impressed with Voyager during its first run. I was pretty burned out on Trek. But watching it lately? It has been much better than I remember.

 

[Crazy Eddie]

Most 9ers I saw, say the first episode ("Vulcan hello") was the weakest, and the series gained steam from that point onward. While I, more a TOS/TNG-guy, and others think the first episode was closest to what I wish in new Trek, with a focus mostly on exploration, space walks and a visit to a new planet with strange, unknown (but not hostile) alien creatures. Albeit a bit clunky in it's execution, for me personally it was more interesting than the ongoing klingon war-arc or even the subspace-mushroom-boogaloo.

Actually, between the space walk, the deeper look at Klingon culture, and being chased off the Glenn by the Tardigrade, Discovery has already crushed half of my "things I wish a Star Trek series would do more of" list.

But that there's a big overlap between DS9-fans and DIS-fans, more than between any other Trek series with DIS, is IMO both revealing and not very surprising.

There are character similarities too that I find interesting. DS9 features a very troubled CO facing his own demons, a First Officer dealing with cultural insecurities of her own, and a crew of people who aren't really sure their current posting is going to be worth it but are trying their best to make it work. Discovery captures quite a bit of that, IMO.

 

[Rahul]

There are character similarities too that I find interesting. DS9 features a very troubled CO facing his own demons, a First Officer dealing with cultural insecurities of her own, and a crew of people who aren't really sure their current posting is going to be worth it but are trying their best to make it work. Discovery captures quite a bit of that, IMO.

I think a "troubled CO facing his own demons" (Picard & the Borg), a "First officer dealing with cultural insecurities" (Spock, Chakotay) and the "misfit-but-willing"-crew (Starfleet/Maquis, unequipped ENT-crew) is something that a LOT of Trek series have in common. More examples could be easily found.

What makes DIS more similar in DS9 in this regard IMO is the ongoing development in the relationships between the characters, and the actual changes happening over time, instead of a more episodic development that the other Trek series have. (This is IMO also the biggest strength of the show, and what I liked most about DS9)

 

[Count Zero]

What I find most peculiar about the poll results so far is that ENT fans are split on Discovery. Granted, the sample size is small but still. As Discovery seems to take some cues from Enterprise (rather than TOS), specifically the look and the "people do unethical things in an emergency" theme ENT had going in the thrid season, I would have expected more of them to like it.

 

[Vger23]

I think a "troubled CO facing his own demons" (Picard & the Borg), a "First officer dealing with cultural insecurities" (Spock, Chakotay) and the "misfit-but-willing"-crew (Starfleet/Maquis, unequipped ENT-crew) is something that a LOT of Trek series have in common. More examples could be easily found.

What makes DIS more similar in DS9 in this regard IMO is the ongoing development in the relationships between the characters, and the actual changes happening over time, instead of a more episodic development that the other Trek series have. (This is IMO also the biggest strength of the show, and what I liked most about DS9)

To me, this was the very core of DS9. It's also why I liked TOS, although those relationships didn't develop over time, but they were more complex than, say, TNG...where I liked the characters but their relationships seemed very professional and static to me rather than challenging / complimenting each other.

 

[indranee]

Redemption, life during wartime, professionalism, and earning respect are things that have been present in the previous series, but which are being explored more fully in Discovery. Whether or not they are being explored well is certainly up for debate.

That's true. I'm hoping they also explore other, deeper ideas at some point. I don't have to see them this season. I'm keeping an open mind about DSC. I am not enamored by it completely but I am open to being wowed as time goes by. It took me about 2 seasons to really love DS9 and I liked TNG even later... I am willing to give this show time as well because I can tell that it's being engineered/written by fans and there are moments of sheer brilliance.

 

[Greg Cox]

It occurred to me tonight that DISCO is what I was kinda hoping ENTERPRISE would be: grittier, more contemporary in tone, more of a sense of space being a dangerous frontier, etc.

 

["Q"]

DS9 (and TNG) are my favorites, and I WANT to like Discovery, but so far it doesn't feel like star trek. I'm hoping that changes.

 

[ichab]

And with Discovery, the producer wanted to do all eras,

Who left a long time ago over creative differences so all bets are off as far as what he wanted.

and the studio wants to take it one step at a time. And that plan for anthology seasons might very well still happen in one shape or another.

Nope.

We have no idea if season 2, which is tentatively planned for 2019, will be "the further adventures of Burnham" or not.

The show is barely a month old and has just gotten a second season. Unless they jump the shark and throw the ship into the future, the show is staying in the current timeline. So no TNG era as far as this show goes.

 

[Prax]

Who left a long time ago over creative differences so all bets are off as far as what he wanted.


Nope.


The show is barely a month old and has just gotten a second season. Unless they jump the shark and throw the ship into the future, the show is staying in the current timeline. So no TNG era as far as this show goes.

The notion that they are taking things one step at a time, and the possibility of such a format was still...possible, was not me talking, but Aaron Harberts, Discovery's current showrunner, in the second article of the link which I posted.

So they announced a 2nd season...what? Today? And you went and dug up the conversation just to repeat yourself? Isn't that sort of an ex post facto tactic?

A more honest post would be "So, CBS just announced a second season today. It looks like the Discovery storyline will continue. Ha ha" Or something to that effect.

 

[Mattadd]

Another observation:
Most 9ers I saw, say the first episode ("Vulcan hello") was the weakest, and the series gained steam from that point onward. While I, more a TOS/TNG-guy, and others think the first episode was closest to what I wish in new Trek, with a focus mostly on exploration, space walks and a visit to a new planet with strange, unknown (but not hostile) alien creatures. Albeit a bit clunky in it's execution, for me personally it was more interesting than the ongoing klingon war-arc or even the subspace-mushroom-boogaloo.

That's an interesting observation. I'm a Niner and I agree with you that "Vulcan Hello" was the strongest episode. I do seem to be in the minority among my kind though that I strongly dislike Discovery.

 

[cultcross]

It occurred to me tonight that DISCO is what I was kinda hoping ENTERPRISE would be: grittier, more contemporary in tone, more of a sense of space being a dangerous frontier, etc.

Very much the same thoughts here. It seems to me like they had another go at Enterprise and did it well this time.

To answer the poll, DS9 is my favourite series, and I'm enjoying DSC.

The things I liked about Deep Space Nine are definitely similar things that I like about Discovery, so I would accept the premise that there is crossover there. It isn't about 'darkness' or 'grittiness', it is about complexity, about difficult storylines without easy answers, its about space feeling dangerous and exciting again, its about minority and female characters with agency and strength of character, its about relationships that seem natural and human, its about characters with interesting backgrounds that actually affect their character in the present, its about consequences, growth, progress and following through with ideas.

DSC's first season strongly reminds me of DS9s, in a number of ways. It's still got a bit of clunkiness to it, it's got some missteps and ideas that didn't work as well in the telling as in the conception, but it has a set of characters which fascinate me, that I want to see more of, that have room for growth and whose actions affect them and others around them. It isn't afraid to address complex issues head on. It already feels like a big universe with a lot going on, with a supporting cast that are worthwhile characters in their own right. Lots of positive parallels there.

I don't know if we'll have a Duet by season's end, but we've got a few In the Hands of the Prophets already.

 

[SPCTRE]

It occurred to me tonight that DISCO is what I was kinda hoping ENTERPRISE would be: grittier, more contemporary in tone, more of a sense of space being a dangerous frontier, etc.

agreed

STD is in the process of becoming my favorite show, although it will be hard to completely overtake TNG (beginning of my "Golden Age" of watching Trek content, hence tons of nostalgia and rose-tinted glasses)

 

[Rahul]

That's an interesting observation. I'm a Niner and I agree with you that "Vulcan Hello" was the strongest episode. I do seem to be in the minority among my kind though that I strongly dislike Discovery.

Note that most poeple who actually don't like DIS are most likely not going to take part in this poll. It's much easier to watch a television series you only half like if you don't have to pay for it.

Exceptions are non-US citizens. I don't like DIS enough that I would pay a new streaming service solely for it, but as part of an already existing service I'll gladly watch it every week.

 

[Mudd]

Note that most poeple who actually don't like DIS are most likely not going to take part in this poll. It's much easier to watch a television series you only half like if you don't have to pay for it.

Exceptions are non-US citizens. I don't like DIS enough that I would pay a new streaming service solely for it, but as part of an already existing service I'll gladly watch it every week.

Well, I've got one free episode left. I'm not going to pay for this.