I could like that. But I still want the coffee machines all removed from the Discovery writer's offices.Rebuilding the Federation is a pretty big deal.
Just sayin'.
What was your impression of Season 2 overall?
- Thread starter Lord Garth
- Start date
My Impression of season 2 is nothing but amazement that theres going to be a season 3 in the future.
After S1, I asked how can there be so much change in advanced tech from a prequel? It should of been set in the future after Voyager. Man I got flack for that. Now the show runners have moved Discovery well past Voyager in the timeline.
Again I wish they had started here from the very begining.
Another impression that I have is that I prefer more episodes in a season to fully explain the story versus having plot holes and leaving the audience to fill in the gaps/explanaions.
Live long and prosper.
After S1, I asked how can there be so much change in advanced tech from a prequel? It should of been set in the future after Voyager. Man I got flack for that. Now the show runners have moved Discovery well past Voyager in the timeline.
Again I wish they had started here from the very begining.
Another impression that I have is that I prefer more episodes in a season to fully explain the story versus having plot holes and leaving the audience to fill in the gaps/explanaions.
Live long and prosper.
Most enjoyable Star Trek season since TOS S1, and ENT S4. <--- The latter are my top two. YMMV.
I thought it was pretty good. It had better individual episodes and performances than S1, but I thought the overall story arc was less cohesive and kind of went blah toward the end. And while S1's conclusion was a little rushed and whacked, it didn't necessarily disappoint me. S2's conclusion was thrilling, but it just personally disappointed me, as I felt the season was going in a different direction. That said, it was a fun ride and I'm a huge fan.
The biggest weakness in S2 was inconsistency and awkwardness in pacing, both within individual episodes and in advancing the overall arc. Also, there were individual episodes that were so crammed full of plot(s) and exposition that they gave me a headache and were almost incomprehensible (although very entertaining nonetheless). They've got to figure that out. I think it was also rough that you had (in my opinion) an episode like If Memory Serves, that felt like it was heralding in DSC's rightful place as an elite player in the franchise, and then 2-3 weeks later, I was scratching my head and wondering what the hell happened. I think that exasperated some of my disappointment. I also think they "clumped" character development together, rather than spreading it out. Tilly and Saru, for example, got a ton of focus in their little 2-3 episode arcs, and then disappeared almost completely off the radar for the rest of the show.
The biggest strengths for S2 are an excellent cast and good characters. I genuinely liked every character on the show, including the minor and background ones. Pike and Spock were nice additions. It will be interesting to see how S3 goes without those pillars. S2 did a nice job of moving forward without Lorca...we'll have to see if they can repeat that pattern and make up for a loss of several favorites this time. It also has amazing production values
I'd say S1 had a better arc and persevered despite many factors being out-of-whack, while S2 had all the set-up and elements aligned in its favor, but failed to deliver on its ultimate promises. I'd put S1 slightly ahead of S2. If it hadn't been for some of the great TOS ties (If Memory Serves in particular), and a very strong opening, the gap probably would be wider.
My hope for S3 is that they design a nice, simple, but entertaining arc and that they spread the character development out. I think they try to be too clever and that hurts them. I also would like to see an overall arc that doesn't have to do with a villain or galactic politics. Let's solve a mystery or help a species or something... across several missions that all tie in to the main arc. No Burnham existential drama, no universe-ending threat, no "save / rebuild the Federation" crap, etc...just a simple story with stakes we care about because it's well set-up and well written.
I actually completely disagree that they need more episodes. What they need is to simplify the plotting so that more episodes are NOT needed to explain everything they try to cram in.
The biggest weakness in S2 was inconsistency and awkwardness in pacing, both within individual episodes and in advancing the overall arc. Also, there were individual episodes that were so crammed full of plot(s) and exposition that they gave me a headache and were almost incomprehensible (although very entertaining nonetheless). They've got to figure that out. I think it was also rough that you had (in my opinion) an episode like If Memory Serves, that felt like it was heralding in DSC's rightful place as an elite player in the franchise, and then 2-3 weeks later, I was scratching my head and wondering what the hell happened. I think that exasperated some of my disappointment. I also think they "clumped" character development together, rather than spreading it out. Tilly and Saru, for example, got a ton of focus in their little 2-3 episode arcs, and then disappeared almost completely off the radar for the rest of the show.
The biggest strengths for S2 are an excellent cast and good characters. I genuinely liked every character on the show, including the minor and background ones. Pike and Spock were nice additions. It will be interesting to see how S3 goes without those pillars. S2 did a nice job of moving forward without Lorca...we'll have to see if they can repeat that pattern and make up for a loss of several favorites this time. It also has amazing production values
I'd say S1 had a better arc and persevered despite many factors being out-of-whack, while S2 had all the set-up and elements aligned in its favor, but failed to deliver on its ultimate promises. I'd put S1 slightly ahead of S2. If it hadn't been for some of the great TOS ties (If Memory Serves in particular), and a very strong opening, the gap probably would be wider.
My hope for S3 is that they design a nice, simple, but entertaining arc and that they spread the character development out. I think they try to be too clever and that hurts them. I also would like to see an overall arc that doesn't have to do with a villain or galactic politics. Let's solve a mystery or help a species or something... across several missions that all tie in to the main arc. No Burnham existential drama, no universe-ending threat, no "save / rebuild the Federation" crap, etc...just a simple story with stakes we care about because it's well set-up and well written.
I actually completely disagree that they need more episodes. What they need is to simplify the plotting so that more episodes are NOT needed to explain everything they try to cram in.
I agree here. Sometimes simple is good and can be just as satisfying as overly complicated.
It honestly blows my mind there are people that think season 1 was better. The one that cut itself into two parts, made a hard turn during the middle of the Klingon war arc, only to introduce a schlock-y Mirror Universe shoot-em-up side-plot, and then fumbling to wrap the original war arc up in one, single episode, that doesn't even focus on the war?
I guess that's probably just survivership bias - only those that liked season 1 sufficiently enough even watching the second season.
I guess that's probably just survivership bias - only those that liked season 1 sufficiently enough even watching the second season.
Um, that 'side plot' was the whole point of the story when Bryan Fuller pitched it.
I thought it was a terrible hodgepodge. What the hell is wrong with these writers? The season long story arc was mind-numbing trying to get through and all of the references to TOS were so poorly thought-out and an obvious transparent effort to engage TOS fans to a show that is so badly written that I am rooting for characters to get killed off. The entire "Red Angel" thing along with the Skynet "Control" thing was the worst writing in all of Trek which was all culminated in the season finale by a 30 min long battle that had the main characters zooming off to the future. Then to end the season the writers focus on those left behind that wont be in next season and don't even focus on the main characters of the show; really? Hard to believe CBS has the balls to call this Star Trek; it has nothing to do with seeking out new life and new civilizations; it's just a mess. This is the only Star Trek show that I will probably quite watching since I could not wait until the season was over but for the fact it was like watching a train wreck. What the hell is wrong with these writers???
Without getting into the weeds as to where I disagree with your characterization of this, I will say that I can see people preferring the first season because, for all its faults, it is its own animal, and puts its own story to the front, where the second season is arguably a considerable uptick in the fan service.
Mostly good, some bad stuff mid season, but you know something is working when you count down the days to a new episode
Positives were Pike, Saru, Number One and the lovely leather clad Georgiou
Disappointments were Burnham, Sarek and Spock
Tilly was good and bad, Stamets, Culber, Amanda etc fall into the meh category
Positives were Pike, Saru, Number One and the lovely leather clad Georgiou
Disappointments were Burnham, Sarek and Spock
Tilly was good and bad, Stamets, Culber, Amanda etc fall into the meh category
Overall, I liked it. But it did have a lot of shortcomings.
They kept teasing the idea that the bridge crew would get some good characterization but never quite doing it. Airiam finally got some characterization and then she immediately died. It would have been more effective if she had gotten some good scenes before that episode. Owosekun was picked for the away team in "New Eden" specifically because of her background, and then nothing came from it.
Control was more of a plot device than an interesting villain. Time crystals are a bit too magical for my taste. Everybody seems to forget the transporter exists and could possibly be used to save Airiam or Cornwell.
I also didn't like the way continuity was "fixed" by everybody agreeing never to talk about the ship or anyone on it ever again. That was far too heavy-handed. It also doesn't explain why Starfleet wouldn't continuie to develop the spore drive.
I don't want to sound too negative. There were some good stories and character arcs and I was thoroughly entertained for an hour every week. I'm definitely looking forward to season 3 and being largely unburdened by continuity. Hopefully the writing will mature so there won't be so many little annoyances.
They kept teasing the idea that the bridge crew would get some good characterization but never quite doing it. Airiam finally got some characterization and then she immediately died. It would have been more effective if she had gotten some good scenes before that episode. Owosekun was picked for the away team in "New Eden" specifically because of her background, and then nothing came from it.
Control was more of a plot device than an interesting villain. Time crystals are a bit too magical for my taste. Everybody seems to forget the transporter exists and could possibly be used to save Airiam or Cornwell.
I also didn't like the way continuity was "fixed" by everybody agreeing never to talk about the ship or anyone on it ever again. That was far too heavy-handed. It also doesn't explain why Starfleet wouldn't continuie to develop the spore drive.
I don't want to sound too negative. There were some good stories and character arcs and I was thoroughly entertained for an hour every week. I'm definitely looking forward to season 3 and being largely unburdened by continuity. Hopefully the writing will mature so there won't be so many little annoyances.
I tossed them in the box with Bajoran spirit orbs. Hopefully we'll never see them again.
I want to see more of them. I thought Boreth, the Klingon monks and their wibbly-wobbly timey-wimey crystals were one of the coolest bits of worldbuilding in recent Trek history. So many possibilities for flashbacks, flashforwards, what-might-have-beens and so on.
The Bajoran orbs were created by a species that doesn't percieve linear time. That's enough of a sci-fi conceit for me to accept them doing crazy stuff.
But the time crystals...are naturally occurring crystals that...do...time stuff? Like, whatever time stuff is called for by the plot. And somehow they control time because Pike's future was allegedly cemented by taking one? The rules are all just too vague for me to think of as science-fiction rather than fantasy.
Overall, I thought it was better than season one, but felt it began to fall apart just after the mid-point. The best way I can describe it is that the writers seemed to be biting off more than they could chew with the story. I thought they were trying to do too many stories at once, which resulted in an extremely sloppy two-part season finale that I didn't feel brought everything together very well.
However, it did give us Captain Pike played wonderfully by Anson Mount. Because of this, Pike quickly became my favorite Star Trek captain.
However, it did give us Captain Pike played wonderfully by Anson Mount. Because of this, Pike quickly became my favorite Star Trek captain.
By the time it finished, the story had become a bit too complicated to follow, but they sent the season out in such a wonderful way that it worked, more or less. I think the main Red Angel arc began to tank when we found out it was Burnham and her mother. The mystery up until that point had been very well done, and it was playing out amongst the wonderful additions of Pike and Spock.
I also loved Saru's growth this season. He was one of my favourites from the first season, so seeing him outgrow his old fear-based self was fascinating. As was seeing him go home to his sister, and help his whole planet.
Tyler bugged me this season. I felt that his story had been played out in season one, and I would have been happy if he had stayed with L'Rell this year. Him being on Discovery was convoluted, and was purely to continue with the dull relationship with Burnham.
So on the whole, I felt season two had been better than the first. However, I recently started watching from the beginning again, something I wanted to do before S2 started, but I never got around to it. I can't help but feel that it's holding together quite well so far. I've only got three or four episodes left now.
I guess what rewatching does for the experience is watching at your own speed, so I've watched most of it in a couple of days.
It means that whilst there were too many dull conversations in Klingon, everything was moving on a lot more quicker, as opposed to week by week viewing.
My other main takeaways from the season were twists that were a bit too telegraphed to be shocking, and the inexplicably quick ending to the Klingon war. These things are still there, but knowing already cushions the blow, so you know you're in for an average experience at times.
I forgot how awesome Lorca was, and also felt that the Mirror Universe was some of the most interesting parts of the season.
I also loved Saru's growth this season. He was one of my favourites from the first season, so seeing him outgrow his old fear-based self was fascinating. As was seeing him go home to his sister, and help his whole planet.
Tyler bugged me this season. I felt that his story had been played out in season one, and I would have been happy if he had stayed with L'Rell this year. Him being on Discovery was convoluted, and was purely to continue with the dull relationship with Burnham.
So on the whole, I felt season two had been better than the first. However, I recently started watching from the beginning again, something I wanted to do before S2 started, but I never got around to it. I can't help but feel that it's holding together quite well so far. I've only got three or four episodes left now.
I guess what rewatching does for the experience is watching at your own speed, so I've watched most of it in a couple of days.
It means that whilst there were too many dull conversations in Klingon, everything was moving on a lot more quicker, as opposed to week by week viewing.My other main takeaways from the season were twists that were a bit too telegraphed to be shocking, and the inexplicably quick ending to the Klingon war. These things are still there, but knowing already cushions the blow, so you know you're in for an average experience at times.
I forgot how awesome Lorca was, and also felt that the Mirror Universe was some of the most interesting parts of the season.
Completely agreed and the way it was presented to us that a second Red Angel existed was completely out of left field. And it was only made worse by the fact that Spock had every opportunity to say something earlier about it, but, never did. I didn't see why the actions of both Burnham and her mother couldn't have consolidated to be just one angel. Since it was Gabrielle who was trying to prevent Control from evolving, it would have made more sense (to me, anyway) that SHE was the one leaving the signals and steering Discovery in the direction that it went.
I think the writers over-complicated things and spent too much time on smaller story arcs that could've been dealt with in a shorter span of time. I also wasn't a huge fan of using an entire episode to focus on Airiam for the sole purpose of killing her off in the end. That felt cheap to me.
And my god, Tyler. I'm sorry, but this character just doesn't work and it really shows. He doesn't work as a romantic interest for Michael or for L'Rell. It's clear the writers are throwing him in different places to see what they can do with him, but, he just falls flat in my opinion. He was fine in season one and actually had a decent character arc around the whole “is he a Klingon in disguise or isn’t he?”, but that seemed to be resolved in the end. After that, he didn’t need to return. He added absolutely nothing to this season.
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Nevermind just TNG. I suspect it'll throw in DS9 and Voyager as well since they're all set in the same time period.
Though I wouldn't mind Picard making a stopover at Deep Space Nine for an episode. Just sayin'.
Control!!! LMAO! I kept giggling everytime they said it, I was half expecting Maxwell Smart to pop out of a secret hideaway in a bulkhead, and pull his shoe off to make a phone call back to Starfleet command. STD writers are nothing if not original...LOL
