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Star Trek: Discovery - Season 2 discussion thread
Let's talk about Star Trek: Discovery ongoing season 2.
Spoilers in this topic are obviously expected. But let's not mention anything from the trailers for the future episodes.
So I watched the long awaited beginning of the new season of Discovery and feel like polarized, there are a nice and an annoying things in this episode.
The nice thing is everything about the visuals. If this show was suddenly aired along TOS back in the 60s the viewers would have their jaws on the floor. Felt like another Infinity War or even more intense. And some characters are so beautiful. Ships too. Accompanied with a good soundtrack, this show gives goosebumps.
The annoying thing is the intensifying push of the value of family, with oozing nostalgia fluff. Spock's family, Spock's family, relationships, memories, candles lit... For how many years Paramount are going to milk this cow? Why would that be important for those who didn't watch the classic TOS? Why wouldn't the characters spend time dealing with more of the entirely new problems reflecting the challenges of the modern world, instead of one character recalling how things weren't easy in the family many years ago? This grinds my gears. It's a sci-fi show, it's Trek. TOS or TNG didn't spend even remotely as much time on that family importance fluff. It's not such an issue in the real world to push that much.
Nevertheless I'll keep watching, too curious what comes next and hoping for improvement of the mentioned issue. And yes, waiting for the doctor to be back, as much as possible!
The theme seems to be reconciliation. I would argue that's plenty relevant in the "real world" today.
This is a good point. It's just I wonder if they could execute it a bit differently. Spock is a 1964 character. He and Sarek did a cameo in TNG in the 80s, then there were these Abrams movies, pretty good. But again these two, in another season of the new Trek? Sarek is literally on board of the Discovery. The charm of these classic characters is getting thin from overexposure.
I liked it and so did my housemate. We both thought 'Brother' showed a big improvement on the first season - but for very different reasons. For him, he liked that there seems to be less of a focus on romantic relationships. For me, I liked that there seems to be less of a focus on Klingons and war.
It's good to see a focus on exploration and science fiction themes and some character development. I like the introduction of Christopher Pike as a character. I thought his line to Burnham at the end was a bit meta - when he told her that, no matter where they go or what they do, they'll have a bit of fun. That was obvious a message for us viewers, just as much as it was a message for her (if not more!).
I was a bit disappointed to see that they're going to lean heavily on the character of Spock this season - which is ironic, considering one of my complaints about last season. Last season, I was complaining that there was absolutely no reason for the character of Michael Burnham to be Spock's foster brother, because the series ignored all possible connections to that character. This season, they seem to be swinging to the other extreme, where Spock is going to become central to the plot. Honestly, I think the original developers of this show should simply have made Michael Burnham her own independent character, rather than encumbering her with the baggage of being connected to Spock. If necessary to introduce a Vulcan connection, she could have studied at the Vulcan Science Academy, and the Vulcan mentor who appears in her life from time to time was a professor from the Academy. He doesn't need to be Sarek.
I like the initial direction this season seems to be going.
But... I have to confess that part of me was hoping that Captain Pike would introduce the new tri-colour uniforms to the crew of the USS Discovery!
Another problem with Spock (as a kid) is that he appears to be way less likable and good than in Yesteryear, a nearly flawless old episode of Trek with a lot of young Spock. I'd recommend it by the way. A completely different experience comparing to Discovery.
I own the DVD box set of TAS. ;)
And, yes, 'Yesteryear' is great.
Is this one post for the whole of the season, or will we make a new post for each episode?
For the whole season. Once a new episode is out it's open to discuss.