We got around to watching the Discovery first episode, the one that CBS so graciously posted on their own broadcast network rather than their pay streaming channel.
I was the most enthused in the household, and that was only at a “I would watch more if it were handed to me to watch.” Nothing to make me want to fork over a monthly fee for. And, to be honest, while I was fine with waiting for it to inevitably show up in some other medium, neither of my housemates seemed particularly enthusiastic.
I didn’t mind the much-more-prostheticked Klingons, but I thought their far-too-homogeneous outfits were sketchy. Their ponderous subtitled speeches were also not engaging.
I liked the individual characters we saw, though the main protagonist’s move against her captain didn’t strike us as a bold step to do what was needful as much as a doofus move that would rob her of all credibility. Which, honestly, characterized most of her actions.
The FX were all nicely done. The plot was not nearly as well baked.
I do still want this show to succeed, because Star Trek. I am sure that, like most such things, it will improve over the course of the first 3-4 episodes, as well as over the first seasons. Unfortunately, by being told by CBS that the only way to see this is fork over a monthly fee, my willingness to put up with that learning curve drops sharply.
There’s a lot here of interest, esp. if you can get beyond the “Why does this seem so improbable as a 10-year prequel to TOS” — but not enough to make me pay extra to go watch it.
Im not paying myself. I have caught all the clips and reviews. And yeah I think it sucks… I have been doubtful of Prequels….. Enterprise tried and failed for me. Sure they tried at the start but this is what blew it for me. The Xindi war… Earth had a major war that would never be mentioned in the future? They could have had the Romulan war or the 4 year war or even some on the eugenics war…. The Romulans have advanced ships and probes that can use holograms to make it look like any other ship… and Mimic weapons??? You just messed up the whole TOS story line. Dont get me wrong those were good stories as stand alone stories. Discovery doesnt look like it fits the eras ship design. Axanar and the remastered series proved you could make Kirk era ships look good. New klingons out of nowhere?? Saving bodies on funeral ships? What about STNG discard the bodies because they are empty vessels bit? Sarek has super mind meld communication powers??? Wow that would have come in helpful in some of the other stories….. We have a new alien 3rd in command who much like Dr Phlox we will never hear about his people in the future?? We had Andorians and Tellarites.. heck Animated Trek had some great aliens…… The story of our lead messing up so bad at every turn… Storming on the bridge saying we should blast the klingons then assaulting the captain and trying to take control was awful to watch…… Id rather have had Axanar
+Hunter Seeker I don't mind the plot differences & actually find the characters make up for it, BUT the futuristic ship design really irritates its worse than the new set design from the new films.
Less is better, Star Trek was like that, simple not too much and ¨us¨ as humans from different countries united only with a few Aliens around or just one as our loyal Mr.Spock.Has to start from there not changing ¨everything¨ that was before Enterprise and Kirks era.
I didn't mind some of the continuity shifts (hell, I read comic books, I'm used to it), I just wasn't sure that they were worth the effort.
For the time being, if I want my Star Trek fix, I'll watch Orville.
+Dave Hill I find Orville more flawed than Discovery. Poor Adrinna Palicki looks lost.
I paid , I liked
I want more
Its different and fresh
Anything that keeps Trek going I'm for it
I don't really like the After Trek show that comes on after ST:D
I liked Discovery (was gonna say ‘ST:D’ but…) OK, it has potential. The continuity thing doesn’t bother me.
But I’m already paying for Netflix and Hulu. That is enough.
The Orville is slow. Too slow. 1 1/5 eps and I’m done.
@Randy – Agree with you on Discovery. I’m enjoying Orville, though I’m only 2 eps in.
I would much rather they do something like Peter David’s New Frontier series. It’s tied to the Start Trek Universe but doesn’t bump against a lot of continuity issues. Also, why the desire to go backwards and not forward in time? It’s not like they’ve explored the entire galaxy and solve all the universe’s problems already.
Well, going back they don’t have nearly so much of ‘this is canon but this, this and this are not… and these parts of this, this, this and this are.’
Less of an unabridged dictionary sized series bible for the writers to bang their heads on.