BS: Start Trek - Discovery

Subject: BS: Start Trek - Discovery
From: Nigel Parsons
Date: 26 Sep 17 - 07:43 AM

Okay.
Trying to start a discussion which will not be too acrimonious.

The newest version of Star Trek "Discovery" hit the screens yesterday (CBS & Netflix)

Anyone else watching?
Any comments?

Cheers
Nigel

Subject: RE: BS: Start Trek - Discovery
From: Nigel Parsons
Date: 26 Sep 17 - 07:51 AM

A woman as captain and a woman as First Officer.
It took the original Star Trek a year to even get a Russian on the bridge!

Let's see how this goes . . .

Subject: RE: BS: Start Trek - Discovery
From: Donuel
Date: 26 Sep 17 - 09:15 AM

So far it is good that remarkable CGI is a slave to the story instead of the other way around.

The Intro graphics are a waste of time and space. Yes the ship will always be a main character but paraphernalia?
Instead I would present mysterious, undecipherable crypto elements and unknown phenomena yet to be 'discovered'.

Subject: RE: BS: Start Trek - Discovery
From: Nigel Parsons
Date: 26 Sep 17 - 09:27 AM

I watched it late last night, just for an introduction.

I'll watch it again tonight to get a fuller grip on it and to prepare for what's to come in the series.

It's set not long before the original Star Trek, so I'd expect to see more similarities, although that may be covered by the greater budget the new show will have.

Subject: RE: BS: Start Trek - Discovery
From: Donuel
Date: 26 Sep 17 - 12:34 PM

Oh so that's why the Klingons are so aboriginal. It seems as time went by their species became very dilute. Interplanetary misogination. oh my.
Actually the star trek franchise really ignored stable Klingon appearance and evolution.

Subject: RE: BS: Start Trek - Discovery
From: Dave the Gnome
Date: 26 Sep 17 - 05:18 PM

Just watched the first 2. I await the rest with interest. Liked the nod to the original in the opening credits.

DtG

Subject: RE: BS: Start Trek - Discovery
From: DMcG
Date: 26 Sep 17 - 06:07 PM

Maybe I am the odd one out but while I thought it ok it seemed 'nothing special'. There is little shading of the characters, especially the simple villainy of the Klingons. If you go back to the very original stories there were some quite sophisticated issues covered, like the white-and-black split face as a discussion of racism, or ones about dealing with decisions where every alternative is bad, knowingly taking one of these and living with the consequences. Nothing like that in the new show so far. It is, simply, OK.

Subject: RE: BS: Start Trek - Discovery
From: robomatic
Date: 26 Sep 17 - 07:18 PM

I saw the first and am about to see the second. I am a bit bemused that this 'prequel' to Star Trek TOS (The Original Series) has such good effects, quite movie set quality. With the more multi-ethnic lead characters AND the sophisticated effects, it might be hard to imagine this as PRE-ceding TOS but Sci-Fi reflects our developing society, and at the time of TOS, who could envisage Russians on the command deck, women in charge of communications, aliens as best buds (and a doctor borrowed from the movie westerns)?
Two top female officers, one half Vulcan, well played so far.
I am optimistic. Waiting for a race of fat orange-haired aliens to humiliate.

Subject: RE: BS: Start Trek - Discovery
From: Allan Conn
Date: 27 Sep 17 - 02:52 AM

Was the first officer half Vulcan? I think she is supposed to be fully human but was looked after by the Vulcan Sarek after her parents were killed by Klingons and was brought up on Vulcan. Sarek is Spock's father. So she is basically Spock's adopted big sister. Though as she is never mentioned in the original series maybe we're to suppose she dies before Spock is ever born?

Subject: RE: BS: Start Trek - Discovery
From: punkfolkrocker
Date: 27 Sep 17 - 08:38 AM

The wife's started going on about getting netflix again.. any free deals at the moment...???

This time last year Radio Times was giving away free vouchers.. we got about 3 or 4 months worth..

The problem with all these eternally running series of sequels and prequels,
is writers have to contend with and conform to decades of accumulated story & character 'canon'...

..or face the withering wrath and online threats of fanatical OCD fan boys & girls...

eg.. http://www.denofgeek.com/tv/doctor-who/21143/doctor-who-a-celebration-of-continuity-errors

Subject: RE: BS: Start Trek - Discovery
From: robomatic
Date: 27 Sep 17 - 03:22 PM

PFR:
That business of 'contending with conforming to decades of accumulated story and character' is as old as myth...

It has a name, "RETCON" which stands for "Retroactive Continuity".
The name is new but the process is as old as Genesis (and maybe older).

Subject: RE: BS: Start Trek - Discovery
From: punkfolkrocker
Date: 27 Sep 17 - 04:12 PM

If I was a writer or producer, my take would be "bollocks to continuity, most viewers won't notice or care...!!!"... 😜

Subject: RE: BS: Start Trek - Discovery
From: Nigel Parsons
Date: 28 Sep 17 - 04:34 AM

Subject: RE: BS: Start Trek - Discovery
From: robomatic - PM
Date: 27 Sep 17 - 03:22 PM

PFR:
That business of 'contending with conforming to decades of accumulated story and character' is as old as myth...

It has a name, "RETCON" which stands for "Retroactive Continuity".
The name is new but the process is as old as Genesis (and maybe older).

Easily confused with (and possibly from the same origin) "Retcon" a drug used in Torchwood (Dr Who spin-off) to wipe a person's recent memories.