Star Trek: Alpha to Delta Quadrants & Everything In Between

[gkarris]

Geez, you guys are really quick to write Discovery off.

While I admit that the first two episodes didn't really blow me away (I especially really didn't like the new Klingon design and the space battle looked laughable), let's have a little reality check: which previous Star Trek series was really good from the first episode on?

They all took quite a while (in most cases even two or more seasons) to really find their own qualities and flesh out their characters.

Well from the first "half of the pilot" (looks like the pilot is 2 hours long but has been "broadcasted" as a syndicated type of a 2-part 1 hour episode).

Unfortunately, the first part was OTA free and the second part of the Pilot is behind their new paywall...

I loved the first half of the pilot, though.

It is great to see "real" opening title sequences (not just throw up the show title for 5 seconds). I guess since it is really a "show you now must pay for" the studio can afford to have a real opening sequence.

Not to mention that this opening sequence has the original theme in it as well as retro 60's Space Age graphics - what I love and grew up on from TOS.

Too bad I won't be watching, though. I will just get the Blu-ray discs when they are released - if at all...

Doesn't look like, of course, it is available on iTunes or Amazon for download even...

CBS not releasing this on disc is leaving things wide open for bootleggers...

 

[Roller]

Geez, you guys are really quick to write Discovery off.

While I admit that the first two episodes didn't really blow me away (I especially really didn't like the new Klingon design and the space battle looked laughable), let's have a little reality check: which previous Star Trek series was really good from the first episode on?

They all took quite a while (in most cases even two or more seasons) to really find their own qualities and flesh out their characters.

I don't have a specific memory of watching TOS for the first time, but I do recall how one character, Spock, grabbed my attention immediately. With TNG, it was Picard. I was hooked on both series (though I was a fan of later ones, too), even as they improved over time.

Many, perhaps most, Star Trek Discovery (I'd use the STD acronym, but that seems wrong) viewers have seen at least some of the many television and motion picture versions that span more than five decades. With that history, it's hard not to have a preconceived notion of what any Star Trek series should look like and how its characters should behave. I see Discovery through that lens. But the interaction between the two principals seemed distinctly inauthentic to me.

Were this a regular TV series, I would probably keep watching. Maybe I'm just stingy, but I already pay for U-verse, Netflix, and HBO. I'm not willing to add a subscription to CBS All Access, even at the $6.99/month rate with commercials. If I read or hear a lot of positive reviews from people I trust, I may change my mind at some point.

 

[BigMcGuire]

Just watched the second episode. The constant need for dialogue during battle scenes is really annoying, lol. That said it was a little better than first episode. This definitely goes where no Trek has gone before... Like others here, if it didn't require $10/mo, I'd probably watch it.

 

[BigMcGuire]

Wow Apple was nice enough to refund my $10. I complained about how I was told there was a free trial but the button to cancel the free trial is purposely removed by CBS if you initiate it through Apple TV. Apple agreed with me. Very nice of Apple to do this! I wish Discovery the best, but I dislike the series and I dislike CBS for putting it behind a $10/mo paywall. I'd gladly spend $30+ to buy the season on Apple TV...

 

[gkarris]

Wow Apple was nice enough to refund my $10. I complained about how I was told there was a free trial but the button to cancel the free trial is purposely removed by CBS if you initiate it through Apple TV. Apple agreed with me. Very nice of Apple to do this! I wish Discovery the best, but I dislike the series and I dislike CBS for putting it behind a $10/mo paywall. I'd gladly spend $30+ to buy the season on Apple TV...

I don't get it...

 

[BigMcGuire]

I don't get it...

I don't want to pay $120/year for something I dislike, but a one time purchase of $30 or less owning the series, much more tolerable.

For $10/mo I get almost nothing from CBS All Access.
$10/mo with Netflix and Hulu I get a lot more.

I much prefer to pay a one time fee than a monthly subscription, especially for something I dislike (I want to support Star Trek, just paying $120/year for CBS All Access is a bit much just for Star Trek especially one that I disliked at first).

But like it was said, the series may get better later on.

 

[mobilehaathi]

I assume STD will eventually be available via a source that I already have access to, and I'll check it out then out of straight up curiosity (and serious ST-fandom). But I don't have high hopes, given everything I've read about it so far. I'm not a fan of the recent ST movies (to the point where I haven't even bothered with the most recent one), and I get the impression STD has more in common (in terms of tone and visuals) with those than the previous incarnations of the franchise.

To those that will follow it, I'll be interested to hear your opinions of it as the series progresses.

 

[gkarris]

I don't want to pay $120/year for something I dislike, but a one time purchase of $30 or less owning the series, much more tolerable.

For $10/mo I get almost nothing from CBS All Access.
$10/mo with Netflix and Hulu I get a lot more.

I much prefer to pay a one time fee than a monthly subscription, especially for something I dislike (I want to support Star Trek, just paying $120/year for CBS All Access is a bit much just for Star Trek especially one that I disliked at first).

But like it was said, the series may get better later on.

I'm pretty sure it will be much better. Just like ST:NG, the pilot had to explain tons of stuff.

Same here - I hate to pay for something I can't show anything for. I'd rather just pay for the physical copies (or OWN the downloads).
[doublepost=1506452926][/doublepost]

I assume STD will eventually be available via a source that I already have access to, and I'll check it out then out of straight up curiosity (and serious ST-fandom).

 

[Huntn]

Someone should start a thread devoted to Discovery if there is not one already here.

I am pissed, I had the show set up to record, apparently the football game ran over and my TiVo was not smart enough to record it properly, so I only got 30 minutes of it.

I liked what I saw, beautifully filmed, but I was annoyed that music seemed to drone continuously. I will be willing to wait 4 episodes in, so I can sign up for a month and bing watch it, then make a decision about continuing it in the Spring.

 

[ActionableMango]

Over in /r/startrek the response to the show seems to be mixed, but more positive than not.

In any case though, I want to remind people that the first season or two of TNG and DS9 weren't that great either, but in the end they are my two favorite series in Trekdom.

I have not seen it myself because I don't want to deal with All Access. Typically Netflix in the USA has better content than it does in the rest of the world, but now it is starting to look like the shoe is on the other foot.

 

[ActionableMango]

Today I learned that an episode of TNG was banned from broadcast in the UK:

Controversial when originally broadcast, it was initially banned from broadcast in the United Kingdom, and required a warning before airing in Canada.
​

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Conspiracy_(Star_Trek:_The_Next_Generation)

 

[C DM]

Today I learned that an episode of TNG was banned from broadcast in the UK:

Controversial when originally broadcast, it was initially banned from broadcast in the United Kingdom, and required a warning before airing in Canada.
​

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Conspiracy_(Star_Trek:_The_Next_Generation)

It's the TNG Halloween special.

 

[Janichsan]

Today I learned that an episode of TNG was banned from broadcast in the UK:

Controversial when originally broadcast, it was initially banned from broadcast in the United Kingdom, and required a warning before airing in Canada.
​

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Conspiracy_(Star_Trek:_The_Next_Generation)

Well, someone’s head explodes in that episode, so it’s not necessarily that suitable for children.

 

[jkcerda]

so far I am liking Discovery

 

[Mac'nCheese]

so far I am liking Discovery

Anything but Hillary!

Wait, sorry I got so excited to see a post from you I forgot which forum this was.

 

[jkcerda]

Anything but Hillary!

Wait, sorry I got so excited to see a post from you I forgot which forum this was.

sure miss you guys

 

[Mac'nCheese]

sure miss you guys

Miss you too!

 

[ActionableMango]

Well, someone’s head explodes in that episode, so it’s not necessarily that suitable for children.

I distinctly remember when I saw that scene, that it felt very un-trek-like.

Spoiler hiding scene.

Spoiler

 

[Scepticalscribe]

Today I learned that an episode of TNG was banned from broadcast in the UK:

Controversial when originally broadcast, it was initially banned from broadcast in the United Kingdom, and required a warning before airing in Canada.
​

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Conspiracy_(Star_Trek:_The_Next_Generation)

Now, that is something I hadn't known.

Subsequent to reading your post, I checked out the episode in question, and - yes, I do recall having seen it (but probably not when it was first broadcast). I certainly remember my shock when I saw Riker enter the dining room with the protrusion on his neck - especially as he had been warned earlier about the conspiracy.

A very good episode, actually.

so far I am liking Discovery

Interesting.

sure miss you guys

Ah.

Similar to a situation that our friend Renz once found himself in, eh? Hm.

 

[Scepticalscribe]

For those who are watching it, how do you find the new Star Trek series?

I accept that the first series of TNG and DS9 were - for the most part - less than brilliant.

 

[Janichsan]

For those who are watching it, how do you find the new Star Trek series?

I accept that the first series of TNG and DS9 were - for the most part - less than brilliant.

I still haven’t a definitive opinion. I was increasingly disenchanted with every episode up to the last one, since the series felt absolutely nothing like a true Star Trek show and the writing was sometimes infuriatingly bad. It could be summarized mostly with „unlikeable characters doing stupid things while arguing with each other“.

And then they suddenly came up with an admittedly still flawed episode that managed to capture some of the old Trek vibe of yore.

Maybe there is still hope for the show. We‘ll see.

 

[Apple fanboy]

I still haven’t a definitive opinion. I was increasingly disenchanted with every episode up to the last one, since the series felt absolutely nothing like a true Star Trek show and the writing was sometimes infuriatingly bad. It could be summarized mostly with „unlikeable characters doing stupid things while arguing with each other“.

And then they suddenly came up with an admittedly still flawed episode that managed to capture some of the old Trek vibe of yore.

Maybe there is still hope for the show. We‘ll see.

How many episodes are you in? Seven of nine

I rarely find that if I'm not hooked by episode three, it's not going to work for me.

 

[Scepticalscribe]

I cannot remember when I got into STNG, but it certainly wasn't the first two seasons.

Now, I certainly saw the last three to four seasons when it first came out on TV, - and was absolutely rapt - and then watched the entire thing on Sky with my mum, (who adored it, too, - and could be quite critical of sub-standard episodes - just as she had loved the original ST, watching it again with me when we were both adults.)

 

[jkcerda]

can't believe STD's season is about to end

 

[Scepticalscribe]

can't believe STD's season is about to end

But, is it good?

Worth following into Season Two?

Worth noting to watch Season One whenever one of the channels in Our Part of the World decides to broadcast it?