Given how “Far From Home” ends, it’s understandable that Star Trek: Discovery opened its third season with last week’s episode—Michael is, after all, the main character, and the time jump probably wouldn’t have had the same impact if we learned about it without checking in with her first. All the same, I can’t help wishing that this episode had been the season premiere. It works much better as an introduction to the new season, checking back in with all the major players without straining, reminding us who they are and why we like them, all while delivering a suspenseful story that expresses its theme via context. Yes, the music is still a bit much at times (it’s possible to have an emotion without having someone jam it down your throat, show), but apart from that, I’m struggling to come up with much in the way of complaints. “That Hope Is You” had its share of intriguing elements, but I spent as much time rolling my eyes as I did getting interested. “Home” has me hooked, and legitimately excited for what comes next.
When last we left Discovery… well, you remember, right? Control, that sphere thing, end-of-the-universe-threat, let’s all jump nine hundred years into the future with no hope of returning because we really like this other person, our family and other friends be damned, etc. Where “Hope” followed Michael’s immediate adventures after the jump, “Home” has Discovery popping into the future and then crashing on a planet with no name, its systems damaged to the point where it’s incapable of flight—and worse, they can’t communicate, which means they can’t try and contact Michael, not that they know where she is. After some initial disruption (including an increasingly unsettled Detmer), everyone gets to work fixing the ship. Unfortunately the repairs require resources that Discovery doesn’t have; but as luck would have it, there’s a colony nearby that does have said resources. Saru just needs to manage first contact with a future they still know almost nothing about.
In some ways this is similar to Michael’s solo adventure—trapped in unknown territory, surrounded by (possible) evil, low on gas. But whereas Michael’s story felt rushed to get to an overly determined conclusion, “Home” is well paced and fun throughout, with terrific crew banter and a clear sense of character relationships. Whatever its faults, Discovery has built a good ensemble for itself, and the episode uses that ensemble to maximum advantage, pairing off individuals in ways that manage to bring out the best in both parties.
Take Paul and Jet. Last season established the antagonism between the two, and “Home” just runs with it, putting them both in engineering and letting Tig Notaro’s unfazed deadpan bounce of Anthony Rapp’s tightly wound irritation. It’s not the focus of the hour, and plot-wise, it’s mostly just reminding us that Paul pushes himself too hard, but it works to endear me to both characters, as well as reinforcing the importance of Paul’s relationship with Dr. Culber. The casual intimacy between the latter two is a nice lived in touch, and there’s no sense of straining to make sure we get how lovely everyone is. They’re a couple, they get exasperated with each other, and they still have a job to do. It’s not the most complicated writing in the world, but it doesn’t need to be to land.
The dramatic centerpiece of the hour is Saru and Tilly’s efforts to reach out to a local colony of miners and trade for supplies. It’s a good, gripping story, including an excellent villain turn from Jake Weber as a greedy courier named Zara (Book talked a bit about couriers last week; it makes sense that they’d be important to this dilithium-light future, and this is a great way to show us the dark side of that). Unsurprisingly Saru makes a good captain, and his commitment to Federation ideals works better than Michael’s immediate determination last week, because we get a much clearer sense here of what that commitment can cost. It’s not an empty gesture, or an easy one, and it may not even be one that everyone agrees with. What matters is that he believes it, and remains consistent in those beliefs in compelling ways.
The big problem with “Hope”’s Federation love was the implicit assumption that Michael’s faith in the institution was an unquestionable good. It’s not that we need examples of Federation corruption; it’s that the argument was apparently decided before it opened the floor for debate. A tautology is useful in logic, but it’s not an effective storytelling device. Here, though, we have Saru deciding to take Tilly with him instead of Georgiou, prioritizing peaceful negotiation over violence; and later we have Saru ordering Georgiou to hand over her weapon and not kill a man in cold blood. But between those two moments, we also see Saru and Tilly getting in over their heads; while the initial conversation with the miners goes well, Zara’s arrival ruins everything, and it’s only the fact that Georgiou decided to pop by and murder a bunch of baddies that our heroes leave with their blood still in their bodies. It’s possible that Saru could’ve talked his way out of Zara’s plot, but Georgiou’s ruthlessness is a much safer bet, and the resultant contrast at once highlights the value of the Federation’s philosophy (in that we already know a universe of Georgious is not a pleasant place to live) while also reminding us of its limitations.
That’s smart, effective writing, and the actors make the most of it. “Home” isn’t a classic, but it is a fine example of what makes Trek such an appealing franchise by focusing on the crew, letting them bounce off one another in high stress situations. The world-building is good as well; the idea of “parasitic ice” is such a cool and creepy one that I kind of wish the whole episode was centered around it. Thankfully, what we got works just fine as is.
Stray observations
- Very good use of Tilly here, as the balance of insecurity, intelligence, and frustration well-done throughout. The biggest problem with the character is the way the show wants to jump straight past her more awkward aspects to make her into a series mascot (Saru’s “You, Ensign Tilly, are a wonderful first impression” is very sweet but borders on mawkish), but here she’s a bit much but in a way that’s very easy to relate to.
- “My name lacks authority.” -Tilly
- “I’m offering moral support.” -Jet
- “Thanks for nothing, Jet.” “Right back at you, Bobcat.” “Bobcat?” “I don’t know, I’m on drugs.”
- What’s up with Detmer? I can’t remember how advanced her implant is, but I’m wondering if they’re laying the groundwork for Control to come back.
- So, Michael shows up at the end in a ship of her own and tells Saru and the others that she’s been looking for them for a year. I wonder how much work she’s done on her “bring back the Federation project;” it would explain why the miners are able to immediately recognize Discovery’s signature.
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I suppose it also depends on how much of the Federation is left. The guy in the first episode didn’t know, and it could well be that the Federation is in better shape around its core worlds where it’s denser and communication is easier. It could be that they’ve just undergone a bit of consolidation, like late-stage Rome, and that it just means the edges of space are a real frontier again.In my opinion that’s a good thing. The lack of mystery regarding the Alpha and Beta quadrants was a weakness of 90s Trek, and why they had to keep going to the more distant quadrants in increasingly silly ways in order to find new places.This is basically the Warhammer 40K backstory with the warp storms that cut the human empire into bits, but noblebright instead of grimdark.
Apparently they go to Earth next week, so I’m assuming we’ll get a better look at the state of the 32nd Century Federation then.
…huh? Most of TNG wasn’t even clear on what “quadrant” the Enterprise was in. I’m not sure where you’re getting this fictional history about that.
I suppose they could just be going with an ‘exploring trauma’ situation with Detmer (since they ruled out concussion) but it definitely feels like something more is up. Perhaps Control or perhaps something came along for a ride from the wormhole (certainly not our first ‘wormhole aliens’ after all). Agreed on wishing we learned more about the ’parasitic ice’ because, as it was, I really can’t see how it was any different than just being fast spreading ice.
*crosses fingers for Pah’ Wraith Dukat*
Open an AP Bio textbook Parasitic Ice It’s a thing
The rocks were floating in the sky. It’s a pretty weird planet
It may not be Control. Disco still has that semi-sentient Sphere data in its computer, too.
(in that we already know a universe of Georgious is not a pleasant place to live)
Oh, a universe of Michelle Yeoh clones everywhere could be interesting… just sayin’!
What’s up with Detmer? I can’t remember how advanced her implant is, but
I’m wondering if they’re laying the groundwork for Control to come
back.
I hope not. Re-using a big bad is the writers admitting defeat.
I hope not. Re-using a big bad is the writers admitting defeat.Same goes for XB and sleeper agent. I’m more hoping that it’s related to The Burn, or some great change in the future on a quantum level that is messing with her implant. Also possibly explaining what triggered all dilithium to explode
I doubt Control will be back. Detmer is probably dealing with the trauma of making it through the battle and time travelling where all her family and loved ones are no longer alive. Or possible her implant is damaged and it needs fixed and this is just a way to segue to mentioned the Borg and xB’s. I also see the beginnings of an Owosekun/Detmer- Detmer/Nhan love triangle.
As Nhan would say, “Yum Yum!”
If Control comes back it will undermine a lot of what they worked for and end up looking backwards when it’s clear both the creators and characters at this point want to move forward.
It seemed to me that, yeah, she was suffering from trauma, and a lot of emphasis was put on anxiety of getting back at the helm. Which makes sense given the physical shock, a survivor’s guilt for any crewmembers that died, and a feeling that if she “failed” in some capacity before, she might again.
I think we’re so used to there being some twist or clue embedded in what’s going on, that a lot of us overlooked a pretty simple explanation, and honestly (hoping I’m correct) it was refreshing as a bit of economical, wordless storytelling.
I concur Constable. It would completely undermine season 2 and I think the production knows that. I think people thinking it might be Control are unintentionally internalizing a lot of the faux criticism and their minds are drifting to the one thing that truly would undermine the previous story.
Well said. Too many story predictions are generated by the cynical, probably because people enjoying a show are content to just let each episode come to them.
If most of the dilithium is gone, why do people still have anti-matter, except for weapons. Why would they still build anti-matter powered warp cores?Dlithium isn’t fuel, anti-matter is fuel. Dilithium regulates the matter – anti-matter reaction. But they’re useless without anti-matter. Dilithium crystals are like the control rods inside nuclear reactors. The writers clearly haven’t thought through any of it. Anti-matter should also be a rarer commodity without dilithium. If we couldn’t make control rods for nuclear reactors anymore, we’d mine way less uranium.
As a qualified warp engineer, it’s my understanding that dilithium only comes into play above warp 4. At lower warp speeds you can achieve a M/AM reaction very inefficiently with a big ass engine without dilithium, but you need the crystals if you want to go faster than that (and to have engines smaller than a city). Its possible people have been tooling around in much slower, much jankier ships ever since the burn as a result. Except the Romulans and their crazy black hole warp drives.
Best joke comment I’ve read all year.
Because it really doesn’t matter how technology in Star Trek works, which is why none of the stuff you’re talking about has ever mattered outside of whatever secondary trivia source you got it from.In Star Trek, “dilithium” = “thing the ship needs that lets us write stories about it”, and “antimatter” = “the ship can blow up so we can write stories about that”.
They’ve never really talked about how rare antimatter is or how it’s produced in-universe. When Voyager ran out of gas and had to land on the planet with the sentient duplicator goop, the fuel shortage was entirely on the “matter” side of the equation.
Antimatter shouldn’t be hard to replicate from the massive amounts of energy they can create already. They are likely just doing some sort of particle acceleration technique to create it, and then magnetically contain it before it’s annihilated coming into contact with regular matter. We’ve already created antimatter in our own current reality, just on a very, very small scale, like about 16 nanograms.
(I swear to God and anything and everything you hold dear I am doing
this from memory, and feel free to verify and bask in the awe of a TRUE
Star Trek nerd that happens to have a life lol)
Okay, basic warp theory 101 : Your standard matter/anti-matter reaction chamber, better known as a warp core, uses matter (deuterium plasma) and antimatter (anti-deuterium) injected (hence plasma injectors…) into a reaction chamber that captures and focuses the energy from the particles’ annihilation. Dilithium—which is a volatile 11(?) dimensional crystal that is only formed as a result of a supernova process—is the means to do the focusing and controlling of the energy in power for the various subspace field systems (warp, comms, shields etc)
Now, for your question of why isn’t antimatter devalued or whatever, your question makes no sense. Why wouldn’t people want to exploit the purest form of energy conversion there is? OF COURSE antimatter reactors and bombs—photon torpedoes, specifically—will still be in play. To use a modern analogy, that’s like saying the sun is worthless because we can’t make lenses anymore
This comment is why I read comments on this show.
It’s about efficiency isn’t it? A normal M/AM reaction is something like 25/1 in terms of work to useful energy, which means you quickly need a ridiculously large engine and vast amounts of fuel to go into higher warp speeds.Dilithium crystals helped crack the warp 5 problem by making the reaction much more efficient, more like 2/1 or even 1/1, so you could achieve the same useful energy with much less input.
Finally catching up on this season, so I’m sure no one will see this:-P What seems ridiculous about the premise to me, is that in-universe it seems like dilithium is used in all matter/anti-matter reactors. Which one would assume are plentiful, even on planets and starbases? So unless everything planet-side is run off of fusion reactors (impulse engines, essentially?), then there would be enormous holes in every advanced planet, and every single starbase exploded? So… tens or hundreds of billions died? Plus, as one of you pointed out, the Romulans have black-hole powered warp drive. Soooo… were the Romulans already extinct by 800 years in the future when the burn took place? Why wouldn’t they have conquered the galaxy, if not? Why hasn’t everyone just adopted this technology!? And why didn’t *all* of the dilithium explode, if all of the dilithium exploded!? Is the dilithium that still exists refined after the burn (TOS had ‘lithium cracking mines’ or something, after all)? Artificially created? Anyway… it feels like they just wanted to have the Federation be gone and this seemed like a good way to get there… but it doesn’t actually make any sense.
Georgiou’s line about using big words doesn’t make you scary, it just means you have a thesaurus is going in my comeback book.
You don’t have one, though.
I am loving the Make the Federation Great Again plan for the season. Saru shooting Zara with his head needles was awesome.I think Georgiou is going to take off to build her own power base pretty quickly. Once Discovery gets out of danger there’s really no reason for her to stick around except to become an antagonist. I really hope Control stays gone.
Hard disagree about Georgiou. Her conflict with Saru seemed rooted in her love for Michael (in part transferred from her relationship with Mirror Michael) and her single-minded determination to find her. I also think she appreciates the Federation more than she lets on.
I’d think that Empire personnel would appreciate a respite in the Federation universe because they don’t have to watch their backs for assassins gunning for their jobs 24/7.
I think you were a little generous with the rating, but it was a solid enough episode. I’m looking forward to what comes next.
I been thinking about this for a few hours now, and I’m still not getting the praise. It wasn’t a bad episode, but it was just very okay. I never think that Trek does Star Wars very well, and this Firefly riff also didn’t fit supergreat.
fans: THIS IS NOT STAR TREK!me: so you don’t like the show?fans: oh I think it’s great. BUT THIS IS NOT STAR TREK!Alright, unpopular opinion: The star trek formula doesn’t work in a modern show, and it hasn’t worked for a long time. I felt TNG worked DESPITE its legacy. Deep space nine has almost nothing to do with the original show, and is acclaimed to this day. Voyager and Enterprise went back to basics, and they sucked. Discovery managed to avoid the pitfalls with strong narrative arcs, and didn’t engage in misguided nostalgia with stunning, slick redesigns.
Real-world opinion: Star Trek is best defined as whatever the people who own the rights to the corporate IP decide to call “Star Trek”, and just because it’s “real Star Trek” doesn’t automatically make it any good at all.
Comedy, that really old school feel works great in an animated comedy. But ya as a super expensive drama just the morality play of the week is going to be an interesting sell. We shall see what Pike does.
To hell with your positivity! I want nothing less than a shot for shot remake of TNG or I’ll scweam and I’ll scweam until I turn blue!
There are two seasons of The Orville, ya know.
It depends on how you define the star trek legacy – if you’re talking format or look, then sure, the track record isn’t great. But I think when most people say ‘this is/isn’t star trek’ they’re talking about the outlook/morality, i.e. a world of federation ideals where good people try their best to do the right thing in difficult circumstances. I happen to think that DS9 was very Trek, in that regard.
Voyager and Enterprise didn’t suck. In fact Voyager is currently the most streamed Star Trek series and Enterprise was redeemed over time. Both of those shows suffered from exactly what Discovery has to deal with, people claiming it’s ruining Star Trek and it doesn’t respect the franchise that spawned it.
This season actually strikes a lot as the franchise doing a mulligan on Voyager. We again have a single ship stuck in a hostile place with no hope of a quick rescue, except now there’s no magic reset button and they have to deal with the ongoing consequences of everything that happens to them.
Also reboot of Gene Roddenberry’s Andromeda just with less Sorbo as a producer
I’m watching Enterprise for the first time, into S4. I don’t know what “redeemed over time” means, but it’s definitely the worst of the live action series. Not that it’s bad, but it’s unremittingly beige. In a little over three seasons, there is one standout episode that I would rank with the best of all time, a few real stinkers, and a lot of, “well, that was OK”.
I just watched all of Enterprise for the first time myself, and I agree with your sentiments 100%. There’s like maybe 3 great episode (tops), and the rest are just either fine and very generic or rip your hair out awful.Voyager, on the other hand, was an absolutely pleasant surprise. Yes, there’s some junk there, but there’s more good than bad. What is good is some of the best the franchise ever put out.
I was put off by the first season of Voyager, which was mostly dull, and also I thought Neelix and Kes were a bad idea. There was some episode, I don’t even remember which one it was, which opened up with “There’s [yet another] spatiotemporal anomaly ahead!” and I just checked out.I came back 20 years later or so to watch all the key 7/9 episodes in preparation for Picard, and there were a number of really good episodes in that run, so I think that after Enterprise I will fill in the Voyager gaps.
Voyager, like the other 90s Trek shows, fares worst early on. Nobody would wax poetic about TNG if all we had was the first season. I think only 10 episodes are worth watching from Voyager’s first season and the rest can be skipped. (Caretaker, Parallax, Phage, Eye of the Needle, Emanations, Prime Factors, State of Flux, Faces, Jetrel, Learning Curve).The 2nd season holds arguably the worst collection of Trek in a single season, but again, there are still episodes worth watching.Seasons 3-5 are where the real standouts lie. Let me know, I can give you the rest of my essential episode viewing guide!
I haven’t watched Enterprise since it originally aired on UPN, and my interest fizzled out around the second season. I will eventually watch it from the beginning again, and expect I will find some things in it that I enjoy—but in its time, it was a disappointment. And I say that as someone who was wildly excited for the show (I had an Enterprise wallpaper on my desktop). I remember liking the cast/characters, but the episodic stories were highly unmemorable, and the serialized “time war” stuff was mostly just confusing. It was a half-hearted commitment to serialization at a time when network shows generally hadn’t figured out the formula for how to use serialization in a mostly-episodic series (DS9, Buffy and X-Files were all kind of on the cutting edge of that style of TV). Nowadays even an average CBS procedural has an optimized blend of episodic/serialized storytelling, keeping loyal viewers eager for the next episode with a steady drip of serialized progression, but also telling self-contained stories that are satisfying for people oblivious to the serialized stuff. I gather that the storytelling on Enterprise got more engaging in later seasons, but certainly in the early going, it was not good.
I thought Season 3 did a better job with serialization, giving the Enterprise a mission to perform, where more episodic stories could hang off the frame of the mission. I think that’s a good model that the contemporary shows could learn from. Nevertheless, the stories never rose above “well, that was OK”.
I can’t speak for anyone else, but I find I stream Voyager when doing chores, as the cinematography is so bland I don’t even have to be watching it. It’s like listening to an audio play.
The star trek formula doesn’t work in a modern show, and it hasn’t worked for a long time. I disagree, I think this episode felt like a modern version of an old style episode. Small away party. Good guys vs bad guys, diplomacy vs violence. Great stuff and I hope it continues like this.
If by “The Star Trek Formula” you mean the space procedural TOS format, then I would agree with you. But even TNG started busting out of that, and some fans felt that was NOT STAR TREK. As I noted in a comment on another article recently, back in the day I had an argument with someone on the discussion boards about whether or not TNG was “a soap opera” because of its occasional recurring story arcs.
I’ve not really been a huge fan of Disco or Picard, but the one thing I can say is that they’ve avoided the overwhelming same-iness of Enterprise. There are a few Enterprise episodes I really like, but huge chunks of the show (like most of season 2) feel like they were done better before on other trek shows.There are only so many ways to mix and match the standard trek plot generator, and the Enterprise writers obviously really struggled with that. I wouldn’t have predicted that Lower Decks would be the show to turn that around, but the goofy (and 30min) treatment made the anomaly-of-the-week story sortof workable again.
‘…strong narrative arcs…’*spits coffee, starts laughing, doesn’t stop laughing*
The star trek formula doesn’t work in a modern show, and it hasn’t worked for a long time.
If you mean the more stand-alone episode nature of previous Trek shows, then Lower Decks would beg to differ.
I’ll go even further and say that it’s a miracle that, after so many movies and so many seasons of so many TV shows, the franchise isn’t dead. Trying something new for a franchise that began in 1966 isn’t a crime.
“Deep space nine has almost nothing to do with the original show”
Needs citation. I think a show that had an episode that required the captain to suborn the murder of a senator and lying to the entire Alpha quadrant about who was responsible, ending the episode convincing himself he can live with it, has a LOT in common with a show with an episode that required the captain to, at best, not save a peace activist he was in love with in order to prevent her naivete from destroying the future, ending the episode with a weary “Let’s get the hell out of here”.
Regardless, the idea that there is a “formula” for a show that originally and in every show after could veer from deep moral quandary to enjoyable fluff to risible dreck in the space of three sequential episodes (or films) is, itself, risible. Star Trek is whatever a fan wants it to be: see how many crazy right-wingers on Youtube like to argue that somehow Roddenberry’s TNG era utopia of non-capitalist self-improvement represents their ideals just because there’s episodes that critique authority. I guarantee you there were folks who may have agreed with you that Voyager and Enterprise sucked… and therefore, to them, they weren’t Star Trek. For Discovery, I think people were turned off by the obvious lack of depth of and care for a lot of the sci-fi elements, as well as the focus on spectacle and convoluted “mysteries” at the expense of internal logic and consistency. THAT’S why folks didn’t want to call it Star Trek: because even if some of them might have LIKED it, but they didn’t LOVE it, and they LOVE Star Trek (whatever they think Star Trek is), so to them, it simply is not Trek.
That’s before noting that it’s hard to argue that a show that clearly tried to amp up interest in its second season by introducing Pike, Spock and the Enterprise is not engaging in “misguided nostalgia”. Unless you’re saying that the nostalgia is guided, but simply by a condescending desire on the part of the showrunners to give the audience what they think they want.
I’ve seen these episodes, and the setting, motives, and moral grounds are completely different.And dude, it’s never a good sign when someone posts a wall of text in a comment section.
Oh lord. Dude, you’re probably new here, but fuck off. I’ve been posting on these boards for literally a decade now, ESPECIALLY on the Star Trek commentaries, sometimes short comments, sometimes long ones, but there used to be people writing short NOVELLAS pretending to be Jonathan Frakes on here, and it was delightful, and no one dared reply with “a wall of text is not a good look”.
Either respond, or go shit on someone else elsewhere. All because I had three paragraphs to your two? It’s antisocial, and it doesn’t impress anyone. Fuck me for daring show that I took your comment seriously enough to respond. Shit.
I did respond, your opening statement was completely off. I came across wall texters many times and they just hammer the same opinion over and over. What is it, word count somehow weighs in an argument? Trolling someone into writing at least as much? Being the last one to post wins the “fight”?
Nooo, just the thoughts I had. You are just really overthinking (and taking personally) why someone on the internet would have a lot of thoughts about Star Trek. Of ALL places, how dare I, lol. I just disagreed with some of what you said and elaborated on others. My more scathing critiques were for the show itself.
Again… shit, brother.
The Frakes gimmick account is the best thing to ever have graced the AVClub.I stand by that comment.
Counterpoint: The Orville does a pretty good job at being a modern Star Trek
Space-Negan. Hooray.
That was my first impression of him, yeah. And then Sasha never meets him.
I’d totally forgotten about that connection. TWD has been one long blur for so long now that I can’t even remember if she made it to his seasons? (easily looked up, but I won’t do it on principle)He has to come back somehow though, right?
Sasha is one of Rick’s crew that’s lined up in front of Negan in that series finale when he’s first introduced and says he’s going to pick one of them at random and kill them.
I love that Nhan stayed and is getting a bigger role. She’s great fun.
As long as she never says “YUM YUM” again.
“You, Ensign Tilly, are a wonderful first impression.” That was the most Star Trek moment, and I loved it. She’s the most relatable person that I can think of (besides Jake Sisko) in all of Trek, and definitely the most *human* young Starfleet officer. Having been in the military and having served in a war zone, I’ve see Mariners, Wesley Crushers, Boimlers, Barclays, and Saaviks, and Tilly’s heart outshines them all. Tilly isn’t superhuman, she doesn’t have special abilities or implants, and she doesn’t hide that she has emotions. While emotions and professionalism are sometimes usually mutually exclusive, it’s that heart that makes any workplace a better one. Speaking of heart, this was the first time that I really got the sense of Stamets and Culber as a married couple in love (despite Culber saying “partner” and not “husband”). Most of that had to do with Wilson Cruz’s performance, and I want to see more of that interaction sprinkled throughout the show.
Meh. She’s a cliche. Chrissakes, she’s even a ranga, the only hair colour available to the awkward sidekick/BFF of the YA protagonist.
I agree – I’ve never like that character. I can see how some relate to the character, and that’s fine, but to me, it’s a bag of millennial clichés combined with early 21st century colloquialisms and language.Meh.
“Non-threatening” (read: fatter, less attractive, and less confident than the protagonist)? Check.Socially-awkward? Check.Has a niche set of skills that were too boring to labour the protagonist with? Check. Provides the protagonist tons of opportunities to show how caring and empathetic and graceful and generous and loving they are, by needing said protagonist to praise them, pointedly ignore all the aforementioned foibles, and show They Believe In Them™ several times per episode? Check.
Loved the lower-decker cleaning up the blood and goo. Gene? Nice shout out to the guys that do the shit-shovelling!
Oh boy. There are going to be so many flashbacks and probably even multiple entire episodes devoted entirely to what Burnham did during the year before the Discovery showed up.
Maybe I’m being too nitpicky but it really bugged me when the guy cleaning up the guts in the spore chamber introduced himself to Jett and she said “I’ve already forgotten that.” Give the guy a break, especially considering how cheerful he is while shoveling human remains. It just seemed unnecessarily mean, is that what they’re going for with Jett?
That guy is obviously Boimler’s ancestor.
I’ve got a really easy assignment for you then: make being nice funny.
Punching down isn’t funny unless you’re an asshole.
Whether or not you are right or polite to find something funny doesn’t affect whether it is funny or not. Also “You lower-decks interns are too fucking chipper” is hardly a war crime.
Yes, being an asshole isn’t a war crime, and humor is subjective, but being dismissive of someone trying to be friendly because you think they’re beneath you is, in my opinion, something only an asshole would find humorous. But again, it’s all subjective, feel free to be an asshole if you wish.
If you want television without conflict there is a cable channel for dogs to watch when their owners aren’t home. Even the gang on Parks and Rec are mean to “Gerry” though the show eventually focuses on that. Tig Notaro’s character isn’t nice, you can feel free to dislike her, but you can’t make something funny not funny by disliking her.
It can be funny if someone’s an asshole, I love Rick & Morty for example, but I don’t expect or want Starfleet officers to be assholes for a stupid joke that fell completely flat. Go ahead and die on that hill though…
eh it was one joke, I didn’t exactly rofl-it’s not like it was a funny joke just a throwaway, she has a lot of ground to make up on Stamets, plus he is naturally prickly and we had to work our way into him being endearing while she is naturally endearing and so they’re making sure you know she’s legitimately not cuddlyalso: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paul_Stamets
I know this is a bit snarky, but Ep 1 Michael meets a cute guy after traveling hundreds of years into the future and crashing on a random planet. Ep 2 Tilly and the crew crash land on a mysterious planet and immediate finds a potential boyfriend. True he’s killed, but that last shot of him lying there with a blanket over him. He’s coming back. But I was hoping more for at least an episode where they are stranded in the middle of no where with no hope to find life. Never mind a cute guy. One other point: I didn’t realize the ENTIRE crew of Discovery went forward in time. I thought it was just the handful of main characters. Are you trying to tell me the whole crew was ok with abandoning their lifes and family forever of Michael who most of the crew hated for two seasons?
One of the biggest complaints about Disco in seasons 1-2 was how Michael Burnham was such a Mary Sue character – everything revolved around her, she was always the solution to every problem, etc. So I was looking forward to this season where all of the characters would be in the same boat – in an unknown future where nobody knows them and they don’t know what’s going on (or has happened since they left their own time).So I’m not sure how smart it is for the show to have Burnham having lived in this future for a year before the rest of the crew shows up. Instead of the entire crew being in the same boat, I’m afraid we’re going to have episodes where the crew comes across something they don’t understand because of their time-displaced status, and they turn to Michael who explains everything since she’s been living here for a year and has learned all about the future. I’m afraid she’s going to turn into a Wikipedia source for the rest of the crew (like Old Spock was in Into Darkness).