• Stamets@startrek.websiteOP
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    1 year ago

    doesn’t feel like Starfleet.

    Starfleet, and Star Trek, do not have an singular feeling or vibe and honestly this criticism doesn’t hold any legs once you start getting into it. I’ve mentioned this elsewhere but every series (with the exception of TNG and VOY) all have their own individual themes and vibes. TOS is very campy while the TOS movies swing from campy to outright war, hostilities and loss. TNG (and VOY) are primarily explorative and philosophical while having their own episodes of strangeness. DS9’s entire theme is built around hostility and hatred between races that blows up into a full on war with extreme loss and casualties. Enterprise combines a variety of different themes from other shows while tackling the hardships of trying something for the first time. Not a single one of them share the exact same vibe across them all. They do share the same ideals, however, and Discovery is included in that. Just because the show focuses more on action/flashy scenes than others doesn’t mean that it isn’t Star Trek and it doesn’t diminish those traits which run integral to the entire show. Discovery doesn’t focus on war anymore than DS9 does, in fact it focuses on it less given the fact that it was one season in comparison to the multi-season arc for DS9. The core concepts of sacrifice for the good of all, hope, the quest for peace, wanting a better future, trying to do what’s best for all and (arguably most importantly) personal growth? They all exist in the show and while were buried a little in Season 1 (before becoming more visible in 2 and onwards) it’s still there.

    As for ‘teeny sci-fi show’, why? The show outright tackles some pretty harsh subject matter and brutal decisions.

    Lastly, if it’s a “good show overall” then why did you literally open with saying that Pike was “THE redeeming factor” of the show?

    • TWeaK
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      1 year ago

      I have to strongly disagree with your premise there. Star Trek and Starfleet do have a singular underlying theme throughout, as defined by Gene Roddenberry. Yes, each series is different, but there is a thread throughout that binds them, a code of morals that someone in the crew always brings everyone back to every episode, even if a character strays. Even the other species have their traits that generally stay consistent. This maybe started to diminish with DS9 and Voyager, after Roddenberry passed, however others don’t quite grab a hold of that thread well at all - specifically Enterprise and Discovery. The J J Abrams films also somewhat, although they follow TOS closely enough that it still fits.

      It’s not the action/flashy scenes (which were never what made Star Trek great, and frankly HDR and bloom are all too often overdone these days, like if Michael Bay did lens flare), it’s the interactions between the characters. And overall it’s a feeling, something that’s really hard to put into words, but recognisable when it’s there.

      As for ‘teeny sci-fi show’, why?

      Again, the interactions between the characters. You’ll have to forgive me for not having it fresh in my memory, I haven’t seen Discovery for a while (dropped Sky TV and with that lost the only device logged into my mum’s Netflix) but generally to me it felt like most other CBS shows in the way characters interact, and how so many of them focus on hooking up with each other to the detriment of their duties. It’s cheap and lazy drama, in my eyes. SNW even still has a little of this around Spock, but in general it feels like CBS finally listened and relaxed on the reins a little bit, allowing it to be a “proper” Trek show.

      You did bring up a bunch of things in your previous comment that make me want to go back and re-watch Discovery, though, so I’ll be doing that soon.

      Lastly, if it’s a “good show overall” then why did you literally open with saying that Pike was “THE redeeming factor” of the show?

      Because I was speaking in hyperbole.

      • Stamets@startrek.websiteOP
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        1 year ago

        I never claimed that Star Trek didn’t share the same theme. I said it still holds the traits and beliefs of Star Trek and stays to those values. I also said that every show has its own distinct feeling and vibe while still sharing those beliefs. The traits are kept consistent, the code of morals consistent, it’s outright false to say that they do not stick by it or stand by it. It’s also wrong to say it doesn’t “grab ahold of that well” because it’s an opinion, not objective truth.

        The interactions between the characters

        There is no hint of “teeny” behavior in the show or in the way they interact with each other. There just isn’t. Everyone treats one another like an adult (once the show gets going). As mentioned, the only “teeny” behavior you could possibly claim is them displaying emotion more than other shows. You also say “So many are interested in hooking up instead of their duties” which is just an outright lie. Burnham is the only one who ever seeks an active relationship and at no point does it ever supersede her duties.

        Because I was speaking in hyperbole.

        I do not believe you. You started this off by saying that Pike is the only redeemable part of the show. Then you say that Discovery is well done. Then you say it isn’t well done, it’s “teeny” and “cheap and lazy”. You also claim that the show is missing some completely immeasurable “feeling”, say their traits aren’t consistent and are then attempting to gatekeep what is and isn’t star trek by saying it “doesn’t feel proper”. There’s no consistency at all.

        Everything you just said was opinion and you attempted to pass it off as fact. I have absolutely zero interest in ever engaging with someone who is gatekeeping and insistent on saying something isn’t real Trek while claiming things about the show that are factually inaccurate. I have no place in my life for such negative behavior. Like I said before. If someone wants to not like Discovery that’s fine but lying about the show and attempting to gatekeep it by saying it isn’t real Trek or doesn’t understand it? Yeah, that’s not okay behavior. I’m just going to pass entirely on all that. Bye.

        • TWeaK
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          1 year ago

          There is no hint of “teeny” behavior in the show or in the way they interact with each other.

          I wasn’t saying the characters were behaving teeny, rather the show seems to be aimed more towards teenagers, along with most of CBS’ other lineup.

          Everything you just said was opinion and you attempted to pass it off as fact.

          I would think it’s abundantly obvious that it’s an opinion, nowhere did I claim it was fact, and nor did I gatekeep or say you didn’t understand anything. You’re getting far too aggressive here, I’m sorry if I touched a nerve, but I am entitled to my opinion on the shows just as much as you are. In my opinion, Enterprise and Discovery don’t feel like proper Trek. I’m sorry if I didn’t articulate that very well, but that doesn’t give you the right to berate me and belittle me over an opinion on a fictional franchise.

          I actually had a great deal of respect for you going into this. I mentioned how I was going to re-watch Discovery in light of what you said, and I was hoping to get your opinion on some other shows, as you clearly have a different way of looking at things than me and I’m interested in that insight. All I did was criticise a show. In return, you criticised me, personally.

          • pimento64@sopuli.xyz
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            1 year ago

            Stamets is an internet celebrity, bro. He was right to stomp on your personhood, you had the temerity to disagree with his august opinions of his favorite network TV shows. Shame on you.