250 replies to this topic

[Alteran195]

I'd argue Discovery has shown Starfleet and the Federation in a better light than Picard has so far, I mean Pike is the embodiment of everything they stand for. He is by far the best character of any of the new Trek series, and I really hope we get more of him. 

 

Spoiler

I really, really think they need to show what led to the seeming hatred Starfleet seems to have for Picard. That scene was way too over the top in my opinion. I don't have that much of an issue with a Starfleet that is a bit more corrupt, and more inward thinking. We saw some signs that it wasn't the same during DS9 with the Dominion War. 

 

But for an Admiral to treat Picard like that was odd.

[MisterPL]

Star Trek to me was always about showing humanity as having moved on from how we are today, whilst using the troubles of alien races to highlight problems that are relevant and current to our present day situation. To see this aspect gone (something I dearly loved about Star Trek), makes for painful viewing to me.

 

So the situation with the Romulan refugees doesn't ring any contemporary bells? The analogy is about as subtle as a ball peen hammer from where I'm sitting.

[MisterPL]

I'd argue Discovery has shown Starfleet and the Federation in a better light than Picard has so far, I mean Pike is the embodiment of everything they stand for. He is by far the best character of any of the new Trek series, and I really hope we get more of him. 

 

Institutions change. While Picard clearly has the same compassionate ideals, Starfleet adopted a "Federation First" credo at some point during the Romulan crisis and the Mars attack. 

[RizzoPSU]

Is it just me or do they give a possible spoiler about Riker at the end of episode one in that "what's gonna happen in the next few episodes" trailer?

[MisterPL]

That's why I avoid previews of any kind. I'd much rather go in blind.

[Gothneo]

I'd argue Discovery has shown Starfleet and the Federation in a better light than Picard has so far, I mean Pike is the embodiment of everything they stand for. He is by far the best character of any of the new Trek series, and I really hope we get more of him. 

 

I'd agree wholeheartedly, in the context of how Pike is depicted... in fact New Eden (S2 Ep 2) was everything I hoped Discovery would turn out to be. I wanted more like it, and more exploration of contemporary issues. 

[Gothneo]

Wow. I was reading some of the episodic commentary on trekmovie.com lots of opinions to be sure... but trekcore.com I think wins the day when they point out all the things the Federation and Starfellt have done thats... well not so Utopian...

 

https://twitter.com/...974728480133120

[Alteran195]

Ya, Starfleet has certainly not always been portrayed as some super enlightened organization, DS9 I think showed it best but it was also there in TNG.

That link is really solid, thanks for sharing it!

[Prometheus]

I think 'Picard' is reflective, in many ways, of what's going on in the world today.... Maybe I'm just old, but I think things have changed a lot in the past couple of decades. I personally, really like the show.....It has complex story telling and is well filmed. I appreciate seeing one of my heroes, Capt/Adm Picard, facing new obstacles, including his mortality.... If done right.... I think this show could have some great payout.... One point, mainly, having Picard and his compadres bringing some light back to a dark period for the Federation.

I'm all in !!!

Oh..... I will say I was a bit worried about Data's appearance from the trailers..... It seems they went back though and fixed his hairline and some of Spiner's aging.... He looked much better, in my opinion, in the actual show....

Without saying too much more.... I really loved the opening scene of the series!

[Morgan]

I've only seen the 1st ep free on Youtube so far, because I'm a luddite, but really liked it. 

 

The low budget feel of the sets is pretty great, I have to admit, complete with the Daystrom Institute with its 1990s interiors. I think it's hilarious that a big chunk of the cast is dressed in stuff from a 2019 Banana Republic catalog, it lends the series a relatable feel. Like, they're not wearing mylar-trimmed jumpsuits like TNG S1.

 

How have eps 2 and 3 been so far? 

[MisterPL]

Do we like Jeff Russo's score? I'm enjoying it.

[Alteran195]

I like his music on Discovery, and Picard is no different. He's doing good work. 

[Whirlygig]

I like the music but still long for something more than it gives me.  I miss the days of scoring that gave us so many Williams/Goldsmith-esque musical journeys for our themes that felt like cohesive wholes standing on their own as works of interest (even as on TNG, DS9, VOY) while now we seem to just get half-baked mini themes that never evolve or combine into anything grander anymore.  I blame Hans Zimmer for getting away with never gelling anything into a particularly memorable Nolanverse Batman theme (but being treated like Hollywood music royalty anyway).  At least Picard maybe gets closer to what I want than Discovery (or ST09) does.

 

Episode 3 was better than 2, not as good as 1.  Still it seems like they are taking way too long to get things moving.  Should have combined 2 and 3 into a single episode IMO.  The "motley crew" thing seems a little heavy handed / forced... geez now that I think about it it's almost like they really just tried to evoke the crew of Serenity in fewer characters...

 

And was I the only one that was kind of like... ehhhhh... about using the musical cue that should maybe only be allowed to be used for a true hero ship like the Enterprise when the ship went to warp???

[MisterPL]

I blame Hans Zimmer for getting away with never gelling anything into a particularly memorable Nolanverse Batman theme (but being treated like Hollywood music royalty anyway).  

 

I get what he was trying to do. Much like how David Arnold avoided using the 007 theme in Casino Royale because Bond hadn't yet earned it 'til the end, Zimmer kept building his Batman theme throughout the trilogy. It started as two note in Batman Begins, peaked in The Dark Knight, and turned into this morose requiem in The Dark Knight Rises. He shifted gears with Man of Steel, a theme that does a good job of succeeding John Williams as far as I'm concerned. And Wonder Woman... my kids light up when they hear her theme.

 

But I agree, noteworthy, operatic themes seem hard to come by these days. Marvel didn't help. Seems like scores for Iron Man, Ant-Man, Captain America, Thor, et al would be stuck in my head by now. Nope. Just Avengers. 

[RizzoPSU]

Anyone having problems with CBS All Access right now?

[MisterPL]

Yes.

 

https://sitedown.co/cbs-all-access

[RizzoPSU]

Anyone on the Eastern US that wants to talk about it after 3am?

[Gothneo]

So... With Episode 7 having dropped yesterday... and only 3 more left... the last two which looks to be a two parter... I would think things should be into the 3rd act?

 

What are folks overall impressions? Good? Bad? Ugly? I'm wondering if its worth $10 to sub for a month and binge watch... or if I should wait until it comes out on blu-ray and rent it from the local library for free??

[Alteran195]

It was meh until the last couple episodes.

[Destructor!!!]

I'm really enjoying it, but I have reservations.

 

I think it has taken the state of play as we last saw it in Berman Trek, and taken what little we know about since through oblique references since, and pulled some fantastic, interesting and unexpectedly logical world building out of it.

 

In that respect, it feels like the beginning of a new Trek series used to feel, pre-Enterprise: An exploration of the unknown future. That single element is such a welcome return that it elevates all the storytelling. And thankfully it's validated by overall decent story-telling which takes an evidently rich knowledge of Star Trek canon (in contrast to Discovery) and extrapolates and builds on that with confidence and verve.

In other words, it's not another bloody prequel!

 

It sets up some really fascinating ideas - and then it sets up some more... and then some more.

And this is where it starts losing points. It seems to be endlessly setting interesting things up and then moving on to set up others. I'm really hoping this foundation can build to a structurally sound narrative conclusion (or at least denoument) by the end of the season, but I don't feel confident in that at all.

 

While there are tonal or conceptual wobbles here and there, I think overall it's hitting the right notes in terms of logically extrapolating from the last known state, presenting us with a mix of old and new characters who feel grounded in the world by having been changed by or formed in the events of the intervening time, and in large part giving me the "Prime Universe" vibes I've been jonesing for - albeit in restricted doses: This team is proficient at making a kind of Star Trek I don't like - this "Quality" stuff is new to them, so they get credit for trying, praise for succeeding so often and gratitude for actually giving a shit this time.

They also get a generous allowance of passes from me for the effort.

 

It feels a bit like coming home to find some of the furniture has been moved around and an obnoxious lodger is snotting up the place a bit - still warm and familiar but a bit bloody weird.

 

Overall: Well worth watching, and despite some sub-plot related flaws, the latest episode is an absolute masterpiece.