PLEASANTLY SURPRISED BY THE NEW STAR TREK: DISCOVERY SERIES

[pauljholden]

Only up to episode five of this. While I am pleasantly surprised that it's a good show, I'm still rather underwhelmed by it. Some things impress me, but I find the tech-level really jarring.

I was arguing with a colleague (a decade younger) today about it. He thinks everything needs updating for a new audience. I say bollocks to that, even though I concede he may have a point. However, it occurred to me that if the series was set a hundred years after Voyager, and there was some guff about the Klingon Empire going bonkers, quitting the Federation fifty years earlier and buggering about with their genetics again, then you could do pretty much exactly what the series has done only without everything looking wrong.

Also, if you're going to give the crew such big quarters, wouldn't it be kinder to make the beds a bit wider? After all, if you did roll over and fall off, it's quite a drop.

Regards,

Robin

Here's the tech thing that's been bugging the hell out of me...

Every time they chat to star fleet command, they're chatting to a hologram - but it's a hologram that walks around and moves WITHIN THE CONFINES OF THE RECEIVER'S SPACE - like they exist there.

So, what do the holograms see? Are the commanding officers getting a hologram of the bridge and it's entire crew? Do they have to go an an equivalent of a holodeck to call out people?

It's driving me nuts.

[blackmocco]

Im sensing this episode will start a familiar argument or two here...
And now,they are lost in space.Pun not intended.

Not lost. Lorcas knows where they are.

Yup. Watch the ep again. Lorca overrides the final jump destination from his chair (although he seems as confused as the rest of them by the end). I’m wondering is Lorca from the Mirror Universe? Trying to get Home?

Also: man, I loved that one.

[von Boom]

Lorcas has shows his Machiavellian skill at scheming. I appreciated that aspect of the episode, but I truly loathe the Klingons. They're completely inept. No guards anywhere? None on a bridge that size? And Kol, instead of acting like a commander allows himself to be distracted by a challenge for single combat? Daft. Worf would have his spleen for such stupidity.

[Smith]

Well,they are space orcs.But unfortunatly,not space orks,if you catch my drift.

[blackmocco]

Lorcas has shows his Machiavellian skill at scheming. I appreciated that aspect of the episode, but I truly loathe the Klingons. They're completely inept. No guards anywhere? None on a bridge that size? And Kol, instead of acting like a commander allows himself to be distracted by a challenge for single combat? Daft. Worf would have his spleen for such stupidity.

They’re about as inept as they’ve ever been. Haha! Even Worf’s not exactly a deep thinker.

[Goaty]

Surprised no-one moan about Klingon Porn!

Loved the episode and interesting ending! Captain does that on purpose as not want go to Starbase! Hope that was Mirror Universe!?

[The Legendary Shark]

Here's the tech thing that's been bugging the hell out of me...

Every time they chat to star fleet command, they're chatting to a hologram - but it's a hologram that walks around and moves WITHIN THE CONFINES OF THE RECEIVER'S SPACE - like they exist there.

So, what do the holograms see? Are the commanding officers getting a hologram of the bridge and it's entire crew? Do they have to go an an equivalent of a holodeck to call out people?

It's driving me nuts.

I assume it's simply a case of all incoming data being passed through a series of in-line null-point discrete individual being discrimination algorithms and extraneous information blackmasking programs via banks of isolinear quantum processing units in order to extract and consolidate caller/sender specific infopackets into focused holographomatic images whilst simultaneously excising and dump-purging extraneous audiovisual input/output streams in a realtime virtual focus environment.

Or: computers.

Simples...

[Tjm86]

....
Or: computers.

Simples...

I was going to go with "It's all make believe for entertainment purposes, just sit back, disengage brain, enjoy the ride and go 'Oooh pretty!' in all the right places." but we can go with yours too.

[Goaty]

Future version of augmented reality

[TordelBack]

The equivalent projectors that create the Admiral create equally shoddy holos of the crew and furniture at his end.
 Holodeck is a whole separate thing - forcefields, temporary objects,  gravity and ambient conditions, moving the participants about... holograms are the least of it.

[Tiplodocus]

Quite enjoyed that. Wasn't sure what Lorca was up to but I think even he was surprised by the result. Wasn't expecting the Tyler story to pan out that way either. The episode wasn't without issues though; the aforementioned pathetic Klingons being just so wrong. But the pacing seemed off... episode seemed to end then start again. Not the first time It's done this.

[Jimmy Baker's Assistant]

Surprised no-one moan about Klingon Porn!

That was the best thing in the episode. And it had lots of good things in it!

Going to be a looooooooooooong, hard wait until the series comes back after Christmas.

[Mardroid]

Lorcas accepting the challenge I can quite believe. It's a very Klingon thing to do, especially considering he was called out in front of his crew.

Overall a good mid-season finale, I'd say. I missed that bit with Lorcas.

Did I actually see bare female lady chest too? Oh my. Only for an instant but they're pushing the envelope on what they consider adult, eh? Even taking into account the argument "why not, since they've gotten more violent, and gory! Why are depictions of violence okay but sex isn't?" the context seemed a bit off, to me, but anyhow.

That exchange a the end between Tyler and T'Rell was interesting though. A couple of ways that could be interpreted... I don't think I can believe he is that albino Klingon in disguise, but where did that guy go?

I wrote a whole chunk describing continuity issues with klingon cloaking technology being widespread this early, then thought up a reasonable explanation that means it doesn't mess with continuity at all. (Often thoughts occur when I'm typing that didn't earlier. Not sure how that works.) I typed it all out here... then deleted it, as it's no longer an issue.

I look forward to more. Shame we'll have a while to wait! I'm not sure why this can't just be season one, and the next, season 2, but I guess they amount of episodes is far too short for typical American series, and there's only a couple of months in between.

[Smith]

[Tiplodocus]

It was the fact the Klingons were shite at fighting (hand to hand and ship to ship) that rankled me most. I could see the Captain accepting the challenge but surely he'd have handed Burnam her ass in less than a minute. (My excuse is "Aha but she's trained in Vulcan martial.arts... or something"). But baddies have to be more competent at killing things.