Star Trek: Discovery: A Review by Warren Bull
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Star Trek has to be the most successful failed television series in history. The ratings of the first season were low enough that the show was on the verge of cancellation. After the second season only an extensive letter-writing campaign saved the show for its third and final year. It was produced by Desilu Productions and Lucille Ball went against her Board of Directors to keep it going
Since then there have been eight more series, most lasting longer than the original. By now, 774 episodes have run over 35 seasons. Ten movies, hundreds of novels and hundreds more comics, short stories, and works of fan fiction exist.
Star Trek: Discovery, named for the ship, has two seasons available; two more are still in the planning stage. It was launched in 2017 for CBS all access. In the timeline of the Star Trek universe, the Discovery exists at the same time as the original ship the Enterprise. The crew of the Enterprise is the same as the crew mentioned in a prequel to the well-known cast of the original series.
This series is darker and more violent than the late 1960s version. My wife objected to noise level, especially screaming of people being tortured. There was little visual depiction of blood and gore, but the series had more auditory brutality than is common on television.
While Star Trek was notable for including some minority characters, Discovery has “enhanced” characters with robotic features and abilities. Racial differences are no more remarkable in this universe than the variety of eye colors in ours. The “Federation,” which is treated with respect and admiration in Star Trek, is fighting for survival, and losing. In desperation, the values and ethics noted in the late 60s version, have given way to an “us versus them” mentality.
The murky uncertainty leaves the watcher wondering which side a character might really be on. Sometimes the characters do not know themselves, which, as a mystery writer, added to the intrigue of the shows. Relationships between the characters grow and change. Trust is always an issue. The surprises and twists are too well plotted for me to give them away.
The authors, Bryan Fuller and Alex Kurtzman reminded me of how
Tom Stoppard used minor characters from Shakespeare’s Hamlet in Stoppard’s
Play Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead. Characters like Spock are
recognizable but different as seen from a unique point-of-view.
I would not rate this show as highly as Picard, but it pulled me in and I definitely recommend it.
I was a hardcore Trekkie when I was a kid and watched the original series in reruns over and over. I also loved TNG and the string of movies starring the original's cast. However, I confess I've never see Discovery or any of the other spinoffs. Warren, you're making me think I need to rectify this oversight.
ReplyDeleteI loved Star Trek! I'll have to watch more recent versions.
ReplyDeleteI've never seen a Star Trek, but perhaps now, when I can't go many places, would be a good time to give it a try.
ReplyDeleteGood review, Warren. For those who haven't seen the newer, edgier, versions of Star Trek, you may have also missed Star Trek: Deep Space Nine. That series totally went against Trek earlier versions in several ways. The Federation was in trouble, the series was arc-based instead of episodic, and they brought in more hostility to the federation and others. It might not have passed muster with Gene Roddenberry, but it certainly made for good drama and continued his path of exploring contemporary issues in a future context. I have watched all the series other than animated and would have a difficult time judging one as "best." Each had significant strengths that carried the franchise forward. I love both Discover and Picard, too. Am patiently waiting for the new seasons to begin, whenever that will be.
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