Star Trek Discovery: 15 Biggest Differences From The Other Trek Series

Screen Rant ^ | July 13, 2017 | Kieron Moore

[Essie]

This really looks awful. I don’t think it will do well.

[mindburglar]

Nobody is going to watch this garbage. They’ll have the obligatory scene where 5’0” Michelle Yeoh uses Kung Fu to beat up a 6’2” 220lb redshirt.

Because it’s not racist. Every Chinese person knows Kung Fu. Even the Malaysian ones.

[HamiltonJay]

I smell flop. Time will tell

[tumblindice]

From what I’ve read on a non-MSM site, the new Spiderman movie is just as barfing sick.
kultursmog, can’t .... breathe.

[DakotaGator]

Star Trek DOA.

[minnesota_bound]

I like that episode.
Emily Banks

Loose women

[AnotherUnixGeek]

In one of the movies, Sulu gets to be captain of the USS Endeavor and shows up at a key moment to help the Enterprise.

True...but that must have been what, 20 years or so later? Sulu was still sitting in the Enterprise for most of the movies with the original cast and the rest of the increasingly geriatric officer gang apparently never left.

[TChris]

Looked it over briefly.

It will flop.

Next?

[ak267]

First off, Paramount and CBS did no one any favors by pushing this mush on their pay site (US and Canada) while the rest of the world can watch it on NetFlix.

Secondly, from what I’ve heard, NetFlix is Pissed because of production delays, SJW crap and content issues. NetFlix ponied up a LOT of money to acquire the foreign distribution rights and they’re concerned that a flop would hurt their bottom line. Also, as a side note, the merchandisers are having serious doubts whether they can sell enough STD merchandise to cover their costs. As of now they are holding back any major commitments to the series.

Paramount/CBS also screwed over the fan base with their draconian rules covering fan-created content (some of which had really good technical qualities approaching TV levels, professional looking sets/costumes, CGI and former ST actors). Quality YouTube shows such as “Star Trek Continues” and “Axanar” are now gonzo.

Why?

1. Axanar covered a similar time line has STD.

2. Fan-based shows were getting too good in their production values, acting, scrips and CGI.

3. Fan-based shows were developing a large viewer base....and these fans are rejecting the corporate crap content.

4. Paramount/CBS were simply protecting their properties (but are acting with a short-sighted mindset).

5. Axanar was “pushing the limits” of copyright laws and had “attitude issues” with the content owners. STC, on the other hand, had a dialogue with Paramount/CBS and was allowed to finish their last three episodes (which were fully funded and ready to go).

6. Paramount/CBS were afraid Axanar would outshine STD and make then look bad. Axanar was, IMHO, a more satisfying product.

7. STD has the makings of a MAJOR REBOOT of the Prime Time Line: the kind of reboot which totally erases the visual style and ambiance of the past. It’s as though they’re embarrassed of the original series and want it totally purged.

[W.]

I’ve seen some of that new Star Trek stuff and it was very good!

[Freedom_Is_Not_Free]

All of the subsequent Star Trek series after the original have been pure unadulterated crap. Some far worse than others. I can only hope this is a good TV show that stands on its own, but I remain pessimistic until I see it and am won over. I expect this to be as bad as the rest. Only the original remains classic and true that is must watch and so good the reruns are must watch.

Here is hoping the new series keeps the mini skirts and boots for female crew, but little good it will do me as I am almost guaranteed to dislike this new Star Trek as I have all others since the original.

[Freedom_Is_Not_Free]

The chemistry of the original cast flat blows away all subsequent series, by LEAPS AND BOUNDS.

[Dr. Bogus Pachysandra]

I just remember my band mates and me getting fed up, and pitching a bowling boll through the tv on on the last episode. That was fun!

[BillyBoy]

>> 15. A Lead Character Who’s Not Captain <<

Dear Discovery writers and mainstream media:
The Captain hasn't been the "lead" character since the original series. Starting with TNG in 1987, all the Star Trek shows since that time have had emsemble casts where the captain has equal time with the rest of the cast. Please read up on Trek history.

>> 14. A Serial Storyline <<

This was done before in DS9 (the whole "Dominion War" arc) AND in Enterprise (season 3 being an entirely serialized story about the Xindi attack on earth). I'm not a fan of either storyline, nor modern television's trend to force you to watch 5,435 episodes in chronological through 8 seasons before you can make any sense of the plot.

>> 11. It Follows Two Starships! <<

What from what I hear, the USS Shenzhou will likely be an important part of the storyline only in the pilot (which again, has been done before. See the Maquis crew in Voyager's pilot)

<< 12. Redesigned Klingons <<

They've been redesigned numerous times. This latest version looks awful, the much derided JJ Abrams Klingons in Star Trek Into Darkness weren't even as bad.

<< 11. Main Character Deaths <<

Tasha Yar, Jadzia Dax, and Kes would be interested to learn about this "new" aspect of Star Trek.

<< 10. Lots Of Celebrity Cameos <<

Again, this "new" aspect has been common place since Star Trek debuted in 1966. Heck, it's been common since Gary Lockwood and Sally Kellerman appeared in the pilot for TOS.

>> 9. A High Budget, Cinematic Look <<

Well, I suppose that would be "new" for television. But we've gotten plenty of it from the JJ movies.

<< 8. A New Period In Trek History <<

Ummm, no. We've seen "10 years before Kirk" on Star Trek numerous times before. And it looks nothing like The Discovery trailer. Try watching The Cage.

<< 7. New Starship Design <<

Nope, again. The Discovery design is based on a rejected redesign of the U.S.S. Enterprise for a purposed Star Trek: Planet of the Titans TV movie in 1972. It was rejected because fans didn't like it.

<< 6. More Graphic Action And Bad Language <<

Hmmm. Okay. I'll give you one. That's mostly "new" to Star Trek on television. Not an improvement, but "new".

>> 5. A Crew That’s More Diverse Than Ever <<

Star Trek crews have always been "diverse", that's one of the trademarks of the franchise. It used to be organic instead of forced, however.

<< 4. The Roddenberry Rule Is No More <<

Roddenberry never had a "rule" that there would be "no conflict" between crew members. Just watch Star Trek: The Motion Picture, which Roddenberry had TOTAL CREATIVE CONTROL OVER, and let me know if there's any "conflict" between Decker and Kirk.

>> 3. New Look Federation Uniforms <<

Okay, I'll give you a second one. That is indeed "new". It shouldn't be, since a show set "10 years before Kirk" should have the crew wearing The Cage era uniforms, but if they want to ignore canon to be "new", so be it.

<< 2. No Time Travel Stories <<

I doubt there will never be a time travel story during Discovery's entire run (though I suppose its certainly possible if the series only lasts a single season), but if so, okay, that's "new". A big creative step backward that limits story potential, but "new".

>> 1. Streaming Service Release <<

Not "new". All the previous Star Trek series have been available via online internet streaming (Netflix, Hulu, etc.) at one time or another. It's just the greedy Fereagi's at CBS are trying to force us to pay for a new service to get this latest one. Ain't happening.

===================================================

Total count: 3 things that are actually "new" but NOT good for the franchise, and 12 things that have been done on Star Trek numerous times before but are being marketed as "new" anyway.

I'm still TeamOrville all the way. It's possible Seth MacFarlene could screw that up with too much potty humor, but at least it looks fun and interesting. And unlike Discovery, it actually has "new" things that look like they'd be good for the show... looking forward to seeing the ship's first gelatinous-based crew member.

[Daniel Ramsey]

I will pass on it, better stuff on Youtube.

[fieldmarshaldj]

I’m glad you broke that down, because I just gasped at those claims (once I got that stupid page to finally load).

<< 12. Redesigned Klingons <<

“They’ve been redesigned numerous times. This latest version looks awful, the much derided JJ Abrams Klingons in Star Trek Into Darkness weren’t even as bad.”

And now we have Gothic Remans instead of what should be Human-Klingon hybrids. Can any of these people actually stick to canon ?

<< 11. Main Character Deaths <<

“Tasha Yar, Jadzia Dax, and Kes would be interested to learn about this “new” aspect of Star Trek.”

Don’t forget Faux Chekov dying in an SUV mishap.

>> 9. A High Budget, Cinematic Look <<

“Well, I suppose that would be “new” for television. But we’ve gotten plenty of it from the JJ movies.”

Ah, but will we get lens flare ? Nuttin’ says Trek these days without a lib’rul helping of lens flare.

<< 8. A New Period In Trek History <<

“Ummm, no. We’ve seen “10 years before Kirk” on Star Trek numerous times before. And it looks nothing like The Discovery trailer. Try watching The Cage.”

Heaven forfend.

<< 7. New Starship Design <<

“Nope, again. The Discovery design is based on a rejected redesign of the U.S.S. Enterprise for a purposed Star Trek: Planet of the Titans TV movie in 1972. It was rejected because fans didn’t like it.”

And it’s supposed to be an advanced design AFTER TOS. Screw canon, again. Tons of designs out there they could use that pre-date TOS Enterprise, but hey...

<< 6. More Graphic Action And Bad Language <<

“Hmmm. Okay. I’ll give you one. That’s mostly “new” to Star Trek on television. Not an improvement, but “new”.”

Double-dumb ass on you and so forth. They rather made it plain that in TOS days and in the films, folks in the future show a bit more restraint with their colorful metaphors. Another canon violation. Graphic action could only go so far as Standards & Practices would allow. People recall how shocking it was when a pissed-off Admiral Kirk kicked Captain Kruge in the head into a pit of lava in ST3.

>> 5. A Crew That’s More Diverse Than Ever <<

“Star Trek crews have always been “diverse”, that’s one of the trademarks of the franchise. It used to be organic instead of forced, however.”

Plain in-your-face P.C.

<< 4. The Roddenberry Rule Is No More <<

“Roddenberry never had a “rule” that there would be “no conflict” between crew members. Just watch Star Trek: The Motion Picture, which Roddenberry had TOTAL CREATIVE CONTROL OVER, and let me know if there’s any “conflict” between Decker and Kirk.”

How about Lt. Stiles (Styles?) and his attitude towards Spock when he thought he might be a Romulan agent ? You have to have SOME level of conflict or you have no drama, and no show. Hell, even “The Brady Bunch” had conflict with Jan’s perpetual jealousy of Marcia.

>> 3. New Look Federation Uniforms <<

“Okay, I’ll give you a second one. That is indeed “new”. It shouldn’t be, since a show set “10 years before Kirk” should have the crew wearing The Cage era uniforms, but if they want to ignore canon to be “new”, so be it.”

And NO ship’s crew other than Enterprise should be wearing an Enterprise insignia prior to the end of TOS. Period.

[cgbg]

All of the subsequent Star Trek series after the original have been pure unadulterated crap

Agreed.

The only new science fiction shows that have captured my interest are "Colony" and "The Expanse".

I will watch a couple of episodes of this new Star Trek series but I have very low expectations.

CBS views themselves as social justice warriors...(see my tagline).

[peyton randolph]

“They just had to have a main gay pervert.”

****

We had one for 8 years at POTUS.

[Flick Lives]

I have been watching the original series on the Heros and Icons channel, and never realized just how many bad/preposterous episodes there were. Spock’s Brain is high on the list, but there are many others that were just downright awful, like they had a deadline, but all their writers were out sick with the flu.

I'd agree. In TOS, for every great episode like "The Trouble with Tribbles" there was a turkey like "The Savage Curtain".

I recently rewatched the DS9 series on Netflix and think that series achieved "peak Star Trek"; consistently good episodes with few turkeys, an interesting story arc (the Emissary and the Prophets, the War with the Dominion), good cast (no Wesley Crusher!), good chemistry (Commander Sisko and his son Jake), interesting characters (Quark!), and good production values (20 years later the sets look good).

[faucetman]

I predict total FAILURE because it will only be available for streaming on “CBS All Access” subscription service, except for the first couple episodes.

If I can’t DVR something, I don’t watch it.