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Star Trek: Strange New Worlds

Mogster

By Mogster,
in Film, TV & Radio

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Hexx

Hexx

Posted
Posted

That's a great scene - but it was also a spectacular surprising pay off to season 1. If you're going to watch maybe don't look at that.

 

The fact it aired really close to a very similar scene with that character at the end of Picard (which was near universally slammed) was the icing on the cake.

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FishyFish

FishyFish

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Posted

I've been watching this on Paramount+ and was slightly concerned about episode 4 - Spok Amok - when I read the description. I was expecting one of those twee, light-hearted episodes similar to those TNG stories where Lwaxana Troi would try to get in Picard's pants. I always hated those episodes, so wasn't looking forward to this one at all. It was still a bit twee but it turns out it was also really great!

 

It's amazing how, after just four episodes, the characters in this feel real in a way that the crew of discovery don't even approach after four seasons.

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sandman

sandman

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Posted

Two episodes down, I much preferred the first. The second felt rather odd from the opening meal scene onwards. And the guy playing Pike seemed to be playing the role like a comedy in the second episode. I thought he was fantastic in the first episode as were the entire cast. I’m still not sure about the guy playing Spock, but that could well be because Quinto absolutely nailed it. 

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Sprite Machine

Sprite Machine

Posted
Posted

Finally finished the season and thought it was excellent! Very enjoyable episodic structure with characters that I mostly like, plots that generally make sense, interesting sci-fi stories, some light-hearted humour, an optimistic outlook, visual flare and colour, and a cracking opening theme.

 

I think the show is bogged down with its own continuity somewhat (half of the cast can never be in mortal danger, certain things must always happen, etc.) and although Peck is a good Spock, he mumbles too much. Actually everyone mumbles too much, but Spock the most.

 

I'll definitely tune in for more.

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Sprite Machine

Sprite Machine

Posted
Posted (edited)

That being said, I didn't like the final episode so much.

 

Spoiler

Being a retread of a classic episode, but with a modern "fleets of ships squaring off against each other" finalé trope. In the original story, the Romulan bird of prey is supposed to be cut off from its home, limping back under impulse power, and yet here we learn they could have called for back-up at any time and they'd all warp in simultaneously. It undermines the premise of the original story.

 

There are several moments throughout the series where they... not strictly contradict previous established continuity, but go against the implied facts. It's been a while since I watched it, but Spock and T'Pring's relationship in Amok Time is in no way established and it's strongly implied that they haven't met since they were children (Spock looks at a photo of T'Pring as a child) and yet in SNW they are already an engaged couple having regular sexy times. Vulcans are supposed to touch fingers in intimacy, and although it's never explicitly stated that they don't kiss each other, it was once again "strongly implied" in the spirit of alienness that they don't do human things like that.

 

Every time the new show gives us something from TOS, it distracts me from the story because I'm either thinking "ooh, that's a clever link because blah blah blah" or "hang on, should they have met each other yet?" or "this character/set/visual effect looks totally different from how they used to look".

Spoiler

The Gorn are an example of this, of wanting to show an alien species in a scary new light; but whenever they showed how deadly, fast and viscious they are, I couldn't help but think of Captain Kirk throwing rocks at a slow-moving green lizard man in a toga and surviving with little more than a torn uniform.

 

This is something that doesn't affect The Orville because it doesn't have that baggage to tie it down, and honestly Strange New Worlds would do well to ditch its reliance on the past, get rid of the silly fate/destiny storylines and just tell interesting new weekly adventures like it did for most of its first season.

 

EDIT: Also, Pike now knows that

Spoiler

Romulans are a Vulcanoid species and that they're developing cloaking technology,

but is going to keep that information to himself because... [vague reasons].

Edited by Sprite Machine
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Flub

Flub

Posted
Posted

I agree with your last point. Imagine a Trek show with the quality of SNW but unburdened by a need to follow established continuity (At least to the extent they currently have to). It could even be set in the TOS era. Just don't have them running into Kirk every five minutes. However I suspect they're worried not enough people would watch if it didn't have ties to established lore. I think it would do just fine. You just need the right actors and writers but TV is weird and conservative these days.

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Scruff

Scruff

Posted
Posted

Your last spoiler @Sprite Machine is the only one of the ones that bothered me too. I completely get where you're coming from with the first, but I can handle slight changes due to the set up of the episode (things are supposed to be slightly different). The second one well, again I completely understand your POV but didn't Enterprise set them up as being a lot deadlier now? I try to imagine they're bastards but nothing is too much of a bastard for James Tiberius Kirk.

 

Regarding Spock and T'Pringle I think they're trying to build up their relationship so that what happens is all the more tragic (the same way I know Chapel has a crush on Spock in TOS but she's on the verge of swooning out the airlock every time she sees him in SNW). 

I think you can be too slavish to the lore and SNW does it admirably - doubly so considering the creative team!

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Waggo

Waggo

Posted
Posted

Bit behind with this having only started watching when Paramount Plus came to Sky, but the last two episodes I have watched:

Spoiler

The Gorn Encounter & Spock Body Swap 


have been absolute belters.:hat:

 

It is fantastic to have a proper Star Trek series back again.

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LaveDisco

LaveDisco

Posted
Posted

Upto date with paramount+ (so episode 7) and not only is it fantastic, proper trek in every way, they built up the entire cast brilliantly. Characters I thought were worryingly ‘discovery-esque’  (the head of security and the nurse) are now some of my favourites and Pike is a fantastic captain. Really represents starfleet values but finds his unique place aside Picard, Kirk, Janeway, Sisko etc. 

 

ironically now it means if they were to face a ‘galaxy wide threat’ it would have value behind it. 

This has hit the ground running to a phenomenal degree.

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Stig

Stig

Posted
Posted
3 minutes ago, Hexx said:


Another source says they’ll voice their characters and the episode will be a mix of live action and animated 

 

Amazing. This is proper multi verse and comedy star trek stuff.

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Thor

Thor

Posted
Posted

Oh, that has me less enthused. That's utter fucking shit, if true. 

 

edit: Could still work so long as they don't have live action and animated in the same scene. Who Framed Roger Rabbit, Space Jam etc ... all fucking shite.

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Alan Stock

Alan Stock

Posted
Posted

Watched up to episode 7 on Paramount+ (which is where its up to). Yeah, this is quite good overall. It's back to basics Trek format with some fun dynamics and interesting characters. I do find it too cheesy and cringe at times, but it's entertaining. Quite a lot of the stories are genuinely good classic Trek moral dilemmas, plus think pieces and silly moments. The visuals and set designs are lovely as well. The acting is genuinely good from a lot of the cast.

 

I was unsure about having Spock in this but he's really grown on me, I think the actor and writers have done a good job of recreating his mannerisms and point of view. Though, it is a bit lame/lazy to revisit almost exactly the same dynamic and conflict from OG Spock, but I suppose that doesn't stop it being a good source of conflict. Having Uhura as well though is maybe a step too far in terms of fan service, not that I have anything against her but now there's at least 3 crew members we already know the characters and fate of on the ship. On the whole the crew is decent, each with actual characters and motivations, and amazingly no-one I actually hate. Humour-wise the series is very cheesy although they do land the occasional good quip. After a few episodes I just settled down into that comfortable Next Generation/DS9/Voyager groove, where I knew I'd get an entertaining story and subplots each episode and learn more about the characters.

 

So overall its definitely decent, I wouldn't call it essential but then these days I'm into more serialised TV and epic storylines and its been a loong time since I saw the old Trek shows. Some Strange New World episode plotlines have shown real promise and it actually has characters you can root for. Who would have thunk it, an actually watchable new Trek show?! Just proves that sometimes all you need is to return to a formula that works with good writing and interesting characters. I think I will hang onto the subscription to watch the rest of the series given the praise on here, and I look forward to seeing where they go with it in future, its certainly a solid base to go off.

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Stig

Stig

Posted
Posted
On 21/07/2022 at 23:21, Waggo said:

Bit behind with this having only started watching when Paramount Plus came to Sky, but the last two episodes I have watched:

  Reveal hidden contents

The Gorn Encounter & Spock Body Swap 


have been absolute belters.:hat:

 

It is fantastic to have a proper Star Trek series back again.

 

These two episoes really sealed the "this is proper Trek" for me. One week it's life & death and very serious and the next its a fun comedy episode.

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MardiganX

MardiganX

Posted
Posted

Episode 8 isn’t just one of the best episodes in this season so far, it might be one of the best episodes of Trek I’ve ever watched… and I’m comparing that to DS9, Voyager and even next gen.

 

Spoiler

Two things. Hemmer is MVP. The way he embraced the ‘role play’ and goes full Wizard with delight was brilliant. Not only hilarious but really clever too. Fucking ABRACADABRA!! 
 

The Doc and his daughter. That was beautiful and sweet then when she came back older talking about Debra I teared up. Another perfectly measured part of this great show.


 

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