Open thread: DIS 1.1 — “The Vulcan Hello”

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2 responses to “Open thread: DIS 1.1 — “The Vulcan Hello””

1. 

   Randi Cohen

   October 11, 2017

   Only in a bizarre Trek alternate universe, in which down is up and up is down, is “Vulcan Hello” meant to signify a policy of “shoot on sight”! What happened to “Live long and prosper”? What happened to “we used to be warlike but now we have obtained peace through logic”?

   Not to mention the vaguely African-appearing and frighteningly guttural and snaggle-toothed Klingons who are apparently evil incarnate and beyond redemption.

   I find this new series to be a betrayal of all Star Trek once stood for.

   (Check out “The Orville” for a show that is much more spiritual heir to Star Trek than this soulless distortion… which is unfortunately mirrored in our modern political scene. But we should resist!).

   I think the following says it well (from http://www.cleveland.com/entertainment/index.ssf/2017/09/star_trek_discovery_is_beyond.html):

   The show’s worst offense, however, is betraying the big ideas that made “Star Trek” great in the first place. The notion that rational, level-headed leaders can bring two sides together to peacefully work through their differences defined the original series and its first live-action spinoff, “Star Trek: The Next Generation.” It was an inspiring message that gave viewers something to strive for, but in the first two episodes of “Discovery,” it is quickly forgotten in favor of special-effects-laden space battles.

   In their first encounter with the Klingons, the main character’s well-thought-out solution amounts to “shoot first, ask questions later.” Any debate over the consequences of her actions is reduced to a few throwaway lines.

   The protagonists of the original series and “Next Generation” went to great pains to avoid the horrors of war and prove that two sides can resolve their disputes through dialogue and empathy. But the message at the heart of the first two chapters of “Discovery” seems to be “violence is the only language the enemy understands, so you might as well attack first,” which flies in the face of everything we learned from the thoughtful, compassionate characters in the shows that inspired this one.

   “Discovery’s” only real strength is its visuals.

   Past Trek shows were plagued with low budgets, a problem rectified in “Discovery,” if the first two episodes are any indication. But the show sometimes uses the story as an excuse to put its impressive visual effects on display, to the detriment of the narrative. Just because you can showcase your improved special effects, doesn’t mean you need to.

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2. 

   Kevin Black

   October 11, 2017

   I can’t argue with any of this. Michelle Yeoh’s character does espouse something like Starfleet philosophy, but in a way that seems to imply that these are words of a naive person who is a hidebound rules follower and lacking imagination. Which is the opposite of reality.

   The very racialized Kilngons make this especially uncomfortable, since their characterization seems to mirror the current American president’s simplistic characterizations of followers of Islam and Michael’s suggested approach mirrors the way he talks about projecting American power.

   Apart from that, the new Klingons are boring. I don’t mind that the show changed their look, but I do mind that they are so one dimensional. The lack of facial articulation in the alien masks aren’t helping.

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