this post was submitted on 01 Feb 2024
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As far as Discovery and Picard goes, the writers commit some absolutely hideous crimes with regards to not just the canon but the entire philosophy and moral foundation behind 90s leftism Trekism.
First understand the bad influences from some of TNG and DS9. We can go back to DS9 and how TNG fans thought that was too dark for Gene's vision too, which is also true.
This is worth an essay of its own but DS9 managed to tackle some topics from a much more realistic and materialist basis than TNG managed to achieve. If you see how TNG is about enjoying the utopia while DS9 is about Actualy Existing Utopia. If you want to be realy edgy you can make some comparison between the struggles of AES and the ideals behind the communist revolution.
Sadly the hack team of writers took these worst parts as inspiration. From completely misunderstanding(reality more like just appropriating it because they're fraud hacks) the purpose of Section 31, to trivializing the use of violence by the crew to solve problems and worst of all, to casually displaying this violence on screen for shock value only.
So bringing this back to Discovery here is the mini-review of just some of their faults, specificaly S1-2, S3 I only watched RLM review and S4 nobody cares because they did what they should've done(an actual reboot in the future not a prequel):
#1- A main character mutiny on the first episode. This isn't Data telling Worf to suck it up I'm your boss now(One of the best scenes in Trek's history) but literaly the person we're first introduced to trying to impose her own rightous views over the Captain. Yes Trek captain is supposed ot be THE hero, the MC. We get decades worth of nerd debates between who is better Trek captain and on STD S1 premiere we have a nobody officer, who we're supposed to like, subverting this expectation. This comes in the wake of nuTrek trying to become more like Star Wars.
#2 STD S1-2 in general lacked a strong captain. Lorca was a decent character as a villain, but the series puts the role of Data/Worf/Geordi all into MB. I hate when chuds said MB was basicaly Jesus, but realisticaly, she was a Mary Sue in the worst sense. Yes we get the introduction of Pike and he becomes a good character. But anyone can see he isn't the MC, he isn't actualy in command except operationaly(the command ritual), in reality S2 is about MB just as S1.
#3-The gratuitous use of extreme violence. Of course TNG movies and some of DS9 shares the blame too, afterall crew gets captured and tortured is a Trek trope. But given the episodic nature these events are disconnected and regarded as one off moments, they're not a major plot point or a distinctive narrative point of a whole season. Yes Chain of Command is about torture, but it is obvious how they handle the topic completely differently.
In chain of command Picard's torture is a complex part of the mental game between himself and the villain. The villain for his part doesn't do it just for pleasure either and the audience doesn't get to see the most extreme moments. Better yet, the final message is about Picard's eventual mental victory as a survivor. I wont review the episode here, you can find these elsewhere, but there is a reason CoC is one of TNG's best episode.
Compare this to the extreme violence and torture in STD and Picard and you can very clearly see these elements are used as nothing but shock value for a modern audience that is already numb to violence on TV. You can maybe excuse and say this isn't that much of a shock to your average Netflix viewer. But it certainly should be for the 90's Trek nerd refusing to move on from 30 years ago.
Finaly some YT links to bring the point home
Obligatory
Leonard Nimoy Explains What is Wrong with Star Trek Discovery
RLM Star Trek Discovery Season 2 In a Nutshell
RLM Star Trek Discovery Season 2 - re:View
Bonus
Eye Torture Fetish in Star Trek Discovery / Picard / Lower Decks Compilation
The Difference between TNG and Star Trek Discovery / Short Trek
Michael Burnham is Space Jesus . Star Trek Discovery Compilation
Michael Burnham is The Best at Everything (Part 1)
Jesus fucking christ. This is the exact kind of shit I hate about about New Trek. Goreporn is not only one of my least favorite writing crutches but its also the opposite of what Star Trek is supposed to be focused on.
It screams of producers meddling and thinking "Duuuh Game of Thrones and The Walking Dead were gritty and violent and popular so if we make our show more like that we will be popular too!"
Stupid capitalism homogenizes everything because they think it's a safe bet.
What happened to boldly going where no one has gone before?
I cannot tell you how much I miss this kind of drama. Nobody yelling, no quippy bullshit, no ridiculous strawman to make sure the audience can understand who is in the right or wrong even if they've had a lobotomy. It's understandable how both characters came to this disagreement. It's tense but the professionalism remains. They're both even surprisingly emotionally honest, even vulnerable, at the end and communicate it clearly and maturely.
What happened to this? This wasn't unique to Star Trek back in the day.
I blame the TNG movies honestly, while some bits and pieces are good they ruined the series and if you haven't already you should read Michael Piller's book about writing for Insurrection, he basically exposes Patrick Stewart for being a(the?) major intellectual drive behind turning the movie away from the past TV experiences.
In general though I don't watch western TV much at all, maybe a dozen shows throughout my whole life so I can't say, but I definitely think much of TNG's personal relationships would be seen as boring and too professional these days.
I found YouTube links in your comment. Here are links to the same videos on alternative frontends that protect your privacy:
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