STAR TREK

[Barrister]

Lower decks is back, shame it's the last season.

Sigh.  We cancelled Paramount+, because Star Trek was about the only thing we ever watched on it, and there isn't actually all that much Star Trek.

But Lower Decks has been my favourite Star Trek in many years, so it's a shame to miss the final season.  I might have to subscribe for one month just to watch it once it finishes.

[Syt]

Lower decks is back, shame it's the last season.

Decent episodes so far.

Apparently Section 31 movie comes in January?

[HVC]

Lower decks is back, shame it's the last season.

Sigh.  We cancelled Paramount+, because Star Trek was about the only thing we ever watched on it, and there isn't actually all that much Star Trek.

But Lower Decks has been my favourite Star Trek in many years, so it's a shame to miss the final season.  I might have to subscribe for one month just to watch it once it finishes.

 

[HVC]

Lower decks is back, shame it's the last season.

Decent episodes so far.

Apparently Section 31 movie comes in January?

I think they stumbled on the second episode, but 1 and 3 were great. I like the multiverse arc so far.

[Syt]

So last weekend I watched some old TNG, including "The Outrageous Okona" where Billy Campbell comes aboard the Enterprise, and fucks his way through the female crew, starting with Teri Hatcher, and where Joe Piscopo tries to teach Data what humor is.

One of the things about the remastered TNG episodes is that many of the previously unreadable computer screens have become legible. In this episode, the names of comedians on screen are crew members (as often), and the one Data lands on is Ronald B Moore (played by Joe Piskopo, though the name isn't mentioned in the episode, obviously). And that's sfx guy Ronald B Moore, not producer Ronald D Moore (yes, I looked it up when I watched it, and "D" joined a season later ).

So when on the latest Lower Decks Boimler says something like, "Who does he think he is, Ronald B Moore? He's no comedian!" I was like

[Crazy_Ivan80]

Noice, but those are hardcore eastereggs,  not casual ones

[Syt]

Agreed. It was just such a weird coincidence that (for once!) I actually knew one because I had watched the relevant episode a few days ago.

[Neil]

Alright, so I want to say that I kind of don't like Lower Decks. 

On the one hand, I love all the references to Star Trek of old.  I get them all.  I'm on the inside of the joke.  On the other hand, I kind of feel like many of the characters come off as very 'modern', which is to say that a lot of what they say and do is rooted in cruelty.  The whole point of Star Trek is that we were supposed to be better in the future, and Mariner's casual cruelty just seems off to me.  It's like they hired the writing team of The Orville (which was a good show, by the way) to write an homage to Star Trek.  I feel like the sensibility it less Trek and more Rick and Morty. 

[Barrister]

Alright, so I want to say that I kind of don't like Lower Decks. 

On the one hand, I love all the references to Star Trek of old.  I get them all.  I'm on the inside of the joke.  On the other hand, I kind of feel like many of the characters come off as very 'modern', which is to say that a lot of what they say and do is rooted in cruelty.  The whole point of Star Trek is that we were supposed to be better in the future, and Mariner's casual cruelty just seems off to me.  It's like they hired the writing team of The Orville (which was a good show, by the way) to write an homage to Star Trek.  I feel like the sensibility it less Trek and more Rick and Morty. 

So full disclosure - I haven't seen the most recent season of Lower Decks.

But I really like Lower Decks.

Lower Decks has been my kids introduction to Star Trek.  So they don't catch ANY of the callbacks.  But it's still enjoyable without that knowledge.

Yes - I understand where you're coming from on Mariner's character (and Boimler).  But what I like is that the characters have very deliberately grown over the series.  They're become much more like "Star Trek".  Which is probably why the show needs to end this season (again I haven't seen the most recent season).

[Syt]

Alright, so I want to say that I kind of don't like Lower Decks. 

On the one hand, I love all the references to Star Trek of old.  I get them all.  I'm on the inside of the joke.  On the other hand, I kind of feel like many of the characters come off as very 'modern', which is to say that a lot of what they say and do is rooted in cruelty.  The whole point of Star Trek is that we were supposed to be better in the future, and Mariner's casual cruelty just seems off to me.  It's like they hired the writing team of The Orville (which was a good show, by the way) to write an homage to Star Trek.  I feel like the sensibility it less Trek and more Rick and Morty. 

Hey Neil! Agree on Orville being good. The first season had its ups and downs, but once they toned down the goofy comedy a bit it really took off for me, and it had some good "moral dilemma" episodes.

If I had one complaint it's that Season 3's episodes were slightly stretched out too much (with a 1h runtime), but still really enjoyable watch.

In many ways, I kinda feel it presaged Strange New Worlds with its quirkier take on classic Trek.

[Neil]

So full disclosure - I haven't seen the most recent season of Lower Decks.

But I really like Lower Decks.

Lower Decks has been my kids introduction to Star Trek.  So they don't catch ANY of the callbacks.  But it's still enjoyable without that knowledge.

Yes - I understand where you're coming from on Mariner's character (and Boimler).  But what I like is that the characters have very deliberately grown over the series.  They're become much more like "Star Trek".  Which is probably why the show needs to end this season (again I haven't seen the most recent season).

Fair enough.  I suppose having it as a launching point for a new generation is something. 

That said, I feel bad for young people getting into Star Trek, as recent offerings have been pretty weak in my opinion.  Mind you, maybe they're not meant for me.

[Neil]

In many ways, I kinda feel it presaged Strange New Worlds with its quirkier take on classic Trek.

I think at this stage I'm all 'quirky-ed' out.  The Whedon-inspired dialogue has been done to death at this point. 

[Syt]

This is beautifully made, but also - bit creepy this is possible?

Sam Witwer talks about it here:

(I could watch him nerd out all day - his Twitch streams where he would play, like, Bard's Tale and chat about his work/projects were great. He has obviously so much love for and fun with what he does.)

[HVC]

Gay (Bi?) Garak is now canon

[Syt]

Gay (Bi?) Garak is now canon

In some quantum reality, anyways.

It was a delightful episode for its cameos (absolute fan service of the best kind and fan wish fulfilment - Garak & Bashir as a couple, T'Pol & Tucker having a long happy marriage, Harry Kim making it past Ensign ), though William Boimler's comments about parallel realities (and Lily's counterpoint) were a fun meta commentary on non-canon content and fan fiction. "In some reality, your head canon/retcons is true."