Star Trek Thread

[Sebastian]

I'm not going to watch Picard, not after the first two seasons of nonsense. I love Q so much and he was wasted in Season 2.

Ok maybe I'll watch it, I just want them to send the cast out on a high note. Also since I saw above that DS9 gets some references? It's about damn time they revisit the GOAT Trek.

Without spoiling things, it is not just DS9 references.

You'll be pleased.

 

[kidduck]

During a visit to a friends' house recently, I had the misfortune
to hear a new LP release by William Shatner titled 'Blues'. Yes,
Captain Kirk performing blues classics, backed by decent
contemporary musicians.

Be it serious or parity, it sucks on every level.

But if you get to 91 years old, you've paid your dues , so pocket the
$$ and carry on.

Ear plugs advised.

 

[Sebastian]

Picard has continued to be good.

I actually look forward to new episodes!

 

[-Akronite-]

Growing up I watched all the movies but only caught episodes here or there (TNG, DS9, Voyager re-runs on Channel 43; TOS eps from SyFy chain reaction marathons). Using a list to go through the highlights of TNG right now with my fiancee who was surprised to learn she likes Star Trek. We just got to Best of Both Worlds. I love the way they build the stories around the characters, the drama of Picard being assimilated completely services Riker's arc for instance. Seeing episodes I neevr caught as a kid and really appreciating the way they were able to make engaging stories even with dated sets & costumes.

If anybody has any deep cuts they love shout em out!

I figure I'll get to Picard Season 3 at some point, but will not bother with the first two based on everything I've heard/read. For fans of the show that felt the movies missed the mark for this crew, I'm glad they seem to be doing right by them now.

 

[Sebastian]

they were able to make engaging stories even with dated sets & costumes.

 

[Sebastian]

Growing up I watched all the movies but only caught episodes here or there (TNG, DS9, Voyager re-runs on Channel 43; TOS eps from SyFy chain reaction marathons). Using a list to go through the highlights of TNG right now with my fiancee who was surprised to learn she likes Star Trek. We just got to Best of Both Worlds. I love the way they build the stories around the characters, the drama of Picard being assimilated completely services Riker's arc for instance. Seeing episodes I neevr caught as a kid and really appreciating the way they were able to make engaging stories even with dated sets & costumes.

If anybody has any deep cuts they love shout em out!

I figure I'll get to Picard Season 3 at some point, but will not bother with the first two based on everything I've heard/read. For fans of the show that felt the movies missed the mark for this crew, I'm glad they seem to be doing right by them now.

How comprehensive is your TNG list?

And as others will attest to, you simply have to do a full re-watch of DS9 from Season 3 on.

Like most folks, if you only caught a few episodes here and there of DS9, you are missing 90% of Peak Trek.

As for Voyager, maybe 5 episodes a season are worth a re-watch.

 

[-Akronite-]

They did a fine job considering the budget and time constraints. You know what, let me amend my statement:

they were able to make engaging stories that even with dated sets & costumes so many awful hair styles*

*if my fiancee watches anything produced between 1978 and 1995** she will comment on awful hair

**After Season 2 of Frasier, Kelsey Grammar stopped doing that jiggly mullet thing, allowing her to enjoy the show fully

How comprehensive is your TNG list?

And as others will attest to, you simply have to do a full re-watch of DS9 from Season 3 on.

Like most folks, if you only caught a few episodes here and there of DS9, you are missing 90% of Peak Trek.

As for Voyager, maybe 5 episodes a season are worth a re-watch.

The episodes listed are about a quarter of the show in total including the pilot and finale. We've done this with a few series, take a tour and then go back for more if/when you feel like it/have the time.

DS9 has been on the list for a while, I'll probably fully commit when I get to it.

Voyager I re-visited in chunks for a work thing (odd situation), and yeah, it's fine but I don't need to go back.

 

[Sebastian]

They did a fine job considering the budget and time constraints. You know what, let me amend my statement:

they were able to make engaging stories that even with dated sets & costumes so many awful hair styles*

*if my fiancee watches anything produced between 1978 and 1995** she will comment on awful hair

**After Season 2 of Frasier, Kelsey Grammar stopped doing that jiggly mullet thing, allowing her to enjoy the show fully



The episodes listed are about a quarter of the show in total including the pilot and finale. We've done this with a few series, take a tour and then go back for more if/when you feel like it/have the time.

DS9 has been on the list for a while, I'll probably fully commit when I get to it.

Voyager I re-visited in chunks for a work thing (odd situation), and yeah, it's fine but I don't need to go back.

Yeah, the hair sticks out and the 80s color palette for TNG. I have found that the set design is still really good; especially because modern Trek has swung so strong with the stereotypical hack approach with the damn lighting. The Enterprise-D is such a welcoming, comfortable ship. It is very much a demonstrative of the Federation in that time period, and the feel of the US post-Berlin Wall. For that one decade in the 90s the world felt safe, satisfied to the point that fucking families are on starships. The D is almost a cruise ship in its luxury. But then the Federation gets that wake-up call at Wolf 359. Ships built after the Borg Attack are much more spartan, much meaner, more militaristic.

That "To Be Continued" in that Borg episode with Picard turned into Locutus was one of the all-time great cliffhangers... Speaking of Locutus....

And also yes, Frasier's hair is so out of place in the first couple seasons. It is rather shockingly bad even for the early 1990s. That and the three button suits! So 90s.

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

For TNG, I would say you could watch Seasons 3 and 4 completely through. They were fucking killing it nearly every episode in those two seasons. Season 5 is mostly good.

But definitely for DS9. I can give you a good list for Seasons 1 and 2 so you can skip most of those seasons because they were very slow. DS9 did a 180 starting with the last episode of Season 2 onward. Pure gold from Season 3 on.

It is very weird, because one recognizes that DS9 was the first Post-9/11 TV series despite ending in 1999. It so well explores the issues of the 2000s that it is almost as if the show writers could see the future.

And of course Ron Moore took a lot of these themes when he made BSG.

But above all, DS9 is simply one of the greatest series ever from a character development standpoint. No other Trek series goes so far to make their people flawed and imperfect. But the result is such incredible growth and an amazingly rich tapestry of characters; so much so that even the reoccurring characters become key players. There are entire episodes where 90% of the plot is moved by the guest stars to the point the main cast is not even missed.

When you get to DS9 I will share with you the characters to watch for in terms of growth.

 

[Sebastian]

Picard is continuing to be amazing.

Episodes 7 and 8 were great!

Highly recommend the series.

Two more episodes to go. Hopefully they don't fuck it up!

 

[Sebastian]

All I have to say about Episode 9 of Picard Season 3 is !!!

It's been 29 years. A long wait.

 

[Adam]

All I have to say about Episode 9 of Picard Season 3 is !!!

It's been 29 years. A long wait.

Omg this is so true. Loved it! Especially the way the transporter was used

 

[Sebastian]

Wow.

This is the TNG finale we all deserved.

Has any show ever done such a 180 after the first two seasons were garbage?

Even TNG didn't do such a turnaround.

Highly recommended for all.

 

[Adam]

Totally agree. Picard final is 10/10

 

[JayP146]

I am a fervent, passionate fan of TNG.

That said, after watching the first half of S1 of Picard, I was left with a very bad taste in my mouth in regards to how Kurtzman (?) steered the series. I had issues with the writing, characterization of Picard, the brutally fast pace of everything, the over-reliance on action sequences, etc. Just felt like a circle jerk and something that should have been done decades ago so as to avoid everyone (especially Pat Stewart) looking ...old.

Strange New Worlds has been the only show/movie since Star Trek (2009) that actually gave me hope for the ST franchise. Lower Decks is hilarious and pokes fun at TNG extremely well, but obviously isn't much of a drama. Discovery's twist at the end of S1 was interesting, but I've otherwise found it rather ordinary.

Is S3 of Picard really that good? If yes, do I really need to watch S1 and S2 to get wise on the plot, or will Cliff's Notes suffice?

 

[Sebastian]

I am a fervent, passionate fan of TNG.

That said, after watching the first half of S1 of Picard, I was left with a very bad taste in my mouth in regards to how Kurtzman (?) steered the series. I had issues with the writing, characterization of Picard, the brutally fast pace of everything, the over-reliance on action sequences, etc. Just felt like a circle jerk and something that should have been done decades ago so as to avoid everyone (especially Pat Stewart) looking ...old.

Strange New Worlds has been the only show/movie since Star Trek (2009) that actually gave me hope for the ST franchise. Lower Decks is hilarious and pokes fun at TNG extremely well, but obviously isn't much of a drama. Discovery's twist at the end of S1 was interesting, but I've otherwise found it rather ordinary.

Is S3 of Picard really that good? If yes, do I really need to watch S1 and S2 to get wise on the plot, or will Cliff's Notes suffice?

I agree. I hate what Kurtzman has done to Trek in general. Thankfully, Kurtzman was banished from Picard and Terry Matalas, and actual fan, has taken over.

Season 3 really is that good and, blissfully, you need not know anything about Seasons 1 and 2. It thankfully ignores them.

You need only know that 7 of 9 has since joined Starfleet and is a commander. And it helps to know the basic outline of DS9.

Otherwise, enjoy! The payoff is immense.

As a raging TNG fan you will finally get the resolution we all never got 20 years ago.