Star Trek: Discovery completed its course after a five-year mission spanning CBS All Access and Paramount Plus. It was the first of the “new” Trek series and spawned its share of controversies as well as accolades. In this episode we review the fifth and final season of the series. We talk about the quest plotline and how we feel about the payoff. We discuss the utilization of the characters and whether we felt that they were used fittingly. We also get into the coda scene and whether we felt that it was a fitting ending for the series. Along the way we talk about lore expansions, narrative payoffs, and Discovery’s main achievements and failures.
This week’s five-minute controversy asks whether we think that it’s a good thing that Robert Downey Jr has been cast as Dr Doom in the MCU.
This week Stephanie is cohost and Stephen joins the cast. Ryan makes a brief cameo.
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In this week’s episode we fire up the spore drive to arrive at Star Trek Discovery season 4. In this episode we delve deep into the storytelling, discussing the advantages and disadvantages of season length, using writers unfamiliar with Trek, and telling a narrative across multiple seasons. We also talk about how much we want to see more of the bridge crew, interspecies romance, and how all the teases to former Trek plots can be so frustrating. We also opine on communication issues, season resolutions, celebrity cameos, and what we want from a fifth season.
Star Trek: Discovery season 3 brought the titular ship to the far future opening up a wide storytelling vista for the series. In this episode we discuss the changes to the setting. We examine the new characters, new situation, and the new tech and effects. We also debate the merits of the plotlines with the Emerald Chain and the cause of The Burn. Along the way we also talk about the awesomeness of Grudge and whether or not the queen herself has any secrets to share. We’ll also bring up the old continuity bugbear and discuss how this season relates to what we know about certain races, beings, and times from elsewhere in the Star Trek franchise.
Despite the criticism of the hardcore fanbase, Star Trek: Discovery’s first season was a success. Building on that and attempting to woo more classic fans, Discovery added Pike, Spock, and Number One from the original Star Trek pilot to Discovery season 2. In this episode was talk about the dynamics of Discovery with new captain, Pike in the seat. We also discuss how faithful the portrayals of Pike, Number One, and Spock are to those from the sixty. In addition we discuss the many changes both cosmetic and in the details to the Klingons, Enterprise, Spock’s life story. We also mention the exclusion of the supporting cast, the use of Section 31, and Skynet in the 23rd century, and whether or not the season has a satisfying conclusion. We also discuss our aspirations for season 3.
Star Trek: Discovery relaunched the Star Trek franchise on TV after a hiatus of over a decade. Set before the original Star Trek series, Discovery’s slick look and darker tones evoked polarization in fandom as some gravitated towards the update and others rejected what they saw as an affront to Gene Roddenberry’s vision of the future. In this episode we talk about those issues as well as the decision to market this on streaming service, CBS All Access instead of on network or cable television. We’ll also discuss the casting, storylines, and themes. We’ll also ask that ephemeral question, “Is this Star Trek”?, before we finally finish up with speculation on the future.