Star Trek: Lower Decks (animated series)

Goodshape

Star Trek: Lower Decks has been confirmed as an animated comedy series from Rick and Morty head writer, Mike McMahon.

deadline.com wrote:

The expansion of CBS All Access’ Star Trek universe continues with a two-season order to Star Trek: Lower Decks, a half-hour adult animated comedy series from Rick and Morty head writer and executive producer Mike McMahan, a long-time Star Trek fan. Star Trek: Lower Decks, which will focus on the support crew serving on one of Starfleet’s least important ships.

....

“Mike won our hearts with his first sentence: ‘I want to do a show about the people who put the yellow cartridge in the food replicator so a banana can come out the other end.’

Interesting! https://deadline.com/2018/10/star-trek-lower-decks-animated-series-rick-and-morty-mike-mcmahan-alex-kurtzman-cbs-all-access-1202489207/

Inviere

Colour me not at all interested in a Star Trek themed adult comedy animated show How have we gone from Darmok and Jalad, to this level??

ozmo

Goodshape wrote: »

...focus on the support crew serving on one of Starfleet’s least important ships

Could they have made it sound any less interesting...


Every confidence in them though... i think.

BopNiblets

Chief OBrien would be excited
http://chiefobrienatwork.com/post/106684455801/episode-1-r%C3%A9sum%C3%A9-builder-read-the-next-episode

Goodshape

Meh, I think it sounds great. There's plenty of room for comedy (and other genres) in Star Trek.

Inviere

Goodshape wrote: »

Meh, I think it sounds great. There's plenty of room for comedy (and other genres) in Star Trek.

It was never the defining factor though, nor should it be. Star Trek is about exploring the human condition, and while it can do that and make us laugh a little at the same time, I do feel the 'core' of Star Trek will be lost in this animated show. Queue the "if only the live actions shows were this funny!" reviews...

Inviere

Ensign Turkin - "Man, this ship is boring as fuuuck. When I signed up I thought I'd be blowing Romulans outta the stars, sticking Bat'leth's in the bellies of Klingons, and pulling the plug on the Borg."

Lieutenant Tyler - "Steady Ensign, you keep pulling your own plug on that top bunk and you won't have to worry about the Borg...resistance is not futile when it comes to masturbation y'know"

Insert laughter track.

Bleugh.

Goodshape

Inviere wrote: »

It was never the defining factor though, nor should it be. Star Trek is about exploring the human condition

I mean there's room for both. It's a big universe.

Inviere

Goodshape wrote: »

I mean there's room for both. It's a big universe.

I meant that Star Trek was never defined by comedy. Sure, there were humorous moments in many many episodes, but they were mere accompaniments to a broader picture. This sounds like a real lowering of the bar. Granted I personally have a tough time reconciling comedy in sci-fi shows for some weird reason, I feel it rarely works (for me)...and when it does, it has to be the defining signature of the show ala Red Dwarf (comedy first, everything else second). I've tried and failed more than once to enjoy The Orville, because the humor in it isn't my cup of tea, and I feel this won't be any different.

AMKC

Why could they not just have it as an animated series? Why does it have to be a comedy series?

A lower decks series is good. They should drop the comedy part.

Kiith

Rick and Morty is absolutely brilliant, so colour me excited for this.

_Kaiser_

Just like discovery season 2, this sounds more like an attempt to ape the success of The Orville than anything else.

No interest myself. It's another indicator that CBS and the current production staff haven't a clue what draws people to Trek in the first place

Evade

Why? Just why?



A serious lower decks series could be so good and since it's animated they could jump all over the timeline and show us iconic events from the non main cast junior officers and enlisted perspective as well as original stories. Wolf 359 from the perspective of a security team on the Melbourne. Science team on the Equinox struggling with the morality of what they're doing. A couple of crewman on the NX-01 wondering exactly how much crack Archer is smoking.



But no we get Star Trek: Wubalubadubdub. I like Rick and Morty but if that's what I want to watch I'll go watch that.

AtomicHorror

Hard pass.

pixelburp

Well, I can't abide Rick & Morty at all so that's not off to a good start. I dunno, a Trek comedy? The franchise has had comedic adaptations before, either the intermittent comedy episodes (such as the Ferenghi DS9 stories), or via off brand interpretations such as Galaxy Quest and The Orville - but those were deliberate parodies, mocking from the outside - an out and out comedy feels redundant.

Between this and the supposed 'Starfleet Academy' teen show also planned, feels like CBS are trying a shotgun tactic with Trek. Adapt every genre, as a Trek show.

Goodshape

Inviere wrote: »

It was never the defining factor though, nor should it be. Star Trek is about exploring the human condition, and while it can do that and make us laugh a little at the same time, I do feel the 'core' of Star Trek will be lost in this animated show.

Yeah but this is the third new show announced so far, as well as a (possibly ongoing) movie series. They don't all need stick to the "core values". A little 30 minute aminated comedy on the side could be just fine.

Plus I've enjoyed an awful lot of comedy, often animated, inspired heavily by Star Trek. Something that also actually is Star Trek could be just fine

Inviere

Goodshape wrote: »

They don't all need stick to the "core values". A little 30 minute aminated comedy on the side could be just fine.

I think they should, without core values, it loses its identity. Your a fan of the Star Wars Holiday Special I take it? A show has to be defined by something, be it the setting, the characters, the tone, whatever...more shows than not seem to break down when they move too far from their initial identity. Stargate suffered hugely moving away from action/comedy to something more dour and serious. Star Wars too in the above mentioned travesty. Very very few shows can survive fundamental transitions, Star Trek isn’t one of them.

Agent Coulson

Starts August 6th on CBS All Access.

Stark

The animation looks like it could be even worse than the original animated series with their skin coloured eyeballs.

AMKC

Agent Coulson wrote: »

Starts August 6th on CBS All Access.

[IMG]https://pmcdeadline2.files.wordpress.com/2020/07/star-trek-lower-decks-teaser-art-finní al_lr.jpg?w=357&h=626[/IMG]

Well that looks like ship you would not want to have a crash landing in unless you done it upside down or get caught in any bad planetary storms or even solar storm that could rip the nacelles and deflector dish off it, otherwise at least the saucer looks familiar to us. What is the ship again? Is it a cargo ship?At least it is something to look forward to do and only a couple of months away. A trailer can not be to far away.

pixelburp

Really don't like the art style of the characters, hasn't grown on me at all. And that's kind of a big hurdle to get over with any animated comedy. Will give the trailer a go when it pops up, if only to get a sense of what KIND of comedy it'll be. That's the really big tell.

Inviere

Stark wrote: »

The animation looks like it could be even worse than the original animated series with their skin coloured eyeballs.

I've four episodes to go and then I'm finished the (original) animated series. Good Lord it's an excruciating watch, I'll probably never rewatch it again after this.

AMKC

So there is a trailer for this out now. It's on You Tube if someone wants to paste it here. I on mobile and no idea how to from it. Its actually quiet funny in parts and the ship itself from some angles does not look too bad.

Sonics2k

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V3RkBKedKWw

Stark

Okay not as bad as I expected. Found myself laughing a few times during the trailer. Will give it a go when it comes out.

Evade

It looks bad but that might just be joke over saturation in the trailer. It's set around 2380 if the stardate at the start is correct.

pixelburp

A couple of the jokes made me laugh, I can't deny but watching it in action it reminds that this is a weird fit. Nothing about the Trek universe ever screamed comedy and that's a hurdle. Even if the final product is genuinely funny I'd be surprised if it lasted past a single season.

Edit: it also seems weird we've got a full trailer for this, yet still starved for detail or new footage of Discovery

Greyjoy

The trailer was a little hit & miss but it did get a couple of chuckles out of me. Having said that the design of the ship, the Cerritos is god-awful. With the saucer so far above the nacelles it looks awkward. It doesn't pass the 'swoosh test' (if you had a model in your hands could you imagine 'swooshing' it through the air).

_Kaiser_

Nah, looks like a bunch of juvenile teenagers and "hilarious" antics. Pass!

TheValeyard

I'll give it a go. It's got some of the Rick n Morty team on board.


Ship looks weird though. But it's a cartoon.

Evade

pixelburp wrote: »

Edit: it also seems weird we've got a full trailer for this, yet still starved for detail or new footage of Discovery

It's almost certainly easier to produce an animated series at the minute than a live action one.

pixelburp

Evade wrote: »

It's almost certainly easier to produce an animated series at the minute than a live action one.

Last update on Discovery was at the start of lockdown from the the actor who plays Culber, saying it had entered post production IIRC. So as far as we know it has finished shooting and should be in the same general sphere as Lower Decks. So I'd have said no more or less hassle than any other production ATM but the absence of ANY news is weird. Maybe CBS have staggered it out more given the poverty of new productions. But then even a release date is non existent

Sonics2k

Looks like a cross between Final Space + Rick and Morty.

I'll check it out when it airs, but it's clearly more aimed to a younger crowd and is a lot more focused on humour than what we've seen before.

Spear

It looks better than I expected, but it still seems pretty disposable.

AMKC

pixelburp wrote: »

A couple of the jokes made me laugh, I can't deny but watching it in action it reminds that this is a weird fit. Nothing about the Trek universe ever screamed comedy and that's a hurdle. Even if the final product is genuinely funny I'd be surprised if it lasted past a single season.

Edit: it also seems weird we've got a full trailer for this, yet still starved for detail or new footage of Discovery

I would say we will have something about it soon more than likely after the next Comic Con event.

Goodshape

It looks kinda like ya'know... SO dirivitive, and stuff.

Except... in SPACE! Which is weird, right?! AAAAHHHHH. LOL. Just having SO much super fun right now.

pixelburp

I'm hoping this is just a poorly conceived trailer and the actual show has a bit more character depth and smarts than a constant parade of "OMG we're so random!!" gags against the lazy Final Space aesthetic

TheValeyard

pixelburp wrote: »

I'm hoping this is just a poorly conceived trailer and the actual show has a bit more character depth and smarts than a constant parade of "OMG we're so random!!" gags against the lazy Final Space aesthetic

Expecting a mix of Rick n Morty and Final Space.

I thought both shows were quite good.

Goodshape

A scene from the first episode:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=64obsPsXxkE

Looks like this whole style of comedy and animation might annoy me a bit to be honest. Everything dialed up to 90. Quirky, chripy, zany antics and lots of "oh no you DIDN'T!!! AHHHHH" gags.

We shall soon see!

Evade

It's not looking good. I'm really not fond of it's dumb to take your job seriously be quirky instead like me characters.

I don't get why they'd change the established Romulan ale to Romulan whiskey, the joke works the same without it.

pixelburp

Huh. I hate those people with every fibre of my being. Way to follow a trend Lower Decks.

I ask again: who on earth is this for? Discovery and Picard may have divided but it was still new Trek. This is just ... ... Uhhh...

TheValeyard

Goodshape wrote: »

A scene from the first episode:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=64obsPsXxkE

Looks like this whole style of comedy and animation might annoy me a bit to be honest. Everything dialed up to 90. Quirky, chripy, zany antics and lots of "oh no you DIDN'T!!! AHHHHH" gags.

We shall soon see!

I actually thought it was funny.

Greyjoy

pixelburp wrote: »

Huh. I hate those people with every fibre of my being. Way to follow a trend Lower Decks.

I ask again: who on earth is this for? Discovery and Picard may have divided but it was still new Trek. This is just ... ... Uhhh...

I know it's premature to judge an entire series on a single clip but surely they could have picked something better than this? It didn't even raise a chuckle from me. It's like they took the most obvious shallow traits of shows like Rick 'n Morty - characters babbling incessantly, drunk, gory injuries and applied it to a Trek show and I say this as someone who *likes* R&M.

donegal_man

Well the artwork at the start showing the station and ships was good. The rest, urgh!

pixelburp

Greyjoy wrote: »

I know it's premature to judge an entire series on a single clip but surely they could have picked something better than this? It didn't even raise a chuckle from me. It's like they took the most obvious shallow traits of shows like Rick 'n Morty - characters babbling incessantly, drunk, gory injuries and applied it to a Trek show and I say this as someone who *likes* R&M.

Oh god, yeah, the babbling. That's not unique to cartoons or R&M though IMO; I get the impression a lot of latter day, mainstream American comedy loves improv or that "stream of consciousness" comedy, which I have a very limited tolerance for. Not everyone can pull it off and most of the time just comes off like gibberish.

Goodshape

pixelburp wrote: »

Oh god, yeah, the babbling. That's not unique to cartoons or R&M though IMO; I get the impression a lot of latter day, mainstream American comedy loves improv or that "stream of consciousness" comedy, which I have a very limited tolerance for. Not everyone can pull it off and most of the time just comes off like gibberish.

And it's not even a stream of consciousness, really, it's just babbling.

I've noticed it even in otherwise pretty great modern animated shows like Bob's Burgers or Archer -- there's barely a single second of screen time without some character talking, often at what sounds like x1.5 speed. Same thing in this Lower Decks clip and it's not a good look so far.

No time to think or take in the scene, just racingForwardAllTheTimeWithNewGagLOLOhWowLookAtThisCanYouImagine?!SoRandomMyGodLOL..

_Kaiser_

donegal_man wrote: »

Well the artwork at the start showing the station and ships was good. The rest, urgh!

Sums it up for me.. this hyper-active random nonsense-spouting shyte does nothing for me.

It's like they're desperately trying to copy the success of the Orville (which significantly dialled down a lot of that comedy), but it just doesn't work in the context of the Trek Universe we know (and given this is set a lot more obviously in the post-TNG world than Picard) these characters would never have made it into/through the Academy in the first place, never mind onto to a ship!

Evade

I just realised they're all copies of the Lower Decks episode characters except you take out the most interesting one, Sito Jaxa, and replace her with someone insufferable

Mr E

First episode is out. It's very energetic and funny.

Star Trek zealots will probably hate it.

pixelburp

To be fair, this is also going to come down to people's relative tastes for humour. Trek fans might hate it because they hate the comedic approach

"Energetic" though tells me the sugar-rush delivery from the clips & trailers is representative of the actual episode. That about right?

Mr E

Yeah, I don't hate that though!