Discovery 1x04 – "The Butcher's Knife Cares Not For The Lamb's Cry" [** SPOILERS **]

Inviere wrote: »

Because by Code of Honor (4th ep of TNG), we'd a good idea of where TNG was going?

Yeh you kind of did , you knew it was going to be planet/anomaly of the week stuff . That each episode would see them orbiting a planet/anomaly that would throw up some ethical/technological conundrum they'd have to solve , they'd have a few meetings where Worf would advocate a full spread of photon torpedos , Picard would choose the more diplomatic/morally sound option and it would all work out in the end.

And I say this as a fan of discovery , but we still don't have a clear idea of what a typical Discovery episode would look like, or whether ,due to the serial nature of the storytelling, there ever will be such a thing .

Iv been considering writing this post for a few days now, and i want to say firstly that its not my intention to add fuel to an argument which seems to be brewing nicely, and doesnt need my help to prosper.

I have seen divisive issues previously in other franchises, as a spectator that is. Stargate, Doctor Who for example, when these shows returned with new series, there was widespread annoyance from hardcore purest fandom. I had far more time for the Stargate argument especially in relation to Universe as it was a ridiculous evolution of a formulae that i didnt think required any change. Doctor who was more polarizing, and i personally had little time for purest arguments on that show. Arguments echoed saying 'This is not MY doctor who'.. 'I consider it a reboot'.. etc.. Nonsense in my opinion, although not being as into the Whoniverse as i am with Trek, i just shook my head and watched it.

The Arguments in relation to star trek, at a fundamental level are that it bares little resemblance to the Trek we know and love. Along with the obvious 'Klingon Make-up', Holograms, and other canon issues, there seems to be several blocks emerging within the Trekkie community.

One, of which i consider myself a member, is more liberal in its view. While acknowledging that there are differences in tone and overall plot, we are embracing the new series. We want more. I would imagine many of us would, if given the entire season in one go, 'House of Cards' style, would probably be finished our second run through by now, and lamenting how we now have to wait a year for season 2, without even daring to discuss the possibility of cancellation.

A traditional Block of fandom is more critical, and i would dare say more respectful, in my opinion. they are examining the show, and when something happens which doesnt fit their view of trek? Well we all have that internal canon/fan related 'RED ALERT' which sounds when something is off.. Enterprises run in with a 23rd century Romulan warbird (with a cloaking device) etc

The third group is what i would refer to as the Purists. And it seems many, if not all at the moment, have decided that this show is not Star Trek. Different reasons are offered.. some canon, some in relation to tone.. the mannerisms of the crew.. the interpretation of Genes Vision is terrible etc. THIS IS NOT STAR TREK.. im not counting this as canon, its a dreaded REBOOT!!!

Now everyone has a right to an opinion and im not for a second trying to mute discussion of the issues, which i acknowledge are plentiful! But until something utterly bizarre happens.. Until we have starfleet personnel interacting with romulans face to face .. until, i dunno, the planet VULCAN is destroyed rather pointlessly, or the Andorrian Race is ethnically cleansed from the Milky way, then i would argue strongly that this is Star Trek.. canon issues aside this is the Klingon Conflict that occurred Pre TOS era

And more importantly i would urge that when debating it, no one has the right to question whether we are all fans of Star Trek. Its clear to me, as i sit on Saturday morning discussing star trek on an online forum, embracing my inner nerd, that we are ALL FANS! Im not attacking anyone's right to be a trekkie. If you dont like it FINE! I hated enterprise, considered it to be a terrible show (I was so tempted not to buy the season 1-4 blu Ray, and i ADMIT, i waited for the price to go down)

If you dont think this is star trek, explain that thesis.. please.. What is it that makes it untrek?

If you dont think its canon (after 4 episodes and some holograms and an experimental drive), i think you are possibly over-reacting but again! explain, i would love to debate this

But please, if you can, dont question whether we are fans.. the degree to which we are fans, or whether we are too forgiving or apologetic.

I dont know if this show will make it, maybe it wont! maybe it will tantalize way off into another 'timeline' or 'canon'.. but TREK IS BACK GUYS.. I missed it. And id say im not alone!

As always, im happy to discuss

I'm hoping there's some sort of method to their madness . Their intention with the new look and having them talk Klingon was to give them a sense of 'other' , something that had been lost after 20+ seasons of trek. There's not meant to have been much interaction in the 100 years between Ent and Discovery so culturelly they are still relatively pure , the english will likely begin to bleed into things the more they interact with the federation.