The Clackamas print., October 11, 2017, Page 8, Image 8

ARTS
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‘DISCOVERY’ DIVES TOWARDS A DARKER FUTURE SUNDAY NIGHTS ON CBS ALL ACCESS
BY IAN VAN ORDEN
NEWS AND OPINION EDITOR
JK y
From the very first moments o f “Discovery,”
». has gone before.
These words can be
the show’s writers fail to follow established
Trek lore. That is made evident from the many
changes made to the Klingon race and to the
introduction o f the show’s main protagonist,
Michael Burnham (Sonequa Martin-Green).
Michael and her Captain participate on an away
mission to save the indigenous life on a desert
planet, where they fail to follow the tenants of
Starfleet’s Prime Directive by willingly revealing
themselves to the planet’s alien species. These
are not the last inconsistencies that appear in
’ fQund at the beginning
HL of the two original
“Star Trek” television
series, “Star Trek,” referred
to as “The Original Series,” and “The Next
Generation,” which followed 18 years after the
original’s conclusion. They evoke thoughts of
exploration and “Discovery.” And for the most
part, each “Star Trek” series has lived up to
this promise.
From the very first
moments of Discovery,
the show’s writers fail to
follow established Trek
lore.
The first series set in the “prime” universe
since the cancellation o f “Enterprise” in 2005,
“Star Trek: Discovery” has big shoes to fill.
Though the past decade has not been devoid o f
“Star Trek,” with the J.J. Abrams’ led reboot
succeeding in drawing veterans and newcomers
alike, the movies never seemed to capture the
true nature o f “Star Trek,” with only the most
recent release bringing that promised feeling
o f exploration and adventure that defined the
television series. “Discovery” had a chance to
recapture those elements.
Unfortunately, it doesn’t take long for the
series to prove that established Trek themes
will not drive this iteration.
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Photo provided by CBS
To boldly go where no one
the first few episodes.
One of the most striking moments happens
near the end o f the second episode. After an
extended battle, M ichael’s captain, Philippa
Georgiou, portrayed by Michelle Yeoh, who
guest stars in the first two episodes, chooses to
transport a bomb onto an enemy’s body floating
through space. The enemy force, collecting
their dead, transports the body into their ship
and the bomb explodes, crippling the ship,
allowing Michael arid Philippa to board in an
attem pt to capture the enemy captain. This
action, effectively desecrating the corpse of their
enemy, flies in the face o f many o f Starfleet’s
established principles and is hardly discussed
by the crew. Though it is not unheard o f for the
crew o f the previous series to break from the
rules and principles o f Starfleet, it’s always done
with great reluctance, stressing the necessity o f
taking such actions.
Following this event, Michael is prosecuted for
actions taken during the encounter, and even this
event stands in stark contrast to similar events
in previous series. The scene passes quickly, but
the judges sit in shadows as they pass judgment
over the former first officer. If the general tone of
the first two episodes depict a darker Federation,
scenes such as these cement the idea that this
w ill not be the same Starfleet that has been
depicted in the past. The introduction o f the
The crew of the USS Shenzhou, the setting of the first two episodes of
Discovery, which acts as a prequel to the rest of the season.
USS Discovery and its captain in episode three
further illustrates this change.
Along w ith the other issues found in the
show, there appears to be a lack of chemistry
between the crew o f the Discovery, with many
o f the character’s interactions feeling awkward
and forced. There is hope, though, as there are
moments when the characters’ potential shines
through, such as with the interactions between
Michael and First Officer Saru (Doug Jones) o f
the Discovery who was also a crew member on
the ship she was previously assigned to. Saru
and Michael play off each other well, with their
interactions being some o f the best moments in
the first few episodes. O f all the members o f the
Discovery’s crew, his character shows the most
potential, the producers o f the show describe
him as “Discovery’s” Spock or Data.
Despite its other failings, “Discovery” is
theclackam asprint.net
the most visually stunning o f the “Star Trek”
television series, rivaling even the A bram s’
m ovies. Every depiction o f space and the
Starfleet and K lingon ships are beautifully
crafted, allowing for more brutal depictions of
ship-to-ship combat and breathtaking backdrops,
easily becom ing one o f the show ’s biggest
highlights.
As it stands, “Discovery” has a long way
to go to prove it deserves to stand beside its
namesake. The show’s clear and numerous issues
will likely cripple it if they are not resolved, but
there does seem to be some potential within its
rough exterior. It is not unusual for a “Star Trek”
series to start off rough and improve as the run
continues, and with any luck “Discovery” will
follow that tradition. Perhaps, once more, “Star
Trek” can lead us boldly into the future, into the
final frontier.
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October 11, 2017