Forum adverts like this one are shown to any user who is not logged in. Join us by filling out a tiny 3 field form and you will get your own, free, dakka user account which gives a good range of benefits to you:
No adverts like this in the forums anymore.
Times and dates in your local timezone.
Full tracking of what you have read so you can skip to your first unread post, easily see what has changed since you last logged in, and easily see what is new at a glance.
Email notifications for threads you want to watch closely.
Being a part of the oldest wargaming community on the net.
If you are already a member then feel free to login now.
2026/03/03 23:14:27
Subject: Re:Star Trek: general discussion-Picard, Discovery, Lower Decks (and Orville)
Do not pay $6 for Section 31. It is not worth that. You can probably just get a 7 day free trail of Paramount+ and just watch it.
Though Paramount+ was bought by HBO max or vice versa or something. I wonder what will happen with all the Trek properties? I think they'll be available on HBO Max?
2026/03/04 05:04:03
Subject: Re:Star Trek: general discussion-Picard, Discovery, Lower Decks (and Orville)
KamikazeCanuck wrote: Do not pay $6 for Section 31. It is not worth that. You can probably just get a 7 day free trail of Paramount+ and just watch it.
Though Paramount+ was bought by HBO max or vice versa or something. I wonder what will happen with all the Trek properties? I think they'll be available on HBO Max?
Paramount is in the process of buying WB (& HBO by default).
Assuming the deal goes through Paramount has said it'll merge the HBO Max & P+ streaming services. So presumably Trek would be on whatever this new combo ends up being called.
I also assume it'll cost more than current....
Section 31 will still not be worth watching.
2026/03/04 15:04:42
Subject: Star Trek: general discussion-Picard, Discovery, Lower Decks (and Orville)
[DCM]
Chief Deputy Sub Assistant Trainee Squig Handling Intern
Things I’d rather watch than Section 31. An incomplete list.
1. Grandparents at it
2. All of Jimmy Carr’s stand up “comedy”
3. The Sun, at the height of summer, all day, with Clockwork Orange style eyelid clamps
4. A Russell Brand livestream in which the sole topic is about how great he is, and runs for 96 hours
5. James Corden’s home videos of him berating floor staff from any of his insipid telly shows for no reason other than his own insecurity
6. A mind implant replay of that time I visited my Great Granny in a geriatric ward that reeked of death and nursing indifference.
This message was edited 1 time. Last update was at 2026/03/04 15:05:00
Fed up of Scalpers? But still want your Exclusives? Why not join us?
1. Grandparents at it
2. All of Jimmy Carr’s stand up “comedy”
3. The Sun, at the height of summer, all day, with Clockwork Orange style eyelid clamps
4. A Russell Brand livestream in which the sole topic is about how great he is, and runs for 96 hours
5. James Corden’s home videos of him berating floor staff from any of his insipid telly shows for no reason other than his own insecurity
6. A mind implant replay of that time I visited my Great Granny in a geriatric ward that reeked of death and nursing indifference.
Jeesh, S3 isn't [i]that bad....
Its bad & worthless but still above permanent eye damage or watching Russel Brand. IMO.
This message was edited 1 time. Last update was at 2026/03/04 17:35:30
2026/03/04 20:37:36
Subject: Star Trek: general discussion-Picard, Discovery, Lower Decks (and Orville)
I'm glad the only Trek I haven't taken in so far is Section 31. I didn't care for her character that much on Discovery and the reviews and snippets/previews I've seen gave me zero confidence to spend time on it.
Best Painted (2015 Adepticon 40k Champs)
They Shall Know Fear - Adepticon 40k TT Champion (2012 & 2013) & 40k TT Best Sport (2014), 40k TT Best Tactician (2015 & 2016)
2026/03/07 14:37:44
Subject: Star Trek: general discussion-Picard, Discovery, Lower Decks (and Orville)
I'm wading through the "SAM" episode of Starfleet Academy. I do NOT have the same glowing appreciation for this character nor her actor that people in this thread do. I'm also cringing at the... zealotry? Yeah... zealotry that they show toward Sisko. Maybe by the end I'll have a different opinion, but I doubt it.
[DCM]
Chief Deputy Sub Assistant Trainee Squig Handling Intern
Sam is an odd one.
She’s that sort of “intended to be somewhat annoying because she’s intended to be naive and sent out to learn social niceties and that” character which I think is just gonna be Marmite regardless.
But, I’m up to date on the show, and for me it’s working out, and her development continues.
Fed up of Scalpers? But still want your Exclusives? Why not join us?
Reached the end of the S.A.M. episode. Not expecting the reveal at the end, especially given how I'd have expected certain... mannerisms from Tandy's character in retrospect.
[DCM]
Chief Deputy Sub Assistant Trainee Squig Handling Intern
Exactly. And there’s plenty of room for growing the narrative since DS9 and the events of Picard. Importantly? Also more room for backfilling those gaps.
Ideally the way TNG did. You can just mention things, and show their impact (Khitomer Accords, Mogh’s fate) but don’t necessarily have to go into detail. Because it’s the impact that’s of interest.
Fed up of Scalpers? But still want your Exclusives? Why not join us?
If you ask me it would be for the best for the possible Legacy-series if they just casually forgot about the destruction of Romulus in ST 2009 and the destruction of the federation in Picard 1 and the destruction of Starfleet in Picard 3. Or go the other way and so some serious cleanup. Like, explain that the Picard Finale didn't actually kill every young starfleet member. Show that the federation is not as disrupted as it seem in Picard 1. Like, make it a proper Trek series with a positive vision to overcome problems, like DS9 and TNG did. Even in the darkest times of the Dominion War DS9 pulled off a more positive feeling than the whole Picard or Disco series. SNW, Prodigy and Lower Decks showed it's possible to have a more trek-like feeling in a modern series.
However, 3rd season of SNW also showed that the life-action writers are quite clueless where they want to go with Trek.
2026/03/09 05:32:28
Subject: Re:Star Trek: general discussion-Picard, Discovery, Lower Decks (and Orville)
Paramount purchasing WB has changed their stock to Junk value because it puts Partamount 79 billion in debt. which means Star Trek could be sold off or Star Trek projects seriously curtailed.
Amidst the mists and coldest frosts he thrusts his fists against the posts and still insists he sees the ghosts.
2026/03/09 11:46:45
Subject: Star Trek: general discussion-Picard, Discovery, Lower Decks (and Orville)
Ahtman wrote: Paramount purchasing WB has changed their stock to Junk value because it puts Partamount 79 billion in debt. which means Star Trek could be sold off or Star Trek projects seriously curtailed.
Whatever financial chicanery they use to finance this, they will not sell off Star Trek.
2026/03/09 22:24:01
Subject: Re:Star Trek: general discussion-Picard, Discovery, Lower Decks (and Orville)
Considering how much they've made they should have a vast amount of sets, props, costumes and even digital assets built up. So in theory they could cheapen things by doing series that operate in the same time-period as ones they've already done. Letting them recycle assets and so forth.
The big hurdle is doing a new sci-fi (or fantasy) when you've the huge investment in props and so forth that you have to make up front before you can start.
Kid_Kyoto wrote: Financial issues are never good news for science fiction shows.
A new season of Survive the Love Island of Real Housewives-Celebrity Edition costs a 10th as much and may make more money.
Ah well. Alas 2010s Trek wave.
So how is Foundation over at Apple TV?
IMO Foundation is a really interesting interpretation of the very slim and very dry volumes that most of us are familiar with.
Some really good characters, twists and ideas - so not Discovery
I AM A MARINE PLAYER
"Unimaginably ancient xenos artefact somewhere on the planet, hive fleet poised above our heads, hidden 'stealer broods making an early start....and now a bloody Chaos cult crawling out of the woodwork just in case we were bored. Welcome to my world, Ciaphas."
Inquisitor Amberley Vail, Ordo Xenos
"I will admit that some Primachs like Russ or Horus could have a chance against an unarmed 12 year old novice but, a full Battle Sister??!! One to one? In close combat? Perhaps three Primarchs fighting together... but just one Primarch?" da001
[DCM]
Chief Deputy Sub Assistant Trainee Squig Handling Intern
With nothing in current production, and me once again rewatching DS9?
I hope that when it comes back (let’s be honest, it will be a When), they go back to the full season approach.
When you’ve 22-24 episodes to fill, your show has the time to live and breather. What was originally written as a wee bit of filler to pad the episode count for Syndication can become the seed of character direction and further world building.
If you write it too lean, and everything is in service to the arcing plot? You miss those odd moments that can really resonate with your audience and help it all feel more real.
Fed up of Scalpers? But still want your Exclusives? Why not join us?
Mad Doc Grotsnik wrote: With nothing in current production, and me once again rewatching DS9?
I hope that when it comes back (let’s be honest, it will be a When), they go back to the full season approach.
When you’ve 22-24 episodes to fill, your show has the time to live and breather. What was originally written as a wee bit of filler to pad the episode count for Syndication can become the seed of character direction and further world building.
If you write it too lean, and everything is in service to the arcing plot? You miss those odd moments that can really resonate with your audience and help it all feel more real.
I found generally DS9 had found a sweet spot between an overarcing story and filler episodes. It didn't suffer from the problems many series within the last 15 years had that did complete serial storytelling. If you have a couple of months/ weeks between the story events, stuff can actually happen and reasonably develop. I feel Lower Decks hit that sweet spot in season 3-4 as well while Prodigy pulled off proper serial stroytelling, which is actually quite rare, especially for two seasons in a row.
2026/03/12 20:14:47
Subject: Re:Star Trek: general discussion-Picard, Discovery, Lower Decks (and Orville)
Operation Watch too much Star Trek in 2026 project update
I have now seen all of Star Trek Enterprise, except for the end of 1 Episode: "Twilight."
Last night I finished Endgame... I have now seen all of Voyager.
Which means all I am missing is 5 episodes of Picard, Discovery, Starfleet Academy, Strange New Worlds, Short Treks, and the final season of Prodigy.
BorderCountess wrote: Just because you're doing something right doesn't necessarily mean you know what you're doing...
"Vulkan: There will be no Rad or Phosphex in my legion. We shall fight wars humanely. Some things should be left in the dark age." "Ferrus: Oh cool, when are you going to stop burning people to death?" "Vulkan: I do not understand the question."
– A conversation between the X and XVIII Primarchs
2026/03/12 22:40:25
Subject: Star Trek: general discussion-Picard, Discovery, Lower Decks (and Orville)
Kid_Kyoto wrote: Financial issues are never good news for science fiction shows.
A new season of Survive the Love Island of Real Housewives-Celebrity Edition costs a 10th as much and may make more money.
Ah well. Alas 2010s Trek wave.
So how is Foundation over at Apple TV?
IMO Foundation is a really interesting interpretation of the very slim and very dry volumes that most of us are familiar with.
Some really good characters, twists and ideas - so not Discovery
Agree. I like it and the production values are amazing. Lately, the show has too much "magic", for lack of a better term, in it for me. The Cleons though are one of the most interesting concepts I've seen in sci-fi.
2026/03/12 23:47:14
Subject: Star Trek: general discussion-Picard, Discovery, Lower Decks (and Orville)
Kid_Kyoto wrote: Financial issues are never good news for science fiction shows.
A new season of Survive the Love Island of Real Housewives-Celebrity Edition costs a 10th as much and may make more money.
Ah well. Alas 2010s Trek wave.
So how is Foundation over at Apple TV?
IMO Foundation is a really interesting interpretation of the very slim and very dry volumes that most of us are familiar with.
Some really good characters, twists and ideas - so not Discovery
Agree. I like it and the production values are amazing. Lately, the show has too much "magic", for lack of a better term, in it for me. The Cleons though are one of the most interesting concepts I've seen in sci-fi.
It’s good enough to warrant me taking out an Apple TV subscription for a month or two every time there’s a new season. It’s more cerebral than emotional (not saying that it’s especially clever, just the vibe), but I’ve enjoyed it, and it has some very different and interesting elements. Also high production values and a very solid cast.
Zed wrote: *All statements reflect my opinion at this moment. if some sort of pretty new model gets released (or if I change my mind at random) I reserve the right to jump on any bandwagon at will.
2026/03/13 21:39:26
Subject: Star Trek: general discussion-Picard, Discovery, Lower Decks (and Orville)
funny - I despise most critics as it is so subjective, most have no special qualifications and are often paid or gain other incentives to review in a certain way
This message was edited 1 time. Last update was at 2026/03/13 21:40:11
I AM A MARINE PLAYER
"Unimaginably ancient xenos artefact somewhere on the planet, hive fleet poised above our heads, hidden 'stealer broods making an early start....and now a bloody Chaos cult crawling out of the woodwork just in case we were bored. Welcome to my world, Ciaphas."
Inquisitor Amberley Vail, Ordo Xenos
"I will admit that some Primachs like Russ or Horus could have a chance against an unarmed 12 year old novice but, a full Battle Sister??!! One to one? In close combat? Perhaps three Primarchs fighting together... but just one Primarch?" da001
When I watch something the only critics opinion that really matters to me is..... my own.
So long as I liked it/was entertained? Even if it has glaring obvious flaws? That's enough for me.