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Post by The Doctor on Feb 23, 2020 9:22:37 GMT
Not massively keen on episode 5. Awful horrible OTT gore at the start. I avoid films with that kind of thing. Not welcome at all. Felt like it came from a very different show. Also not at all keen on the Grim Dark direction for Seven. Dear oh dear. I do worry they're going down the SW route of your favourite characters having had miserable lives since we last saw them.  The silly bits were fun as were the references but not another episode like this please. -Ralph |
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Post by Fortmax2020 on Feb 23, 2020 13:13:47 GMT
Spoilers... One character choosing to have a 'grim' life fighting to defend others does not make a dark universe.
We know the Trek universe has a shady side and we only ever see the good one. And I would expect more of this after a quick serie ls of Quadrant upsetting events - Borg invasion, Dominion War then Romulan supernova. Was nice to see it all fleshed out for once.
But yes. The ocular implant removal at the start was a bit unnecessarily OTT. |
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Post by Grand Moff Muffin on Feb 23, 2020 15:48:52 GMT
And it's not like Seven's early life was a rollercoaster of fun, her people being assimilated by the Borg and whatnot.
Martin
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Post by The Doctor on Feb 23, 2020 16:33:39 GMT
It's more of a tone issue for me. Picard has not had a happy time since we last saw him prior to this series but it comes across in a non-depressing way. Seven's return just felt unrelentingly grim and horrible. It did not go down well with me.
Had the tone of episode 5 been what episode 1 was I think I would have stopped there. And the gore torture: absoutely horrible and a real turn-off: made worse by it being a character long-term viewers know. I hope we don't see that kind of thing again. Modern Trek is (in my opinion) pretty good but sometimes the producers forget that the Trek shows have usually been ok for family/children viewing.*
I hope Riker and Troi have been ok when we see them!
-Ralph
*With some notable exceptions, of course. The Conspiracy exploding head!
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Jim
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Post by Jim on Feb 23, 2020 20:58:59 GMT
I 100% agree with that!
My daughter is the same age I was when TNG came out, and it seems a shame not to be able to watch any modern Star Trek with her. A TV show can be mature and intelligent and entirely suitable for the whole family, as TNG itself proved many times over. Gore != maturity. Did that nonsense start with Game of Thrones or has it been going on longer?
(current Doctor Who is obviously nothing like as gory, but it's still pitched a bit too old for her from that point of view. She's happily watched some Matt Smith era Who, but is a bit disappointed that she can't get into the show when it finally has a woman as the Doctor)
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Post by The Doctor on Feb 25, 2020 12:56:11 GMT
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Post by Bogatan on Feb 25, 2020 16:35:58 GMT
Jesus the amount of negativity around seemingly all fandoms (at least online) these days is bloody depressing. I dread to think what transformers fan would be like if Bays first movie was only coming out this year. It was bad enough 13 years ago.
Anyway Chabons response seems fair too me. I guess its easier to say that when my favourite movie is Undiscovered Country and favourite series is DS9 meaning nothing about this "take" on Trek is especially radical or against my tastes. But I really dont understand the idea that this and Disco are doing anything particularly un trek like. As Chabon said they are just focussing more on the grey areas than other series. Nothing about Picard suggests that 99% of people arent living in the same society as during TNG or that 99% of Starfleet arent still just as honourable. The show is just focussing on the 1% who had lives like Tasha or the planet Obrien went undercover on, or where Ezri's family lived.
Personally I did think the torture scene was pushing things for Trek. But at the half way point its so far a one off with a fairly good reason for being.
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Post by The Doctor on Feb 25, 2020 17:18:17 GMT
As an aside, the prequel Picard novel (which is very good) has plenty of swearing in it. This is an experienced Trek writer who doesn't usually do that! It does detract purely as it takes place in a universe where people could express themselves with more vocabulary. Novel is enjoyable though and does give background I wish was in the show.
Conversely, I can't recall any swearing in any of the Discovery novels so far.
-Ralph
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Post by The Doctor on Feb 25, 2020 17:22:05 GMT
I don't agree with some of Chabon's reasoning but I do enjoy his frank explanatory responses to fans every week. Rare to see that in a modern show.
My issue with the torture scene was tone. The likes of what happened in the TNG episode 'Schisms' was just as bad but not horrendous to watch. I just think the production team went way too far with the realisation of the scene, especially as it was with a character last seen as a child. Had it not been a Trek show I honestly would have switched it off at that point.
-Ralph
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Post by Grand Moff Muffin on Feb 29, 2020 7:16:41 GMT
Major story progression this week.
Martin
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Post by The Doctor on Feb 29, 2020 21:22:07 GMT
Finally!
-Ralph
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Post by Fortmax2020 on Feb 29, 2020 22:26:59 GMT
Hugh better be still alive... |
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Post by Stomski on Mar 1, 2020 7:40:55 GMT
Not sure what it is, but something about this show seems a little off... Almost like a well done fan project on YouTube.
Some scenes the dialogue seems rushed and unconvincing, a lot of the sets feel so closed in you don't feel like they're part of a larger environment, even on the artifact and some of the effects fall short.
Still, no funky fancy dress this week and actual story progressed, so that's better.
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Post by Grand Moff Muffin on Mar 1, 2020 8:42:05 GMT
Hugh better be still alive... In my mind the Romulans try to shoot him, only to find he has adapted to their disruptor frequencies and they can't get past his Borg force-field. He tells them they will be assimilated and they turn tail and run.  Martin |
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Post by Fortmax2020 on Mar 1, 2020 10:10:29 GMT
Given he is keeping many secrets from them and has his own agenda I wouldn't be surprised if they were actually no threat to him. Who is really using who etc? |
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Post by Stomski on Mar 1, 2020 20:24:43 GMT
{Spoiler}I mean, it's highly unlikely they introduced Elnor for that one scene, so we'll see him again at least. |
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Post by Jim on Mar 1, 2020 22:31:39 GMT
Also really hoping Hugh makes it, it would be such a waste otherwise. He's been really likable in his appearances here, and it's great that the original actor has turned out to be up to the task.
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Post by Fortmax2020 on Mar 1, 2020 22:58:18 GMT
I'm pretty sure the trailer has Elnor in some scenes we have yet to see him in during the show. |
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Post by Stomski on Mar 2, 2020 8:07:05 GMT
I'm pretty sure the trailer has Elnor in some scenes we have yet to see him in during the show. I use this same strategy for the opening montage of The Apprentice. Of course, that show would benefit from the same consequences as this particular scene. |
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Post by Fortmax2020 on Mar 2, 2020 9:22:26 GMT
I would love to see a candidate say to the Apprentice panel "Choose to live, my friends."
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Post by The Doctor on Mar 2, 2020 10:13:12 GMT
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Post by browny87 on Mar 2, 2020 14:24:56 GMT
i am really enjoying picard, its more of a lovely jaunt to check in with old friends and check they are ok, rather than a gripping story in my eyes
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Post by The Doctor on Mar 6, 2020 22:53:48 GMT
I'm just finding it an increasingly miserable and depressing experience as it goes on after a great start. We shall see!
-Ralph
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Post by Jim on Mar 6, 2020 23:28:14 GMT
Really, really annoyed they killed off Hugh. Such a waste. |
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Post by The Doctor on Mar 7, 2020 9:14:59 GMT
Yup. 'Picard' has caught new Star Wars Trilogy syndrome: no returning older character is allowed to have had a nice time since we last saw them. It's lazy writing and becoming increasingly tiresome.
I really wish this series would cheer up. Remember when Star Trek was fun? I am longing for the return of Discovery.
'Picard' is a very watchable and decent show on its own merits and in that respect it is holding my interest, but I don't think it's good Star Trek. It's missing the point.
-Ralph
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Post by Fortmax2020 on Mar 13, 2020 17:56:47 GMT
That was a lot going on in that episode!
I wonder if Romulan lady will turn up assimilated or were the XBs just going to claw away at her?
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Post by Grand Moff Muffin on Mar 13, 2020 19:31:26 GMT
Episode 8 was really good television.
That was a lot going on in that episode!
I wonder if Romulan lady will turn up assimilated or were the XBs just going to claw away at her?
Wasn't that flash of light her beaming out and escaping? Martin |
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Post by Fortmax2020 on Mar 13, 2020 20:45:06 GMT
I thought it was desperate last minute disruptor fire. |
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Post by Bogatan on Mar 13, 2020 21:52:12 GMT
This weeks episode was the first time any of the swearing has bothered me. Not because its wrong in Trek, just that it felt really awkwardly placed.
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Post by Bogatan on Mar 13, 2020 21:56:27 GMT
Spoiler
For the first time it felt like Picard was back to his old self.
It was almost as punch the air-y as Coops return in Twin Peaks. {Spoiler}I assumed transporter meant to look like disrupter/assimilation.
Honestly could go either way. Not really bothered, she and her brother remain the weak links in the series. |
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