If the chatter on social media is any indication, the new CBS series Star Trek: Discovery is going to be gazed upon from every angle... analyzed and picked down to the finest detail.
I'm not sure it has to do with the quality of the show itself (it is a handsome production), but more for the fact that viewers are trying to justify the expenditure of $5.99 per month to watch it (the show airs exclusively on CBS streaming platform CBS All Access).
I found the first two episodes intriguing (I've been a CBS All Access subscriber for a couple years), and am curious to see what unfolds going forward.
It is difficult to judge the quality of the 17-episode first season based solely on the 84 minutes available, but there were a couple twists that signal Star Trek: Discovery isn't the Trek of old.
This show is set 10 years prior to the exploits of Kirk, Spock, and Co.
The pilot episode ("The Vulcan Hello") sets forth with some sinister Klingon-subtitle-mumbo-jumbo about uniting against a common enemy (which we pretty much know will be our heroes in the United Federation of Planets).
The story then shifts to a desert world where Captain Philippa Georgiou (Michelle Yeoh) and Lt. Commander Michael Burnham (Sonequa Martin-Green) are trudging along (in garb that looks like it was yanked from Rey's wardrobe in Star Wars: The Force Awakens) trying to solve the planet's massive drought... as a sandstorm looms.
Both officers serve aboard the Federation starship U.S.S. Shenzhou. We learn that Burnham is a xenoanthropologist (in addition to her first officer duties).
Georgiou and Burnham are able to get the water flowing. And, through some clever signaling by Georgiou, the two are able to avert the storm and beam back aboard the Shenzhou...
Fade to opening credits...
It should be noted that Star Trek: Discovery -- like a number of these new-breed shows on streaming platforms -- boasts a unique main title sequence. In this instance, the entire structure focuses on animated concept art for the series:
Discovery is told through the eyes of Michael Burnham. Much has been made of the character's first name being "Michael," leading some fans to wonder if she is Star Trek's first transgender character.
The character's name isn't discussed in the first two episodes.
We do learn her character is an orphaned human who was raised by Sarek (Spock's father) on Vulcan. She was the first human to attend the Vulcan Learning Center and the Vulcan Science Academy.
The crew of the Shenzhou finds itself at the edge of Federation space as the main narrative gears up. They are tasked with investigating a damaged interstellar relay.
Burnham theorizes that the relay was damaged in an attempt to attract Federation attention, based on information from science officer Saru.
The crew soon discovers an "object of unknown origin" which they theorize could have caused the damage, and Burnham straps on a spacesuit to go to learn more.
What Burnham finds is a Klingon vessel of ancient origin. When she lands for analysis, it triggers the vessel, and our hero comes face-to-face with an angry Klingon.
The Klingon is killed in the ensuing kerfuffle -- which serves as the catalyst for an all-out showdown between the Federation and the Klingon Empire.
To go any further would reveal too much. It is worth the time to experience "The Vulcan Hello" (episode 1) and "Battle at the Binary Stars" (episode 2) for yourself.
By the time the first two episodes are complete, a mutiny has been attempted aboard the U.S.S. Shenzhou, main characters are dead, and our protagonist's future is in limbo.
Unlike previous Star Trek iterations, the episodes in Discovery will be serialized and follow a unified track throughout the season.
The look and feel of Star Trek: Discovery is top notch. The aesthetic borrows heavily from the J.J. Abrams Star Trek reboot movies with beautifully rendered visual effects and a healthy dose of lens flares and light glare.
Based on the extended preview of the upcoming season, it appears that Burnham is far from the squeaky clean hero commonly seen in Star Trek outings, and viewers will be treated to emotional warts, bumps, and bruises.
It also looks like there might be some notable guest appearances on the show. Rainn Wilson is set to play Harry Mudd -- a notorious con artist featured in two episodes of the original series. Perusing IMDb, it seems as if the character it set for a multi-episode arc.
The main debate in all of this is whether or not Star Trek: Discovery will have the intrigue necessary to hook viewers into subscribing to another streaming service.
Some fans have already lamented that the show isn't on Netflix (as it is in other countries).
Whatever your opinion on the topic, Star Trek: Discovery proves itself an alluring entry into CBS's nascent streaming efforts. It also proves a well-tread franchise can still "boldly go..."
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