We are just a day away from the premiere of Star Trek: Discovery. To get you ready we have gathered some new bits including some more details and photos from the premiere, producers talking canon, Netflix availability times, a few behind the scenes shots, and more. And if you live in New York City, we have an important update on a special promo happening tonight.
Premiere episode details and photos
Details for the two-part premiere have been posted on the official Star Trek site. There are now database pages for Episode 1 (“The Vulcan Hello“) and Episode 2 (“Battle at the Binary Stars“). The first episode now has the following description:
While patrolling Federation space, the U.S.S. Shenzhou encounters an object of unknown origin, putting First Officer Michael Burnham to her greatest test yet.
CBS also released 5 new photos from the premiere of Star Trek: Discovery.
New photos from “The Vulcan Hello”
Chris Obi as T’Kuvma
Michelle Yeoh as Captain Philippa Georgiou; Sonequa Martin-Green as First Officer Michael Burnham
Mary Chieffo as L’Rell; Chris Obi as T’Kuvma
New photos from “Battle at the Binary Stars”
James Frain as Ambassador Sarek
Michelle Yeoh as Captain Philippa Georgiou; Sonequa Martin-Green as First Officer Michael Burnham
Showrunners on how they stick to canon
Slate has an interview with Discovery showrunners Aaron Harberts and Gretchen Berg focuing on their process for maintaining canon. It is worth a read, here is snippet talking about how they deal with the boundaries of canon:
There are some areas of Trek canon that Discovery’s showrunners simply will not touch. The Romulans, for example, are a “no-go,” Harberts told me, because their appearance in the Original Series episode “Balance of Terror” is supposed to be the Federation’s first face-to-face encounter with the species. Other areas offer more wiggle room. The trick, Berg said, is figuring out which parts of canon are too sacred to toy with and which leave some undiscovered country ripe for further exploration. “Any kind of canon is like Scripture. There’s some interpretation going on,” she said. “I really find that my favorite creative people can look at those boundaries and say, there’s so much room within to play. Instead of going outside the lines, we can dig deeper within the boundaries that exist.”
…and on F-Bombs
And in an interview with CBR, the pair of showrunners talked about how being on a streaming service allowed more flexibility, including with language:
We have a moment where three of our scientists have just pulled off the most incredible thing ever. They are talking about concepts that are so above everybody else’s head, and one of them says, “This is so fucking cool.” And she’s a cadet, and she’s catches herself, and she looks at her boss, because oh my God, she just dropped an F-bomb. And her boss, played by Anthony Rapp, turns to her and says, “You’re right, cadet — this is fucking cool.” So in a moment like that, where I feel like we’re celebrating smarts and people who are at the top of their game. It’s rare when we’ll do it, but if we do it, we want to make it feel organic.
More BTS from Ted
Here are today’s behind the scenes pictures from co-executive producer Ted Sullivan.
More hot warp core action! @startrekcbs #BTS! Get ready! Tomorrow it all becomes clear! pic.twitter.com/27XvImiJ6B
— Ted Sullivan (@karterhol) September 23, 2017
Shooting late at night on tomorrow's ep of @startrekcbs! #BTS All will be revealed pic.twitter.com/9nRx465AmG
— Ted Sullivan (@karterhol) September 23, 2017
Meyer defines his role
Star Trek II and VI director Nicholas Meyer is credited as a consulting producer on Star Trek: Discovery. In a new interview with Inverse, Meyer explains his role on the show:
Speaking to Inverse on the phone from Los Angeles, Meyer explains that though his initial role on Discovery was “just another writer in the room,” as the series evolved he became “the consultant.” And then, in an effort to downplay his impact or title, he says, “I would sort of put in my two cents every once and while.”
See moment Martin-Green found out she got the job
Discovery star Sonequa Martin-Green has been doing some chat shows, including an appearance on The Talk yesterday. This time the hosts all dressed up for Star Trek and CBS even provided a captain’s chair. The actress talked about the utopian vision and history diversity on Star Trek. She also showed off a video her husband took of the moment she found out she got the role. Spoiler alert: she cries.
Netflix reveals availability time
As noted in our “How to Watch Star Trek: Discovery” article last week, episodes of Star Trek: Discovery would be available within 24 hours after they were put on to CBS All Access. Netflix has not narrowed down the exact time by updating the @startreknetflix page with the following info:
#StarTrekDiscovery streams weekly starting 25th of September at 8am BST / 9am CET on Netflix.
TrekMovie has also confirmed that the first episode of After Trek will also be made available at the same time in English-speaking Netflix countries. For Non-English speaking countries After Trek will be posted Tuesday at the same time, a day after the episode posts.
Star Trek to light up Hudson River tonight
Today CBS announced there is going to be some kind of promotion event in New York City over the Hudson river tonight at 8-10PM.
Live near NYC? Head toward the Hudson River tonight 8-10PM to witness a special #StarTrekDiscovery experience light up the sky! ✨ pic.twitter.com/1TbnRrksQ1
— Star Trek: Discovery (@startrekcbs) September 23, 2017
Star Trek: Discovery premieres on September 24th on CBS with all subsequent episodes on CBS All Access in the US. In Canada Star Trek: Discovery will premiere on Bell Media’s CTV and the Space Channel on the same night. Netflix will launch Star Trek: Discovery on Monday, September 25 to countries outside of the U.S. and Canada.
Keep up with all the Star Trek: Discovery news at TrekMovie.
Netflix Japan has been going all out on their advertising for this show. Very interesting since Star Trek has a near 0 fanbase here… I’m just happy they’re going to carry this show next week. No matter how harsh I’ve been, I’m still going to tune in, in the hopes it’s not as huge of a cringefest as social media’s made it out to be…
That’s interesting. Is it a cultural thing?
@Tokyo — not sure how that can be, when the box office take for BEYOND was over $5 million — equal to France, and more than a third of Germany’s take, which is one of the biggest fan bases in the world. ST09 grossed over $10 million in Japan — more than France, and more than half of Germany.
But which part of the Hudson? Is a Star Trek boat going to just be making its way? I was going to make a nice dinner! Now I feel compelled to go.
The big day is coming soon, will Discovery be the train-wreck predicted or another wagontrain to the stars?
we will see.
My feeling? It’s DS9 all over again (the focus on war, the conflicts among the characters, their imperfections, the social commentary, etc.). Some of the people that say ‘This isn’t Star Trek’ remind of those who said a series done on a space station and not a ship couldn’t possibly be Trek either.
So, to answer your question… Neither. Discovery will be its own thing, confined in its own space.
In terms of cultural relevance, that’s another matter entirely and one that won’t likely be known until season one is over, at least.
Nothing wrong with being compared to DS9… it was a great show. DS9 was one of my favorites.
Yes we will.
But we may not know if its a hit or not just by reactions to tomorrows episode.
Well, we may have just lost Smike to the F-bomb. But I have no problem with such language so long as it’s used judiciously, and am frankly delighted that, if nothing else, Trek is leaving behind its “What the blazes is going on!” days for good. Long past time that this franchise did some growing up.
The sample of dialogue from above doesn’t sound all that grown up to me, even without the F-bombs. Like something from a Nickelodeon show…if it were directed by Scorsese.
There was a bit of language before.
In what is probably the most family-friendly of the movies (The Voyage Home), Gillian says ‘[…]or some dipshit like that?’, to which Kirk replies ‘No, ma’am. No dipshit’.
Data says ‘Oh shit!’ moment he realizes they’ll crash the saucer section of the D on Veridian III.
I can’t remember the episode, but Jean-Luc Picard drops a very French ‘Merde!’ at one point.
So FLB- you examples are – a 20th century woman uses dipshit. And Kirk had already stated that they had more colorful metaphors in that time.
And the second example is Data, who has implanted the emotion chip and is struggling from having a breakdown.
I find it unnecessary, and by having it rated as such, it will limit the audience… particularly in more conservative areas. And if you want to use the show as a way to influence tolerance and understanding, cutting out part of the audience isn’t the way to do it.
It won’t effect whether I pay for All Access or not. If it’s good – the language won’t matter. I am sure that I will hear 100 times more vulgarity in the course of a weekend of the golf course than I will hear in this show.
But that language was specifically shown as an influence of the 290th century, which even Spock points out is NOT how they talk in the 23rd century. The JJ films have ignored that, but there than that, Star Trek is presented as a future where most profanity is unused.
@FLB — let’s not forget, when Kirk said, “let’s get the hell out of here”, in city on the edge of forever, such language was unheard of on TV. The goofy days of the Cosby Show, where people behaved completely differently on screen than in the real world, are gone — thank god. Kids today hear the F-bomb every day — and yes, especially in the more conservative areas, and a world without it wouldn’t seem believable. Just like life with the huxtables, and aboard the good ship Enterprise during that era.
As a scientist myself I can confirm that scientists are not above using such language. In fact, we may find a specific research finding, no matter whether it’s big or small, much cooler than the general public.
Really? I think fowl language sounds immature.
It’s for the birds, I tell ya!
Using fowl language is not a sign of maturity but immaturity.
This is one of the many reasons why Star Trek will fail. If the entire family can’t sit down and watch the show (as was the case with all Star Trek shows and movies), then this show is going to fail.
You know what would be really edgy and completely counter-cultural in 2017? NOT having the F-Bomb dropped. In our home we try to limit our kids exposure to swearing (yes I know, it’s on the playground and everywhere else), it sure would be nice to have an area of media where we could enjoy a show with our kids (as Star Trek has almost always been) that’s not cartoons. UGH.
Agreed.
Just sayin but as a kid I had to sit though the uhura fan dance, and so many other bits of “mature” moments from Trek. So please don’t jump on the “cursing? This isn’t star trek!” Band wagon. Cursing was used as one big comic routine in Trek4.
And let’s not forget Riker’s “I intend to ram it down the bastard’s throat!” in Insurrection.
Your kids will be OK. If they are on the internet, they hear and read it every day. You can’t ‘limit’ it. Sure at home, but once they leave home, yeah. And its usually school where they hear the most swearing via other kids.
Yep. The fact is, you can get the same end result of a scene without the added colorful commentary. It loses nothing by not being there…and gains nothing but unnecessary trepidation when wanting to watch Star Trek with your spongelike parroting 5 year old by your side. And the corny humor, involved in the scene described, even takes it to a whole new level of phony hipster ‘hey look what we did” cheese. No turning back now.
Star Trek Discovery is about a WAR! There will be violence and deaths on this show pretty regularly. What ‘5 year old’ should be exposed to that? And if they can handle watching Klingons stabbing people with their bat’lets drawing blood, they can handle someone dropping the F bomb in a sentence. Because in the real world dropping F bombs is part of life. Sadly so is war, but very few people are exposed to that in day to day life like swearing.
It doesn’t need to ‘turn back’ its life.
I don’t know, I think good writing can achieve it’s desired emotional effect on an audience without the need for cute stunt-writing for shock value. And when dealing with a speculative future set 300 years from now, the wisest course is probably to ignore modern 2017 cussing altogether…unless they’ve landed here on by time travel.
Its not ‘shock value’ its just adults actually sounding like adults. Do you never say the F or S word? And people have been using those words for literally centuries now. You think we would stop cursing? Why?
And I find it funny you’re not worry about the poor innocent kids witnessing people killed and slain. But a curse word, what has the galaxy come to.
A double dumbass to you!
So don’t watch it with your five year old. Writers are under no obligation to make their show for your specific tastes or your child’s.
You mean, like accusing a guy who’s hitting on you of having sex with farm animals? That kind of appropriate for children? Or Mickey Mouse hands? That kind of corny?
Opinions differ on these things, obviously.
Trust me, your kids have seen and heard a hell of a lot worse.
Just because kids have doesn’t mean parents want their kids to watch it at home. As for the violence part it might be too much for some kids as well. It depends on so many factors. Kirsten Beyer gave a recent interview to Star Trek’s official website, in which she admitted, the show is currently too much for her 8yr old daughter. She was referencing its content etc… I personally started watching TNG Trek at a young age. I was introduced by my family and I can understand why people would want to pass on that experience. Too bad some won’t have the immediate chance to do it when the show airs tomorrow.
There are plenty of shows that are rated G or PG. i for one am glad to see more premium content directed at adults that is engrossing and high quality.
There are probably a lot more Trek fans over the age of 18 than below it. Plus if you’re over the age of…what 9, you’ve probably heard the F word.
If I had children violence would concern me a lot more than language or sex. This seems to be a minority viewpoint nowadays, but was not uncommon when I was growing up.
Anyhow, there’s plenty of g-rated material, including copious amounts of Trek, for you to share with your children if you believe the occasional bit of racy dialogue isn’t good for them. I can understand and respect your position as a parent, but I also don’t believe that all entertainments, Trek included, should necessarily be limited to what’s appropriate for children.
“If I had children violence would concern me a lot more than language or sex.”
I totally agree. Language shouldn’t be an issue. When it comes to sex and nudity, I could live with some aspects now as I ahave contemplated the issue for months now. I’m probably fine with non-sexualized nudity (nude meditation, uncensored sonic showers, decon-chambers, uncensored Betazoid weddings etc.) as well as some more graphic sexual stuff in a “natural” situation, aka a couple making out with some details visible… as long as there is no unsimulated intercourse (which probably won’t happen)…
However, my main concern is that they might – at some point – combine nudity and violence as it has often been the case on genre movies like Species, Lifeforce, From Dusk Till Dawn or Game of Thrones… I’m a bit worried we could be getting naked torture, Klingon BDSM rituals, nude man-eating space zombie vampire ladies, rape-and-revenge Orion slave girls, piles of naked dead bodies, you name it… That’s nothing I want to see on Star Trek, but unfortunately, it could happen within this TV-MA rating…
Kids swear. Don’t be silly and think saying “fuck” hurts anybody. If you are offended by the the word “fuck” you just are not that smart. Pretty simple.
I don’t want to read too much into your comments in a negative way since it’s so hard to tell the tone of someone’s comments on line but…..People have the right to raise their children how they see fit as long as they aren’t breaking any laws. Limiting or excluding things like swear words and violence is important to some people. Their complaints aren’t necessarily “not smart” just because people don’t agree with them. They could in fact be great parents who provide their children with a loving and supporting environment.
Yes, great parents who love their children. Who also are simply not that smart. It’s pretty dumb to get upset and waste time trying to stop something that is proven to correlate with higher intelligence https://www.sciencealert.com/swearing-is-a-sign-of-more-intelligence-not-less-say-scientists
That study is about verbal fluency, not intelligence. Also, you can disagree without calling other posters ‘not that smart.’
Star Trek has never been deemed suitable for “five-year-olds”… It had been rated 12+ in my country throughout. The only difference is that nowadays, 12-year-olds have already started watching GOT or TWD which are rated 16+ and 18+ but no one cares. DSC will probably be rated 16+ in my place but parents won’t care about limiting it at all…
All this serious discourse over a very real moment where someone becomes a bit casual while in professional mode and questions it, and then is reassured but a superior officer because that moment of awe inspired the same thing in them.
It’s not that serious people.
Couldn’t agreed more. Loved Trek when I was 11-12 years old & appreciate now so much that swearing was maybe, maybe, one word every few years. What a shame. It’s not necessary to communicate wonder, anger or shock with swearing. Just watch the last 50 years of Trek
I agree with Jason Austin. A couple of specific points:
– In TVH, profanity is used primarily in two ways: to show the coarseness of the 20th century culture, and to show how out of place the 23rd century crew is.
– To date, no Star Trek film has had profanity of this level. Likely because the exchange above would tip the film to an R rating (or come very close).
– While we can all find examples of profanity and other adult content in previous incarnations of the Star Trek shows, what Star Trek excelled at was handling adult topics in a way that can be engaged by viewers of all (most) ages. In general, adult topics without adult content. The exchange above takes a moment of scientific achievement and injects juvenile humor. It’s boring writing.
Jason’s right. The truly counter-cultural and ‘edgy’ thing to do would be to show how humanity has developed beyond blurting out coarse sexual exclamations whenever they’re surprised.
It seems from a New York Times article that we have already seen part of the premiere’s opening scene in the trailers. Also president and COO of CBS Interactive said that episode 1 on CBS will end on a huge cliffhanger to encourage people to follow the show to CBS All Access.
Yes, episode 1 and 2 should be watched together. I saw them at Tuesday’s premiere.
When exactly will the episodes be up on All Acess? Tomorrow evening when the show comes on CBS??
“That’s simply the way they talk here. Nobody pays any attention to you unless you swear every other word. You’ll find it in all the streaming services of the period.”
Laughing my ass off! :D
Well played, sir.
“This show is never gonna happen”
“It keeps getting delayed so fans aren’t interested in it anymore”
“With all the sjw crap, the fans aren’t interested in this show”
remember all that naysaying? XD
Those who uttered such predictions were ridiculous and still were.
Sounds great. Can’t wait to see it!
Wow Star Trek with real adult language, FINALLY! I’m getting more and more excited. Its been a long road people.
Born in 66, been a fan of every version of Trek thus Far. Sorry, but our society needs fewer f-bombs, not more. You just lost my interest. I will not be watching.
What are you, 10? Grow up.
Well…that’s your decision. I seem to remember people boycotting Trek in ’87 when they “replaced” the TOS cast. Some things never change.
I like that the guy is boycotting over the F bomb because society should swear less. The fact the premise is based on WAR is fine though. Lol it was the F bomb that lost him lol
Exactly TUP! People killing other people, that’s just great TV. Saying ‘bad’ words while doing it, well they just went too far I guess lol.
Take care of yourself Trekfan 66! You’ll be missed.
@Trekfan 66 — I stopped watching Trek when Kirk said “lets get the Hell out of here” at the end of City On The Edge of Forever. Totally uncalled for, and offensive to me and my family. /s
I kind of figured Nick Meyer wasn’t very hands-on, when I heard some of the cheesy dialog, add to that, his conspicuous absence in promoting the series.
One of the main feathers in their cap…writer/director of the favorite Trek film of all time…sidelined? Seems he’s been relegated to ‘consultant’. Not ‘fucking cool”.
Will be in it, knee deep, this time tomorrow night…and judging from so many fan’s inexplicably joyful reaction to the manipulative substandard muck that is Orville, I wouldn’t even begin to anticipate the reaction tomorrow.
Well, that “wasn’t very hands-on” is a nice bit of spin. Considering that no one ever implied that Nick Meyer was exactly the main showrunner on Discovery in the first place, it turns out that his role is pretty much what it had been made out to be from the start: writer of an episode or two of his own, and consultant/ombudsman on the rest. Actually, I was rather concerned that we hadn’t heard from him for awhile, and am pleased to see that he’s standing with his colleagues as the results of their work are finally seeing the light of day. Certainly, there’s no hint here that he’s trying to distance himself in any show in any way. What more were you expecting?
Nicholas Meyer beautifully mocked the pervasive use of profanity in society in Star Trek IV. I suspect that including f bombs was not on his list of priorities for Discovery.
I don’t know, I’m just speculating… but that could have been a source of conflict with the current producers of Discovery.
He also wrote “No ma’am, no dipshit” in that same script. You really think Nick Meyer has a problem with a little profanity?
It was also a fish out of water scenario where Kirk specifically discusses how they swear every other word. He responds to her comment, he doesn’t make it.
Dropping an F bomb in Star Trek will be done not because it’s organic but simply because they can. It may get a quick chuckle but it ultimately adds nothing to the scene.
Based on the context described in the article – profanity may not be pervasive at all. Hence the cadet’s apprehension.
It’s ridiculous to tho k that cursing just stops in the future but ok…
Cut out the profanity and it’s still Orville level dialogue.
“This is so cool!”
“Calm yourself, cadet. You sound like an eight-year-old playing a demo of Zelda at Walmart. Remember when ‘fascinating’ was a catchphrase? Anybody?”
I’m sure that made sense to someone, somewhere. Guess I’m getting old.
It’s okay. Walmart and Zelda are recent brands. Sprang up overnight really.
I think cursing in a TV show just shows the laziness of the writers. It takes a special ability to convey the same emotion without taking the easy way out like cursing. I also have a feeling that if it is not used naturally, it might take the viewers out of the story.
Whereas, when it’s totally appropriate for a swear and a character says something PG-rated instead, suddenly the seams in the writing are visible and I’m not as engrossed or as satisfied as if I had just heard a well-placed F-bomb and moved on
Really. Very few people actually say “Gosh darn” when they hit their thumb with a hammer, and it certainly takes me out of the story when I hear something like that on television.
Fans of DEADWOOD know how liberal that show was in its use of really extreme profanity. The producers understood that people actually didn’t speak like that in the period following the Civil War, but when they had the characters curse in a way that was more historically accurate it came across as ridiculous, even laughable, so they went with something more contemporary instead.
Most of the best shows on TV that people love has cursing in it. Lots of it. No one ever calls them ‘lazy’ for doing it, just sound like actual people. People here sound like out-of-step prudes.
But Star Trek isn’t other shows. I think that’s the point that’s getting lost. Star Trek was never about being like other shows and dropping f bombs isn’t going to expand your viewer base. Some franchises lend themselves to it, others don’t.
I don’t think Star Trek was special because it didn’t drop F bombs. Most shows didn’t at the time. Today its a different world. When TNG was on there were very few original cable shows where it was even allowed to curse besides the most tame words. So most stayed in the PG to PG 13 arena. Today its a different ball game where the FCC don’t have the reach as it does with network TV on cable and streaming sites.
And of course in the movies they sweared. Not F bombs but because they didn’t want an R rating. Well thats changing too. Comic book movies also kept the swear words down to get a certain rating. Thanks to Logan and Deadpool they now realize people actually like these characters to sound more adult. I think same for Star Trek. Again, they are trying to reach new audiences. I don’t know why people keep forgetting this. They don’t want this show to be like the others. Its TRYING to be more bolder and daring and frankly for people like me, thats only a good thing.
Can’t they just have Romulans without having them interact with Federation characters? One of the best 3 parters on Enterprise managed to find a way to use Romulans. It would be even easier in Discovery. Just have them interfering with the Klingon power struggles for their own ends. Nobody ever said that the Klingons don’t know what Romulans look like.
Again, another reason why I hate prequels. So we won’t see one of the most famous species on the show because of what was said in Balance of Terror? And you’re right, Enterprise found a way. I really wish that whole not-see-the-Romulan thing was retconned. It never made any real sense at the the time anyway.
Whats funny is I remember arguing with someone here about this issue months ago saying it would suck we can’t see them deal with the Romulans because we know they don’t actually see them until TOS and was challenged on it that it doesn’t mean they won’t be seen. Well, here it is.
Glad the F-word is going to be used. Wonderful. It’s about time people on Star Trek started talking like real people in the real world. Any enough with all the fragile whiners complaining about it like it hurst anybody. Its simply your uptight cultural baggage. Chill out. And why worry about kids saying the F-word when every adult says it and kids will become adults and it’s all fine. People offended by a word are simply not that bright. Live long and F-bomb. :)
I’m totally positive about the occasional f-bomb here and there, as long as it’s not overdone. The problem with some TV-MA shows and R-Rated movies is that once they have the freedom of using bad language, they tend to squeeze in as many of those words as possible… As soon as a main character on American Gods uses the f-bomb three times in one and the same sentence, you know it’s just ridiculous.
Being German, I couldn’t care less about language issues and I think Americans should relax in that department as well. Normally language-based R-Ratings result in a 12+ rating in my country, while PG-13 scary movies end up 16+.
And I couldn’t care less about sex and nudity. I wish some Germans relax in that department as well.
See how that works? I think a lot of people sounds so ridiculously uptight. Adults curse, adults have sex and get naked. Guess what a lot of kids also do these things. Thats just reality. Its silly to shield any of it.
“Adults curse, adults have sex and get naked. Guess what a lot of kids also do these things.”
Adults curse… true… and kids curse too… and there is nothing wrong with it! Only the dosage and context matters.But then, context is for kings :-)
Adults have sex and get naked… also true, for most of us… but “normally” they undress and have sex in their private bedrooms. There’s a difference. Showing people having sex in their private quarters… or getting naked under the sonic shower is natural and I’d be fine with it, as long as it’s just simulated stuff.
However, looking at what’s going on online these days, I’m totaly opposed to any “Shortbus” sort of “real” sex included in any mainstream production…
“Guess what a lot of kids also do these things.”
If you mean kids as in teenagers… yes, they do… but that’s even more private than adults doing it and shouldn’t be shown in any way.
If you mean kids as in pre-teens or tweens…hopefully not a lot of them…disgusting idea!
You are watching a TV SHOW where we are literally watching people do things in their private life. Guess what, watching them have sex is a big part of what characters do in TV and movies. That’s the difference. No one is expecting to hear about the actor’s sex life (unless you are REALLY famous lol) just their characters. Thats kind of what they do in stories, explore their ENTIRE life.
And there are many shows with kids having sex. If you’re under 18, you are still considered a kid in most parts of the world, right? I’m not taking 7 year olds obviously but teenagers all the time. Ever heard of Degrassi? 90210? Riverdale? Gossip Girl? Dawson’s Creek? These shows have been on for decades. And who do you think watch these shows of teenagers having sex? Other teenagers or younger.
Smike, you’re 37 years old man. Seriously. Are you living in a cave?
“I wish some Germans relax in that department as well.”
Most Germans are VERY relaxed about sex and nudity. Only I am not for some obvious reasons :-)
But no, I’ve had six months of thinking and re-thinking lots of my initial positions and I’ve come to terms with most of my quibbles. If there are naked boobs on DSC, I’ll be fine with it. It took some time to get there, but here I am.
I’m also willing to accept a certain level of splatter and gore where it fits (e.g. Klingon culture, war etc.), although I’ll be judging from episode to episode whether they take it too far or not…
However, I’m still apposed to any gross COMBINATION of nudity and extreme graphic violence in one and the same scene. This is the only territory I’m not going to abandon. This is my personal red line I won’t be giving up any time soon…
OK fine. And just watch the show first. If they go that direction, fine, DON’T WATCH IT! I think many have said this very simple, yet effective solution if the show is going against your cultural or religious stances that much. No one here is offended if that’s what you do. Watch something else. No one is keeping score but you chief end of the day.
But if you’re ok with boobs, probably as bad as it will get and I honestly don’t think it will even go that far with it personally.
I have to admit I am in the anti-camp with regards to the profanity. I am a teacher and hear it all the time from children. With English being such a rich language with so many adjectives/adverbs to choose from, it is depressing hearing the same most base and vulgar vocabulary (16th Century German for the ‘F’ word). I have to admit, I too thought Trek had ‘grown up’ when Roddenberry introduced lots of titillating sex references in his novelization of “The Motion Picture”. With regards to language, however, the “dip-shit, “Screw-you”, “Oh, shit” remarks made in STIV and ST:Generations were used to comical effect, thereby somewhat lessening their vulgarity. The use of vulgar ‘stupid English’ would likely lessen with improved education and the air of rationality and quest for improvement that would pervade in a advanced Federation society. Simply put, swearing is primitive and would hopefully fade away in a Utopian future. Of course, in frightening, shocking situations it might be uttered, but this would infrequent. I hope that Discovery also only reverts to it when only really called for.
Why would swearing ‘fade away’ just because people are nicer to each other and have all the food they want? They are still human beings. I look at all the most advanced countries we have now and oddly thats where people swear the most lol.
I recall Kirk reminiscing about his grandfather teaching him the word “shit” in the ST-TMP novelization. Good times!
Anyhow, the DSC producers have said that profanity will be used very sparingly in the show, which given the timeframe and subject matter seems appropriate. We’ll see.
@Horta — recent research suggests the use of profanity makes people more productive.
You’re right. Vulgar language is primitive but it’s highly overrated in the US from an outsider’s POV. I strongly believe there wouldn’t be any necessity for the overuse of swearing if it hadn’t been banned from family movies in the first place. Using sexual language in a non-sexual context made these terms to hip and popular to begin with. As soon as they shoot for a TV-MA / R- rating, producers are obliged to go for as many of these terms as possible. Lots of these productions lose their balance that way. Lots of these adult productions are watched by millions of kids and teens in our day and age. And that’s what makes it so absurd!
Goring, sexing and cursing these movies up to fulfill the opportunities of the ratings while at the same time, these ratings cannot shield an entire generation of kids (and more to come) from actually watching.
This is why I’d say: abolish all adult ratings! Make everything 14+ and in ten years from now, artistic balance will be found again! Because in the end, these TV-MA / R productions are watched by 14+ year-olds anyway. But the “necessity” to include all the delicate stuff will perish as soon as there’s no adult rating anymore…
As much as I’m dreading this show, I’m excited that they will finally drop the f-bomb in Star Trek. I know people would probably either disagree or care less about it but in my opinion it’s much more realistic. That’s one of the aspects that I really like about The Orville, it shows humans acting like humans and not trying to be perfect all the time.
Using profanity is childish. It’s like someone who raise their voice to try to win an argument.
Of course, objecting to profanity is pretty silly too.
The occasional f-bomb doesn’t bother me. I’ve seen much worse- such as Tom Paris pulling out his own tounge in Threshold when I was 9. It was bloody terrifying!
Sorry, but F-Bombs are not my idea of entertainment. If they include any, this lifelong Star Trek Fan will skip Discovery.