Podcast: All Access Star Trek Wraps Up Season 4 of ‘Discovery’ And Heads To LA With ‘Picard’

I am listening now. Good one.
 
As a person who has often found the emotionality of seasons 1-3 to be too much for my taste, I found Burnham’s shock and grief (and Martin’s wonderful acting) to be stellar … well pitched and well earned. It reminded me of Adama (Edward James Olmos) in the Battlestar Galactica miniseries when he thinks his son Lee Adama is dead. He is in command and has a wrenching moment where he yells “Lee, Lee!” and breaks down for a beat or two. His XO tries to support him and keep things going and finally Adama gets himself together and resumes emotional control.
 
That’s what Martin-Green did here. That’s the character growth that she needed. She still shares her emotions and uses them as a captain, but she is able to see the big picture and do what needs to be done, as Rilak said she needed to do in the beginning of the season. I could write an article about how this season in particular takes a feminist perspective on emotions and leadership. And how President Rillak acts as a great foil for Burnham. As another woman she doesn’t dis-invalidate emotion. She demonstrates that she can lead and have emotional responses, that she knows the power of support and empathy, which among (21st century) men can be seen as weakness and liability. I did a similar analysis of Wandavision, albeit with an additional theological lens. In other words, I think we are seeing the difference it makes to have so many women writers in the room. This was certainly started with Janeway on Voyager. Mulgrew also never allowed her character to divorce leadership and strength from femininity. 
 
There are plenty of ways I think it could do better. For example, I really, really find the it preaches its morality too directly. It talks directly about its political/moral stances, especially in the press way too much. Just show us complex, enfleshed LGBTQ characters. Don’t keep saying: “Do you see? Do you see?” Yes, we see. Star Trek has been most effective when it kept the commentary in the script via allegory. It’s not necessary for those of us who are already on board to shout about it in the press. We have other people to do that. And if you are trying to use art/popular culture to open up people’s minds you can’t be seen as so directly partisan (even if you are); you have to let people come to their own conclusions. 
 
As the podcast hosts have often said, Discovery writers are often too explicit in their plot points. We don’t need the word uncertainty a gazillion times. Show us, don’t tell us. The best episodes of Trek in general, throughout the franchise, are marked by wonderful “what ifs” (speculative fiction), character building relationships, with an (ultimately) optimistic view of the human person.  
 
There are many, many other things that often don’t sit well with me about Discovery. (For example, please, please give us a clear org chart for the Discovery crew. That is driving me crazy, haha!) But I am still enjoying it. As a black person it’s also great to see the kind of black love we have seen in the last two seasons. And its still a marvel to see black bodies and skin lighted and dressed so beautifully.
 
But I have been converted on the “emotional stuff” … a bit. I recognize that I tend toward a typical male perspective on this and cringe at what I call too much melodrama. And I think this season saw Michael Burnham most balanced, most integrated and capable of leading in her own way. 
 
Let’s hope they lower the galaxy-destroying steaks next season (de-Marvelizing the show quite frankly) and give us a season arc that is compelling without Michael needing to save the universe one more time.

In my opinion there is just one possibility what that thing with “Captain” Kirk means: Kobayashi Maru! That wouldn’t be the first time Pike is doing a test to someone.

Hi,

Let’s talk Disco:

I agree with you on the following

1) Yes, the finale was safe. I thought for sure Ndoye went fully kamikaze. I was scared for Detmer at first but knew someone had to be sacrificed. The first episode was Kobayashi Maru for a reason. I’m not emotionally invested in Ndoye so I was ready to say bye. Nope, she survived. And everyone survived. No TWOK moment.

2) I agree with Laurie. It would have been hilarious to have a scene where Reno tried to go through the forcefield cat door. Disco could use some more humor and lighter moments.

3) I agree with Tony. The story could have been tighter with 10 episodes. We did have a few fillers, but I’m still happy with the end result.

4) I agree that they hit the themes over our head. You can create a drinking game over the word uncertainty this season. It didn’t bother me because Star Trek hasn’t always been allegorical. It did get preachy at times in TOS and TNG.

I disagree with the following:

1) Meh Rating: In my opinion, this was a great finale. I’m invested with these characters. I loved how it ended with a successful contact with an unique new species, concluded the themes, brought the ship home for a new season, and brought Earth back into the UFP. It was a very trek kind of ending.

2) I didn’t know the President was Stacey Abrams. I was just excited for the next chapter for Earth and the UFP. I googled it afterwards. But, I’m happy with the choice. It’s probably just a cameo anyways.

I’m happy with S4. It’s a major improvement over S3. It had a Sci Fi mystery, themes to modern times, character growth, and excellent guest stars. I’m ready for S5. I’m full.

Thanks for letting me post my tidbits. Keep up the good work. I’ll talk Pic next week.

LLAP!