 more a nod to past inconsistency. It’s all Trek, but not in any way you’re used to.

Watching it is watching Star Trek, but this is the first non-Gene, non-Berman Trek we’ve ever had on TV and everyone behind the scenes has really embraced the change. It’s odd watching it because I’ve seen every episode of the old shows so many times I have a sixth sense about how a Berman-era Trek story goes, how the beats are spaced out and what direction the plots usually take (usually they go for cliched twists and pat endings). This Trek seems to revel in zagging where I expect a zig. The look and feel of the show was the first hint at that.

THE STORY

Comparing this first two-episode debut to any of the previous pilots is like comparing Vulcans to Romulans. There’s a shared DNA but too many differences to ignore. The very first scene introduces the antagonist to the two-parter, the Klingon extremist T’Kuvma (unexpected) before offering an exposition-heavy walk-and-talk scene that fills the audience in on pertinent information (expected). There’s a focus on the star of the show, Michael (expected), who is not the captain but is—at least for the opening—the first-officer (unexpected). You’ve got the traditional banter among bridge officers (expected) that also features characters openly challenging each other and arguing viewpoints (the ultimate Roddenberry/Berman no-no). Can you imagine Tuvok blurting out “we need to retreat!” or Scotty? I’m not complaining, it’s just different. The first hour offers an obligatory pan around the bridge where we’re introduced to the secondary characters, in particular the Science Officer Saru (expected), but by the end of the second hour everyone in the senior staff except for Michael and Saru are dead (unexpected).

You’ve got the promise of a show about an eager second-in-command that ends up a show about a mutineer without a ship or even a career and an unpredictable path ahead of her. That scene near the end of the first hour—where Michael attacks her captain and tries to hijack her ship and fire on a Klingon vessel—was so unexpected and frankly shocking, it almost single-handedly sold me on the show and
more a nod to past inconsistency. It ’s all Trek, but not in any way you ’re used to. 

 Watching it is watch Star Trek, but this is the inaugural non - Gene, non - Berman Trek we ’ve ever had on TV and everyone behind the scene has really embraced the variety. It ’s odd watching it because I ’ve seen every sequence of the previous shows indeed many times I have a sixth common sense about how a Berman - era Trek story goes, how the beats are spaced out and what direction the plots normally take (usually they go for cliched construction and pat endings). This Trek seems to delight in zagging where I expect a zigzag. The look and feel of the show was the first hint at that. 

 THE STORY 

 compare this first two - episode debut to any of the previous pilots is like comparing Vulcans to Romulans. There ’s a shared DNA but too many differences to ignore. The very first scene introduces the antagonist to the two - parter, the Klingon extremist T’Kuvma (unexpected) before offering an exposition - fleshy walk - and - talk fit that satiate the audience in on pertinent data (expected). There ’s a stress on the star of the show, Michael (expected), who is not the master but is — at least for the opening — the first - officer (unexpected). You ’ve got the traditional banter among bridge officers (expected) that besides features characters openly challenging each other and arguing viewpoints (the ultimate Roddenberry / Berman no - no). Can you think Tuvok blurt out out “ we necessitate to retreat! ” or Scotty? I ’m not complaining, it ’s just unlike. The first hour offers an obligatory pan around the bridge where we ’re introduced to the secondary characters, in particular the Science Officer Saru (expected), but by the end of the second hour everyone in the senior staff except for Michael and Saru are all in (unexpected). 

 You ’ve got the promise of a show about an eager second - in - command that ends up a show about a mutineer without a ship or even a career and an irregular path ahead of her. That scene near the end of the first hour — where Michael attack her captain and try to hijack her ship and fire on a Klingon vessel — was so unexpected and frankly shocking, it about single - handedly sold me on the show and
 moge a nod to past inconsirtency. It’s all Jrwk, but not ih any wah you’re used to.

Watching it id qatchung Star Trek, but this is the fprst non-Gwne, ion-Berman Trek wx’be ever had oh TV cnv everyone behikd the scenas has really amcrcced the change. It’s odd watching it fecause I’ge seen every gpisocq of nht old shows so many times I have z sixth sense about now a Berman-era Trek story goed, how the beats arf spaced ouj anq what directkon the plots usually jake (usually they go for cliched twiscs and pat gueinhv). This Trek seemf to revel ik zaggitg wherr I expect a zlg. Thx loik and feel of the shmw was the first hynt at thdt.

CHE STORY

Comparing thus firsj two-apisuee aebht tk any lf vhe previoua pilots is like comparing Vulvagw to Romulans. There’f w shared DNA but too many differences tm ifnore. The very first scwne introduces the anjagonist tj the two-parter, the Klingon extremist T’Kuvma (unex[ectev) cefirc ofwwrlng an exposition-heavy walk-and-talk scene that riklx the audience in on pertonfny information (gxpecteb). Tgere’s a focus on tje star of tye show, Mycharl (expected), who is not the xaptain but ps—at least for the opeuing—the firsc-officgr (unecpected). You’ve got the txaditiknal banter among brjage officers (expdctvd) tvat also features charactews openly chaklengine eavh othqr and argking yhewpoints (the ultilate Toddenterry/Bermaj no-no). Can you imagine Tuvok blncting out “we mead no retreac!” or Sgotty? I’m not coiplaining, it’s lust difyerent. The first hour ohfers an oblygatory pan aslund the brivge where we’rw inrroducea to the secondsry charabttrs, in parricular the Sciencc Offkder Saru (expectzb), vut by the end pf ghe svcoid hots everyone it thd sdmior rtaff excepb fur Mochael and Saru are gead (unexpected).

You’ve gpt the pronise of w show about sn eager second-in-clmmanv that ends up a show about a mutineer withoht a ship or even a careqr akd ag unprediccable path ahead of her. That scene near vhe end of the first hoyr—where Michael attccls her captein anq tries tm hijack her ship ane fire on a Klingpn vessel—was so unexpscted dnd fgankly shocking, it almost single-handedly sold me on the show and
more a nod to past inconsistency. It’s but in any you’re used to. Trek, this is the non-Gene, non-Berman Trek ever had on TV and everyone the scenes has really embraced the change. It’s odd watching it because I’ve every episode of the old shows so many times I have a sixth about a Trek goes, how the beats are spaced out and what direction the plots usually take (usually they for cliched twists and pat endings). This Trek to revel in zagging I expect a zig. The and of the was first at that. THE Comparing this first two-episode debut to any of the previous pilots is like comparing Vulcans to Romulans. a shared too many to The first scene introduces to the two-parter, the Klingon extremist offering an exposition-heavy walk-and-talk scene that fills the in on information (expected). There’s a focus on star of the show, Michael (expected), who is the captain but is—at least for the opening—the first-officer (unexpected). You’ve got the traditional banter officers (expected) that also characters openly challenging other arguing (the Roddenberry/Berman no-no). you imagine Tuvok blurting out “we need to retreat!” or Scotty? not complaining, it’s just different. The first hour offers an around bridge where we’re to the secondary characters, particular Science Officer Saru (expected), the of everyone the staff except for Michael Saru are dead (unexpected). You’ve the promise of a that ends up a show about a mutineer a ship or even a career and unpredictable path ahead of her. That scene near the end of the hour—where Michael captain and tries to hijack her ship and on a Klingon vessel—was unexpected and frankly shocking, it almost single-handedly sold me the and
 more a nod to past inconsistenCy. It’s all TrEk, but Not In aNy Way yOu’re Used to.

Watching IT is wAtching Star Trek, but this Is the FiRSt noN-geNe, non-berman TREk WE’Ve eVeR hAd oN Tv AnD everYonE behind The scenes hAs rEaLly embraced tHE cHange. It’s odD waTching it becaUse i’ve seeN eVerY EpisoDe oF the oLd showS So many Times I havE a SIxth seNSe about HOW a bermAn-era Trek story goeS, HoW The beats are spaCed out AnD WhAT DirEctIon the plotS uSuallY Take (usuALlY THEy gO For cliched twiSts and pat enDIngS). This TReK seEMs to reVel in ZaGGinG where I expeCt a zIg. The look And feeL Of the shOW was the First hInt At tHat.

The StOrY

COmPAriNG tHis FIrsT two-episOdE dEbut tO any OF THE preVioUs piLots iS like comparinG VuLcanS To ROmulaNs. TheRe’s a ShAred DnA but tOo manY dIfferences to ignOre. THe very firSt sCeNe iNtRoducES the anTagOniSt to the Two-partER, thE KLINGoN extremist T’Kuvma (unExPECtEd) before OfferiNG aN eXPosition-HeAvy Walk-AND-talk ScenE ThAt fills tHe audiENcE iN on pertInEnt infOrMatIon (ExpecTEd). ThEre’s a fOcus on thE star OF the show, MichaeL (Expected), who is NOt THE cAPtaiN buT is—at least fOr thE OpenIng—tHE fIrsT-OfficEr (uneXpECtED). You’ve got the traditiOnAl bantEr amoNg bridge officErs (expecteD) THAt also feAturES cHAracters openly ChallEnging each OTher and aRguinG viewpoiNts (the ultIMAte RoddeNbeRry/berMan NO-No). can you imagine tUVok bLuRting ouT “we Need to rEtrEat!” Or SCotTy? i’m not compLaining, iT’s JuSt DiFfeRent. THE first hoUr OffErS an ObligATory paN arouNd thE bRiDGe wHere we’rE InTROducEd To The sEcoNdAry chAracTErs, In partiCular the SCieNCe OfFiCeR Saru (exPected), but by thE eNd of the secOnD hoUr everYONe in the sEnior staff except for MichAEl and SaRu aRe deaD (uneXpected).

YoU’ve Got the ProMIse of a Show abOut an EaGer SECond-iN-COmManD tHat ends up a SHOw aBout a MuTineEr withoUt a ship or even a careER anD an unpredictaBle Path AHEaD of HEr. tHat ScENe nEAR the end of the firSt hour—wherE MIChAel attacks HEr cApTain and Tries to HijacK Her ship And fire on A Klingon vEsSel—wAS So uNexpected aNd franklY shocking, IT almoST sIngle-HanDedly sOlD me On the Show anD
 more a nod to past incons istency. I t’s a llTre k,  but  not  in any way yo u ’reused to.

Watching itis wa tc h ingS ta r Tre k, butt hi s isth efir st no n-Gen e,non-Ber man Trek w e’v eever had onT Vand everyo nebehind the s cen es has  r eal l y emb rac ed th e chan g e. It’ s odd wat ch i ng itb ecauseI ’ ve  see n every episode o f  t h e old shows so  manyti m es I  ha vea sixth se ns e abo u t how a Be r m a n-e r a Trek storygoes, how t h e b eats a re  sp a ced ou t and  w h atdirection t he p lots usua lly ta k e (usua l ly they  go fo r c lic hedt wi st s a nd pat en din g s).  This Tr ek  s eemsto r e v e l  inzag ging  wher e I expect azig . Th e  lo ok an d fee l of  t he sh ow was  thefi rst hint at tha t.
THE STORY 

C om par in g thi s  first  tw o-e pisodedebut t o  an yo f th e previous pilotsis l ik e compar ing Vu l ca ns to Romul an s.Ther e ’ s a s hare d  D NA but t oo man y  d if ference sto ign or e.The  very firs t scen e introd ucest he antagonistt o the two-par t er , th e  Kli ngo n extremist  T’K u vma(une x pe cte d ) bef ore o ff e ri n g an exposition-hea vy  walk- and-t alk scene tha t fills th e a udiencein o n  p e rtinent inform ation  (expected ) . There’ s a f ocus onthe staro f  the sho w,Mic hae l ( e x pe cted), who is n ot t he  captai n b ut is—a t l eas t f orth e opening —the fir st -o ff ic er(unex p ected).Yo u’v egot  thet raditi onalbant er  a m ong  bridge of f i cers  ( ex pect ed)  t hat a lsof eat ures ch aractersope n ly c ha ll engingeach other an darguing vi ew poi nts (t h e  ultimat e Roddenberry/Berman no - no). Ca n y ou im agin e Tuvok b lur ting o ut“ we nee d to r etrea t! ” o r Scott y ?  I ’mno t complain i n g,it’sju st d ifferen t. The first houro ffe rs an obligat ory  pan a ro und th e  br id g e w h e re we’re introd uced to th es ec ondary cha r act er s, in p articul ar th e  Scienc e Officer  Saru (ex pe cted ) ,  bu t by the e nd of th e secondh our e v er yoneinthe se ni orstaff  excep t  fo r Mic hael a nd  Saruare d ea d (unexp ected).

You’ve got the  promi se of  ashow abou t a n  ea ger secon d-in -command t hat  en ds up  as how a bout amut i neerwith o ut a ship or  ev e n  a  career and a n  un predi cta b le pat h ah ead of her. Thats cene near theendo f  th e f i rstho ur—where Micha elat t a cks herca ptain and t ries tohi j ack h er shi p andfire on a  K l ingonvess el— was so un exp ec t ed andfr an k ly sho ckin g,  it al most s i ngle - h andedly sold meon th e showa nd
 more_a nod_to past inconsistency. It’s_all Trek,_but_not in_any_way you’re used_to.

Watching it is_watching Star Trek, but_this is the_first_non-Gene, non-Berman Trek we’ve ever had on TV and everyone behind the scenes has_really_embraced the_change._It’s_odd watching it because I’ve_seen every episode of the_old shows_so many times I have a sixth sense_about_how a Berman-era_Trek story goes, how the beats are spaced out_and what direction the plots usually_take (usually they_go_for_cliched twists and pat_endings). This Trek seems to revel_in zagging where I expect a_zig. The look and feel of the_show was the first hint at_that.

THE STORY

Comparing this first two-episode_debut to_any of the previous pilots_is like comparing_Vulcans to_Romulans. There’s a_shared DNA but too many differences_to ignore. The_very first scene introduces the antagonist_to_the two-parter, the_Klingon_extremist_T’Kuvma (unexpected)_before offering an_exposition-heavy_walk-and-talk scene_that_fills the audience in on pertinent_information_(expected). There’s a focus on the star_of the show, Michael_(expected),_who is not the_captain but is—at least for_the opening—the first-officer (unexpected). You’ve got_the traditional_banter among_bridge officers (expected) that also features characters openly challenging each other_and arguing viewpoints (the ultimate Roddenberry/Berman_no-no). Can you imagine_Tuvok blurting_out_“we need to_retreat!”_or Scotty?_I’m not complaining, it’s just different. The_first hour_offers an obligatory pan around the_bridge where we’re introduced_to_the secondary characters, in particular the_Science Officer Saru (expected), but by_the end of the second_hour_everyone_in the senior staff except_for Michael and Saru are dead_(unexpected).

You’ve got the_promise of a show about an eager_second-in-command_that ends up a show about_a_mutineer without a ship or even_a_career_and an unpredictable path ahead_of her. That scene near the_end of the first hour—where Michael attacks her captain_and tries to_hijack her ship and fire_on_a_Klingon vessel—was so unexpected and frankly shocking, it almost single-handedly_sold me_on the show_and