Look, I love Star Trek: Discovery but what we love about Trek is the humor. So why does it feel like Discovery is so against it?
Star Trek has always had a lot of humor as part of it. Look at the relationship between Spock, Leonard “Bones” McCoy and James T. Kirk. The three were always going after each other and making the show light at times when the plot was a little darker.
So why does Discovery sometimes not feel like a true Trek show? Because it doesn’t do a great job of balancing this humor with dark storylines. Even in Star Trek: Beyond when it felt like everything was terrible and the crew of the Enterprise was being captured, there were still lighter moments.
Discovery hasn’t really found that balance. Part of the problem, I think, is that they’re trying to make Burnham a little too Vulcan like and not enough like a human. The best part about Spock is that while he was half Vulcan (and very much looked every part a Vulcan), he still had a humorous way about him like a human.
So why not let Michael be fun? Everyone is so set in their mission that no one is really enjoying themselves. Which I get it, there is a war with the Klingons happening. But what if just, for one episode, they go and do something stupid together? Those make the best Trek episodes and it’d help make the show feel like part of the series.
Am I going to continue to watch the show? Yes, of course, it is Star Trek. But I just wish that it felt more like a Trek show and less like a space drama that includes Starfleet.
Next: Star Trek: Discovery season 1 episode 6 Lethe
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