Starfleet Academy series

Clips are usually the better parts, not helping

She's right. She is old and boring.

The premiere is airing live on Youtube and so far the chat is still up.

Chats are obtrusive memory-hogging crap full of knuckleheads.
I'll wait for it to be all done, and on regular playback.

I guess you could describe me as... mildly interested in this. I'm going to give it a shot, but it doesn't seem like "Star Trek" to me.

It took me a while to warm up to DS9 though and that turned out to be my favorite iteration, so I feel like I have to give this a fair shake.

Urgh, must they write lines like “I love that dude”? Especially when it comes out of someone over 30, what’s next “Red Squad slaps”.

Here's what it should look like.

"The planet is 6/7 light years away, Captain."

Your trailer looks so much better.

Still terrible

So should I watch it on YouTube or Paramount+?

I guess I can watch it on Paramount+ on the TV and on YouTube on the tablet or computer.

Well ok, fuck you Paramount. The first episode is streaming on YouTube, started a few minutes ago. But it starts at 3am Eastern on Paramount+.

Oh... Yeah

How much will the opening credits suck? We'll see.

I feel like I'm watching a reboot of Dune.

'Starfleet Academy' Season 2 Gets Major Update Ahead of Season 1 Premiere [Exclusive]

I remember I once had an argument with a friend about how bad star trek was better than no Star Trek, he said none is better - he was right.

Watching it now.
Eh, it's got it's clunky cringe moments, but the TNG pilot was way clunkier.
DS9 nailed its pilot, but the rest of the first season fluctuated wildly.

The proof for "Academy" will be the rest of the season.

I'm up to Sam and Holodoc interacting.
I like the Protostar reference.
It's canon, bitches!

A Cheronian!!? I thought they were extinct?
Okay.

Eh, it was all right for a pilot.
The cringe scenes in the ads were less cringe with backstory context.
The trailer editor needs firing.

S1E1 - Kids These Days

Yeah. That was terrible.

I'll start with the good parts, more like the not terrible parts. Uhh... Reno. The Doctor. I can't think of anything else.

And now the not so good parts. The gags, far too many and cringe worthy. Com badge girl, played for laughs. Comes across as stupid, clueless, and every thing she says is also cringe worthy. The hologram girl, created 700-800 years after the doctor and she acts like a pre-beta version of a holodeck character, was she released unfinished? Caleb is the Mary-Sue, and so are most of the main cadet characters. Each one pulled off a miracle to help save the ship. The Jemhadar/Klingon characters, either make her super Jemhadar/Klingon warrior aggressive or a mom. Honestly, I had to keep rewinding the episode to realize what was going on, that's how uninteresting it was. And "The warp core is going to explode" bad guy "Uhhh... Ok bye." A minute later "You tricked me".

And the terrible parts, the rest.

Then the whole "You could have gotten every one killed. But you did good. You're grounded. Welcome to Starfleet Academy!"

Yep.

I watched the scene in full context and it made so much more sense. Whomever decided to use that piece for the trailer should be shot out of a cannon into the Sun.

That said, I watched the first two episodes and, yeah, while there are some cringe scenes, that's to be expected in Star Trek going all the way back to TOS, and so I can give that a pass easily. I'm relieved to say my initial misgivings were unfounded, and the show clearly has a solid writing team behind it. The visuals are, of course, gorgeous, sumptuous even.

Likes:
* I genuinely like the design of the Athena. It is a very fluid and graceful design, but practical for its purposes.
* I love Holly Hunter's approach to Captain Ake's command style. She does embody the idea that she has seen some shit. Her quirks serve her well.
* Thok is awesome. I love Gina Yashere here, and she's given me several laugh out loud moments already. She's a solid casting decision. Hands down.
* The kids are competent in their roles. Their characters are young, impetuous, eager to please, and they're chaotic, which makes perfect sense in a setting like this one. This works.
* Robert Picardo, babies. The Doctor hasn't lost his step whatsoever. Par excellence.
* Tig Notaro as Jett only has a short scene but it's already a memorable entry into the show's run. She does a lot with very little.
* The programmable matter has been kept to a minimum and do doesn't really bother me, which is good.
* The music is good. Jeff Russo is a master of minimalism. I might get the soundtrack.
* Optimism! Optimism as far as the eye can see! The belief in integrity, in hope, in a future that includes everyone. It felt good to see that so clearly in a modern Star Trek episode.

Dislikes:
* The vernacular. Yeah, I know, I'm old, but it still rubs a little bit to hear "bitch" and all of that. I'll adjust, but I'm not a fan. That said, Star Trek has a long history of having colloquialisms that date it. I am, after all, Not Herbert.

So all in all, I'd say the pilot gets a 6/10. It's pretty good as pilots go.
The second episode is much better, in my opinion, and gets an 8/10. We're already getting some world class galaxy building and I'm here for it.


A little personal observation, but I can easily see how a young William T. Riker fell for Deanna Troi.

Is episode 2 on YouTube, or just 1?

Just the first episode.
The second episode is available, but you have to have Paramount Plus/Youtube Premium.

Ancalagon edited to add spoiler tags upon request.

Haven't watched it yet, but your nitpicks depict a lack of knowledge.
1) We've never seen a Jem'Hadar bleed. Especially not one that doesn't require Ketracel White.
2) Bajor has several moons. And we don't know how close they orbit.
3) The Doctor has not been simply an EMH since before VOY ended.
4) Calling people put for being overweight seems pretty hypocritical.
5) I'm not even sure what argument you're trying to make any the children been separated from their parents line. Complete nonsense.

I like the captain showing a similar demeanor to Pelia... very casual, getting all cozy in the big chair.

The cadet master was as good a sgt major character as any. It's her job to mess with the kids a bit and her intro was fun.

The other grown ups really didn't register

So we've got rich boy vs poor boy... kind of Reggie and Archie, really.
Which makes the Klingon kid Jughead...
Perky pixie chick is Veronica
Holo girl... more Big Ethel than Betty, but I like her.

It was better than what I'd expected. Formulaic for the most part, which should be expected in the introductory chapter. They hit the bases of peril, conflict, combat though, and with just enough legacy to establish itself as the future universe. I don't know if I'll be rushing home for the next episode, but I'll give it the season to hook me.

@Steal Your Face

Oh yeah. As a six year old kid Caleb was able to grab Ake's comm badge and use it to escape. So a command level officer's comm badge doesn't have a biometric lock on it?

And they couldn't transport? Discovery set up that the comm badges are all in one, comm badge, tricorder, computer interface, and built in transporter. But then all of the sudden none of that works anymore.

And seriously, how does someone who swallows their comm badge, there was mention of a psych evaluation in the second episode, even get into Starfleet Academy. Did she swallow her entrance application too?

Running notes....

The first 21 minutes, I thought, was solid. Not "wow" but perfectly serviceable. Caleb is being set up as a savant or something which, fine, every series features a uniquely gifted hero type - usually several. You don't make shows about ordinary people. Unless it's a sitcom. First real complaint - I love Colbert but his voice is too familiar, takes me out of the scene - plus, let's stay away from shit like "hangry"

That captain's chair makes Hunter look tiny

Not a fan of the shit design. Never liked the gaps in the Saucer, don't like the triangular sensor array(?), not sure at all what's going on with the wing shaped nacelles(?) - and I never liked the disconnected idea

I both like that Number One is maxed out Jem'Hadar attitude and anticipate finding her annoying for the same reason

The Klingon is surprisingly appealing so far

I like the Protostar references and that they seem to push the Doctor's buttons for unspoken reasons

The main focus group of cadets seem reasonably likeable (the one's you're supposed to like) except for the panicky one who has shown nothing else yet

*sigh* Yet ANOTHER ship that's in multiple parts for no discernable reason except cool visuals

The scenery chewing is WAY over the top. He should have played it as more of a Chang kinda villain who's cool until the climax.

I fully anticipated not liking Number One AT ALL. My reaction so far is moderately less negative than expected

Don't care for the old hippie song in this context

Orions? Cool. Cheron...ite? Wouldn't have been my first choice but as an easter egg I'll overlook it.

Like Nhala's quarters except for the deltas on the furniture - for that matter I don't much care for the huge one on the ship either

The music seems pretty good, although I'm not usually one to be critical of the music

Overall, coming in with VERY low expectations... and allowing that pilots often have some missteps... it got enough right for me to keep watching for now. I can see potential for a train wreck, I can see potential to win me over as Prodigy did.

But they DO operate like that on the ship so this is a small plot hole (the obvious rationalization is that having opened the window he left the badge (assuming a child that age would know to) but they should have a second to show her finding it)

EDIT: DUH! She DID find it and closed the portal with it so yeah, that bit's fine.

It was better than I thought it would be. We'll see how the rest of it plays out.

I didn't like the mall-like feel of much of the ship, but since it becomes a building, the aesthetic is less annoying.

I find it hilarious that Stephen Colbert voices the announcements guy (apparently called the Digital Dean of Students).