I don't want a retread Star Trek that's the same as the previous Star Treks.
Yes. How
DARE I want a Star Trek show to be like Star Trek. How completely unreasonable is it that I want something advertised as belonging to an established franchise to feel like it's consistent with that franchise and not an unrelated TV show with the "Star Trek" name slapped overtop.
I also expect coffee I buy to taste like coffee and not tea. Rock music to sound like rock and not soft jazz. Hot dogs to taste like pork and not chicken.
D&D to be a roleplaying game and not a tactical miniature wargame.
Why watch something you don't like?
In this instance, because I'm emotionally invested in Star Trek, having been a fan of the franchise since I was eight years old, and prior to the premier of
The Next Generation. Because in the past a major part of my self identity was "a Star Trek fan". Because I've wanted a new Star Trek show for over a decade and was anxiously awaiting
Discovery since it was announced.
Because I
want to like it. But I can't because I'm not going to lie to myself just because it's pretty and has a budget.
Again, I liked a lot of this season. I loved what they did the episode before last. What they did with Pike was amazing, and fixed a major problem with
The Original Series and made his ending a truly happy one. It was touching and lovely and a great homage to the past that didn't feel too forced or much like fan service while still remaining undeniably
Discovery.
But, man, after that last episode I'm really tempted to just walk away.
With two episodes left, I might keep watching. Because I hate leaving things undone. It nags at my soul. But unless the ending blows me away I'm likely done with the series. And very possibly a franchise...
You have to actually PAY to watch this.
Canadian. It's on the cable channel I already pay for. It costs me zero extra.
(I couldn't subscribe to CBS All-Access even if I wanted.)
Good grief, there are THOUSANDS of shows on.
Sure.
Name
ONE other show that's a long lasting franchise with decades of history, tight continuity, and a generally consistent tone.
One other series that is equivalent in Star Trek in terms of legacy and canon.
What kind of masochist watches something they don't like just to then go and bitch to all and sundry about how they don't like it?
Because, and here's the kicker, I WANT IT TO GET BETTER. Already, based on feedback from fans, season 2 improved. I was very positive about the beginning of the season. Because it improved and they seemed to be taking criticism from the fans and adjusting the show based on that.
So why complain? Because I believe the show could get better still. Because I believe there's a happy medium that would satisfy both groups of fans.
But clearly I'm doing it wrong and should just give up right away the second something I love disappoints me, and should stop expecting quality from genre television.