Author Topic: Star Trek: Picard (Read 42208 times)

ChrisWilson68 · « **Reply #120 on:** 02/03/2020 12:57 am »

I haven't actually watched Star Trek: Picard yet. But my understanding is that it's basically one storyline spread across many seasons.

I think that's a shame. One of the things I liked about TNG was that, with a very few exceptions, every week was a completely new story. Some were weak, but some were very strong. I really liked the variety, the ability to explore a whole new story idea in every episode, with the same characters, so each story didn't have to do all its own character development. The same characters could face new and (mostly) interesting stories all the time.

With just one primary story over the course of a season, it may be a great story, but it's still just one.

sanman · « **Reply #121 on:** 02/04/2020 12:07 pm »

I'd heard that this series had to be severely re-edited after customer Amazon demanded that the episode count be reduced. I don't see why a streaming service like Amazon Prime would need to be so strict on episode count, as streaming services are supposed to be much more flexible on content than broadcasters saddled with their traditional constraints. Bezos claims to be a Star Trek fan, but he should really kick himself over the effects of this imposition, because it appears to be this re-editing which has so badly damaged the story pacing.

We barely got to meet Dahj before she's killed, and replaced in the storyline by her twin. We barely get to meet the twin, and she barely gets to meet Narek, before they're suddenly in a relationship. That's barely happened when we learn he's spying on her. There's no time to digest things before they're suddenly subjected to radical new changes. Some kind of hack-and-slash story editing has occurred here, so that a lot of intervening events are being dropped out.

Lars-J · « **Reply #122 on:** 02/04/2020 05:52 pm »

Quote from: sanman on 02/04/2020 12:07 pm

I'd heard that this series had to be severely re-edited after customer Amazon demanded that the episode count be reduced. I don't see why a streaming service like Amazon Prime would need to be so strict on episode count, as streaming services are supposed to be much more flexible on content than broadcasters saddled with their traditional constraints. Bezos claims to be a Star Trek fan, but he should really kick himself over the effects of this imposition, because it appears to be this re-editing which has so badly damaged the story pacing.

I think you are confused or misinformed. ST: Picard is a CBS streaming show (CBS All Access), not Amazon Prime. Amazon just allows you to also subscribe to CBS as an add-on. Bezos does not control ST: Picard at all.

Thorny · « **Reply #123 on:** 02/04/2020 06:03 pm »

Quote from: sanman on 02/04/2020 12:07 pm

I'd heard that this series had to be severely re-edited after customer Amazon demanded that the episode count be reduced.

I haven't heard anything like that and I would be very surprised if the episode count wasn't stipulated in Patrick Stewart's contract. He's not a young man.

ChrisWilson68 · « **Reply #124 on:** 02/05/2020 05:55 am »

Quote from: Lars-J on 02/04/2020 05:52 pm

Quote from: sanman on 02/04/2020 12:07 pm
I'd heard that this series had to be severely re-edited after customer Amazon demanded that the episode count be reduced. I don't see why a streaming service like Amazon Prime would need to be so strict on episode count, as streaming services are supposed to be much more flexible on content than broadcasters saddled with their traditional constraints. Bezos claims to be a Star Trek fan, but he should really kick himself over the effects of this imposition, because it appears to be this re-editing which has so badly damaged the story pacing.

I think you are confused or misinformed. ST: Picard is a CBS streaming show (CBS All Access), not Amazon Prime. Amazon just allows you to also subscribe to CBS as an add-on. Bezos does not control ST: Picard at all.

That's not quite true.

In the United States, ST: Picard is only available on CBS All Access, not Amazon.

But in most of the rest of the world, it's distributed by Amazon.

So it's not impossible that Amazon has some say in the production of ST: Picard.

Star One · « **Reply #125 on:** 02/06/2020 06:53 am »

Speaking from the U.K. it’s branded as an Amazon product you wouldn’t even know it was a CBS product except obviously looking at the end titles.

HVM · « **Reply #126 on:** 02/06/2020 11:48 pm »

Berries and peas.

Lars-J · « **Reply #127 on:** 02/14/2020 06:17 am »

I've watched up to episode 3 now.

It is watchable, with some good moments. TNG greatest hits but SO GRITTY and DARK.

But... It just looks so low budget (compared to my expectations). Every time they are on a non-starship setting it just looks like grabbed whatever furniture and house they could rent and yelled "action". ST:Discovery (love it or hate it) looks so much more high budget. Sets, costumes, makeup, visual effects, everything looks better on Discovery. So far.

And just to be clear, I'm not against a lower budget show. I have enjoyed many low budget Sci-Fi shows in my time. But the contrast with Discovery is interesting, IMO.

Thorny · « **Reply #128 on:** 02/14/2020 11:23 pm »

Quote from: Lars-J on 02/14/2020 06:17 am

I've watched up to episode 3 now.
But... It just looks so low budget (compared to my expectations).

Sometimes it does look a bit low-budget. Other times it is off the charts good. Such as, did you notice they de-aged Patrick Stewart quite a bit for the flashback scene in Episode 3? I didn't, until someone pointed it out to me. They also de-aged him for the flashback in Episode 4. (It seems they've settled on a pattern of opening each episode with a flashback to 14 years before.)

The space battle at the end of Episode 4 is a mediocre at best.

edit: removed possible spoiler

MATTBLAK · « **Reply #129 on:** 02/15/2020 10:10 am »

I'm really enjoying this show a lot. It does feel like an exceptionally long buildup to the main 'meat' of the storyline they want to tell. But then it occurs to me - this show is an exercise in world building - literally. This aint your Daddy's 'TNG' and nor could it/should it be. The payoff obviously still has to come - and likely not in this season. I'll bet the Cliff Hanger is a doozy! TNG used to have a few of those...

Star One · « **Reply #130 on:** 02/16/2020 06:45 am »

Odd episode this was just browsing along at a restful pace, and then it suddenly bursts into life at the end

I did laugh at them recreating his study on the holodeck just so they could keep using the set.

FutureSpaceTourist · « **Reply #131 on:** 02/16/2020 09:17 am »

Quote from: Star One on 02/16/2020 06:45 am

I did laugh at them recreating his study on the holodeck just so they could keep using the set.

I don’t deny that economics may have played a part, but I also like the idea that an ageing and more vulnerable Picard literally needs the comforts of home.

QuantumG · « **Reply #132 on:** 02/16/2020 09:43 pm »

They're taking a really long time to assemble the crew... I guess at some point they'll all stand around a holomap and explain the heist to us.

Stan Black · « **Reply #133 on:** 02/17/2020 09:44 pm »

I am enjoying this show, but must admit I find this vision of the future odd because everyone brandishes guns.

ChrisWilson68 · « **Reply #134 on:** 02/19/2020 02:25 am »

Quote from: Stan Black on 02/17/2020 09:44 pm

I am enjoying this show, but must admit I find this vision of the future odd because everyone brandishes guns.

Do you find it odd that so many visions of the past and present include people brandishing weapons?

litton4 · « **Reply #135 on:** 02/19/2020 09:30 am »

Quote from: Star One on 02/16/2020 06:45 am

Odd episode this was just browsing along at a restful pace, and then it suddenly bursts into life at the end

I did laugh at them recreating his study on the holodeck just so they could keep using the set.

I laughed, but not at that - when he froze the program, the birds stopped outside, but inside the fire was still burning

Orbiter · « **Reply #136 on:** 02/19/2020 07:33 pm »

I've been watching TNG and something just seems odd about Picard's personality in this show and I can't seem to put my finger on it...

QuantumG · « **Reply #137 on:** 02/19/2020 09:32 pm »

Quote from: litton4 on 02/19/2020 09:30 am

I laughed, but not at that - when he froze the program, the birds stopped outside, but inside the fire was still burning

Probably because it was an actual fire. Now that's hospitality!

QuantumG · « **Reply #138 on:** 02/19/2020 09:36 pm »

Quote from: Orbiter on 02/19/2020 07:33 pm

I've been watching TNG and something just seems odd about Picard's personality in this show and I can't seem to put my finger on it...

Picard's personality has always been a bit - umm, flexible. Nearly as much as Troi's.

That said, I think the effect Stewart is trying to achieve is a post-depression Picard in search of a new guiding star. He has lost the certainty of the Federation and now has to make his own way. Incredibly slowly.

sanman · « **Reply #139 on:** 02/20/2020 02:55 pm »

The entire series was kicked off by a dream Picard had of Data.

Foreshadowing @2:33 ...

Every card is a Queen...

... a Borg Queen?

Is that what Dahj/Soji is destined/dreaded to become?

(Well, if Rey can be a Palpatine...)