Comment Stream

Re: SNW S2: Tomorrow and Tomorrow and Tomorrow

Jammer's too harsh on this one. It doesn't just read good on paper, it was also done in a very nice, subtle and humorous way. Not lol humor but the one which can only be achieved with two good actors who have chemistry. Paul Wesley may not look or act much like Shatner, but he sure holds his own and I enjoyed his understated performance a lot.
It still amazes me how likable the SNW cast is and how well put together.

Re: SNW S1: The Elysian Kingdom

Wow. You all truly need to get some taste. Going through season one now and loved this episode. Can tell how much fun everyone had and then that ending.

Funny how Trek fans screeched to get some Trek again that “actually had fun” after whining about Discovery and Picard not doing that (though it literally does in fact, do that) so you get episodes like this and now…the same fans want more serious stories.

One of the worst, most insular and miserable fanbases around stays being miserable.

Re: PROD S1: All the World's a Stage

Really fun episode. As Jammer noted, I couldn't help but think of the "muse" episode of Voyager. I admit I overlook some logic issues with the show because it is a cartoon. If it were live action I would likely have more complaints.

Still, all the characters have grown on me, I love the "real" Janeway stuff and I am genuinely interested in seeing what happens next.

3 stars as well

Re: PROD S1: A Moral Star

So, I recently finished a re-watch of Voyager and decided to try Prodigy to get more of Janeway and I am really glad I did! I am enjoying this show a lot more than I expected to (not really into cartoons).

It may be aimed at "kids" but it isnt really dumbed down and, if the only way to get more positive, upbeat Trek right now is to aim it at kids then I am here for it.

I was kind of disappointed with Jammers fairly low scores for the show but then I remembered he was never a huge fan of Voyager either. And, I admit, some of my appreciation of the show is simply seeing Janeway (and Chakotay?) back. It's been nice that the commenters, for the most part, seem to appreciate the show.

"I'm coming Chakotay" has me pumped. I lose my paramount subscription in a few days so I will need to binge the last 10 episodes.

Re: TAS S1: The Survivor

I'm pretty sure Ted Knight did the voice of Winston

Re: PIC S3: The Last Generation

I've never actually commented on JammersReviews, having read it for nigh on 20 years now. Yes there were some flaws here, and a few plot holes, but I did enjoy it. The final episode didn't feel as rushed as I feared it would. And we got our 20 minutes to say goodbye.

I was terrified they'd do a Nu-Trek job and kill off Picard, or Riker, or blow up the Enterprise D, or something like that. I'm so so SO glad they didn't. I think they did as well as we could reasonably expect. And it was bloody good to see all those characters together again. They treated them (and the ship) with enormous respect.

Not 100% on the Q thing, although it was a nice surprise. In a way, getting Data back (which was great) completely negated Season 1, and getting Q back completely negated Season 2. But then the titles, and the way this was named as "Star Trek Picard Part 1 - 10" told me they wanted to almost pretend S1 and S2 didn't exist.

So I'm happy.

I would disagree with one thing people have said. I LOVED Vadic. I thought she was acted brilliantly, genuinely evil and utterly twisted, and was one of the best villains Star Trek ever produced.

Re: ENT S2: Vanishing Point

Good points about this episode was that it featured the beautiful Hoshi. Bad points are that it is so bad its not funny. It makes no sense and the end is anti climactic and almost seems like a poor choice of several possible alternate endings. And even if the point of the episode was for Hoshi to overcome her fear if transporters in her dream state then that fails as well because she ends up even more scared of the transporter. Literally a waste of an hour apart from featuring Hoshi for more than her usual few lines per episode.

Re: PIC S3: Vox

I understand how people that enjoy things can get discouraged by reading a lot of criticism and negativity towards what they love (Believe me I know! Two of my favorite shows are Voyager and Supergirl!). But I find it odd when people on here say "resist the urge to be jammer" etc. This is a comment section on a particular episode of a show? What else are people supposed to do on it if not comment (whether positively or negatively) on the show?

TNG isn't my favorite show but I enjoy it and enjoyed (to a degree) the movies. If it were a show I loved the fan service would probably be enough. But honestly, the plot/show itself hasn't been great. Like many "prestige" shows today it is simply drawn out way too long for the amount of plot involved. It has been carried by nostalgia. And, if you love something, sometimes that is enough (If they make a Voyager series like this believe me, I will forgive a LOT to get back the crew I love).

So while I think it has been heavily flawed, I am happy that it is making a lot of people happy. And I hope the finale makes me happy!

Re: PIC S3: The Bounty

@Cynic: Yes, the changelings want to weaponize the syndrome was what I thought as well. They first stole Picard‘s body but realized they need an early stage or whatever of it, hence the hunt for Picard’s offspring. Why else would the syndrome be such a dominating topic?

Re: SNW S1: All Those Who Wander

The first episode that really disappointed be, 1.5 stars at best. Why turn the Gorn which are a space faring race with equal technology into badly designed Alien ripoffs in their youth? Also there's tribute and then there's plagiarism. They are writing the characters really well but the stories keep getting worse. Why all the work trying to make the laughable rubber Gorn from TOS into a major race? That's a lost cause from the start. I'm beginning to worry. After a start with 5 good to great episodes we've now head 4 mediocre to bad. I really do hope the last one is better again.

Re: Star Wars: Obi-Wan Kenobi

I only disagree on young Leia. I thought the actress was amazing - albeit a bit young - and she stole every scene she was in. Okay, the chase scenes were stupid ... I also liked the upbeat variation on the imperial march as Reva's theme. But yeah, Star Wars should move on, the prequel stuff just never worked.

Re: SNW S1: Memento Mori

La'an just became my new favorite character. I really do like how everyone keeps their cool and there's an atmosphere of professionalism and discipline. So very unlike anything on Discovery. Good stuff, 4 wins in a row.

Re: SNW S1: Ghosts of Illyria

The real highlight for me is that in 3 epsiodes they made the crew more likable, relatable and interesting than "Discovery" has managed to in 4 seasons. Not to speak of the atrocity "Picard" has become.
I really enjoyed each episode so far!

Re: SNW S1: Strange New Worlds

So it was a decent episode overall, but I'm going to quibble anyway. Let's start with what annoyed me the most.

So let me understand this. The Gorn captured a Federation colony ship and used the colonists on one of their hatchery as a mixture of food and incubators. Like, I understand the Federation is pretty understanding in the future, but I feel like a lot of species would be....hmm...not kind to any Gorn they ever interact with.

I also feel like the WW3 footage was a bit...much. Admittedly my WW3 headcanon was basically a threeway nuclear exchange between China/India/Pakistan. Certainly ecologically devastating, but it'd be something that may be more survivable for humanity overall? Especially considering how...burnt Earth was at the end, I'd have a feeling humanity would be struggling a bit more.

Also didn't First Contact have the first warp capable human ship be built upon a nuclear missile? Were a bunch just...not fired? Also wouldn't Montana and the rest of the US missile fields in the central US be a wasteland if it was a global exchange?

The whole "Second US Civil War" is a trope of scifi at this point. I guess when Lily thought they were getting attacked by the "Eastern Coalition" at the start of First Contact, they meant the Eastern seaboard of the US. Whatever, it's dumb, but as long as this doesn't become a repeating message in Strange New Worlds, I'll happily overlook it.

Overall though....not bad at all. Probably the best Star Trek feeling out of any of the first episodes of NuTrek.

However, I thought the first episode of Picard had an interesting premise, before they went into Mass Effect 3 territory with the season ending, and season 2 was....I have no idea, beyond complete torture. Discovery has been a slog to go through as well. Lorca and Saru have been the only two highlights, and Lorca has been gone for a while (what a missed opportunity there.)

Let's see if Strange New Worlds keeps up the good opening, or just crashes and burns after 3 episodes to become nothing more than a multihour train wreck that I can't look away from.

Re: PIC S2: Monsters

So....this season doesn't seem to be going anywhere all that fast.

Glad to see bringing the Borg Queen to the past is playing out to be a horrible idea, as it should have been obvious she should have been disabled immediately after entering the 21st century.

The dream thing was...eh. Just....eh.

I am glad to see that Dutch has moved up from being a detective in LA to an FBI agent. That being said, didn't we already do the whole "Detained by 21st century authorities"? subplot?

Re: Great content. No business model.

Jammer,

I've been reading your reviews for years and enjoyed them thoroughly.

I think I a big problem is that new folks don't know you exist. Have you thought about Facebook and/or Twitter accounts? You could use them to announce new reviews on the site.

Will contribute to the coffee account.

Just a thought...

Re: DSC S3: That Hope Is You, Part 2

Jammer, you're no fuddy-duddy. You know what the hell good entertainment is and is not. Discovery is not even bad entertainment-- it's terrible, incoherent and nonsensical fantasy. It's made by children, for children. It's also pretty hateful for a show called Star Trek. Yum yum. Just ask that guy Gene who got swept up off the floor. All the tears for fake promotions, but no tears for an officer who lived his dream in Starfleet and tried his best in life.

That baggage you mentioned comprises all the past examples--and there are numerous, even uploaded on YouTube for FREE (hint hint, Hollywood)--of Star Trek done right. In 50+ years, the franchise hasn't always been great. There are terrible examples even amongst the first 3 seasons of it (Spock's Brain)! But the GREAT examples are there--have been there--for DECADES now. Doing your homework is boring. But doing your homework actually does matter sometimes. Is it so wrong at this point to say: "Hey writers, go check out those all-timer examples and take some notes on 'em" hahaha? These creatives don't seem to care about making timeless art that will stand strong for generations to come. It's about making a few dollars off of already-uber distracted audiences. SO glad marketing departments are in charge of writing rooms these days.

Personally speaking, my hope is that some young hotshot college student out there, who perhaps appreciates retro and is inspired by the great, timeless stories of yesteryear (ya know, ones that contain real poignant allegories that make you think, universal themes, deep character growth that's earned), watches these modern day video game programs and says FUCK THIS. Someone, someday, will be inspired to do better when they're in the Hollywood captain's chair, right? You're telling me there's a chance??

Re: DSC S3: Su'Kal

"A season of initial promise seems to be disintegrating before our eyes, just as crunch time has arrived."
Just like season 1 and 2. And just like Picard did. I can't stop watching but it hurts.

Re: DSC S3: Unification III

Jammer, you’re way too kind to this show, and the franchise as currently produced haha. I re-read your DS9 and VOY reviews while watching those old episodes when they pop up on TV and I wonder if we have gotten so far away from REAL Star Trek that we are just now “going with it” and conceding that a certain level of quality will never again return, so we might as well just try to enjoy what we have. And I mention DS9 and VOY specifically because they represent the spectrum of “quality” and “subpar” that you so effectively called out week after week 20 years ago! I’m not sure how the same guy who could spot all the flaws of VOY so astutely can just sit back and wave off the glaring idiocy of this Discovery program, or Picard for that matter haha! You’re a better man than I, dude. Thanks anyway for your reviews of course. I’ve enjoyed your content for years. Keep doing what you do!

Re: DS9 S3: Destiny

@Elliot

Props to you for following this thread for LITERALLY a decade, that's some serious commitment. Its longer than DS9 was even on the air!

Re: DSC S3: Forget Me Not

Solid episode. 3/4 stars

Adira storyline was well acted and interesting, although somewhat contrived. Of course Mary Sue Burnham had to tag along to be an integral part of the solution... again. I also found there was a lot to digest in a very short time frame; begs soooo many questions, especially when we have a setting that's 900 years in the future. It's like nothing much has changed.... in 900 years! The worldbuilding has not been strong over these past 4 eps. Am I the only one expecting so much more, I don't know, creativity? 🤔 not a whole lot of Star Trekking in this so far, mostly due to The Burn I guess... kinda disappointing for the 32nd century.

Really enjoyed the dinner scene. Some good conflict and intense interpersonal moments, save for Georgiou 🙄, ugh what a waste of a very talented actress.

And that was a whole lot of cheese at the end with their movie night. Crappy black and white film from what, the 50s?? Everyone laughing their asses off every two seconds? Yeesh. So cringy.

Still a very good episode.

Re: DSC S3: Far From Home

This show’s obsession with Michael Burnham knows no end.

I was enjoying the episode. Tonally, it was a complete mess as usual. You have the very poignant, heart-felt dialogue rubbing up against sarcastic one-liners and random swearing. You have the conversations about peaceful values and non-violent ideals juxtaposed with Leland’s brains splattered over the floor and people being phasered through the chest. Then you have Saru’s measured and considerate approach undermined by Georgiou’s one-dimensional eye-rollingly comic book dialogue. But it was nice to see the crew pulling together, even when the earnest speeches about how good everyone is still don’t feel earned considering barely anyone on the bridge has a character.

But I was enjoying it a hell of a lot more than last week...until the final minute where Burnham turns up to save the day YET AGAIN. This show specialises in making her the centre of absolutely everything. Ship in trouble? Burnham has the solution. Character having a crisis of faith? A talk with Burnham settles it. Need to remind Starfleet of its values? Burnham can do that. Never mind that she is tied in with Spock, that her mother is the Red Angel, that she becomes the Red Angel and that she leads the Discovery to the future. Now she rescues them from the ice, making all their efforts pointless. And of course she’s been in the future for a year, so the crew will be entirely dependent on her vastly superior knowledge of this future.

I’m guessing she will solve the dillithium issue or outright reverse The Burn by the end of this season. Even when TNG leaned into more Data and Picard shows by the end of its run, or Enterprise’s constant pattern of having Archer put in prison, it never felt like the rest of the cast was completely side-lined the way they are on Discovery. This show is at pains to tell us that these characters are uber nerds and super smart. Yet it’s always Burnham who motivates them, helps them or overshadows them entirely. Just call it Star Trek: Burnham.

Re: DS9 S3: Past Tense, Part II

Sorry, this episode was bullshit. The mantra of "we want jobs" as if that was the solution to an entire system of exploitation, theft and slavery is simply an endorsement of that system, with the problem lying in the administration of it rather than the inherent structure of it and the type of thinking behind it. The writers were not even brave enough to say that everyone is entitled to a reasonable standard of living, endorsing the guilt-ridden consensus of American society that sacrifice is a requirement of living.

Re: TNG S7: Attached

Loved it. Well written, fun alien story and that long overdue view of what these two think of each other. The movies dropped this storyline altogether, but I'm hopeful we can see Gates again and get some resolution in season 2 of Picard!

Re: Sobering and trivial reflections on a 25th anniversary

@Booming - A very good response, thank you for that.

@James White - Regardless of the mortality rate, the fact is that a huge amount of people get very very sick, even if they do eventually recover. Right now, 14% of NYC police officers are out sick with COVID. That one out of every 7. And that number will go up, given the very long recovery times. EMTs, nurses, and doctors are facing similar crises in their ranks. The whole goal of society shutting down the way it has is to try and ensure that we can keep certain vital sectors (like police, food supply, and medical workers) from total collapse while we slow (not stop) the spread. It will also save lives, but arguably that isn't even the point.

If you don't trust American media to not exaggerate and be sensationalist (and I don't entirely blame you for that), then I encourage you to use google translate on some Italian media or Spanish media. The full scope of the problem is hard to grasp.