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Early Buzz on Star Trek: Discovery Hits Following Premiere

Who's the best crew member, does it feel like Trek, and what did William Shatner think?

by | September 20, 2017 | Comments

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Star Trek: Discovery premiered at the ArcLight theater in Hollywood on Tuesday night and flooded the internet with red carpet moments and reactions from people who saw the first two episodes of the new series.

Set 10 years before The Original Series, Discovery stars The Walking Dead’s Sonequa Martin-Green as first officer Michael Burnham to Michelle Yeoh‘s Captain Georgiou and Jason Isaacs as Captain Gabriel Lorca. Other cast includes Doug Jones, Shazad Latif, Anthony Rapp, Mary Chieffo and Maulik Pancholy, with James Frain as Sarek (Spock’s father) and Rainn Wilson portraying franchise favorite character Harry Mudd.

Beam down to the red carpet yourself with some reactions from those that attended the premiere.

IS IT OLD OR NEW?

Discovery is not the earliest take on Star Trek. That would be Enterprise, but does coming before the original ’60s series make it feel old or new?

It definitely seems like Discovery is aware of modern media like podcasts.

HOW’S THE NEW CREW?

The most important part of any Star Trek is the crew, which were also the night’s big winners.

WHICH TREK SERIES IS IT MOST LIKE?

Easy. Deep Space Nine.

DOES IT WORK AS A CONTINUING STORY?

Most Star Trek shows told new stories every week, with the occasional two-parter (making fans wait all summer for “Best of Both Worlds Part 2.”) Discovery is one continuing story, and people who saw the first two can’t wait to see more. The previews of upcoming episodes weren’t enough.

ARE THE MODERN VISUAL EFFECTS BETTER?

Jason Isaacs as Captain Gabriel Lorca. STAR TREK: DISCOVERY

Sure, you can throw all the newfangled computer special effects at Star Trek, but isn’t part of what makes it Trek the old-school approach? Sounds like Discovery has, ahem, the best of both worlds.

CAN YOU GET THE THEME SONG OUT OF YOUR HEAD?

The Original Series and The Next Generation have the most hummable theme songs, but let’s see how Discovery ranks after you hear it over a dozen times.

WILL PEOPLE SUBSCRIBE TO CBS ALL ACCESS FOR IT?

Yes. Yes, they will. Some fans have been reluctant to pay for CBS’s streaming service, on which all subsequent episodes of Star Trek: Discovery will debut after the series premiere. The opening two hours were enough to make subscribers out of some.

DID THE ENTERPRISE GREATS APPROVE?

Star Trek: Discovery knows it stands on the shoulders of giants. So they invited as many of those giants as they could to see the new show. Fortunately, they gave their blessing, with William Shatner playfully ribbing Isaacs.

The Nimoy family attended the premiere representing late actor Leonard Nimoy who played Spock in The Original Series and in numerous films.

And Sam Witwer was actually Sloth #3 on an episode of Enterprise, so once in a Trekker always a Trekker.

DISCOVERY CAST MEMBERS MADE IT SO

It was their big night, the first time anyone saw their work, and they were humbled by the experience.

THE PRESS WERE KIND

Based on these reactions from press, expect Star Trek: Discovery to be Certified Fresh once official reviews are compiled by Rotten Tomatoes when the embargo lifts Sunday night.

Star Trek: Discovery premieres on Sunday, Sept. 24 at 8:30 p.m. ET on CBS and CBS All Access.

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