Hi all! Long time Star Trek fan here with my first post. I’m gonna start out by saying that I promise I’m not a hater of Discovery at all. It just has done nothing for me and from what I read, has not made any changes that would have solved my personal issues with it. I’m fine with others liking it and honestly wish that I did too. I would love to be in on the discussion but… it’s just not my cup of tea from what I’ve seen.
Anyway, my question is, do I need to have caught up with Disco to watch SNW? I have heard from other people who are like minded to me (who couldn’t get into disco, but aren’t straight up haters either) that they enjoyed SNW despite not really liking Disco. That makes me excited, I would love to have a new trek show that I can enjoy. But I don’t want to jump in and not understand certain things because I haven’t kept up with Disco.
I’d appreciate any feedback. Also, if you feel I should give Disco another go, let me know. Even if it’s just certain fan-favorite episodes, I’d be willing to give them a shot. Like I said, not a total hater, just not into it. I wish that I was!
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I don’t think you need to watch Discovery to enjoy Strange New Worlds. There might be a few things established in the lore/backstory from Discovery, but any “confusion” from those references will quickly dissipate. SNW makes it easy to see it as a distinct show in a new/expanded telling of a known crew/time.
I will add that there will be stylistic choices in the production that will take a little getting used to, but remember that just about every Star Trek show has done this. Enjoy the story!
Absolutely not. SNW stands on its own quite well. Sure, watching Disco will fill in some details for you, but SNW covers the key points by itself. You will not be left scratching your head if you watch SNW without watching Disco.
No, there’s an offhand mention or two, but nothing impactful. The most important tie is Pike being aware of his fate, but they recap that pretty thoroughly.
I have never seen Discovery and SNW is very enjoyable. I am sure I am missing context, but I don’t think it is significant enough to make Discovery mandatory.
“Significant enough” are the key words here.
No, while watching S2 of Discovery will give you a bit of context, it won’t make SNW not understandable if you don’t.
Not only do you not need to catch up with Disco, but the end of season 2 of Disco doesn’t dovetail to the beginning of Strange New Worlds super-well when you watch them back-to-back; if anything, they feel like they lightly contradict each other.
Though if I were to recommend a single episode it would be “Through the Valley of Shadows” from season 2, which is probably the only “important” episode as far as Strange New Worlds goes, though the key stuff gets recapped in SNW.
The Short Treks episode Q&A gets some references in the series too, though if you don’t watch it you likely won’t realize you missed anything.
I started watching SNW with having only finished S1 of Disco. After a couple of episodes, I decided I wanted to know the references.
I enjoyed S2 of Disco much more than S1 and that was 90+% because of the SNW cast being introduced.
Everything I didn’t like about Disconwas still there, but less of it.
In retrospect, I would have appreciated your advice. There were some good episodes but most of it was unnecessary.
I started watching SNW with having only finished S1 of Disco. After a couple of episodes, I decided I wanted to know the references.
I enjoyed S2 of Disco much more than S1 and that was 90+% because of the SNW cast being introduced.
Everything I didn’t like about Disconwas still there, but less of it.
In retrospect, I would have appreciated your advice. There were some good episodes but most of it was unnecessary.
No. I didnt enjoy Discovery yet I’ve enjoyed SNW. You dont need to know much on Discovery to get into SNW anyway.
I think the first episode of SNW will hook you. So good.
The light does seem brighter after walking in the dark for a while, but SNW is bright enough by itself, so you don’t need to torture yourself with STD before.
Juvenile chuckle at referring to Disco as “STD”
There is backstory established in DIS season 2 that carry-over into SNW.
I watched Discovery after finishing SNW season 2.
That first season of Discovery was rough but season 2 gets going right and proper. I hated Saru but now they’re my GOAT.
I say watch one episode of each.
I’ve only watched the first episode of seasons 1 and 3 of Discovery I wanted to like it but I kept falling asleep. I tried a few times.
I watched all of Strange New Worlds and only fell asleep during one episode which I rewatced later without trouble. I highly recommend SNW.
PS: I’m under 50 and yes my metric for judgement when it comes to TV is “would I rather be sleeping?”
I’m 27 and I run with the same metric! Lmao. I tried watching Star Trek: Beyond three times because people kept saying it was the better JJ film and all three times I fell asleep about a quarter of the way in so I just gave up.
I really like Discovery seasons 4&5 but totally with you on Beyond. The fact that I enjoyed it more than '09 and Into Darkness isn’t the same thing as being actually enjoyable…
I feel so validated. :). Star Trek Beyond… I tried twice and didn’t last through the ATV action scene either time.
Nope! I saw all of SNW before I watched discovery. Very different shows for sure. Definitely watch both!
Yes. Not all of it, just the first 2 seasons. People saying no are forgetting Pike learning something about himself in Discovery is basically his prime motivator throughout SNW. It is a fundamental pillar of his character.
Spock has some important backstory in Disco as well. Good for general star trek edification but not necessary to enjoy spock as a character in SNW.
Hard disagree. I never made it past the second episode of Disco and I completely understand what’s going on in SNW.
Everyone who has asked me that I’ve told them simply: “You know what happens to Pike? Well, now he does too.”
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