Doing something different to make a program better can be a good thing but changing Star Trek into a Broadway Musical is NOT one of them. This episode was reminiscent of Cop Rock (which was a disaster) or as some have mentioned Buffy the Vampire Slayer episode "Once More With Feeling." Since it was playing online I was able to skip listening to most of the singing. But the premise that an improbability subspace field would cause a crew to break out into a singing production where everyone is singing the same lyrics and dancing to the same choreography is ridiculous! It really has no place in Star Trek. I mean what is next? Do we have a Star Trek Sitcom episode like Friends or Cheers where the crew meets at Quarks, drink raktajino, and tell jokes in front of a live audience?
This episode has really "jumped the shark" IMHO (see: Happy Days, Jumping the Shark). Now I realize that younger viewers will disagree with my POV and that is fine. And if they had made a one off special with the cast singing that had nothing to do with a Star Trek story, that "might" have been better. But working a Broadway show into a Star Trek episode shows just how far off the rails Kurtzman et al have gone. To their credit they have toned down the JJ Abrams lens flares since STD (aka Disco to some) but if they really want to make this show a real success (and I have been hoping each week would get even better) they need new leadership and definately better writers. I doubt Gene Roddenberry would ever have considered much less allowed such an episode as this one to be made. Having watched Star Trek from the beginning I have seen the recent changes in what the newer production staff have created and sadly it lacks creativity, intelligence, and continuity of the franchise. If I want to see a Broadway Show I go to the theater, not to next weeks Star Trek adventure.
It is also sad to note that in this episode, references to Dr. Korby (Christine's old flame) and Carol Marcus (Kirk's old flame) are introduced yet that was glazed over and barely explored as a plot point. That would have been interesting. However, if the writing continues on its current trajectory I see SNW heading to the rubbish bin with STD.
This episode has really "jumped the shark" IMHO (see: Happy Days, Jumping the Shark). Now I realize that younger viewers will disagree with my POV and that is fine. And if they had made a one off special with the cast singing that had nothing to do with a Star Trek story, that "might" have been better. But working a Broadway show into a Star Trek episode shows just how far off the rails Kurtzman et al have gone. To their credit they have toned down the JJ Abrams lens flares since STD (aka Disco to some) but if they really want to make this show a real success (and I have been hoping each week would get even better) they need new leadership and definately better writers. I doubt Gene Roddenberry would ever have considered much less allowed such an episode as this one to be made. Having watched Star Trek from the beginning I have seen the recent changes in what the newer production staff have created and sadly it lacks creativity, intelligence, and continuity of the franchise. If I want to see a Broadway Show I go to the theater, not to next weeks Star Trek adventure.
It is also sad to note that in this episode, references to Dr. Korby (Christine's old flame) and Carol Marcus (Kirk's old flame) are introduced yet that was glazed over and barely explored as a plot point. That would have been interesting. However, if the writing continues on its current trajectory I see SNW heading to the rubbish bin with STD.