Active discussions

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Feminism: Sex and gender discussions

Feminism: chat

See all MNHQ comments on this thread

Original poster

Star Trek: Discovery Spoilers!!!

62 replies

ISaySteadyOn · 28/09/2017 11:54

First glimpse of Starfleet officers in the first fifteen minutes are two women, a captain and a first officer. Not only that, but the first thing they talk about is if they are lost or not. Seems a good start so far.

With all the bad news going round, I just wanted to share something good.

OP posts:
vioso · 28/09/2017 22:20

I am with you all how great it is to see two female leads, but

  • one of them is killed off very soon, and from what other posters say, replaced by a male character
  • apart from the leads, there seems to be only one other female character on the bridge so far (and she has not really said anything yet)
  • so that means even 300 years in the future the 50:50 sex representation is not achieved
  • all or nearly all of the Klingons seem to be male, if they have male/female sexes at all, who knows !
And what seriously annoys me in many many current films / TV series - every female character is perfectly groomed and made up, even in the most challenging situation. I mean, just back from the sick bay, defending the ship, but the lipstick and eye make-up is perfectly applied ? How realistic is this ?
Original poster
ISaySteadyOn · 28/09/2017 19:46

I guessed from the credits. Rats, rats, rats though. I was hoping that it was because Burnham was going to command the Enterprise and Giorgiou would stay on the Shenzhou and pop up to offer mentor ly wisdom every so often.

OP posts:
EllaHen · 28/09/2017 19:40

I think I read on 'A Mighty Girl' ages ago that the lead was going to be a female First Officer. Like, it's the first time the Captain isn't the main character.

I quite like that.

MrsFionaCharming · 28/09/2017 19:40

On a similar note, has any watched any of Orville? I was fully prepared to hate it, but I thought it was actually quite good, especially episode 3 which was a very Trek worth ethical dilemma based on sexism.

EllaHen · 28/09/2017 19:38

We all watched the other night. Even watched the 'After Trek' after show talk show thing.

Jason Isaacs is going to be the new Captain. Don't think this is a spoiler, we saw a trailer during the football last night.

Anyway, thumbs up from us so far.

MrsFionaCharming · 28/09/2017 19:36

It is annoying that they start of pushing the female lead thing, just to kill one off and replace her (presumably) with Jason Isaacs. I feel mislead!

SerendipityFelix · 28/09/2017 19:30

Argh sorry for spoilering you! She was billed as 'guest star' though.

Faffandahalf · 28/09/2017 19:29

I'm so annoyed Michelle Yeoh has been killed off.
The relationship between the two leads was fantastic and would have made a great show to watch. i think Yeoh brought a gravitas to the whole thing which I think will be lacking with just Burnham

Original poster
ISaySteadyOn · 28/09/2017 19:24

I have only seen half of episode 1 and I just got so enthusiastic about the two women. And dammit, I:suspected Michelle Yeoh's character would die and was already grumpy about that as I would completely have watched a show with her as Captain.

OP posts:
MrsFionaCharming · 28/09/2017 19:19

Not massive in the grand scheme of things, but DP pointed out - the women's uniform boots aren't high heels! I always thought it was stupid that all the women were in heels and Kira / B'Elanna would have chosen much more practical shoes.

SerendipityFelix · 28/09/2017 19:05

It does pass Bechdel from the off, and incredibly refreshing to see 2 women (and women of colour no less) in senior positions and their sex is not the issue. I also appreciated the contrast between the 2 senior officers (female) commenting "and what does the soldier in you say?" (paraphrasing - but it indicated Capt Georgiou a military background) and later a junior officer (male) asking "why are we fighting? We're explorers not soldiers".

I'm still on the fence about it on the whole..... just listening to the feminist freqcast on the first 2 episodes and they are making some excellent points about essentialist racism portrayed. Plus LtC Burnham isn't exactly in anyone's good books by the end of ep 2, and very sad they SPOILER killed off Michelle Yeoh so quickly!

I am reserving judgement and looking forward to the next eps though.

Original poster
ISaySteadyOn · 28/09/2017 11:55

In other words, in the first fifteen minutes, it shows two women in high positions and passes the Bechtel test.

OP posts: