Star Trek: Discovery

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Season 2
Season #: 5, 4, 3, 2, 1
User Score
5.1

Mixed or average reviews- based on 251 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 116 out of 251
  2. Mixed: 20 out of 251
  3. Negative: 115 out of 251
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User Reviews

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  1. QueB
    Feb 24, 2019
    3
    Let me start by saying this. I LOVED season 1. It was like Game of Thrones in space! I'm a lover of all things Star Trek, so I loved the fresh on the series that was for the first time dark, and it kept getting darker. The plot twists were absolutely fantastic and well thought out. This felt like the best series since Star Trek TNG. But low and behold, the Trekkies who want nostalgia hadLet me start by saying this. I LOVED season 1. It was like Game of Thrones in space! I'm a lover of all things Star Trek, so I loved the fresh on the series that was for the first time dark, and it kept getting darker. The plot twists were absolutely fantastic and well thought out. This felt like the best series since Star Trek TNG. But low and behold, the Trekkies who want nostalgia had to ruin it. I knew once they fire the producers of the first season I knew it was going downhill.

    The first season had its issues, but for the most part, the amazing storyline and plot kept it moving, now without the grimness of war with amazing sci-fi ideas and space exploration mixed in, the series is left with trying to be the old Star Treks which like "Enterprise" it fails MISERABLY short. The captain is a total pushover; there is endless drama with no payoff or consequences and surreal teaching moments every five minutes. It's almost like the writing is done by committee and we are getting a grimacing look at just how undeveloped the characters are. It's almost as if they have lost their focus and now things are just being thrown on the wall.

    So I vehemently disagree with the Trekkies who didn't like the first season. I am not beholden to the past, but what I am beholden too is good watchable sci-fi, and this isn't it.    … Expand
  2. helohe
    Feb 8, 2019
    3
    Given the fact how awfully bad Season 1 was. There has been quite an improvement in this season. Maybe only the fact that now we have Captain Pike makes this already better. As this new character is way better than anything from season 1 and it got some nice TOS feel about it. Also so far they went back to the traditional star trek way of having each episode a different story which makesGiven the fact how awfully bad Season 1 was. There has been quite an improvement in this season. Maybe only the fact that now we have Captain Pike makes this already better. As this new character is way better than anything from season 1 and it got some nice TOS feel about it. Also so far they went back to the traditional star trek way of having each episode a different story which makes it already more interesting. The whole boring klingon arc is out of the way now. So far so good. Will update again if I know more.
    Not too sure what to think about them putting Spock into the show as this looks like just some kind of fan-service (which is something I mostly hate). And the trailers for the new season sucked quite a lot. But so far not much of the suckiness in the show.    … Expand
  3. mikelondres
    Feb 28, 2019
    3
    I enjoyed season 1, although not as much as any of the seasons of Star Trek Voyager, or Star Trek Enterprise, but this second season is boring.
  4. Bennytwotimes
    Jan 28, 2019
    3
    Overwrought nonsense. Obviously written by committee. They seem to want a moment of deep significance every minute or two. In the end this leaves none of those moments little significance. It needs a moment to breathe. The production values are high and the cast seems capable but the terrible writing holds it back. Also there is constant pandering.
  5. capt_morgan
    Jan 23, 2019
    3
    The reason why people used to like certain science fiction shows/movies was that many contained some concept of possibility based on actual science. Isaac Asimov, Arthur C. Clarke, Gene Roddenberry and others had a keen interest in science and theory. The new generation of QUILTBAG writers and liberal arts drama students throwing around absurd concepts, twists and spins for the sake ofThe reason why people used to like certain science fiction shows/movies was that many contained some concept of possibility based on actual science. Isaac Asimov, Arthur C. Clarke, Gene Roddenberry and others had a keen interest in science and theory. The new generation of QUILTBAG writers and liberal arts drama students throwing around absurd concepts, twists and spins for the sake of controversy that make people go huh? When the story gets bad enough, throw in lots of shaking loud explosions and effects that blind the eye and deaf the ear. This new Star Trek is just that, a filler for the modern brain void.… Expand
  6. ComandanteCobra
    Mar 25, 2019
    3
    Get to the point: It's worse than first season and does not feel like Star Trek.
    Christopher Pike is great and believable in the role..but others characters are not likable....they are all similar to each other , have very basic story (like a pre-generated NPC of an pen and paper RPG) and are all forcefully "misfits" to try to appeal audience.
    Michael is ...well... the definition of a    Get to the point: It's worse than first season and does not feel like Star Trek.
    Christopher Pike is great and believable in the role..but others characters are not likable....they are all similar to each other , have very basic story (like a pre-generated NPC of an pen and paper RPG) and are all forcefully "misfits" to try to appeal audience.
    Michael is ...well... the definition of a Mary sue in a Star Trek Fanfiction and. Spock is always angry, agitated and full of emotion.    … Expand
  7. abm0
    Feb 3, 2019
    3
    Pretty much what you'd expect, judging by season 1: more overly dramatized action, every character acting like a rock star (reminds me of the terrible characters from Now You See Me), way too many explosions and nick-of-time resolutions, Hollywood-esque camera movements trying to make everything look cool because the content itself isn't, plus boring "high-minded" speeches all over thePretty much what you'd expect, judging by season 1: more overly dramatized action, every character acting like a rock star (reminds me of the terrible characters from Now You See Me), way too many explosions and nick-of-time resolutions, Hollywood-esque camera movements trying to make everything look cool because the content itself isn't, plus boring "high-minded" speeches all over the place. Visual production still looks great, but that alone can't save this catastrophe of a show. Now I can't even stand to see Sonequa Martin-Green's face anymore because I've associated her so strongly with her obnoxious smug holier-than-thou I-can-talk-over-anybody character from this show.… Expand
  8. GodBeliever
    Feb 15, 2019
    3
    Okay, it is much better than first season, but:
    1. What religion and hallucinations have to do with reallity and science fiction?
    2. Still cannot understand what mission they carry out. 3. Not very interesting plot. 4. Yeah, i agree, it is rather magic than science here. Let is see what will happen in next episodes. At least there is no gay story line, which was ridiculous, because    Okay, it is much better than first season, but:
    1. What religion and hallucinations have to do with reallity and science fiction?
    2. Still cannot understand what mission they carry out.
    3. Not very interesting plot.
    4. Yeah, i agree, it is rather magic than science here.
    Let is see what will happen in next episodes.
    At least there is no gay story line, which was ridiculous, because they can turn a klingon into a human, but cannot change DNA/mend mind to cure all gays. And don`t tell me this is not illness, in distant future it will be.    … Expand
  9. tkarrde
    Jan 26, 2019
    3
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. I just cancelled my amazon cbs all access channel over episode 2 of this season. I wanted to like this season, and I waited until the second episode to see if I could figure out if the problems would continue or it was just episode 1. The problem is that the red angel story seems to be a way to dig at religion, not christianity, but all religion even the religions of those that are spiritual but not religious.

    Adding pike and all the other changes don't make up for this, because of the fundamental problem with the show -- Micheal Burnham. The main character who no one challenges in anyway. In episode two Michael was very vocal about religion being a lie. She was backed up by another person on the away team, and Pike seemed to be the counter point, but really did nothing and didn't openly challenge her.

    What is worse is Burnham is a hypocryte, both from a star trek cannon perspective and season one perspective. She is religious. She believes in the katra or spirit which was established in season one. Her logic is a religion. So for her to dump on Buddhism specifically makes her pretty hypocritical since is very close to her beliefs. On top of that TOS Movies, TNG, and Enterprise specifically refer to the vulcan logic as their religion.

    So Burnham at best comes off as a religious zealot that does not care about others beliefs. At worst because no one challenges her ever -- that religion is a lie is the writer's perspective and that this is a lecture to the watcher.    … Expand
  10. Finnie
    Apr 13, 2019
    3
    A poorly executed show centred around the unbelievable, unlikable character of Michael Burnham. The adage ‘when the centre becomes periphery, the periphery becomes central’ applies here. The central pillars of star trek and sci fi are moved to the periphery to make way for the god like character of Burnham.
    Burnham greedily hogs every scene, every plot line, makes each decision, solves    A poorly executed show centred around the unbelievable, unlikable character of Michael Burnham. The adage ‘when the centre becomes periphery, the periphery becomes central’ applies here. The central pillars of star trek and sci fi are moved to the periphery to make way for the god like character of Burnham.
    Burnham greedily hogs every scene, every plot line, makes each decision, solves each mystery and defeats every enemy with dreary predictably.
    STD’s dialogue is poorly written and never feels genuine. Pseudo emotional monologues alternate between wooden exchanges where characters finish each other’s sentences. Conversations are scripted in a strange way, describing what is happening for the benefit of the viewing audience rather than depicting genuine interactions. Plots are absurd; based around fantasy and magic instead of science fiction. The writing is a politically over-corrected mess, where male characters are given diminished standing and respect. Continuity has been abandoned; plot holes and contradictions litter each poorly written episode.

    There are glimpses of genuine star trek and elements of a good show but these only serve to remind ‘what could have been’.    … Expand
  11. Wsg1138
    Mar 2, 2020
    3
    After a truly underrated first season, Discovery mostly lives down to its haters ire in its second. Filled with distracting callbacks and wildly uneven characterization and plotting, what starts as an ambitious yet very clunky story of mystery and exploration ultimately devolves into a dunderheaded Terminator knockoff.
  12. nkuk
    Feb 12, 2019
    2
    Urgh, this show is so tedious to watch, its overly reliant on CGI and lacks storyline, originality and a compelling script. The production is great and you can see they've spent a lot on the post-production, but the acting, script and "feel" of Star Trek is lacking. I've lost interest in it now.
  13. Phredator
    Jan 22, 2019
    2
    Building an episode around a series of "cool scenes" is not a substitute for storytelling.
    Battlestar Galactica has cool launch tubes for fighters, let's put cool launch tubes on Discovery. But Discovery has this huge shuttle bay door that a dozen fighters could launch out of. Never mind that, I want launch tubes! Better call them pods instead of fighters though. And can you make them    Building an episode around a series of "cool scenes" is not a substitute for storytelling.
    Battlestar Galactica has cool launch tubes for fighters, let's put cool launch tubes on Discovery. But Discovery has this huge shuttle bay door that a dozen fighters could launch out of. Never mind that, I want launch tubes! Better call them pods instead of fighters though. And can you make them twirl about when they fly? It will look really cool. Even if it's meaningless.
    Star Wars had a chase through an asteroid field, let's have characters drive recklessly through an asteroid field, for no reason.
    Jet packs are always cool. Lets do that.
    Characters repelling down a cliff are cool, let's do that. Even though we have jet packs and don't need to repel ever.
    Let's be insubordinate to the Captain and tell him he's wrong. Zero consequences for that behaviour.
    Babylon 5 had a cool quirky character Zathras who could fix anything. Let's get one of those. Make it female this time though. Not nearly enough female characters in the show. Note to self, let's kill off a make character as often as possible.
    Trek people like references from previous shows. Let's mention Tribbles. Even though Tribbles were unheard of to the crew of the Enterprise ten years later.
    Let's sneeze in the elevator. Sneezes are always funny.
    Let's have a big big story about this red thing. It's scary and dangerous. Why? Why do our characters think it is scary or dangerous? Never mind, it just is. Have a Tribble question boy.

    All of the above is no substitute for a story, let alone a good story.
    Take $50k - $100k out of the special effects budget and use it to PAY A WRITER for a good story.    … Expand
  14. pizzapicante27
    Apr 20, 2019
    2
    If STD was only bland that would be one thing, but the series went out of its way this season to completely disrespect Srat Trek, enough is enough, Im out, I've had 50 years of Star Trek stories, all good things must come to an end.
  15. Commanderfox
    Jul 24, 2019
    2
    I rather watch Enterprise, which I thought wasn’t the greatest series but didn’t think Star Trek could get any worse......and than you create discovery.
  16. mortendynamo
    Jan 23, 2019
    1
    I had some hope that they would listen to the critics they received for the first season, but sadly no.. Being an avid Star Trek fan this feels like a big joke. I recommend you instead watch the Orville as its much closer to the Star Trek spirit.
  17. Styke
    Feb 8, 2020
    1
    The ending of the second season is possibly the most baffling thing I've ever seen. And I've watched some pretty bizarre things on netflix and youtube, but this takes the cake. I have a hard time believing this actors managed to say these words without cracking up. Like, I'm more interested in obtaining a script from the final two episodes than actually re-watching the show. In twentyThe ending of the second season is possibly the most baffling thing I've ever seen. And I've watched some pretty bizarre things on netflix and youtube, but this takes the cake. I have a hard time believing this actors managed to say these words without cracking up. Like, I'm more interested in obtaining a script from the final two episodes than actually re-watching the show. In twenty years people will be re-watching DS9 and TNG but not a single soul will be watching Discovery.… Expand
  18. shoulderoforion
    Feb 7, 2019
    1
    *** update 2/7 Just fast forwarded through the majority of the nonsense episode that was on tonight.
    This show is unintelligible garbage. reducing my score to 1 *** Different tone right out of the gate, this first episode left me feeling like I got slapped around, but not in the bad way. Kept betting with myself which one of Pike's crew was gonna buy it, the minute they started lecturing    *** update 2/7 Just fast forwarded through the majority of the nonsense episode that was on tonight.
    This show is unintelligible garbage. reducing my score to 1 *** Different tone right out of the gate, this first episode left me feeling like I got slapped around, but not in the bad way. Kept betting with myself which one of Pike's crew was gonna buy it, the minute they started lecturing I knew who it was, lol. Didn't much care for season 1, but I'll still tune in to see if this progress I'm feeling continues. Boldly.    … Expand
  19. thedarkbird
    Feb 7, 2019
    1
    Season 2. O boy. I could make this a long review by describing how bad the acting is, how annoying the constant supposedly 'funny' one-liners are, how ridiculous the story is, how absurd the science-talk sounds, how mind numbing the action is, how uninteresting the characters are and how void this second season is of any emotionally engaging content...

    But I'm not going to do that and    Season 2. O boy. I could make this a long review by describing how bad the acting is, how annoying the constant supposedly 'funny' one-liners are, how ridiculous the story is, how absurd the science-talk sounds, how mind numbing the action is, how uninteresting the characters are and how void this second season is of any emotionally engaging content...

    But I'm not going to do that and just say: don't waste your time on this. If you had your doubts about the first season then this second one will sink your expectation into a super massive black hole.    … Expand
  20. james-cordoban
    May 3, 2019
    1
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. Season one was already bad, but season two we watched with lots of fast forward and still it was hardly bearable. The story writing is unbelievably cheap - plot motives which have been seen hundreds of times before are condensed together. Emotional kitsch lined up in a never ending row. Effects are nice though, but thats about it. Better watch the Orville.… Expand
  21. Jexter
    Jan 20, 2019
    1
    If you are a long-time Star Trek fan and loved earlier shows, you will probably hate what they have done with the franchise. However, if you are a new fan, for example coming to the series from the newer films, you might like it more. Your expectations are going to be different. That said, I simply cannot stomach the show, as I consider myself a fan of TNG and DS9 in particular, but alsoIf you are a long-time Star Trek fan and loved earlier shows, you will probably hate what they have done with the franchise. However, if you are a new fan, for example coming to the series from the newer films, you might like it more. Your expectations are going to be different. That said, I simply cannot stomach the show, as I consider myself a fan of TNG and DS9 in particular, but also like Voyager and some movies. I even look back to Enterprise more fondly after this travesty.

    Extreme negatives:
    - Unlikable Mary Sue-like protagonist
    - Uninteresting cast of idiots destroying immersion of competent Star Fleet
    - No regard to the lore
    - No regard to the setting
    - No regard to the original characters
    - Ignoring science

    Positives:
    - High production quality
    - Sound and effects    … Expand
  22. GarethB
    Apr 19, 2019
    1
    Star Trek - Too Dumb, Too Furious..... I didn't think it was possible to be worse than season one, but they did it.... well done! Featuring an AI that wants to become an AI.... Time crystals - laziest sci fi trope they could think of that you would think those dastardly Klingons could have some use for in the future ..... Spock has special needs...... more sonar in space....... section 31Star Trek - Too Dumb, Too Furious..... I didn't think it was possible to be worse than season one, but they did it.... well done! Featuring an AI that wants to become an AI.... Time crystals - laziest sci fi trope they could think of that you would think those dastardly Klingons could have some use for in the future ..... Spock has special needs...... more sonar in space....... section 31 is the public face of starfleet..... awful dialogue....... over the top CGI and shaky cam....... theres so much i could go on forever. Save yourself some hassle and go watch TNG, DS9, Voyager, TOS, The Orville or The Expanse.… Expand
  23. wodan1234
    Feb 2, 2019
    1
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. To give it 2 points is way to gentle.
    It deserved MINUS-12 !

    So far i watched all of season 1 and all of what we got so far for season 2.
    Thankfully i escaped the Short Treks, because Netflix Germany wasn't stupid enough to take them AS PRESENT!
    And not only did it got worse, for example the weird religious stuff that doesn't belong in Trek or to Captain Pike. (Who is neither very religious nor a "fun guy" on duty).
    Or the unstable psycho-killer named Spock.
    Yes, yes THAT HAPPENED! Hes a Psycho killer according to STD.

    Watching episode 3 however really killed all hope, that this show will get any better. The Kling-Orcs ( Who seem to live in 8th Century, Valhalla) look worse than ever with hair.
    Nope.

    "Space Hitler" now rules the "Space Gestapo" (Section 31) , without any reasoning as to how they gave her that posting.

    And that stupid Ghost-friend that Tilly met, just went full bor racist, when she was expecting Lorca or "at least Kirk"( How did she even know him? Even Tilly doesn't know him!)
    By describing James. T Kirk, as the "Much whiter and much much blonder" GUY.
    #TheUeberArian.

    Also that fake body positivity theme, really went sour when chubby Tilly outran an entire staff of much slimmer and fitter extras, in a half marathon.
    Which she should have lost, for falling back and talking with her Ghost-Friend.
    And you could actually see how those extras did "run" extra slow.
    But off course, afterwards she got the SJW typical, "TRIPPLE AFFIRMATION!" within 2 Minutes.
    Oh yeah, that "Friend" of hers, was actually a "Spore infection".
    What the hell?

    Also "off course" ;) Burnham, not only is a splendid astronomer, test-pilot, Power-Girl (For surviving 9 G for ELEVEN Minutes!) Nooo! Oh no... That wouldn't be sufficient for "the bestest person Evaaar".
    She's also a "Xeno-Antropologist"... Ja...
    **** you CBS...

    "Jim! Its Dead!"    … Expand
  24. c0nsume
    Jan 21, 2019
    1
    Visually stunning and very well made, but it's moving more towards a fantasy format rather than sci-fi and personally I found it just.. lame. The characters seem unprofessional and under-qualified. The science of the technology seems childish and uninspiring. Shame really.
  25. RONSAIDIT
    Mar 18, 2019
    1
    don't like the main character Michael Burnham , the acting is bad the story is bad loads of sjw rubbish the timeline is a mess, Klingons are a mess, and what have they done to Spock , Ensign Sylvia Tilly how annoying is that character, horrible show
  26. Kabindas
    Apr 10, 2019
    1
    It was painful to watch each episode with so much liberal SJW crap propaganda. And by the way the first officer, Michael fits just right in, is annoying overbearing and arrogant like a typical snowflake. Another series destroyed by political agenda.
  27. Mighty_moose416
    Oct 25, 2020
    1
    Even worse than the first season. The overall storyline is nonsensical and threads are picked up and dropped making the whole thing a jumbled mess. You can really tell that they changed their minds half way through.
  28. ajewo
    May 25, 2021
    1
    The mystery plot around the red angel ends in a ridiculously stupid finale. It's also fascinating that a series about the Discovery doesn't end its season with the Discovery in the final scene (they're trying to set up more spin-offs). Some episodes are so packed with "stuff" and contradictions that I didn't even care to follow the plot in a logical sense anymore. At least this seasonThe mystery plot around the red angel ends in a ridiculously stupid finale. It's also fascinating that a series about the Discovery doesn't end its season with the Discovery in the final scene (they're trying to set up more spin-offs). Some episodes are so packed with "stuff" and contradictions that I didn't even care to follow the plot in a logical sense anymore. At least this season tries to fix some continuity issues that were introduced with Star Trek: Discovery.
    Michael Burnham is still supposed to be the hero of the series, but since she's not the captain of the Discovery, she's not in a position to make the big decisions, yet she has all the answers and rebels without consequence (because she's always right in the end). I don't remember most of the other shallow crew members. The bridge crew is more or less cardboard displays and the plot revolves mostly around Michael Burnham who I do not like as a character. Captain Pike is the only bright spot in this season.
    As for the production, the series is well done. There are annoyingly overused light glares, but the costumes, masks, and visuals are very good at movie level. The Star Trek easter eggs (props) are neat. All in all, I wish they had invested the budget in better scripts, stories, and dialogues.    … Expand
  29. rafaelhsouza
    Jan 24, 2019
    0
    This is a joke for any Star Trek fan. Season 2 starts as bad as Season 1, maybe worse
  30. jfrisby
    Feb 8, 2019
    0
    This is a poorly written mess.. It does have some good energy, but its still messed up being set before the original series, and everything is over the top. I feel like I'm taking crazy pills watching this.
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Awards & Rankings

74
#74 Best TV Season of 2019
5
#5 Most Discussed TV Season of 2019
72
#72 Most Shared TV Season of 2019

Critic Reviews

All reviews »
Metascore
72

Generally favorable reviews - based on 10 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 7 out of 10
  2. Mixed: 3 out of 10
  3. Negative: 0 out of 10
  1. The Telegraph
    Reviewed by: Tristram Fane Saunders
    Jan 3, 2020
    60
    It's comfortingly formulaic, in a way that feels like a return to the Star Trek of yore. Going where no TV show has ever gone before? Hardly. But it's good fun all the same.
    Read full review
  2. USA Today
    Reviewed by: Kelly Lawler
    Jan 18, 2019
    80
    It's fun to see the "Discovery" characters, who improved greatly over the course of Season 1, play in the same space as the classic guys. This is a setup the series has proven it can work with: interpersonal relationships (Spock is Burnham's brother, of course) and a multi-episode adventure. And in the season premiere, The new "Discovery" continues to shine, with a more confident atmosphere and even some humor mixed in.
    Read full review
  3. Entertainment Weekly
    Reviewed by: Darren Franich
    Jan 18, 2019
    60
    [Season 2] strives hard to set a new course for Discovery. There’s a new commanding officer on the bridge: Anson Mount’s Captain Pike. ... It’s not quite a repilot, but it feels like the beginning of a pivot. ... I want to see where this goes, but I’m not quite convinced yet. I just don’t get this weird reboot fascination with Captain Pike.
    Read full review
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