"There are much bigger problems with this show. And to fair, the fact that Robert Picardo doesn't realize that is a bit of a problem."

JAMIE RIXOM:

"When he was cast as the Doctor once again for SFA, it was the one thing about the show I was actually looking forward to. And watching season 1, I have to admit he wasn't in it enough. I'd have actually liked to see more of the character. We got one episode where they really explored his background, but other than that, they didn't. [...]

https://youtu.be/uZDGm6Xk2Vo?si=JYmZklHcZRHCfCzu

But one of the things he mentions, um, is actually about Star Trek: SFA not really getting a fair crack of the whip, [...]. And Robert Picardo talks about how there is a war against D E I in the United States, diversity, equality, and inclusive and that that basically means there's an attack on Star Trek because that is core to what Star Trek is. Now I'm going to first of all say that one of the problems is [that] a war against Star Trek has got nothing to do with D E I to be honest.

It's got to do with the fact that it's written quite badly. It has nonsensical storylines, massive leaps of logic that often make absolutely no sense. It has characters that often make no bloody sense. And to be honest, it's just badly written and far too often badly conceived and forgets to be Star Trek at all at times.

I think there is a massive problem in the United States at the moment that politically there's a big sledgehammer being thrown at DEI. [...] I don't agree though that Robert Picardo saying there's a war on DEI, so therefore a war on Star Trek. I think it's way more complicated than that. But also, at the end of the day, not all of America or all of Europe is right-wing. A lot of us are centrist or left-wing.

And to be honest, I think the problem is that Star Trek under Kurtzman decided to fight against the MAGA-wearing, um, red hat-wearing people, instead of just focusing on what Star Trek is. And actually, doing stories that might make people that wear a red hat think twice about it. Instead of hitting them in the face, saying you're wrong, they could have just done what they always do in Star Trek. And instead of being very party political, just deal with big issues like freedom, like sexuality, like what it is to be human, like the EMH doctor and Seven of Nine did in Voyager. Big picture stuff, rather than party-political stuff.

I am also just going to throw in there that one of the examples I'm going to have for this is the gay Klingon, which a lot of people that shout w o ke at things got very, very angry about. And to be honest, I got angry about it, but for a different reason. I actually have no problem with it being a gay Klingon. I have no problem with him wearing a skirt. I just don't. What I have a problem with is the way they did it. [...] It was that he was very badly written. He was kind of creepy, and it didn't go anywhere. Which is far too often the argument thrown at Star Trek under Kurtzman. Badly written, badly conceived, doesn't go anywhere.

[Picardo] did point out that lots of series, particularly Star Trek, really, which is his example, takes a couple of seasons to get going. Now, the reason why SFA was canceled was not just because of its terrible ratings and how it really angered a massive portion of the fan base. It was partly because of Alex Kurtzman's contract being up and them wanting to go in a new direction with Star Trek. So, it was kind of doomed anyway.

Even if it had been good, I think it would have been canceled. [...]

Picardo has got a point there that this show - because it's a streaming show - was always going to struggle. I will point out that there are lots of other shows that don't, but Star Trek most definitely has done. Just can't flesh out these characters. It just can't. But yeah, the politics aside there are much bigger problems with Star Trek than a war on DEI or a DEI being unpopular at the moment or unfashionable.

There are much bigger problems with this show. And to fair, the fact that Robert Picardo doesn't realize that is a bit of a problem.

For him anyway."

Jamie Rixom (Tachyon Pulse Podcast on YouTube)

Full video:

https://youtu.be/uZDGm6Xk2Vo?si=JYmZklHcZRHCfCzu

I personally agree with much of what’s said in this video. Strange New Worlds is a constant reference to TOS being the point of its existence. Modeled after 90’s television and clinging to gimmicks that were ground breaking some 20+ years ago, SNW’s shallow premise wasn’t ever built for it to be taken seriously.