Watching SNW's "Those Old Scientists"

[digger]

Having my wife watch LD for the first time (in its entirety). I'd like to also show her SNW's "Those Old Scientists." I figure best would be between season 3 and 4 of LD. But I'm wondering if anyone has any opinions as to what to tell her about SNW beforehand so she's not completely lost from the SNW aspect of that episode?

She has seen TOS through ENT (and the movies) in their entirety, but she hasn't seen any of the streaming Treks before now. I had a hunch she would like LD, which is why I started her on that. I think at some point in the future, she might like to watch SNW, so I don't want to have her watch any other SNW episodes now to get her up to speed for "Those Old Scientists." Just want to be able to give her a quick rundown of some points she should be made aware of before going in. Any thoughts would be appreciated.

(btw, I'm not yet sure how I'm going to get her to watch the SNW series in it's entirety, because she would have to first watch DIS, and I know she would hate it [and probably PIC too]. )

 

[HotRod]

But I'm wondering if anyone has any opinions as to what to tell her about SNW beforehand so she's not completely lost from the SNW aspect of that episode?

Just tell her it's a TOS prequel, because that's what it is. It has an updated visual aesthetic, but that's about all that sets it apart. If she liked TOS, she'll probably like SNW.

My wife isn't a Trekkie in any sorta way, but she doesn't mind SNW because it can be light, fun, and doesn't take itself too seriously, while at the same time having smart and emotional moments. It's not at all because Anson Mount is.... an extraordinarily handsome man..... it's not..... REALLY.

I'm not yet sure how I'm going to get her to watch the SNW series in it's entirety, because she would have to first watch DIS, and I know she would hate it

You really don't need to watch Discovery at all to understand SNW. The only major thing that is carried over is that Pike knows his fate, and the series explains pretty well how he knows this.

 

[Michael]

Pretty much what @HotRod is saying, yes. I don’t think you need to have watched even a second of Discovery to get into Strange New Worlds. I say maybe watch the second season of Discovery if you’re a completionist and want to witness the evolution of these new versions of Spock, Pike, Number One and the Enterprise. But they actually do a pretty good job in the first season of Strange New Worlds to get you up to speed with what’s up with Pike and the others.

I would actually recommend not just randomly watching “Those Old Scientists” during a Lower Decks watch, but rather watch Strange New Worlds separately and catch the episode that way. It’s not impossible to watch the episode as a standalone thing, but there’s some arcs of character development (especially regarding Spock and Christine, but also Uhura and Pike) that make much more sense if you’ve watched that entire series proper. There’s one scene in “Those Old Scientists” specifically that’s an important turning point for the whole Spock/Chapel storyline, which is funny considering the episode’s nature as a glorified “special” stunt episode.

Strange New Worlds, in my opinion, is the best show that’s come out of the current era of live action Trek shows. So really, I would recommend watching it either way.

 

[Tiran O'Saurus]

It's somewhat important to know there was a war with the Klingons for M'Benga's backstory to make sense.

 

[Michael]

It's somewhat important to know there was a war with the Klingons for M'Benga's backstory to make sense.

Arguably Discovery didn’t really show much about the war anyway. And the mere fact that there ever was a Klingon/Federation war in the first place didn’t originate from Discovery either. So I’d still say one can safely skip Discovery in order to fully enjoy Strange New Worlds.

 

[Tosk]

It's somewhat important to know there was a war with the Klingons for M'Benga's backstory to make sense.

Yeah, which is why SNW talked about it.

 

[fireproof78]

It's somewhat important to know there was a war with the Klingons for M'Benga's backstory to make sense.

Not really. They show it just fine.

The only strong carry over plot point is Pike's knowing his future, which is shared in the show itself.

 

[digger]

Much obliged for the opinions. :-)

 

[F. King Daniel]

You really don't need to watch Discovery at all to understand SNW. The only major thing that is carried over is that Pike knows his fate, and the series explains pretty well how he knows this.

Yeah, it's pretty standalone. And Discovery becomes a real slog IMHO, in it's final 2 seasons.

 

[Ar-Pharazon]

My wife isn't a Trekkie in any sorta way, but she doesn't mind SNW because it can be light, fun, and doesn't take itself too seriously, while at the same time having smart and emotional moments. It's not at all because Anson Mount is.... an extraordinarily handsome man..... it's not..... REALLY.

an extraordinarily handsome man....with really great hair?

 

[Darth Thanos]

There are a couple of plots from Discovery that were carried over to SNW, but nothing too big. A mere explanation should be enough. For instance:
* The big cosmic battle of the end of Discovery season 2 causes the plot of the SNW first episode. But just "there was a lot of stuff happening, people of a pre-warp world saw it with their telescopes and got funny ideas"
* Spock has a sister. This was mentioned in passing one or two times, but that's it. Just mention this before the inevitable "WTF?? Spock has a sister now?? When did this happen?"
* The whole thing of Pike knowing about his future death.

Otherwise, if you need to explain SNW in a few worlds...
* "That's Pike, the cool captain"
* "That's Spock. You know Spock, right?"
* "That's Uhura. You know Uhura, right?"
* "That's Ortegas, the bold pilot with a big ego"
* "That's M'Benga, the doctor"
* "That's Chapel, the nurse. She has a romance plot with Spock"

 

[26138]

"That's Ortegas, the bold pilot with a big ego"

She... drives the ship and does nothing else... thanks a lot writers!

 

[Nerys Myk]

She... drives the ship and does nothing else... thanks a lot writers!

Everything out of her mouth is a gem. Thanks a lot writers.

 

[Tuskin38]

She... drives the ship and does nothing else... thanks a lot writers!

She's done other things.

 

[Darth Thanos]

Yeah, it's pretty standalone. And Discovery becomes a real slog IMHO, in it's final 2 seasons.

Even if that was the case, any plots carried from Discovery to Strange New Worlds would by necessity be from Season 2. At the end of it, they jump to the future, and for better or worse, the fates of the Discovery and the Enterprise are forever set apart since that point.

 

[Uhura's Song]

Just tell her it's a TOS prequel, because that's what it is. It has an updated visual aesthetic, but that's about all that sets it apart. If she liked TOS, she'll probably like SNW.

My wife isn't a Trekkie in any sorta way, but she doesn't mind SNW because it can be light, fun, and doesn't take itself too seriously, while at the same time having smart and emotional moments. It's not at all because Anson Mount is.... an extraordinarily handsome man..... it's not..... REALLY.



You really don't need to watch Discovery at all to understand SNW. The only major thing that is carried over is that Pike knows his fate, and the series explains pretty well how he knows this.

Yep. If 1-2 Disco episodes are necessary, the the one where Pike gets the time crystal (and maybe Brother for Spock, and the ST with Spock & #1) and I think you have it covered.