美国国家公共电台 NPR 'Star Trek: Discovery' Is A Refreshing Triumph

 

ROBERT SIEGEL, HOST:

The first new original "Star Trek¹" TV show in a dozen years debuted² on CBS last night - "Star Trek: Discovery." NPR TV critic Eric Deggans says the show goes where no "Trek" show has gone before. It's a prequel to the original "Star Trek" series which also moves the saga³ forward.

(SOUNDBITE OF MUSIC)

ERIC DEGGANS, BYLINE⁴: Space may not be the final frontier for "Star Trek: Discovery." Instead, this show's most challenging frontier is the skepticism of all us nerds who couldn't wait to see a new "Trek" series but also feared how badly producers might mess the whole thing up. I'm happy to say, after watching the first two episodes on CBS's streaming service All Access, "Star Trek: Discovery" is a triumph. It's a series that connects to the traditions of "Trek" while blazing a brand new story that refreshes a 50-year-old TV franchise⁵. It starts with the character Michael Burnham played by Sonequa Martin-Green.

(SOUNDBITE OF TV SHOW, "STAR TREK: DISCOVERY")

SONEQUA MARTIN-GREEN: (As Michael Burnham) First officer's log starting 12:07.3 - on Earth, it's May 11, 2256, a Sunday.

DEGGANS: Burnham serves as First Officer on the USS Shenzhou. It's about 10 years before the time of Captain Kirk and Mr. Spock from the original "Star Trek." Her captain, Philippa Georgiou, is played by Hong Kong action star Michelle Yeoh. The first scene between the two is on a desert planet. It's a little stilted⁶, but it makes history. We see an Asian captain and black first officer, both female, leading a "Trek" TV show for the first time.

(SOUNDBITE OF TV SHOW, "STAR TREK: DISCOVERY")

MICHELLE YEOH: (As Philippa Georgiou) What will you do if you were stuck here for 89 years?

MARTIN-GREEN: (As Michael Burnham) As a xenoanthropologist, I could reveal myself to the natives. And you, Captain - what will you do if we're trapped here for 89 years?

YEOH: (As Philippa Georgiou) That's easy. I'd escape.

DEGGANS: And they do. Though the episode starts too slowly, momentum⁷ builds steadily⁸ and inexorably. The Shenzhou is confronted by a mysterious ship from the warrior⁹ race the Klingons. Burnham insists to an admiral that they will attack.

(SOUNDBITE OF TV SHOW, "STAR TREK: DISCOVERY")

MARTIN-GREEN: (As Michael Burnham) They're relentlessly¹⁰ hostile, Sir. It's in their nature.

UNIDENTIFIED ACTOR: (As admiral) We've had only fleeting¹¹ run-ins with them for a century, and now you presume to know their motivation. Considering your background, I would think you the last person to make assumptions based on race.

MARTIN-GREEN: (As Michael Burnham) With respect, it would be unwise to confuse race and culture.

DEGGANS: This is a "Trek" that's aware of the history that it's making diversity-wise, though it was odd as a black man to see the bad guy T'Kuvma and many of his followers¹² were the darkest-colored Klingons we've seen yet, as if darkening their complexion¹³ makes them more menacing. There's also a nod to contemporary issues. T'Kuvma is a charismatic populist, uniting the Klingons by manufacturing a threat from an outside culture - make Klingons great again.

Burnham is a human who has some history with Klingons. Her parents were killed by them, and she was adopted by Spock's father, Sarek, a Vulcan. Starfleet officials were skeptical¹⁴ when Burnham suggests shooting at the Klingons first. She says that's how Vulcans won the Klingons' respect.

(SOUNDBITE OF TV SHOW, "STAR TREK: DISCOVERY")

MARTIN-GREEN: (As Michael Burnham) They said hello in a language the Klingons understood. Violence brought respect. Respect brought peace. Captain, we have to give the Klingons a Vulcan hello.

YEOH: (As Philippa Georgiou) Starfleet doesn't fire first. That's our number one.

DEGGANS: Burnham eventually clashes with her captain in a way that turns her into an outcast - new territory for "Star Trek." CBS broadcast "Discovery's" first episode, but to see the rest of the series, you have to subscribe¹⁵ to its streaming service CBS All Access, which is a shame because the first two episodes are really one story ending with tragic¹⁶ twists that define the series. Alone, the first episode doesn't have the same impact.

"Discovery" has eye-popping effects and a contemporary feel, showing a "Trek" universe where complex characters are still fighting to build the federation¹⁷ that "Trek" fans have known and loved for 50 years - mission accomplished¹⁸, at least so far. I'm Eric Deggans.

(SOUNDBITE OF MUSIC)

1 trek   

vi.作长途艰辛的旅行；n.长途艰苦的旅行

参考例句：

• We often go pony-trek in the summer.夏季我们经常骑马旅行。
• It took us the whole day to trek across the rocky terrain.我们花了一整天的时间艰难地穿过那片遍布岩石的地带。

2 debuted   

初次表演，初次登台（debut的过去式与过去分词形式）

参考例句：

• In late 2003 a full-size SUV, the Pathfinder Armada, debuted. 2003年末，全尺寸SUV的探路者无敌舰队，推出。
• The album debuted at number two and quickly went platinum. 专辑一亮相就荣登排行榜第二名，很快就取得了白金销量。

3 saga   

n.(尤指中世纪北欧海盗的)故事，英雄传奇

参考例句：

• The saga of Flight 19 is probably the most repeated story about the Bermuda Triangle.飞行19中队的传说或许是有关百慕大三角最重复的故事。
• The novel depicts the saga of a family.小说描绘了一个家族的传奇故事。

4 byline   

n.署名；v.署名

参考例句：

• His byline was absent as well.他的署名也不见了。
• We wish to thank the author of this article which carries no byline.我们要感谢这篇文章的那位没有署名的作者。

5 franchise   

n.特许，特权，专营权，特许权

参考例句：

• Catering in the schools is run on a franchise basis.学校餐饮服务以特许权经营。
• The United States granted the franchise to women in 1920.美国于1920年给妇女以参政权。

6 stilted   

adj.虚饰的；夸张的

参考例句：

• All too soon the stilted conversation ran out.很快这种做作的交谈就结束了。
• His delivery was stilted and occasionally stumbling.他的发言很生硬，有时还打结巴。

7 momentum   

n.动力，冲力，势头；动量

参考例句：

• We exploit the energy and momentum conservation laws in this way.我们就是这样利用能量和动量守恒定律的。
• The law of momentum conservation could supplant Newton's third law.动量守恒定律可以取代牛顿第三定律。

8 steadily   

adv.稳定地；不变地；持续地

参考例句：

• The scope of man's use of natural resources will steadily grow.人类利用自然资源的广度将日益扩大。
• Our educational reform was steadily led onto the correct path.我们的教学改革慢慢上轨道了。

9 warrior   

n.勇士，武士，斗士

参考例句：

• The young man is a bold warrior.这个年轻人是个很英勇的武士。
• A true warrior values glory and honor above life.一个真正的勇士珍视荣誉胜过生命。

10 relentlessly   

adv.不屈不挠地；残酷地；不间断

参考例句：

• The African sun beat relentlessly down on his aching head. 非洲的太阳无情地照射在他那发痛的头上。
• He pursued her relentlessly, refusing to take 'no' for an answer. 他锲而不舍地追求她，拒不接受“不”的回答。

11 fleeting   

adj.短暂的，飞逝的

参考例句：

• The girls caught only a fleeting glimpse of the driver.女孩们只匆匆瞥了一眼司机。
• Knowing the life fleeting,she set herself to enjoy if as best as she could.她知道这种日子转瞬即逝，于是让自已尽情地享受。

12 followers   

追随者( follower的名词复数 )； 用户； 契据的附面； 从动件

参考例句：

• the followers of Mahatma Gandhi 圣雄甘地的拥护者
• The reformer soon gathered a band of followers round him. 改革者很快就获得一群追随者支持他。

13 complexion   

n.肤色；情况，局面；气质，性格

参考例句：

• Red does not suit with her complexion.红色与她的肤色不协调。
• Her resignation puts a different complexion on things.她一辞职局面就全变了。

14 skeptical   

adj.怀疑的，多疑的

参考例句：

• Others here are more skeptical about the chances for justice being done.这里的其他人更为怀疑正义能否得到伸张。
• Her look was skeptical and resigned.她的表情是将信将疑而又无可奈何。

15 subscribe   

vi.(to)订阅，订购；同意；vt.捐助，赞助

参考例句：

• I heartily subscribe to that sentiment.我十分赞同那个观点。
• The magazine is trying to get more readers to subscribe.该杂志正大力发展新订户。

16 tragic   

adj.悲剧的，悲剧性的，悲惨的

参考例句：

• The effect of the pollution on the beaches is absolutely tragic.污染海滩后果可悲。
• Charles was a man doomed to tragic issues.查理是个注定不得善终的人。

17 federation   

n.同盟，联邦，联合，联盟，联合会

参考例句：

• It is a federation of 10 regional unions.它是由十个地方工会结合成的联合会。
• Mr.Putin was inaugurated as the President of the Russian Federation.普京正式就任俄罗斯联邦总统。

18 accomplished   

adj.有才艺的；有造诣的；达到了的

参考例句：

• Thanks to your help,we accomplished the task ahead of schedule.亏得你们帮忙,我们才提前完成了任务。
• Removal of excess heat is accomplished by means of a radiator.通过散热器完成多余热量的排出。