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Since its debut,Star Trek: Discoveryhas been a significant addition to the belovedStar Trekfranchise. But despite the anticipation surrounding the project, the 2017 TV series was later subject to criticism, surrounding Sonequa Martin-Green’s portrayal of Michael Burnham, and the controversial depiction of Klingons.
![Star Trek: Discovery [Credit Paramount Network]](https://i2.wp.com/fwmedia.fandomwire.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/23100113/Star-Trek-Discovery-Credit-Paramount-Network-1-1024x683.jpg)
WhileStar Trek: Discoveryhas garnered overall praise for its visual effects and modern storytelling, Sonequa Martin-Green’s acting has consistently drawn backlash, with accusations of her performance lacking emotional depth. Meanwhile, it seems, that fans can still turn a blind eye to Martin-Green’s acting, but they can never forgive the show for changing the appearance of Klingons.
Sonequa Martin-Green’s Performance Witnessed Negative Reception
WhenStar Trek: Discoverywas released in 2017, with the optimism to meet fans’ expectations, the show was greeted by a loyal fanbase, praising its take on complex themes relevant to contemporary society. But unfortunately, the moment of praise didn’t last long, since people soon begancriticizing Sonequa Martin-Green’s performance, who was helming the role of Michael Burnham.
“We talk about movie opportunities a lot”: Star Trek: Discovery Movie after Season 5 May be Possible if Sonequa Martin-Green’s Comment is True
The character of Michael Burnham, originally envisioned as the first officer of the USS Shenzhou and later recruited on the USS Discovery as a science specialist, was positioned as a strong, intelligent protagonist. However, Sonequa Martin-Green’s portrayal was perceived as wooden and lacking the nuance and warmth typically associated withStar Treklead characters.
Critics have sincearguedthat Sonequa Martin-Green’s acting style significantly failed to capture the essence of aStar Trekpersona, a role traditionally characterized by a balance of intelligence and leadership. Instead, Martin-Green’s performance was criticized for monotony and an inability to convey the emotional depth required to keep audiences hooked to the screen.
But despite fans expressing discontent towards Sonequa Martin-Green’s performance, criticism towardsStar Trek: Discoveryextended beyond the actress. To be fair, fans might even forgive the disappointing performance for once, but what the show did with Klingons sparked an unending outcry amongStar Trekenthusiasts.
Fans are Enraged withStar Trek: Discovery’s Depiction of Klingons
Ever since the inception of theStar Trekuniverse, the Klingons have been a staple of the franchise. The characters have long been recognized for their distinctive appearance and cultural richness. However, with the arrival ofStar Trek: Discovery, the depiction of Klingons underwent a controversial transformation that left many fans perplexed and dissatisfied.
The Star Trek: Discovery Decision That Helped the Show “Totally rewrite the rules” Was Made to Escape the Continuity Curse
Traditionally, Klingons were characterized by their bronze skin, facial hair, and human-like appearance. But over the years, through differentStar Trekprojects, the character’s depiction has evolved. However, none of them turned out to be as controversial as that inStar Trek: Discovery. The Klingons in the show appeared radically different, with purple skin over bronze or brown, and lack of hair.
However, althoughStar Trek: Discoveryshot itself in the foot with its decision to redesign the Klingon aesthetic, the show’s actress Mary Chieffo claimed to appreciate the deviation. Despite backlash, Chieffo revealed how she loved the idea, during her appearance on theD-Con Chamberpodcast.
In the way we were speaking the [Klingon] language because we were speaking it more than any Klingon had in the past, we were really diving into, also, an untouched version of the language. Because at that point, timeline-wise, there was a moment in Enterprise, obviously – the pilot, right? [Where Enterprise met Klingons.]
But since then, the idea was that there had been no contact. Or, throughout whatever y’all experienced on Enterprise, once you had your experience, then nothing until this point. I loved the idea, particularly with T’Kuvma, that they were kind of this ancient sect of Klingon houses, and that we were also kind of the outcasts.
Meanwhile,CBRfigured out a possible explanation that might have caused this dramatic change in the appearance of the Klingons. According to the outlet, genetic mutations sound like the only logical explanation for the change. Considering how theStar Trekuniverse has established the fact that Klingons can procreate with some non-Klingon species, mutations may have caused a difference between “pure” Klingons and altered ones.
Star Trekfilms and shows are available on Paramount+.
Krittika Mukherjee
Senior Writer
Articles Published :3218
Krittika Mukherjee is a Senior Entertainment Writer at FandomWire, majorly focusing on films, TV shows, and celebrity news with over 3,000 articles published. With an educational background in Journalism, and a keen interest in filmmaking, Krittika blends factual precision with creative flair, when crafting her editorials, or dissecting fan theories.Her coverage often includes news and analyses of critically acclaimed films, celebrity news, and franchises like the Wizarding World, LOTR, DC, and MCU—particularly Harry Potter, Fantastic Beasts, Superheroes, and fan theories. As a Wizarding World aficionado, Krittika has spent countless hours exploring hidden backstories, unadapted book moments, spells, and trivias surrounding J.K. Rowling’s lore.An imaginative writer with a way with words, Krittika has worked as an entertainment journalist for the past two years and a web content writer for a year. She brought her experience and expertise to FandomWire to pursue her desire for sipping coffee while dissecting films and tracking celebrity drama.
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