Shout Out to the "Month of Hell" Writer(s)
Travis S McClain
✭✭✭✭✭
in The Bridge
It's been voiced by several other forum members in various threads, but it merits mentioning again that it has been especially satisfying through these first three weeks to see how closely "Month of Hell" has tied into "Year of Hell". I don't even care about that two-parter, but I can appreciate how nice it is for the players who do dig it enough that they voted for it to be the them of this fan's choice Mega.
But beyond that, I gotta say, the writing of the characters has been spot-on. Event dialogue is largely perfunctory. If I'm being entirely honest, I often feel that the voice isn't quite right. Throughout "Month of Hell" so far, though, whoever has been writing has nailed each character. I wish I'd thought to screenshot more, but here are a few highlights:
I can easily hear Ethan Phillips delivering those lines, trying in earnest to convince us that Captain Janeway has been an exemplary model of a by-the-book Starfleet leader, largely because his defense mechanisms of denial and rationalization are so reflexive. It's something I dislike about the character, but the writing of it is pitch perfect.
Janeway in full blown messiah mode, most obviously demonstrated in "Endgame" but can be seen elsewhere whenever she made an entirely arbitrary choice over the reasonable counsel of her staff. I think of when she overruled Chakotay about aligning with the Borg against Speceies 8472 and gave that pitiful "Then I guess I'm alone" guilt trip. Or when she straight up murdered Tuvix because Kes was whiny and Janeway made it a symbolic rejection of being stranded in the Delta Quadrant. Again, something I hate about the character, but the writing of Janeway as the instigator above answering to anyone has been perfect.
Also, it occurs to me that way back in Episode 3, "From On High", the prospect was raised that Starfleet may have been responsible for the impetus for this entire game and that Janeway herself specifically had knowledge about that possibility that she wasn't sharing. Are we seeing the introduction of some game-advancing narrative here? If so, that's especially welcomed!
I wish I'd snagged a shot of Stamets insulting Icheb, because that, too, felt on-brand and I could easily hear Anthony Rapp delivering those lines (and making that cocky smirky face of his while doing it). I can't wait to see what the writer(s) do with Jett Reno next week!
But beyond that, I gotta say, the writing of the characters has been spot-on. Event dialogue is largely perfunctory. If I'm being entirely honest, I often feel that the voice isn't quite right. Throughout "Month of Hell" so far, though, whoever has been writing has nailed each character. I wish I'd thought to screenshot more, but here are a few highlights:
I can easily hear Ethan Phillips delivering those lines, trying in earnest to convince us that Captain Janeway has been an exemplary model of a by-the-book Starfleet leader, largely because his defense mechanisms of denial and rationalization are so reflexive. It's something I dislike about the character, but the writing of it is pitch perfect.
Janeway in full blown messiah mode, most obviously demonstrated in "Endgame" but can be seen elsewhere whenever she made an entirely arbitrary choice over the reasonable counsel of her staff. I think of when she overruled Chakotay about aligning with the Borg against Speceies 8472 and gave that pitiful "Then I guess I'm alone" guilt trip. Or when she straight up murdered Tuvix because Kes was whiny and Janeway made it a symbolic rejection of being stranded in the Delta Quadrant. Again, something I hate about the character, but the writing of Janeway as the instigator above answering to anyone has been perfect.
Also, it occurs to me that way back in Episode 3, "From On High", the prospect was raised that Starfleet may have been responsible for the impetus for this entire game and that Janeway herself specifically had knowledge about that possibility that she wasn't sharing. Are we seeing the introduction of some game-advancing narrative here? If so, that's especially welcomed!
I wish I'd snagged a shot of Stamets insulting Icheb, because that, too, felt on-brand and I could easily hear Anthony Rapp delivering those lines (and making that cocky smirky face of his while doing it). I can't wait to see what the writer(s) do with Jett Reno next week!
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Comments
Last year they shot themselves in the foot by asking which series and which faction, and ended up having to concoct a strange story, compounding it by not taking the more obvious route of focusing on the Jack Pack.
It's pretty clear they learned from their mistake on this one by coming up with a few ideas and then asking us which we would prefer. The result has been far more compelling.
@Travis S McClain is this the dialogue from Stamets you wanted?
Kudos writers!!!!!
YES! Thanks for that, @[KM]Videm! What I dig most about this is the bit at the end about "unless of course someone manages to turn up something that suggests otherwise". That kind of line could have come across as Stamets qualifying his opening insult and giving himself room to say "My bad" later, but, nah. That's not what's happening. This is him doubling down on it and it's delicious.
Some of us do read the script. Well done, y’all. 🖖🏻
Yes it works better because then the story can feel more natural and less forced.
I like it because it's a reminder that other crew are still on your ship, and yes, they still matter.
LOL well done!!
Some of the earlier dialogue has been good too on an occasion, but now it's been pretty darn consistent. Great stuff.