Omg yes! That scene was so good. I feel like Gates McFadden and Marina Sirtis would have enjoyed it most of all lol.

These episodes were both great. I have shipped Mariner/Ransom since s1 and, well, honestly, this new dynamic of theirs probably makes it even less likely than it ever was lol. But they were fun episodes. I do wish Lower Decks had more episodes, since they're only 20 min/ea.

This was definitely my favourite episode of the season, and possibly of the series. I thought Kirk was badly cast, but actually after seeing him in this episode, I get it. He is not our Kirk, but he actually does bring something very Kirk-ish to the role that I hadn't appreciated previously.

I agree, although also I think their official app is unpleasant to use on purpose, because it's designed to put ads in front of users, not to actually allow users to see content.

I do normally use RiF on my phone -- but yeah, mostly I am using my PC. For me it is mostly the principle also. Especially the way it seems likely to affect blind and visually impaired users, but also even just the overreach and disregard of the userbase who creates any value the site has. :/

The impression I got was that some mods have left and/because the remaining mods have decided to reopen. Honestly the thread was a bit depressing, lots of "it's their platform, they can do what they like" and "who cares, it doesn't affect me". :/

Wasn't there a thread on r/startrek today about them deciding to reopen? I was surprised by how many users were pretty angry about it having been closed, tbh. I felt really good about the decision to close, even before I joined Lemmy.

Hooray, thank you! Fwiw, it is the donations model that is most common in FOSS projects (pay what/if you can) and I think it engenders a better sense of community, and I certainly feel more inclined to pay for something just so support it rather than because of any particular "perks" I might get, which are geeeenerally not really worth the money per se. I also would prefer your time to be spent on the actual server and not on having to integrate the various perks/linking accounts to patreon/etc etc.

Meta: Would it be possible not to use NSFW for spoilers? I don't really like having all the porn subs showing up in my "All" feed, but I feel like I have to keep NSFW ticked if people are using it for spoilers and not just porn.

I didn't really love this episode. I agree with other users that it feels a bit more DIS than SNW s1. I think maybe because of the pacing &/or the action, or maybe just how OTT the plot is, like stealing the Enterprise should be a bigger deal than it is here imo, it just feels a bit ... almost routine? Also I feel like I am the only person on the internet with this opinion, but I really like Spock's relationship with his fiancée and I don't particularly care for the whole Spock/Chapel sub-plot, soooo I am sad to see that continuing. I also didn't enjoy the overtly -> overly emotive Spock, it reminded me of the films, and the Chapel nearly dying bit again felt more DIS than SNW s1. Also, I counted like four different occasions of somebody remarking on Spock being a very un-Vulcan Vulcan, which really felt like a bit much...?

It was very nice to see more of M'Benga, though. He is a great character and I felt like we didn't see enough of him in s1. It felt weird having very little Pike or Number One, though. I hope this is not going to be the standard going forward, it feels like going backwards after SNW seemed to spend a whole season trying to reassure us that they understood what people hadn't liked about DIS?

Oh also -- the new chief engineer seems cool.

Fwiw, I am very happy to support the patreon but I don't feel great about it being attached to server perks. For some people $4/mo is nothing at all and for others it is genuinely significant. I don't want the Star Trek instance of all instances to be rewarding those who can afford to contribute financially.

Having mainstream news sources reporting on this -- especially more financially-oriented ones like Forbes -- is actually a pretty good sign. Even though I am enjoying Lemmy more now that I have tried it anyway.