10 most disliked moments in Star Trek: Discovery, ranked
6. The Handling of Ash Tyler's Identity
Alright, strap in, because the saga of Ash Tyler and Voq in Star Trek: Discovery is a narrative rollercoaster that takes "it's complicated" to a whole new level.
Imagine, if you will, a secret recipe that mixes one part Klingon warrior with one part Starfleet officer, seasoned with a pinch of identity crisis and a dollop of interstellar drama. That's the dish we were served, and boy, did it leave some fans feeling like they bit into a lemon. On one hand, the storyline was as bold and ambitious as attempting a triple loop in a shuttlecraft - daring to explore themes of identity, loyalty, and the psychological aftermath of trauma in ways Star Trek rarely has. It was like watching a high-wire act - you couldn't help but applaud the sheer audacity of it.
However, here's where the photon torpedoes hit the hull: the execution of this narrative somersault left many fans scratching their heads, feeling more lost than the USS Voyager in the Delta Quadrant. The blending of Ash Tyler's and Voq's identities aimed to be a thought-provoking exploration of what makes us who we are, but for some, it crash-landed into a nebula of confusion and controversy. Questions about the ethical implications of such a transformation, the portrayal of trauma, and the sometimes muddled storytelling turned what could have been a triumphant exploration of identity into a contentious plot point that divided the fleet. It's like setting off on a voyage to discover new worlds, only to find that your star map is written in Klingon - it's intriguing, but good luck figuring it out.
Despite the valiant performances by the actors caught in this narrative tug-of-war, this storyline remains a prime example of Star Trek: Discovery boldly doing things out of the norm for the Trek series, for better or worse.